Introduction

The XR1200 is Harley-Davidson's new 'hot rod' standard motorcycle. Developed for Europe and first launched in European markets in April 2008, the XR1200 is now available stateside. Inspired by the XR-750—the American dirt track racing motorcycle that dominates AMA flat-track competition—the new XR1200 features design elements that provide up-to-date street handling and performance along with the classic look, sound and feel that Harley-Davidson fans have come to expect.

First impressions

When I first saw the XR1200, my eyes were immediately drawn to the dramatic upswept brushed stainless-steel exhaust and the eye-popping Mirage Orange Pearl paint. Upon closer inspection I was impressed with the quality, fit and finish on the XR1200. The cast aluminum swingarm is a nice addition and enhances the overall appearance.

The XR1200 has an interesting and unique design that draws frequent attention. We were approached by enthusiasts wanting more information about the XR1200 during nearly every test ride. Those who stopped to check out the XR1200 were generally enthusiastic and expressed interest in owning one—men and women alike were drawn to the XR1200—new XR1200 owners should expect a lot of attention over the next year as this model makes its way onto the streets of America.

Back-road manners

Harley-Davidson emphasizes the performance aspects of the XR1200, so we'll dive right in and share our findings.

The XR1200 is well-behaved on the back roads. It handled well in every situation we threw at it. The bike's agility combined with the willing motor create a fun, capable package.

The 43mm inverted Showa forks soaked up every bump with minimal fuss. The XR1200's brakes are a pleasant and welcome surprise: a solid feel and powerful bite provide excellent stopping power with minimal fade even under repeated hard braking.

I was able to throw the XR1200 into turns with complete confidence and was rewarded with consistent, predictable handling and feedback. The footpeg 'feelers' touched ground on a few occasions but in all other cases the ground clearance was more than adequate for every situation I encountered.

The five-speed transmission has a solid and usable feel even though it does have some 'clunkiness' (this is a Sportster transmission, after all). The shifting was always positive while riding, although occasionally I had a difficult time finding neutral at idle when the engine and transmission were hot, though a quick blip of the throttle cured that.

Living with the XR1200

While I'd like to spend all my time ripping around back roads, the reality is that I have to commute from home to office, or from home to my favorite back roads. A bike that's fun on the back roads can be a real pain to deal with in the real world, making it harder to live with while waiting for the next weekend trip to the hills. What's it like to ride the XR1200 in the daily grind?

The XR1200 is a narrow and nimble bike despite its higher than average weight (about 580 pounds ready to ride). The handlebars are the widest part of the bike, which makes slicing and dicing through urban traffic (and lane-sharing if you are so inclined) an easy and comfortable proposition.

The mirrors are ideally located to see what's behind you in traffic. The handlebar and mirror height are such that they don't line up with truck and SUV mirrors - which eliminates another concern when it comes to close-quarters urban combat. Control placement and handlebar position is comfortable and natural.

The Evolution motor's low-end grunt makes squirting through traffic, overtaking cars and dealing with stop-and-go traffic a painless proposition. The brakes provide similar confidence.

During city riding, the Dunlop Qualifier tires provided a stable, confidence-inspiring ride; no wiggles, jiggles or noticeable sensitivity to road surface irregularities. Moderate cross winds did not upset the XR1200 at highway speeds. Grooved freeway pavement and expansion joints did not affect the handling in any significant way.

There was no unusual or uncomfortable engine heat while sitting in stop-and-go traffic in 70°F weather. The XR1200 is comfortable at freeway speeds and the seating was perfect for commute-length rides.

The wind blast at highway speeds was tolerable and only became uncomfortable when in very high headwinds or turbulent conditions at 85+ MPH. I found the XR1200 to be comfortable even during an all-day ride covering over 350 miles.

Engine and Transmission

The Evolution 1200cc V-Twin motor sports a 10.0:1 compression ratio while oil-cooled heads help handle the heat created by increased power. The engine is rated at 74 ft-lbs torque. Harley-Davidson does not publish horsepower figures for the XR1200.

The cog belt final drive is a nice touch - no more chain lube, no chain adjustments, and it's very quiet (I could hear a faint noise that sounded like it might be coming from the belt while riding on surface streets, but longtime Harley riders tell me that a bit of belt dressing will quiet the noise).

Performance

The XR1200 offers brisk acceleration in just about any gear; down-shifting is optional in most normal riding situations. The engine really comes to life above 4000 RPM, pulling hard to redline at 7000RPM, at which point the rev limiter forces you to grab the next gear.

At 70 MPH in top gear, the engine is turning about 4K RPM so the XR1200 is in a sweet spot in the engine's powerband, resulting in a minor annoyance as this is also a slightly 'buzzy' spot in the power band. Kicking it up another 500 RPM smooths the motor out but then you are going a bit faster than you might intend... but this problem afflicts just about any big-bore street bike I've ridden.

I averaged 44 MPG overall in a blend of commuting and spirited back-road riding with plenty of wide-open throttle blasts.

Conclusion

The 2009 Harley-Davidson XR1200 is at once fun and surprisingly practical, a hot rod motorcycle that is right at home as a back-road burner and easily pulls double duty as a daily commuter or for a quick run across town.

We found the XR1200 to be a very capable blend providing daily-driver practicality and back-road fun in a unique and attention-getting package.

Priced starting at USD $10,799. Available in Vivid Black, Pewter Denim, and Mirage Orange Pearl paint.