
12/05/2025
☆Speed & Craft: Harley-Davidson XR1200 “Speedster”☆
Unveiled at the 2006 Intermot Show in Germany, the Harley-Davidson XR1200 was the sportiest Sportster ever produced. Originally, the bike was only available in Europe, but dealer demand soon brought the machine to North America, albeit in limited numbers. It was a far cry from your typical Milwaukee tractor…
The XR1200 boasted a stiff chassis and corner-carving geometry combined with 43mm inverted Showa forks, twin four-piston Nissan front brakes, lightweight cast-alloy wheels, sporty Dunlop Qualifier tires, and more.
Then there was the 90-hp 1200cc Evo V-twin, which made 18 more ponies than a regular Sportster engine thanks to a 10:1 compression ratio, Buell XB cams, new EFI throttle body, performance exhaust, and more. The bike made enough additional power (and heat) that a five-row oil cooler was added to keep temps down. All in all, the XR1200 was one of the coolest, best performing production Harleys ever made.