Originally for Europe only (imagine that!), Harley-Davidson announced today that its sportiest model, the XR1200X, is U.S. bound. We have already tested the U.S. market , flat-track replica XR1200 here. More than just special graphics, the XR1200X gets uprated, fully-adjustable Showa front and rear suspension and enhanced front brakes. The front fork is no ordinary sportbike unit, instead it is a Showa Big Piston fork, which made its debut on production sportbikes just last year and is generally considered one of the best sportbike forks, if not the best, available. The XR1200X is already available in Europe, but it will appear in U.S. dealerships as a 2011 model. U.S. colors will be “Black Denim” and “White Hot Denim”. Take a look at H-D’s press release below.
MILWAUKEE (June 3, 2010) – The XR1200X is Harley-Davidson® Sportster performance honed to its finest edge. Introduced in 2010 for export markets only, the XR1200X will be available through Harley-Davidson dealers in the United States as a 2011 model. Equipped with fully-adjustable Showa® front and rear suspension components, the 2011 XR1200X can be dialed in to match rider weight, riding style and road conditions. The XR1200X combines this premium suspension with enhanced front brakes and the responsive punch of a high-compression, 1200cc Evolution® V-Twin engine in a dynamic, street-performance motorcycle.
Key XR1200X Features
With a tank and tail section designed to evoke the legendary Harley-Davidson XR750 – the king of the gritty American flat-track scene – the XR1200X puts its mechanical character on display. Wide flat-track bars and rearset footpegs position an assertive rider for active control. The XR1200X has a blacked-out powertrain and exhaust, revised tank graphics, and black wheels with an orange rim pinstripe. The XR1200X will be offered in two colors: Black Denim and White Hot Denim.
- Showa Big Piston Front fork (BPF) eliminates many of the internal components used in a cartridge-type fork, resulting in lighter overall fork weight. The large-diameter of the BPF internal piston allows a reduction in damping pressure for outstanding feedback and smooth action. Rebound and compression damping may be fine tuned with adjuster screws located on top of the fork bolts. The spring pre-load is adjusted with a M5 hex screw on the axle holders.
- Showa rear shocks feature 36mm pistons with piggy-back nitrogen charged reservoirs. The compression damping may be adjusted with a knob on top of the reservoir. Rebound is adjusted with a thumb wheel on the lower clevis. Rear spring pre-load is also adjustable.
- Nissin® dual front brakes feature 292mm full-floating rotors and four-piston calipers.
- Isolation-mounted XL Evolution 1200 cc V-Twin engine with black powdercoat finish features downdraft Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI), high-performance camshafts, precision oil-cooled cylinder heads and a large-capacity oil cooler. Compression ratio is 10:1. The engine is rated at 74 ft. lbs. peak torque @ 4000 rpm (per SAE J1349).
- Upswept, high-volume 2-1-2 straight-shot exhaust system with satin black finish offers extra cornering clearance.
- Chassis features a high-performance designed tubular mild steel frame. The rigid, cast-aluminum swingarm is engineered to enhance handling.
- Dunlop® Qualifier D209 tires were designed specifically for the XR1200X.
- Three-spoke lightweight cast-aluminum wheels, 18-inch front / 17-inch rear, are finished in gloss black with an orange pinstripe on the rim.
- Wide, black dirt-track handlebar for enhanced steering leverage and comfort.
- Rearset foot pegs for additional cornering clearance.
- Compact instrument display with white-faced analog tachometer, digital speedometer, dual trip meter and clock.
- 3.5-gallon fuel tank with aircraft-style aluminum alloy fuel filler.
- 29.2-inch seat height with standard passenger pillion and foot pegs.
- Optional Harley-Davidson® Smart Security System.
Bikes that I’ve own or still own:
1972 Honda CL350
1977 Kawasaki KZ650
1980 Honda CB750f
1983 Suzuki GS750e
1986 Kawasaki Concours
1986 Suzuki GSXR750
1992 Harley FXLR
2002 Harley Ultra Classic
Next Bike:
Harley XR1200x
Because it’s different and fun to ride. Nothing else. So all you bikers quit bashing each other and just go buy the bike that you like to ride. It could be worst, no bikes of any kind/type at all.
Its interesting how many references there are in this thread to the demise of Buell and how evil ol Harley just done Erik anc comapny wrong.
If you thought he was all that great maybe you should have bought some of the bikes and they might still be around. In the end it comes down to sales.
As for the XR those of us who have them seem to like them a lot and are very glad Harley built them just the way they did. For those who don’t, well, the Honyamsuzkaw dealership is right down the road.
Yes, the Japanese makes are right down the block (your bigoted label notwithstanding), the makes that did not get my taxpayer money to assist with their continued existence, as did the greedy folks at H-D. I wonder why did H-D not demand the employees and stock owners just return some of the multiple millions in H-D profits garnered during the bubble? The racist label is typical of the ignorant breed of H-D owners.
I have little reverie for the loss of Buell. I owned a Ulysses for a month or so. I considered the new water cooled models, but “ugly” doesn’t do them justice. Eric had a strange design ethos.
Racist label? Thats pretty darn funny (and idiotic).
Even funnier when you consider I have Hondas, Suzukis and a Triumph (token European) in the garage as well.
Sorry if some of us who like a bike that actually has some sporting intentions are raining on your HD love-fest over a bike that, apparently, is only intended to LOOK like it has sporting intentions. It’s a pity that the “Motor Company” has to upgrade the brakes and suspension on their girl’s model just to make it handle and stop like it should have to begin with. I guess the same could be said for the performance of their bigger bikes, as well.
Doesn’t rain on anything to me. I like my XR just as it is. If you don’t then don’t buy one. How hard is that?
Theres plenty of plastic rockets for you to pick from.
This isn’t a bike that’s supposed to compete with a freakin Honda interceptor.
If you want a race bike guy buy one.
Go blast down a 30 mph road doing 60 mph for 75 feet and then stop at the light and wait and idle at 0 mph. big whoop.
I like my Harley. Im 34. bought it when 33. rode japanese bikes before that. never rode one over 90. don’t care.
Ugh, I want to give HD credit for this model, but it’s just too aesthetically unbalanced to nail that gotta-have-it appeal. Looks like all the weight is in the rear and that headlight is way too small making the front end feel like some parts are missing. I’m usually a function over form type person, but this bike looks the big brother to the Buell Blast which ain’t a good thing. Why not build a bare-bones XR750 replica instead of this mutant?
I have to agree with LC: well said, very well said.
It’s a shame that this bike is seen more for what it ISN’T than what it IS: a really good street bike.
No, it’s not as fast as any sport bike out there.
It isn’t meant to be. And who cares?
If you don’t like it, don’t buy it or ride it.
There is too much of this “it’s not like my bike, therefore it must suck” attitude in the riding community as a whole.
I’m just happy to see people riding whatever they are riding. Especially the ladies. We need more of that.
Spend less time bitching about other peoples rides and just ride your bike.(end of rant)
And apparently, there ARE people who like this bike, because Harley has decided not only to release it for another model year(the ’09 was considered a limited run), but also added this model variation.
From what I’ve seen and read, the owners of these aren’t your typical Harley customers either. And I think that was Harley’s plan all along.
They’ve got a couple of really terrific commercials for the XR running on TV. Everytime I see one, I want to go out and buy one. I guess their plan is working because I’ve been noticing quite a few of these in my area and the owners look like they really like them Haven’t had a chance to talk to anybody yet. They’re too busy riding to talk.
I’ve gone on a couple of test rides(limited) and have to say that this is one really neat bike! I don’t find it all that heavy or slow and the brakes work about better than any of the ones used on the Harley’s I’ve owned. I only wish the tank help more fuel. But this isn’t a touring bike either. Yes, I like this thing a lot and I can’t wait to ride this version of it as well.
I like it so much, I’m having a hard time not trading in or selling my current bike. And I like that bike very much!
I’ve got one of these in my sights as my next bike. I’ve just got to figure a way how to do it and keep my current ride.
But that’s another problem entirely.
God drives a Harley. The only people that can cut down American Quality are the people with NO Quality. If you drive an Import then drive it back home. Answer me this , Why do all the Imports COPY Harley ? ? kickstart out
You make some very well reasoned points and have run rings around everyone logically. I just can’t get this image out of my head of the Creator of the Universe, who spoke everything that is into being by the mere utterance of His voice, waiting on the side of the road with a cell phone to His ear, trying to arrange a tow.
Harley Deems U.S. Market Worthy of XR1200X — WOW, WHAT A LEAD IN! WHOP THE HELL IS HARLEY TO DEEM THE U.S. MARKET WORTHY? WITHOUT THE U.S. MARKET OVER THE YEARS, HARLEY WOULDN’T EVEN EXIST! THIS IS TOTALLY UNMITIGATED GALL, NO HUMBLENESS HERE. OF COURSE WITH THEIR PRICE TAGS, THE COMPANY IS INFALLIBLE!!
You might keep in mind that this is the web sites title, not a quote from Harley Davidson.
They introduced the XR first in Europe and now they’re continuing that trend with the XR-X. They want to know if there is a market here before they bother. Actually a pretty smart tactic.
I keep reading all these criticisms of how this bike isn’t a “true sportsbike” and how it won’t run with everyone’s latest, greatest 600cc sportbike. Guess what, Geniuses? You are correct! Yay! Now go get yourself a lollipop and sit down.
Liking motorcycles is great…I’m glad you do. That’s good for the industry, and good for business. But at least be open to the fact that there are better options for given purposes than whatever you are currently riding. The XR1200 is a GREAT streetbike. I’ve ridden one…and ridden hard…for many miles. It is more comfortable on a daily basis, and has real-world, right-now power at lower speeds and lower rpm’s. The bike feels great hitting it at top gear from a 60-mph roll.
I’ve had them all, by the way…my last 600 was a 636, 2005. I’ve had two ZX-10’s, GSXR’s of all sizes, and many other bikes. I won several WERA races in 1990 and 1991 on a Yamaha FZR 400. Current bikes are a 2009 Concours 14 and a 1994 HD Sportster.
I am not a Harley fan per se. I believe them to be over-priced but very well made and great at their intended purposes. The XR has a great look, handles well for a backroad burner, has great low-end, real-world power, and carries with it an air of exclusivity not achievable on any modern 600cc sportbike.
If you haven’t ridden long enough or on enough bikes to appreciate each one’s nuances, write a reply about that. That will be fresh and entertaining, and a lot less closed-minded. Until you write something like that, those of us who know will enjoy a lot more about motorcycling while hoping that one day you “get it.” You really are missing out.
I estimate this thing is about twice the weight of its racing XR750 forbear. Pathetic, and uninteresting. It would be interesting to see an image of this next to the XR750 to get a feeling for the difference in mass.
Total waste of money. How can anyone call this thing a “sport bike”. It is just an outdated sportster with a new paint job and a couple new parts. Typical Harley Davidson.
As an American, I would love to be able to ride a Harley. It would make me proud to ride an American-made motorcycle. Also, I live near York PA and have several friends who work for the MoCo. But I cannot force myself onto any of Harley’s products ever again. They simply are not proper, modern motorcycles.
It’s painfully obvious that engineers have little to no influence at H-D. To the dude who said he was an engineer at Harley, I’m sorry. That must have been painful.
Slapping proper forks and brakes on this bike is just like sneakers on a fat guy: why bother? You might as well wear your bunny slippers dude, because we know you’re not running anywhere.
I learned to ride on an 883 and an eighty-inch Evo cruiser and, hey, I was riding a motorcycle. It was great.
Then I got my hands on a 1978 Kawasaki Kz550. It was a dozen years older than the Harleys. It was also far lighter, had far less rotating mass, far less unsprung weight, more centralized mass, more comfortable seat and riding position, the brakes were just as good if not better (again, on a lighter bike with less rotating weight…), the systems were just as reliable despite their age and easier to work on, the seat was better suited to two-up riding, the fuel tank was bigger, the engine had better peak horsepower and got better mileage…uhhh, basically it beat the Harley in every category except bottom-end torque and attracting teenage girls in halter tops. But since I’m not a fat guy or a child molester I didn’t feel I was missing anything.
Oh yeah the KZ cost $500.
I love my country. But we didn’t get to be the world power we are by making imbecilic personal economic decisions or relying on protectionist propaganda to sustain self-eliminating domestic marketing strategies. We are a nation born of adventurers and innovators. Now, apparently, we just like to dress the part.
MAGNIFICENT!!!!!
Fat guy or child molester eh? Aren’t you sweet.
I’m not saying all Harley riders are fat guys and child molesters.
I’m just saying I can’t think of anyone else who has a good reason to ride one.
Well, if you live long enough to grow up and don’t wrap your little plastic repli-racer around a tree maybe you’ll figure it out.
ouch!
looks like I stood too close to the fire…
Many enthusiasts like myself are baffled and angered over the perceived bad taste of motorcyclists partaking of the fruit of the H-D tree.
Rejoice, and be glad! The USA demographics from my crystal ball reveal the following. The average age of H-D buyers increases moment by moment. What does that mean? That means, low and behold, they are slowly but inexorably disappearing from the face of the earth. As another poster noted earlier, they are trading their H-Ds for electric wheelchairs and sit-in shopping carts. The next stop after that is a quiet, large expanse of green well-manicured grass bordered by a solemn black cast iron fence.
Beyond the current rotten economy, it is telling that H-D recently went from about ten years of double digit growth to just narrowly avoiding bankruptcy with a loan from you and me (U.S. taxpayers).
Fewer and fewer new motorcyclists entering the sport are naive enough to buy the H-D mythology.
Some readers think H-D was wrong to kill Buell (it occurs to me they should have at least tried to sell it). I figure that persons generally interested in H-Ds are so very old that less than 1% care at all about performance. They just want to wake up in the morning and make believe they are James Dean. That is quite strange considering they average about 3x Dean’s age when he died.
One day, the sooner the better, you will wake up and find H-D gone to the place now occupied by Pontiac, Hummer, Saab, Saturn, and soon Mercury. Good riddance.
The Italians have been racing this bike in a one-make series for a while now. These bikes dressed in Ohlins and Termignoni exhausts look good, sound good and apparently go pretty good (at Road A’ they are currently just shy of the 110% cut off for AMA Supersport).
I never met a bike that wasn’t fun, regardless of power and weight.
You just have to have an open mind and an honest evaluation of your own riding skills.
Harley as an American company. How true. Its 100% wall street oriented and senior management does not personally care about the product.
They consider the US retail market to be supersaturated, i.e. basically everyone in the US that wants one has one. Growth is targeted at rest of world. Rest of world is less oriented to “fat old guy on fantasy ride” or “then came Bronson” images than USA, so they put in some roadworthiness content for rest of world. They are obviously stuck with the super high costs and the ancient technology so thats unavoidable, and their marketing links the legacy technology with the image that they are selling.
Lets see how this strategy fares. Its market has to be top 1% income wise world wide. There is growth potential there so they will be making money, which is good in the end.
Personally I would rather buy a toy bulldozer than a harley. Or a plane. I share Harley’s senior management’s preferences.
The truth is the guy probably learned to ride and has a small stable of them, after getting the job. Part of the job.
And when are they going to build such a bike with a real engine in it instead of a paint shaker?
It seems to me there are a lot of 20 somethings out there with out a clue of what riding is all about. Riding is much more than how fast one can make it from point a to point b. Maybe 10% of riders can extract 90% of the performance out of their bike. Most riders find themselves wishing they had a more comfortable riding position so they can ride more than 50 miles without feeling like a pretzel and heaven forbid having a passenger to hamper the ride even more.
Maybe but Gen Y represents the future customers. Gen Y buyers aren’t impressed with old nostalgic bike designs that use ancient materials and components. Look at the cell phones and computers Gen Y buys. They demand quality and the latest technology. Also I disagree you can’t have a great riding experience on a Japanese sportbike. I prefer performance and agility over nostalgia. I can tour 100 miles easily on my ZX-6R. Harley really screwed their future by killing Buell
“tour 100 miles”? What?
yeah, that is a joke isn’t it?
A group of these GenY’ers pulled up behind our group of “fat old fantasy”-types this weekend in NW N.C. and had to drag along for 5 miles or so in the twisties. Their butts were so puckered it was funny and I have to admit we all sorta slowed down to irritate them. 2 of them finally burned past us across a double yellow on a blind outside turn on a 25 mph limit road at 100+ mph. The second guy had to cut short due to oncoming traffic and forced himself right onto me, then lit out like a bat out of Hades when the coast was clear. The rest just had to wait. We all had a good laugh when we passed them all at the next station. I wonder – when you all get to your destination, do you remember any of it? Or is it just endless replays of the soda-straw view of the road in front of your tire at hypervelocity?
Same thing happened to us at the Tail Of Dragon… Lot’s of pent up rage being expended? Ahh the folly of youth….
Yeh, Harley’s win all of the road race (the one’s only Harley are allowed in).
aww the youth…?? what ?? i am a youth and i had a softail and a roadking and will not own another harley ever! harley does use ancient technology so im 31 and my bro 33 left harley and went to BMW and love em!! also kawasaki klr and he just bought 2 ducati’s..now i dont want to rip on harley just dont like there u should buy american attitude or your not patriotic.. well keep up with times harley, you cant sell bikes on your reputation much longer cause banks cant support it..the bikes just aint worth the money anymore and im with the guy who said be a curtious rider and move over for other guys!!! I lost a buddy on the road in front of me and being angry that a guy on a different bike passed em.. Ride Curtious please!!
“…and I have to admit we all sorta slowed down to irritate them.”
Why would you do something like that and feed into the tension? They may have acted stupidly but you all baiting them like that didn’t help the situation. So, we all like to ride different bikes in different ways for different reasons. Get over it. Did anybody consider moving to the right half of their lane and waving them by? Thst’d be the considerate thing to do and might build some good will. As motorcyclists, we have enough “enemies” out there. Let’s not make enemies out of fellow riders.
Yea I get pretty peeved when slow old men who don’t know how to ride aren’t polite enough to get the hell out of the way.
Why all the haters?
I have an XR1200 it the most fun bike I have ever owned.I thought the suspension on the original was spot on!Try one before you hate!!!I think HD hit a home run with this line of bikes.
“We simply expect more from Harley-Davidson. A lot more!”So what do you want from HD a 600 supersport inline 4?
We expect some fresh thinking. There are so many independent designers who are creating modern interpretations of the cruiser HD should be leading that. Also killing Buell was a dumb move. HD will regret that decision as their market starts to become residents of nursing homes.
Most of the posters aren’t really geting the Harley Proposition. It isn’t about being the fastest, meanest bikes on the planet, it is about the experience.
The XR1200X isn’t supposed to be a HonKawYamZuki sportbike. It is a slightly hotted up sprtster, which offers a great basic bike experience, now with enhanced handling. The haters won’t like this bike, as is obvious from most of the previous posters. Those who want this type of bike will love it.
Impressive, different suspension and color makes it a whole new model! Typical Harley. I guess Buell was moving way to fast for corporate Harley. Now if they are real smart, after getting that line of trikes ready they will move on to building coffins. Focus on that core.
My favorite one word description:
“p-i-g”
Someday Harley will realize that there are substances called aluminum, titanium, and carbon fibre. Until then they will build bikes out of the same stuff Buick made cars out of in the 1950’s.
I’ve been riding since 1964. Broke in every bike as if I’d stolen it. Nothing but standards and sportsbikes until Nov ’06. My first cruiser is a 2007 Kawasaki Mean Streak SE (yes, the one with the cheesy flames). Looked at the Street Rod but couldn’t justify the price for the performance. Been happily embarrassing 600s in the twisties around Clifton, VA. A few bona fide sportscars, too. Harley’s? I can’t see them in my mirrors, but I can soetimes hear them trying to catch up.
I rode last years xr1200 at a dealer demo ride a couple of weeks ago. Upgraded suspension may help a little but it won’t change the fact that this thing is way too heavy to be a sport bike. It was quite a bit slower than my Buell, and didn’t handle nearly as well, either. I was surprised at how unexciting it was. A friend of mine who also rode one, described it as “a nice cruiser, but still a cruiser”. The moto journalists have been much too kind to this model in my opinion. Maybe they wish to encourage Harley whenever they seem to actually try to design a real motorcycle instead of the usual dogs they market to guys that like to dress up like pirates. Whatever. If this is the best they can do they still have a long way to go.
What about retuning the Porsche engine in the V ROD and using it?
Sounds like the Street Rod, c. 2004-2006. Nobody bought it.
Waaay too heavy. Erik Buell was originally going to use that in what became the 1125R and 1125CR, but H-D screwed with the design such that engine became too heavy for the Buell it was designed for, so H-D decided to put it in their V-Rod line and, eventually, Buell designed their own engine and contracted Rotax to build them.
The sportster is the nicest entry level bike that you can buy. I didn’t say cheapest. But it’s nice looking, stone reliable, has HD name, comfortable and fun. It doesnt do anything dangerous and it’s at the top of the class for anything, but it sure is a nice choice for a starter bike. Especially when you compare the total cost of ownership, including depreciation makes this bike very cheap to ride.
Not sure I agree with that. The Sportster is heavy and expensive compared to the competition from Europe, china and Japan. As far as depreciation HDs are starting to depreciate as baby boomers are getting older they are replacing their bikes with walkers, wheel chairs and mall scooters. 😉 Good starter bikes are the Hyosung GT250 Comet, Kawasaki Ninja 250 and 500. Honda Rebel, Star Motorcycles Virago, Suzuki SV6650, Ducati Monster 696, Triumph Bonneville, Suzuki GS500F, all of these bikes save the Ducati are cheaper and more modern than the 1940s era Sportster
You’ve obviously never ridden one. It’s no ZX-10 or Ducati, but if that’s what you want then go buy one instead of critizing.
Well I have BillyG. I rode a Sportster and Honda cruiser.. Harley’s bikes are inferior to the competition. Both in technology and price. James is spot on. Big mistake for Harley to get rid of Buell in my opinion. No 20 something is going to want this Harley bike.
Don’t blame the engineers. I used to be an engineer at the H-D PDC, and I am still friends with a handful of current PDC engineers. The engineers are a ‘lowly’ bunch at H-D. They don’t get to make product or marketing decisions. They mostly do as they’re told. Yes, they are encouraged and even rewarded for bringing fresh ideas to the table, but ultimately it is out of their hands what products see the light of day.
I have a HD Heritage and a Ducati Hypermotard 1100S. My Hyper has the same power (HP and torque) as your XR, better brakes and almost 150 fewer pounds. The XR1200X has me interested but lets be honest, its a PIG!!! Before I bought an XR, I would pick up a Highland http://www.asl-testsite.co.uk/motors/new/Highland-750-DirtTrack-2006.jpg
LESS IS MORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wake the F up WillyG, everyone of your bikes is overweight. Sad, as HD could be all that and more what just a little effort.
This sums it up quite nicely:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izzlN2zC8PU
Great video. LOL I agree it says it all quite nicely.
Too bad they didn’t set it up with the power of the old Buell XB12R, 84 ft lb of torque instead of 74 would have helped a little with the weight.
I think they built that same bike in 1982 only then it was called the XR1000, geez lets show SOME progress in performance and technology and weight savings in the last 30 YEARS!
Not that I would ever buy a HD! I was hoping they would learn something form Buell and Mv Agusta: the way to build a “sportbike” is to build a racebike and then hang the minimal street gear required.
In this instance if they are modeling the XR750, then they should start with a minimal XR750 style frame and then add on what is required to be a decent streetbike.
BTW HD, a decent streetbike goes ATLEAST 150 miles on a tank of gas. If your beast gets 30mpg then you need at least 5 gallon tank!
If you would never buy an HD what difference does it make what they do?
Might as well keep building it as they are for those of us who do like it.
Nice attempt, but….make the front wheel 17″ so you can actually find decent replacement rubber for it, add radial brakes, 2 more gallons of capacity to the tank, lose the ghey “denim” paint choices, add 40 more hp and then you’ve got my attention Harley. Nah….I’ll stick with my ZRX1200R thank you very much.
“Dirt Track Replica” !?!?!?
It’s a reasonably styled and well-sorted standard, but doesn’t look much like a dirt tracker at all. IMHO – Harley missed the boat on this one from a styling perspective.
Very pedestrian.
That’s so last year. I want to see the 2010 HD T-shirt line up.
First of all, flat trackers are cool. Street fighters are cool. This bike is too heavy to be a street fighter, and is trying to hard to be a flat tracker. The Storz bikes, now those are flat trackers.
A Harley with Japanese Nissin brakes and a Showa fork??? How ever will this bike be allowed to park near the masses at bars, rallies and coffee shops? And what is with the color- White hot denim? Sounds like something that the Village People would wear. Makes me think of jean shorts which no man should ever wear.
Coming upon a group of Harley riders would they stop waving as it passes? Most likely yes, and the irony is that it is probably the most true of all of their offerings to their origins.
This bike, while headed in the right direction, is not much of a streetfighter either. It is about twice the size of my Speed Triple. The shift rod alone could be off of a John Deere tractor. If Harley says it is a streetfighter, then it is a streetfighter for BUBBA who weighs 300 pounds.
Who makes a 1200cc roadster with a 3.5 gallon fuel tank? How far will that get me, 80 miles? WTF????
Its about friggin time they actually made a sportster..umm..sporty! What’s with the 18inch front wheel though?
I still think they should have given the revolution engine to Buell
NO RADIAL-MOUNT CALIPERS?? Unacceptable…
Harley’s got to come up with something. Uprate suspension components may well attract some who would never have gone HD?
At least they put the foot pegs back where they belong.
Super bike… real rear shocks….. To be an XR1200 needs to be an orange option.
Honey, I think we have a winner here “if” they can expand the fuel tank to 5+ gallons! I agree, orange & black would definitely work (or better, yet, Steeler black and gold).
I like it! I hope Harley continues to address its performance issues. Looks good on ya Harley! Now if you could just bring back Buell… and perhaps the street rod with similar fork treatment and diet of carbon etc to help it lose some weight!
Wow, dump Buell and intro the XR1200 to America. Now there’s some common sense at work.
Being a multi Buell owner I’m glad to see they’re doing something besides Bobs and Glides. Too bad it still doesn’t have a gas tank. Where ya gonna go on 3.5 gals.? I’ve ridden the others, not bad, BUT, it’s pretty embarassing to ride a bike that makes more frequent stops than a kid with a peanut sized bladder.
Not a harley fan but I like the XRX look. 100% needs an orange and black version. I hope this bike is a trend towards other new sportier models from HD…
I doubt they’d have done this if they hadn’t hosed Erik first. I guess not enough Buell owners were buying the chrome googaws and life style costumes from the HD Boutique. Not that I’m bitter or anything.
This model was developed long before Buell got the axe, so it’s back to work for you in the conspiracy research center!
Nice try Gabby. It MAY have been developed a while ago – but for Europe, NOT here. My comment referenced HD deciding to bring the bike to the US – you know, the topic of the story. No “conspiracy” – just stating an opinion that this “new” model would have been redundant, (not to mention forlorn and unsold), if the XB’s were still in showrooms.
They brought the XR13200 in when there was no talk of axing Buell, and they actually sold the bikes. Not a big seller by any means, but they only need to sell a few thousand a year. If Buell was still around H-D would still be selling the bike in the USA. It’s serving a very different market that Buell did, and it’s a very different bike.
But what the hell do I know…
Just so I understand……people are supposed to look at this now instead of a fuel-in-frame, mono-shock, rim-mounted, oil-in-swingarm styling-from-another-planet bike from a guy they’ve never heard of?
Even if I squint from 100 yards in the dark this thing doesn’t resemble a Buell. And ONE ‘heritage’ model to replace and entire line of bikes?
You may not want to claim ‘no conspiracy’ – but it sure sounds like it.
And why do you care? I think there’s a conspiracy to find a conspiracy.
There’s more to this question than appearance, (why is it always about looks to the pirate costume croud? Aarrgh.). The comparison comes down to a bike with sporting intentions, (although that’s very debatable with this cruiser, they’re at least trying to market it as such), powered by outdated, 80 year old engine technology.
HD was never “bailed out” by the government. The government put a tariff on imported bikes over 700cc, and they pocketed all the money, Harley didn’t see a dime of the tariff money. The US Gov got the benefit.
Harley just got some relief from the Japanese dumping product into the US market below production cost.
How do figure Chirpy???. The Japanese bikes were more expensive for the consumer than Harley bikes because of the tariff. Thus Harley sold more bikes and made more profit. On a level playing field Harley wouldn’t have had a chance.
The japanese bikes were brought up to the level (pricewise)that harleys were at by the tarrif not above it and as chirpy pointed out only bikes above 700cc were affected so the japanese started making 700cc bikes to get around it
Anybody who thinks the Japanese have any intention of playing on a level field doesn’t know much about their business tactics.
The Japanese were dumping product below production cost to drive other competitors out of business so that they could then have the market to themselves. Its something they are well known for doing.
Tax payers just bailed out their financial arm a few months ago.
Exactly H-D got a big ‘ol helping of TARP and that was a “bailout”
If I recall correctly, the majority, if not all of HD’s “bailout” was a private loan from Warren Buffett at a leg breaker interest rate if 15% interest, due in 2014
http://www.cnbc.com/id/28998181/Warren_Buffett_Takes_300_Million_Motorcycle_Ride_With_Harley_Davidson_Revving_Up_the_Stock
I’ve had an XR for about a year now. Its good to see them doing this, the suspension was the biggest issue with the bike although stock was hardly unrideable.
Having said that I have the upgrade forks that will be on the X model and added a pair of lower end Ohlins shocks and it does a lot for the bike so I think those who buy the X will be happy.
I personally dislike the blacked out look and I don’t care for the black or white (I have orange)so I think I would rather have dealt with the suspension than redoing the color.
Hope it increases XR sales, seems a lot of people still don’t get the bike. Out of about 50 bikes over 40 years it may well be my favorite in terms of just being flat out fun to ride.
So is this the equivalent of the suspension upgrade package allowed for the XR’s that will be running at Road America this weekend?
When is someone going to do a review? Yup they have to have orange.
WOW! Harley an ” American Motorcycle Co.” has decided to grace the America’s with a bike that has quality functioning parts on it. Don’t get me wrong. I have owned several HDs and I have nothing against the HD company itself. However, being an “American Motorcycle Co. ” that tax payers once bailed out wouldn’t one think that we in America should get first preference on their upgraded bikes?
It’s nice that an “American Motorcycle Co.” would put quality parts on it from Japan(suspension and brakes) and tires from an English company.
I am glad that H-D is keeping their American market in mind with the release of new bikes. The XR1200 currently in our local showroom is the only model that I enjoy sitting on. With its standard sitting position, slightly aggressive handle bars, pegs to the rear. It is the only sportster that is worthy of the name. I only take issue with the colors. To be an XR it has to be orange. Who painted it white???
Slap that guy!