2009 Harley-Davidson XR1200X

In America, Less than 5k, Sport by Ted CloughLeave a Comment

By 2007 in the US, Harley Davidson pretty much dominated the cruiser market, and had a large share of the long-distance touring market as well. The XR1200 was an attempt by Harley Davidson to draw more riders of a slightly different (racier?) demographic into the Harley fold. It capitalized on the reputation and image of the venerable XR750, the mainstay of flat-track racing in the US for many years. In the US, bigger is almost always better, so they crammed their 1200 Sportster engine into a design that mimicked the lines of the flat-tracker. It was initially only offered in Europe, but the cries of the masses were quickly acknowledged and it was brought to the US the next year.

Harley-Davidson XR1200X - Right Side

It was well-received in the press, and initially sold well, but it turned out there was a limited audience, and it was discontinued after 2012. People had been cutting up Sportsters for years and turning them into cafes and customs. This was in effect a factory custom. Harley tried this once before with the XLCR and, while it did not sell well initially, it later became somewhat of a cult classic and collectors item. I suspect this will also happen with the XR1200.

Harley-Davidson XR1200X - Exhaust

There always seem to be a variety of these for sale. This one has a Vance and Hines exhaust, Power Commander and some other extra goodies. It also has the adjustable suspension from the later XR1200X model, and is very reasonably priced, assuming there are no hidden secrets. Find this Harley-Davidson for sale here on Craigslist in Charleston, South Carolina for $5,000.