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Duphuckincati
| | Posted on Monday, August 16, 2010 - 08:25 pm: | 
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RE: the XLCR-yes a fail, but Gooood-loookin!! Gotta feel for Willie G on that one. |
Fireboltxb9r
| | Posted on Monday, August 16, 2010 - 08:50 pm: |
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"Think of the XLCR 1000 (1977-79) as their first attempt at a sport bike. It failed too. Hopefully so will this."
I beg to differ with this statement. As the proud owner of this very limited model (XLCR), I don't look at it as a failure. Granted this bike didn't sell like hot cakes, but in many ways was years ahead of it's time. Handling is superb with cornering like it's on rails. Triple disc brakes and a 1/4 fairing at a time when the Japanese offered nothing of the like. Timeless and classic styling by none other than Willie G. himself. Whether you wish to admit it or not, this bike in many ways can be looked at as the "Grand Daddy" of our modern day Buells.
As one of the most highly sought after collectible Harley models, I really enjoy looking at mine parked next to my 03 XB9R (delivered in April of "02) contemplating the 25 years that separate them, knowing they share the same blood.
(Message edited by Fireboltxb9r on August 16, 2010)
(Message edited by Fireboltxb9r on August 16, 2010) |
Anonymous
| | Posted on Monday, August 16, 2010 - 09:51 pm: |
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Firebolt,
You have been drinking the orange and black koolaid. The XLCR was an absolute joke when it came out, it wasn't in advance of anything. They were moving chicanes when people brought them out to AMA Superbike races in the late 70's. Wobbling, unbelievably slow garbage. Against the Suzukis, Kawasakis, Hondas, Ducatis, BMW's, Moto Guzzis, you name it. They were not even in the same race, they were simply in the way as they were repeatedly lapped. And the XR1200R is worse, because now H-D actually has vast amounts of money and staff, not like they were in the late 70's,and yet this is all they can do to call a sportbike? |
Fireboltxb9r
| | Posted on Monday, August 16, 2010 - 10:35 pm: |
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Ok, ok...I concede and stand corrected. From a racing stand point you may well be correct Anonymous. But from the standpoint of why I purchased the bike, to street ride, I couldn't be more pleased. From the thumbs up, to the rubber necking double takes, riding this bike (XLCR) is a riot. The story of the bike, from it's inception to production, and the part it's played in history, makes the ownership that much more fun. There is a raw, uncultured feel when riding this bike that gives it a truly unique quality.
Even to this day, the bike draws more attention at rally's and meets, than bikes considered "state of the art" technical marvels and also the 40K,50K,60K and up custom creations. Bottom line it's a cool bike to have and I have zero regrets. |
Lucky_jim
| | Posted on Monday, August 16, 2010 - 10:54 pm: |
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You noob, people ARE taking it the track and winning!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4Rqfw4-kPs
... in a spec series. 
I actually think its a cool concept for a street bike, obviously not meant to be full on performance.. too heavy for that. I just found that the seat was like a wooden board and angled me towards the arrow-like gas tank that was digging into my balls. I've never sat on a more uncomfortable bike. |
Imonabuss
| | Posted on Monday, August 16, 2010 - 11:50 pm: |
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An XB12 would hand that dopey thing it's small head on a platter. I find nothing cool about poser bikes, and that is what it is. An SV650 is a far better bike at half the price. "Yeah but it kinda looks like a real XR if I squint and ignore the weight and lack of power". Yep, fake all the way, all image and no talent. Dick O'Brien must be rolling in his grave. |
Keef
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 17, 2010 - 07:43 am: |
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just for you alls info the XR1200 has buell thunderstorm heads and pistons and buell cams though H-D call them something else not buell derived components |
Mcballpeen
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 17, 2010 - 07:39 pm: |
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"You noob, people ARE taking it the track and winning!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4Rqfw4-kPs
... in a spec series.
I actually think its a cool concept for a street bike, obviously not meant to be full on performance.. too heavy for that. I just found that the seat was like a wooden board and angled me towards the arrow-like gas tank that was digging into my balls. I've never sat on a more uncomfortable bike."
Did you see the pipes? They were Termignonis. Talk about making a silk purse out of a sows ear. I saw the video clip. It's just like road racing except a lot S-L-O-W-E-R.
(Message edited by mcballpeen on August 17, 2010) |
Mcballpeen
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 17, 2010 - 07:44 pm: |
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Fireboltxb9r,
The cool thing about the XLCR is that is STILL state of the art..........FOR hardley! |
Dannybuell
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 17, 2010 - 09:14 pm: |
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The Buell 1125 is the state of the art for HD sport bikes. HD has decided that sport bikes are not their market.
The last 2 generations have been technocrats, engineering is everything. In those circles you are a cave man if you don't have an iPhone. What will HD have for those folks? We all know air cooled is on it's way out. Will HD just have V-Rod variants? Will the sportster replacement be an 1125 or a v-rod variant?
(Message edited by dannybuell on August 18, 2010) |
Midevil_train
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 17, 2010 - 09:15 pm: |
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Firebolt, you shouldnt have regrets. If I saw that XL parked in the lot, I would definately look it over and check it out. Doesnt really matter to me if it was the fastest of its day or the slowest. Its a cool piece of motorcycle history. |
Kenney83
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 18, 2010 - 02:01 am: |
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There was a pic of a XR with a Buell front end on it now that was a good looking bike. |
Kenney83
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 18, 2010 - 02:07 am: |
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http://www.topspeed.com/motorcycles/harley-davidson-xr-1200/ke3323.html
here it is. |
Dannybuell
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 18, 2010 - 02:08 am: |
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Firebolt - How many 1125's would it take to pry you away from your XLCR? :-) |
Keef
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 18, 2010 - 07:52 am: |
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just imagine this.....a 1190 in the frame now that would have been competative and then eventually changing all the big slow hogs to the watercooled Helicon ,even larger bores and cam changes to have the motor maybe make less HP but more low end torque for those heavy framed cruisers, there would have been lots of room on the frames for the helicons to fit......now that is a different reality,just not ours,dumb ass H-D....
 |
Zac4mac
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 18, 2010 - 08:38 am: |
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Kenney83 -
I thought something looked wrong in your picture.
That bike has a Big-Inch motor in it... the primary ain't a Sporty.
Yup, checked the article and it's a 124" S&S Evo. That oughtta be nice and light.
Z |
Jules
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 18, 2010 - 11:06 am: |
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That oughtta be nice and light
Yeah but it's kinda pretty (in a Fugly kinda way). I'd be tempted if it weren't for the badge.
Umm is that a ZTL calliper and disc? |
Mcballpeen
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 18, 2010 - 11:20 am: |
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The Buell 1125 is the state of the art for HD sport bikes. HD has decided that sport bikes are not their market.
The last 2 generations have been technocrats, engineering is everything. In those circles you are a cave man if you don't have an iPhone. What will HD have for those folks? We all know air cooled is on it's way out. Will HD just have V-Rod variants? Will the sportster replacement be an 1125 or a v-rod variant?
No, the 1125 was the state of the art for BUELL, not hardley ableson. |
Nightripper
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 18, 2010 - 02:00 pm: |
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I've been riding for the last 35 yrs. and when the xlcr came out you had the kaw kz1000 ltd, suzuki gs1000 etc. all quicker and better handling bikes. Also the xlcr hade a higher gear ratio for higher top end and the tramsmission was prone to failure. The only reason ppl like the xlcr now is due to its rarity and collector value. The best bike of the period from 1979-1983 was the yamaha seca 750. it would do a 130mph, 11.9 quater mile and and shaft drive and computerized lcd display and guages and would run for ever.
Until the true sport bikes came out with the gpz,fj600,interceptor, gsxr etc. The yamaha's of the early 80's won hands down, also don't forget the early turbo's |
Dannybuell
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 18, 2010 - 02:21 pm: |
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Nightripper - several early turbos in my part of the world!
http://portland.craigslist.org/clk/mcy/1904791438. html
or V-Twin
http://portland.craigslist.org/clk/mcy/1898747454. html
New Alternator on this one --- Ha HA
http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/mcy/1901103464. html |
Nightripper
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 18, 2010 - 02:37 pm: |
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the early turbos weren't much faster than the stock 1000's or 900's of the day.
The fastest was the kaw 750 turbo of the day and it would do about 145 mph. When cycle world did a salt flats shoot out against the vmax and gpz1100 of the time the turbo was about the same top speed of the big dsplacement bikes, also early turbos we plagued with problems.
The yamaha 650 turbo and cx500 turbo were real dogs for there day |
Firebolt020283
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 18, 2010 - 02:51 pm: |
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I would love to own a xr1200 if they looked like this one.
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Fireboltxb9r
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 18, 2010 - 11:46 pm: |
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Dannybuell - I bought the '77 XLCR in 1987, and in all honesty after 23 years of ownership I've grown a bit attached. No plan to sell or trade. If you seriously want one of these they're out there, it may just take a while to find the right one at a reasonable price.
Nightripper - It really cracks me up when guys start degrading this bike, or being critical of any model for that matter. Quoting specs, HP ratings, top speed, and other test results from printed magazine editorials written by professional riders/ racers. The irony being that most these guys spewing "facts and figures" couldn't notice a 15 HP difference between bikes if it bit them in the @ss!
I worked in 3 different dealerships for several years, and for the most part when guys started ranting and raving about the "fastest this" or "fastest that", it was time to roll up your pant legs quick, cause it was gonna get deep real fast! Most these Ricky Racer wannabe squids couldn't ride any bike to half it's potential!
Don't take me wrong, I appreciate speed and high performance and it's why I ride an 1125R. But the point I'm trying to make is happiness and satisfaction with any model is relative. For me personally, bike character and charm, design, heritage, feel, sound, traits pro and con, add to the experience and enjoyment of any motorcycle and much more so with certain bikes.
It's all "wind in your hair", so relax and enjoy the ride!
Firebolt020283 - That XR1200 is a beauty and I'd be proud to own that bike any day! |
Ratgin
| | Posted on Thursday, August 19, 2010 - 01:30 am: |
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XR1200X is a nice looking bike.
Also will most likely be a much friendlier street bike then my 1125R.
Old motto applies for the street, more fun to ride a slow bike fast then a fast bike slow. |
Firebolt020283
| | Posted on Friday, August 20, 2010 - 01:51 pm: |
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I got that picture off of Trojan's website and it is for sale which is cool for some lucky guy in the UK. |
Xl1200r
| | Posted on Thursday, August 26, 2010 - 02:18 pm: |
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Mcballpeen - you're pretty off base in your assesment of the XR1200. If you honestly see it marketed as a "sport bike" all you're doing is letting on to how much orange jell-o occupies the otherwise empty cavity in your skull.
It's a sporty standard. Some of these kinds of bikes are fast, some slow, some light, some heavy. They used to have spec race classes for 883 Sportsters - are you going to argue that harley considered them sport bikes?
And to really twist your mind, the Sportster was the fastest thing on two wheels until the 750 four came from Honda in 1969.
Back to the original topic, my dealer is pretty good and tends to know what they're talking about, but has more than once handed a customer off to me to try and sell a buell, lol. |
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