Okay, so, I’ve been messing around with this Harley-Davidson XR1200X for a while now, and I gotta say, it’s been a journey. I remember first seeing these bikes pop up on the used market and thinking, “What’s the deal with this ‘X’ model?” Turns out, it’s got some pretty sweet upgrades compared to the regular XR1200. I mean, just look at the front end.
The first thing I did was take a good look at that fork. They switched out the old 43mm non-adjustable inverted fork for a Showa 43mm Big Piston Fork, and it is fully adjustable. I’m not a suspension expert, but I could definitely feel the difference when I took it for a spin. It just felt way more planted and responsive, especially when I was pushing it a bit harder in the corners.
Next, I started browsing online to get an idea of what these things were going for. I checked out a bunch of different places, you know, the usual spots where people sell used bikes. I looked at both the listings from dealers and private sellers, just to see what the range was like. Prices were all over the place, depending on the year, condition, and all that. Some were listed for under $3,000, while others were way up there, pushing $10,000 or even more.
I ended up finding one that was a 2012 model. It wasn’t perfect, but it was in pretty decent shape, and the price was right. I made an offer, and to my luck, the seller accepted. And I want to share how I felt about the bike: “Man, I’m actually doing this!”
- Riding it home: That was a blast! I could really feel the power of that engine, and the handling was just so much better than I expected.
- First few weeks: I spent a lot of time just getting used to the bike, making small adjustments to the suspension, and getting the feel of it.
- Longer rides: Once I got comfortable, I started taking it on some longer trips. This is where the XR1200X really shines. It’s comfortable enough for cruising, but it’s also got the performance when you want to open it up.
I’ve had this bike for a while now, and I’m still loving it. It’s not the newest or the flashiest bike out there, but it’s got a certain character that I really appreciate. Plus, it’s been surprisingly reliable. I haven’t had any major issues with it, just the usual maintenance stuff.
If you’re thinking about picking up a used XR1200X, I’d say go for it. Just do your research, check out a few different bikes, and don’t be afraid to haggle on the price. And most importantly, have fun with it!
