Harley-Davidson XLCR

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)

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

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