Harley-Davidson repowered its Low Rider S model ahead of MY2022 with its biggest production Mil-8 engine to date. Overall looks remain the same with that West Coast/club vibe in full effect from the front end arrangement. Blackout paint completes the package to lend the “S” even more of a sinister undertone and homemade look.

2022 Harley-Davidson Low Rider S

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2022 Harley-Davidson Low Rider S
  • Engine/Motor: V-Twin
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array

2022 Harley-Davidson Low Rider S Design

- LED lighting - Blackout styling - West Coast attitude - New handlebar-mounted instruments

Much remains the same with last year's Low Rider S from the tall uprights on the cut-down front fender, a small café-tastic bullet fairing and high-rise handlebar-clamp risers that lift the pilot's paws into mini-ape territory in spite of the not-so-high-lift handlebar.

Here we find the first real difference from last year. The instrumentation was moved from the tank console up to the handlebar in a round gauge that combines an analog tachometer with digital “everything else” and an array of idiot lights to complete the package. Not only does this make it easier to see without taking your eyes off the road for too long, but it cleans up the flyline as the fuel tank sports a vestigial, low-profile cover instead that has very little influence on the upper lines.

The deep-scoop solo saddle remains the same, but this year, it rides a half-inch higher than its predecessor at 27 inches off the deck once the rear-end squats as you mount, providing you have the requisite 180 pounds of body/gear weight to compress everything out back. Uncompressed, the seat rests at 28 inches high.

As it sits on the showroom floor, the S is completely bereft of passenger amenities, so if you want to share the fun with a friend, you're going to be on the hook for a p-pad, footpegs, and possibly a different front seat to boot.

Harley doesn't miss any opportunities to blast away with the blackout paint, the only exceptions are the necessary things like brake discs and inner fork tubes, and the milled cooling-fin edges that keep the engine from disappearing into the black hole under the tank. The rear blinkers are fairly standard with a fender-strut mounting and bullet shape, all in LED of course, and the Zeppelin-style taillight relies on a set of 9 LED projectors for high visibility, day or night.

Back around front, the cyclops headlight turns in the same performance and rocks a DRL ring for improved daytime visibility from the front. This is another example of an old model name that was built on the FXR frame of the '80s that made the jump to the new, 2nd-generation Softail family. Since the FXR structure is out of production -- as well as its immediate successor and latest ancestor, the Dyna-based Low Rider -- it falls to this new Softail platform to preserve the name and spirit-of-build.

2022 Harley-Davidson Low Rider S Chassis

- Relaxed rider triangle - Easy, low-effort cruising - Optional ABS - Stability at speed

Mild steel is the material of choice for the frame design on the Low Rider S that emulates the old hardtails both in the fall of its upper lines and the special triangular swingarm that completes the illusion. You could say the kingpost is the rectangular-section backbone that lends it quite a bit of strength and rigidity. The rest of the frame forms the classic dual-downtube/double-cradle structure that fully cradles and supports the engine rather than using the mill as a load-bearing member. Tubular-steel members also make up the swingcage that really sells the whole rigid-frame look.

The factory shifts to aluminum for the tripletree that clamps 43 mm, single-cartridge inverted forks and sets a rake angle of 28 degrees, which is toward the more stable end of the spectrum, as is the 5.7 inches of trail that delivers low-effort cruising, even at superslab speeds.

Cast aluminum wheels round out the rolling chassis with a Dark Bronze finish in a rare break from the monochromatic paint that dominates the finish. Michelin Scorcher 31 hoops come in a 110/90-19 ahead of a 180/70-16 to make the connection to the concrete in an “H” speed rating that'll tolerate speeds up to 130 mph, which is plenty for the top speed that's governed at 120 mph.

Yeah, it's got a lot of go, but that comes balanced against a fair amount of stop with dual, 300 mm discs and four-bore calipers up front, while out back, a twin-piston anchor bites a 292 mm disc to take care of business. ABS protection is optional so add that and you can safely get the most out of the binders.

Frame:

Mild steel, tubular frame; rectangular section backbone; stamped, cast, and forged junctions; MIG welded; aluminum forged fender supports

Swingarm:

Mild steel, tubular sections, stamped x-member, forged axle junctions; MIG welded; removable belt spacer

Front Suspension/ Travel:

Single cartridge 43 mm inverted with aluminum fork triple clamps; single rate spring/ 5.1 in. (130 mm)

Rear Suspension/ Travel:

Hidden, free piston, coil-over monoshock; 56 mm stroke; hydraulic preload adjustment/ 4.4 in. (112 mm)

Rake (steering head):

28°

Fork Angle:

28°

Trail:

5.7 in. (145 mm)

Lean Angle, Right/ Left (J1168):

31.3°/ 31.3°

Wheels:

Dark bronze, Radiate cast aluminum wheel

Wheel, Front:

2.5 in. x 19 in. (64 mm x 483 mm)

Wheel, Rear:

5 in. x 16 in. (127 mm x 406 mm)

Tires, Front & Rear:

Michelin® Scorcher® "31"

Tire, Front Specification:

110/90B19,62H,BW

Tire, Rear Specification:

180/70B16,77H,BW

Brakes, Front:

Dual 300 mm black Split 7-spoke floating discs, 4-piston fixed calipers

Brakes, Rear:

292 mm black Split 7-spoke floating disc, 2-piston floating caliper

Brakes, Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS):

Optional


2022 Harley-Davidson Low Rider S Drivetrain

- Milwaukee-Eight 117 passed down from the CVO lineup - 1,923 cc displacement - 103 hp & 125 lb-ft of torque - Massive roll-on anywhere in the rev range

Oh man, things get exciting indeed in the engine area of the new Low Rider S. For the first time in a non-CVO production model, the Milwaukee-Eight 117 delivers the goods with a respectable 103-horsepower at the top end, backed up by a whopping 125 pound-feet of torque that tops out at 3,500 rpm. That's a whole lotta' lovin' to be sure, even with its 679-pound wet weight.

Bore and stroke mic out at 103.5 mm and 114.3 mm, respectively, for a 1,923 cc displacement and 10.2-to-1 compression ratio that will probably prefer mid-hook pusholine. The valvetrain is pushrod-actuated with all four lifters on a common camshaft, no more twin-cam business, which returns the valve geometry to the classic arrangement for a Big Twin engine.

Electronic fuel injection and built-in exhaust catalysts combine for precise control over the emissions. As for higher ride-control electronics, they didn't make the jump from the CVO sector along with this potent powerplant, so the Low Rider S remains a machine for riders who need no training wheels or safety nets beyond the vanilla ABS feature.

Engine:

Milwaukee-Eight® 117, Pushrod-operated, overhead valves with hydraulic, self-adjusting lifters; four valves per cylinder

Displacement:

117 cu in (1,923 cc)

Bore x Stroke:

4.075 in. (103.5 mm) x 4.5 in. (114.3 mm)

Compression Ratio:

10.2:1

Engine Torque (J1349):

125 ft-lb (169 Nm) @ 3,500 rpm

Power:

103 hp (77 kW} @ 4,750 rpm

Fuel System:

Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI)

Air Cleaner:

Heavy Breather intake with synthetic media, washable exposed element

Exhaust:

2-into-2 offset shotgun; catalyst in muffler

Lubrication System:

Pressurized, dry-sump with oil cooler

Primary Drive:

Chain, 34/46 ratio

Final Drive:

Belt, 32/66 ratio

Clutch:

Mechanical, 10 plate wet, assist & conventional

Transmission:

6-Speed Cruise Drive®

Gear Ratios (overall):

1st: 9.311, 2nd: 6.454, 3rd: 4.793, 4th: 3.882, 5th: 3.307, 6th: 2.79


2022 Harley-Davidson Low Rider S Price

As usual, The MoCo links paint and price together at the checkout counter. Naturally, the Vivid Black model comes in at the bottom of the price range with an $18,349 asking price. There's no escaping the monochromatic finish on this family -- the Gunship Gray finish is the only other choice on the palette, and it will set you back another $450. ABS and the security suite come stock.

Model ID:

FXLRS

Warranty:

24 months (unlimited mileage)

Service Interval :

First 1,000 miles (1,600 km), every 5,000 miles (8,000 km) thereafter

Color:

Vivid Black, Gunship Gray

Price:

$17,530, Color: $17,980


2022 Harley-Davidson Low Rider S Competitors

These days, H-D products mainly come with baked-in domestic competition from “the other” American motorcycle manufacturer, and in this case, it's the Indian Chief Bobber that likely makes for the closest competitor.

Indian Chief Bobber

While it's true that the Chief Bobber doesn't sport a cute little bubble fairing like its Low Rider S counterpart, it does match the homespun look of the thing. True to its name, the Bobber carries heavily bobbed fenders with a mini-ape handlebar that's lofted even more by tall clamp risers for a healthy helping of that West Coast vibe.

The front end is a bit beefier with its fat standard forks, but more dated looking as well against the inverted stems H-D brings to the table. Indian offers a trio of paint packages from which to choose along with a black model and a gray one to match the Low Rider's livery, but adds a green Sagebrush Smoke bit to the mix.

Price and paint are linked across the board with an $18,999 sticker on the Black Smoke model and $19,499 on the other two. Indian gets a leg up in the ride-control electronics by slapping on the RIDE COMMAND bundle that delivers a more modern riding experience by comparison.

In true American style, Indian powers its entry with a rather large V-twin engine. Its the ((air-cooled Thunderstroke 116}} plant that turns out 120 pounds o' grunt against 125 pound-feet from Harley's Mil-8 engine. Forward controls put the rider in the windsock position, moreso than the mid-mounts on the H-D, which I personally prefer since it doesn't put my jeans in the bug-scoop position, plus the mid-mounts are arguably safer since your heels are closer to being under your knees so you can push off if need be.

Read our full review of the Indian Chief Bobber.

He Said

“Indian's electronics put some pressure on H-D as they deliver a top-shelf ride. It doesn't have to be that way. H-D proved it can do the same on its CVO and tour-bike lines, it just held that in reserve, possibly to help keep the price out of the stratosphere. As always, there's always next year...”

She Said

My wife and fellow motorcycle writer, Allyn Hinton, says, “In comparison to the previous generation of Low Rider S, the 2022 is a definite improvement. Not only do you have the Milwaukee-Eight 117 instead of the 114, but it's retuned to produce about five percent more power. I was so eager to check this out knowing it was the Mil-8 117 straight out of the CVO models mounted in the improved Softail chassis. Add that increased power to what was already a more lightweight chassis and the power-to-weight ratio makes for a thrilling ride. This is a power-cruiser, make no mistake. The taller rear shock makes a noticeable difference in ride comfort over the previous gen and allows for more aggressive riding afforded by the higher ground clearance. If you hate dragging the pegs and the kickstand when tackling the curves in the old Low Rider S, you'll notice the improvements in the new model. This is the cruiser for folks that like to work hard, play hard, and ride hard.”

2022 Harley-Davidson Low Rider S Specifications

Engine & Drivetrain:

Engine:

Milwaukee-Eight® 117, Pushrod-operated, overhead valves with hydraulic, self-adjusting lifters; four valves per cylinder

Displacement:

117 cu in (1,923 cc)

Bore x Stroke:

4.075 in. (103.5 mm) x 4.5 in. (114.3 mm)

Compression Ratio:

10.2:1

Engine Torque (J1349):

125 ft-lb (169 Nm) @ 3,500 rpm

Power:

103 hp (77 kW} @ 4,750 rpm

Fuel System:

Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI)

Air Cleaner:

Heavy Breather intake with synthetic media, washable exposed element

Exhaust:

2-into-2 offset shotgun; catalyst in muffler

Lubrication System:

Pressurized, dry-sump with oil cooler

Primary Drive:

Chain, 34/46 ratio

Final Drive:

Belt, 32/66 ratio

Clutch:

Mechanical, 10 plate wet, assist & conventional

Transmission:

6-Speed Cruise Drive®

Gear Ratios (overall):

1st: 9.311, 2nd: 6.454, 3rd: 4.793, 4th: 3.882, 5th: 3.307, 6th: 2.79

Chassis:

Frame:

Mild steel, tubular frame; rectangular section backbone; stamped, cast, and forged junctions; MIG welded; aluminum forged fender supports

Swingarm:

Mild steel, tubular sections, stamped x-member, forged axle junctions; MIG welded; removable belt spacer

Front Suspension/ Travel:

Single cartridge 43 mm inverted with aluminum fork triple clamps; single rate spring/ 5.1 in. (130 mm)

Rear Suspension/ Travel:

Hidden, free piston, coil-over monoshock; 56 mm stroke; hydraulic preload adjustment/ 4.4 in. (112 mm)

Rake (steering head):

28°

Fork Angle:

28°

Trail:

5.7 in. (145 mm)

Lean Angle, Right/ Left (J1168):

31.3°/ 31.3°

Wheels:

Dark bronze, Radiate cast aluminum wheel

Wheel, Front:

2.5 in. x 19 in. (64 mm x 483 mm)

Wheel, Rear:

5 in. x 16 in. (127 mm x 406 mm)

Tires, Front & Rear:

Michelin® Scorcher® "31"

Tire, Front Specification:

110/90B19,62H,BW

Tire, Rear Specification:

180/70B16,77H,BW

Brakes, Front:

Dual 300 mm black Split 7-spoke floating discs, 4-piston fixed calipers

Brakes, Rear:

292 mm black Split 7-spoke floating disc, 2-piston floating caliper

Brakes, Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS):

Optional

Dimensions & Capacities:

Length:

93.1 in. (2,365 mm)

Overall Width:

34.3 in. (870 mm)

Overall Height:

47 in. (1,195 mm)

Wheelbase:

63.6 in. (1,615 mm)

Seat Height, Laden/ Unladen:

27 in. (686 mm) / 28 in. (710 mm)

Static Ground Clearance:

5.7 in. (145 mm)

Fuel Capacity:

5 gal. (18.9 l) w/ 1 gal. (3.8 l) reserve

Fuel Economy:

47 mpg (5 l/100 km)

Oil Capacity (w/filter):

5 qt. (4.7 l)

Transmission Capacity:

1 qt. (.95 l )

Primary Chain Case Capacity:

1.25 qt. (1.18 l )

Dry Weight:

650 lb. (295 kg)

Curb Weight:

679 lb. (308 kg)

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating:

1,160 lb. (526 kg)

Gross Axle Weight Rating, Front / Rear:

450 lb. (204 kg) / 730 lb. (331 kg)

Luggage Capacity -Volume:

NA

Electric:

Battery:

Sealed, maintenance-free, absorbed glass mat (AGM) battery, 12V, 17.5Ah, 310 CCA at 0°F

Charging:

Three-phase, 42 Amp system (390 Watts @13 Volts, 1000 rpm, 546 Watts max power @ 13 Volts, 2000 rpm)

Starting:

1.6 kW electric with solenoid shift starter motor engagement

Lights (as per country regulation):

└ Headlamp:

All LED, low beam, high beam and signature position lamp

└ Tail/Stop:

LED Zeppelin tail lamp

└ Front Signal Lights:

Incandescent bullet turn signals

└ Rear Turn Signals:

Incandescent bullet turn signals

Gauges:

4-inch analog tachometer with digital speedometer, gear, odometer, fuel level, clock, trip and range indication

Auxiliary Lamps:

N/A

Electric Power Outlet:

USB A-type; output 5V at 2.4A

GPS System:

N/A

Reverse Gear:

N/A

Details:

Model ID:

FXLRS

Warranty:

24 months (unlimited mileage)

Service Interval :

First 1,000 miles (1,600 km), every 5,000 miles (8,000 km) thereafter

Color:

Vivid Black, Gunship Gray

Price:

$17,530, Color: $17,980


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