| Author | Message | ||
     Randomchaos |
So, I got to test ride an XR1200 today. I was quite surprised by it. The only thing I didnt like about it is how it seemed to just run out of gears. The gearing felt really short on it. Was in 5th, going 65 down the interstate, and was over 4k RPMs. Would start to get some vibration through the handlebars after 4k that would get progressively worse as the RPMs rose. The bike handled extremely well. The sitting position was nice and comfy, and felt alot like sitting on a dirtbike with how your legs tuck in. The power came on nice and smooth like on the buells, albeit not as much power as my 12R, but decent enough to get your butt scootin. Overall, it was a pretty fun bike. Deffinately one I would buy if I had the opportunity to. | ||
| Jraice |
Handling compared to the 12R? When I sit on that thing it just feels LONG! Cant imagine it even comes close to handling like the buell although I have seen some promo videos of it tearing up a road full of sweepers nicely. | ||
| Xb1200rick |
I rode one last week and was very disappointed after reading all the good reviews. I thought it felt like a regular sportster with long shocks. Really ran out of wind past 90mph, and the ergos did not work for me at all. My back was hurting in 20 mins.Of course I road my 12R over there and tested the 1125R first. My opinion though my wifes xb12scg is twice the bike compared to the xr1200.Not even close Rick | ||
| Randomchaos |
It wasnt as fast at turning into corners as my 12r, but held lines really well, and felt like it wanted to lean more and eat up the roads. It deffinately did feel like it was running out of steam past 70mph, I only got to take it up to about 75mph though.I wouldn't put it upthere with the Lightnings in overall abilities, but for a H-D model bike, it sure was fun! | ||
| Blackm2 |
How did our current president put that? You can put lipstick on a pig, it's still a pig. XR1200 is a lipstuck Sportster. | ||
| Bikertrash05 |
Seriously, it is still a Sportster, weighing 160lbs more then a Buell. IMHO, HD didn't make the Sportster better by rubber mounting the engine and adding 50lbs. | ||
| Jraice |
I think its perfect for two cases. Somebody that knows a lot about the dirt tracking origins of the bike and wants it for that, or... somebody who wants a bike and it has to be a harley, but they still want to be able to ride in the twisties with a brisk pace. If your looking for a great handling bike in general, look away, if you want a harley and a great handling bike, its the holy grail. Make sense? Its still a pig but from harley its one of the more powerful (buell in these terms is not a harley) street bikes ever to be released from them, as well as some great suspension. | ||
| Randomchaos |
Thats how I had been looking at it Jraice  . Compared to a Buell, its not that great, but when compared to other HD bikes, its pretty awesome. | ||
| Jraice |
I recall once hearing people compare it to the ducati monsters. A buell is that comparison. The XR is in a league of its own. | ||
| Andymnelson |
"When I sit on that thing it just feels LONG!" ...that's what she said. Seriously tho, I briefly glanced at one the other day- it was so ugly, oddly proportioned and portly looking that I didn't even give it a second look. | ||
| Aldaytona |
Love the looks, fondled one waiting for my test ride, then................ I'll keep my 2000 Sporty 883 w/Thunderstorm heads, Buell pistons, Yost CV1 carb, and White Bros. 2/1, and TRAP DOOR. It has crushed a lot of fat guys egos on their +30K CVO sleds and cost a bunch less than a XR1200. No, it doesn't handle even close to my XB12R, nor is as speedy as my "883 Sporty" |
