| Author | Message | ||
     Moxnix |
So, how long will the XR1200 series last? XLCR, two year production run, lack of buyers. XR1000, same thing. This will probably be the last year for the XR1200s in the show rooms. And the series will phase out accordingly? | ||
| 46champ |
Matt may be able to tell us, but I think the bike is selling better in Europe than here. If that is true then H-D was correct when they made the bike for there market. | ||
| Moxnix |
I stopped in a local Harley shop today and asked a salesman if they are selling many XR1200s. They same 2 '09s are still on the floor and he said none have sold that he knows of. Discount? Offered a $500 in- store gift certificate. Burt all their Buells are gone. | ||
| Court |
XR-1200 was wildly off schedule, tens of millions over budget and I knew the total number sold at retail and I damn sure hope they are planning to sell 50,000 (typical Sportster number from 10 years ago) in the next year. People look at them and then buy a Sportster for $5,000 less and do it "their way". Just my personal theory . . I could be wrong. | ||
| Trojan |
Matt may be able to tell us, but I think the bike is selling better in Europe than here. If that is true then H-D was correct when they made the bike for there market. They are actually selling very well here in Europe and in Australia/Asia/Japan. We find that it is mostly to people who have never owned a Harley before (and have no interest in the whole 'HOG' H-D lifestyle stuff) and just want a 'retro' style bike that they can play with. Other bieks that these same people consider would be the Triumph Thruxton/Guzzi V7 etc. It is a different market to Buell although we have quite a few customers who have owned older tube frame Buells in the past but didn't like the XB or 1125 models. People look at them and then buy a Sportster for $5,000 less and do it "their way". In our experience this isn't what happens. Most people who buy the Xr1200 wouldn't consider buying an XL Sportster at all and are a completely different demographic. This will probably be the last year for the XR1200s in the show rooms. Doubtful given the level of investment in this model and the sales so far. The US will get the XR1200X model this year for sure in addition to the standard XR1200. I certainly do not agree with the way that Buell were shut down by H-D but I think it has to be viewed over the period of their involvement rather than just the past few months. H-D may have killed off Buell in very contentious and increasingly bitter circumstances, but they also initially invested money in Buell that enabled the company to actually make the XB and 1125 models in the first place, so the complete situation isn't quite as straightforward as people may think when looked at objectively. Buell got into bed with H-D to enable them to get the required investment needed to increase their model range. Without this who knows if we would ever have seen the XB or 1125 models? Unfortunately it seems that Buell were always going to be the junior partners in this venture and were frustrated by H-D's seeming inability to grasp the sports bike concept from the boardroom right down to dealer level. The blame for this could fall on lots of people over the last 10 years and in hindsight maybe it would have been better for Buell to have got investment elsewhere in the first place, but hindsight is a wonderful thing of course. | ||
| Trojan |
Anyone wanting to follow the progress of the UK XR1200 race series should follow this blog from American V magazine  http://amvxr1200.blogspot.com/ details of teams, riders, results and pictures | ||
| Buell2001b |
close this thread please, its Not Buell related | ||
| Aeholton |
Regardless of Buell related or not, it is an interesting thread. The World Superbike and MotoGP threads are not Buell related, either. If you don't like it, simply don't click on it. | ||
| Firstbuell |
Buell2001b, man, you just keep on inventing new ways of....to.....when you...... oh - please, give it a rest | ||
| Imonabuss |
Well, actually WSBK and MotoGP are interesting, XR1200 racing on the other hand...Hey, let's have a thread on watching paint dry! | ||
| Crusty |
It can't be any more boring than the Battle of the Blimps. That BMW series was a sure cure for insomnia. A true Drone-a-thon. | ||
| Stormy |
Yeah, drafting four wide while smashing valve covers on BMW's was totally boring. | ||
| Firstbuell |
right on, Stormy that Daytona race put Brian Parriott & BMW in general on the TV map here in US, for a while at least.....  foto is of hero Nate [N8!] Kern, benefactor of the fallout from that wonderful Euro-series' too-brief US foray (Message edited by firstbuell on May 25, 2010) | ||
| Spiderman |
Got these from a friend in Buelling...     | ||
| Paint_shaker |
I'd rather race a Harely than sit on the sidelines... Looks like neither is gonna happen for me this year... | ||
| Steve_a |
Of course, a 1998 White LIghting would kick ass on an XR1200 -- almost a 100 pound weight difference, and the Buell made a lot more power. | ||
| Trojan |
Of course, a 1998 White LIghting would kick ass on an XR1200 -- almost a 100 pound weight difference, and the Buell made a lot more power. A GSXR/R1/1098/1125/RC8 would kick both their asses, so you really are missing the point! There is no reason to compare the power/weight etc of these bikes because they are not meant to be competitors (and you can't buy a new S1 either). Bikes get a hard enough time from other road users as it is without turning on each other. As far as I'm concerned anything with two wheels is great and any racing is better than no racing, so if H-D want to race XR1200's then good for them. | ||
| Elvis |
At the risk of being horribly politically incorrect, it's basically like the Special Olympics, isn't it? And I'm not saying that trying to be a jerk. I'm actually looking forward to seeing those beasts out there, and I'll be rooting for Paul James to kick some ass. . . . but it is a very odd situation to race bikes that simply were not designed or intended to go fast. Even with 125 racing the point is to design bikes that can go fast with the handicap of that low displacement. The idea that the handicap is actually the design of the bike itself - rather than a displacement or weight restriction is a little hard to wrap one's head around. | ||
| Trojan |
. . but it is a very odd situation to race bikes that simply were not designed or intended to go fast. Even with 125 racing the point is to design bikes that can go fast with the handicap of that low displacement. But it is the same with lots of 'one make' classes from the Boxer cup to the KTM Superduke cup here in the UK. We even have MZ250 racing that attracts huge grids every weekend. So long as everyone has the same overweight, underpowered, poor handling behemoth to ride then you get close racing which is fun to watch. If you were to decide to go and race the XR1200 in a superbike race then you are right, it may be a put pointless. | ||
| Anonymous |
Could we refer this to a Sportster forum? Unless we want to talk about specific engine mods and parts that are being developed for the XR1200 that can be shared with the XB, let's move this to another board altogether -- it's simply not relevant anymore. Along those lines, there are a couple of things of interest. The XR1200, at least after its initial launch, ended up getting the XBRR big-end bearings; the 2008-09 XB and initial XR1200 big end bearings were not quite the same as were used in durability testing, and proved less durable than desired. This is an issue mainly if you ride at redline/full throttle all the time and still want to get 50,000+ miles out of your big-end. The bearing manufacturer recommended a switch to the XBRR design, which was likely installed on all 2010 XB engines. Similarly, the XR1200 Regina primary chain was upgraded to the XBRR grade, and would be a good replacement for XB12 primary chains if the primary cover had to be popped for another reason. | ||
| Aeholton |
Could we refer this to a Sportster forum? Unless we want to talk about specific engine mods and parts that are being developed for the XR1200 that can be shared with the XB, let's move this to another board altogether -- it's simply not relevant anymore. Relevant to what? The thread is completely relevant to the subject: "XR1200 Racing". If this thread is not relevant to the Circuit/Road Racing section, then neither are the MotoGP and WSB threads, as Buell doesn't run in those. Where is the harm in discussing a race series that has appeal and interest to a few of us? I'm dumbfounded by the kill this thread mentality.  | ||
| Fast2win |
They seem to be having fun racing them in europe? If H.D. didn't dump buell I have a sneaky suspicion this would be a non issue. The coolness of the sportster engine is what got me into Buell in the 1st place. Now they finally have a Sportster worth riding and some want to dump the board? If you don't want to follow the series simply don't. | ||
| Buell2001b |
serioulsly guys out of respect for the Buell owners you should move thsi garbage to a Garbagexl1200HD.com | ||
| Crusty |
serioulsly guys out of respect for the Buell owners you should move thsi garbage to a Garbagexl1200HD.com Blow it out your ass, Howard. | ||
| Firstbuell |
Anony & 20001b, kinda odd, seeing you two on the same side of an issue...... I don't have a lot of energy about this thread closure stuff, but I'll tell ya that I log in to BadWeb to read threads of interest, start a rare one of my own, or participate in threads H-D sucks huge donkey balls, OK?? the XR1200 is the only H-D which has interested me since the XLCH & XR1000 - separate from those infamous 'here are the keys' XR1200 demo rides, racing the XR1200 is its only other facet which interests me that said - Mods, please retain this XR1200 Racing thread - Anony & 2001b, please desist complaints | ||
| Firstbuell |
the latest - http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/article/?artic le=40611 | ||
| Trojan |
Anony & 2001b You don't have to read this thread if it offends you. Just ignore it and it won't bother you | ||
| Gaesati |
So how similar is the xr1200 engine to the xb? | ||
| Reepicheep |
Great info Anony, thanks for the detail! Regardless of this threads existence (I'm looking forward to the KLR spec racing class  ) that was great info. We ought to get a knowledge vault topic started with details like that for "the rest of the story" or "things that were done that you could do that could help you" like the details about the primary chain, early XB oil pump updates, pinion gear updates, etc. I bet there are some gems yet to be discovered... | ||
| Firstbuell |
vid ! http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/article/?artic le=40682 |
