C'mon, Harley... Give Us Some XR 1200 Lovin'!
Last October I announced that springtime would see a Harley-Davidson XR 1200 for sale in Europe but unavailable in America, and based on the blooming flowers and chirping birds it's about that time. The bike was recently launched in Valencia, Spain, and fellow motojournalist Tor Sagen even posted a video walkaround on YouTube*.
So with Harley's hard times officially on the books, I keep wondering if the XR 1200 could do well for itself in the U.S. Maybe the 1,200cc V-twin is overkill and an 883cc powerplant could transform the XR 1200 into a more entry-level (and therefore, more salable) bike? Either way, I'm curious how Harley will resuscitate its vital U.S. market-- do you think an XR 1200 would sell here?
* It's got the production value of a Paris Hilton home movie (sans night vision) and drags a bit at the beginning, but you can scan ahead to 3:45 for onboard footage with wheelie bustin', rev-limiter punching goodness.
Photo © Harley-Davidson
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Comments
As reported HD is limiting the intial release to Europe as that is where the future market is for this bike and as such the first production run is slated for sale there.
They are not in a financial position to flood the market with a new bike. Dealers are heavily discounting current floor models to stay afloat.
If it still shifts like a clunking lawn tractor, I wouldn’t buy one. I always wanted a Harley after having a series of Honda and Kawasaki cruisers and I bought a 95 Fat Boy. Yes, everybody loved its looks, but you couldn’t find neutral easily and I almost laid the bike down after it refused to shift into second.
I like the video and it seems to have some performance, but I think here in the U.S. it would just in the showrooms sit next to the the V-Rods that aren’t selling either.
Very limited market…especially in Europe..maybe a few ex-pats or servicemen, but it’ll never sell big. Over here? It seems like a bike without a home…it’s not a cruiser…not a sport bike…it’s certainly not sophisticated enough to make it’s own niche. Again, a novelty kind of like the XLCR a few years ago.
Might be fun for a weekend, but that’s about it.
Basem..have you ridden one?
Y’all are a bunch of pessimists
Nope, haven’t ridden one, but I always root for the underdog anyway…
Basem
Would like to see it for sale in the US. Maybe with the V-Rod 1250cc engine for more performance. I’d buy one if the price were right.
I want one. I think it’s a sweet bike, and want to blow ricers away on an American twin.
I’m waiting for this bike. It’s too bad it’s not for sale in the U.S. I’ve been waiting to purchase a bike and this is exactly what I want.
What are you guys talking about? This IS the Harley for the non-Harley sporting riders. I own 3 bikes all metric (no cruisers). I have always loved the way a Harley V-twin feels. Add decent power and good handling and you have a Harley that will appeal to the non-traditional crowd. This could bring in a whole new generation of motorcyclists. I just can’t believe that HD marketing missed this.
It’s the only factory Harley I’ve ever seen that was appealing, other than the plain vanilla Sportster.
Boys!!
There are a silent group of us that want an XR but don’t buy sportsters. WHY? Because it costs $25K to put lipstick on that little piggy. I am waiting, hoping, & praying for that wild bor to hit the U.S. market.
“This could bring in a whole new generation of motorcyclists. I just can’t believe that HD marketing missed this.”
I totally agree. They need to do something, and more cruisers are the last thing they need right now.
This bike will sell in Europe, though. They love big standard bikes, since cruisers are too hard to maneuver in city streets and sport bikes are a chiropractic nightmare.
I like motorcycles, I really don’t care who manufactures the bike. The question is, is it fun to ride. I’ve ridin the Nightster, it was a blast, the xr1200 has 18-20% more HP, a motor that suppose to make less valve train noise, and a better exhaust sound, handles better, hopefully a more comfortable seat, (probably not). I say bring it on,I want one.
I was in the UK last week and stopped by a dealership to check one out…it’s as sweet in person as it is in pictures!! If Harley doesn’t wait too long to release it in the states, building a little trans-Atlantic jealously might turn out to be a profitable marketing tactic.
Don’t worry fellas, the XR is only being dangled to make you want it more. We were told we’d only get it if feedback was positive, but they spent way too much time and money developing it or it to be a prototype that would sit forever in the museum. And they could have easily used the XR moniker over here without having to buy it back off Steve Storz: reckon you’ll get it for 2010, depending on how deep the US financial crisis is.
Stunning motorcycle: a proper modern Harley in the way that the high-revving, short stroke water-cooled VR isn’t. It does spin a lot quicker than an XL, which will restrict its top speed – still well beyond practical day-to-day road speeds though – but doesn’t seem to affect its fuel consumption too much.
It could be the killer blow to the VR’s chances of establishing mainstream acceptance among the Harley faithful, consigning the current water Hogs to even more of a niche market … which could be further accelerated depending on what Harley do with their big twin tourers for 2010.
The best way to describe the XR1200 is a Buell Cyclone (remember them?) but in Harley livery with classic American styling. It’s not as precise in handling terms, but it is every bit as much fun to ride and if my Cyclone ever needed replacing, I reckon I might just be looking to Milwaukee than East Troy for its replacement – certainly if the 1125 motor is showing the way that Buell’s road bikes are going becuase while the Helicon motor’s performance is stunning, with super quick, brain-out acceleration in the upper rev range, it’s wholly irrelevant for modern roads … near perfect for track days though.
11.27.08
I’m finally seeing some confirmed evidence that the XR-1200 will be showing up in US dealers showrooms just after the new year. HD is only releasing 750 to start, at $11,197.00. A great price for this bike and definitely the right price for my garage. I’ll be sanding off the hideous orange paint and will be putting on some flat black pipes, but otherwise,no changes. I can’t wait to grab this thing with my sweaty little dick beaters.
I hate Harley’s I rode european bikes all my life. But now they have a knee slider with 90 hp and 57 mpg? Most european bikes can’t touch that mix of figures. It looks great, sounds great, no anti freeze, water pumps… to worry about? There getting over 100,000 miles on the 1200 engines without a rebuild! God bless
America, I want it!