Value of a 66 XLR

[MTaylor]

I have an opportunity to swap a newer bike for a 66 XLR. The XLR does need some top end work, but I know the bike and the owner and there is nothing dodgy about it.

These bikes are so rare it's hard to get a handle on value. They are clearly more rare than a KR, but more rare doesn't always mean more valuable, and I'm not sure they are as desirable as the flatheads.

I don't have accurate numbers now, but I was trying to make a deal for this bike a few years ago, and I seem to recall there were only a half dozen or so made in 66.

Anyone have any thoughts?

[mikeslemmon]

is it XLR or XLRTT ?

[thefrenchowl]

Engines are stamped XLR but most if not all complete bikes started as XLR-TT

Mine is the 7th of 66... I think I've seen 66 XLR serials as high as 20

I have the price list for 66 somewhere, one could just buy a new engine, (KR, XLR or CR) to fit in older cycle parts, or a complete bike...

Patrick

[55panman]

Patrick, My understanding of the Harley number system is that the serial numbers of a particular model ran continually through the different variations of the model. So a particular variant of a model XL XLCH XLR was not numbered sequentially but stamped whenever it happened to be built during the run of the year ie..... 100 XLCH's 50 XLH's 2 XLR's then again 50 XLCH's 3 XLR's 30 XLH's etc. So from the numbers you would not be able to determine how many of a particular model were built in any year.

[thefrenchowl]

From 1957, KR and later XLR do not follow the normal sequence, they start by 10xx or 20xx, the next 2 digits being the number made so far...

So 57 KR 1002 is the 2nd motor made that year, 1021 the 21st etc... Some years they made more than 100 KR, so you then get 11xx or 21xx

Check HD KR race motors numbers here on official AMA programs on the Caimag forum:

http://www.caimag.com/forum/showthread.php?11735-Race-motor-numbers/page3

Patrick

[EKHKHK56]

I would like to report that a couple older restored motorcycles sold this past summer for almost $34 each. They were a KR and a KHR. They were both excellent examples, I saw them 6 years ago. Erik K

[EKHKHK56]

On the K Models the serial numbers starting 2001 would be the 1,000th one. Later, not sure when, first numbers indicated odd or even years from what I understand and read but I am not sure about that, when or if or what Models....I only study Ks pretty much... Erik K

[Hammie13]

In the matter of factory built race bikes,paperwork is EVERYTHING. If the seller is the original buyer,ask if he has ALL the paperwork,and any pictures at the of it at the track,
and of course any awards,ect. These old race bikes get top dollar at auction if you have a proven history of it being raced,and it is in race trim.

[thefrenchowl]

KR serials...

It is not me elucubrating or making it up...

These are the facts as supported by period documentation...

The even/uneven rule was also applied to H-D racers but that's about it after 1957...

As a foot note, the K was designed at the same time as a racer and a street model if not, as I suspect, as a racer 1st and a street model 2nd...

If it wasn't for the need of a new 750cc racer, the street model would never have existed

If it wasn't for the racer, the street variant would have been forgotten by all except the few of us reminiscing here with rose tinted glasses...

Most other bike makes enthusiasts know about the KR and praise it but also see the K for what it really is, an underpowered half baked idea that makes no sense except as a quick AMA entry for the race variant

History also tells me the KR lived longer and was more successful...

How can one be interested in the K but not the KR???

Don't get me wrong, I like the K a lot, but for reasons that have more to do with sound engineering, rarety, un-basta-disation/fattening as the Sportster got over the years (look at it now... should have been killed off 30 years ago...), performance potential etc...

Patrick

[mikeslemmon]

sportsters should have been replaced in 1968