| Author | Message | ||
     Cityxslicker |
Or you start here and add your favorite pieces... at half the price of the new XR1200  | ||
| Dynasport |
You get a late model Sportster to have the HP and handling of an XR for $5500 including the cost of the bike and my hat is off to you. | ||
| Dynasport |
Court said - "I think it does a disservice to both the Buell and the XR1200 to compare them. There is a LOT of Buell in the bike (except for the transmission ) but the two are completely different" I don't understand this post. I have been thinking it over since it was made, and since I have a lot of respect for Court I didn't want to contradict it, but I still don't understand what the problem is comparing the XR1200 to the XB12SS. They cost about the same. They both have VERY similar engines. I would use either for the same purpose. How am I doing a disservice to either bike by comparing it to the other? The fact is, whether it is a disservice or not, I am comparing these bikes to each other. Oh, I'm also comparing them to the Monster 1100. I am hoping, in spite of the economy, to finally buy a new bike in 6 mos to a year. Right now those three are at the top of my short list. | ||
| Jammin_joules |
"They both have VERY similar engines. I would use either for the same purpose. How am I doing a disservice to either bike by comparing it to the other? " ...............o~'o Courts opinion not withstanding, let me give some opinions. Although a similar engine geometry, the valve train, crank and connecting rods, the intake system (Buell downdraft DDFI3) and the exhaust are entirely different. The XR also has 'precision oiled heads'. Having ridden an XR1200 (albeit briefly before broken in) and owning a XB12X, the motors rev and build power differently. The whole trilogy of technology is overwhelmingly obvious in the XB and mostly absent in the XR1200. Yes, it has inverted forks. There the similarity stops. Braking, weight and weight distribution are considerably different. IMHO the XR1200 is rooted in dirt track, hard slide, fast straight line top end speeds where as the XB is quicker, more nimble, owns the corners and is different in every sense. Would I own one? Heck yes, with you buying it for me. I can't own another pony in the stable, something would have to starve and the wifey is too smart to be the one, and there are laws protecting my kids. I've said it before, if I had to get rid of all but one bike, it would be my Ulysses I keep and that holds true if I also owned an XR1200. But let me throw this out there. ANyone coming into High Cntry H-D/Buell in March can ride any Buell and our demo XR1200 and make their own mind up. That's what I did. ~jammer ... loves his job.  | ||
| Cityxslicker |
In all fairness they are probably pretty close right now, will dyno the XL this week. But it is about 35lbs lighter than the stock XR. Performance is always a very subjective thing to meter, is it hp (which is its own can o worms) skip path, drag lights, circuit course, or the real world riding?... So it is a 2006 XL1200R weight 515 with a stage 1 already on it. It is carb'd, so you are comparing pears to apples, but they are related. I do need to get that headlight kit from Trojan though, it would be killer to get a number plate on the front of the bike. Pics as progress comes, unless somebody buys it before we finish all the goodies to it. | ||
| Oddball |
I'm comparing them. Similar engine and power but packaged from different directions. HD stayed with it's classic (basic) design incurring the compromises it requires. Erik went for advantages where he could get them in a clean slate design, relatively. Each, to me, has it's appeal. The XR is more XLCR than dirt tracker. I like that they finally have some sport like power and style in a sportster. Shame it couldn't weigh 100lb less. The XB bests anything it can do but for some it hides the engine too much. They want to see the vibrating beast. A garage would look good with both of them inside. I do have a question for those who've ridden the XR. Is the shifter loose on all of them? Perhaps I'm being overly critical but it seemed to flop around a bit much just sitting there. One of the few things i could nitpick on a cursory inspection. | ||
| Court |
>>>Court said - "I think it does a disservice to both the Buell and the XR1200 to compare them. I did. I like them both but don't think they are two tools intended for the same use. I've owned LOTS (like 9 at one time) of Sportsters including the XR-1000 and XLCR and confess a continuing affinity. I've looked at another Sportster in the last year. I've owned LOTS of Buells including a new one in the last year. I ride them differently and derive different enjoyment from each. I can't, for example, imagine going into a dealer looking for a Buell and coming away with a Sportster or the other way around. To me, a "head to head" comparison is akin to testing the Ford F-150 pickup and the Porsche Cayman S against each other. I got a chance to see the XR-1200 last weekend in Lawrence, KS. While it's appealing it evokes, in me, none of the emotion the real (XR-750 or XR-1000) XR's did and the exhaust (I blame the feds, not HD) is simply hideous. I like the concept but if I were doing it I'd go Storz. I really hope this model plays out well for HD. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
"You get a late model Sportster to have the HP and handling of an XR for $5500 including the cost of the bike and my hat is off to you" In fairness to the Yelo Bike, to get the new XR with a decent stage 1 exhaust AND shave thirty five pounds off of it, you are looking very close to what Trojan did, and I dont think it can be done for a tick under 15000. So the budget for the build is 7500, including the cost of the bike. (theres still room to shed parts off our XL) | ||
| Trojan |
"You get a late model Sportster to have the HP and handling of an XR for $5500 including the cost of the bike and my hat is off to you" I disagree. How many late model Sportsters do you know that rev to 7000 and have 90bhp from stock (even before you liberate a few more bhp with a pipe and airbox mods). By the time you upgraded your XL motor to anywhere near the same spec as the XR (not to mention chassis improvements) you would probably be spending more than you would on a new XR1200. Although nowhere near perfect straight from the box, like most Harleys, the stock XR is just a starting point and there is now plenty of choice available for aftermarket pipes etc that will take it far beyond what a modified XL1200 will give you. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
Trojan ! I need that headlight / numberplate kit you put on your mule bike. You have PM | ||
| Cityxslicker |
the build is coming out of paint this friday... so flippin excited , its better than christmas, kwanza, haunackha, ramadan and festivus all rolled into one. (hell if Im gonna be offensive, lets leave no one out) Pics as it hits, and numbers after the dyno | ||
| Vanvideo |
Someone already made a comparison between the XR1200 and a XB12Scg: http://www.hdforums.com/articles/2009/01/hdforumsc om-motorcycle-comparison-2009-harley-davidson-xr12 00-vs-2009-buell-lightning-xb12scg.html#more It pretty much states the Buell is the performance winner, but no surprise there. I also don't agree with the article calling the XR1200 a "sport bike," but we know which is the real sportbike. | ||
| Dynasport |
That article read like a bench race. I couldn't actually tell if they had ridden either bike or were just doing the comparison from specs and conventional wisdom. MCN did a write up of the XR this month and spoke a bit differently, especially about the brakes. | ||
| Oddball |
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| Cityxslicker |
sexy bike, all of our parts are back from paint (the wheels were held up at powder coating) Targeting a 4/1 reveal, just in time for April Fools Day | ||
| Cityxslicker |
Ours is coming along  | ||
| Cityxslicker |
Yes I am a Post Wh@re....  Ok sorry, that was the last one... really | ||
| Steve_mackay |
Nice looking bike. But it's no XR1200. I got a chance to put nearly 100 miles on the XR1200 this weekend. Lemme' just say... I LOVE that bike. Handling is VERY good. You can't tell it's 550LBS. Brakes are more than adequate. I did much of this riding while leading the HD demos at Hals. The HD riding guys behind me were giving me a little ribbing by asking me why i was hanging off the bike in those corners. It was a blast riding that thing. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
Lessons learned on this one... The next one will be a on a pre 2004 frame , it will have an inverted fork, the Buell Front rim and brake with 17 wheel It will have the swing arm from an XB with the 17 inch 180mm Buell wheel. Will have the Flat track trumpets and a GEL seat with rear set controls.... Amassing the parts as we speak. It will be uncomfortable, it will be the hell offspring of all that was Sportster and all the parts that work from Buell, it will be orange of course. | ||
| Steve_mackay |
Now THAT will be more like it! | ||
| Xl1200r |
How many late model Sportsters do you know that rev to 7000 and have 90bhp from stock (even before you liberate a few more bhp with a pipe and airbox mods). I had a 2004 XL1200R with a carb re-jet, a Supertrapp 2:1 and a Ram-Flo air cleaner. It dynoed at 78hp with no internal mods, and the line was still trending upward at the 6500rpm redline. It would have easily been an 80-85hp bike with a rev limit in the 7000-7500rpm range (which, at least at the time, could be done with the race ECM from HD). I think that would make for a more than 90hp motor when rated at the crank. Now, I do agree with you on all counts regarding the chassis. I haven't ridden an XR (yet), but you'd likely go over budget between everything like the brakes, front end, swing arm, wheels, rear sets, shocks, etc. | ||
| Buellinachinashop |
Its needs adjustable forks, not the left over VR Street Rod forks, and it needs lower handlebars. Other than that, boom, winner. | ||
| Trojan |
Maybe they should build them like this, but then I would be out of business     This is our XR1200 project bike in its current state, although it is evolving all the time The front number board will be replaced by a cafe racer headlight by next week. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
Ummm that is some of the sexiest exhaust I have ever seen... it makes me want to put it on my CityX so I can get some damn clearance..... Damn you Trojan. Nice ride. | ||
| Steve_mackay |
*THAT* is one SWEET XR! | ||
| Oddball |
Mean looking ride.  | ||
| Donutninja |
I just pulled the trigger on a new XR1200, I pick it up this Saturday! My last two bikes were both Buells; the first was an XB12r, and the last was an XB9SX. Once I get some more time on it, I'll write up my opinions on how it compares to them. I had a blast during the test ride, and can't wait to get this thing home. I plan to do a few track days on it, so I'll probably be looking into doing some suspension mods first. The Adrenalin Moto XR looks amazing, I'm already scouring the website for parts. So many parts... | ||
| Trojan |
Just finished doing a few more mods to my XR1200, including fitting the complete (top & bottom) billet cafe racer triple trees in place of just the top one I had on before. After months of looking at it sitting in a box, I decided to fit the fairing that I had bought and then had second thoughts about. Now that I have had time to get used to it I actually like it a lot Can't think of much else to do now except get the thing dynoed at last (although I'm sure I'll think of something else before long!)    | ||
| Bill0351 |
That's the best looking Sportster exhaust I have ever seen. If it was the only mod on the entire bike, it would be enough to turn heads. | ||
| Oddball |
Very nice, those should be full screen artwork.  |
