Harley XR1200

[Birdmove]

I never took and shit for riding the two Sportsters I have owned. But you read about big twin riders dissing Sportster riders a lot. And I worked at an HD dealer. No one ever gave me shit because I rode my Sportster XL883 every day near Tacoma, Washington. That includes all winter long. Often mine was the only motorcycle parked outside. A lot of people dissed the Blast. As I said, I rode one on a test ride and was not a bad motorcycle. Many riders will tell you you just have to have at least a big twin to tour on. Bullshit on that. I toured back in 1975-76 on my 1975 Honda XL350 thumper and had a hell of a lot of fun doing it. Loaded it with tent, sleeping bag, etc and rode all over Washington and Oregon. And yes, if I could do it on a 350 single, you could tour on a Blast (or this new version).

[pmelby]

Originally Posted by Birdmove

One thing about the Blast motor. It was pretty under stressed. I think the trans gears were from the XL bikes, and those were used in the 883 and 1200.....

These folks are taking credit for adapting the Sportster motor to a single for the Blast:
http://www.design-concepts.com/our-w...n-blast-engine

Harley-Davidson, an American icon and parent company of The Buell Company, selected Design Concepts to develop an engine that would fit into a smaller, entry-level sport bike - the Buell Blast®. The Blast® was intended to attract new riders to the sport of motorcycling.

The team designed an innovative, integrated chassis mounting. In addition, a low-cost, lightweight, noise-reducing polymer pushrod tube system was developed to be aesthetically distinct from Harley-Davidson products. All-new oiling and primary drive systems were developed by the team. The solution featured a lightweight, optimally balanced crankshaft system, later adopted for other Harley-Davidson crankshafts. A single-cylinder crankcase, top cover, primary cover and gear cover, cost reduction initiatives, and the utilization of existing components and manufacturing processes were all key elements of the design solution.

Good thing that they designed a new pushrod tube so that it didn't look like an XL motor with one cyclinder lopped off.

melby

[kaput13]

Good thing that they designed a new pushrod tube so that it didn't look like an XL motor with one cyclinder lopped off.

melby


Thank goodness. Otherwise they might get accused of simplistic engineering.

[kirb]

Dealers are going to need a Blast replacement for the cycle classes that a lot of them are teaching. The original blasts are getting a little long in the tooth and looking pretty beat up these days.

[eatpasta]

Originally Posted by Snapper

Well, I haven't done a track day with mine, but I must admit the bike is wicked fun in the twisties...The bike is a paradox - technically slower than any other bike I've recently owned, yet it's the only one that has been able to consistently shred the sides off of rear tires, before the centers. CLICKY

Alas I don't think it liked to be ridden hard - 24 mos., 24k, and 10 weeks in the shop on warranty repairs. I had to unload after the warranty expired...felt like a ticking time bomb. If it were built better, I would have kept it.

thats such a bummer because I was seriously considering picking one of these up. What happened to "modern HD reliability" or does that only account for people who dont exceed 2000 rpm.... ever

[eatpasta]

Originally Posted by kirb

Should of rode the speed trip...you would be looking at most bikes in the rear view.

and usually only on one tire

[Ginger Beard]

Originally Posted by eatpasta

thats such a bummer because I was seriously considering picking one of these up. What happened to "modern HD reliability" or does that only account for people who dont exceed 2000 rpm.... ever

You shouldn't let 1 bad experience posted on the internet stop you from owning a bike if you actually want one. If one poster can diminish your desire for this bike then you probably don't really want it.

[eatpasta]

Originally Posted by Ginger Beard

You shouldn't let 1 bad experience posted on the internet stop you from owning a bike if you actually want one. If one poster can diminish your desire for this bike then you probably don't really want it.

thats a good point.

I do want an XR - I test rode one myself (kind of by accident ) and I really liked it. I was disappointed by the power of the 1200 for sure but everyone knows thats not what makes a bike....

look how popular the KLR is !

[DAKEZ]

Originally Posted by kirb

Should of rode the speed trip...you would be looking at most bikes in the rear view.

Originally Posted by eatpasta

and usually only on one tire

The problem with the Speed Triple is there is alway someone in front of you. You get around them and bing bada boom there's another... and another... and another...

[eatpasta]

Originally Posted by DAKEZ

The problem with the Speed Triple is there is alway someone in front of you. You get around them and bing bada boom there's another... and another... and another...

oh my god! yer inside my head. Out!! OUTTTTT

I got mine a few months ago and I have also noticed this fatal flaw with the Speedy 3

[ZZ-R Rider]

if The Mo Co makes that 500 Street Tracker, I'm havin' one!!!

[slowoldguy]

New bling. Snick snick. Works as slick as it looks. Thanks Mr. H.

[slowoldguy]

Great day to be a Texan with an XR. Habitual Violator and the slowoldguy. Stomping on the terra. ;)

[merc16]

Nice XR pic.

[slowoldguy]

Thanks. This Bastard Child Harley is still a laugh a minute. If ya get it, ya get it. Most people don't and that's just fine by me. I've owned lots of faster bikes but this thing is pure unadulterated "shot outta a cannon" fun. May not own it that much longer ( I need a new Mexico dp bike) but Gee. It might be the most fun you can have on a $6800 bike.