HARLEY DAVIDSON CAFE RACER








HARLEY DAVIDSON CAFE RACER











HARLEY DAVIDSON CAFE RACER





The most improbable contender in the superbike battle of 1977 was a racy- looking lOOOcc V-twin from Harley- Davidson, complete with headlamp fairing, all black paintwork and a serious dose of attitude. The XLCR Cafe Racer was a bold move from the Milwaukee firm, whose reputation for speed and performance had been surrendered long before, and whose range otherwise consisted only of cruisers and tourers.







Harley was keen to promote the Cafe Racer as a high-performance machine. The firm's advertisements talked excitedly of 120mph (193km/h) top speed, and about how this was the most powerful production bike that Harley had ever built. In reality the XLCR shared many components with other models in the firm's range, and was closer in performance and feel to Harley's own laid-back Sportster than to rapid V-twins from the likes of Ducati and Moto Guzzi.







HARLEY DAVIDSON CAFE RACER



Willie G.'s project





The Cafe Racer was a visually striking machine for all that. The model was created by Harley design chief Willie G. Davidson, whose Super Glide of six years earlier had put struggling Harley back on track.



As well as the small fairing, the XLCR had a large (by Sportster standards) fuel tank, a single seat that blended neatly into the rear fender, a tiny front fender, and a siamesed exhaust system with twin silencers. All were finished in black.







So was the engine itself, although apart from its cosmetic update the 998cc pushrod-operated 45- degree V-twin was identical to that of the standard XL Sportster. Gearing was one tooth lower for improved acceleration, but carburation was still by a single 38mm Keihin.



As the new exhaust system made no difference to performance, peak output remained the Sportster's 61bhp at 6200rpm.





Chassis changes centred on a new frame, which combined twin front downtubes from the Sportster with a new rear section based on that of the XR750 racebike. This was more rigid and provided a more suitable, rearward mounting point for the shocks, which bolted to a box-section swingarm that was stronger than the XL's tubular equivalent. Morris alloy wheels and a triple-disc brake system replaced the Sportster's wire spokes, single front disc and rear drum.







The Cafe Racer's riding position was sportier, too, thanks to near-flat handlebars and slightly rear- set footrests. This combined with the fairing's wind protection to make the XLCR a handy bike for highway cruising. It sat at 70mph (113km/h) feeling stable and relaxed.



Vibration became a problem above that speed, though, and the Harley lacked the power for truly competitive performance. Its top speed was not far off the claimed 120mph (193km/h), but acceleration was modest and the four-speed gearbox rather crude.







Handling was acceptable, despite a tendency to weave at high speed, and a ponderous feel in slower corners. The Cafe Racer's chassis was an improvement for Harley, who would later adopt its rear suspension arrangement on the Sportster too. But although the brakes were also praised, the XLCR's overall performance and image did not impress many performance-oriented motorcyclists.






HARLEY DAVIDSON CAFE RACER




More importantly for Harley, the Cafe Racer also held little appeal for the American riders who formed the majority of the firm's customers. This bike might have been Milwaukee's fastest ever production machine, but Harley fans preferred the laid-back Low Rider, which was introduced in the same year and was a huge success. By contrast only about 3200 Cafe Racers were built in 1977 and '78 before the model was dropped. The XLCR Cafe Racer was proof that, for Harley at least, faster did not necessarily mean better.




HARLEY DAVIDSON CAFE RACER



prices 2014



MINT              $13,000   $17,000            £10,000      £13,000

GOOD                     $11,000                              £8,500

FAIR                        $7,500                                £5,500

PROJECT       $800    $1,400                  £800            £1,200

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