Why is everyone trying to peg a competitor to the XR1200. It`s classed as a sportster like the rest. The way I see it, it`s a sportster that sporty. No it`s not a rice rocket and doesn`t pretend to be. Why isn`t it compared to a nightster or custom..nothing really sporty about them with the 70`s suspension design and no ground clearance yet there classed as a "Sportster". Alot of sporty owners are real anti against the XR? I guess thats why it was built for Europe as they knew over here it would not be accepted by harley crowd of sportster riders with open arms. I really thought people would have been joyed for a sharp looking nice handling harley with a touch of modern retro? I like the XR and I think the fatbob rules. Change is good people, no hate just my feeling.

 

I think the XR looks pretty cool but my question is why did HD build it then not give more power to compete against foreign streetfighters. Classify it whatever you want, it was probaly classified as a Sportster for convience) it's still a streetfighter.

 

As the bike was developed and through virtually every promo film I have seen they put the bike through its paces on a track (asphalt) to show how well it performs. Problem is, it only has itself to perform against as represented by the clubs in Europe that only run against other XR1200's. That said, I don't think the bike could hold its own against a Buell Ulysses and that's an adventurer or super motard. Giving the XR its due, the bike looks good but it sure needs some help in the go fast department and the weight of the bike flat kills it.

 

You would be correct. I'm not slamming the XR (I owned one) but the performance and handling comparisons between the XR and any XB model are night and day - in Buell's favor.

 

Specs and what you see printed on paper, is for wimps and commies. Ride the f@cking bike, THEN form an opinion...

 

Exactly

 

If harley really wanted to make it sporty... they'd slap some of them Buell engine parts on it and make it a 105HP factory bike

 

If the price wasn't to high HD would sell alot more sporties.

 

Because they have to put something on the useless front page on the forum.

 

They did, but for styling reasons, ie the tank and exhaust, it restricted the package. If you want more power out of these bikes, there is more to be had, a lot more...