August 2002 V-Twin  

2000 Pro Street Magazine Feature

October 2002 V-Twin
FXR:
The Essence

You might have come to realize that Zip Showket is among the number of riders who believe that there has never been a harder launching, better handling, smoother riding Harley Davidson motorcycle than the FXR.

In his youth Zip began his two-wheeled quest for great riding. At the age of 7 he was beating the hell out of the family moped, doing jumps and burnouts. That's when his dad sat him on a dirt bike, and from there he rode motocross for the next 20 years.

In 1988, Zip bought a factory-fresh Harley-Davidson FXR and began acquiring an appreciation for the cult following associated with what many believe to be the ultimate Harley. He bought plenty of other bikes in the next few years, but when Zip finally decided to build a custom cruiser for the high- way, he saved the heart from his first love and built this fine example of taking the very best and going one better. With the '88 Evo mill being overhauled at BFD Racing, Zip ordered a Chopper Guys frame and hooked up with master fabricator Greg Hartwell (hartwellmotorcycles.com) to form a cool collaboration.

Greg's custom project list reads like a who's who of custom bikes and cars. Zip and Greg tag teamed for this FXR project to put out a bike that was built to ride, and to visually explain Zip's personal concept of what an FXR is all about.

A rear swingarm was handmade, the tanks were chopped, stretched, channeled and lowered, while the frame had lots of mods going on too.

The ignition switch was relocated and the oil bag was eliminated, but not before the frame was re- structured on the underside to accommodate a special FLH tranny with an internal oil filter.

This FXR was completely redone from stem to stern with all of the parts being "detailed down" to fit together aesthetically as well as they do mechanically.

The powerful engine now displaces 84 cubes and makes 71 horses, but when Zip and his wife head up the coast from Novato, California, to go camping near Yosemite, the 105 foot- pounds of torque available keep him carving the corners without having to take the bike out of fourth gear. If you look too close at the underside of the frame, you'll count more than a few serious scrapes.

Exactly what does it take to build a hot custom FXR scooter with legs for the road? This bike took Zip.
-Jeff Moore

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