I have a cool 77 XLCR that I love... but I keep wondering if I will ever see another one? They apparently made about 1900 of them over only a few years. Given that they were so slow to sell, and they were unloved until recently becoming "almost classic", plenty of them were likely crashed/chopped and never rebuilt.

Unlike a lot of my other bikes (British especially), there is not an big online and facebook presence for them. I'm curious how many of you have even seen one live.

 

I had one for a "test ride weekend" back about 81 or 82, kept my superglide though. I liked it, just not that much.

 

XLCR CLUB
http://www.xlcrclub.com/

 

I've seen a few at shows, but I've never seen one "in the wild".

 

I have had several of them over the years. The local outlaw club took a liking to them and about 28 of them came to my little area. I have probably owned a half-dozen. I have had a 78 version since about 85. I forget production numbers, but around 3300 total, in 77/78, and, I believe 5 were titled as 79 models. They aren't the greatest ride, pretty slow, tend to crack and break those parts you can't replace. I rode mine in, and after high school, until the EVO XL came out, then haven't ridden it much since, just make sure it's stored properly and take the cover off for a look once a year, or so.


A lot of them were "modified" into 79-later style Sportsters so dealers could get them off their showrooms, they sold poorly. An outlaw club owned a dealership in Shawnee OK, they bought a bunch of them, most of those ended-up coming here to the Black Hills of SD. I still see one on occasion and regret selling every one I ever had, they have good value, these days. I have collected a lot of spares over the years, in case I want to totally restore mine, but it's in good shape, it's original, and one of the last bikes produced at the Juneau Avenue factory before they moved production to Capitol Drive, and then Kansas City.

 

Yes, I am familiar with that link. The guy that organizes it has a cottage business dealing in CR parts--- and knows them very well. I have bought some parts from him to finish of a few items on mine.

Glad that he is out there as a resource.

 

Saw one go on the Mecum auction the other night for $23,000 ... It was NICE

 

That price is well North of the $15k range that nice ones have been selling for, in a time when a lot of bikes have really softened on value. I saw a 1945 Knuck, which you never see, original and very nice, sold on Mecum for $38k, that's cheap. So when you see a bike sell high, during a time when values are soft, it tells you a lot about the direction that bike is headed in. I suspect they will be 50k within 10-15 years.

 

I always liked the look of the XLCR ... It's funny that they had trouble "giving" them away when they first came out ... Many quality control issues.

 

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame used to have the one that Billy Joel owns on display, not sure if it is still there or at his museum/shop in Oyster Bay.

I have seen plenty over the years, but in the "wild" being ridden around, not sure if ever!?!?