Loving The XR1200 Sportster

[Buzz Kanter]

I'm still in Daytona and have been riding a new XR1200 Sportster, which I love and do not want to give back to Harley today. Handles fine, plenty of power and I like the seating position with the slight rearset foot controls

I guess I have put a few hundred miles on it in heavy traffic, on the highway and around town. And I can tell you this is the best Sportster ever.

If I owned it I'd make a few changes - including a different exhaust (the stock one sounds odd and looks too big), add a steering damper, and upgrade the rear shocks. Brakes are outstanding!

[street bob]

Hey man....Help the economy and the MoCo....go ahead and purchase one!!!!!!!!

[Majicbringer]

Getting one as soon as I hit lotto or find a better job (either will do).

[Catmechanic]

So does this mean American Iron is going to have one as a company bike? That way you could do the needed upgrades, write a good story on it and still have it to ride!

Jim S

[Buzz Kanter]

I very much enjoyed riding the XR1200 Harley Sportster around town, but the best fun was when I took it out on the racetrack here in Daytona and got it up on the hogh banks during the lunch brake of Vintage race days.

Got it up over 100 mph on the back straight away.

[Catmechanic]

OK, now you're pissing me off! You not only get an extended road test of the XR but you get to run it on the track too?!!

So, honest opinion, how much do you think it's got past the 100 mark? What didn't you like about the suspension?

Jim S

[Buzz Kanter]

Originally Posted by Catmechanic

OK, now you're pissing me off! You not only get an extended road test of the XR but you get to run it on the track too?!!

So, honest opinion, how much do you think it's got past the 100 mark? What didn't you like about the suspension?

Jim S

I'd have to guess I was only a little past 100 mph, which was plenty fast considering I was on a new bike, new engine and new - unscrubbed tires. The rear shocks were OK, but I would have prefered stiffer springs and tighter damping for serious high speed riding. But don't get me wrong, I was grinning from ear to ear the entire time.

[Catmechanic]

So what you're saying is maybe HD ought to look in the parts bin and try a set of shocks from the XL Sport model? I really like the adjustability I've got on my Sport shocks.

Jim S

[Joyride]

Hey Buzz. Come on, only a little over 100? You could have got that thing up to 125 - 130 easy!

[EZE RIDER]

Glad you enjoyed the ride! a few pics of one sitting in the local dealer.