Harley Davidson XR1200

[Bonez]

Good write up James. Hmmm Motu don't keep us in the dark too long.................

[Bonez]

Ride a 1200 'S' Sporty and post your comments, I bet there is bugger-all to chose between it and a XR1200, bugger-all....

Its nice to have something from HD that looks totally different from their other offerings. Is an "S" model Sporty even offered now? There's an N, C, R(closest to the old S I think) and L model.

The XR certainly will have wider selection of tyres to choose having 17" rims.

[scumdog]

Its nice to have something from HD that looks totally different from their other offerings. Is an "S" model Sporty even offered now? There's an N, C, R(closest to the old S I think) and L model.

The XR certainly will have wider selection of tyres to choose having 17" rims.

Sadly they stopped being made around 2000 or so, the Yanks weren't buying lots of them

I guess they mostly figured they didn't need the handlng and in any event wouldn't have realised the difference in the models except the price.

"shoot boy, fer THAT price I could by a regular 1200 and a shitload of chrome an' Screaming Eagle stuff to put on the bike"

Also they cost H-D lots more to build than a standard 1200.

[cobrettie]

Great write up, bout time someone wrote something good about the XR.
I have just recently ridden one my self and have to say the best damn sportster yet. My only gripe about it is, that its a bit vibey below 3,000rpm which makes riding in 50, 60 kph areas unpleasant, but get it above 3,000 rpm and shes a beaut. Smooth and a real pleasure to ride, love it.

[Motu]

The XR certainly will have wider selection of tyres to choose having 17" rims.

One of the compromises to make it acceptable to the modern day rider.The XR750 (and any flattracker) has 19in rims with the same size tyres front and rear.That will actually handle really well on the road,but a rider brought up on 17 rims with fat low profile tyres wouldn't handle that really well.A lot of effort was put into the XR1200 to get it to feel like it almost might be a dirt tracker....but with the small fat rims and modern tyres that the buying public will be familiar with.

For me....there will be no compromise....

[Crasherfromwayback]

Ride a 1200 'S' Sporty and post your comments, I bet there is bugger-all to chose between it and a XR1200, bugger-all....

They're like night and day mate!

[nudemetalz]

When you're going bike-shopping, Jim,...don't forget to look at the Guzzi 8V Griso and Bellagio !!!!
(And call me when you are doing it !!)

[vifferman]

All I've got to say is, if it'd been released 10 months earlier, I'd be riding one now.

Would you, or would it be praked up in the gargre, like Betty?

Lovely review, Dr Deuce!

[jrandom]

Would you, or would it be praked up in the gargre, like Betty?

Betty's not praked up in the gargre, she's at Chris Mitchell Motorcycles being race-prepped for PMCC round 1.

So if the XR1200 had been released 10 months earlier, I'd be the first person to race one in NZ! (Perhaps.)

(And lose, of course, but I'd be losing with style.)

[Crasherfromwayback]

Betty's not praked up in the gargre, she's at Chris Mitchell Motorcycles being race-prepped for PMCC round 1.

So if the XR1200 had been released 10 months earlier, I'd be the first person to race one in NZ! (Perhaps.)

(And lose, of course, but I'd be losing with style.)

If they reintroduce Sporty racing with the fuckers I'm gonna dust my leathers off. Probably in more ways than one!

[riffer]

A funny thing happened to me today while riding the XR1200.

I'd gotten to the Pauatahanui end of Grays Rd on my usual test ride loop of SH1, Grays Rd, Haywards, and SH2 back to Welly...

and I turned left...

Now as any Wellingtonian knows, left ain't going to take you back to Welly. Left is the turn to take if you have something worthy of punting over the goat track of death, the awesome Paekakariki Hill -

and you don't want to take a Harley over there for a test ride. You're in for a frustrating time - and horribly scratched pegs and pipes.

But this bike is different. You notice it at the first corner. Those wide bars and that 18 inch front make the bike tip in so sweetly and you lean it over expecting the crunch that doesn't come (well it did but I had to try very hard).

I'd thought it would be faster, but I'm spoiled through riding too many big bikes. But it's definitely not slow. It's up there with a Vrod for speed in most conditions and a lot more fun to ride - turns better, leans more and dare I say it - looks a LOT better too.

Harley Davidson have finally done it - made a Sportster that really is sporty. Shakes like crazy at idle. You can actually see the motor rocking back and forth. At 1500-3000 it sounds just like my lawnmower. Then you get to 3500 and grab WOT and all is forgiven. Its off - just like that. The tiny little speedo is at 135 before I know it - and I'm flying into a corner on Grays - a 60km/hr one, pulling on the brakes (cause it's a Harley and they're supposed to wobble around corners) and cursing myself as I go around at 90 because it could have gone through sooooo much smoother if I was going another 10 or 15 km/hr quicker. The brakes are good too - definitely keep up with the bike.

If I had to have any criticism of the bike it would probably be the finish. However given the price point ($16.5K) I would be very surprised if it had the quality of a Harley costing $10K more. The steering head bolt looks a bit cheap and some of the other bolts had a bit of a "Chinese" look to them as well. But these are minor details and easily remedied. Most Harley owners like to customise their bike and anodised bolts are easy to get.

I love Harley indicators. So intuitive. You push the indicator button on the side you want to indicate and push it again to stop. Or after a while it just stops. Magic.

You want to know the worst thing about this bike? You can't buy one. Apparently they're all gone.

I've just added it to the next bike contender list. In two years there's going to be a second hand one for sale.

or else..

[Big Dave]

http://www.kiwirider.co.nz/photos.html

[Shadows]

Looks like it's a winner.

Now to be released in their domestic market.

http://www.alefshd.com/news_article.asp?id=3430

[Moki]

The XR1200 looks a swt ride!

[Shadows]

That does it. I'm going to inspect one in the flesh and take it for a spin to qualify my opinion one way or the other.

If it is a huge step up (although I don't think it will be) and on closer inspection I can get over the arse end of a jappa tacked on to the front end of a sporty look that I get from the photos - I will buy one on the spot.

In silver.

You'd love it. You're just the man to wander around the Port Hills making little Gixer riders cry.

Don't say I'm not a man of my word.

Now that I've seen it in the flesh and I've gotten over the look I put my money down on a pewter denim one today.

I'm sure it'll be a hoot, I'll test ride it later (it's pissing down today).

Anybody wanna buy a sporty sport?

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ad.php?t=93708