Local HD dealer was having a Fathers Day party with band and bikini contest.
While I was there they had a used XR1200 with only 500 miles on it. They were asking $10K but had it marked down to $9K.
I took it for a ride ... I forgot about the low end torque of the Sportster engine since trading my XB12 for the CR. It was actually a pretty darn quick bike.
Just for the heck of it I offered them $1,500 + my CR for the XR1200 OTD .... They said no way ... and offered me $5K for the CR ...
They made what - 10000 of those HD for this year alone (at least) vs a total of a little over 3000 CRs - I really have to question your judgment. My CR pulls away from any HD air-cooled product too easily for me to even consider buying HD. Your CR is a collector's item as well and is already passing the R in resale - sigh - Proof again - folks don't think when making those important decisions - lol EZ
You can still get next day parts for HD's .... There are more and more horror stories of parts being on back order for weeks or months for 1125's with the bike being un-rideable while waiting.
I think things are only gonna get worse ... not better.
Well - so far oil filters and hardware have been the only things I need. Shims are the same as a V-Rods - so no difficulty there - unless you plan on crashing, I wouldn't worry about it. Of course I have a full set of back up body work, and bike, so that waiting for parts is not a sacrifice. I am stockpiling a few parts, but that is only because I think real long term, including my mods. EZ
Just like a dealer to sell you a bike for full price and then attempt to buy it back at less than half. Besides, why would you want to buy the 1200? That has got to be one of the ugliest bikes I have ever seen and the fuel tank doesn't hold much. And there is no way it handles anywhere near as well as the 1125. Not that I don't like Harley motorcycles because I do but the XR1200 is just ugly. Now, a V-rod Muscle or a Night Rod Special, maybe.......
Riding an xr 1200 has gotta feel like a dog dragging its ass across the carpet after the CR it probably felt ok but it had to be missing...most of the itch
I can understand thinking about the change (nothing wrong with that) so I wouln't give the OP a hard time over that, i can even understand asking the question about the price to change.. I can also understand the dealer's response - that's 'cause they're greedy b*stards.
The parts availability is perhaps my only concern, but I am addressing that thanks to the delights of eBay so that won't cause me to lose any sleep.
I quite like the XR, shame about the back end, and the front end, brakes, motor, tranny, badge, bars, clutch - other than that it's not a bad bike.
go test drive a 1200 sportster or xr1200 , you will be surprized how quick off the line they are and very nimble and easy to handle, even considering the extra weight. I have a xr12r and a 04 1200 sportster with a highly moded engine and prefer the sportster to the buell.
About your $5k offer...they have to resell the thing with a markup. Buell prices are very low right now based on my craigslist responses to the CR I've got up for sale.
Everyone thinks that $5k buells can be had all day long.
This thread is funny with all the XR bashing. I have a modded XB9S that I love, and its Sportster-based motor does have a strong-feeling midrange. However, you have to be smoking some serious crack/crystal-meth/heroin to believe that it has, in any way, any possible chance of objectively outperforming a CR (other than heaviest wet weight) - even if the CR was running on one cylinder Styling, "Image", parts availability, those are all other matters that are personal choices.
I was riding this past weekend and came up on one of those "slow motorcycle" group rides. While I was passing them, I saw a pretty girl riding an XR-1200. Nuff said.
I don't have a problem trading out of my bike for a sportster but I would NOT just give my CR away ! IMO Harley stuck it to Buell owners buy cutting prices in half when just a few weeks earlier buells were being sold for double the amount ! Just based on that I would not buy anything from Harley again ! EVER !
I was riding this past weekend and came up on one of those "slow motorcycle" group rides. While I was passing them, I saw a pretty girl riding an XR-1200. Nuff said.
Jeff
What's your point. Never seen a female riding a XB or 1125 ???
As far as trade-in and resale values ... KBB is on crack. Since when do factory rebates hurt the resale value of a vehicle? If I buy a new car with $5K in factory rebates or discounts ... that doesn't automatically make the trade in $5K worth less ... Why should a $5K rebate on my CR make my motorcycle worth less. Stupid ...
NADA shows average retail at $8,000 compared to KBB's $6200.
Dmhines - True story, but I told it in jest at the expense of the XR. There were a few previous posts taking a swipe at the XR so I just piled on.
Another true story is about the Buell XB9SX that I referenced. I actually bought that bike for my wife after she expressed a slight interest in learning how to ride. She ended up realizing that she liked riding on the back of the Ulysses and drinking at every stop, so riding wasn't for her after all. Stuck with a "girl's bike", I started riding it and modding it up, eventually falling in love with it's unique character (Harley Motor, minimalist styling) and super-quick handling. It is one of my favorite bikes of all time now and a blast on tight mountain roads:
That said, I've never seen a girl on an XB or 1125 and the XR-1200 is still a POS for girls only
What? Have you guys forgotten how hardley-ableson killed Buell? I wouldn't ride one of their POSs if it were the last bike on earth. I would rather walk 80 miles in the hot sun with no shade in a race suit than ride one mile on a hardley. **** hardley and **** their xr1200!
As for as the XR...some like it, some don't. Calling it a 'great bike' is a stretch. It's still a overweight, underpowered, naked bike with mediocre handling. Sales have been dismal in the US. An XB9 or XB12 will pull away on a twisty backraod.
Saturn resale and trade-in is doing poorly. Carmax offered me 6k for my 2006 Ion Redline. Needless to say, I kept it. I kind of like having two rare orphans.
When I first saw XR, I thought it was interesting. Tail styling was odd, but interesting looks overall. The thing I have a hard time with is...what does it do well?
Handling is just OK. Good compared to other HD's, but off the mark compared to sporty bikes. Cornering clearance is limited. Not particularly fast. I've never bothered to look at 1/4 times...but I seriously doubt it could match even an XB9 or an SV650.
It would probably make for a really good commuter, although there are lots of bikes that are good for commuting.
That leaves styling. If you like the style, get one. That's why people buy HDs.
If you want a capable naked bike, there are many better choices. 1125CR, XB9, XB12, Speed Triple, Street Triple, Monster, Z1000, etc. If you rode a Speed Triple 1050 and an XR back to back, I highly doubt you'd still call the XR a 'great bike.'
some of you guys are really just as bad as those you whine about knocking the buells.For someone who hasn't suffered the delusionary need for a bike with neck break speeds that are COMPLETELY inappropriate on the street, or feel the need to rate handling of a motorcycle based on more deluded concepts, one might find that the sportser in general is a GREAT BIKE. It is in no way the best at anything, but it is good at alot of things. For a 1200 cruiser, it's light. It corners well for those of us that ride other than imaginary roads. It's got enough bottom end to put a smile on your face, but not suicidal fast. It is infinitely customizable and parts are everywhere.not to mention the history involved with the model since 53. I love my buell for my own reasons, but that doesn't make anything else any less of a motorcycle because I don't have one. If you don't like sporties, good for you, but sales of the model since 1953 would suggest that you are in the minority.