A Milwaukee-Eight drivetrain in a 1992 FXR is enough to make you stop and look. The Hofmann Designs M8 FXR kit is the subject of this Cycle Source Product Spotlight, filmed during our time in Sturgis. We caught up with Curtis Hofmann to talk through the conversion, look over the finished motorcycle and find out what goes into bringing those two generations of Harley-Davidson together.
The question is straightforward: how do you fit an M8 into an FXR while keeping the finished bike looking like it belongs together? Curtis walks us through his approach, from the mounting components to the frame work involved.
Watch the Hofmann Designs M8 FXR Kit Spotlight
Watch the full Hofmann Designs M8 FXR conversation on YouTube.
What Goes Into the Conversion?
Keeping the motorcycle visually cohesive is a recurring theme in the conversation. Curtis explains how the project works with factory M8 bagger components and describes the mounts, isolators, templates and fabricated pieces used to bring the drivetrain and frame together. Seeing those details on the bike gives the discussion more context than a photo of the parts alone.
For a closer look at the hardware, Hofmann Designs lists the following components on its M8 FXR kit product page:
- Left and right weld-in front lower motor mounts
- Oil cooler cross member and regulator bracket for M8 Softail components
- Middle lower and transmission cross members
- Two pivot blocks, a top motor mount and a motor mount link with heim joints
- A sheet metal firewall plate and weld-in mounting bungs
- Sheet metal plates for the primary drain plug and rocker box notches
- Front and rear isolators
Those parts give FXR owners a starting point for understanding the system. Before choosing a drivetrain or ordering parts, discuss your particular frame, donor components and intended setup with Hofmann Designs.
Frame Modifications Are Part of the Job
This conversion involves cutting and welding. In the spotlight, Curtis discusses sectioning part of the lower frame and welding in replacement pieces. That work is an essential part of the conversation for anyone considering a similar build.
The video introduces the system and the work behind it. Use it to get familiar with the approach, then contact Hofmann Designs for installation requirements and fitment details specific to your motorcycle.
Would You Put an M8 in Your FXR?
Watch the full conversation, then join us in the YouTube comments. Would you build an M8-powered FXR or keep its original motor? Tell us which way you would go and what you would want to know before starting.
For more from the Cycle Source crew, check out ShopTalk 354 with Jake Hindes, Prism Supply and The Congregation, which also features this Hofmann Designs spotlight, or browse our motorcycle product coverage.
