HARLEY-DAVIDSON XR1200 (2010-2012) Review

Tick over is too lumpy at traffic lights. Indicator switches on both sides is mad because you have to have to let go of the throttle and brake to be able to turn right!! Self cancelling is great and should be on all bikes so that seems to conform to the philosophy of HD 50% right is good enough. The lack of attention to detail is the biggest annoyance. Bought the bike because the gearbox on my R1 went bang and couldn't resist sending it to Kevin Stephenson to get more power out of it, big tick on the power front but I don't have enough will power and would lose my license if I rode it every day. Bought the XR because it is slow but still good fun, would recommend it to anyone with a fast bike that needs an everyday ride that's still good fun and handles great. It's a bike that doesn't force you to go fast but it will surprise you if you pushed it. Will kick on even when you short shift. This bike is all about the engine and suspension.

First, let me say that I'm mildly pissed off Europeans got this bike first. I'm in American street racer and we had to wait a year to get the first "American" XR1200. But, I eventually got mine and I love it. As a former Yamaha owner, I had to learn that all Harley's are bone stock, with tons of room for modifications. The average Harley owner here in the States spends $10,000 additional in performance modifications to their engines, breaks, body ect because that's what Harley Davidson is all about--customization-- to make your bike uniquely different than everyone else's. My XR1200X is a kick ass bike that likes to brawl and won't get tired and never lets me down. The low end torque is fabulous and it's meant to race strongly around street corners at 55MPH--with short spurts of 110 to 120 MPH until I hit another turn. It's a flat track race bike for the street--that's all it is. It's not a cross country 150MPH bike. Get a VMax if that's what you’re into--but no one in St. Louis, MO USA has beaten me racing around the streets on my XR1200. No one! Not BMW, not Yamaha, not Honda, which are all outstanding bikes, but all fall to the bikes launch torque in tight city streets. Yes, those bikes can scream by if the straightaway is a little longer, but by the time they catch up, I'm carving the turn and torqueing out again--just like in flat track. At a stop, the bike's idle will pull you forward in 2nd gear without stalling! My friend who rides a Honda CBR 1000RR was amazed by that. Stage 1 performance modifications I recommend to get the most out of your XR1200X or XR1200 1) Get the SUPERTRAPP XR1200 2:2 MEGAPHONE Exhaust SYSTEM. Your bike will sound like a muscle car! It is also 20 pounds lighter than the stock HD exhaust and squeezes 12 more horses out of your engine. 2) Get the Power Commander V fuel injection system by Dyna Jet along with Auto Tune. Dyno charts prove this will give you 15 more horses and more torque at the higher RPM ranges, plus improved my gas mileage. More advanced mods: Have your Harley dealer install Screamin' Eagle® Performance Valve Spring Kit (18013-03A) and Screamin' Eagle® Tappets (18572-07) Both of these beef up my engine for high horsepower/high RPM applications to 7000 RPMs. Follow your owner’s manual break in procedures to the letter! Use 93 octane fuel. After the initial 1000-mile break in, use Screaming Eagle synthetic engine oil. Before riding, let your bike warm up for three or four minutes without revving the engine. I have and do all these things and take pride in riding my XR1200X motorcycle.