Monster 1100 vs HD XR1200 - Ducati.ms

**YellowDuck** · Feb 9th, 2009, 8:48 am

Posted this in the Monster forum, but thought some folks here would be interested as well:

http://www.motorcycle.com/shoot-outs...iew-87928.html

Backhome77 · Feb 9th, 2009, 10:01 am

Apples and oranges.

I saw an XR1200 in person recently and was really disapointed. I wanted to like it too. It looks good from a distance, but up close you notice a lot of boxy lines and angles that contradict the classic inspiration. And the whole thing just looks clunky, heavy, and industrial.

If I were to go that route, I'd get a used sporty, preferrable a 1200 Roadster, and source wheels, suspension, exhaust, and a few other bits from Storz (http://www.storzperf.com/) to make my own. Cleaner, lighter, faster.

**YellowDuck** · Feb 9th, 2009, 10:15 am

I wasn't quite as put off as you were, but I know what you mean. Definitely some unfinished looking bits. And the weight is really obvious when you sit on the thing and balance it.

HD does know how to make a clean looking engine though. Those big finned jugs are beautiful, and the 45 degree V is aesthetically wonderful, even if it leaves something to be desired functionally.

Ron P · Feb 9th, 2009, 10:20 am

Having owned a Sport 1000 and now an XR1200, I can tell performance -wise there's no contest. The Ducati will beat the Harley hands down. What soured me on the Duc was the riding position. I just didn't like being hunched over all the time.

The Harley has a more relaxed riding position and if you look at it from the perpective of HD has been, it's a good bike for weekend backroad rides. It has more performance than most other HD's (V Rod excluded). I think HD could have done more to shave off some weight and add a few more ponies, though.

CopperHeadMonster · Feb 9th, 2009, 11:15 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron P

Having owned a Sport 1000 and now an XR1200, I can tell performance -wise there's no contest. The Ducati will beat the Harley hands down. What soured me on the Duc was the riding position. I just didn't like being hunched over all the time.

The Harley has a more relaxed riding position and if you look at it from the perpective of HD has been, it's a good bike for weekend backroad rides. It has more performance than most other HD's (V Rod excluded). I think HD could have done more to shave off some weight and add a few more ponies, though.

No doubt that the Duc will perform much better.. but I think the DS motor evolution is not that impressive - yes the xr has 100cc extra, but i expect a sport bike motor to have a bigger gap. Before you all tell me it is adequate - i own m900 w 944 kit - yes it is good enough.

RoxyNoDuc · Feb 9th, 2009, 11:35 am

Comparing the Duc to the HD is like comparing an Alfa Romeo to a Buick .

Ron P · Feb 9th, 2009, 11:55 am

I don't know if I'd go as far as calling the XR a Buick. From a Ducati owner's perspective, yeah, it's still a slow, heavy bike, but from a Harley perspective, it has better handling, brakes and HP without going completely to a Buell.

Harley Davidson didn't intend for the XR1200 to take on Ducati head to head. Its genesis was in the European market's desire to have an HD that could perform altlle better than other models. That's why it premiered in Europe instead of here. The initial reviews were positive and enough people expressed a desire that HD released 750 XR's to the US market.

It will may have limited appeal to the "faster faster" crowd and some of the "dyed in the chrome" folks don't look at it as a real Harley, but it is HD's acknowledgement that it needs to start appealing to a younger crowd. It's really a Sportster with more performance.

I'll put it this way - had Ducati given the Sport 1000 some saner ergonomics (higher clip-ons), I would have kept it. But Ican afford to give up a little performance to save my back and neck.

atomic · Feb 9th, 2009, 12:05 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoxyNoDuc

Comparing the Duc to the HD is like comparing an Alfa Romeo to a Buick .

More like comparing a Saab to Volvo.

I don't get this insulting nature of people on here towards Harley's. Especially from American's. You should be proud that your country is actually making something of value that people in other countries find desirable. But instead you get stupid comments like this over and over on this board. I wish someone could explain this attitude.

The Monster would get blown away by most Japanesse sport bikes. And the 2 valve air cooled twin is the same type of engine that is on the Harley. They are comparable. The Ducati is faster because it is lighter. Harley has said they build their bikes heavy because they are designed to last 20 years of use.

If you own a sport classic you dont' have cutting edge technology. I guess I could see this more from someone on a 1098 than a person who owns an air-cooled twin that has spoked wheels with tubed tires.

poolagent · Feb 9th, 2009, 12:07 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron P

I'll put it this way - had Ducati given the Sport 1000 some saner ergonomics (higher clip-ons), I would have kept it. But Ican afford to give up a little performance to save my back and neck.

The only thing that counts is that you are happy with your decision…

I would have chosen a GT1000 instead.

HD is religion for a lot of people and has got nothing to do with performance oriented sports bikes that are built for european roads…

Ron P · Feb 9th, 2009, 12:38 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by poolagent

The only thing that counts is that you are happy with your decision…

I would have chosen a GT1000 instead.

HD is religion for a lot of people and has got nothing to do with performance oriented sports bikes that are built for european roads…

HD isn't a religion for me; BMW is.

You can't discount the reason the XR1200 came into existence - the European market. The bike also attracted some non-Harley guys like me. so they did something right.

I test-rode a GT1000 and didn't like it at all. It just didn't feel right to me. I didn't like the saddle or the mirrors. And I don't find it attractive at all. But's just me.