AXR Cycle has introduced their AXR 1200 Cafe, a Harley Davidson Sportster that started life as an 883 and finished the process with all of the cafe and performance work already done. The result is a very nicely reworked Sportster with all of the power on tap that you would expect from a 1200cc V-Twin that’s been properly built plus with the handling that comes from lighter weight, upgraded suspension, upgraded brakes and quite a bit more.
Mark Noyes, owner of AXR Cycle, said he loves the street tracker look but after 50 miles or so, things get a little uncomfortable, so he built a bike that fits his weekend riding style, 100 or 200 mile days to the mountains or the coast. This cafe fits right, it’s comfortable and performs really well. He made the bike as light as possible, helped a lot by the aluminum sub frame between the rear fender and seat which raises the seat height to 32 inches. Mark says the completed bike is at least 100 pounds lighter than Harley Davidson’s new XR1200.
Features and Specs for the AXR 1200 Cafe:
Aluminum Gas Tank
Hand Crafted Alloy Rear Sub Frame
Solo Seat with Hinged Cowl for Storage Trunk
Hidden Aluminum Rear Fender
Custom Made Aluminum Belt Guard, Air Cleaner, Cam Cover
Ducati Factory Red Paint Scheme
Engine, Frame & Suspension:
2000 883 Sportster Conversion
1200 cc Built Engine, Zipper Heads, Andrew Cams
Mikuni Carburetor, Jims Roller Rockers
5 Speed Transmission
Dyna Dual Fire Ignition
2 into 1 Stainless Super Trapp Exhaust System
Adjustable Showa Front Forks
Performance Works 14.5” Rear Shocks
Sun Polished Aluminum Rims, Front 19″, Rear 18″
Stainless Steel Spokes, Polished Billet Hubs
Brakes, Floating Rotors Front and Rear
2 piston Front calipers
Seat Height 32 inches
Harley Davidson’s Sportster is a versatile bike that can take on multiple personalities, it all depends on how you approach it. The cruiser direction has been pretty well covered but a growing number of riders like the street tracker and cafe personalities hidden away in the Motor Company’s slightly smaller offering, it’s a way of going back to the Sportster’s performance roots. I never understood why they drifted away to begin with. As Harley tries to broaden their appeal and attract a younger owner, this could be one way to do it without having to come up with an entirely new model, just repurpose a bike already in the lineup.
Of course, you don’t have to wait for Milwaukee to do it, AXR Cycle brings out the cafe racer right now. If you like the way this one looks, why not give Mark a call? He can build you a complete bike or upgrade your current Sportster.
Link: AXR Cycle
Doppio says
Would look real good with clip on bars and the fairing way lower than how it is now. The long front fork doesn’t say “cafe” to me…
Plus you’d need rear set pegs too.
But nice work!
kneeslider says
The clip ons and rearsets would look good, too, but Mark built this one for a bit more comfort. If he’s building one for someone else, they can get it made to their specs. That’s the beauty of made to order.
Jesse says
Aside from the belt guard looking horrible that is one mean looking machine.
Mark X says
If Harley-Davidson produced and sold this bike, they would fly out the doors like they had wings. One would, for sure, land at my house. This is the quintisential “sane person’s sporting bike”. All-day comfort, traditional styling, relative light weight, reasonable performance, rock-like durability, enormous parts and service network,and unquestionable utility. Surely, I am not the only one to see the virtues of this fine piece of work.
i think I would like to see this machine in the 883 configuration, with the same engine mods. Geat stuff. RideSafe, Mark.
BOB says
Fe, Cafe sportys are a cool concept. But this execution is sorely lacking in a number of different areas. The seats straight from the Triumph Thruxton, the lockheart phillips flyscreen and headlight are mounted about 8 inches too high, the forks look like a set of choppers forks.
The belt guard is about 6 inches too long. The exhaust pipes are too low, with a finish quality that looks like it belongs on something from china. The bars are too tall even for comfort (I guess this is subjective but they look like low ape hangers) The mid control foot pegs don’t look right on a bike like this, and without something supporting the area under the “bum-stop”, the rear portion of the seat looks like it’s weak and fragile. Oh and in the photos the red looks like it’s pink.
But other then that it’s pretty cool.
jr says
I agree with Kneeslider here, rear sets and clip-ons look cool and all, but he’s going to be doing some distance on this bike, standard riding position is much better for that in my opinion.
I enjoy praying to the gods of carpal tunnel myself on occasion, but not for 100 miles.
Standards for the win
coho says
So what you’re saying then, BOB, is that the bike is perfect except for everything about it?
todd says
I think they could do well selling the tank alone. It’s all pretty much how I’d do it except for the handle bars and foot controls (or the Salmon paint). I too find long distance rides much more comfortable with low bars and rear sets. High bars and forward/mid controls are only bearable around town.
-todd
todd says
BTW, the forks probable only look that long because of the high fairing and the fact that it’s on its side stand. Have a seat on the bike and I’m sure those forks will compress a bit.
-todd
hipsabad says
Doppio’s right; the fairing’s way too high, wtf’s with that? Tank’s kinda interesting. Bar height is a reasonable compromise. Pegs don’t need to be rear-sets but they should be a bit further back; like a /6-era BMW – it’s good to have your feet beneath your hips in order to unweight your body for the rough bits. The styling and ergonomic gods are in the details.
I would junk the heavy unsprung iron and re-lace with aluminum rims; always a good idea and easy to do.
Jimmy says
I have to dis-agree with mark x ,if Harley built this a few harley minded would buy them, then after being ridaculed by the sit up and beg budies would sell it and get new fat boy.I understand that this is one mans creation for himself and thats great, for him, but I say why bother there’s already plenty of way better bikes out there to accomplish the same mission. My 1996 M900 Ducati is way more competant than any Harley, even for distance. My proof of that last statement is my girlfriend’s remark after her first ride on my Duc. She had owned a 1980 FXB Sturgis since new,and was one of these if your not riding a Harley your not riding types, she got of the Duc and said the Harley’s for sale, I can’t believe how blind I’ve been.
kneeslider says
Jimmy,
“My 1996 M900 Ducati is way more competant than any Harley, even for distance. ”
Well, Sportsters might surprise you:
“The big surprise was Brett Donahue who rode a Harley Davidson Sportster XLH1200R 11,283 miles for a third place finish.” from The Iron Butt Rally
Bob Nedoma says
Except the belt-guard and the fairing, the bike looks great. Like a Norton Commando with dislocated cylinders. Handling, performance and safety would be of more concern to me than looks. The engine looks top heavy for sure. Hope it doesn’t leak oil.
Matt in NC says
I like it. Personally I’d switch it to rearsets, clipons and a Buell style mini fairing, but I like the tank and seat a lot.
For the HD detractors I say you’ve really got to spend a weekend around town on a lightly tuned and de-restricted 1200 for a weekend. Torque is a beautiful force. No, a sporty’s not anywhere near as flickable as a modern 600 sportbike, but they pull away from a stop with gratifying grunt, and they are surprisingly nimble for their weight.
nobody says
A malaise era FXB can’t handle, ride, or perform anything like a cafe’d EVO XL. I’ve spent enough time on both to know the difference.
And yes, Todd is right – XLs have rather long travel forks with low rate springs in them – that is cheap and easy to fix.
mobilus says
VD Classic, check out the bottom row, second from the left, and right column, second from the bottom:
http://www.vd-classic.com/EN/realisation.php#
Larry says
Yuk! …but I really like the MOON sticker!
michal guritz says
I love the idea of this conversion-not a bad looking bike but I had an XLCR and absolutely loved the styling! A scoot that looks like the old XLCR with the refinements of the AXR. hmmmmm sounds like a project bike!
TomCat 327 says
Kudo’s for a concept bike that is REAL. It’s also a snappy looking ride, plus I like standards. Full marks.
DaveR says
Link me up to these guys, where is one I can try, what is the price, tell me what I need to know so I can make a purchasing decision as I am in the market right now.
Thanks.
Jimmy says
kneeslider I did’nt say the sporty was junk. I’m just saying why bother? I love working on bikes customing restoring repairing, it’s just that for my taste’s you can find much more enjoyment with-out spending so much time and money. If you want to see a very cool Harley cafe,check out the mar apr motorcycle classics for a machine calledHarleyton it’s a45 ci HD big twin Norton trans and Norton featherbed frame,now thats something I can get my teeth in!
Katya Mullethov says
If it looked a little less like the gixer dirt bike in the next story down , and a lot more like a late model 4 stroke MX bike , with a halfway Dakar sized gas tank ….it could start a completely new demographic . The Boom-Baas .
“Oh here he comes ”
“Boooooooooooooom—-Baaaaaaaaaaa-…………….BOOOOOOOM …. baaaaaaaaaaaaaaa”
“He’s got eight season outta that set of front brake pads …..no lie ”
There is a Sportster like that floating around from an early baja project . Can AM orange if I recall .