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H-D Flat Track Racing Performance Concern

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Old Mar 26, 2017 | 01:04 PM
  #11  
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Seems that the only people who think this is important is the Indian owners. I mean they have to have something to crow about. I bet 99% of Harley owners didn't even know or care that Harley had flat track racing bikes. How many posts have you seen about it until Indian got involved?
 
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Old Mar 26, 2017 | 01:32 PM
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How could you possibly be a Harley enthusiast and not know about the XR750? Sacrilege!

 
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Old Mar 26, 2017 | 02:16 PM
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Originally Posted by hd4evr2008
The XR 750 has pretty much OWNED the GNC flat track series since the early '70's. The XR is/was probably the winnigest race only motorcycle ever built. I'll grant you that Mees, Smith, and Baker are the top three riders right now, but the HD factory team of Coolbeth (multiple Grand National Championships), Johnson (former Grand National Champion), and up and coming talent Robinson, are hardly poor riders. Those guys are ALL capable of winning every race......IF........they had equipment to do so. The very fact that these three TOP riders finished where they did, only proves how weak the new XG750 is right now. In plain old terms......it's a DOG! I feel sorry that those guys have to try and compete on that bike.
Originally Posted by hd4evr2008
A "couple" seasons??? Riders on XR-750s have won 35 of the 44 AMA Grand National Championships from 1972 to 2016.
Originally Posted by hd4evr2008
How could you possibly be a Harley enthusiast and not know about the XR750? Sacrilege!

I wouldn't call it Sacrilege but otherwise I agree. I remember when Honda first started flat tracking with their own version of a V-twin 750 and got completely schooled by both the factory Harley riders as well as the privateers.
 
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Old Mar 26, 2017 | 02:34 PM
  #14  
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Harley appears to have gotten complacent.
Not a problem.
Give team H-D a few more races to figure out Indians "beginners luck" and they will be back stronger than ever.
 
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Old Mar 26, 2017 | 02:40 PM
  #15  
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That's what I meant by "criminal" that they pushed the XR750 off for this "Street" series bike. That's why I separated the last sentence. But to say "They dominated flat track for a couple of seasons" is probably one of the most ill informed statements ever put forth on this forum, and I'm counting the "Can I build a frame out of conduit from Home Depot" thread.


Originally Posted by hd4evr2008
The XR 750 has pretty much OWNED the GNC flat track series since the early '70's. The XR is/was probably the winningest race only motorcycle ever built. I'll grant you that Mees, Smith, and Baker are the top three riders right now, but the HD factory team of Coolbeth (multiple Grand National Championships), Johnson (former Grand National Champion), and up and coming talent Robinson, are hardly poor riders. Those guys are ALL capable of winning every race......IF........they had equipment to do so. The very fact that these three TOP riders finished where they did, only proves how weak the new XG750 is right now. In plain old terms......it's a DOG! I feel sorry that those guys have to try and compete on that bike.
 

Last edited by Campy Roadie; Mar 26, 2017 at 02:48 PM.
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Old Mar 26, 2017 | 02:42 PM
  #16  
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Originally Posted by 04Hali
I bet 99% of Harley owners didn't even know or care that Harley had flat track racing bikes.
They don't anymore
 
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Old Mar 26, 2017 | 03:15 PM
  #17  
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If 99% of harley riders don't know or care about their brands racing efforts, then 99% of harley riders shouldn't ride Harleys. I guess sound systems and chrome cup holders are more important.

And yamaha just developed a variant of their fz7 motor for flat track. Let harley not give a ****. When people say Harleys are slow and boring motorcycles, this is why.
 
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Old Mar 26, 2017 | 03:21 PM
  #18  
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Originally Posted by Nomadmax
That's what I meant by "criminal" that they pushed the XR750 off for this "Street" series bike. That's why I separated the last sentence. But to say "They dominated flat track for a couple of seasons" is probably one of the most ill informed statements ever put forth on this forum, and I'm counting the "Can I build a frame out of conduit from Home Depot" thread.
The XR750 was dominant, no doubt about it.... but how many of those decade of wins was for the Factory team?

I haven't looked up the stats but I was under the impression most of the wins were by XR equipped teams - not the factory H-D team.


Sorry for my ignorance.


Either way, the point was the MoCo hasn't really dipped into their pockets to support racing for decades. Sure they've sponsored teams but they don't really put as much backing into it as they could. The current situation isn't surprising. Indian is betting advertising money on their race team, H-D probably doesn't care.
 
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Old Mar 26, 2017 | 05:40 PM
  #19  
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Originally Posted by Yamaharley
If 99% of harley riders don't know or care about their brands racing efforts, then 99% of harley riders shouldn't ride Harleys. I guess sound systems and chrome cup holders are more important.

And yamaha just developed a variant of their fz7 motor for flat track. Let harley not give a ****. When people say Harleys are slow and boring motorcycles, this is why.
I don't give a crap about NASCAR racing does that mean I shouldn't own a car? I didn't buy a Harley because of their racing efforts. I bought it so I could wear the pirate uniform and for that tater-tater sound.

Do a poll an see how many follow flat track racing.
 
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Old Mar 26, 2017 | 06:54 PM
  #20  
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Originally Posted by 04Hali
I don't give a crap about NASCAR racing does that mean I shouldn't own a car? I didn't buy a Harley because of their racing efforts. I bought it so I could wear the pirate uniform and for that tater-tater sound.

Do a poll an see how many follow flat track racing.
I don't need the forum to tell me what I already know. People don't buy Harleys if they want a good motorcycle, they buy a harley if they want a harley. Most harley riders I can't even consider "motorcyclists" because they bought their bike to look cool on when going 30 under the speed limit around a turn with their feet dragging.

And no, if you have a souped up Chevy or ford then you should be watching NASCAR hahaha. **** if your an American male and don't watch any sort of racing that involves a motor, please turn your ***** in to your nearest doctor.
 
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