Comments on: 2011 Harley Davidson XR1200X http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2010/06/03/2011-harley-davidson-xr1200x/ Motorcycle News for Positive People Sun, 12 Feb 2012 06:40:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Richard http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2010/06/03/2011-harley-davidson-xr1200x/#comment-371934 Richard Tue, 08 Nov 2011 20:33:32 +0000 http://thekneeslider.com/?p=11558#comment-371934 Let's face it the facts here. With the technology that HD incorporate into their engines and frames, they will never be building a true performance sport bike. As Looks go, I actually think the XR1200R looks very nice. I once had a Honda 550 with a Tracy Fiberglass one piece body that looked similar. I built that back in 1979. I have always like clean lines like this one has. No chrome, like this one has. But I also demand performance on tap at all times for the bikes I ride. I have worked for three different HD dealerships in the Pacific NW, and now how the engines are built. It's still basically a 1935 design. Sure some things have improved, but the basic design is a big bore, long stroke, pushrod 60 degree V-Twin. This just isn't where performance can breed and grow. Ducatti with it's 90 degree v-twin and desi heads are far more performance based engines, and any Japanese inline 600cc 4 sport bike will produce more HP, and do it at 13,000 rpm too. Nope, if HD ever want to make a true performance bike, they will have to bring in new designers, scrap the V-Twin idea, learn how to weld and fabricate a proper performance Chromoly or aluminum boxed chasis, with real performace oriented suspension, and make an inline tripple or four cylinder super bike, and SHOCK the world with it. HD needs to break free of the V-Twin if they ever want to tap into the performance market. Keep the big V-twins for that staunch HD American market that they have owned ever since the James Dean days, but never try to pass them off as Performance anything. They aren't. And Buell?, they were the ungliest bikes on the Planet, but had some performance. Still, any Japanese 600 CC sport bike wold eave them in the dust. There was a reason that Super bikes were 1,000cc inline 4s, because that's where the performance was, until Ducatti and Aprila caught up with their V-twns. Anyway. I still like the looks of the bike, but it should not weight any more than 425lbs Tops. There is no reason for it be that heavy. If there was an American Made inline 4, and Harley sold it, AND had good performance AND reliability, they would sell faster than $1 tickets to a Bikini Contest in Ft. Lauderdale during spring break !! Of course this IS...just my opinion. A 51 year old, 40 year motorcycle riding, building, and performance enthusiast. Every bike has it's place...Road kings, sport bikes, crotch rockets, cruisers, V-twins, inline 3,4, and 6's, and flat opposed 4 and 6's. even singles.. They are ALL FUN, and have their place. Just don't confuse them. Let’s face it the facts here. With the technology that HD incorporate into their engines and frames, they will never be building a true performance sport bike. As Looks go, I actually think the XR1200R looks very nice. I once had a Honda 550 with a Tracy Fiberglass one piece body that looked similar. I built that back in 1979. I have always like clean lines like this one has. No chrome, like this one has. But I also demand performance on tap at all times for the bikes I ride. I have worked for three different HD dealerships in the Pacific NW, and now how the engines are built. It’s still basically a 1935 design. Sure some things have improved, but the basic design is a big bore, long stroke, pushrod 60 degree V-Twin. This just isn’t where performance can breed and grow. Ducatti with it’s 90 degree v-twin and desi heads are far more performance based engines, and any Japanese inline 600cc 4 sport bike will produce more HP, and do it at 13,000 rpm too.

Nope, if HD ever want to make a true performance bike, they will have to bring in new designers, scrap the V-Twin idea, learn how to weld and fabricate a proper performance Chromoly or aluminum boxed chasis, with real performace oriented suspension, and make an inline tripple or four cylinder super bike, and SHOCK the world with it. HD needs to break free of the V-Twin if they ever want to tap into the performance market. Keep the big V-twins for that staunch HD American market that they have owned ever since the James Dean days, but never try to pass them off as Performance anything. They aren’t. And Buell?, they were the ungliest bikes on the Planet, but had some performance. Still, any Japanese 600 CC sport bike wold eave them in the dust. There was a reason that Super bikes were 1,000cc inline 4s, because that’s where the performance was, until Ducatti and Aprila caught up with their V-twns.

Anyway. I still like the looks of the bike, but it should not weight any more than 425lbs Tops. There is no reason for it be that heavy. If there was an American Made inline 4, and Harley sold it, AND had good performance AND reliability, they would sell faster than $1 tickets to a Bikini Contest in Ft. Lauderdale during spring break !!

Of course this IS…just my opinion. A 51 year old, 40 year motorcycle riding, building, and performance enthusiast. Every bike has it’s place…Road kings, sport bikes, crotch rockets, cruisers, V-twins, inline 3,4, and 6′s, and flat opposed 4 and 6′s. even singles.. They are ALL FUN, and have their place. Just don’t confuse them.

]]> By: Jeff B http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2010/06/03/2011-harley-davidson-xr1200x/#comment-361917 Jeff B Fri, 30 Sep 2011 05:20:20 +0000 http://thekneeslider.com/?p=11558#comment-361917 Well well I see there are a lot of doubters out there as to what the XR1200 is capable of. Like any Harley owner who wants a cookie cutter. I have had mine for 2 yrs now with 40 modifications. What nobody seems to understand the XR is not great at any one thing its good at all of them. As far as fat yes she is or was, I'll have mine below 500lbs wet next week. HD builds there bikes (over engineered) for the lowest common denominator of a person. My bike has been flaw free so far and is fun to ride. Will it be a super bike I think not however as far as HP is concerned 92BHP is the current number. I have seen XR's pushing 100BHP and I'm sure you could build one with 140hp at a very large cost and have a time bomb on your hands. It is true that it is torque that moves us. Boys you cant ride a dyno sheet. I love the bike, hey your either in or out, I'm in. Has Harley built a perfect bike I say nope thats why I have modified mine and many of the mods are custom one off parts I made myself without ruining the classic style. Will it beat the competition bikes out there on the road driven by pie faced kids,sure it can with the right rider because at the end of every straight away there is a turn and coming out of that turn is where the torque is needed most. I have been down at the dragon and the bike handles exceptionally well even in the rain, you do however need to work the weigh. Its a fun bike to ride, it wheelies just fine and it will do 132mph when needed. At 50yrs old I'm not scared. Like one person I know who owns one says "when you turn your bike on does it repay the favor" mine does Well well I see there are a lot of doubters out there as to what the XR1200 is capable of. Like any Harley owner who wants a cookie cutter. I have had mine for 2 yrs now with 40 modifications. What nobody seems to understand the XR is not great at any one thing its good at all of them. As far as fat yes she is or was, I’ll have mine below 500lbs wet next week. HD builds there bikes (over engineered) for the lowest common denominator of a person. My bike has been flaw free so far and is fun to ride. Will it be a super bike I think not however as far as HP is concerned 92BHP is the current number. I have seen XR’s pushing 100BHP and I’m sure you could build one with 140hp at a very large cost and have a time bomb on your hands. It is true that it is torque that moves us. Boys you cant ride a dyno sheet. I love the bike, hey your either in or out, I’m in. Has Harley built a perfect bike I say nope thats why I have modified mine and many of the mods are custom one off parts I made myself without ruining the classic style. Will it beat the competition bikes out there on the road driven by pie faced kids,sure it can with the right rider because at the end of every straight away there is a turn and coming out of that turn is where the torque is needed most. I have been down at the dragon and the bike handles exceptionally well even in the rain, you do however need to work the weigh. Its a fun bike to ride, it wheelies just fine and it will do 132mph when needed. At 50yrs old I’m not scared. Like one person I know who owns one says “when you turn your bike on does it repay the favor” mine does

]]> By: Roger http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2010/06/03/2011-harley-davidson-xr1200x/#comment-340350 Roger Tue, 05 Jul 2011 19:33:01 +0000 http://thekneeslider.com/?p=11558#comment-340350 It makes for a better cruiser, except for the space for bags on a trip which could be easily corrected. All sportsters should have this engine as an option, and all Harley's should have the Buell belt tensioner and the Buell drive belt for a longer lasting belt drive. Harley doesn't claim that is is a true sport bike, and they should just sell it as an improved sportster that can be taken more places. They could sell it as an adventure bike if they added hard bags, a single shock and a few other options. They also need an XR Scg model like Buell had to fit more people who would buy it if they could touch both feet flat on the ground. I know that if I was in charge of marketing this bike I could sell a lot of them with just these few extra options that would fit the desires of a much broader base of people. However this is a very low maintenance bike that with a few options for hard bags and weather protection would make a great commuter bike as well as adventure bike which would compete well with the BMW 1200 series. Harley is on the right path with this bike, but they just have to add the few options mentioned and sell them properly to make it a seller to the riders who now ride the BMW 1200 series and pay a lot more for their bikes as well as more for maintenance. It makes for a better cruiser, except for the space for bags on a trip which could be easily corrected. All sportsters should have this engine as an option, and all Harley’s should have the Buell belt tensioner and the Buell drive belt for a longer lasting belt drive. Harley doesn’t claim that is is a true sport bike, and they should just sell it as an improved sportster that can be taken more places. They could sell it as an adventure bike if they added hard bags, a single shock and a few other options. They also need an XR Scg model like Buell had to fit more people who would buy it if they could touch both feet flat on the ground. I know that if I was in charge of marketing this bike I could sell a lot of them with just these few extra options that would fit the desires of a much broader base of people. However this is a very low maintenance bike that with a few options for hard bags and weather protection would make a great commuter bike as well as adventure bike which would compete well with the BMW 1200 series. Harley is on the right path with this bike, but they just have to add the few options mentioned and sell them properly to make it a seller to the riders who now ride the BMW 1200 series and pay a lot more for their bikes as well as more for maintenance.

]]> By: Zyalatr http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2010/06/03/2011-harley-davidson-xr1200x/#comment-297921 Zyalatr Tue, 28 Dec 2010 04:25:33 +0000 http://thekneeslider.com/?p=11558#comment-297921 I just picked mine up today...20 degrees and snow..can't wait till about 40 degrees to slide around on the salty roads in MN I just picked mine up today…20 degrees and snow..can’t wait till about 40 degrees to slide around on the salty roads in MN

]]> By: Zyalatr http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2010/06/03/2011-harley-davidson-xr1200x/#comment-295084 Zyalatr Fri, 03 Dec 2010 05:44:11 +0000 http://thekneeslider.com/?p=11558#comment-295084 Well, I guess that most of the "Harley D Haters" have never ridden a TORQUE driven m/c..I just don't understand the logic of people that spew !!. Horsepower is great but we are in the USA and not on the Autobahn ..... I have an Autohahn bike( The Super III) It loves the 100mph and for long term.. The Harley is pure beast to 100 mph..Folks.. now tell mee where the fun is ??? We are in a speed limited country ! Well, I guess that most of the “Harley D Haters” have never ridden a TORQUE driven m/c..I just don’t understand the logic of people that spew !!. Horsepower is great but we are in the USA and not on the Autobahn ….. I have an Autohahn bike( The Super III) It loves the 100mph and for long term.. The Harley is pure beast to 100 mph..Folks.. now tell mee where the fun is ??? We are in a speed limited country !

]]>