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Rhinowerx
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 17, 2009 - 11:09 pm: | 
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Pic comparing old to new
Bob looks jealous...
Just got back from a short ride - no twisties, just crappy LA suburban streets and a bit of freeway.
Okay, so maybe I'm a little late in learning my lesson here, but from now on, any new (or used) bike I buy, #1 on the mod list - before any go fast or look good stuff - will be quality suspension, both front and back.
Luckily, the stock front suspension on the XR isn't bad, cause with the new Ohlins on the back, attention is drawn to the front.
Regarding the new shocks; To quote from a favourite movie"Jesustittyf*#kinchrist!" It's like all the roads around my house have suddenly been re-paved. The seat feels comfortable, my arse doesn't bounce off, and I don't have to squint every time I hit a bump to stop my eyeballs from being knocked out of their sockets. I can't wait till the weekend when I can take it up some familiar canyon roads.
Other noticeable tid-bits; I can tell it's a little taller (not by much), and steering is a little quicker.
I think that's it for now.
I need to ride to work on Thursday, so I'll see how she handles a truck route freeway and some deteriorated surface streets - 26 mile commute one way.
If your thinking of doing a quality suspension upgrade 9regardless of brand) - don't think - just do it. Absolutely no buyers remorse here.
I'm off of now to go drool over how good they look again.
Cheers,
-Jack |
Dynasport
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 17, 2009 - 11:29 pm: |
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Jack, those Ohlins do look great, but I know that is not why you bought them. I am trying really hard not to be jealous right not, but it's not working.
You have the two Harleys that interest me. The XR which is really the one I want, but also the Fat Bob, which is pretty much the only other Harley I'd consider unless I decided to get a dresser.
Oh well, one day.
Oh, BTW, how do you like those bar end mirrors? What kind did you get? Did you have to do any mods to get them to fit? My son is looking for some for his Monster.
Have fun.
Dan |
Rhinowerx
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 18, 2009 - 01:16 am: |
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Dan,
The barend mirrors are from a company in the UK called Oberon-performance - not many folks make bar end adapters for 1" (22mm inner) bars.
Thought about switching to regular 7/8" bars, but by the time you add up the cost of trick levers and reservoirs, well it get's pretty expensive...
I guess the terms 'H-D' and 'performance' parts are still a bit of an oxymoron  |
Trojan
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 24, 2009 - 01:50 pm: |
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It's 25 horses and quite a few pounds short of Buell performance.
Most fo the bhp difference is because of the stock pipe and miniscule airbox. I know quiet a few people with 90rwbhp on their XR1200 now with just a few basic mods. Onc eyou get rid of the crap rear suspension then it suddenly becomes a very nice bike to ride, and certainly more fun for a 6 foot rider than an XB. Weight is an issue but again it is easily shed
From an aftermarket suppliers point of view the XR1200 is far more popular than the 1125 in either of its guises (in fact the 1125 looks like a complete sales flop over here) so maybe H-D are onto something that Buell have lost over the years....FUN |
Court
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 24, 2009 - 02:08 pm: |
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That is a SWEET looking XR!
If you think Buells aren't fun you've been away too long. |
Trojan
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 24, 2009 - 02:45 pm: |
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If you think Buells aren't fun you've been away too long.
I don't mean that they aren't fun (at least the XB range) but that they seem to have lost sight of what they used to be when they built such bikes as the S1. There are lots of prospective Buell customers out there gagging for a modern twist to the tube frame Buell, with a good old uncomplicated easy access air cooled motor at its heart that is visible to the world. The XB suits some people but by no means all, and I have been blown away by the sheer volume of XR1200 buyers worldwide who have either deserted Buell or have decided to buy the XR1200 instead of the Buell.
One of the main reasons I don't get on here as often as I used to is the amount of work that has been generated by teh XR side of our business.
It may be technically less exciting but the XR is still a visceral and exciting machine in its own low tech way ( It even has better brakes  ) |
Vanvideo
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 24, 2009 - 03:26 pm: |
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Sick looking bike!
I don't know if Bob is jealous, but I sure am. Those Ohlins make the package. |
Oddball
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 24, 2009 - 09:49 pm: |
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Trojan,
That's where I am. I like the XR, XB and 1125. I have reservations about all for various things. But if I had a bunch of money I'd probably have them all. Your XR looks quite nice. |
Tomb
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 25, 2009 - 08:03 pm: |
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is that a blacked out fatbob in the background? |
Rhinowerx
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 25, 2009 - 10:51 pm: |
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mostly blacked out...
 |
Cityxslicker
| | Posted on Thursday, May 21, 2009 - 09:12 pm: |
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psst, back from powdercoating
 |
Buellinachinashop
| | Posted on Thursday, May 28, 2009 - 03:10 pm: |
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Anybody got a shock size for the XR? I'm hoping they're 15". |
Rhinowerx
| | Posted on Thursday, May 28, 2009 - 03:22 pm: |
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I believe they are 14-1/4 |
Buellinachinashop
| | Posted on Thursday, May 28, 2009 - 03:43 pm: |
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thanks. I was hoping they were 14 3/4. I'd swap a set onto my Street Rod. |
Court
| | Posted on Thursday, May 28, 2009 - 04:29 pm: |
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That Ohlins shock and Matt's pipe totally transform that bike. |
Buellinachinashop
| | Posted on Thursday, May 28, 2009 - 04:31 pm: |
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Rhino...do you still have your stock shocks?? They will work on my bike. By .25". |
Rhinowerx
| | Posted on Thursday, May 28, 2009 - 05:05 pm: |
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My bike is currently at Race Tech (they've had it for 3 weeks). The guys have just finished developing adjustable cartridge front end for it. They've also created some rear piggyback reservoir shocks for it (which I won't be using because I have the Ohlins).
They've had the bike on the computrac and made a few modifications that will help it handle and brake better.
Driving over this Saturday to do some back-to-back testing of both the Ohlins and the Race Tech rear shocks.
Exciting stuff |
Court
| | Posted on Thursday, May 28, 2009 - 06:59 pm: |
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>>>>The XB suits some people but by no means all
Businesses that try to be all things to all people generally excel at one thing . . . being "temporary".
The XB series is selling in number never imagined during the day the tube frame Buells were built.
The "didn't buy a Buell and instead opted for an XR" is pure unadulterated hogwash.
There, I would guess, many more . . . I've personally met more than 20 who have given up their FLH for a Ulysses after just one ride. I'd say the guy who stood up and gave the "I've been on a Harley for 25 years until I rode this Buell" at Homecoming 3 years ago pretty well summed it up.
The XR and the Buells are not even in the same league. I collected Sportster at one time . . was crazed enough that I bought 3 in one day once and I may still have one of the largest Sportster libraries around . . . but I sure don't see them as "interchangeable:.
I like the XR enough that I'd buy it . . . . even with the engineering glitches that delayed it's introduction 2 years, but never as a "replacement" for a Buell. |
Firstbuell
| | Posted on Thursday, May 28, 2009 - 08:39 pm: |
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please,
exactly what adjustments or modifications were made on the Computrack? |
Xl1200r
| | Posted on Thursday, May 28, 2009 - 08:50 pm: |
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Court, I think in a broad sense you're correct. The 'typical' customer looking for an XR just wants a hot-rod sportster - maybe a guy who was looking to do a flat-tracker or cafe custom out of a more standard XL. The Buell customer...well let's face it, most of the time nothing else will do.
However, the XR is a VERY good looking bike, and I catch myself staring anytime I'm in the dealership. I would imagine that there might be more than one person who walked in considering a Lightning and decided the performance of the XR was 'good enough' and stylistically more intersting. The XBs are GORGEOUS bikes, but the XR is a bit more exclusive and much more of the "latest must have" than the XB.
Not saying it's the norm, but I could see it happening. |
Buellinachinashop
| | Posted on Thursday, May 28, 2009 - 09:03 pm: |
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The XR also puts a buyer on a "Harley". If somebody is looking for 1 ounce of performance in a HD product, this is the one to buy. It needs some tweeks, but from what I see from folks who've done some modding, its quite possible to make this a great bike. Trojan Horse has some great after markets, Italy is offering this bike with Ohlins rear shocks standard. |
Rhinowerx
| | Posted on Thursday, May 28, 2009 - 09:42 pm: |
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quote:please,
exactly what adjustments or modifications were made on the Computrack?
"Phase 3 - "Sweet Numbers" Optimization" |
Buellinachinashop
| | Posted on Thursday, May 28, 2009 - 11:24 pm: |
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Rhino, you wanna sell your stock shocks? |
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