My Christmas Present - First Ride XR1200R

[Rad 1200R]

It's new and orange, but Noooooooo, it's not another KTM.

Santa came early to my house...............

I took a drive up to Victorville last Sunday, Cajon Pass and the surrounding mountains had a lot of snow.





Continued to see a friend at the local shop up there, where he's General Manager.



My friend Dave, I used to roadrace with him at Willow Springs and haven't seen him for a long time, was great to see him....he used to be GM at San Diego Harley.



I saw this new XR1200 on the floor............





And decided since it was orange, I just had to have one....... :bounce:


Actually, I ordered one of 750 made for the US the first round, from a shop in Las Vegas. They told me it would be in January or February, so I was thinking maybe March. Well, much to my surprise I got a call a week later, saying my bike just came off the truck in Vegas. I ordered it in Vegas because I was told it might be months before the California models would be approved. I delayed picking the bike up in Vegas a week, and during that week, one of Dave's sales guys from Victorville Harley called me and said they had a CA bike on the floor and the guy who ordered it bailed on the deal, so I figured better to buy from my friend's shop and also buy a CA bike so I wouldn't have to deal with Nevada registered bike.

Finally Harley has built a bike that has some good performance and handling characteristics and 90 HP. I also got a full 7 year warranty on it.

Here's a few more from when I had it on display at my house and my friend's came over for bike night.

[Rad 1200R]

Now I'm dieing to get it out on the twisties, the bike is supposed to work pretty good. BTW, it has Dunlop Qualifiers on it, and the rear is a 180......same size as most sportbikes. Now I can't wait to smoke some sportbikes on this thing :lol:

UPDATE:
First actual ride today on my new toy.......Spaugh showed up on his Ducati 800 Monster



Then Chief Gunner on his V-Max



We headed out 94 east at a brisk pace, but I had to keep the XR below 4000rpm max for the first 50 miles of break-in, that was painful......70mph max.

When we reached Cameron Corners, it was over 50 miles so I could open her up to 5000rpm max...85mph.

Brad headed home at Pine Valley, while Chief and I stopped in Pine Valley where it was pretty damn cold, Major's Cafe to warm up a bit.





We ran into another guy named Tony on his SR500 single, slightly modified from stock. I asked him, "Isn't it too cold to be out riding?"

After Major's, we took Japatul Valley to Lyon's Valley.......now, being able to open the XR up to 85mph, I got to feel her out a little more......bike handles nicely, no wobbles, very stable, nice transitions from corner to corner, and smoothe at 85.

Then we got to the tight section on Lyon's Valley, and I was still impressed by the HD's handling.

Stopped at Ride Orange's house to say hi. He was working on his new "slipper clutch" on his KTM550 (built motor).......my friends laugh at me when I lay my KTM's down to drag them under a gate, but RO lays his down in the driveway to work on it !



I'm not the only one with a new Christmas toy, Rob's daughter got a nice, shiny new Quad. Judging by her grin, I think she's happy with it.....



A nice, little, chilly 120 mile ride. So far, I'm really happy with the HD - XR1200. After 500 miles, I get to open her up all the way........can't wait

[Badassbrutus]

That XR screamin for supermotard!! a nice set of on off tires and a high exhaust done love it!!

[Rad 1200R]

She's too purty for SuperMoto.......I have my beat up KTM's for that. Unfortunately, the XR is too heavy to be competitive in SuperMoto. It's just going to have to be my fun twisty road bike.

[sfarson]

Welcome Randy. Saw your Orange / Black thread at ADVRider in the Road Warriors forum. KTM 990ADV rider here for all the unsurfaced Rocky Mountain journeys of exploration. Your XR1200R is a great complement to your other rides. Good to have you here!