| Author | Message | ||
     Blasterd |
Thank God for that Anony.... | ||
| Cyclonedon |
Their all new sportiest sporting Sporster(snicker) ever couldn't even hang with a "97"-M2." Wrong! I owned a 1998 M2 Cyclone and for those who have forgot, it wasn't until 1999 when the M2 Cyclone started using the high performance heads to gain the 91 HP. My 1998 had only 83. I test rode the Harley XR1200 yesterday and it's a good motorcycle, just not up with the Buell XB platform. If Harley can figure out how to market the new XR1200X, it just might sell. But then again they didn't do Buell any justice with their advertising campaign. | ||
| Stang37 |
I think Anony is my favorite person on this site. | ||
| Iman501 |
Well, not rich, but I could at least buy a nice set of tires. or you could afford one of those 20k bikes the dealers are selling! and to take this thread in a dif direction, whats erik allowed to do once feb 11 of 2011 hits, and all the legal stuff ends? can he be hired by anybody, or start up building buell street bikes again? | ||
| Bosh |
Don't know where this silliness started, but for sure it ain't happening! LOL... that kills that rumor. Way to go Eddie! | ||
| Dragonslayer |
Erik standing in front of Hardley's headquarters and giving them the middle finger would make a great picture. | ||
| Court |
>>>Erik standing in front of Hardley's headquarters and giving them the middle finger would make a great picture. No need, nor time, for that to happen. But Erik is happier than I've seen him in years. He's healthier physically and emotionally and busier than I can ever recall him having been. The most salient difference is that in the past he's spent a good deal of his time explaining the obvious to idiots and being dragged through ridiculous committee meetings. He now has, for the first time since his 30's, the sameutimeous ability to focus keenly on projects, be creative and he assembled an incredible team. No trumpet plays louder or clearer than time. Erik's going nowhere but forward and up. . . . . oh yes, and round and round very quickly. Court | ||
| Rick_a |
Buell had a spec class at one time as well. This:  VS This:  Are you serious?  It's still obviously a cruiser at heart. I think it's funny how H-D had little support, understanding, or interest in Buell's road racing efforts, yet set off with this once they're disbanded. Erik Buell going back to H-D...he'd be a real glutton then, wouldn't he? (Message edited by Rick_A on June 06, 2010) | ||
| Froggy |
HD has nothing to do with the XR1200 class. | ||
| Nevrenuf |
Don't know where this silliness started, but for sure it ain't happening! that's all i needed to hear, now let the other speculatin continue. what does happen next year. | ||
| Reg_kittrelle |
Aeholton, No, I was referring to the fact that I've had a considerable amount of seat time on the '97 M2, and just got off the race track (Road America)with a stock XR1200R. If races were won by reading spec charts... why race? The default position here is to disregard anything Harley does. This may make you feel better, but it doesn't void fact. Froggy.. "HD has nothing to do with the XR1200 class." This is the party line and is ostensibly true... However, at the Road American press intro of the XR1200R, Terry Vance spoke at the closed press conference, and two V&H race bikes were prominent in the press paddock. H-D has a serious vested interest in seeing this motorcycle succeed, and V&H is a key component of that desired success. Harley may say what they want,but I believe they are deeply involved in this race effort, sub-rosa or not. | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
That 883 is yummy stuff too! Before Buell got bought out by H-D, I was unable to afford his products. I was planning on messing up a little 883 like that too! Then by the end of the 90's I was able to just BUY my dream bike. The H-D buyout allowed me to get it. Say what you will about the odd-couple relationship the two companies had but H-D allowed me to get not just one but two Buells. Hopefully a third when he gets on his feet again. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
No, I was referring to the fact that I've had a considerable amount of seat time on the '97 M2, and just got off the race track (Road America)with a stock XR1200R. If races were won by reading spec charts... why race? So this would be a "butt dyno" assessment of performance? | ||
| Reg_kittrelle |
Yeah, an old, saggy,not-as-fast-as-I-thought-I-once-was butt | ||
| Rick_a |
Reg said:
I believe that most here are generally genuine sportbike enthusiasts. The XR1200 is a far cry from that. Sport cruiser, perhaps?. The best way I can describe my feeling towards it, is that the whole concept seems a bit pretentious. I liked watching H-D's race in the old 883 Twin Sport days. Those bikes were real cafe racers and watching those riders ride the wheels off those bikes...hanging off and wobbling out of shape in and out of corners was spectacular. There's a similar interest in the Triumph Thruxton cup...which follows a similar theme. | ||
| Whatever |
Yesterday at Road America... LOOKIN GOOD...  HD MoFo  | ||
| Crusty |
Would you rather ride a "genuine sport bike" or an XR 1200 on a Mile? Sportsters handle better that most here will give them credit for. They're not Buells, but they're not the pigs most people who've never owned one think. | ||
| Whatever |
Who can tell me anything about this bike... Steve M said it is a 125RR... but I am a little ignorant... Geoff and Erik Buell Racing took place 11... out of how many??? 30??? I AM a scientist but a litte mechanically challenged...   | ||
| Reg_kittrelle |
Rick... I've said this so much even I'm getting tired of hearing it: Where has Harley EVER said that the XR12ooR is a "sportbike?" Harley makes no claims as to its superiority to any bike but its previous edition. What has various obviously happened...here and elsewhere... is that some have decided it's a "sportbike", and then gone on to proclaim it an inferior one. Well, no shit Dick Tracy. I have several thousand miles on last year's XR, and a day at the track on the new one. This is a fun motorcycle whose capabilities exceed those of many street riders. Here's another important point in its favor: it is very easy to ride quickly and safely. And here's something that few will admit to, but I've heard this from several top-level motorcycle race instructors: Most riders will go quicker on a given course, with a less powerful, more forgiving bike ...myself included. What is pretentious about a motorcycle company coming out with a reasonably fast, good-handling, excellently braked motorcycle? As far as racing it is concerned, there are three successful European series going on which draw good grids and enthusiastic supporters. Yet, in this country, we start trashing the motorcycle before it has even hit the showroom (August)or anyone other than the press has ridden it. Now THAT is pretentious! You mention your liking the 883 series. I too thought it excellent (Dunno 'bout that "cafe racer" ref, tho). It was the incubator of many top-flight racers, e.g. the Boz Bros, Higbee, et al. The bikes were 'slow' (relatively speaking) but provided excellent racing. I agree that most here are genuine sportbike enthusiasts, but many are also clueless as regards the facts extent. I wish all of you could have been at Road America and watched the likes of Scotty Parker, Don Canet, and Tom Montano (among others)shred with this bike. Yes, the complaints were common (they're mine too), insufficient ground clearance for the TRACK. Another point: "Canada Corner" (on the track) is a right turn at the end of a long, fast straightaway which required hard braking. I was hitting it at around 118-119 mph, the fastest were clocking in the low 120's. We were split into two groups, and given 20 minute sessions each time. You did your 20, came into the pits, turned the bike over to the other group, waited 20, then went out again. The bikes were in continuous use from 9 till noon, then from 1 to 2. During these periods they never had a chance to cool down. Yet, every time I got to Canada Corner the brakes performed like new ... no fade, no loose lever. Also, not one of the bikes leaked, puked, quit, made rude noises, or otherwise misbehaved. There was only one get-off, and that was at very low speed and obviously rider error. | ||
| 04buell |
We had 4 Sportys and we loved them all. Handled sweet and rode great. We went to Bike week and Jerry rode ""Christine"" at the track at one of the demos and he was hooked! Went back home and his Sporty was history. A year later my Sporty was history. And as a bonus, you not only get a great ride on a Buell, you get great friends. Carol | ||
| Jaimec |
Been a long time since I rode a Sporty, but it was like two different motorcycles. The first time was on Harley's own test track in York, PA. I came away from that ride thinking the bike was pretty impressive... good handling, reasonable ergos... A year later I rode the SAME model at the Lake George Americade. This time, on real roads INCLUDING the northway. I came away from that ride convinced it was the most MISERABLE piece of **** on two wheels I ever rode. I haven't ridden one since they've rubber mounted that boat anchor of an engine. I've no need, I've seen what it is capable of in my XB12Ss when a REAL engineer builds a bike around it, but I've seen the future and it is water-cooled. | ||
| Glitch |
Reg is faster on an XR1200X, then he is on an M2.  | ||
| Rick_a |
Your points are valid. I had a long reply ready, but it's really not necessary. It suffices to say that I am not of the XR's target market, which is likely the case with most of the nay-sayers. Also, the marketing for the bike has been terrible. Yes, all the XR-750 dirt track references are very pretentious! ETA- To clarify, my sportbike comment was only making reference to the fact that it is NOT a sportbike, and why a sportbike enthusiast would generally dismiss the bike right off. (Message edited by Rick_A on June 06, 2010) | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
I would guess one of the reasons, for the spec sheet differences would be due to emission controls now being stricter than they were 13 years ago. I'm sure if you spent a little time & some money with Trojan that you could improve the weight & performance markedly. The XR1200X in my local dealer's has a high level pipe on it, Supertrapp if I remember right, & it looks good, I suspect it wouldn't be too difficult to mod the stand either for more ground clearance. Hell, I had to cut down the sidestand stop on the M2 because it kept grounding. I'm not, & never have been, a Harley fan but this is a bike I would seriously consider buying if a meteor landed on my garage & obliterated my Buells. I can't understand the antipathy towards it just because it says HD on it. If the prices follow the rest of the Sportster range, they'll be dirt cheap second hand in a few years time & there'll be some cheap capable Harleys to buy. I can wait. | ||
| Davegess |
Reg, nice post and eval of the bike. I to think it is a pretty nice "standard" type motorcycles ; not a sport bike. The only thing I can see wrong with it is that it is a lot more expensive than the Triumph scrambler and Moto Guzzi that I see as it's competition. These bikes are getting a nice boost by the strength of the dollar but not as much as you might think. the retail price was set months ago before the Greek mess so the manufacturer is likely just enjoying a nice margin. I feel the H-D needs to figure out how to makes it's bike less expensive to build. Most of this expense is built into the bikes at the design level. I wonder how many man hours go into the assembly of an engine? what is the same number for Triumph, Moto Guzzi or Honda? | ||
| Firstbuell |
dunno what to think about anything related to such rumors I do know it's cool that Erik's been pretty quiet for months now I'll put anything Erik has a hand in creating under my butt for a test ride! | ||
| Reg_kittrelle |
I draw a very distinct line between the XL and XR; I consider the XR to be a quite different motorcycle, and one that I would enjoy owning. I do not particularly enjoy the XL experience. Not a knock on the bike, it just doesn't have what I look for. Gess nails the primary problem: Price. Harley needs to understand that the cachet of its Tourers does not transfer to the XR. Rick... I will not agree that the XR750 references are pretentious, but they are a bit heavy-handed. Glitch: You need to find an emoticon that implies"smartass." | ||
| Oddball |
I like the XR. I think of it as a sportbike (or a "sporting" bike if you prefer) in an old school way. Like the zrx1200 kawasaki.  I'd like to see some of the racing unlike any other class this year. My problem with the race class is the fact that unlike the european series you have one choice for mods. Just doesn't sit well with me. I understand, they are footing the bill so it's their parts but I would steer clear just on principle. | ||
| Dragonslayer |
No need, nor time, for that to happen. I know. Just sayin' it would be a cool pic.  | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Yeah, an old, saggy,not-as-fast-as-I-thought-I-once-was butt I will make no comment about your butt. I do find it odd, though, that in one statement when a Buell is compared with the XR that the statement "shouldn't be considered a sport bike" is used. On the other hand, when an M2 is compared with the XR that the XR is considered to be the better handling bike. Seems a little inconsistent. If a measure of a sport bike is in it's handling as compared to non-sport bike models, are you saying then that the M2 really shouldn't be considered a "sport bike"? |
