In the wake of Buell, Harley brings over the XR1200X

[Rincewind]

Harley is offering their new XR1200X to the US market for 2011.  This is similar to the XR1200 with some uprated suspension and performance forks.  

Will this new X model attract ostracized Buellers?  Or are they still too pissed to even consider it?  If the Buell-sympathizers are reluctant to buy, then who will buy it?  Sportster riders wanting more Sport?  Or is this gonna bring a new crowed of Euro/Asian bike buyers to HD?  Would you buy it?




http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2010/06/harley-deems-u-s-market-worthy-of-xr1200x/

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.




UK Harley site with specs.  573lbs wet, btw.

I sort of like it...  I mean... for a Harley...

[Geoff]

Nice bike. A cafe fairing would complete the styling, giving it the look of the XLCR Cafe racer. The new XR1200X should attract younger buyers.  Whether or not metric riders and Buell fans vote with their wallets remains to be seen.

[chornbe]

Many metric riders won't... ever. The perf-per-$$$ isn't there for the Gixxer crowd.

[Rincewind]

Nightster in black is £6,990 in the UK..  this XR1200X model is £9,350 or 1.33x the Nightster.

In the US, the Nightster is $9,899..  at 1.33x, that means this model could cost around $13,165 US!  

[highside]

Depending on price I could seriously consider this bike. Twin cylinder standards are a bit rare, and just about my favorite configuration.

[chornbe]

Nightster in black is £6,990 in the UK..  this XR1200X model is £9,350 or 1.33x the Nightster.

In the US, the Nightster is $9,899..  at 1.33x, that means this model could cost around $13,165 US!  

Hopefully it'll replace the standard XR at the same price point.

But I seriously doubt it.

[marc11]

I think that bike looks pretty hot.  No idea how the performance will be, especially the suspension, but with a little cafe fairing as mentioned above makes it at the very least one damn fine looking machine.

[county]

Another half-hearted attempt by The Motor Company to move past their Heritage.

[bomber]

I do not believe that Buellers will flock to this bike.

Some will buy it, I'm sure -- there were Buell owners who came to the brand through HD, for whom the Buell was a higher-performance alternative to the bagger that also lived in their garage, but these were not the standard issue Buell riders.

Some Buellers are still furious at HD (rightly or wrongly is theirs to decide, of course).

The remainder, which, I believe, represents the vast majority of Buell owners, won't see the XR series as even a remote replacement for anything in the last Buell lineup.

It seems like a nice bike -- one of the challenges HDI will have in the US will be getting dealerships to not try and "girl bike" the XR, and trying to get the potential buyer to buy a different (higher margin) HDI product.

[Steve-H]

Depending on price I could seriously consider this bike. Twin cylinder standards are a bit rare, and just about my favorite configuration.

Really ?

[chornbe]

I agree with Bomber, mostly.

Buell's biggest feature is its handling and raw power is a secondary consideration.

This bike has the same power delivery (which I rather like), but even the Tubers will out handle this bike in the hands of a serious rider. The bike (I rode the XR, not the XR-X, granted) handled well... downright "good" and not "good for a Harley" as someone else on this site also said, but it's no Buell and it never will be.

The price simply needs to drop. At sub$-10k regular MSRP, I bet these would be all over the place.

$.02

[desert_rider]

I rode the XR1200 and really liked it and I think this would be a blast.  H-D even has a bunch of nice farkles for it, but with a 3.5 gallon gas tank... don't think so.

[scottzilla]

"Real" Harley riders view Sportsters as girls bikes and everyone else views them as "Harleys".
Remember that the next time you give HD a hard time for not expanding their line, etc.  

[marc11]

Really ?

Add to that fine list the Versys, ER6, SV, Strom and the offerings from Aprilia....

[pcrdude]

I like it.

I would pay $9K, but no more.

[Powder Addict]

Holey swingarm!  

[phoenix]

Even if it is priced the same as an XR1200, I don't think sales will be any better. I have yet to see an XR1200 on the road, and I live in cruiser valley.

just my prediction. Looks like just a different color of XR1200 or another Sportster model.
You wanna sell to sportbike demographic? Build a sportbike.

[Rincewind]

You wanna sell to sportbike demographic? Build a sportbike.

 

IMO this bike with it's potential price is likely to only appeal to the Roadster crowd.  Not the cruiser crowd, not the sportbike crowd, and not the naked hooligan crowd.  It is for the same people that would eye up a R1200R, Guzzi Griso, Rocket Roadster, or maybe the high-end Monster 1100S.  

[Frankienuckles]

I am not in the market for any new bike right now but, if I wanted somthing like this I'd get a Phil Little conversion of a souped up 1200 sportster for a lot less cash than a new xr1200. Check these kits out at  http://www.phillittleracing.com/  . These look cool as hell..

[chornbe]

I don't know about the "way less" part, if their pricing is anything like Storz.