Harley Davidson XR750

[@chrismoody1342]

The only Harley I would ever consider owning.

[@bradleymorris8875]

I’d consider owning…. lots of these.

[@albertandrews130]

You will never have one

[@Heavywall70]

@@albertandrews130 true A: they’re incredibly expensive B: finding a tuner to keep it running (because it’s not a road going machine at all) is nearly impossible. Most of the greats went right to Indian when the FTR came out.

[@chrisreynolds3204]

Best motorcycle ever built, period.

[@thethrottlestop]

Hard to argue against it!

[@dennisschell5543]

It absolutely STOMPED the limey bikes..mate! 😎

[@albertandrews130]

Now it is stomped by Indian

[@Americanblood76]

Holy Grail

[@Mike383HK]

I remember seeing one in Sears, believe it or not on Long Island when I was 15.

[@thethrottlestop]

How cool! Thanks for watchin!

[@Truetoo102]

HARLEY DAVIDSON #1

[@darknitethunder]

Always wanted one, just never had that kinda money. So I built myself one Street Tracker using a Harley-Davidson XL 1200, and yes of course it's street legal, lighter, faster, and a Blast to ride.

[@markwinchester3005]

Hell yes!

[@olympiclinic]

I want one.

[@ericheine2414]

"Iron American Dream" on KZbin. Hey here's a song about the love of Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Listen to the song and hear how it references the different motors. Harley-Davidson is a romance and a family tradition.

[@hankybostik7634]

the sound of evel!

[@lakeacid6431]

My Dreambike !

[@thethrottlestop]

For sure! Check out our website in the Museum tab for more pics and info on it.

[@saraw6446]

Everyone thinks of old guys on slow heavy cruisers, impressing non bikers. This though is beautiful, I guess Harley are happy with their image & no need to go racing to sell sports bikes.

[@dukecraig2402]

People like you who claim that obviously don't look into the history of Harley Davidson and all the different types of innovative bikes they've released over the years including their electric Live Wire model they released a few years ago, and nobody buys them. Despite all the different things they've tried over the years it's their customers and what they buy that drives what they produce, not the other way around like everyone always babbles on about.

[@shalomccs]

When Honda won all the races with the 750 cb and the four ,Harley came out with this model.

[@albertandrews130]

What are you talking about?

[@dukecraig2402]

First off the CB750 was a four cylinder, there was no "and", and they never won a title or even a single race that I know of, I'm unaware of any CB750 that ever ran in Grand National flat track racing although someone might have tried but I've never heard of it, they certainly weren't beating XR750's.

[@bryanwhitton1784]

@@dukecraig2402 Actually Dick Man won Daytona in 1970 on a CB750. I don't even want to think about riding one on a mile oval.

[@dukecraig2402]

@@bryanwhitton1784 There's a huge difference between what kind of an engine works well racing on pavement and the kind that works well on a dirt track, dirt track racing evolved around the kind of motorcycle engines that were all pretty much made with crank assemblies made from heavy flywheels and not the automotive type cranks that are in engines like the CB750, if you watch a close up film of the rear tire of a dirt track racing bike you'll see that the tire skips along while they're sliding around the corners, the heavy flywheel bottom end of Harley's and the old Indians keep the motor from wanting to rev away during those instances when the tire isn't touching the surface, the other style of crank allows that to happen and then when the wheel touches down in between skips it doesn't have any traction because the motor revs off during skips, they wind up slinging more dirt than pushing the bike along, that's the secret to why Harley's always did so well in dirt flat track racing, if it was a matter of just putting a more powerful engine on the same frame they wouldn't have dominated the sport for so long, and despite what big mouths who don't know the sport or it's history claim the AMA never adjusted the rules "to favor Harley", the rule that was enacted that limited OHV engine's to 500cc that was lifted in 1968 wasn't put in place in the early 60's just to handicap the British bikes like all the Triumph and BSA fanboys claim, that rule was enacted in 1932 when nobody brought foreign bikes into flat track racing, they were all American made bikes back then, in 1932 there was over 150 motorcycle manufacturers in the US, Harley was just one of them and the AMA didn't write rules just to protect them. In the recent past dirt track racing engines, including Harley's latest one, have automotive style cranks but they also have an external flywheel that can be changed between 5 or 6 different weights to tailor the power to each individual track they race at and it's conditions that day, on rougher surfaces that the rear tire will be skipping on a lot they'll put a heavier flywheel on, if a track is smoother on that particular day they'll put a lighter one on to get more acceleration coming out of the corner. Everything about racing on a dirt track is different from pavement, the way suspensions are set up and everything else about the bike, anyone who thinks some GP racing team could come along and put dirt track tires and handlebars on their bike and go out and race would find out quickly how many laps they'd be crossing the finish line behind everyone else, flat track bikes are just as specialized as any other type of racing bike is and the engine builder's, suspension guys and everyone else on a race team from another type of racing would be completely lost trying to do it, it'd take them years to even see a podium.

[@bryanwhitton1784]

@@dukecraig2402 I raced a Harley ERS 350 back in the early 70s and later a Triumph 650 for TT and a Championed framed Kawasaki 350 Bighorn. Later in life, 1998 to be exact, I road raced a Suzuki 1000 in CMRA and won the Heavy Weight Twins class. Not an age class. 13 races I took 1st in 11, threw a chain in the endurance race on Saturday so I had to borrow a friends 650 Hawk for the 1000cc class and took 3rd. I had to work for the 13th race. My family has been involved in Class C racing since the 30s when my uncle, Sam Arena, was a champion. Tom Sifton built my street Sprint. I have been around flat track for a lot of years.

[@telefunkenyou47]

I want the XR750L

[@mr.knowbody1988]

I need this!!!

[@108padma]

Check out the 2000s XR750-inspired XR1200 Sportster. ("A Harley you can lean".)

[@albertandrews130]

The XR-1000 was closer.

[@dukecraig2402]

@@albertandrews130 Yep, it had the same individual intake tracts of the true XR750, when they released the XR1200 I couldn't believe that they tied the XR lineage onto it for that very reason, I liked them but don't feel that they should have used XR in it's name, to be a true XR engine it can't have a common intake for both cylinders.

[@davidleonard8369]

The XR750 is one of the most beautiful motorcycles ever made. The XR 1200 was hideous. With the exception of the fuel tank/ air box cover.

[@randallblanton4671]

Or go to wausseon ohio for the flat track races always a few of em there

[@PLINKER]

I would think Harley and Indian would make this bike for those who would prefer a small framed bike with lots of power. Thats what the british did at one time and they were very popular here in the USA.

[@dukecraig2402]

That's what everyone said, so in 1983 Harley released the XR1000, nobody bought them despite everyone crying for years about how they'd buy a street legal version of the XR750, they only lasted 2 years 83 and 84, after that Eric Buell bought up all the surplus XR1000 engine's they had and used them on his first bike he produced.

[@PLINKER]

@@dukecraig2402 I bought my first British motorcycle in 1960, a 500cc BSA shooting star, then a Triumph TR6, then a Harley sportster, then a period in the US Army. I guess Harley must not have advertised the XR1000 much. I never new it existed. Thanks for the information.

[@dukecraig2402]

@@PLINKER They dominated the BOTT (Battle Of The Twins) racing in the mid 80's kicking the snot out of the Ducati's, one of them crossed the finish line one year over 30 seconds ahead of the bike in 2nd place. And if you're a fan of the movie The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension it's the Harley that Buckaroo chases off after the Electroids from the 8th dimension on when they're in a van, he eventually finds Dr Ito and tells him "There's a Harley in the bushes over there, go back to headquarters..." and then Ito winds up pulling up to the gates of their headquarters on it, and the sound isn't the sound of another engine overdubbed in it's scenes, that's it's real exhaust note and they sound GOOD. They were wicked bikes in their time but nobody bought them because of how much they cost, they weren't made on the regular production line, they were built by the racing department under the supervision of Dick O'Brian who ran Harley's racing department, every set of cylinder heads was sent out to the legendary Jerry Branch to be worked over, then each engine and the entire bikes were hand assembled at the racing department. One of the biggest problems was that Harley offered a regular XL1000 Sportster that was styled the same, same flat track style handlebars and solo seat, with the exception of a single carburetor and the exhaust being in the right side they looked almost identical at about half the price, another big problem was they immediately garnered a bad reputation for constantly going back to the dealerships for a "mid range stumble" because the owners just couldn't get it through their heads that they had large cams that weren't cruiser friendly, the engine's were meant to get going and not cruise around in the bottom/mid range like Harley owners were used to. Storz and even the dealerships offered performance kits with different cams that put another 15HP on them making them formidable bikes at the time, but due to their limited sales and only being sold in 83 and 84 they're pretty rare and don't last when one comes up for sale on the market despite the hefty sums they sell for. Google XR1000 and you can find all kinds of online articles about them with pictures, they were pretty mean looking bikes in their day and ran as good as they looked, they were the most powerful street legal motorcycle sold by Harley Davidson until the V Rod in 2001.

[@davidleonard8369]

@@dukecraig2402 I wanted one so bad but just couldn’t afford one. Those two DelOrto’s hanging on the right side were sexy as hell. I’m 59 years old now and still can’t afford one so I have a rigid mount sportster that I ride on the street and drag race pretty often. Pretty fun riding a Harley Davidson that gets 46 mpg in pump gas and runs mid elevens in the 1/4 mile and low sevens in the 1/8th.

[@108padma]

Is that Henry Cole narrating?

[@jimedward3011]

I luv my Harley it fits me perfectly I enjoy every minute. Riding most of all it's an American made it's part of our history in ww 2 is it the best bike out there no but it's ours

[@7CAJONEZ]

Always wanted XR750, wound up with a HD Buell Ulysses. Much better, faster, comfortable.

[@Heavywall70]

Like you could afford an XR There’s a reason they’re not on the road, a legit road converted one will run you about 50k

[@donniebaker5984]

@@Heavywall70 I was over to vance&Hines at Brownsburg Indiana the other day.. out in the parking lot sat a brand new XG750R with a headlight tail light turn signals and a license plate inside the rear finder that read XG750R ..Eddie Krawiec said it belonged to one of his mechanics who built it

[@jhmonthetube6339]

Yep..,

[@dukecraig2402]

You live in a dream world if you think a Ulysses was faster than an XR750, a real dream world. I had a Buell XB9 that I loved, but I have no delusions that it was faster than an XR750. And you claim you "always wanted" an XR750 but apparently you don't realize what it'd take to make one street legal, and even after you did that all the little quirks that didn't exactly make it the best street machine, like no kick stand without welding a tab on the frame, engine cases that don't have the provisions for an electric starter, only the older one's even just had a kick starter on them and they quit putting them on because they were next to impossible to get started, all the racers used to start them on rollers, finally when the teams had all made custom hand held electric starters for them they quit putting the kick starters on them and produced the engine's with a provision for a hand held electric starter, then there's the subject of it's electrics, or lack of them and the issues of mounting lights on one to make them street legal. Not the most "streetable" motorcycle you'd own, yea a Ulysses is "better" and "more comfortable", but not faster, not in any world.

[@7CAJONEZ]

@@dukecraig2402 XR's were great in the 70's. Absolute dogs compared to Buell Ulysses. 1200cc vs 750 , 103 hp vs 80 (on a good day), top speed 131 vs 110, outstanding suspension vs none and 450 lbs vs 325. Take all the street stuff off and they weigh the same. Gear the Buell for flat track with moto tires and laugh at the wheezing XR. The Ulysses is a low 11 sec quarter mile, XR pobably 12 sec. Modified Buells there are 3 girls who get in the 7 sec quarter mile. HD did make street version but it was a 1200, dint sell many. Also quite a few sportsters were converted with XR heads. I had a BSA Goldstar 500 set up for flat track, I would "practice" with a friend who raced an XR. After 10 laps he would catch me but he was insane. Point is if the little BSA thumper did that well then the XR was not that great. Glory days......

[@jhmonthetube6339]

One of a kind sound…as long as you don’t mind being passed by a TR6 650.

[@dennisschell5543]

Dream on dimbulb... 🙄

[@albertandrews130]

When the Triumph was winning in AMA Grand National Harley was still campaigning the KR.

[@sergeantmasson3669]

I have a 2010. Ultra fast, not too comfy, though.

[@sicks6six]

the only H/D I ever wanted then Kenny rolled that Yamaha out.

[@tonystoughton3201]

lt was also convenient for them to change the rules to suit their needs. Like making the Hondas run restricter plates. Now they all look like moto cross bikes and are boring to watch. Thanks AMA, Thanks Harley.

[@royenfield2]

one of the primary reasons the H-D 750 ran on top for so long is because triumph, BSA, kawasaki, et. al. quit paying contingencies. in other words, if you finished 5th that weekend on H-D, you would put more money in your pocket than anyone finishing better than you unless they too were on H-D. that is one good reason you saw more harleys than anything else on dirt track. roadracing was different story. during that 40 year span, ANYTHING was faster, or rather quicker than H-D.

[@sporttourersss]

Only thing OEM there is the engine.

[@johncraveiro3128]

to get one,you need a racing license,and a resume, to Harley Davidson.why you want ,this bike, and it could cost $60 - $ 80,000

[@albertandrews130]

These posters do not know shit.

[@dukecraig2402]

You didn't need some kind of "resume" submitted to Harley Davidson, any dealership would sell you an XR750 engine, all that was required was you paying for it, and they actually came disassembled with all kinds of finish machine work needing done like the piston crowns because everyone had their own way of doing it, Carl Patrick was the big name in assembling an engine for you, they did most teams with the exception of the factory race teams engine's. Starting in the early 80's they no longer sold complete bikes only the engine's since at that point the AMA changed the rules no longer requiring entire motorcycle's to be made by the manufacturers only the engine's, everyone wanted the rule change so they could run custom made frames and what ever kind of forks they wanted. And if you think that's expensive try pricing a race bike for just about any other form of professional motorcycle racing, it makes a flat track team look cheap, in the last couple of years before Harley switched over to the new engine an XR750 engine was only about $8,500, you didn't need a license to buy one only to race it, once again that was a disassembled engine only with finish machine work needing done.

[@alanheath7056]

Take 2 bound to crash one blind as ----

[@mariosteo]

with yamaha r6 fork