Written: 14/05/2008 : 10:28. Read 41141 times (51/day).
The XR 1200 has been a long time coming. I was there in Cologne when it was first unveiled to the world in 2006. In Valencia in 2008 I finally got my first chance to ride it. When did you ever see a standard Harley-Davidson being wheelied? The answer unless your name is Craig Jones is never! 93 votes
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Words: Tor Sagen/Photography: DoubleRed
As far as I know, Harley-Davidson has never before launched a new motorcycle exclusively first in Europe. In Valencia Harley did and the XR 1200 was launched in a big way to virtually anyone that can walk and talk in the European motorcycle press.
The XR1200 is as close to a true sportsbike Harley-Davidson is ever going to make. It’s air-cooled with a modified 1200cc Evolution V45 from the Sportster range.
To make it more powerful than the rest the XR 1200 features a larger air-box, downdraft fuel injection and a performance biased exhaust system. The result is a true 90 horsepower @ 7.000rpm and a trademark 100Nm of torque maxing at a low 3.700 rpm. The enlightened will know that a Buell makes more horsepower than this with similar technology.
The reason the XR 1200 doesn’t make a full 100 horsepower was explained to me by one of the Milwaukee engineers as being down to a lower volume air box and different exhaust system. Harley-Davidson would never ever sacrifice style completely over performance and that is the reason.
The XR 1200 sure makes a presence different to most other motorcycles. It’s unique from the Motor Company and the only other motorcycle on the market I can find for some sort of comparison would be the Yamaha MT01!
At the same time, if it hadn’t been for the 1970 launch of the 90 horsepower XR750 for Flat track racing we would not have seen the XR 1200.
That the new 1200 makes the same horsepower as a 38 year old bike will have to be forgiven as the modern noise and emission regulations doesn’t allow for much more.
This early morning in April, I have the privilege of following Wrecking crew member number 1 Scott Parker into the mountains on the XR 1200. Parker is 9 times AMA champion and the most successful rider on the most successful Flat Track racebike ever.
Not long after Scott Parker and Brommie stunt-monkey Craig Jones were doing monos worth a gold medal up in the mountains.
There’s no doubt in my mind after doing some of my own, this Harley is the most fun Harley-Davidson I have ever ridden! So it wheelies, but even more impressive is the ability to go fast through the tight corners in the Spanish mountains. True, the XR 1200 is pretty much heavier than any other European brand motorcycle it is supposed to compete with. But once on the move it handles brilliantly and the monstrous torque curve is just a delight to use.
This Harley has got tyres to match its abilities fully in the Dunlop Qualifiers.
Using an 18 inch Flat Track style front wheel the Qualifiers have been specially designed for the big Harley. With a 250 kilo dry weight the XR is probably a little bit heavier than what the Qualifiers was intended for in the first place. But never mind, they stick like glue to the tarmac and only the foot peg feelers touch the ground.
To me, those foot pegs and feelers are the most annoying thing about the XR 1200 package. At stand still I hit the feelers with my ankles and getting back on the move I drag the foot pegs up and they haven’t got spring action to bring them back down again. The Harley engineers that I spoke with told me that this was the first issue that they would address ahead of mass production scheduled for this spring.
The seat is quite thin and sporty and the seat height is a low 742mm.
The handlebars are very wide and make it easy to wrestle the XR to its sides. The lean angle is very good, but despite the fact that it looks like the right exhaust side will touch ground first it’s actually the typical Harley side stand on the left that will touch first. The clutch cable looks fairly exposed and as if it will start grinding leaning the XR to its extreme left.
It shouldn’t and it didn’t, it just looks that way. The whole mid placed exhaust cover will grind on the right hand side. Despite the fact that the XR 1200 is the sportiest Harley ever, it still has got plenty of styling compromise I can conclude.
Harley aficionados will frown upon the fact that there’s a plastic tank and rear fairing sides on the XR 1200.
The headlight is a standard Sportster item and the double rear shocks remind me of a Sportster too. The travel is a short 89mm at the back and 125mm from the 43mm USD fork. That aluminium swing arm does not remind me of anything found on other Harleys though. It looks technical and light.
Mounted on the 18inch front wheel is a pair of 4-piston Nissin callipers providing plenty of stopping power. I can’t help it, but I am really glad that Harley-Davidson have kept Harley clutch and brake levers as they feel really good to use.
The 5-speed gearbox was brilliant and not heavy to use at all.
Riding the XR 1200 as hard as I dare through the mountain passes and valleys was a very pleasing experience. I had to keep reminding myself that I was on a Harley launch and not a Buell launch! Not that the XR 1200 feels anywhere remotely like a Buell. It’s too big for that, but still handles so well.
With the XR 1200 working hard under you it should be much easier to keep up with your friends on sportsbikes. You won’t go faster, but certainly as fast in many places.
On my way back from the mountains and into Valencia I got to test the city riding qualities too. The XR 1200 filters like no other Harley, apart from maybe the Nightster. One of the major differences that make the XR 1200 is the fact that it has got top tyres that gives you the extra safety to go a little bit faster everywhere, also in town. A little bit too much heat radiation is my only town riding complaint.
Finally, I asked Scott Parker which he preferred, the XR 750 or the XR 1200? Of course, Parker’s a company man so didn’t give any clear answers to that one. What was evident during our ride was that pretty much everyone enjoyed the XR immensely.
Conclusion The Harley-Davidson XR 1200 is a solid piece of work. The whole aura of the bike and the XR 750 heritage is pleasing. I feel owning one of these would be no problem at all, I’d be satisfied on all sorts of roads and you’re not stuck through a hair-pin corner dragging a 240mm rear tyre (XR 1200 features a 180/55-ZR17) after you. The XR 1200 can’t really compete on the edge with other European streetfighters, but it’s a huge step in the right direction should Harley ever wish to do so. No, the XR 1200 is for you that wants a sporty Harley and have been disappointed with the Sportsters or the V-rod.
+ XR 1200, what a cool name! Torque is beautiful! It handles and wheelies!!!
- Foot pegs does not retract by themselves What exactly are those 50 kilos above the 200 mark?
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Comments
aussierob (15-06-2008): Great review. Will be interested to ride one when I can as I traded my Sportster in on an SE Ultra and I miss the wee thing. The small tank size may be a sore point as the configuration looks good for lengthy rides and if it is as good as it looks who wants to be stopping every 120km to fill up?
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