Comments on: New Harley Davidson XR1200

By: Geoff

Geoff — Fri, 22 May 2009 01:59:36 +0000

A Harley that has sparked my intrest (yes) but for what will most likley be to high of a price tag.
This bike for what it really dose not offer, should not be any more than about 8,500
If it is it’s just for the name.

By: Eric Estrada

Eric Estrada — Wed, 20 May 2009 07:00:28 +0000

Sorry Mike, I tend to disagree with you. Don’t get one of these bikes if you expect it to perform in any way (unless you compare it to another Harley). I ordered one and 300 miles later I got rid of it. I don’t know how it got such rave reviews in magazines. I will not say it was a bad bike, just not as good as the Harley dealer and some magazines proclaimed. The suspension is squishy under hard braking and cornering, hard over potholes and is not adjustable except the spring preload in the dated rear outboard shocks. The footpegs are uncomfortable, being mounted to the engine cases, they make your legs bow outward to clear the wide engine and gave me leg cramps. For something making 20 more horsepower and more torque than an SV650, I expected it to be alot faster in a straight line and in the corners, but to my dismay the SV was right on my heels. Around town it was a pretty good bike, except the catalytic converter (which is right under your foot) makes your right foot pretty warm and the engine radiates ALOT of heat when sitting in traffic. Also there is no helmet lock and the fuel cap doesn’t have a lock on it for some reason. You may read this and say I don’t know what I’m talking about and that I’m wrong, but look at how many of these are already being sold used on ebay and cycle trader with less than 300 miles on them. I’m not the only one that thinks the XR1200 is over-rated and was let down by the motor company. To clarify, I do not hate Harleys; I had an 1999 883C Sportster and really liked that bike, I personally liked the 883C over the XR1200 because it was just a better day to day machine, wasn’t made up by the media to carve corners like a comparable Jap bike. I know the XR1200 isn’t a competitor to the 2008 Honda CBR1000RR I just bought, but I paid less and got more bike in my opinion. Just my 2 cents.

By: Mike

Mike — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 04:44:31 +0000

I just bought mine for $11,000. I’ve put about 200 miles on canyone road. This is the most fun I’ve ever had on 2 wheels, and I’ve ridden a lot of different bikes in the last 28 years. For all you haters, great, you’re right, the bike sucks, don’t get one. For all you real riders, get one, you will love it.

By: Fred

Fred — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 18:30:48 +0000

I owned a sportster back years ago when I go back into riding. I had a guy call it “half a Harley”. It was a nice ride, but I soon went to a Heritage Softail, then a Road King. Now have a Heritage softail springer and it is my favorite of all Harleys. This bike will fit a specific segment of the motorcycle market and if I was into this type bike, I would ride this over a Japanese bike for sure.

By: Joe

Joe — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 15:44:32 +0000

Just to update anyone who is still listening to this post: The HD XR1200 will in fact be sold in the US. I went over to the local HD dealership where I found they had reserved one for themselves in the color I liked the most: HD Orange (this color is extra). I gave them a deposit that puts my name on the title and the remainder of the $12,500 will be handed to them at the end of February 2009 when the bike arrives.

$12,500 seems a little high for a bike that isn’t as blazing fast without looking at my personal tastes. I owned a 1999 Kawasaki Ninja ZX9-R for 3 years and later a 2002 Honda Magna VF750 for 5 years. The Ninja’s power kept getting me into trouble and I could not seem to keep it blow the speed limit. After changing to the Magna, I always wished it could take corners faster and had a better suspension (the bad suspension eventually cause the bike to be destroyed when it lost control and went under a hard braking condition). Also, since I am in the USA, I have always wanted a Harley, and the quality and craftsmanship in their motorcycles over the past 20 years appears to be 2nd to none. I would have perferred to see a newer engine on the XR1200. A buddy has a Softtail with the 88-inch CVO engine, and he said it has a 100,000 mile warranty. That seems unrealistic, but certainly says Harley knows that engine is built well. The monster transmission on the CVO engine would prevent leaning into corners, though. I wonder how the V-Rod engine would fit on there? I don’t like the look of that bike, but I do think the engine is a great performer.

For me, the XR1200 just fits what I need. I’d like to see Harley discontinue this bike so that I’ve got the only one around. Since I bought it, though, the bike is likey to be modified and turn into a serious bike for the money – and I’ll be stuck with the first version that lacks in every way. That’s just my luck. {sigh!}