Harley XR1200. Any good?

[martybabe]

a good reason to get rid of the mufflers is that they weigh a ton

I just took mine off to spruce them up a bit and I can confirm, they do in fact weigh a Ton.

[BIG DOUG]

Hope you didn't put your back out lol

[Shadows]

I just took mine off to spruce them up a bit and I can confirm, they do in fact weigh a Ton.

The pipes and cat weigh about the same again

[Omega1]

I dropped the Buell into Wgtn Motorcycles this morning for a WOF.While there I checked out the XR1200X. As you do I had a chat to Clint one of salesmen and he showed me their demo xr1200x with vance and hines pipes that was sitting in the workshop he started it up and all I can say is "Is it alright if your Harley salesman starts a bike that gives you a woody?" Hell yes very nice sound. Anyway he mentioned the XR1200 model is to be discontinued so the XR1200X model will be the only one you can buy shortly.Funny though, as I was leaving their workshop an Orange XR1200 with a single pipe and headerwrap took off up the driveway Big Doug was that you? if so your bike sounds the bollocks as well.

I'm gonna take that demo bike out for a ride the next fine saturday we have..

Cheers
O1

[Shadows]

Anyway he mentioned the XR1200 model is to be discontinued so the XR1200X model will be the only one you can buy shortly.

That's a shame. The XRX paintjob is a bit fugly.

[BIG DOUG]

Yea that was me , hell that means I have a collectible lol, yea yoshi muffler on a harley who would have thought ,but hey I have already fitted "X" forks so basically have an x you should take the demo for a ride bloody good fun.

[martybabe]

Yea that was me , hell that means I have a collectible lol, yea yoshi muffler on a harley who would have thought ,but hey I have already fitted "X" forks so basically have an x you should take the demo for a ride bloody good fun.

Can you just buy the 'x' forks Doug? The kit has back suspension as well which I don't want.

[BIG DOUG]

yes you can buy the forks separately I also brought the discs I will try and dig out the invoice and get the part number.

[ynot slow]

And looking at the pricing they're a bloody good buy,and yep the only hog this kiwi would buy,shame my local dealer don't want to trade jappas(yet have had several for sale since my last looksie).Still Wellyville just down the road.

[blackdog]

And looking at the pricing they're a bloody good buy,and yep the only hog this kiwi would buy,shame my local dealer don't want to trade jappas(yet have had several for sale since my last looksie).Still Wellyville just down the road.

sounds like yer dealer is a lazy bastard then.

all he needs to do is pick up the phone and get a wholesale shout from any suzuki dealer in the country! (07 bandit would be great stock for any of them!)

make sure you show off yer new one after you buy it and let him know why he missed out on the deal....

[ynot slow]

sounds like yer dealer is a lazy bastard then.

all he needs to do is pick up the phone and get a wholesale shout from any suzuki dealer in the country! (07 bandit would be great stock for any of them!)

make sure you show off yer new one after you buy it and let him know why he missed out on the deal....

True,was looking (Sprint 1050 with luggage)would've changed if the changeover was about $4-5000,meant a trade of $8-8500 for mine(17500km at time)and retail at $10500(similar on floors elsewhere),but the we aint into jappas,fuck me they sell hyobags new,had a TL in stock,still have an SV,had a few VTR'S,even looked at a Buell when runout was going,and the hog xr looks great to me,also a good match for the other XR in the family,but made by 'enry Ford.

[martybabe]

A bit of an update for prospective owners.... All of these opinions are of course personal opinions about the XR1200 You may or may not find them to be true for you.

Over 1000ks done now, Firstly the comfort issues seem to have disappeared as I've got used to the bike,at first a 60 k run would have me looking for a smoko due to the ergos of the bike but we're good for a couple of hundy now, which coincidently is about the best range you'll get out of the fuel tank anyway. I still wouldn't want to tour on it, I'm sure it could be done by hardier folk than me but there are many many bikes that are better for covering distance for sure and a lot of those can be found in Harley's own line up.

It's a quirky beast for sure, quite hard to categorize what it is and what it does well, for me it's no where near as useful as an all rounder, it doesn't have the presence or bling of a cruiser and it's certainly not a sportbike in the class of an R6 or gsxr. We've already established it aint got no long distance inclinations unless you're into pain, so why have one?

Because..It's a bit different, it's got loads of character, it's a Harley that spits in the face of what we've come to expect from Harley, it's fast, it's a bit wild, it handles well. it does bends brilliantly, it looks good, it brakes really well but most of all it's just a real buzz just to get on and have a blast.

Could it be better? well yes of course, adjustable suspension up front (to be ordered soon) a bit more power (to be ordered soon) and a headlight bigger than the aperture on a box brownie would be nice but all those are wants rather then needs, straight out of the box the bikes a goodun. The x model is a bargain at the moment, just over 15K$ in some places, if your teetering on the brink I suggest you get out and test one now. It may or may not be your thing but if you're after a bike to bring the smile back at reasonable money,this could well be it.

I hope Harley runs with the success they've enjoyed with this bike, if they look to the race versions and shed some weight, jack it up a bit and squeeze another 20 or so horses out of it I would certainly be looking at buying another one in a couple of years . Whilst we're at it Mr Davidson, some of the engineering looks like it was done at the quality control stage, as in oops we forgot the oil cooler, no worries just tack weld one on the side and whilst the clutch cable does actually run from the lever to the clutch, I'm sure we could do a bit better than having it flap around in the wind. Still, a valiant first effort at a spirited riding machine from HD and I love mine.

Cheers mart.

[Maha]

Thanks for the write up Marty, I currently have the X model on my watchlist. Not in any hurry to swap just yet but, the XR1200X (at a tad over $16K) would certainly be a contender if I were.

[martybabe]

Thanks for the write up Marty, I currently have the X model on my watchlist. Not in any hurry to swap just yet but, the XR1200X (at a tad over $16K) would certainly be a contender if I were.

Cheers Maha, the 'x' is the better of the two IMO although a bit on the ugly sister side by comparison to the stock job, for me anyway.
I would caution some though, if they were considering it as their only bike,whilst it is without doubt a hoot to ride, it wouldn't work for me, just not long legged enough. Then again, I was talking to 'moviestar' yesterday and he reckons he can do 700k trips on his GSXR1000,frankly that thought would fill me with dread so I may be looking at this from an old fart/comfort-lovers perspective. Either way, Buells aside, it seems to be in a category all of it's own and I kinda like that.

[BIG DOUG]

I always leave the burt munro about 9.30 -10.00 am on the sunday and straight back to the ferry 980kms in one hit just stopping for fuel and one stop for food piece of piss on my xr or maybe I just like pain and in 15mths I have just clicked over 26k and all good.Marty the part number for the forks is 48771-10 l/h and 48778-10 r'h retail $1219.00 retail ea but the boys at wgtn mc said there might be a bit of a discount if your interested.