Harley-Davidson XLCR

The Harley-Davidson XLCR was an American café racer motorcycle manufactured by Harley-Davidson between 1977 and 1979.

Harley-Davidson XLCR

Manufacturer	Harley-Davidson
Production	1977–1979
Engine	1000 cc OHV 45° V-twin
Bore / stroke	88.9 x 96.8mm
Compression ratio	9.0:1
Power	57 @ 6,000
Torque	67.9 @ 3,750
Transmission	4 speed
Suspension	Rear: Twin Showa shocks, adjustable preload
Rake, trail	27.8°, 5.1"
Wheelbase	59.6 in.
Weight	530 lb (240 kg) (dry) 565 lb (256 kg) (full of gas) (wet)

Some say that designer Willie G. Davidson created it from the existing XLCH Sportster, initially as his personal vehicle.^[1] The bike was actually designed by a committee of three people: Bob Modero (an engineer at Harley) Jim Haubert (Jim Haubert Engineering) hired as an independent Skunkworks contractor and Willie G. Although he was not present, this group had a strong styling influence from Dean Wixom when the three decided, as one of the starting points, to enlarge a dirt track XR750 fuel tank. Mr. Wixom was the original designer of this fuel tank.

Changed styling included the addition of a "bikini" fairing, slim front fender, reshaped fuel tank, a pillion-free saddle and unique "siamesed" two-into-two exhaust. It was "largely ignored" by consumers when launched in the 1970s, and "famously a sales flop", a "narcoleptic turner" due to long wheelbase and cruiser-like steering geometry, with "lethargic performance", but by thirty years later, had become a collectors item.

Manufacturing numbers:

1977, 1923 pcs at price of US$3595

1978, 1201 pcs at price of US$3623

1979, 9 or 10 pcs remaining parts from stock.

In 2013 a 1977 model sold for 12,000 dollars at an auction. In 2004 a 1978 model went for 9,900 at an auction in New Zealand. In 2010 a 1977 model sold for about US$20,000 by Bonhams at auction.

Specifications

Specs in the infobox are from Motorcyclist.

References

Sources

• Tooth, Phillip (July 2012), Café Americana: The Harley-Davidson XLCR
• Stein, John L. (August 5, 2010), "CAFÉ RACER—Pirates' Rides", Motorcyclist
• "Harley-Davidson XLCR", How Stuff Works, 23 September 2007
• Ernst, Kurt (May 12, 2013), "Hemmings Find of the Day – 1977 Harley-Davidson XLCR", Hemmings blog, Hemmings
• Gingerelli, Dain; Everitt, Charles; Michels, James Manning (2011), 365 Motorcycles You Must Ride, MBI Publishing Company, p. 111, ISBN 978-0-7603-3474-4
• "Harley-Davidson XLCR Cafe Racer", Sump, 2015
• Lindsay, Brooke (November 5, 2006), "Harley's Sportster: From a Wild Child to a Grown-Up in 50 Years", The New York Times, retrieved 2015-06-28, As grim as those days were in terms of performance, it was an era that produced two of the Sportsters considered most unusual and sought-after by collectors, the 1977-78 XLCR Cafe Racer and the 1983-85 XR1000. Both of these racebike-inspired models were risky departures for Harley, and both originally languished unsold in showrooms long after production concluded.
• Welsh, Jonathan (March 16, 2012), "New Era for 'Hogs?' Harley-Davidson Styling Chief To Retire", The Wall Street Journal, Dow Jones & Company, Driver's Seat blog, retrieved 2015-06-28, His road-race-styled Café Racer built from 1977 to 1979 was a departure and a famous flop. However, the sleek bikes are now coveted by collectors.
• Haubert, Jim (October 10, 2016), XLCR Project Introduction
• Siegal, Margie (October 10, 2016), The New Year Bike: 1978 Harley-Davidson XLCR. Motorcycle Classics. July/August 2016

Further reading

• Brown, Roland (21 August 2009). "Harley-Davidson XLCR". Motorcycle Classics. Retrieved August 24, 2009. The Harley-Davidson XLCR was Willie G. Davidson's one and only brush with the cafe racer set, and it created a classic for all time