Article from MCN 13/12/06. :clap
Gimmee gimmee gimmee.

where's the link?

Engrish prease?

On your side of the pond maybe, stateside were still waiting.:shhhh

http://xlforum.net/vbportal/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=9137&stc=1&d=1166042062

Whoops - Forgot the pic.

Celtic - The Harley link

http://www.harley-davidson.com/wcm/Content/Pages/2006_Campaigns/XR1200_minisite/XR1200.jsp?locale=en_GB&swfxrdna=1

Kev M - Gimmee means please give me one.

I see it now. In the new Motorcyclist mag. it has a good write up with some specs. I think this is already common knowledge but, weight-540# lightened crankshaft, beefier bottom-end bearings, increased compression, trans moved outward for 180 tire and 85-90 hp. the article didn't mention the forks but they are better too. And of course the new air induction system. They say maybe we will see it here in 08. Hope so, looks like fun.

http://xlforum.net/vbportal/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=9137&stc=1&d=1166042062


ohhhh boy, oh boy, oh boy.

ONE STEP CLOSER!!!

:clap :banadanc :clap

Celtic - The Harley link

http://www.harley-davidson.com/wcm/Content/Pages/2006_Campaigns/XR1200_minisite/XR1200.jsp?locale=en_GB&swfxrdna=1

Kev M - Gimmee means please give me one.


:laugh Yeah, I got that, I use it too on this side of the pond. It was more of a give me some details, what do you mean by Go-Ahead, MCN, 12-13 etc...

I got it now. Looking good!!!!

K

Too bad it don't list the USA for the prototype.:( :frownthre

:laugh Yeah, I got that, I use it too on this side of the pond. It was more of a give me some details, what do you mean by Go-Ahead, MCN, 12-13 etc...

I got it now. Looking good!!!!

K

MCN - Motor Cycle News - UK weekly newspaper. They have a web site

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/

Quite an interesting read.

MCN - Motor Cycle News - UK weekly newspaper. They have a web site

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/

Quite an interesting read.


I'm not familiar with it, other than I see interesting links posted to them from time-to-time.

MCN in the US stands for Motorcycle Consumer News - a monthly, very dry, "Consumer Reports" type publication that accepts no advertising and hardcore tests bikes/gear etc. Loads of good information in it, but it gets a little boring and preachy though, even by my standards.

Kev

A good-looker, but the ultra porky 540# weight and meager 90 crankshaft hp will cost it a LOT of potential sales. So, the first thing one has to do to make it perform LIKE IT LOOKS, is shave off another 40 lbs. and stuff 88" in the frame. It'll take lot of brand loyalty to keep this poser flying off the showroom floors.

Yeah, I'm not happy about that 540# number, but let's see... still keeping fingers crossed...

Betcha can get 40# off it just changing the muffs. & who aint gonna do that? :p

:laugh Yeah, I got that, I use it too on this side of the pond. It was more of a give me some details, what do you mean by Go-Ahead, MCN, 12-13 etc...

I got it now. Looking good!!!!

K

zactly.

i've seen the harley link, just wondering what the 'news' was.

40 more pounds? Just about everybody in America could stand to lose 40 pounds. Not a real big deal in my opinion. The 90 hp is good for a 12 second quarter mile. If I had enough money to burn I would buy one.

It has to be a Slug compared to what some serious cafe guys have done to their Sportsters. That basic suspension has been done, but better. The engine has been made to do better numbers. The weight? Good God, that's heavy. Heck, my bike was a tick or two under 450# when I was dragracing it. 540# puts it up there with my old 1977 Kaw 1000.
Looks good, thats about it. Might handle a little better than the "R" model, but not much.
Ted

COOL! I would still like one.

I am getting one of those as soon as possible. This is the coolest that has ever happened in history! :smoke

Too bad it don't list the USA for the prototype.:( :frownthre
Yeah I noticed that.

Looks like its only intended for these countries..

If they ever sell them in America you better buy one right away because they'll be canceling it after 2 model years because of poor sales.

If they ever sell them in America you better buy one right away because they'll be canceling it after 2 model years because of poor sales.

Prolly why it's not being sold in the USA.


How about a CVO sportster with a 100+ hp for us stateside thats rigid mounted, the prototype is just another over hyped "wobbling" POS handling roadster.:clap Just a waste of time till they fix the suspension and make it handle like a Ducati or Aprillia superbike, which H-D is too dumb to relize.

540 lbs? I didn't think H-D could make a bike that light. Maybe it's kilos.

40 more pounds? Just about everybody in America could stand to lose 40 pounds. Not a real big deal in my opinion. The 90 hp is good for a 12 second quarter mile. If I had enough money to burn I would buy one.


12 second 1/4 miles for a machine being marketed as a "performance bike" would be fair advertising in 1976........but, this is 2006. Tossing around 540 lbs. in river canyons & mountain roads is a LOT OF WORK. The styling is right up my alley, but before I open the wallet, I need to see the "beef" - not the "pork". The technology was out there for H-D to bring the XR1200 more in-line with the Buells, but they chose to hold the line at a custom swingarm and the rest of the bike is a "parts-bin" special. Virtually all of the motard singles will eat it alive. Having a factory modified 525cc dirt-bike smoke you on Mt. St. Helens would be an ugly moment.

..the prototype is just another over hyped "wobbling" POS handling roadster.:clap Just a waste of time till they fix the suspension and make it handle like a Ducati or Aprillia superbike, which H-D is too dumb to relize.

:roflblack :roflblack

Might handle a little better than the "R" model, but not much.
Ted

:laugh A Dump Truck handles better than some of our R models:doh

I like the bike myself....BUT..unless they address the swingarm issue........I'll neve buy one. Fix that little issue and I'll get right in line for one!

Anyone put together why HD makes as much money as they do??? Cause they put out a bike that demands to be tinkered with. So they will put this XR out that weighs 540lbs and only 90 hp so that we can all do with it as we like. Some will strip every oz off they can, some will bore it out more, most will put on a new a/c and pipe and tinker here and there. But its a good starting point. Now you look at some of the super bikes out there, What can you really do to them? I know there is a HUGE after market for them but what... sliders, steering stabilizers, new breaks, some paint or a race body (that doesn't really change the look all that much), tires, exhaust, clip-ons, etc... You get my point? HD puts out a bike that can go from a cafe racer to a chrome prince (or princess) depending on where you go with it. And thats true for most of their production line. I've seen dynas and softales that were striped and ready to rock, but at the same time there are the road sofa versions out there too.

lol this is almost as good as the 1200 converstion is not a real 1200 thread.

No-one is saying it's a superbike, it's a "SportING" bike - it's Sport-like, Sportish, kinda like a SPORTster.

I'd a cafe ready, better going, turning and stopping rubbermount. Nothing wrong with that. Like a Thruxton... it's not the fastest, but arguably one of the coolest.

I'd already told the sales manager at my local dealer I want one.

But this morning I was getting the Guzzi inspected (my Harley dealer inspects all my bikes for free) and I bumped into the owner.

I said "Stretch, the XR, I WANT THE FIRST ONE"

He said "no problem Kev, but you're probably gonna be waiting until AT LEAST next January"

I said, I'm putting my pennies away!!!

Kev

At least it's a step in the right direction. 90 hp and 540 lbs isn't bad at all. It's a step above 70 hp and 580 lbs. Maybe if it sells well they will bump it up to 100hp and 500lbs (eventually).

I was excited about the idea at first, and still would like to see it built, but I think that instead of spending $10k on a new bike, I'd be better off keeping the one I've got and putting $1500 worth of engine work into it.

I was excited about the idea at first, and still would like to see it built, but I think that instead of spending $10k on a new bike, I'd be better off keeping the one I've got and putting $1500 worth of engine work into it.


Nothing wrong with that approach!

I'd consider that EXCEPT.

1. Jenn would kick my fat ASS
2. It's nice to have 2 bikes that are comfortable and tour capable AND can be ridden 2-up (so my daughter gets to choose).
3. Jenn's gonna want a Ducati too anyway

So

I think an XR1200 is about the perfect middleground, more performance, more fun, better suspension and brakes, EFI .. yeah, sounds good to me.

Kev

I don't think Ducati has anything to worry about.

I don't think Ducati has anything to worry about.


Well in the short term they already lost a sale.

I was going to buy either a Buell or a Duc, but I've dropped them both for the possibility of this XR!

K

From another thread:

I think you meant to say the footpeg mounts are good for 10 lbs... and still, I am not convinced. Looking at the rear sets in the photos Bert posted, they look like black-painted steel castings to me.

Wheels would ideally be good for 20 lbs, but this assumes those wheels are made as well as similar wheels from Brembo, Marchesini, etc, as used by Triumph, Ducati, inter al.

I think I see maybe 25 lbs saved from looking at the photos. We'll see though.

Woo-hoo!!! I am so smart...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNcXV5_juq0

I think HD are heading in the right direction, If they come to Aus I would be in, change the exhuast for a stainless steal one. Remove what I could and get a bigger bore kit if available. Heads etc . Then she would walk the line.
Losing weight I think would be the go with this bike.

I think HD are heading in the right direction, If they come to Aus I would be in, change the exhuast for a stainless steal one. Remove what I could and get a bigger bore kit if available. Heads etc . Then she would walk the line.
Losing weight I think would be the go with this bike.

Frank at HH in Elizabeth st rang Aus head office for me, they told him they would be available for 2007 model year here in Aus, so possibly Sept next year.. No indication on price.