Harley-Davidson used the Low Rider nameplate on the FXLR in two distinct production eras. The first FXLR appeared for the 1987 model year as the Low Rider Custom, part of the FXR family. It was Harley-Davidson’s more custom-styled take on the FXR chassis, carrying the Low Rider identity into the Evolution Big Twin era and remaining in the lineup through 1994. That first run made the FXLR an important bridge between the earlier Low Rider tradition and Harley-Davidson’s later performance-oriented chassis development.
After a long gap, the FXLR name returned for the 2018 model year on the redesigned Softail platform. This revived Low Rider kept the familiar Low Rider visual cues—such as the dual tank-mounted gauges and throwback styling—while moving the model into Harley-Davidson’s modern Softail architecture. It was offered through the 2020 model year, after which the Low Rider line shifted into newer related variants, including the performance-focused Low Rider S.
Because the nameplate was discontinued and later revived, the FXLR history should be understood as two separate chapters rather than one continuous run. Enthusiasts often associate the first period with the FXR’s reputation for handling and the second with Harley-Davidson’s effort to blend classic Low Rider styling with a more refined, modern chassis.