MCN overall verdictBased on the 2009 XR1200, the XR1200X is slightly more sports biased than the sports biased XR1200. Confused? Don’t be. All you have to think about is the X-model has vastly improved, multi-adjustable suspension that makes a difference when riding 187kg of American muscle on our roads. It also comes in a menacing black paint scheme with black exhausts. Engine spec remains the same as the XR1200. Just remember Harley’s idea of sports bike performance is nothing like a 600-1000cc sports machine produced in the past 20 years.
EngineThe air-cooled 1202cc is all torque – 74ftlb of it – with not a lot more horsepower to top off the lowdown punt, but then it is based on the 1200 Sportster but with higher compression and upswept, high volume 2:1:2 exhausts (see XR1200 review for full details).
Ride and HandlingThe addition of Showa pig piston forks and piggyback shocks puts the accomplished XR1200 onto another rung of the handling ladder. There’s a lot more feedback from front and rear wheels and the front end feels considerably more settled on the brakes. At the same time it is supple enough to rubbish the Queen’s crumbling highways. This means you can actually wring every last drop of performance from the XR1200X and make use of it. Or simply enjoy the slow revving nature of the bike with an improved, polished even, ride quality.
Quality and ReliabilityThe Harley-Davidson chassis range is slowly but surely getting updated. Better brakes and suspension figure highly, as per the XR1200 and XR1200X. But somewhere along the line H-D have forgotten about the simple things like why is the clutch cable flapping in the breeze; why are the footpegs and foot controls so chunky-ugly yet so loose, and so on?
source ; http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/bikereviews/searchresults/Bike-Reviews/Harley-Davidson/Harley-Davidson-XR1200X-2010-model/
