| Author | Message | ||
     Damnut |
We see the XB engine in a sportster chassis or in an entirely new line? I mean really, they already have the line to keep building them. (at least I think they still do) Would they really ax that engine after Erik & team made it so much better than any air cooled engine that HD makes now? If/when I do see it, it will just another reason why I will never buy an HD product in my life. | ||
| Firebolt020283 |
I do not see them using it. It is not retro looking enuff for them. harley dont like new looking stuff. | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
Take a look at the XR1200, It's only a small step to dress up the XB lump in a similar form. They'd be stupid not to use what they have. Stupid they have in spades these days though, so who knows. | ||
| Aptbldr |
What about Buell's tweaks to the basic unit V-twin would not appear traditional? Move starter back up front & swap push-rod covers, for sure. Different engine mount & link positions? What would intake system be? Although I admire 'em,(especially since XB-R came to garage), I'm not well versed in Sportsters. | ||
| Firebolt020283 |
the cam cover is a lot different looking as well. they tend to rev higher than a normal xl engine which would make it not sound not quite like the rest of the sportser engines. I mean they had the perfect candidate to use such an engine but instead they created something eles that is not quite as good with the xr1200 | ||
| Ulynut |
Chrome push rod covers, chrome pipes, the average guy wouldn't notice the difference. | ||
| Queenofspeed |
The XR1200 already has an XB based engine in it so your question is moot. In fact the XR 12200 engine is actually the most adavanced air cooled engine ever as they now have oil cooling around the exhaust valves which no XB ever had (Message edited by queenofspeed on February 06, 2010) | ||
| Brumbear |
end result.... still crap!!!!! | ||
| Ustorque |
i concur! | ||
| Firebolt020283 |
the xr1200 still does not have the same HP numbers as an xb12 so it is not that advanced. and just what does it share with the xb plant obviously not as much as you think. If you need proof get the feb roadracingworld magazine they put a xr up against a xb and a 1125 to show how dumb harley is. | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
C'mon this is HD we're talking about here. Of course they're not going to sell an XR with the same output as an XB because they want to screw more $$$ out of their customers for performance upgrades. They're not going to sell XR owners shiny bits so they have to grab elsewhere. | ||
| Damnut |
The XR1200 already has an XB based engine in it so your question is moot No shit Sherlock. We all know the XB engine is based off of the Sporty engine but is NOT the same engine and HD does NOT have anything even close to the HP numbers that the Buell engines have, even on their big V-Twins. So my question is not moot at all. I guesstimate we will see it in some sort of a model by 2012. | ||
| Ustorque |
O.K. I'll take a swing at this one. I'm guessing your time frame is right Jim, around 2012. A new (not so) custom sporty chopper line with an XB powerplant. something like a mass produced "RedNeck Chopper" ripp-off. I can hear the board meeting in my mind, "People love to chop buells, so lets do it for them". Yuck! | ||
| Swampy |
The XB engine doesn't have the oil filter mount like the Sportster motor, so it would resemble a "Big Twin" making it look more like a "Real" motorcycle engine and asteticly pleasing to the "Core" Harley-Davidson riders. Yeah, I see it in there in a couple of years, powering a Road Glide Racer or something like that. It will probably even get a 6 speed transmission to smooth out the glides and give it the low RPM engine sound of a real Harley at highway cruising speeds. Thanks for the bad Mojo....and the sun is shining too. | ||
| 46champ |
Part of the problem with the horsepower numbers is airbox size the XR's is not big enough and until they fix that they will never get the numbers the XB's got. It also needs to shead 75 to 100 lbs. (Message edited by 46champ on February 06, 2010) | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
Trojan have been doing stuff with the XR since it came out. | ||
| Firebolt020283 |
More than just the airbox is different, the throttle bodys are different, and the fuel injection system is different. also the cases are different as well as something with xr engine makes the redline lower (final drive, gearing, ecu), the exhaust is different and the oil system is different. I am sure there is some other parts to these 2 engines that are different but I do not know what they are. | ||
| Trevd |
There are a lot of differences, but I think 46champ is right - the major difference, and the major reason HD wouldn't put the XB engine in a sportster is the airbox volume - you can't make that kind of airbox look "classic". That being said, I'm sure HD will continue to use some of the other parts of the XB engine in the sportsters - but they'll never make close to the horsepower that they do in Buell form because of the airbox. | ||
| Damnut |
Airbox doesn't make such a big difference. I've seen an XB still get 85HP on the dyno with no airbox on it, just a velocity stack and cone K&N filter. | ||
| Paint_shaker |
The XR is overweight and under powered... just like the rest of the harley line!!! As for targeting younger riders... I don't see a mass of them swarming the harley dealers... As for their "core" customers... There will always be people out there that just have to have a harley... But again, I don't see them swarming the dealers... The only thing I see harley doing right at the moment is making overpriced, overweight, under powered motorcycles... along with overpriced accessories and apparel.. | ||
| Court |
>>>>The XR is overweight and under powered... As well as 2 years overdue, $10,000,000 over budget and the worst selling Harely-Davidson, at retail, in history. Other than that . . what a bike! | ||
| Danger_dave |
Dream on. The XR1200X is a very nice 'standard' road bike. It's only a few degrees of lean angle from being an excellent one. | ||
| Court |
>>>The XR1200X is a very nice 'standard' road bike. No doubt about it. It was just a •••••• project, way overdue, who's fuzz was evaporated by the time it finally hit the market and it just doesn't sell. Kind of a bad thing when you are in the business of selling motorcycles. The bike was the victim of a committee. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
When they fire sale those XR1200X at half off prices, I will pick one up. Otherwise, I wont be making a new HD purchase for the foreseeable remainder of my motorcyclin career | ||
| Danger_dave |
I can understand that sentiment, but it shouldn't be made on the quality of the current product. The Ultras and Road Kings are first rate uber-tourers. I've tested all of em lately. The Harleys are actually pretty good. | ||
| Two_buells |
the first XB9R in 2002 was the test bed for the rubber mounted sportster | ||
| Danger_dave |
I was talking to Mr Shaker before you butted in with the makin' sense stuff Court. P off. | ||
| Court |
>>>The Harley's are actually pretty good. As are the new Bentley Coupes. Both are simply priced beyond the reach of most consumers and the very folks who used to pay anything (of course I mean the days when many folks would happily pay $4,000 over MSRP and wait two years) are relegated to moto-consumption history. There are many of us who grew up in the "it has to be a Harley or I'll walk" thinking . . . I lived in it through about a dozen Harley-Davidson's and each of them was "actually pretty good" . . . I enjoyed them. But . . . I didn't loose sight of Harley-Davidson . . .they lost sight of me. Folks with Harley tattooed all over them are now buying Victory and see some brands as "HD equivalents". You know, from your tests I've read, that there are several bikes that fit the bill as HD equivalents. Toss in thousands of dollars in savings, as America and the world enters it's 3rd year of the toughest economy since the Great Depression and stir the pot with a group of HD execs who, until 6 months ago had never been in the motorcycle business . . and you have the classic case of "who moved my cheese?" Doesn't help that this group of execs in blinders are bleeding money at the same time . . . . I suspect you'll be writing some interesting stories about where some of that money went in the next 8 months. | ||
| Wheelybueller |
"who moved my cheese?" ......should be required reading......  | ||
| Danger_dave |
Does 'cutting the cheese' mean the same thing up there? http://kiwiridermagazine.blogspot.com/2010/01/and- largest-market-share-is.html And yeah, interesting the amount of viable alternatives. Just returned a Honda Fury, nice bike too. Enjoyed it. It costs 25% more than a Wide Glide in this market. Victory currently don't have a retail outlet and are struggling for a foothold. Triumph Thunderbids are selling like hotcakes. |
