Used Bike Review | Harley Davidson XR1200 

Stock XR1200s have dual front discs and aluminum wheels. Some pinecone ripped off one of the rotors from this used bike and stuck on some clunky spoked wheels instead. Shifting all the braking performance to a single caliper and rotor is probably why the brakes were a mess.

It's missing it's upside down forks and cast wheels, looks like a knocked up shed build....

“Young racing lifestyle” Chris? I’m 61 and I’d absolutely love one. Thanks for all the brilliant videos, by the way.

I had a Buell M2 Cyclone which bounced its front wheel at tick-over, bits fell off, front exhaust mounts would break regularly and I got to know the RAC very well while I owned it. In spite of all that I liked it but it didn't like me as it broke it's big end and I ran out of money trying to get it rebuilt. In the end I gave the bike away as payment to the people who were fixing it!

I have a 2010 XR...in a collection of 18 Harleys and buells....it is very good for a heavy bike..and feels like a motorcycle!

As an xr1200x owner myself I feel like your summary of it's performance and handling is 100% spot on. Great honest review.

Mines not stock and Ive had it eleven yrs and 55000 on it.Its never going to be my KTM690 Duke either.But that should have USD showa front end with twin 4 pot nissin Calipers. Ok ohlins on the back...tick nice. I am not a Harley guy but the pics on my wall with the Countach were XR750 Flat trackers not SS900,Guzzi le mans or CBX's.Your spot on what you say about the fun factor youve just not got a good example.The forks on the later XRX were fully adjustable as well.The engine is oil/air cooled with a buell crank way more than a sportster.....which is not saying much next to another firm.The some of parts and pig iron are and as you said a lot of fun.Keep up the good work🤩

I’ve owned mine since it came out and I’ve always wondered why they didn’t update them because it’s awesome I’ve never had a issue with it it has 62,000 miles on it and probably has 100,000 left in her. This one has some terrible mods like the Yamaha paint job and why would you switch out the inverted front end and put that old looking one on?

They sold a few in Australia. They have a rubber mounted engine which smooths out the vibes a bit. I’ve got a 1991 standard 1200 Sportster and the vibration is shocking because the engine is solid mounted. Also it doesn’t handle and the brakes are like wooden blocks. I don’t mind riding it occasionally because it’s definitely got character, but my Z900RS is my #1 bike. Also, if you look at a pic of an original XR 1200, I reckon the original looks a whole lot better. Enjoyed your road test though.

It's refreshing to see someone who rides so many different non-Harleys also appreciating a Harley. That's the camp I'm in - we've owned everything from liter sport bikes to big full dresser Harleys. Nice review!

first proper HD XR 1200 review on RU-vid, Cheers!

Looks more like a 70s Yamaha paint wise

Best thing to ever come from Harley and nobody knew it! Now we all want one.

Harley seriously needs to remake this bike with the new Revmax! This Is how the new sportster S should have come from factory. Taller seat and suspension, rear set pegs, and normal sized sport rubber “like the performance version of the XR1200”

Love the EVO Harley's. They gallop along just beautifully.

I grew up a Honda guy who’s always been a Harley hater. Thought the hp, weight, price was a joke. Then I rode one, now I own two.

these used bikes reviews are the best of the video's. i think for most average people we are looking for somewhat older and cheaper bikes or 2nd bikes. a lot of these bikes never got a proper review video, maybe featured in a magazine back then. but also numerous new motorcycles never got the attention they deserve, some never got a proper review. mash dirt track 6.5 for instance, or the moto morini 1200 corsaro veloce, almost every aprilia tuono v2, shiver, dorsoduro etc, the list of relitive unknown bikes goes on and on. even today with youtube, you cant find a propper (professional) review. if you find them its made by an owner who loves his bike, and wants to share it with the word. thats why i love these video`s so much. keep them coming.

I worked at an American dealership when they came out. They were so cool, and they didnt reach their market which sucks. I couldn't afford one at a time. I may look into one now

I had a ‘76 Iron Barrel XL1000 many years ago. Quite the most atrocious bike I’ve owned in almost every way. I loved it! I’ve never quite understood how HD managed to get so much weight into the Sportster being a bare bones bike. Brave to be pushing it as you did!

Love my XR, gets a lot of looks and questions everywhere I go. They should have kept the USD front forks or upgraded.

Have one, love it. But it is not my go to bike for canyon carving. That would be my Ducati, but for all around bike with fun factor, yep. Loved your test. Non-biased and good production.

Not sure that front end is stock. They came with inverted forks.

I love mine. Many people have laughed at it then on the road "city" or when I let them ride it they aren't laughing anymore. Not a sport bike but I can pull ahead up to 100mph. Wheelies not an issue. Is it comfortable? No! But is it fun does it want to end you? Yes. To ride it you will have to do real work, and the whole time, after a shirt ride in the city or in the mountains you will be tired, all I can say is " I love you" when i ride it. Stock it's still not a normal sportster. It's weird it's quick it's fun. You cannot ride it and not have a smile. That said I still want a Ducati biposto 1000 sport classic, comparably similar bikes but quicker in the corners but equally quick everywhere else.

Thank you for a truly unbiased and honest review. I live the Harley, love or hate relationship on a daily basis as I build and race both Harley and Suzuki. No negative reflection on the business who was kind enough to offer you the chance to ride this bike, but it sounded terrible, as in it was not well cared for and or totally thrashed. I would love to see you test ride a 1983 XR1000, and do a review. Although it would be considered Neanderthal by today's standards, it's truly a blast to ride. A ride you'll likely never forget. Or if you come to the states, I'll let you ride one of my Dyna's. Supercharged or Nitrous, your choice. HAVE A AWESOME DAY!

Oddly enough I own a hyper and a sporty and I enjoy them both. Not that I don't get alot of crap for it, but hey I just love the experience.

I'm looking to add a bike to the garage and I want it to be a unique something from the past decade or so. This one is a real option. Leaning toward a VFR1200F.

I liked it when it came out, but I had owned a Buell and was less impressed by the power/weight ratio. Harley should have kept Erik Buell, or at least use a Buell designed engine. It would have been lighter, have better suspension and brakes and more HP. The FTR1200 is the bike that the XR1200X should have been :)

I've always loved sportster's, never had enough cash to buy my own but riden them often and this looks like massive globs of torquey fun! Not sure about the 'yamaha' speedblocks, they looked better in the original black and orange!

What's up with the yamaha paint?

Again, I absolutely love your video style and commentary. You could be reviewing a RS50 scooter and I’d be interested.

Love it. A characterful bike for sure. There's a lot to be said for having to work a less refined and less powerful bike. 👍

A few of my buddies raced these in AMA back in the day! Very competitive racing

Not being a Harley guy I always thought this bike looked not too bad. Especially stock black ones. That one looks a bit hacked about.

i wish harley made more bikes like this, looks fkn sick

My question made the video! Thanks for the review, it sounds like it is one of those bikes you don't want to love but get attached to for some odd reason. I have a WR250X supermoto along with a Road King and am thinking about picking one of these up for an in between bike, it sounds like it fits the bill nicely. Do think that the triple trees and fork are hurting that example some- they came stock with less rake so it should feel sharper and dual discs, that one looks to have a more conventional sportster front end on it with the single disc.

that ruddy great dangling cable on the right ahnd side was giving me nightmares, an accident waiting to happen

I had a 2012 XR 1200X, last year Best Sporstster Ever. Upgraded to Bassani exhaust and Dobeck adjustable fuel programmer. Noticeable difference in performance. Then I got my leftover 2017 Ducati Panigale 1299S. Forget the over 100 + horsepower difference, the handling and breaking Just was ant there for me.. Too the point is was scary for me. YES the best Harley I ever owned. Got a great trade in on my 2021 Street Fighter..

Thanks for the great review. I own an orange 2009 XR1200 but that has to be one of the worst I’ve ever seen !

Did not these come with USD forks?

Really like the body work on yours, mines Harley orange, looks good but not like that......mines all stock except it has a seat cowl instead of that little pad for a passenger and an aftermarket rider seat that is not as good as stock. It's actually faster than gsxS750 0-60, probably why you're having so much fun in the curves, the low rpm tq pulls you out of the curves, and you probably being a sport bike rider know how to get the most out of it Now you should try V-Rod with 180 rear tire and mid controls (good luck finding one), you'll never leave 2nd gear.....3rd might cause heart attack I've got both, got rid of 750, still looking for just right crotch rocket......z900 same numbers as 750 but at lower rpm

Greetings from Germany! I love my XR1200. Great Bike! I do not realy like the mods of the bike... but hey it's your's...

Why would someone remove the OEM dual front disc brakes and go to a single??

Flat track comes straight to mind

One of the coolest Harleys around.

Loved my Harley - great feeling engine. Not fast, didn’t handle and shook itself to bits and let down by crappy electrics. Now looking for an older one with less electrics as the pull of the engine is addictive and real world fun vs. Sports bike bonkers speeds.

One of my all time Fav bikes right here!!! But i got a Ducati M900 instead! I would love to own one of theese right now! I love looks and when people walk up to it and realise its.a Harley; WOW Factor!!!

Wouldn't a Buell do everything better while keeping the vibes?

I owned the XRX. The most fun I've ever had on a Harley. 👊

Love the improvised speedo cover 😀

Now’s the time for a Pan Am based XR to take on the Indian FTR. The XR has always been the HD that interested me most. It never really had the goods to compete with it’s contemporaries but now HD are finally not just an esoteric choice. By the way, what’s happened to the Bronx?

Why does it have Yamaha racing stripes on the paint.

You could have been talking about a Buell but was HD’s intention so make something similar or did they shy away from that? I had a black & gold XB12s lightning 15 years ago, my god I wish I’d kept that bike😢

“It doesn’t make sense and I love it” sporty life in a nutshell

XR always intrigued me but now I'd go for a FTR instead. Wonder if HD will revisit this genre with their new engine?

They look a lot better standard, that looks so ugly with those wheels and Yamaha paint.

But can & does it do wheelies though, Chris? 😜

What happened to the original upside down with the dual disk brakes? They were probably going for the tracker look with no consideration for the handling.

They make a supersport version of this….it’s called the Buell XB12.

cheers . . nice lookn XR, liken the exhaust system, factory jobbie is an eye sore

I had the Buell Cyclone actually a better bike. That one you have isn’t correct should have upside down forks and twin discs.

I have a XR and a KTM890 Duke R. Both of them race in the Roland Sands Super Hooligan Class.

idk the xr1200x is quite powerful and makes a sensible amount of torque. it’s noticeably faster than a regular 1200 evo.

Buddy's wife has one in orange (stock...this one looks kinda messed up). I could ride it, but I've always grabbed his Moto Guzzi Daytona 1000 or '94 Duck 900 SS SP or Honda ST 1300 (he has a lot of bikes) when I've been over 😄 I might have him put it on the trickle charger next time I motor over.

Review my Diavel next to show how you can merge a quick bike and a comfy bike 😉

Shoulda kept making it. And should have really tried to make it better. Think it would look much cooler if it were a chain drive

Hey Chris, had a part Jeremy mc Williams xr1200 rep when they first came out and loved it. Would you consider doing a fantic caballero 500 test love to see your thoughts. Think it would be right up you street. Love your reviews.

Excellent review

They were onto something here and with the new water cooled motor but apparently they've dropped the idea. Ull stick to my 1290SDR for now

Looks like someone changed the forks, didn’t this come with inverted forks ?

I have a 2009 with an FMF slip on and full adjustable suspension and braided lines. I'll never sell it. It sits like a sport standard, sounds like its pissed off and no one around me has one. It looks like this one had a front end accident as those are the typical sportster front end forks. They are crap.

Looked at one of these when they came out. I like the standard(ish) one in orange. But the problem is they are not well made. Think I'd rather an MT01. Or better still a B-king. Come to daddy 🤪

Ugh, I noticed one for sale at my local dealership a few days ago. I really wish I hadn't 😀

I liked the idea behind these, but not the execution. I'm hoping Harley-Davidson revisits this bike with the new, much *lighter* Sportsters.

Had an orange one for a while, it sounded cool but that was about it, build quality is substandard, suspension was terrible, motor felt meh. Overall very disappointed

I would’ve bought one of these if it were not for the petrol tank expanding to pop the cover off.

What happened to the upside down forks ?? They are worlds better than any HD conventional forks !!

I'd never even heard of them (the XR 1200, NOT Harley Davidson!!) but I have to say I really rather like the look and sound of that!!! Oh to have more room/cash.....

Why does this XR 1200 have spoke wheels and a telescopic fork instead of aluminum rims and an upside-down fork like a stock one? 🤔

I’d love it if there were the parts to convert my Sportster to an XR. :-)

Waiting for your tenere world raid review

When I saw the clutch cover with the cool looking skull on it my brain turned off and my inner 9 year old wanted it.

Where are these roads? They look awesome

Too say it's the normal sporty motor is b.s..it's basically a Buell. It has 30 more h.p

the best thing about that bike is the classic paint job on the tank. then you realise it's not a classic yammie

Refreshing

I own a buell s3t with low miles that i Love riding but i want to keep the miles low in looking for something close

Sounds good

Where's the other front disc?

A Harley with Yamaha speed block colour scheme. I quite like them but they look better in photos. In the flesh the whole thing looks too large like it needs to be shrunk by 10-15%

This is a great bike

Harley needs to remake this bike with the new revmax motor

That bike has the wrong fork. Makes me wonder what else is wrong with it.

Where is second brake disc?

How many buses do you reckon it will jump? How far you could jump with a bike was dead important when comparing BMXs in the 80s and it’s a measure that’s rarely mentioned in motorbike reviews 😂

How does it compare to a Yamaha mt-01?

Not sure about the Yamaha colours

I'm looking at buying one, if compared to an sv650/mt07.how would it hold up

Harley Davidson, XR Yamaha edition?

# wtf has someone done with that Yam paintjob? # wtf has someone done with that front end? # stock 1200 Sporties make 60-65 bhp. These use Buell innards, making 90 bhp. They can be reliable, they can also eat mains and big ends and explode spectacularly. I like 'em, but then i like any well set up Sporty/carb'd Buell.

Nice one