1959 XLR TOP TREE

All things K & Sportster

Re: 1959 XLR TOP TREE

Postby dr dick » Fri Sep 18, 2015 8:22 pm

paul, because im to stupid to figure out who to get your pics into this reply your going to have to deal with my feeble attempt to describe the parts.
52-e54
used the short offset (or reduced trail or non parallel of you prefer) steel top tree. has 4 mount bosses.

L54-56 & 57-58 sportster uses the long offset version of the 4 boss steel tree.

59-E62 used the 2 boss steel tree.

L62- 72 uses the alum tree with the press in rubbers

73-87 uses the alum with the non press rubbers.
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the 1st alum rear mount used on production bike was for 1961 models.
that mount had a desigm change mid 62
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Re: 1959 XLR TOP TREE

Postby thefrenchowl » Sat Sep 19, 2015 4:44 am

Hi Joe, Hi Paul

After a long search in my back up hard drive...

Here's the KR XLR mid sixties alloy top tree with the old K geometry...

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10206361180221316&set=a.1241695295465.35733.1621810204&type=1&theater

(if someone out there has a clue how to copy and paste an img /img code on a flaming MacBook Pro, it will be most welcome...

Patrick
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Re: 1959 XLR TOP TREE

Postby EKHKHK56 » Sat Sep 19, 2015 12:57 pm

Hi folks, A lot of great information, thank you all for helping on this subject. Patrick, unfortunately I couldn`t open your last forward, have no idea why. I noticed that the trees in the H-D archives XLRTT photo have the early 52-53 raked style with tabs and lightweight K or KR frame. So, maybe the archive photo is a 58, or a one off for photo shoot, which wouldn`t help much nailing down the 59 part. The -59 set is not raked. EriK
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Re: 1959 XLR TOP TREE

Postby EKHKHK56 » Sat Sep 19, 2015 1:45 pm

Ok looks like the photo is a 58 by tank badges... Finally found my KR XR Competition Parts Book. -68 Shows 45738-58RA UPPER BRACKET ASSEMBLY, Aluminum 52-68 KR, KRTT, XLRTT No mention of XLR anywhere so I guess it "is included"? It appears like the alloy one gets the nod. It is great to have you all available to figure these things out. Erik
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Re: 1959 XLR TOP TREE

Postby thefrenchowl » Sat Sep 19, 2015 2:06 pm

Eric,

XLR is the engine alone...

XLR-TT is the whole bike (since an XLR as a "full bike", rigid end and no brakes was never listed by the factory).

A few XLR were made by individuals for outlaw races outside the AMA...

That 58 XLR-TT, I posted the date the photo was filed earlier in this topic...

It IS the XLR-TT prototype and as such was probably not sold as is.

A month later, the very same XLR-TT was shot as a XLC and a XLCH with the proper race tank badges, the 59 CH ones...

Patrick
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I'm the one who has to die when it's time for me to die so let me live my life the way I want to...
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Re: 1959 XLR TOP TREE

Postby EKHKHK56 » Sat Sep 19, 2015 4:39 pm

Excellent. Yes, interestingly the factory reportedly made just one XLR motorcycle but never sold to public or produced them beyond. Went deep into some files... So all other XLRs you see are actually outlaw or XLRTTs misnamed. Just to see what Harley Davidson XLR google search shows there are four or five images of some very nice looking bikes, outlaw XLRs or XLRTTs, all with steel top tree bracket. Probably outlaws. Maybe having the alloy top bracket or not is an indicator of a real XLRTT or a built one. H-D parts books listings changed on later books, with early parts. It says 52-68 KR, KRTT, XLRTT for the alloy one but it wasn't made until 58. In other words it fits or could fit back to 52 KR , etc. Pretty general application. Erik
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Re: 1959 XLR TOP TREE

Postby Simon » Tue Nov 23, 2021 10:04 pm

Courtesy of Leo
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IMG_3917.JPG
IMG_3917.JPG (104.62 KiB) Viewed 4962 times
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Re: 1959 XLR TOP TREE

Postby Simon » Tue Nov 23, 2021 10:05 pm

And more
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Re: 1959 XLR TOP TREE

Postby 44UL » Wed Nov 24, 2021 2:47 am

Great lineup! I have some of the 58RA top clamps but hadn’t known about the 58R version!
62 KR, 54 KHRM, ‘61 XLR, ‘68 XLR, original paint ‘59 CH, several 60 and 61 CH’s, two original ‘47 Servicars, 44 UL, 48 UL, 48 WL race bike(40 rwhp) 51 WR, original 68 XLCH, 65 Topper, Japanese Rikuo. Always interested in buying KR, KHRM, and XLR parts
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