Harley-Davidson XR1200 vs The Roadster (The Little Harley Comparison)

James and Jake take out a Harley-Davidson XR1200 and compare it to the new 2020 Harley-Davidson Roadster.
Can the newer bike win the comparison? Is the old bike better?
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[@JEKYLLandHYDE69]

Good review but here's a little extra information that it lacked. HD has a rear set option for the Roadster, so you can dump those mids and get your feet where they should be on this bike. The XR1200 is faster but not because it's lighter than the Roadster, as they suggested in this video. The XR1200 actually weighs 2 lbs more than the Roadster (wet wt: 573 vs 571 lbs). The reason the XR is faster is because it has 23 hp more (90hp vs 67hp). Both motors have Evo bottom ends but it's the top end where they differ. Cams, heads and clutch on the XR1200 are Buell inspired parts. The XR redlines at 7000 rpm, the Roadster 6000 rpms. Roadster has slightly more torque though, 76 ft lbs vs 73. There's also a huge difference in lean angles. The XR1200 has lean angles of 39° right side, 40° left side. Roadster's at 30.8° right, 31.1° left, but I suppose the lean angles will increase with the rear set kit on the Roadster. It's too bad HD dropped the ball on the Roadster. It could have/should have been better than the XR1200. Hands down the XR1200 is the better bike. And it's a freakin' lot of fun to ride.....even if you're used to riding sport bikes.

[@filoIII]

HD are idiots when it comes to putting out what SHOULD be out. They deserve to go bankrupt.

[@Eidrian111]

Agreed 100 percent. I always thought that the bottom end was of the twin cam. They are just continuously dropping the ball. The elimination of the dynas, the twin cam were idiotically underpowered and the first ones were unreliable, the firsts Milwaukee 8’s were again unreliable. Plus you end up spending almost 4 grand to make them “faster” and they end up having less than 100hp and a hundred and change of torque. I don’t think that the “new” 114 that has decent power will recoup lost customers. I really don’t know why on Earth harley didn’t place the vrod motor on more Harleys. As filoIII says they truly deserve to be bankrupt.

[@filoIII]

@@Eidrian111 W/ all I said, I really do need another Sporty ;^)

[@Eidrian111]

@@filoIII indeed. I just bought a xr1200 XD

[@frankcastle5294]

I'm retired from Harley Davidson and here in southern PA. I own four XR1200's and they are NOT XL sportsters. They are XR's. And an XR with a decent exhaust system or even slip ons and a tune will easily make 105HP at the crank. They are some of the greatest motorcycles we ever made and production was a tick over 10,000. Not many out there today.

[@frankcastle5294]

@@ArchimedeanEye Nice! The X model was 2011 and 2012 only to end of production. Wonderful bikes and the white denim extremely rare color. Hang onto it.

[@recklessrt]

Wanna sell one?

[@willyroussel3563]

do you have a tune for a power vision dyno jet one could start with for a two into one pipe

[@frankcastle5294]

@@willyroussel3563 No I don't but why don't you reach out to them and get one for free?

[@willyroussel3563]

@@frankcastle5294 i don't have an XR my buddy does. He said they don't have a pre loaded tune for an XR

[@ronaldthomas9396]

I bought a 2016 Roadster and I will never sell it! I'm 5'10" with a 30" inseam and I am in love with my Roadster!

[@motoknivesandgunsbyjt]

Harley Davidson Corporate. LISTEN to your viewers like Indian does. Everyone wants the XR updated and back in the game. I own an XR and I’ve been updating it to make it as close to the FTR as possible. So, I didn’t wait anymore and bought one. Instead of experimental bikes like the Bronx and the PanAm, stick with what you know. Update the engine, make it 6 speed, water cooled, TFT screen, good breaks and suspensions and OWN the market in this category. Or, reinvent the wheel and keep loosing shares.

[@filoIII]

HD deserves to go bankrupt.

[@filoIII]

I have heard there are parts on the XR that are hard and expensive to get, that aren't common w/ traditional Sportsters. True? ty

[@shawnbauman5463]

I LOVE my XR1200X. Such a great motorcycle. Probably the best HD ever made IMHO.

[@alca4340]

hey shawn happy thanksgiving...i love the xr1200 except im wondering if a bigger rider needs to change the rear suspension and seat...thanks for your feedback

[@shawnbauman5463]

@@alca4340 the XR has adjustable suspension so a larger rider can tweak to fit.

[@filoIII]

Aren't parts difficult to find?

[@shawnbauman5463]

@@filoIII no not imo

[@filoIII]

@@shawnbauman5463 I was under the impression they were, since it doesn't share alot of parts w/ common sportsters.

[@andypants1000]

I love the roadster - it got me into harleys again after years of ignoring them - but I own an XR.

[@graze105]

Just bought a 2009 XR and it is a GREAT bike! Buy one if you can find one! Had to drive 200 miles to rural Iowa for mine and have it shipped to my home in the Chicago area. No regrets.

[@filoIII]

But can you find parts? I don't think everything is compatible w/ common Sporties.

[@graze105]

@@filoIII Can definitely find parts but you are right, 80%-85% different than a standard 1200 of the time. I just bought a new shifter lever brand new from HD and not crazy expensive.

[@recklessrt]

I have a roadster and wound up putting a stage 4 on it along with a bassani two to one. It is a very quick bike with the upgrade. Oh yeah I beefed up the suspension too.

[@paulrose6359]

The XR1200 is a MUCH better bike than the roadster.

[@KevXRDuke]

Apples to oranges. They are still racing XRs today in the Super Hooligan Class.

[@MrPAULONEAL]

Jake should have rode up wearing an Evil Knievel jumpsuit...

[@Steven-bh6oi]

Roadster is a good Bike but the XR is on a different Level.

[@thomasmotorcycleman1175]

I have both!!.. as well as 14 other harley s and buells...the xr is definitely faster in the corners....but for me anyway, the roadster is one of my favorite bike's I have...3 years in the collection and it's the one I ride the most , over the live wire!! and enjoy the riding position ..5 ft 8.in .short leg's works great for the roadster...heck!..I might get a 2nd one!!

[@geraldf1463]

I have a 2010- XR1200, great bike, fun to ride. My only gripes are the kick stand is shit, doesn't lock out and make sure you have it in gear when you park it. Seat is like sitting on a 2x4, get a corbin seat. They have gone up in price, but you can still find low mile ones. Also watch out for the popped gas tanks-

[@MultiJohnmike]

Drive in Myrtle beach, SC. then let’s talk drivers. Had a 2016 Roadster and loved it the way it was. The trick to making the Roadster comfortable for me was 8 inch BMX style bars or probably any bar that’s at that height with the same amount of pullback as what’s on the bike already. Then it felt like a mini super glide. Now I have my dream bike 2009 xr1200. Nothing else is like it. It’s the only Machine that makes me have an uncontrollable smile that causes my face to hurt.

[@MrPAULONEAL]

Evil Knievel had an XR750...

[@guntherkohler3076]

Evel Knievel rode a Triumph as well

[@filoIII]

I really want an XR, but I understand there are parts that are not common w/ regular Sportsters, and are hard to find and expensive. HD are a bunch of idiots for discontinuing many of their bikes. They do deserve to go under.

[@mcrrider6881]

i really want a XR!!!! thankyou for making my mind up :D your 2 bikes if you swapped the bars over maybe you will have 2 better feeling bikes

[@Ed-vi4rx]

That is why iam happy with my Guzzi Griso 1200 SE. Power and position

[@lawrencedavidson296]

I get a kick out of reviews when the reviewers have no clue what bike they r talking about...xl is Harley Davidson longest production sportster

[@frednouvertne4216]

One adapts to a Harley. Period.

[@radicalkonrad765]

They're very similar tbh. I'd take the roadster due to the sporty platform being popular for stunting unlike the XR

[@nbowling10trio]

Roadster should've had the same engine treatment as the xr. I bought an 03 883H and ordered hammer 1275 kit. mad fun now. I have forwards with ten inch speedline(frisco) bars. Very comfortable. I upgraded shocks. I wish i had the dual disc brakes sometimes

[@dirkhicks]

You're shifting WAY too soon.

[@jhmonthetube6339]

The XR made 79HP but could make 100HP when exhaust and air box were swapped out with freer flowing units. The XR was way better handling than the Sportster. Really no comparison between the two bikes. It was a shame because the bike did not sell well.

[@rider14mcd63]

I use the rear pegs on the highway. The Roadster is a great platform.

[@filoIII]

If you're tall, Brit, then it ain't the bike's fault your knees are in your face. Perhaps you're outside the norm.

[@irvinmartin9259]

After 5:44 I couldn’t stand another second of this whining Brit and just stopped watching.

[@FalconsFuryHarleyDavidson]

Mate you missed out. It gets really good at 5:45. C'est la vie! (That's French by the way...just in case you didn't know)

[@guntherkohler3076]

You tell him tough guy

[@lawrencedavidson296]

Change pipes and air filter and it has as much power as the xr

[@kaipokali]

I have a roadster myself. My favorite bike

[@lawrencedavidson296]

The xr and xl were never the same bike

[@TheBostonVan]

Roadster all day this got is out his mind

[@thejohnnerparty]

This is such a good video. Really very informative. This review is so much more than you think. Pay attention to the review. ;-)

[@mamjack6134]

5:11 who ran a red-light, the car or lead rider?

[@Steven-bh6oi]

The XR 1200/X is already a Collectors Bike.

[@tms1981ts]

I'm curious to see what you think of NJ drivers...

[@Steven-bh6oi]

I’ll take the XR anytime

[@Steven-bh6oi]

XR is a great Bike 👍

[@philipbrewer6909]

That thing sounds like a go cart

[@spencerb8609]

Where y’all been? More vlogs please

[@evil_musclemuscled3814]

Another good video , that roadster 👌

[@siguesputnik6861]

I test drove a Roadster in 2018 and came to similar conclusions; a nice, light bike that was in no hurry to move when I opened the throttle up. After I returned to the dealership I told the salesman what I thought it needed (rear sets, flat bars or clip-ons, and better performance) and his response was that I could order everything in the parts department. I replied with "That's why I'll wait to buy one used for a third to half the price in a few years." The MoCo really missed the mark with this, unless their goal was to sell an anemic bike and have the customer throw more money at its shortcomings.

[@Stratocastering]

Buy a motorcycle that fits your height and weight, don't complain about power cause I'm 5.8 and i ride an Iron 1200, the power on it is just enough!

[@bosshowly]

The xr1200 looks old fashioned and ugly 😢

[@ArchimedeanEye]

The XR1200X will be the most collectible Harley of modern times. Especially as HD corporate further ruin the org.

[@KevXRDuke]

OK crybaby. They are still racing them today in the Super Hooligan Class.

[@mbsnyderc]

That's Harley for you I like both bikes,but the roadster they didn't go all the way,and you would probably do better buying the Buell.

[@MrAndrew1953]

Can you buy XRs or do you have to build one from catalogues?

[@MultiJohnmike]

The only way to build one is buy a frame with a vin (salvaged) because you have to have a vin to pair with the ECM so it knows it is an xr1200. I see them for sale but they are hard to find. All depends on how far your willing to go. For example mine came from SD. to SC.

[@dirkhicks]

The XR1200 was sold in the US from model year 2009 to 2012.

[@jaywright58]

People born in Georgia are not bad drivers. It's all the people who moved here since 1996.

[@joesaia6807]

Hey wanna sell that bike?

[@alca4340]

you said you;re way too big...how tall, inseam and weight are you

[@FalconsFuryHarleyDavidson]

6'3 34 inch inseam

[@filoIII]

I've had drag bars on a Sporty , and buckhorn on another, and I MUCH more liked the buckhorn.

[@PhilbyFavourites]

If your mate thinks that helmet looks cool, you need to tell him otherwise….. That’s not a good look

[@billwilliamson9842]

go away

[@matthewnorwell5353]

The xr is just ugly as shit shame

[@KevXRDuke]

Another crybaby.

[@rickdemorgan8951]

Storz Performance Inc. & Hammer Performance. will get it done