What do you think about the XR1200?
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 59
Likes: 0
From: Nashville TN
OK now I have figured it out...I am 56 years of age; this bike is made for the daily European younger guys that ride 365 days a year, park outside, ride in the rain, snow... and for us older folks here in the U.S. who want a all day comfortable, twisty carving, peg scraping, non sport bike, non cruiser bike that will get it done!
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 606
Likes: 0
From: nashvegas
Yeah, Crapshooter, you're right about that. I've ridden a bunch of bikes for a lot of years and you can pretty well tell what it's like just by eyeballing it. If it looks like a Suzuki TM400 with a low pipe, turn and walk away. That statement will give my age away.
Ed
Ed
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 13,402
Likes: 941
From: Illinois
The XR1200 has been flat tracked in Europe for two years. there has been video's posted on a sportster site where about 60 of them were flying around the track. they were first sold in Europe because Sportsters have a large following there. The same site had pictures from France with about a hundred customized sporties. Many were amazing.
I draw the analogy to the Miata which is a very fun to bang around roadster. The XR is the same thing. It is just plain fun to bang around. Its does it with great agility.
I am collecting all the families of air cooled Harley bikes and the best example of the Sportster is the XR as it represents a part of Harley's racing heritage.
Some may be irritated that the little bugger will out perform their 96" motors with Stage 1 mods. My 07 FXSTC is in that category and the XR runs away from it at any speed.
I draw the analogy to the Miata which is a very fun to bang around roadster. The XR is the same thing. It is just plain fun to bang around. Its does it with great agility.
I am collecting all the families of air cooled Harley bikes and the best example of the Sportster is the XR as it represents a part of Harley's racing heritage.
Some may be irritated that the little bugger will out perform their 96" motors with Stage 1 mods. My 07 FXSTC is in that category and the XR runs away from it at any speed.
6th Gear
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Logan, WV
Hey Notorius. How many fractures did you have on that TM400? LOL. I actually rode one a lot but never raced it. No flywheel and throttle like an on/off switch with that flexy frame made it a handful. It was a blast to play around with on a small oval track we used to ride. The main thing I remember is that you had better have it pointed where you want to go when you crack the throttle.
I loved my XR mostly because the handling was so sweet. Unfortunately, a big deer T-boned me and the bike landed on my ankle in July. I've had 5 operations and we're looking at one more. The bike was totaled, but it would have made a great project. I don't know where it ended up.
I loved my XR mostly because the handling was so sweet. Unfortunately, a big deer T-boned me and the bike landed on my ankle in July. I've had 5 operations and we're looking at one more. The bike was totaled, but it would have made a great project. I don't know where it ended up.
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 606
Likes: 0
From: nashvegas
Hey Notorius. How many fractures did you have on that TM400? LOL. I actually rode one a lot but never raced it. No flywheel and throttle like an on/off switch with that flexy frame made it a handful. It was a blast to play around with on a small oval track we used to ride. The main thing I remember is that you had better have it pointed where you want to go when you crack the throttle.
I loved my XR mostly because the handling was so sweet. Unfortunately, a big deer T-boned me and the bike landed on my ankle in July. I've had 5 operations and we're looking at one more. The bike was totaled, but it would have made a great project. I don't know where it ended up.
I loved my XR mostly because the handling was so sweet. Unfortunately, a big deer T-boned me and the bike landed on my ankle in July. I've had 5 operations and we're looking at one more. The bike was totaled, but it would have made a great project. I don't know where it ended up.
your right when you jac the gac that motha went and you better be holdin on...
I can't tell ya how many times I was hanging off the back- WFO and no way to shift doing the super man before it was cool.
broke and welded the frame too many times...
nobody rode it cause nobody could start it...LOL
TM=Total Madness, best It can be said... most violent moto I have ever ridden...period.
On/off says it all...you're real.
6th Gear
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Logan, WV
Seems like every guy who got a TM ended up in plaster. One dude had dominated the local MX tracks for several years on Maicos, generally half tracking the field. A Suzuki dealer offered him a free bike and parts and he took it. He broke his leg in his first MX on the TM. It was a scary machine, but probably the most fun I've ever had on a bike.
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 606
Likes: 0
From: nashvegas
LOL, now that I have thought about it...how many times did you re-lace the rear wheel. Seems like after every ride or so I had to do it. The first time I kept hearing popping and couldn't figure it out then I noticed spokes broken/missing that evening...It's a wonder I didn't get hurt more than I did.
I always wanted to put the motor in a go-cart and make a rocket sled.
I always wanted to put the motor in a go-cart and make a rocket sled.
Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 164
Likes: 1
I like the new xr1200,i would like to take one for a ride and give it a 'texas tune-up' and see how well it goes
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider
Verdad Gallardo
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
wahlumsurfer
General Harley Davidson Chat
3
Jul 20, 2011 06:58 PM
