HD XR vs Buell XB

[bardo688]

Looking for someone to shed some light on this subject as I havent heard much.

I cannot quote my research but I did go and look up HP & Torque specs for the XR 1200 vs. that of the XB12 that uses the same engine. Correct?

How does HD push a bike that makes less power & is all around a POS compaired to my XB9S? I know its something to expect from them but how does my 984 beat their 1203 in Torque & HP then my bike weighs 200Lbs less & costs $6k less. [confused]

 

[dave_xb12r]

It doesn't use the same engine, but it uses some of the same internals like cams I believe. From the looks of it, they've adapted Buells front suspension as well. I could be wrong though.

 

[LeFox]

buell's are lighter, more nimble, better breaking power, better suspension...just plain better!

they look better too

 

[kalifornia]

this is true

 

[upthemaiden]

It's obviously a bad deal, but if you look at the crowd they're being marketed to you'll see none of that stuff matters. Just paint it orange and make it loud and you're golden.

 

[LeFox]

Just paint it orange and make it loud and you're golden.

no thank you

 

[Red93stang]

The XR has been a bad deal for HD, for one it has gone over budget by something like 1 million or somewhere around their. Lack of interest, low sale numbers, low hp numbers. They had to redesign the cylinder heads half a dozen times do to cooling problems. The final revision was to inject oil around the exhaust valves and ports to keep it cool. In a nut shell HD f#$%ed up again and the bike is just another pig!

 

[Alfatango1]

We rode out Saturday with 13 riders and one guy has an XR 1200 and my XB9R smoked it every time we both hit it. I'd hate to see what a 12 would do to it.

 

[upthemaiden]

no thank you

haha I was referring to that as HD's official plan for making bikes. I didn't mean you could take an XR and turn it into an acceptable bike by doing so.

 

[racepro716]

Said it before, and I'll keep saying it....If you've ever seen a real Harley XR-750 up close they're beautiful. A REAL race bike. Harley could have done so much better with this bike. If you call it a XR, it should LOOK like an XR! Wayne

 

[matt48726]

yeah i have to agree harley did not build a winner here...my 984 lightning will smoke a xr all day long... it's a shame really cause harley needs to build a good sport bike in order to keep my generation interested in the company

 

[bardo688]

Iam sorry its just the $1,000,000 ? of why kill an upcomming sport bike thats a diamond in the rough that just needs some polish(Advertising, and freedom of engineering and design). The XR to me is like an older cyclone(No offense to those guys), but I just dont understand the stupidity of those CEO's HD is gunna wreck and buells gunna say I told you so fucker!...I just hope Erics got something up his sleeve.

Sorry the whole rant but i was reading "rider magizine about the "NEW V-Twin canyon carver 2011 HD XR1200R" and ALl i get out of it is WTF...1 complaint was the design at highway speeds the wind pulls your legs out isnt that 1 reason our tank/frame is designed with the angles? & you would think a 1203 should beat a 984 and my 9's stock #'s put it to shame let alone the "Race"(Air filter, pipe, ecm) Package"[confused]

 

[bardo688]

Matt Iam 17 If your in my generation Iam sure HD wants us to buy those big shiny rocks but why when we care about performance, looks, style, reliablity, and affordabilty. HD failes at all to us barly making looks and style.
I got told by my gf's dad his 96cubic inch HD bagger was gunna smoke my 9S ass. [cool]Hopefully he was drunk!

 

[BikerTrash]

The XR1200 is still just a Sportster.

 

[cb750]

I test rode one, nothing to write home about. Lots of intake honk, felt like all the weight was right in the center as opposed to the Honda I was riding. My cb750 feels heavy all over. Power was good, could hit highway speeds in no time, but the clutch lever wasn't made for the way I ride. I like to keep my index finger wrapped around the grip while the other 3 fingers pull in the lever, and the lever would squish my index. (Fortunately my XB allows me to do so)

When I first test rode a Lightning, I knew it was the bike for me. when I rode the XR, I thought it was nice but not what I wanted.

 

[cb750]

How does HD push a bike that makes less power & is all around a POS compaired to my XB9S? I know its something to expect from them but how does my 984 beat their 1203 in Torque & HP then my bike weighs 200Lbs less & costs $6k less.

It's Harley, they sell an image and motorcycles are part of that image.

 

[07xb12sgrin]

try not to knock the sportster. that is afterall the heart of our bikes too. just an insanely reworked/awsomized sportster.

 

[Alfatango1]

Sportsters are nothing like XB's.

 

[07xb12sgrin]

where do you suppose the engine came from in the first place then, thin air?

 

[BuellRider3158]

Sportsters are like XB's Alfatango. They use the same motor after all. Harley isn't all that bad, their focus just isn't on performance. They keep adding options to make the bikes safer and more comfortable. They aren't focused on performance, but honestly can you say any company building cruiser type motorcycles are? You all hate on Harley and they are the reason that you have the XB everybody loves so much to ride. You may not like Harley's bikes or the way they do business, but they deserve some respect. I may not like that they shut down Buell and sold off MV Agusta but I'm glad they gave it a chance and let Buell build me my motorcycle.