| Author | Message | ||
     Paint_shaker |
Saw on the WERA board where DMG is considering a spec Sporty class for 2010. Interesting, if true. Also seen here... http://www.cyclenews.com/articles/road-racing/2009 /09/19/a-spec-harley-xr1200-class-for-ama-racing | ||
| Moxnix |
Hmm. Went into the local H-D shop 2 days ago to order the P/N for an XR1200 engine. First told it wasn't available, but he looked up my part # and said it is in the system, but I have to have a bike already to buy one. Okay with me, just wondering if the above XR1200 class may be part of that. I look forward to the series. | ||
| Blake |
So long Honda, HELLO Harley! I love it! These DMG guys are not to be trifled with. | ||
| Blake |
Just be sure to let the Buell air-cooled models race in the Sportster class too.  | ||
| Gregtonn |
Anyone remember the Sportster 883 series back in the 1990s? Laguna Seca; the track announcer claimed there were 17 lead changes in a single lap. I didn't see them all and don't even know if there were 17, but I do know there were a heck of a lot of them! G | ||
| Trojan |
The XR1200 series is already proven and successful in Spain and Italy (less so in the UK for various reasons) so it would be a no brainer to just copy and paste the series into AMA racing. All the race kits are already made and available and the development work is already done over here.  The format over here is for stock engined XR1200's with spec suspension and exhaust mods and only the SERT tuner allowed for EFi tuning. In both Italy and SPain the series has been heavily supported by dealer teams providing the bulk of the entries, whereas in the UK the proposed series fell on its face because UK H-D dealers have nointerest in racing or in spending any of their profits by running a race team. H-D priced the bikes too expensively for privateers, who could run in other classes for less and have a wider choice of competiton. In the US it would probably be very popular because of the H-D name that's for sure. Check out these web sites for the Euro series: Italian XR1200 Trophyhttp://www.thelegendontour.com/wcm/hd/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1 Spanish 'BBQ cup series (2008)http://www.bbqseries.com/bbq2008.php Just be sure to let the Buell air-cooled models race in the Sportster class too. Then it wouldn't be a Sportster class would it? | ||
| Blake |
Pretty cool. | ||
| Blake |
Adrenalin Moto? Who the heck are they and what do they think they're doing? | ||
| Slaughter |
Now that the engines have evolved since the 883 class, it might be interesting. The 883 was a massively self-destructive engine when actually RACED. EVERY race day required tearing down the engines. If the bottom end and valve train were beefed up as it has been for the Buells in 2008, that will help. But the 883 did give a start to Eric and Ben Bostrom, Zemke, Higbee, Henley and Yates (among others) I'd just be afraid that the engines would still be somewhat fragile when spun fast. (Message edited by slaughter on September 20, 2009) | ||
| Trojan |
Adrenalin Moto? Who the heck are they and what do they think they're doing? You've got to have your finger in as many pies as possible these days  My XR1200 has re-awakened my love of air cooled H-D Sportsters though. Even if it is heavier and much more 'old skool' than the XB it fits my 6' 2" better than the XB series and is just like an old M2 to ride  I'd just be afraid that the engines would still be somewhat fragile when spun fast. The XR motor is pretty much the same as the current XB, with the exception of slightly different cams and oil cooled heads. It revs to 7000 easily without stress and the European race series have a 7000rpm rev limit set. As far as I know there have been no major engine failures in either the Italian or Spanish race series, and the UK demo bikes have performed faultlessly at BSB rounds all year with no problems. (Message edited by trojan on September 20, 2009) | ||
| Badlionsfan |
The ninja 250 class for teens is a great idea also. | ||
| Slaughter |
HECK with teens, tne Ninja 250 class(es) are catching on like wildfire. At Willow Springs (spreading to certain other tracks in the area) you can rent a 250 Ninja spec racer for $250 a day - all inclusive (except fees and your personal gear) - we're talking tires and everything. You just show up with your gear, get the bike and go racing. Park in their pits, they get it ready for your next session. Truly a great/cheap way to get a taste of racing. http://racebikerentals.com/ Kawi has sat up and taken notice - but these classes were grass-roots efforts and Kawi just HAD to respond to the interest. Wondering if the XR has a much stiffer frame than the Sporty. I realize that since rubber-mounting the engine, it HAS been totally redesigned but the Sporty was notoriously flexible when ridden hard. | ||
| Oddball |
Imagine vast numbers of patch sets both on the track and in the stands. Should be interesting. Looks like it would be a fun racing class to try. | ||
| Blake |
Matt, Can you ditch that gawd awful right side all-in-one cam/sprocket cover in favor of a Buell version? Now that I look at your picture above, it appears that you've trimmed it back quite a bit. That's one of the things I didn't like about the XR. | ||
| Court |
>>>The XR motor is pretty much the same as the current XB, And folks wonder what Harley-Davidson gets from Buell. Cool. | ||
| Trojan |
Can you ditch that gawd awful right side all-in-one cam/sprocket cover in favor of a Buell version? Now that I look at your picture above, it appears that you've trimmed it back quite a bit. That's one of the things I didn't like about the XR. The stock sprocket cover is a work of unsurpassed ugliness, but the Buell sprocket cover (or even aftermarket Buell items) won't fit because the join between the sprocket cover and cam cover is at a different angle. One of the first things I did when I got the bike was to take a drill to it and cut large holes in the sprocket cover to make it look smaller. The cam cover is basically just an oil pump cover now, and I was tempted to run the bike without it fitted at all However getting it powder coated black certainly made it look a lot less conspicuous (something that Harley seem to have copied on the XR1200X, but I won't charge them extra for it ) I'm thinking of going the whole hog (no pun intended) and getting a larger alloy fuel tank cover and solo seat made to give it that Cal Rayborn XR750TT look  | ||
| Gregtonn |
Wondering if the XR has a much stiffer frame than the Sporty. The Sporster frame was significantly stiffened a in its last redesign and the XR1200 has a stiffer swingarm. http://www.motorcycledaily.com/23december08_hd2009 xr1200.htm "The frame is only slightly different from the standard Sportster frame, but hanging from it is an entirely new, hollow cast-aluminum swingarm that is 40% stiffer than the steel item found on the regular Sportster, and 3.3 pounds lighter. In front is a pair of stout 43 mm Showa inverted forks, while preload adjustable shocks sit out back." G | ||
| Liquorwhere |
If that series comes about I would have to applaud it. I love the look of that bike, but more so the Cal Rayborn bike, that is so sweet. My good friend Tom Moore was the parts manager at Bartell's when the Bostrom's raced for Bartell's HD in the twins series. He said those races were a ball to watch. That one I might watch. Might. | ||
| Moxnix |
The XR1200 has a larger crank pin than other bikes in the Sportster line. I'd like a trap door, maybe it will come. The sound track in the Trophy race video above pretty much underwrites why this is likely to become a fan favorite. Other thing being, one can see the motor. When Lance Weil took his XLRTT to England and ran out of Warr's shop, they required he take off the fairing lowers. What the folk saw on Sunday, they wanted to buy on Monday. Eric gets it, even if his engines are faired, a requirement for being competitive. Brilliant new series, hope it does well. I may break down and buy my first new Harley since my XLCR. | ||
| Trojan |
When Lance Weil took his XLRTT to England and ran out of Warr's shop, they required he take off the fairing lowers. What the folk saw on Sunday, they wanted to buy on Monday. I think there is a little bit of folklore creeping into that story unfortunately. Lance Weil had cooling problems running his Harley racer on British short circuits so ran it with a Rickman style half fairing in an attempt to keep the engine cooler. At that time in the UK you couldn't give Harleys away as they just weren't popular and were hugely expensive. Warr's were one of only a handful of dealers back then and although he may have run the bike out of their workshops Weil was actually sponsored on his Harley by Cycle World in 1967. He actually spent most of his racing time in the UK riding Colin Lysters G50 Matchless and had some success (3rd) riding a Triumph Bonneville in the 500 mile race at Brands Hatch. He is remembered here mostly for being one of the very first road racers in the UK to wear coloured leathers instead of the usual all black race suits of the time. I remember seeing him ride it at Lydden Hill in Kent and it was the first racing Harley I had ever seen. It didn't make as much impression on me as Rayborn did on the XR750TT at Brands Hatch a few years later though   (Message edited by trojan on September 20, 2009) | ||
| Oddball |
Saw not bad pricing at Rossmeyers on the XR. As well as listening to a salesman down Buell to bolster his attempt to sell an XR to a couple standing there. Seems dumb to be in the habit of downing other brands when your dealership's divisions sell those brands.  | ||
| Backcountryme |
This looks like it will be a fun class to watch. Remember that Danny won on a Sportster in the old 883 flat track. | ||
| Moxnix |
I sold an XLR engine to Ricky Racer, aka Lance Weil, when he was attempting to build and market his replica bikes as pictured in the lower photo. I pulled the motor from a chopper. Lord knows every iron barrel XL, XR, or whatever engine of those series made a lot of heat. The lowers story may be lore, it appeared in interviews from Weil. | ||
| Goldrush |
Don't forget one of the most famous xrs of all time Tillys HD Lucifer's Hammer | ||
| Gaesati |
883 racing was a very popular series in Australia a few years ago. | ||
| Bob_thompson |
Some of these pictures remind me of what I built (below) in the 70's for my own riding pleasure. Beat HD by a year or two when they brought out their CR1000 and even preceded Erik but had to wait for his great bikes to give me what I really wanted. Thanks much again BMC. Bob  | ||
| No_rice |
the local college mc club just held a battletrax this weekend. one of my customers with an xr1200 pretty much cleaned house on it. he was throwing the thing all over the place. he got beat by one kid on a little supermoto by less then 2 seconds. and this course was TIGHT. i didnt even bother trying it with the 1125 because first gear is so tall. i messed around on the 9 and still never got out of first, heck you were on the clutch more then the throttle on that course. although unlike the guy with the xr i was not willing to toss my bike on the ground in persuit of the best time around that track. i was just there for a little fun on a saturday off work. | ||
| Crusty |
The haters over at ADV rider are really dumping on the idea of a Sportster class, and in general, everything AMA/DMG is trying to do to improve racing in this country. It would be nice if somebody more articulate than me would go over and refute some of their negativity. I really wish I was able to type with more than one finger... | ||
| Paint_shaker |
I generally don't respond to the Buell/ HD/ DMG haters as nothing I can put on the screen will change their narrow minds. | ||
| Court |
I agree. That's really a differently focused crowd. I'd put little more stock in their assessment of the racing prognosis than they would in my opinion of watertight gear bags. One thing is certain . . . . AMA/DMG or whoever has certainly brought a good deal of excitement back to motorcycle road racing in the United States of America. I took someone with vision, willing to act, as opposed to just talk, and to do so in spite of all the naysayers They exhibited, throughout the year, the admirable element of being able to say "we thought this or that would work, we were wrong and screwed it up and are making a change". Action, even with midcourse correction, always trumps inaction and talking about what you coulda/shoulda/woulda. I am married to perhaps the best barometer of their success . . .my wife, not exactly a dyed in the wool race fan, attended two races, quickly knew the players and the game and had a great time. I'm not concerned if someone in Europe can prove they do better . . . I am thrilled to see what has been done this year. I'd wager they go in a cave, take a look at what they have done, consult with all the stakeholders and improve next year. I'm excited about racing. I like that. In addition . . . anytime I see the term "haters" . . . I change channel. The world has too much of that. |
