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Gaesati
Posted on Thursday, December 03, 2009 - 08:25 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

If Harley thinks that the xr1200 can replace the buell xb line they are out of their minds.
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Teeps
Posted on Thursday, December 03, 2009 - 08:44 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

It's all about "the look."
Some products are designed "to sell", some to function; with little regard as to how they look.
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Buellinachinashop
Posted on Thursday, December 03, 2009 - 08:52 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

its 580lbs. It wasn't meant to replace anything but your bank account with a 14,000.00 void of emptiness.

It is a decent bike though. Not a true corner carver, but the best they offer. The XR1200X is the one I'd be waiting for.
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Swordsman
Posted on Thursday, December 03, 2009 - 09:14 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I like the styling well enough, but looking across the board of other brands, I'm still not sure who they expect to sell it to. I probably would have opted for one over the XB when i was first getting into riding (I was torn between cruiser n' crotchrocket), but I don't think there are very many people that straddle the fence like I once did.

~SM
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Sayitaintso
Posted on Thursday, December 03, 2009 - 09:25 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Sword, I certainly was in the same situation you were. I liked the fun rides of the sportbikes but enjoyed the company of the "cruiser crowd" better.

I went my own way with one of the "new" Bonnevilles at first. It didn't fit either of the two categories but satisfied my want for a bike that handled better (and was more fun) than a cruiser and to not be part of the squid crowd. Then I "discovered" the Uly and haven't regretted the change in the slightest.
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Rick_a
Posted on Thursday, December 03, 2009 - 09:29 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

It's here only 'cause people were butt hurt that it was going to be a Euro only bike.
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Spatten1
Posted on Thursday, December 03, 2009 - 09:31 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

It's a cool bike, I'd like one.

If you want performance get a GSXR 1000, you will not be disappointed.
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Cataract2
Posted on Thursday, December 03, 2009 - 09:51 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I can't wait to meet some moron on one of those who thinks they can possibly hang with me on the Buell in the straights or the corners. XB9SX OR 1125R.
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Spatten1
Posted on Thursday, December 03, 2009 - 10:12 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I've had plenty of Harley guys see me on my Buell, GSXR, ZX, etc., on a curvy road and try to keep me from passing. They really think that they are fast because they are faster than their buddies. About a month ago one of them ran over the doubles and across the road when I was on his ass, rather than just letting me by. I felt very bad, it is a fairly well traveled road, he might have gotten hurt or killed.

All that said, I'd hope that an XR1200 buyer would know what he has and not think it's a sportbike. Well handling, heavy, standard with a cool lopey HD engine. I'd like one for what it is.
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Joebuell
Posted on Thursday, December 03, 2009 - 10:40 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I traded in a sporster sport for a buell X1 and never looked back. when I demo'd the XR (which is nicely styled) it felt like a tractor.
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Reepicheep
Posted on Thursday, December 03, 2009 - 12:44 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

$14k for an XR1200? You have to be kidding me!

I thought it came in at $9000, at which point I thought it was a decent sportster, but still not for me.

$14k for that? Next time I see one, my first thought is going to be "what an idiot".

Naked standards rock because of the "bang for the buck" factor.

No wonder those things aren't selling...
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Court
Posted on Thursday, December 03, 2009 - 01:19 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

>>>>The XR1200X is the one I'd be waiting for.

Let me . . . fully cognizant that someone will want to argue . . . pass something by you.

Is the XR1200X something you would LOOK AT CLOSELY or something you would ACTUALLY BUY?

The reason I ask is that the XR1200R, one of the most expensive (2 years past schedule and tens of millions over budget) is one of the worst selling Harley-Davidsons in history.

It's a NEAT looking bike.

I love Sportsters, I bought 3 in a single day once and added them to my XR-1000 and XLCR collection.

But here's what happens. . . I catch myself fawning over the XR1200R. I went over one day thinking "maybe it's time from another Sportster" and looked at them.

Then I started to do the purchase dance.

Suddenly I started thinking . . "look, it's not THAT fast and for the same money I can but two 883's for the SCU and I and likely do about the same thing I'd be doing on the $14,000 one".

Folks don't REALLY ride a Sportster to go fast. If they want to go fast . . . by the time you get to the $14,000 mark you've passed a hundred bikes that are much faster, handle much better and stop much better.

But I confess to having a thing for the Sportster . . well just the "shape". I have an old peanut tank off one my my Sportsters on my desk. I really like the looks.

But if I'm not buying for "fast" . . . and I'm wanting that "Sportster look" . . . all of a sudden I am back at the black 993 and worrying about having all this money left over.

If you want to have some fun . . ask your dealer "How many XR1200R's have ACTUALLY SOLD AT RETAIL?". See what they tell you.

It's a neat looking bike (the one Matt did cured it's inherent birth defects and transformed it into a great looking bike) but it's aimed at a market that nearly doesn't exist.
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Oldog
Posted on Thursday, December 03, 2009 - 01:31 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

It's a neat looking bike (the one Matt did cured it's inherent birth defects and transformed it into a great looking bike) but it's aimed at a market that nearly doesn't exist.

gotta wonder "Who?" are the "CORE" customers?

I have to wonder about HD's real condition
they are building more and more expensive bikes they are doing a lot of "counterintuitive" things..}
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Swordsman
Posted on Thursday, December 03, 2009 - 01:57 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

That's true Oldog. Seems to me like getting back to their "core" business would require the death of the XR1200, because it's NOT a cruiser. But, wait, how will they attract the younger crowd that has zero affinity for bikes that look 50 years old? Suddenly, that "core business" remark is looking paradoxical. Or perhaps it's oxymoronical

Can I use those words word?

~SM
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Danger_dave
Posted on Thursday, December 03, 2009 - 03:37 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

>>by the time you get to the $14,000 mark you've passed a hundred bikes that are much faster, handle much better and stop much better. <<


You could say the same things about a Buell.
Those hundreds of bikes are also much less enjoyable, less 'fulfilling' and a whole lot less fun to use as road bikes if you have hopes of keeping a Licence.
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Court
Posted on Thursday, December 03, 2009 - 03:50 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

>>>You could say the same things about a Buell.

Absolutely.

Which makes it all the more curious when more Buell Blasts sold in a month than XR1200Rs did in a year.
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Danger_dave
Posted on Thursday, December 03, 2009 - 04:06 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I've not seen a 1200R - there's a few blasts down here.

Have ridden an example all the '10 Harley series now - 'cept the trike.

The Top of the Range Ultra I have in the shed now is a very tidy bike. Smoothest V-twin I've ridden - with middleweight Metric Cruiser zip and tip.

The product is the best it's ever been.
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Court
Posted on Thursday, December 03, 2009 - 04:28 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

>>>The product is the best it's ever been.

I. . . based only on reading and viewing the press kit . . am inclined to agree.

I wonder how many folks, I know BadWeB is not a representative sample, have ever paid over $25,000 for a motorcycle?

I have twice but I don't think I would again.

I love the FLH. It's the one I wish I had back.

If I were buying now I'd pay $16,000 for it. I would not pay $25,000.
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Buellinachinashop
Posted on Thursday, December 03, 2009 - 04:38 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

"Is the XR1200X something you would LOOK AT CLOSELY or something you would ACTUALLY BUY?"

If I were in the market for a Harley with the best performance available, it's the bike I'd look at buying. WHEN/IF it becomes available here in the US.

Although the suspension kit is available for $1500.00 and fits the standard XR1200.
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Buellinachinashop
Posted on Thursday, December 03, 2009 - 04:41 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

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Reepicheep
Posted on Thursday, December 03, 2009 - 04:47 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Looks like a 1980's nighthawk after a can of flat black Krylon. : (

I like the flat back 883 though... the 8 ball thingy. And that one is closer to rationally priced... if you ignore the power it makes (which I would, but I was happy on a 17 RWHP KLR-250, so clearly I am an aberrant).
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Milleniumx1
Posted on Thursday, December 03, 2009 - 05:16 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I used to toss my first H-D ('93 Hugger) down the highways from Alice's near Woodside. It sure was easier than doing it the big twins I bought next. Then I got my '00 X1 and realized I wasn't all that fast on the Sporty by comparison. I then had a few more H-D big twins, and now an '09 1125R. Now that I've had the R, I realize that the X1 (which I loved BTW) wasn't carving it up all that well either. Maybe the extra horsepower has a placebo affect!

Mike
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Froggy
Posted on Thursday, December 03, 2009 - 05:23 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)


quote:

I wonder how many folks, I know BadWeB is not a representative sample, have ever paid over $25,000 for a motorcycle?




My father has a Screaming Eagle geezer glide, he had an 06 be bought new, and traded it two years later for an 08 of the same thing after about 50k miles. The 08 had some issues, Harley did a service program to change gaskets and stuff, but my dad ended up trading it in for a 09 back in the spring. Not sure his mileage on the new bike, but I have only seen it once as hes out in the middle of nowhere all the time on it. I know, because he has me order maps and junk online, then program the built in GPS. Anyway, enough rambling, but one person and three $35k bikes over the few years.
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Cityxslicker
Posted on Thursday, December 03, 2009 - 05:27 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

dont disparage the 80s nighthawk, pound for pound I bet it EATS Sportster pork

I wish I still had mine.


Somebody out there has it, BAST@Rds
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Court
Posted on Thursday, December 03, 2009 - 05:56 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

At the price of that XR . . I'd be cruising on my new Ducati. As long as you're paying the money why not get some power, brakes and handling.

If . . .after a while . . I just can't bear not looking cool . . $5 worth of Krylon will fix it.
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Barker
Posted on Thursday, December 03, 2009 - 06:20 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I have ridden the XR1200. IMHO its the best HD you can buy, but I would never buy one.

It has a secondary rev limiter @ 115mph. DAMHIK.
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4cammer
Posted on Thursday, December 03, 2009 - 06:21 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Court, how many XR1200's have sold stateside?

And how the heck could it have cost millions to develop? They could have just called Steve Storz or Mert Lawwill for some help...if they even know who those fellas are.
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Phillyblast
Posted on Thursday, December 03, 2009 - 06:59 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Court,
No, I wouldn't buy it for 14K. I'd even skip the 8K 883 and go straight to a Bonneville. Maybe a Scrambler, or a T100. For the same 8K as the 883.
Same retro chic appeal of the XR and the Sporty, but done waaaaay better IMHO.
I'm now a long way off from another bike, since I'm sitting on 3 and just bought the 1125R but a Bonneville might just be neat to have in the garage a few years from now.
I don't get the same "gotta have" pull from the XR. If you're going to do a "Modernized Street Tracker" you need to do what Triumph did, and hide the "modern" bits.
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Rainman
Posted on Thursday, December 03, 2009 - 07:19 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

According to the web sites, the XR MSRPs for about 10,700...where's the 14,000 coming from?

Just curious.
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Radioelasais
Posted on Thursday, December 03, 2009 - 07:25 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fqgwo_WdyRo
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