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.
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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