2011 Harley-Davidson XR1200X [motorcycledaily.com]

[UFO]

I'm still trying to figure out the appeal of this bike over offerings from the now defunct Buell, other than the HD brand and mystique.  Perhaps that's what sells...



To build the XR1200, H-D’s engineers started with the frame and motor combo from the existing 1200 Sportster—itself upgraded in 2003 with an isolation-mounted engine and heavier, stiffer chassis—and seriously souped it up. The old pushrod 1200cc V-Twin received lots of changes—downdraft fuel-injection, hotter cams, higher compression and a 2-1-2 exhaust to name a few—resulting in a loss of a few foot-pounds of torque, but a boost in claimed horsepower to 90 (most dyno tests put rear-wheel power around 75-80 hp). Not quite Buell levels of force, but not bad for a half-century-old air-cooled design, either.

To control that new-found power, the chassis got reworked as well. Gone are the spindly-looking forks and swingarm. A cast-aluminum swingarm holds a cast wheel, and inverted Showa forks locate the front 18-inch wheel. Dunlop Qualifier radials grip the road, and when it’s time to stop, four-piston calipers and 292mm rotors offer modern braking performance.

Read the entire review here:  http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2010/06/2011-harley-davidson-xr1200x-md-first-ride/

[Rogue]

From To build the XR1200, H-D’s engineers started with the frame and motor combo from the existing 1200 Sportster—itself upgraded in 2003 with an isolation-mounted engine and heavier, stiffer chassis—and seriously souped it up. The old pushrod 1200cc V-Twin received lots of changes—downdraft fuel-injection, hotter cams, higher compression and a 2-1-2 exhaust to name a few—resulting in a loss of a few foot-pounds of torque, but a boost in claimed horsepower to 90 (most dyno tests put rear-wheel power around 75-80 hp). Not quite Buell levels of force, but not bad for a half-century-old air-cooled design, either.

Oh my fookin' gawd!  75-80 rwhp.  Woohoo!  congratulations H-D.  Nice job.  

 

The Buell XB9R put out that much rwhp back in 2002!  And it was Buell NOT H-D that designed the "high performance" into that 1200 motor.  


What a joke!

[falconati]

"not bad for a half-century-old air-cooled design"

Uhhhhh.....holy fucking backhanded insults, batman.

[JamesG]

Its a Harley that handles reasonably well (Bandit 1200 territory). And it does look pretty good and as a HD should.  Buell had to deviate from the motorcycle norm (esp. for HD folks) in order to get that lump to go around corners compariably to modern designs,  so this is for peeps who want their "Harley" and be able to corner with it to...

[XLR8]

no

[Mr Sunshine]

90 freaking HP from a motor with more displacement than my Multistrada 1200?  

[Mr Sunshine]

Its a Harley that handles reasonably well (Bandit 1200 territory). And it does look pretty good and as a HD should.  Buell had to deviate from the motorcycle norm (esp. for HD folks) in order to get that lump to go around corners compariably to modern designs,  so this is for peeps who want their "Harley" and be able to corner with it to...

         

someone pick me up off the floor at some point while I continue to laugh

   

[greywolf]

For HD buffs , it is reminicent of the XR750 flat tracker , which had great success.

The 1200 is  decent motor by HD standards, and for some a great day bike.  

While I'm a fan of the XR750 and own a HD Street Glide.. for my money , I felt an FJR was a much better choice for a second bike.

[02Tac]

  I stopped in the local HD dealer late last year to look at the XR because I thought HD was finally making a bike that might interest me.  Visually, I like the bike; still do.  The problem is, and it might just be the one I looked at, is that the fit and finish of my 2002 Bandio is better than the new XR.  The pillion seat is a joke.  When I got home I crunched some numbers and realized that I could get a brand new Bandit 1250 for less than the XR.  

Sorry HD, if you want me to buy one you need to bring the price down, make a usable rear seat and up the fuel capacity.

[1KPerDay]

 When I got home I crunched some numbers and realized that I could get a brand new Bandit 1250 for less than the XR.  

News flash. There will always be a cheaper bike or (for mr sunshine) one with MOAR POWAR!@#!  Buy the Suzuki and be happy.

[DNA]

I htink this could be a serious #3 bike.

#1  = ST or Adv bike
#2 = Dirt bike 250-450cc
#3 = Fun bike for 3 hour weekend rider.
         Could be an S3, Touno, 'Tard, or any number of bikes that are just for having fun on.  

I could see having one.  Really - but as a #3 - not a #1

[Flightar]

The problem with this bike is that Harley dosent know what it is and how to execute it. The best XR750 knock off out there is the Mert Lawill street tracker and thats because Mert knows a thing or two about the originals. The proportions on the HD offering are all wrong as are the details, such as for instance, the seat, tail section, forks, fuel tank, wheels, too much black, etc.

The Sportster could be, and should be, a legitimate competitor for the Ducati Monster starting with the VRod engine being placed into it's frame and hiring some properly talented stylists and then be given the freedom to do their jobs.

This bike is simply another chapter in the long and illustrious history of Harley Davidson missing the mark...I.E. XLCR, XR1000, VRod engine STILL in only one model, V1000 and the lack of a street bike spin off, etc, etc.  

[Rincewind]

I have done some long-distance touring on a Sportster.  

I'd hit that.  Sure it's heavy compared to other naked roadsters, but at least HD is now bringing something to the table in this segment.  Would the extra weight of the HD X model outweigh the convenience of belt-drive and no valve adjustments needed?  I don't know for sure, but this bike would need further evaluation if I were in the market.  

Wet weight of 573lbs is not that bad - only, what... 30lbs(?) over the weight of the Guzzi Griso or older BMW R1150R?  That's not atrocious.  

[Flightar]

Racewind said: "Sure it's heavy compared to other naked roadsters, but at least HD is now bringing something to the table in this segment."

What do you mean by the second part of your statement? Harley HAS done this many, many times in the past going all the way back to the mid seventies but they have never been able to get it right. There is nothing new in this concept. My opinion here is that if they can't do it right they shouldn't be doing it at all.

[1KPerDay]

The Sportster could be, and should be, a legitimate competitor for the Ducati Monster

when it came out a few rags did comparos with the XR, the monster, and the Moto Guzzi 1200 sport. The XR won a couple of them, or at least was picked first by several reviewers. The overall consensus was, "not just the best Harley, but actually a good motorcycle."

But that won't change your mind, of course.



DOO RAGS CHAPS FRINGES TRAILRZZZ

[Rincewind]

Racewind said: "Sure it's heavy compared to other naked roadsters, but at least HD is now bringing something to the table in this segment."

What do you mean by the second part of your statement? Harley HAS done this many, many times in the past going all the way back to the mid seventies but they have never been able to get it right. There is nothing new in this concept. My opinion here is that if they can't do it right they shouldn't be doing it at all.

I mean that now (and since the XR1200 came out) Harley has a viable roadster that has the ability to compete with other naked roadsters (in the market, not the racetrack).  Yes the Sportster has been around forever, but usually not with sportbike components.  IIRC they haven't done fully-adjustable suspension on a bike since the T-Sport nearly 10 years ago.

Maybe you are right that it is poorly executed, I haven't ridden one to tell.  But as an enthusiast I'm glad to at least see HD trying.  

[Rogue]

This bike is simply another chapter in the long and illustrious history of Harley Davidson missing the mark...I.E. XLCR, XR1000, VRod engine STILL in only one model, V1000 and the lack of a street bike spin off, etc, etc.  

The problem with H-D and their whole attitude towards motorcycling is that the company AND most of their customers have blinders on.  They honestly don't want to look beyond their world to see what others are building.  Although to be fair, as long as the Baby Boomers are able to ride, they don't have to.  But the demographics clearly are shifting and those Baby Boomers are getting older and no longer buying bikes.  The only customers who are left to pick up the bag are Gen-X and Gen-Y's.  Guess what?  These two generations are not H-D zealots.  

Seriously, this question has been asked in here and everywhere else so many times:  does H-D know what the performance benchmark is?  

Judging by all the bikes they produce, the only answer any thinking man & woman could say is, "No they do not!"  Why else would they call the XR1200 a "performance" bike when all the other bikes in its very narrow class produces more power, is lighter, and most likely handles better.  H-D reminds me of GM not too long ago in many of the market segments they competed in.  H-D can barely afford to keep doing this because they will eventually run out of "blindly loyal" customers, just like GM ran out of its religious followers one market segment at a time.  Eventually, all they will have left are buyers who are more astute and more willing to look at import brands.  

H-D cut off the limb that was suppose to show them the future of motorcycles, as well as their sole in-house source of true high performance R&D.  

[Flightar]

when it came out a few rags did comparos with the XR, the monster, and the Moto Guzzi 1200 sport. The XR won a couple of them, or at least was picked first by several reviewers. The overall consensus was, "not just the best Harley, but actually a good motorcycle."

But that won't change your mind, of course."

RE: I never said it was a bad motorcycle and have actually wanted an XR750 replica for years but this factory effort could be much, much, more than it is as a total package. In fact I have said for years the only Harley I'd actually buy would be a 1200 Sportster...but then It would have to be torn down and re-made as a XR replica.

[Flightar]

I mean that now (and since the XR1200 came out) Harley has a viable roadster that has the ability to compete with other naked roadsters (in the market, not the racetrack).  Yes the Sportster has been around forever, but usually not with sportbike components.  IIRC they haven't done fully-adjustable suspension on a bike since the T-Sport nearly 10 years ago.

Maybe you are right that it is poorly executed, I haven't ridden one to tell.  But as an enthusiast I'm glad to at least see HD trying.  

RE: I agree that them trying is a good thing but I would insist that they do a better job of trying...they are capable IMHO despite their numerous gaffes. Harley is a complany that I really want to see do better...I really wanted them to do well with the VR1000 and other models but in the end they seem to constantly reaffirm that they as a coropration just don't get it.

[martee99]

I visited a HD dealership last year and was drawn towards the XR1200x ( as opposed to all the chrome monsters). I was checking out the spec in the sales literature and noticed that the engine power output specs weren't printed. I asked the saleman what the hp and torque specs were. He said that HD hadn't made them public yet.  When he told me that, I knew why.   I laughed out loud...to the dismay of the saleman and all the other customers in the showroom. The salesman walked off and left me standing there laughing.