A Harley sprotsbike?

[unstuck]

Jolly good matey, I'll pick 'er up soon

Too late, I sent the moody little fucker to work in manapouri.

[AllanB]

They still are, go for a blat over the Lindis on an XR1200.

Dump the low pipe for a high rise set and I'd have one.

Is it not ironic that the Harley best suited (IMO) to NZ roads is no longer available. Bit of a sales fail in the USA too. darn shame really as the chances of HD having another crack at it are remote.

[ellipsis]

Dump the low pipe for a high rise set and I'd have one.

Is it not ironic that the Harley best suited (IMO) to NZ roads is no longer available. Bit of a sales fail in the USA too. darn shame really as the chances of HD having another crack at it are remote.

...it was destined to make the hd sales in euro lands big...that was their target market...or so the sales team said...a lot of hype prior to it being realised, was based around the frog and brit market and it's expectations...i want one too...

[GrayWolf]

...it was destined to make the hd sales in euro lands big...that was their target market...or so the sales team said...a lot of hype prior to it being realised, was based around the frog and brit market and it's expectations...i want one too...

Dump the low pipe for a high rise set and I'd have one.

Is it not ironic that the Harley best suited (IMO) to NZ roads is no longer available. Bit of a sales fail in the USA too. darn shame really as the chances of HD having another crack at it are remote.

The fact it was aimed at the European market is probably why it is so suited to NZ roads, there are a lot of similarity between them for road styles. Just a damned shame they dont use the XR motor and basic chassis for a more conventional (roadster style) sporty....
But then Yamaha did almost the same with the MT-01 and also 'blew it'........

[willytheekid]

Harley Sports bike?...yup!


1994 H-D VR1000:

[Conquiztador]

Here the story of the now defunct VR1000 superbike "experiment" by Harley Davidson (1988 - 2001), written in August 2001 after the axe had fallen:

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/vr1000_obit.htm

[BIG DOUG]

Was at a bicycle trade show in 96 in LA and they had the vr1000 there I was standing next to it with a britten t-shirt on and a guy comes up and starts dribbling on about how great the britten is and then shows me pics of him welding up vr1000 frames preety cool to meet someone who had something to do with it.Oh yea I have an xr1200 and have just clicked over 65000.00k's and still puts a smile on my dial everytime I ride it.

[pritch]

They still are, go for a blat over the Lindis on an XR1200.

The XR1200 was a nice idea. KBer Martybabe had one from new, it turned out to be ummm problematic. Turned a Harley fan into a BMW fan.

There are some on Tardme if you're feeling brave.

[miSTa]

Welly motor cycles let me & miSTa take two out for a test ride one was stock the other had a mod,

Aye we did, was a bit of a laugh. The modded one, i.e. louder, was the better ride. Spotted six or so at Akaroa yesterday, still a nice looking bike.

[ducatilover]

The XR1200 was a nice idea. KBer Martybabe had one from new, it turned out to be ummm problematic. Turned a Harley fan into a BMW fan.

There are some on Tardme if you're feeling brave.

What goes pop on 'em? Sad to hear they're problematic as they're the only post 1960 Hardley I'd use as an ornament

[scumdog]

What goes pop on 'em? Sad to hear they're problematic as they're the only post 1960 Hardley I'd use as an ornament

Prob'ly the bits made in Japan!!

[ellipsis]

What goes pop on 'em? Sad to hear they're problematic as they're the only post 1960 Hardley I'd use as an ornament

...who said things go pop on them...not heard of anything untoward myself...know a fair few owners of them too...I still want one, not the one that goes pop though...

[ducatilover]

...who said things go pop on them...not heard of anything untoward myself...know a fair few owners of them too...I still want one, not the one that goes pop though...

Pritch said he knew of one which was troublesome.

I like the look of them. It brings me to tears that they do host the worst sounding vtwin in the world

[pritch]

What goes pop on 'em? Sad to hear they're problematic as they're the only post 1960 Hardley I'd use as an ornament

It didn't go pop. It didn't go.

PM Martybabe and ask him to tell you the long sad story if you want the details.

[GrayWolf]

It didn't go pop. It didn't go.

PM Martybabe and ask him to tell you the long sad story if you want the details.

When that happens to anyone it is a 'sad tale' and it's not to be made light of for the grief they go through...
But lets put that in perspective.... of course the Japanese NEVER make the odd 'rogue bike'? Or have NEVER made a poorly designed or constructed machine have they?

I'm no Hardley 'lover' in fact the XR is probably the only HD I would admit to thinking of ownership of. Guzzi, Ducati, Aprillia, Moto Morini etc all had a reputation for being 'enthusiasts' bikes (read unreliable/poor electrics/poor build quality select the appropriate one). You'd hope that HD NZ/Aus eventually sorted the issue out for him, but then it seems a lot of importers try to avoid 'ownership' of rouge issues on bikes, so maybe he had a difficult time?