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Aeholton
| | Posted on Thursday, December 11, 2008 - 04:39 pm: | 
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Jammer - Is there a "typical XR buyer"? Are the folks buying these first units riders or collectors? Are you seeing a specific age group? etc...
I've really got it bad for the XR. Very similar to what it was like when I saw the first news release on the Uly. Had to have one. Took me 5 months or so of whining to the wife before she caved in. When will normal shipments (not the first 750 orange ones) start hitting dealers? |
Dentguy
| | Posted on Thursday, December 11, 2008 - 05:24 pm: |
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How many Harley's remain original longer than a month after leaving the showroom?
Remember, if you want your Harley to be different than the others, don't do anything to it. Leave it stock. |
Jammin_joules
| | Posted on Thursday, December 11, 2008 - 07:25 pm: |
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All five pre-sold XR1200's have gone to fairly different owners.
But first let me draw attention to that in December we are selling five Sportsters during a fairly snowy, definitely cold December, in as uncertain an economy as most of us have seen in our lifetime. I can say with a good degree of certainty that none of these five buyers were shopping for Sportsters, motorcycles at all right now, and settled on the XR1200. In fact, one wanted to put $500 when he first heard rumor the bike might be coming to the US in the summer. I think Harley has a real winner here.
Pewter, black and orange dealer spec. bikes that we ordered are expected to start arriving in March, but it would not surprise me to see some in late February. Harley wants to log sales as soon as possible.
Buyer one: owns an old iron head sporty and a more modern Wide Glide. He is a more typical HOG member, hangs around at the dealership a lot, events or not, and is retired.
Buyer two: a local tv newscaster who also owns two 1977 XLCR Cafe Racers. He has owned probably twenty bikes, and came here to demo ride the V-Rod Muscle, the bike he has been contemplating since he saw info on it. When I showed him some literature about the XR1200, it fit him better.
Buyer three: just bought a Ducati after selling his softail. Convinced his wife would not let him own two bikes, photos and literature won her over on how 'cute it is'
Buyer four: owns an XR750 and XR1000 and just wants to round out the series.
Buyer five: a friend has been telling him how cool the bike is and that if he had the spare cash he'd buy one. So the buyer listened to the idea.
You can see all but the first was an impulse buyer, not in the market really, who let the bike talk to them and make the sale.
~jammer |
Madduck
| | Posted on Thursday, December 11, 2008 - 08:00 pm: |
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I believe the next five years are going to see much more change from both Buell and Harley than any of us are used to. It should be a good time to be a motorcycle owner, other than California of course. |
Electraglider_1997
| | Posted on Thursday, December 11, 2008 - 08:32 pm: |
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The XR is much like the CR in that it must be seen in person to really hook you. |
Electraglider_1997
| | Posted on Friday, December 12, 2008 - 11:55 am: |
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Just out today, MoOnline review http://www.motorcycle.com/manufacturer/harley-davi dson/2009-harleydavidson-sportster-xr1200-review-8 7709.html |
Skinstains
| | Posted on Friday, December 12, 2008 - 10:43 pm: |
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XB XB XB XB XB XB XB XB XB XB XB XB |
Dnveloman
| | Posted on Sunday, December 14, 2008 - 11:24 am: |
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I wanted to weigh in again to clear a fews things up. First off- I'm a dolt. My original post meant to say "XR... or XB.".. Then I spelled Erik's name wrong!
My original post was meant to imply that the hot new Harley XR would be short on sport if not for Buell's engineering trickle down. The engine in the XR would be about as hot as the 03 sportster without Buell influence.
As for me-- I'm bonded to my 07 Uly-- best bike I've EVER had (and I've had a few). As for the XR-- it is absolutely sweet-- but it would only be had if I could afford 2 bikes... and I would only use it to get ice cream. I think the Uly would lap it on every ride. |
Jammin_joules
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 17, 2008 - 05:01 pm: |
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First off, let me assure you we at High Country H-D/Buell will gladly let you demo
both an XB series Buell and an XR1200 so you can make up your own mind. Monday thru Saturday, motorcycle endorsement on your license required, and, unfortunately, no sooner than March when we get our first non-presold XR1200.
Our first delivered XR1200 rider feedback follows. Remember, this guy just bought a Ducati 749s this past spring and owns a BMW GS1100. He hangs with all the sport bike rider types who usually poke fun at leather clad Harley riders.
I had taken a few photos of him at delivery and sent them to him asking for feedback. He was dressed in modern sport riding gear; boots, pants, full helmet, et al.
I don't look [dressed] much like a Harley rider in that photo, do I? Don't worry, I'll get that fixed by spring.
I was only able to put about 100 miles on the bike on Saturday. I took it up into the hills; there was some ice and snow on the roads, so I wasn't able to push it very much up there. And I had to stop riding much earlier than I wanted, so that I could wash off the snow spray and road deicer, put some fuel stabilizer in the tank, and clear a place in the shed next to my other bikes.
So, based on that short amount of time: The bike is great! It is really a blast to ride. Obviously, when it breaks in, everything is going to improve: the brakes will be bedded in, the tires will have more grip, the engine will be smoother. Even so, the bike already works very well. The engine makes OK power (respecting the break-in rev limits), the brakes are already pretty good, and the suspension is fine. I will say that it handles and goes like no other Harley I have ever ridden.
It also has strong Harley genes: at idle, the engine vibrations will rearrange your digestive tract, and from idle to about 2000 rpm, the engine sounds like, and vibrates like, the world's sickest lawnmower. Above 3000 revs, though, it really smooths out and makes good power. Also, the thing pumps out torque like a locomotive. I think you could just dump the clutch at idle and it would chug away. It is probably stall-proof.
The way it churns out torque reminds me very much of my long line of beloved Ducatis. One of the great things about a big V-twin is the way you can roll on the throttle out of a turn and get hurled down the road. The Harley feels just like that. It really is a terrific thing.
The shifting is great, too. I was expecting a chunky gearbox, but it shifts easily and very positively. The clutch is progressive and smooth, and even though the lever is non-adjustable, the reach and fit is excellent. (Same for the front brake lever, obviously.)
Coming from a sportbike background, there are some things about the Harley that seem crude to me. That big steering head bolt, for example; it looks like they picked it up at a hardware store until they could find something better. Except that's the way they all look. I am sure some enterprising XR1200 owner is going to develop a cover that will give it a more finished look.
Or the hose clamps that hold the exhaust pipe covers. You wouldn't see anything like that on a Ducati, or even a BMW (which are cruder than you might think, especially for the money) -- much less a Japanese bike.
But you know what? I don't care. I bought the bike because I wanted something different. I have ridden the Ducati Hypermotard -- the "S" model, no less, with the lighter forged wheels and upgraded suspension -- and the Ducati Monsters, and the new Triumph Bonneville and two generations of the Triumph Speed Triple. I know how refined they are -- especially the Ducatis, which have incredible engines, brakes and handling, along with a high level of finish. But I have a Ducati, and I have a big long-distance rig in the BMW GS. I wanted a bike that was raw and elemental, with character, that would be the bike I can ride almost anywhere.
The XR1200 is also a heavy beast. But it is really, really cool. As I think I mentioned, all of my riding buddies are intrigued by this bike. None of them own Harleys yet. But once they ride this bike, I think they will become customers.
I couldn't be happier -- except for the weather, of course. I want to ride my bike!
Anyway, if you ever have a sportbike guy in the shop who is on the fence and wants to talk to brethren about the XR1200, I'll be happy to set 'em straight. Just tell them to give me a call.
While I've got you on the e-mail line, I want to say what a great staff you have. The Harley dealer experience is amazing. I have worked in the bicycle business for many years, and I can tell you that if you ever got treated like that in a bike store, you'd have a heart attack.
All the small touches -- the pigtail for the Battery Tender already installed, the free buddy rental, the poker run to meet the staff -- they all add up to an amazing couple of hours.
I think you have a new customer for life. |
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