According to a dealer announcement, the Harley Davidson XR1200 will be released in the U.S. at the IMS show in Long Beach, California December 5th. Scott Parker and Kenny Coolbeth will be on hand for autographs and introduction. Looks like a total of 750 will be available.
XR1200 – DOM 1LA619 $11,079
Vivid Black $10,799
XR1200 – CAL 1LA639 $11,179
Vivid Black $10,899
Pre-orders can be placed for the first 750 models between 21 Nov 08 until 15 Dec 08 or when the first 750 models released have been claimed.
I guess Harley was listening after all. If you want one, it’s time to get to your Harley dealer with your checkbook.
Thanks to Chris for sending the first tip!
One more thought, when’s the last time you saw a Harley Davidson model depicted in an image like the one below showing the rider at speed on a sweeping section of road instead of on a slow cruise? This is definitely aimed at a different segment of the market.
via Badweatherbikers – among many others, the dealers are taking orders but HD is dragging its feet on the news release. It’s a very odd model introduction process in the U.S. It’s almost like they’re not sure it will sell so after they take the orders, they’ll say more. Either that or there’s a battle going on internally and this stealth intro is to prove it will actually sell here before making a big splash. As I said previously, they should have introduced this at the Indy Mile this year, it was the best logical place to bring it out. Interesting.
Be sure to check the Harley Davidson XR 1200 for sale listings.
daddyc479 says
Only 750? so dealer will market it as a limited edition, read mark up… I love this design but i won’t pay more for what is still a sporty. I am glad to see it though. Now just build more so we can get one at a discount or at least out the door for sticker. thanks Harley kinda.
Jeff C says
It’s good news that they’re listening, but with the current economic situation, I feel like they’re a day late and a dollar short. I worry that all of a sudden, they may have trouble moving 750 of these as fast as they’d hoped, and will conclude the American market doesn’t want them.
Michael A. Simonetti says
Perhaps you all have forgotten that if anything goes wrong with these new rubber mount Sportster transmissions you MUST remove the engine, remove the cylinders from a perfectly good running engine and split the cases to get to the transmission! No more trap door. This costs at least $2500.00. I know, it happened to me. $800.00 alone just to remove the engine. Also, the rear axle goes through the rear of the engine casing so if the rear belt is overtightened you can actually pull the entire engine rearward and place a lot of pressure on the rear rubbermount and setting up for failure in the forward mounting system. This happened to a Harley employee I know who had a rubbermount 1200 custom. He tells anyone who wil listen to never buy a rubber mount Sporty. And a 3.3 gallon gas tank? What was wrong with putting this technology into the 4.5 gallon Roadster? You can keep this rolling joke Harley because you have turned these bikes into no better a purchase than some import cruiser that will depreciate as soon as you roll it off the showroom floor. A Roadsters Blue Book value is now $6800.00, down from the original $10,000.00. That $2500.00 puts a big dent into that $6800.00 and I’m sure the dealership would be glad to give you $4000.00 for it on a trade in on a big twin! Planned Obsolescence and Rip Off.
Anthony says
I can’t quite figure who this will be marketed to. I found a site about these bikes (www.xrdna.com/), but would rather own a Buell than a weird & naked Sportster. I want a Sportster to look and feel like a Sportster. I want a crotch rocket to be designed like a crotch rocket. A merging of the two seems very odd to me. I am a Buell owner and love my bike. I don’t have any bias, but I think this Sportster looks kinda crappy. Is it a sportbike? A rally bike? A street bike? It looks like a mess.
B.Case says
For a company who makes anywhere between 20,000-30,000 bikes a month, I don’t think their dealer network will have any trouble unloading 750 of these almost immediately. The people who will put their money down, won’t need to ask questions, they already get it, and there’s a quantifiable amount of them out there waiting with cash in hand.
That being said, I can’t knock this at all. Good move H-D.
-brian
kneeslider says
By the time everyone figures out who they’re for and whether they’re a sportbike or Sportster or whether the economic conditions are right, they’ll all be sold. 750 isn’t that many bikes and the $11K price tag is pretty reasonable.
The bikes are for those who want a Sportster or even just a Harley that handles, something that draws from the heritage of XR750 dirt trackers. Some folks might want a Harley with a sporty ride but don’t care for the looks of a Buell. It has 20 horsepower more than a standard 1200 and goes around turns pretty well according to Cycle World and it has a more relaxed riding position than most sportbikes. If those characteristics don’t appeal to you then you’ll want to look elsewhere.
Nicolas says
A cool looking bike, for a reasonable price. I wish they would open the valve for more than 750 units.
Whatever HD does, they get bashed here, but this time they deserve to avoid the critics, for bringing sthg new in their product range that appeals to non-HD fans (like myself).
mark says
Its finally here, sure 750 will be sold fast. I agree Harley will get bashed no matter what but this is what people have been asking for and its a very nice bike with a reasonable price. Hopefully harley will come up with some more cool new bikes in the near future.
LN says
I know retro is the goal here, but this bike does not compare to the legions of homemade cafes and street trackers on the web. For all of their success and money, does Harley let the guys at Pontiac design their stuff?
The tail end is a mess. That over-stretched seat/fender that looks like somebody raided a mid-80’s parts bin. It’s a complete contradiction of the slim, minimal tank. And sorry, those V-Rod-sized exhaust cans shout Magna 4.
I, for one, am grateful it’s a limited edition.
redline says
harley is playing the game right. we squaked when they didn’t let give it to us in the US so they are seeing if we can walk the walk. if the 750sell fast it wouldn’t be hard for them to swap gauges on units bound for over seas and sell them at home. and the price isnt bad either. if ouny i could get my bank to lone my 10 more grand….
redline says
is there any more credible infor on this. id like to see a official HD press release
larry says
A bit off topic, but does anyone else wonder if Harley gave any thought to putting up the ten million Kenny Dreer needed to get his modern rendition of the Norton rolling off the line? They bought MV, I would have thought an American made, well-done, seemingly pretty ready-for- production sporty bike aimed at the Harley age demographics would have been of interest.
todd says
They’ll sell quick for sure, probably too quick to judge overall public opinion. People might buy them and store them thinking they are limited edition. A few will be auctioned off for ridiculous amounts on ebay only to drive up the fury, build awareness. Next year they’ll sell thousands every month and it will be no big deal.
I agree that it needs some help, Mert Lawwil kinda help. But that’s not the point. What matters here is that Harley is stepping into territory they haven’t tested since the ’70’s and this may signal a slight shift in their strategies. Once it is proven that there is a fairly decent sized market for American Sport Standards that might open the door for venture capital into other companies. Here here, bring it on. Now let’s get Wakan to build a bike for the US.
-todd
Andrew says
Saw one in the flesh the other day (we get ’em in NZ). They’re just not my cup of tea at all…
Azzy says
I wouldnt doubt that if they sell like hot cakes, they will be a new normal offered model, with the same silly premium that all HD bikes go for.
Walt says
I’m digging the idea of a more performance-oriented Harley and hope this model doesn’t become a low-production collectors’ item like the XR1000 and cafe racer.
As to Harley buying Kenny Dreer’s idea, his wasn’t a V-twin so end of story. Harley’s brand is as tied to the engine configuration as to the bar and shield. Anyhow, Dreer’s invention may live on:
http://www.nortonmotorcycles.com/bike/default.asp
I’m hopeful, but not holding my breath.
Walt
chris says
Deeply considering it as my next ride. It will be sad to get rid of my Yamaha but it’s time to start supporting our own failing economy and not some other countries.
todd says
Wow Chris, did you buy your bike (and finance it) in Japan? Well at least you had to give some money to an airline to get there.
Seriously, there’s probably more US operations involved with designing, marketing, shipping, distributing, selling, and servicing Japanese motorcycles in the US than there are for American brands. Not that that matters. I buy used bikes. My money goes straight to the consumer, avoiding big business all together.
-todd
-todd
daddyc479 says
Talked to my dealer today 11/25, he has his “two” sold already. I also believe the limit of 750 is a tribute to the XR”750″… duh, next year they will prob make it a full production bike, like they did with the V-Rod. I’ll wait, I remember my dealer had XR1000’s siting around for a couple of model years, no one knew how cool it was then, I want one of these!
Ken says
it’s fine for limited production at that price. For full production, those parts should put it at the lower end of Sportster prices. To make it work well for the advertised purpose, suspension modifications would be needed.
It could be a good platform for selling shocks, forks, and more to motivated owners.
tim says
I am test riding one on Friday morning. Nice looking thing. Its between this and a Triumph Scrambler (or new retro Bonneville)
Mayakovski says
Yawn!!!!
OMMAG says
From a styling stand I like this bike … Now Harley needs to convince me that it’s a solidly built machine and I’ll go for it.
Looks like The Kneeslider gets results!
Justin says
@anthony,
This bike was modeled after the XR750 flat track bike. Anyone who doesn’t recognize this is likely not part of Harley’s target marget with this bike. If HD’s board was smart, they would do what Eric Buell did with the 1125R and outsource the R&D and possibly the manufacturing for their engine.
Imagine the same bike with Rotax’s 150HP twin! Hell ya.
Limcoln says
Always liked the XR style and have been waiting forever to see HD cash in on it, but with such a small fuel capacity and the 250Kg weight, I think I’ll just stick with the Buell. Dont know what that exhaust weighs but a nice two into one should fix it.
Randy says
Regarding the comments by #3 above; For openers,
almost all motorcycles require the engine to be pulled to get inside the transmission. Those with the horizontal split, do not require removal of the cylinders but on an XL it’s no big deal to pull the cylinders either.
HD put the door in the transmission of the KH and KHK when they had the bugaboos in the early ’53-56 transmissions to make it easier to work on and never took it out when the transmissions were perfected. Now, after 50 years of development they don’t have to be worked on, period. So they took the door out.
The Grump mentions overtightening the belt and other screw ups. Well, any bike can be screwed up by someone that doesn’t know what they are doing….. The rear axle does not go through the engine. Maybe he means the swing arm pivot?
Yes, it truly pays to know what you’re doing prior to “fixing” a motorcycle. There’s a lot of engineering that goes into today’s HD’s, the depths of which many people will never comprehend.
I’ve owned a couple of Harleys over the last 20 years and now a Buell is in residence. I’ve had zero problems with all of them along with my BMW’s, Hondas, Kawasakis, Suzukis, etc. EXCEPT for when someone who said they knew what they were doing, did a little work on them and screwed something up. It’s getting real hard to buy a bad bike these days, and warranties really cover us on new issue rides.
These are good times to be a motorcyclist, save the fact that we can’t have 20 different bikes at once in our garage and the time to ride them all…
SHaas says
It reminds me of the ‘rocket tail’ superglides of the late 60’s. I’m happy to see the motor company throw out specials other than fancy painted Scraming Eagles. 20 years down the road they are very special. I blew the chance at a XR1000 in the day and still think of it.
hoyt says
re: 16. Walt – “As to Harley buying Kenny Dreer’s idea, his wasn’t a V-twin so end of story. Harley’s brand is as tied to the engine configuration as to the bar and shield. ”
Walt, MV Augusta is not a v-twin and HD now owns them.
Larry – good question. I think the Brits will carry on the great effort Kenny Dreer put into Norton (hopefully). A road-going Norton rotary would be great to see going down the road as would the new Commando 961
Walt says
Correctamundo, Hoyt. I should have clarified my point: Harley could have acquired the Norton brand and kept the vertical twin design. But I doubt that they would brand the bike Harley.
The key word is “brand.” The managers at H-D know all about how to use a brand to turn even T-shirts and boots into a gold mine. They won’t muddy things up by mixing a reknowned high-end Italian sport bike brand, as much a two-wheeled Ferrari as anything, with their American cruisers. MV gives H-D a credible presence in Euro sportbikes for the carriage trade, while H-D provides financial stability. Sounds like a good match to me.
hoyt says
ok, but I don’t think anyone stated anything about HD re-branding Norton as HD
Jeff says
Put a Buell XB motor in it to give it some zip . 😮
Tirapop says
I really like streettrackers and the look of an XR750. The XR1200 is just too far off in the looks department. I read the positive review in Cycle World. I’d like it better if they wrapped it in XLCR style clothing. Check out the Mecatwin XLCR:
http://www.mecatwin.com/en/motos/hd/xlcr/descriptif.htm
Den says
I think it looks good, but I am not completely sold on the pillion seat pad or the front mudgaurd. I suppose Harley are trying to compromise between flat tracker style and real world practicality but maybe a little bit more time at the drawing board (CAD screen) may have tidied them up a bit.
Tirapop, yeah XLCR or a cafe racer would be fab with this engine, longer trips between petrol stations too!
Jason B says
Just a couple of thoughts:
The 750 are the FIRST 750 coming to the States, which can be pre-ordered. After February, the bike goes on general sale. Same price. Only Orange is available in the first 750 though.
Secondly, for comment 31, it is virtually an XB motor, with a smaller airbox and exhaust, which is why it only produces 90bhp instead of 100.
tim says
Jason B “Coming to the states”
aren’t they built there?
John says
Thanks Randy for clarifying comments by someone who doesn’t know what he’s talking about.Why are there so many commenting on this site that quickly will disregard anything Harley without I’m sure probably have never been on one.If you don’t like them why so much talk.Harley lovers don’t as a common habit even care to comment on other sites about Jap machines, is it jelousy?
DJ says
My question who can fix it if it has any problems.In Las Vegas they cant fix a lawmower as I have continually experienced over and over again.I love Harley Davidson motorcycles but once you get it here you have to take it elsewhere to get it repaired.I have pages of reciects to prove this and would never take my bike back here nor a new one.
John Porter says
I think they look damn cool! Aside from ‘this’ site, I’ve seen a lot of great reviews on it.