Topic: CAFE Harley

[dusterdude]

That XR 1200 IS nice looking. If it had a competent engine I would have to have one.

Take a test ride mate, and don't listen to the collective intelligence(?) of the Harley "knockers" above, i think you'll come away impressed! Cheers, Terry.

i agree terry,it kinda makes me wonder how many of the "harley knockers" have ever been on one.now im going to wait for the storm.

[cmorgan47]

I'm surprised the John Deere hasn't been approached by Harly-Davidson to make a "commemorative" version tractor with all the Harley logos plastered on it like the FORD pickup trucks I see.  God...I wanna puke when I see those stupid trucks.  What does FORD and Harley........nevermind.

i had a guy at breakfast the other day tell me he wanted a harley, but was afraid to get a bike so he bought a harley truck instead.

[Jonesy]

Check out the new issue of Cycle World. Harley is basically re-releasing this bike. The XR1200 street tracker. Basically a sporty 1200 with solo type seat the swept up exhaust.

So, it's essentially a Buell with good-looking body cladding?

[Terry in Australia]

Well considering that a Buell is essentially a Sporty engine in a special frame with much larger dia USD forks, steeper steering geometry, monoshock rear end, oil in the swingarm, fuel injection, clip ons, rears sets, etc etc, and this is just a sporty engine in a sporty frame, I'd suggest that this bike is more a Sporty than it is a Buell? The styling is actually retro 1970's dirt tracker, and looks a lot more practical than a modern sports bike. very nice indeed.

I agree terry,it kinda makes me wonder how many of the "harley knockers" have ever been on one.now im going to wait for the storm.

It doesn't matter Dusty, we both know that they're great bikes, and most of the "Harley Knockers" here don't know #$%* about their own bikes, let alone other brands.

No biggie though, it's a free country that we both live in, and therefore people are free to have their own opinions, no matter how foolish they might seem to unbiased motorcyclists like you and I. Cheers, Terry.

[tsflstb]

Most of Harley's racing success has come from the dirt tracks.  They should put out something more like the old XR's.  Use their CVO division to make some really nice perfoming Sportster based bikes.  I guess that would eat up Buell's sales though. 

If you have deep enough pockets, you can do some cool stuff to a Sportster.  Storz does some nice work:

[Jeff]

I'm not a fan of Harley's in general, but I won't go as far as to rip on them a lot. A little, maybe. But I absolutely LOVE the Storz  bike.

Jeff

[dusterdude]

man that thing is sweet.

[Chris Liston]

That Storz version is pretty cool, and I'd love to take it for a spin.

I can knock Harley's all day.  My brother had one and the piece of dog poop leaked from every single part that could leak.  Brand spanken new from day 2 it leaked.  First the clutch leaked, then every single place that a cooling system (05' VROD) could leak did.  In the shop for over 20 days and then they FIXED/ replaced,etc.... it and then it leaked again.  He just traded it in again because it started leaking again.  I believe rear brake master cyl leaving puddles on the floor of our garage. 

He got a brand new leftover 05 Triumph Thruxton 900.  Awsome bike and so much cooler than anything VROD or Harley.

[Lumbee]

...I'm impressed with the XR1200 street tracker...HD needs something that can be considered a daily commuter in its line up, and it looks like that would fit the bill.  Back to the origninal post...the 77/78 XLR was somewhat of an anomoly in HDs history.  I like it, but you have to ask "what was HD thinking?" seeing how is target audience is not exactly the cafe kind of guy.  HD has a loyal customer base, but that hurts as much as it helps.  Its stopped HD from venturing outside of the "cruiser" market.  I think the Iron Head was the pennicle of bad engineering for HD...actually I like to think of it more as a failure at AMF than HD.  I've never heard anything good about an iron head.  I rode a sporty for about 2 years (94 XL).  I had no complaints other than the lack of being able to ride comfortably at highway speeds.  Not only that but extended rides over 60 mph would puke a modest spray of oil on the air filter cover.

That new XR is the first HD I've seen in a long time I'd actually consider buying, mostly because its different.  However I'm sure after one look at the price tag and I'd gladly head to ebay and find an old 750 for peanuts to ride.     The woes of being a cheap bastard!

[Lumbee]

...more info on the tracker here...

http://new.cycleworld.com/article.asp?section_id=4&article_id=198

...it will be a long time before we would see this in the states.   

[bill440cars]

          First let me say duster and Terry (of Aust.), No Offense Guys but, I'm definitely not a fan of the H-Ds. I really liked the look of the 77'-78' XLCRs, I like the look of the XR1200 and I liked the look of the 883 that a friend had. I always figured that if I ever had a H-D (my Grandfather would roll over in his grave-He had an Indian dealership back when), it would be a sportster. Then I rode my friend's and I have to tell you that it just wasn't comfortable. I have ridden several different models of several different brands and they pretty much all felt good, but when I rode that Sportster, it was like it didn't want to go. I mean, most of the time, when I ride, the ride is smooth and like you and the bike are one. When I rode the sportster, I felt like I was wanting to go one way and the bike wanted to go another. I like the look, I just wasn't too fond of the handling. Just me.

                                                                Later on, Bill

[dusterdude]

thats cause you`re an indian freak  ,we all know the history indian and harley had.

[Terry in Australia]

man that thing is sweet.

I second that motion! Beeootiful!

[bill440cars]

thats cause you`re an indian freak  ,we all know the history indian and harley had.

            Yeah, there was quite a rivalry there. Of course I'd never be able to get one of those Old Indians, a retro or a new one (when they come out, next year I believe). And you're right, I am an Indian Freak and a Honda Freak and a Jawa Freak and a Vincent Freak and so on and so on...........
I'm just not that high on Harleys. I do like the Look of those that I mentioned previously and the old 750 racers. Were they called "KR" models? Sorry, my family history is based on the old Indians. I did, however, give it an honest shot, when I rode that Sportster. It just didn't feel right to me. I'm not saying anything about the bikes or those who ride them. I'm just saying that I haven't ridden one that appealed to me.

                                                               Later on, Bill   

[Lumbee]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&sspagename=ADME%3AB%3ASS%3AUS%3A1&viewitem=&item=290050837082

[GoatBaSS]

As a youngster attracted to looks the XLCR was the only bike I would consider and since they are still  tons less than some of the other stuff they put out ( new or used) if I was wealthy or insane I would get one. But then again I would also have a P-38.
I was in college prep school when I wrote the H-D company  and asked why they did not offer a "sport bike" or dirt bike for that matter. I received some schwag and a terse letter from the Vice President at the time. The 883 was the sport bike I was looking for, I was informed, and H-D had spent a great deal of time establishing their market presence, and that was how they liked it. So no street going XR750 or any other type of affordable option for the dumb kid. So I kept dreaming. And now I own three Honda 750s. I have owned several and have yet to spend on all of them what a new 883 Sportster cost at the time (4000$ with guaranteed trade in of 3999$ toward the purchase of another H-D). Economics is a powerful mistress. I am sure the XLCR was out gunned and out priced during the time on the line.

[mlinder]

http://www.ironharley.com/racepics/xr750ttbig.jpg

[kghost]

Well considering that a Buell is essentially a Sporty engine in a special frame with much larger dia USD forks, steeper steering geometry, monoshock rear end, oil in the swingarm, fuel injection, clip ons, rears sets, etc etc, and this is just a sporty engine in a sporty frame, I'd suggest that this bike is more a Sporty than it is a Buell? The styling is actually retro 1970's dirt tracker, and looks a lot more practical than a modern sports bike. very nice indeed.

I agree terry,it kinda makes me wonder how many of the "harley knockers" have ever been on one.now im going to wait for the storm.

It doesn't matter Dusty, we both know that they're great bikes, and most of the "Harley Knockers" here don't know #$%* about their own bikes, let alone other brands.

No biggie though, it's a free country that we both live in, and therefore people are free to have their own opinions, no matter how foolish they might seem to unbiased motorcyclists like you and I. Cheers, Terry.

I'm pretty unbiased.....

I have ridden (and when I say ridden I don't mean round the block I mean 1 or more full days) the following Harleys.....

Roadking. 2003 model
Softail Deluxe 2002 model
Wideglide 2002 model
Sportster 1200 2001 model
Sporster 883 2001 model
Buell 9 and 12 2004 model

Heres my thoughts

Roadking...road barge....many japanese cruisers do it better, cheaper, and more reliable
Softtail Deluxe ...see above
Wideglide..probably the most under appreciated model harley makes...will do what the roadking and softail does and what the
               sportster 1200 does. Not bad but still outclassed technologically by Japan
Sportster 1200. Not a bad around town or short jaunt big if cruiser is your thing
Sportster 883 Need way more power
Buell..absolutely brilliant chassis with respect to handling, ride and stopping. Crippled by a boat anchor of an engine.

My two cents.

[Terry in Australia]

I'm pretty unbiased.....

Wrong thread Tim, try this one: http://www.sohc4.us/forums/index.php?topic=15282.0 

[crazypj]

Actually, they weren't a bad bike. I rode one when they were new, and quite liked it, but couldn't afford one, so I bought my first CB750 (a new F1) instead.

I fell about laughing reading the "outrun by 350 twins" jibe, like any Sportster it had plenty of torque and would whup a Z1 off the lights, (for the first 200 yards anyway) and the BHP figure was more like 60. There was also a factory "Special" here in Oz at Peter Stevens Motorcycles (the Aussie importer) with the reversed head on the rear cylinder like the 750 racers, with a big cam, porting, bigger valves, twin Dellorto (I think) carbs etc, and it was closer to 90-odd BHP.

I'm not sure what the Harley folk here thought of them, but most of us Honda and Kawasaki guys thought they were pretty cool. Cheers, Terry.

Terry, I've dyno'ed them.
Iron heads don't make much power but they do have reasonable torque.
I wouldn't say 200 yds, 200 ft maybe
Modified big twin with cam, carb and exhaust only just managed 63bhp. and that was after set up (and 118with a shot of nitrous, but then it went bang)
 A well modified Sportster with reversed head is good for over 90bhp though
Back in the day a friend used to drag race CB750's, they got dyno'ed and some of the 1972/73 only managed 25/27bhp out of the crate. went up a little bi when broke in but needed a bunch of work to get anywhere near the 67 advertised HP.
He switched to Kawasaki when the Z1 came out (and built motors for RC Engineering,etc, among others)
PJ

[Terry in Australia]

Hey Peej, how are you mate, where have you been? Can I use Suzuki GS1000 70mm cylinders in a Honda CB750 cylinder block? 

[dusterdude]

pj,is your friend byron hines?

[Ted Nomura]

XLCR is still my favorite Harley, I like the looks even better than Brells. Now that their Sporsters are rubber mounted, maybe they'll release an updated version. Until then, I'll stick to my Cafe CB750.

[Tim.]

The XLCR never caught on because it was just a styling exercise by Harley. The chassis and engine are standard ironhead sportster, so the bike's performance doesn't back up it's cafe racer looks...

Sounds like 99.9% of the 'cafe racers' of any particular make or model, including most of our Honda 'cafe racers'.

[kghost]

The XLCR never caught on because it was just a styling exercise by Harley. The chassis and engine are standard ironhead sportster, so the bike's performance doesn't back up it's cafe racer looks...

Sounds like 99.9% of the 'cafe racers' of any particular make or model, including most of our Honda 'cafe racers'.

See avatar......Should go as fast as it looks.

beautifully hand crafted machinery that is as reliable as a stump.