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Ask the expert

Oxford (17.12.09) Ian McLeod from Harris Performance has been heavily involved in the development of the XR1200™ race bike. Here, he tells us his thoughts on the bike and the potential for the 2010 race series.

You have been heavily involved in the testing programme, which has included some BSB racing legends. How impressed have you been with the feedback?

I’ve been very impressed, but I knew it would be good. I was involved with the development of all of the bikes so I wasn’t surprised to see how competent they were. I’m not being overly confident, I’ve just been doing this for a long time and I know when a project will be successful – that’s why Harley-Davidson came to us with the project. The invitation speaks for itself.

What were your initial thoughts on the XR1200™ race bike/series?

Prior to this project, I wouldn’t have been drawn to the XR1200™ as I’m more used to working with traditional sports bikes. I’ve owned superbikes in the past and have rarely looked any further than that. However, having worked with the XR1200™, I can appreciate that we had a good base to work from.

In terms of the series itself, it’s a great concept and I’m sure it will be amazing to see a grid full of XR1200™ race bikes doing battle. It will be a unique spectacle that the BSB fans are bound to love.

Talk us through the race bike spec and development programme.

We had a good base to work from with the XR1200™, however our main priority was to improve the handling of the race bike to make it more appropriate for track use. As a result, we changed the brakes, suspension and geometry. We also gave these parts more adjustability in order for the series competitors to alter the bikes to their individual riding styles. To help increase performance, we changed the exhaust and also modified the bodywork. In total we changed around 30 components on the bike, with the intention of making it a better all-round motorsport package.

We were lucky enough to have the whole of the 2009 season to test the bike and we used that time to make sure all the changes we made were perfect. We also had the help of some racing legends, whose feedback was invaluable in the process. The response we’ve received from journalists over the past year has been very positive and that’s encouraging for the season ahead.

You have recently helped develop the road-legal version of the race bike. How do the two machines compare?

The road-legal version is pretty much the race bike with lights and plates on! We feel that we’ve got the bike to an advanced stage and customers will be able to have race performance on the road with the XR1200™. We have been able to create a fantastic machine that I’m sure people will be bowled over by.

Competitors interested in the series should visit a local dealer for further information or email xr1200trophy@rbpinternational.com

To find your local dealership click here

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