1977-79 HD Cafe Racer XLCR

[Papi]

I fell in love with Willie G's creation in late 1977. For me, what the XLCR stood for was the well known HD V-Twin in the XL package, with modern styling of a Cafe bike that leaned on plastics and fiberglass of this period.

The bike in '77 just looked tough, and very bitchen. The siamese pipes had a unique sound akin to a Buell of today. Different, but similar in throaty tone.

Being a poor kid, there was no way I could afford the XLCR as I was barely scraping by with my used 71 H1 at the time. But I knew that one day, I would own one of these. It took many many years later, but the 1978 XLCR we now have is one of my favorite bikes for it's unique styling. It was a huge gamble in the AMF company days, and the lack of success pinched the company a bit. Yet, there again sits a special romance I have with my XLCR, for to me, she is still bitchen.

.

 

[Enchanter]

The bike that caused me to be a motorcyclist. I made my dad stop at the dealership just so I could get a closer look. Love that thing.

 

[Star Man]

That's a great looking XLCR. Is it restored or original? It looks just like a new bike in the photos.

I bought one new in 1978. It was the most beautiful bike I had ever seen. I loved to just look at it in the garage. Unfortunately, I ended up having a very bittersweet 9 year relationship with it. After all, it was still an AMF Harley.

 

[Papi]

That's a great looking XLCR. Is it restored or original? It looks just like a new bike in the photos.

Thank you. It's 50/50. There is still a long way to go. The Eagles are cracked now, but we just try to keep air in them. Can't have a XLCR without GY Eagles, lol. There are a few bits and bytes to still tweak. I try to use NOS parts where I can. Thankfully, on the motor side, its still an XL so it shares a lot of stuff from the XLCH which is still plentiful in NOS stuff.

And yeah, I hear ya about the AMF stuff. Bowling Pins and Beach Balls aren't the same as making a motorcycle, but they tried. They did save the company from extinction. Thankfully Vaughn Beals of AMF thought they needed to go back to their heritage when they spun it out of AMF and recreated what we know today.

 

[SFMCjohn]

I fell in love with Willie G's creation in late 1977 ... The bike in '77 just looked tough, and very bitchen ...

Hey Papi,

Beautiful motorcycle, one of my favorites, too! :ride
I guess AMF was a lot of things, but one of those things
was that they were smart enough to give Willie G
a job ... I'd say it was his work with "factory customs"
that, along with AMF, helped save the company ...

Cool bunch of bikes in the background, too! :thumbup

see you in the shop,
-- SFMCjohn

 

[Johndicezx9]

I don't hate Harley's, but the XLCR is still the only other Harley, along with the VR1000, I truly get excited about... wouldn't mind seeing HD take another shot at an up to date version.

Goodyear Eagles... niiiiice... There has to be someone making "knock offs" out there. :laughing

 

[sfo423]

My third favorite Harley (after Both XR's. The 750 being tops).