What's your take on the Buell XB9s and XB12s

[Drogen Omen]

I have heard everything from "why ride something with a rubber band" to "buell's are HD's cheap crap- knock off brand"...

Have heard that they are plagued with fuel injection problems and costing a pretty penny to convert them to a chain drive instead of the belt driven style they come out with...

Have also heard they are severely under powered for what they are advertise at...

Was looking at one on the weekend and was just wondering what your take was...

:scooter:

[jim.cox]

was just wondering what your take was...


They look to me like that nice harley motor in frame that handles and with brakes that work.

But I'm not convinced by the oil-in-swingarm, the fuel-in-frame, the rim mounted disks and the car exhaust.

Guess I'm just a luddite...

[HenryDorsetCase]

Go ride one.

I very nearly bought one instead of my present ride, but couldn't come up with the extra money required.

At real world speeds (40 -140kph) they are fantastic, handle brilliantly, and are very rewarding and entertaining to ride.

[jrandom]

Wow, you really are at the "Got a decent budget, but have no idea what I want for a first big bike" stage, aren't you?

Gotta love it.

Have fun choosing!

:2thumbsup

[HenryDorsetCase]

They look to me like that nice harley motor in frame that handles and with brakes that work.

But I'm not convinced by the oil-in-swingarm, the fuel-in-frame, the rim mounted disks and the car exhaust.

Guess I'm just a luddite...

its not like Erik Buell did all that for a lark, he can justify all of those on engineering grounds. And look where the zorsts are on the current crop of preformance sprotbikes...... looks like Erik spoke and Japan listenend.... ;)

[nodrog]

i went to buy a new XB12s the other week, and found out harley dont bring them into NZ new anymore, they only bring in the XB12ss which is the long wheelbase model :doh:

[Pwalo]

Go and take one for a ride.

Personally I'm not convinced that the XBs make a lot of sense.

The new 1125 might be interesting, but they seem to have been delayed a bit.

[Headbanger]

I would cut out and swap my left testie for one.

I know a couple of people with em, seems to suit them perfectly.

No need for naked bints in this pic, Shes pure sex.

[Big Dave]

Most fun, best cornering production bike there is.

it all works brilliantly.

My advice is to heed no comments till you have ridden a properly set up one for a decent distance.

[Badcat]

Most fun, best cornering production bike there is.

it all works brilliantly.

My advice is to heed no comments till you have ridden a properly set up one for a decent distance.

what he said!

i have an XB12X Ulysses and it's the most fun, easy to ride and competent bike i've ever owned. If you're over 6 foot - try a ulysses as well - never seen a bike so well suited to a tall rider.

ken

[avgas]

dont even test ride it
Just buy it
Bad comments on these bikes only come from those that have not ridden one.
And before you ask - no i dont have one. But its on the list of "to-dos" in next 10 to own one.
As a real world no "wank/wank" bike - its perfect.

[Ocean1]

I have heard everything from "why ride something with a rubber band" to "buell's are HD's cheap crap- knock off brand"...

Have heard that they are plagued with fuel injection problems and costing a pretty penny to convert them to a chain drive instead of the belt driven style they come out with...

Have also heard they are severely under powered for what they are advertise at...

Was looking at one on the weekend and was just wondering what your take was...

:scooter:

Probably the best value for money fun machine there is if you like semi-legal thuggery. Don't make the mistake of comparing spec's to anything else, they're so different it's irrelevant, just ride everything you can get your hands on first. And then go buy an XB12.

[Big Dave]

They look to me like that nice harley motor in frame that handles and with brakes that work.

But I'm not convinced by the oil-in-swingarm, the fuel-in-frame, the rim mounted disks and the car exhaust.

Guess I'm just a luddite...

Guess no more.

The muffler rusts. Only thing not better than conventional.

May be depending on your riding style for the brakes - for my reasonably extreme treatment - best there is. No wheel flex.

[Ocean1]

The muffler rusts. Only thing not better than conventional.

The alloy race kit ones don't. :)

[The Pastor]

Slightly off topic, but DAMN IT THE BUEL BLAST UGLY. I saw one in the flesh and it looks like a chubby POS. 500 single (i think) and so fat and plain and looks like a kitset gone wrong.

iirc, the lightning got ranked #2 overall in terms of flickablity, only being beaten by an rs250.

[Bonez]

I have heard everything from "why ride something with a rubber band" to "buell's are HD's cheap crap- knock off brand"...

Have heard that they are plagued with fuel injection problems and costing a pretty penny to convert them to a chain drive instead of the belt driven style they come out with...

Have also heard they are severely under powered for what they are advertise at...

Was looking at one on the weekend and was just wondering what your take was...

:scooter:Best thing that happened to the EVO engine.

Wish they'd bring out to NZ the single though.

[Big Dave]

The alloy race kit ones don't. :)

Aye - I've thought about it hard. Co-pilot even wants one fitted - but I don't need the racket where I live.

My tbird is pretty loud already, plus I come and go at all hours and suddenly I'm in the middle of high density. Whilst I don't hang with the neighbors neither do i particularly want to piss them off.

$4 rattle can of bbq paint. cheaper anyway.

[Big Dave]

Slightly off topic, but DAMN IT THE BUEL BLAST UGLY. I saw one in the flesh and it looks like a chubby POS. 500 single (i think) and so fat and plain and looks like a kitset gone wrong.

iirc, the lightning got ranked #2 overall in terms of flickablity, only being beaten by an rs250.

I have a pic of a nice one - chopped. Way cool. Dig it out after.

He designs for function. Sometimes at the cost of aesthetics.
The bubble streamliners are amongst the weirdest looking bikes ever built.

I find the XBs easy on the eye. Some of the tubers (as the cognoscenti refer to the tube frame models dontchaknow) not so.

[Ocean1]

Aye - I've thought about it hard. Co-pilot even wants one fitted - but I don't need the racket where I live.

My tbird is pretty loud already, plus I come and go at all hours and suddenly I'm in the middle of high density. Whilst I don't hang with the neighbors neither do i particularly want to piss them off.

$4 rattle can of bbq paint. cheaper anyway.

Plenty of plain steel zorsts around that survive just fine. Guess if I was real anal about it I'd look at getting a std one ceramic coated, shiny, last forever, could even claim to be good for an extra half a horse or so.

[nodrog]

The alloy race kit ones don't. :)

if you can still get one, apparently they arent making them anymore, but there are heaps of aftermarket options, the full micron system is cool, and its pretty cheap.

[Ocean1]

if you can still get one, apparently they arent making them anymore, but there are heaps of aftermarket options, the full micron system is cool, and its pretty cheap.

You can't. Buell came over all responsible-like, strangely, about the time of the change of ownership. Strange because the policies of the new owners are... different.

And yes, there's plenty of alternatives, just got to make sure the ECU is right for the zorst, or there's no point.

[nallac]

I would cut out and swap my left testie for one.


me to...................................
love them Buells

make mine a uylsses
in black. please

[HenryDorsetCase]

I have a pic of a nice one - chopped. Way cool. Dig it out after.

He designs for function. Sometimes at the cost of aesthetics.
The bubble streamliners are amongst the weirdest looking bikes ever built.

I find the XBs easy on the eye. Some of the tubers (as the cognoscenti refer to the tube frame models dontchaknow) not so.

some people at least are doinginteresting things with Buell Blasts: I submit,

The Blastard click (http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2008/02/21/blastard-by-gs-motor-company/)

[Drogen Omen]

So what is the overall decision on the Buell XB9s and XB12s?

Pro's- awesome handling/cornering bike, they look cool, good value for $$$... anything else?

Con's- they have a car exhaust that rust...? it has a rubber band instead of a chain, the big ass disc on front wheel looks weird... thats all i got.

Will see if i can test ride on this weekend. I see all the Buell owners ar flicking off their old Buell's on trademe at nice looking prices, I'm guessing so they can get the new 1125R when it finally gets here...

Any other thoughts guys...?

Any one have a converted one..? eg. from belt drive to chain drive...? Is it any better???

[Badcat]

Any one have a converted one..? eg. from belt drive to chain drive...? Is it any better???

why would you want to?
on the xb12 you can change the motor primary drive to the xb9 version - for 11%lower gearing.
i love the belt - no PITA
k

[nudemetalz]

Best thing that happened to the EVO engine.

Wish they'd bring out to NZ the single though.


Pretty sure Welly Motorcycles has still got the Blast.

[Big Dave]

why would you want to?
on the xb12 you can change the motor primary drive to the xb9 version - for 11%lower gearing.
i love the belt - no PITA
k

I've been off the road for a week with my first busted one.
Let go in the car park at KR.

Lots of guys do chain conversions.

I had 32,000 maintenance free km out of the belt and some shit from a west harbour clean up day got it - no intentions of changing to chain.

Still lurve the belts - slop, adjustment and lube free.

[Drogen Omen]

So belt is ok option then.

What the so called Fuel injection issues they have?

Anyone have or heard of this problem?

[Ocean1]

I've been off the road for a week with my first busted one.
Let go in the car park at KR.

Lots of guys do chain conversions.

I had 32,000 maintenance free km out of the belt and some shit from a west harbour clean up day got it - no intentions of changing to chain.

Still lurve the belts - slop, adjustment and lube free.

Interesting, I trashed one a month ago. Not that common, wonder if there's a slightly faulty batch in circulation.

But yes, average life is better than chain and maintenance is zero.


So belt is ok option then.

What the so called Fuel injection issues they have?

Anyone have or heard of this problem?

The only issue I've heard of is the occasional one needing the throttle position sensor resetting. Some reckon the ECU map could be better on warm-up but I don't notice any problems. There is an Aussie ECU that claims to be better mapped for local conditions but again, I don't have a problem with the race kit one...

[Wingnut]

I think the buells are ok - each to their own.

What I found appealing (apart from the ex handling etc) was the fact that it is different -

I like the fact its fuel is stored in the frame and that the oil is in the swingarm and that the front disc is mounted to the rim. Its good to try different things. If we didn't we would never evolve.

What I have come to realise is that no matter what bike you have - there is always gonna be those who knock it or run it down. Thing is, many who do, have never ridden one....

I thought they are ok - so I bought one.

[RantyDave]

I rode one, was OK. Handling was OK. Brakes were OK. Build quality seemed good. Hated the engine, but then I like 'em to rev - it had lots of low down torque though.

I rode an SV1000 on the same day and thought it was shite - (as a benchmark).

I think you'd need to get used to one and then you'd love it. As an aside, you rarely see them embarrassed at the track.

Dave

[Ocean1]

As an aside, you rarely see them embarrassed at the track.

Dave

That's 'cause I'm rarely at the track dude. :blink:

[Harry]

I bought a new XB12SS just over a month ago - after going into Wgtn M/Cycles on a day off to take a Harley for a ride with no intentions of buying (how often does THAT happen...). I have always had Japanese bikes, as to be frank, i have seen mates with non-Japanese machines have no end of problems - although to be fair they were always on a certain red Italian brand...

After taking out 2 Harleys - one of which was the so called 'handler' of the range (like picking the best handling shopping trolley at a supermarket), i decided that i would stick to my 04 Z1000, although i had enjoyed the raw feel and especially the sound of the Harley mill. However i was talked into giving a Buell a go, and ended up taking a demo out for the day.

I found the handling amazing, so solid (although a bit slow in turn in) and the motor fill of the character of a Harley, but it went quite well and didn't mind a bit of a rev. This may sound strange but it reminded me of the handling and ride comfort of my '03 CBR600RR, but with a bloody big and unrefined V -twin replacing the gutless down-low Honda motor. Its a similiar size to the Honda as well.

The big thing for me is that its different and if you look close, fill of clever design features, combined with some rather strange details and a few downright stupid things (its good that i have a transparent airbox cover, so i can watch the airbox fill up with water when i wash the bike, and i've lost count of the plastic ties holding bits together...)

Its also a polarising bike in the biker community, from people saying I'm mad to buy one, to many fascinated at the essential difference from the norm that this bike represents - and Harley riders wave at you (not sure how to handle that...)

[Wingnut]

and Harley riders wave at you (not sure how to handle that...)[/QUOTE]

I rarely get that!

[hospitalfood]

OK.........HAVE THE 07 XB12R AND LOVE IT ! I prefer the look of the R to the S. DONT GET THE XB9 !!!

put the race computer in mine and got a factory race pipe second hand, better low and high end but feels like I lost a bit of mid range. for round town riding I would recommend standard set-up. if you change the pipe you need to get a race computer or a gadget that makes it possible to re-program the standard computer. heaps of info on buell forums about this.

the belt is great, no slop between gas on and gas off.
downside is gravel can break it if it gets in, but I have one hole in my belt from a small stone at present and its not a problem.

I would not worry about the pipe rust, it wont happen overnight. no biggie.

ride one, they are fun and cool and sound great and go round corners.
every time I stop somebody says nice bike, and I say thanks ( and mean it )

[discotex]

I think you'd need to get used to one and then you'd love it. As an aside, you rarely see them embarrassed at the track.


Except by how much gas they drink... You'll be needing a jerry can to get through a trackday. That 1200cc twin drinks gas when the throttle is wide open!

[Rashika]

Except by how much gas they drink... You'll be needing a jerry can to get through a trackday. That 1200cc twin drinks gas when the throttle is wide open!

really? Never noticed it on mine... always cheaper to fill than most of the bikes around me. And yes thats at the track and the road.

belt drive? frkn fantastic... what chain lube? Costly... errr not. Way cheaper for parts than other bikes I have had.

really if you believe what others say about them and not try yourself you are missing out. Still I wouldn't have a 9, nor an S... its the R the whole way for me ;)

[discotex]

really? Never noticed it on mine... always cheaper to fill than most of the bikes around me. And yes thats at the track and the road.

belt drive? frkn fantastic... what chain lube? Costly... errr not. Way cheaper for parts than other bikes I have had.

really if you believe what others say about them and not try yourself you are missing out. Still I wouldn't have a 9, nor an S... its the R the whole way for me ;)

Interesting. Wonder if that's the micron exhaust at work. Went down to MotoTT last week with my mate who has a Buell XB12SS. He hit reserve with two sessions to go. I think we'd done about 100km at that point. Had to pop down to the gas station and fill up. He was in group 1 (fast expert) though so was pushing it pretty hard.

Very cool bikes. I've never ridden one but I love the crazy looks and design. The sound with the full micron race headers and can is mean too. Much better than stock. Pops and backfires like mad. :rockon:

Such a perfect design for city and twisty riding. Seems to handle itself really well on the track aside from the lack of top speed down the straight.

[Big Dave]

The 9 doesn't have the same torque as the 12 but it revs a lot sweeter.

City-X is superb.

I get 240km before the fuel light comes on every time on the Xb12X- and there are 61km left when that happens

DAMHIK

[Ocean1]

Interesting. Wonder if that's the micron exhaust at work. Went down to MotoTT last week with my mate who has a Buell XB12SS. He hit reserve with two sessions to go. I think we'd done about 100km at that point. Had to pop down to the gas station and fill up. He was in group 1 (fast expert) though so was pushing it pretty hard.

Never had less than 180k to the light from my R, and that's got Buell's race kit installed. Think the SS has an couple of extra litres too, if he only got 100k then I'd suspect there's summat wrong with it.

[Big Dave]

Article: Buell City X
Dear Ed,

The new recording equipment works a treat and I talked through the rides as they happened.

Thank you for making the Buell Press bikes available. After hours and hours of rigorous ‘testing’ around the City of Sails and Environs detailed transcript follows.

Hehehehehehehehehehehehe.
Bwahahahahahahahahahahaah!
Hehehehehehehehehehe.
I’m doing THAT again!!!
Yeeee harrrrrrr.
Comin’ Through. Woooohooooo!
Hehehehehhehhheehehehheheheheh.

Thanks again for the opportunity.

Big Dave.

Ends.



Oh, if life were that simple! After a series of heavyweight cruisers the Ed let me off the leash at the fleet of Buell press bikes.

Subsequently I completely smitten with the Lightning XB9SX.

http://web.mac.com/david_cohen_design/Site/Index/Entries/2007/6/19_Article%3A_Buell_City_X_files/PICT4065.jpg

‘The urban streetfighter is loaded with rugged style. Powered by a 984cc Thunderstorm® air/oil/fan cooled, Fuel-injected 45° V-Twin; you’ll be ready for anything the city throws your way.’

That’s what the Buell web site told me.

I disagree slightly. I actually spent a most of my time on this bike SEARCHING for ‘what the City threw my way.’

I haven’t has as much ‘silly’ fun on a motorcycle.

It starts when you first jump on it. It feels not so much like ‘mounting’ a machine, it’s so small and compact and minimal, that it is more akin to attaching a motor to your body. (Or ‘Sticking one to your butt’ as one of my one of my cultured American friends paraphrased.)

And as lovely a sweet revving, gem of a ‘compressor’ motor it is it isn’t the outstanding feature of the bike.

That plaudit goes to the way it handles, turns and corners with simply outstanding control.

It can make a mundane trip for the milk a giggle a minute.

Not very comfortable for a large man - but who cared! I loved playing on it and play I did.http://web.mac.com/david_cohen_design/Site/Index/Entries/2007/6/19_Article%3A_Buell_City_X_files/PICT4030.jpg

I didn't find it as easy to stunt and do tricks on as the 1200cc versions, but I found myself careening down dead end streets so I could do repeated cranked over laps of the turning circle.

I was scouting the city with the same eye as a skateboarder. Something to jump - a cool ramp, anything out of the unusual to challenge gravity and make me laugh on the inside.

You just hurl it into U-turns or around roundabouts (or about the very late night mall car park) - with an enormous grinning confidence.

Counter steering loops of cul-de-sacs, around the industrial areas, jumping off gutters or launching it off deserted car park ramps and squeezing through obstacles and crossing courtyards and tearing up the vacant blocks and exploring the grunge parts of the city and, and, and…

A barrel full of monkeys in a motorcycle.

http://web.mac.com/david_cohen_design/Site/Index/Entries/2007/6/19_Article%3A_Buell_City_X_files/PICT4020.jpg

The overall length of the bike is exactly ‘Big Dave’ - 1,950mm, - a proportion of that is the overhanging rear guard and its ‘Cheese grater’ – a part that most owners will remove that as soon as the bike is WoF-ed.

More notably the wheelbase is only 1320mm.

Combine this with steep rake, centralised mass, huge lean angles, Pirelli Scorpion Sync Tyres, some trick 3 way adjustable Showa suspension at both ends and it is some of the best fun around town, sitting down, standing up, cranked over, one wheel or two.

Front brakes are Buell’s familiar rim mounted front ZTL-type brake, 6-piston, fixed calliper, 375 mm single-sided, inside-out, stainless steel, floating rotor which produces effortless two finger stoppies and are perfectly matched to the flick-able balance of the machine.

Quite the easiest bike to balance at low speed I’ve ever ridden too.

http://web.mac.com/david_cohen_design/Site/Index/Entries/2007/6/19_Article%3A_Buell_City_X_files/PICT0048.jpg

Experienced pilots will find they can sit almost stationary for lengthy periods before the need to put a foot down – even in heavy traffic, so low down and so well balanced is the mass.

The upright seating position and reasonably moderately tall saddle height have an off road sort of feel. It encouraged me to ride the City X more like a mountain bike. (I took it around some of my favourite tracks and paths).

Buell claim 83 horsepower from the 900 version. It doesn’t have the same twist the throttle stand up torque wheelies and ‘schtonk’ as the 1200 version – but it feels like its legs are sweeter for longer than the bigger bore.

It’s quite happy working around its 7,400 rpm maximum and has plenty of go around town. Due to hauling a moderate 177kg dry while developing 86nm of torque at 5,600 rpm it’s got some quite tasty V-twin pull down low – in a rollerskate.

‘Funny as’, and quite exhilarating.

Freeway and open road blasts were just as much fun.

The bike felt surprisingly (considering the geometry) solid, planted and rather smooth on the freeway.

The 900 is not as prone to the paint shaker impersonation at idle as the 1200, but like the larger version, it’s as sweet as a nut when on song.

http://web.mac.com/david_cohen_design/Site/Index/Entries/2007/6/19_Article%3A_Buell_City_X_files/PICT0119.jpg

Lynita fitted on the pillion ‘seat’ and found it ‘nice and close to the Hippie’ when they both hopped aboard. Co-pilot looked at what was left with me on it and walked back inside.

As you can imagine the sight of a gorilla taller than the bike is long has some comic consequences, so while Lynita was trying the bike on I drafted her to model the test ride pics.

She enjoyed it as much as I did. When I prized her off it I spent even more hours on it – see transcript and it was with more than usual regret I handed it back to the lads at AMPS.

The ed commented he doesn’t like the noise of the fan after shutoff (It runs quite loudly after shutoff – like a car’s) – I found it’s only a temporary niggle and after you have lived with if for a few days/weeks it becomes far less noticeable. Otherwise, just about everything in the design and execution of the bike worked for me as an Urban vehicle.

http://web.mac.com/david_cohen_design/Site/Index/Entries/2007/6/19_Article%3A_Buell_City_X_files/PICT0068.jpg

The motor generates its torque and usable power in the first half of the rev range is great for city work. It will pull decent speeds on the on ramp and carves up a Sunday afternoon in the hills with just as much glee.

The stop-turn-go-flick-able handling hit my gravity spot perfectly.

The dual-sport-ish tyres are ideal for coping with the run-off, wash-outs pot holes, foliage, pebble strewn laneways and detritus that the Kiwi urban environment can throw in its path.

It’s only a cylinder wide and if your shoulders fit – so does the bike, which leads to even further what’s-up-that-laneway exploration or effortless dispensing with lines of traffic.

With its belt drive and minimal servicing requirements all there is to do is check the oil and ride it.

I found it an attractive looking bike with real attitude and street cred.

http://web.mac.com/david_cohen_design/Site/Index/Entries/2007/6/19_Article%3A_Buell_City_X_files/PICT0078.jpg

If you live in one of the big cities and spend most of your time riding in an urban setting – drop in to a Buell dealer and throw a leg over a City X.

If you ‘get it’, I found one to be sensible, grin-a-minute, fun.

http://web.mac.com/david_cohen_design/Site/Index/Entries/2007/6/19_Article%3A_Buell_City_X_files/shapeimage_2.jpg

[Waylander]

if you can still get one, apparently they arent making them anymore, but there are heaps of aftermarket options, the full micron system is cool, and its pretty cheap.
Looks like horse shit in person and they have to cut into the belt guard on the swing arm in order to make room for the longer outlets, even on the longs.

These however look very nice.
http://www.r-r-customizing.de/shop_b_eng/index.html?target=p_133.html&lang=en-us



As for my opinion, if you're going to get one, get the 12. Felt more stable in a straight line than the 9 did on the open road and I rode the 12 on a day with bad crosswinds. And cornering was more assertive. Didn't have to feather the throttle as much to get it to stick to a line.

[discotex]

Never had less than 180k to the light from my R, and that's got Buell's race kit installed. Think the SS has an couple of extra litres too, if he only got 100k then I'd suspect there's summat wrong with it.

Mmmm dunno.. Open road and city is more like your kinda of numbers. Faulty sender on the reserve maybe?

Anyway.. For anyone thinking of buying a Buell (or who already owns one)

P0UUnNjPzX0

[Rashika]

The day we raced the R at a BEARS meet I got around 160 max out of the tank, and that was full on racing, not a track day, with 2 different racers in 2 classes. About what you'd expect for hard out racing.
I mean to say 14 litres aint very much really!

Open road is different, it would be around 200 before reserve with somewhere in the vicinity of 60-80kms left, not quite sure cos there is always a few litres left when i full up, even at 250kms reading! Always less that the Tuono and the Guzzi to fill up... could be riders style maing the difference a bit as well.

And mine is race kitted, factory race kitted, dunno what they call em.

[madbikeboy]

My 2 cents...

I like 4 cylinder litre bikes. The same way a crack whore likes drugs. If I could wean myself off the horsepower, I'd buy an XB9S. My mate Phil has one - it's massively underpowered in comparison to scoot, but it's a lot more fun. It turns in really well. The front wheel is full of helium. It's compact, and kind of neat and sexy.

You feel upright, and this combined with high wide bars allows you to tip the bike in either direction using telepathy (no push required). The brakes aren't all that great, neat to look at though. And as an intellectual experience, the bike is novel and well thought out.

I know that I'm always keen to swap bikes when Phil is around, and I smile when I do ride the Buell.

It's not so wonderful on long trips. Being naked is cool for home life, but I'm always put off by the whole windblast thing. The gixer is a world of comfort and quiet in comparison, a big comfy armchair in the quiet corner of the room. Riding the Buell in the rain is like being hosed by the fire department...

[Big Dave]

My 2 cents...

I like 4 cylinder litre bikes. The same way a crack whore likes drugs.

same here - the problem now is unless you go to the track your licence ends up looking like one too.

Having all the schtick in the first third is better for a street bike. The fun isn't as expensive.

Naked = HTFU. :headbang:

;-)

[Ocean1]

My 2 cents...

I like 4 cylinder litre bikes. The same way a crack whore likes drugs. If I could wean myself off the horsepower, I'd buy an XB9S. My mate Phil has one - it's massively underpowered in comparison to scoot, but it's a lot more fun. It turns in really well. The front wheel is full of helium. It's compact, and kind of neat and sexy.

You feel upright, and this combined with high wide bars allows you to tip the bike in either direction using telepathy (no push required). The brakes aren't all that great, neat to look at though. And as an intellectual experience, the bike is novel and well thought out.

I know that I'm always keen to swap bikes when Phil is around, and I smile when I do ride the Buell.

It's not so wonderful on long trips. Being naked is cool for home life, but I'm always put off by the whole windblast thing. The gixer is a world of comfort and quiet in comparison, a big comfy armchair in the quiet corner of the room. Riding the Buell in the rain is like being hosed by the fire department...

Yes, I’ve often got to beat my mates off mine after a pit stop, says a lot eh?

As for horsepower? It’s bullshit, the combination of an almost inapplicable measurement unit and marketing hype. Oh a tricked out IL4 will usually beat a similar sized twin in the same state of tune on a ¼ mile, but not by much. And who cares? unless you’re racing nobody’s restricting your capacity, what counts is how useable it is.

It’s generally accepted that one of the advantages of a V twin is their ability to get power down earlier out of a corner. I’m hardly qualified to comment on racing technique but I certainly notice that when riding with my mates big IL4s, what I lose on the longer straights I make up for coming out of the next corner.

The only thing I’d change on my R might be the bar height, I’m tall and not only do I find it difficult to get the weight off my wrists but I feel I’ve got less leverage on the bars than I’d like. You can get a different top triple clamp which moves them up 1” and back 1/½”, maybe I’ll try that.

I’m not about touring, but if I was I’d be seriously considering a Ulysses.

[Big Dave]

And they are also the easiest 1200cc bikes to
<img src="http://homepage.mac.com/david_cohen_design/.Pictures/misc2/stunt_600px.jpg">

by far.

[madbikeboy]

same here - the problem now is unless you go to the track your licence ends up looking like one too.

Having all the schtick in the first third is better for a street bike. The fun isn't as expensive.

Naked = HTFU. :headbang:

;-)

Yeah, you have a point Big Dave. Bling for you. I'm amazed to still have a licence. Soon I'll be sharing a jail cell with David Bain's ex - Bubba... "No officer, I wasn't aware that I was doing 162kph - I was still in first..."

The faster hype thing is all bollocks - 150 plus hp on the street is redundant. I read the following quote off a website earlier, kind of puts things in perspective...

"Literbikes are hard to ride. I remember Kevin Schwantz telling me he'd rather ride the GSX-R750 at Willow—because the GSX-R1000 intimidates him. And Eddie Lawson telling me there might be a few people who can ride an R1 to its potential on the street—but that he wasn't one of them. Now I don't feel so bad.
" Dexter Ford, Motorcyclist.com, on the 2004 CBR1000.

But, don't think for a second that I could live without my Gixer... :)

[madbikeboy]

[QUOTE=Ocean1;1461411]
It’s generally accepted that one of the advantages of a V twin is their ability to get power down earlier out of a corner. I’m hardly qualified to comment on racing technique but I certainly notice that when riding with my mates big IL4s, what I lose on the longer straights I make up for coming out of the next corner.

QUOTE]

You can see a v-twin actually twisting under the torque, the back wheels sort of pulses when you're following closely out of a bend; it's good for ripping stones out of the tarmac. The torque curve is fat and progressive, the hp of an IL4 builds and then goes "HOLY SHIT". I think the V-twins inspire confidence.

For the record, once mostly upright, the v-twin XB9S generally goes backwards in comparison to scoot, but it's not really a fair comparison with more than double the ponies...

Bling for you too.

[Big Dave]

Yeah - I can't say enough good things about the 08 Hyabusa I just had.

Nothing short of brilliant all round bike - but man, I had it for a week and had 2 lucky moments in the $300 range.

[madbikeboy]

Yeah - I can't say enough good things about the 08 Hyabusa I just had.

Nothing short of brilliant all round bike - but man, I had it for a week and had 2 lucky moments in the $300 range.

I like the old Busa's, they're a neat bike. Haven't ridden the new one, it would be a BAD idea for me to go near it... The orange is pretty neat. Go on, tell us what it's like... :Punk:

[Big Dave]

The boss is doing the test.
I had it for some photos and rode it to Paeroa.

Quick report:

Maaaaaaaaaaaan!

:banana:

[El Dopa]

Something that has really put me off considering a Buell for my next bike is the lack of crash protection.

Yes, I'm making a mountain out of molehill, don't crash in the first place blah blah blah, but there's something about two small rubber pucks glued to the frame that I find really offputting. Even the MT-01 (a low-sales-volume naked muscle bike with a similar sort of layout) has a decent range of armoured engine covers and sliders available.

Sorry, just find it really off-putting for some reason.

[Waylander]

Something that has really put me off considering a Buell for my next bike is the lack of crash protection.

Yes, I'm making a mountain out of molehill, don't crash in the first place blah blah blah, but there's something about two small rubber pucks glued to the frame that I find really offputting. Even the MT-01 (a low-sales-volume naked muscle bike with a similar sort of layout) has a decent range of armoured engine covers and sliders available.

Sorry, just find it really off-putting for some reason.
Mate that part of the frame is pretty much the widest part of the bike sans the bars. I you lay it on it's side it will be resting on the pegs, bars and that spot.
Not saying it shouldn't use something else to keep the pegs up but if nothing else I'm sure an engineering shop should be able to make you a few brackets to mount skate wheels too.

[Big Dave]

Something that has really put me off considering a Buell for my next bike is the lack of crash protection.



Nah - they crash exceptionally well. The parts are really cheap if you do - but the frame pucks work really well.

I saw a 12X front wheel tuck at 90kph right in front of me and it cartwheeled into a culvert. Cosmetic damage only It finished the ride.

I've dropped mine and not put a scratch on it.

[Wingnut]

The 9 doesn't have the same torque as the 12 but it revs a lot sweeter.

City-X is superb.

I get 240km before the fuel light comes on every time on the Xb12X- and there are 61km left when that happens

DAMHIK

No doubt it would be exactly the same on my SS

Always wondered how far it would go once the fuell light comes on...

Nice

[ajturbo]

So belt is ok option then.

What the so called Fuel injection issues they have?

Anyone have or heard of this problem?
i think you should go to
ABR....http://www.aussiebuellriders.info/phpBB3/index.php...

this site will answer all and any questions you may have.

also "Ocean 1" was saying that he doesn't tour....
i usally do long trips 3-4k at a stint... great bike still !! and you can cruise or hoon...

would not change the belt
have a race pipe.. other people tell me it is loud... but as i have ear plugs... i think they are telling lies!

yes i have hit the rev limiter in top.. 2 up... so what?... it is not as fast at the R1/R6..etc..

but it SUITS MY RIDING STYLE...

[Subike]

i think you should go to
ABR....http://www.aussiebuellriders.info/phpBB3/index.php...

this site will answer all and any questions you may have.

why send him to another forum?.
dont we have enough local knowlage in this forum to answer him with authority?
Kiwis cant be that bad at understanding their rides, that they needs to get some other persons to tell them what to look for
Seek first, the information, from the hallowed halls of ,KB

[ajturbo]

No doubt it would be exactly the same on my SS

Always wondered how far it would go once the fuell light comes on...

Nice
woops... my light went on at 89 MILES the other day.... hehehehehe

[98tls]

why send him to another forum?.
dont we have enough local knowlage in this forum to answer him with authority?
Kiwis cant be that bad at understanding their rides, that they needs to get some other persons to tell them what to look for
Seek first, the information, from the hallowed halls of ,KB Whilst i admire your loyalty to KB mate if i need info on any of the three bikes i own i to prefer to go to a forum devised for said bike,generally full of people all over the world who ride/modify/eat/breath/sleep said bike,if nothing else it saves wading through pages of crap posted by guys that "have a mate that owned one" or "my sisters best mates boyfriend reckons" etc etc.

[Subike]

Whilst i admire your loyalty to KB mate if i need info on any of the three bikes i own i to prefer to go to a forum devised for said bike,generally full of people all over the world who ride/modify/eat/breath/sleep said bike,if nothing else it saves wading through pages of crap posted by guys that "have a mate that owned one" or "my sisters best mates boyfriend reckons" etc etc.

Yes I agree with you .
I guess the Kiwi Ego can get in the way of real facts

[98tls]

Yes I agree with you .
I guess the Kiwi Ego can get in the way of real facts Still,nothing wrong with a bit of ego:yes:

[ajturbo]

Still,nothing wrong with a bit of ego:yes:
or a TL....

[Big Dave]

'Dave: I know Erik will enjoy meeting you and having the opportunity to visit.'

Haven't decided opening gambit yet.

What do you need to know?

[Rashika]

It's not so wonderful on long trips. Being naked is cool for home life, but I'm always put off by the whole windblast thing. The gixer is a world of comfort and quiet in comparison, a big comfy armchair in the quiet corner of the room. Riding the Buell in the rain is like being hosed by the fire department...
done plenty of looooong trips and found it more relaxing than the cruiser i used to own, and dont have any issue with wind blast (except in major winds and i see the faired bikes struggling even more then) ...guess everyone is different



The only thing I’d change on my R might be the bar height, I’m tall and not only do I find it difficult to get the weight off my wrists but I feel I’ve got less leverage on the bars than I’d like. You can get a different top triple clamp which moves them up 1” and back 1/½”, maybe I’ll try that.

I’m not about touring, but if I was I’d be seriously considering a Ulysses.
maybe try the clipons? Mine came with them, and they are very adjustable to the very short and tal. Ony prob is that it does limit the turning circle (touches the fairing on the R model ona full turn)


No doubt it would be exactly the same on my SS

Always wondered how far it would go once the fuell light comes on...

Nice
buggered if i know... and i have cut it fine at times. I reckon I'd prob get around 80kms more, damn near half a tank more!



would not change the belt
have a race pipe.. other people tell me it is loud... but as i have ear plugs... i think they are telling lies!

its ferkn louder than mine ya BASTARD! But mine sounds sweeter :bleh:


'Dave: I know Erik will enjoy meeting you and having the opportunity to visit.'

Haven't decided opening gambit yet.

What do you need to know?

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo :eek: tell us more... JEALOUS!!!!

[Waylander]

Hey Dave, you had a chance with the 1125R yet?

'Dave: I know Erik will enjoy meeting you and having the opportunity to visit.'

Haven't decided opening gambit yet.

What do you need to know?
How about does he plan on making an S version of the 1125R.

[Big Dave]

Rash - the 1125r launch is in Aus next month and Mr B and I have a mutual friend.

Waylander - isn't it already an 's' ?

[buellbabe]

Why a Buell? Cos its just about the most fun you can have with your clothes on!
I have been riding a Buell for over 8 years now and its become an obsession. Every time I ride it I fall in love with it more.

Why direct to a Buell forum? Sorry Subike but really...pretty obviouys eh? I happen to belong to that forum and it rocks!
ANYthing you wanna know about Buells you can find it out there.

Fuel economy? Ditto what Rashika said. When I am out riding with other makes and models we always fill at the same time (for convenience sake) and my bike is ALWAYS the most economical on gas.

Touring? Hell I do a LOT of touring. OK so I ride an X1 not an XB but I have done roughly 4000kms in 10 days on an XB12R and totally loved it... in fact when I got back on my own bike I decided that I actually preferred the lower bars!

Handling? They f**king ROCK! They may not have as much top end but if you like having fun in the corners then this is the bike for you!

The Buell Firebolt range is bloody great! Yes I have also heard conflicting info regarding the availability of '08 12R models. I think it would be a real shame if they discontinued them in favour of the 1125R.
However my sources tell me that they ARE available and in fact I happen to know that there are 2 '08 models in the country.

[Waylander]

Rash - the 1125r launch is in Aus next month and Mr B and I have a mutual friend.

Waylander - isn't it already an 's' ?
Yea that's why it's called 1125R
What I mean is will it come out without the gay front fairing thing.

[Drogen Omen]

Hey all thanks for your input and have signed up with the www.aussiebuellriders.info forum also to try and find answers to my questions.

I know everyone seems to like the gixers and R1’s even got a lecture from a sales guy at TSS in the Hutt about them he told me to stay well away from the Buell's as they were problematic and under powered and would get blitzed by an R1 or a even a 750gixer. but yeah if i wanted to lose my license and race people every were i go I would start looking at one of those but it’s the compact short body of the Buell XB9s and XB12s that I like. It’s just personal preference I don’t really like long bodied speedy bikes that are world championship wining sports bikes

I keep an open mind about all bikes and keep my criticisms to myself.

One thing I do like to know is the Faults the bikes come with and what people have done to fix them... Like the fuel injection issues that they supposedly have and apparently they also have rust issues but what bike doesn’t... I want to know what solutions you veterans have come up with to fix them.

:Offtopic: Any way I have had to put off my Buell purchase for a while as I have had some bad luck this last week, crashed my DR350 and insurance being declined on it as I crashed it doing an off-road adventure ride then some bastard sideswiped me on my wife’s GN250 on the way home from work on Thursday (and no I wasn’t riding down the middle, also no major damage just a bent clutch lever as it scraped down the side of the guys car when I slammed on my brakes). Then got home and noticed the pack rack on the back of the bike had fallen off (I’m guessing due to the accident). Then walked inside and turned on my computer to a puff of smoke and flying sparks and a fried video card resulting from the problem (so no gaming for me over the 4 days the wife is away overseas)… all this in the space of a week… I put it down to God taking a major DUMP on my… must have been my turn I guess… :crybaby:

Back to Buell’s any way what other info can you give me???

[Rashika]

bummer about all the badluck, just not your week I guess.
Funny trying to think of some faults... and I cant!
Prob the only thing i changed was the clutch cos it used to be very heavy but that changed after the 04 models apparently and I now have a hydraulic clutch that I LOVE!
I've riden a few other bikes, R6, GSXR K4, Tuono, Moto Guzzi, MV, Duc Monster, Triumph Daytona and assorted other jappas, and the Buell just still does it for me everytime! Cant really explain it...

[ajturbo]

.

Fuel economy? Ditto what Rashika said. When I am out riding with other makes and models we always fill at the same time (for convenience sake) and my bike is ALWAYS the most economical on gas.

.


hey Rashika.... it funny how quickly the mind goes when one turns 40....

should we ask BB just WHO uses LESS fuel EACH time her and i fill up???

or is it a age thing and not talk about it???

[ajturbo]

Hey all thanks for your input and have signed up with the www.aussiebuellriders.info (http://www.aussiebuellriders.info) forum also to try and find answers to my questions.

I know everyone seems to like the gixers and R1’s even got a lecture from a sales guy at TSS in the Hutt about them he told me to stay well away from the Buell's as they were problematic and under powered and would get blitzed by an R1 or a even a 750gixer.
Back to Buell’s any way what other info can you give me???

shame about the luck there matey!!:doh:

but yes the sales rep guy is right the r6/r1... most 750's should go faster..

but who cares?....
problematic???... the only concern that i have/had was the heavey clutch ( have an 04) but like Rashika i have hydrulic clutch fitter ( she coppied me)
the 900, to me, is under powered... but that is just me, i know that they are suppose to be better on the race track due to the extra revs it pulls..

you need a good battery to start them and that is it!

[Boob Johnson]

Buell's are pieces of crap according to a friend of mine. Has he riden one? Yes, many, many more than most. Why? Because he used to work for the company on the production line putting them together. A big pile of steaming pony poo. And the owner of Image motorcycles here in NP also reckons they are crap, says they are terrible coming out of corners, worse than anything he had ridden.

A mate & I went to Helengrad (Wellington) on Friday to trade his 2006 955 Daytona & he rode a Buell, you wanna see his face when he got back. Yep you guessed it, biggest pile of pony poo. Even the salesman at the shop agreed they were crap lol :laugh:

[Big Dave]

Buell's are pieces of crap according to a friend of mine. Has he riden one? Yes, many, many more than most. Why? Because he used to work for the company on the production line putting them together. A big pile of steaming pony poo. And the owner of Image motorcycles here in NP also reckons they are crap, says they are terrible coming out of corners, worse than anything he had ridden.

A mate & I went to Helengrad (Wellington) on Friday to trade his 2006 955 Daytona & he rode a Buell, you wanna see his face when he got back. Yep you guessed it, biggest pile of pony poo. Even the salesman at the shop agreed they were crap lol :laugh:



This Kiwi Rider tester also endorses the results attached.

[Zuki Bandit]

I would cut out and swap my left testie for one.

I know a couple of people with em, seems to suit them perfectly.

No need for naked bints in this pic, Shes pure sex.
Have to agree in a big way there Headbanger. Freakin awesome lookin machine aye!!!:Punk:

[Big Dave]

I can't recall 'Bint' used other than in Python.

[ajturbo]

Buell's are pieces of crap according to a friend of mine. Has he riden one? Yes, many, many more than most. Why? Because he used to work for the company on the production line putting them together. A big pile of steaming pony poo. And the owner of Image motorcycles here in NP also reckons they are crap, says they are terrible coming out of corners, worse than anything he had ridden.

A mate & I went to Helengrad (Wellington) on Friday to trade his 2006 955 Daytona & he rode a Buell, you wanna see his face when he got back. Yep you guessed it, biggest pile of pony poo. Even the salesman at the shop agreed they were crap lol :laugh:

was going to bite .. but...

[hospitalfood]

heaps of fun till you lose your licence

[Big Dave]

was going to bite .. but...

Just a wind up - I tried some 'clever' answers and they came across as angry - which I ain't.

Just state the fax jack.

[Headbanger]

I can't recall 'Bint' used other than in Python.


Great word for use on forums where referring to one of our lovely ladies as bitch or a whore would just be bad manners.:wacko:




BINT-English slang for a whore or bitch. Similar to a tart.

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=bint

[Big Dave]

Great word for use on forums where referring to one of our lovely ladies as bitch or a whore would just be bad manners.:wacko:





http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=bint


Oh yes - I had it - just not oft used.


<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/o76WQzVJ434"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/o76WQzVJ434" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>

[Boob Johnson]

This Kiwi Rider tester also endorses the results attached.
They also said the Titantic was a fantastic boat :innocent:


I haven't ridden one, will do when the time comes but only passing on what has been said by the previously stated. The clincher for me is me mate who used to put the damn things together, if anyone has a solid knowledge of the bikes then he does

[Waylander]

They also said the Titantic was a fantastic boat :innocent:


I haven't ridden one, will do when the time comes but only passing on what has been said by the previously stated. The clincher for me is me mate who used to put the damn things together, if anyone has a solid knowledge of the bikes then he does
Funny thing is if he has a problem with the build quality, maybe he should have done a better job putting them together.

[James Deuce]

They also said the Titantic was a fantastic boat :innocent:


I haven't ridden one, will do when the time comes but only passing on what has been said by the previously stated. The clincher for me is me mate who used to put the damn things together, if anyone has a solid knowledge of the bikes then he does


Bet you haven't ridden the Titanic either.

Go and try one, and if you don't like it then you have a platform to discuss from. I've ridden exactly 3 Buells and they all had me counting the change in my coin purse. If I've won powerball, there'll be a TT in Garage in a flash.

I think the polarised "opinion" is symptomatic of there being two Kiwi schools of thought on Buell in general:

1. I've ridden/owned/own one and it was/is unbelievable fun.
2. My mate said, "sucks", and he should know, and it has a shitty HD engine and gearbox, and the build quality is shit, and anyway what's the point of a sprotsbike that won't do 300km/hr?

You can trawl through KB and every thread on Buells can be broken down into those two schools of thought.

it's kind of sad, but then I've turned from a sprots bigot into someone who struggles to say a "bad" word about any bike. Most of the bad words I say revolve around sprotsbikes changing from sporting motorcycles to psuedo-racebikes with lights.

[buellbabe]

hey Rashika.... it funny how quickly the mind goes when one turns 40....

should we ask BB just WHO uses LESS fuel EACH time her and i fill up???

or is it a age thing and not talk about it???

Yes yr memory certainly HAS failed... perhaps if you didn't underfil ?... Quit while yr ahead AJ ...

As for the comments about Buells being a pile of poo.

I have heard the EXACT OPPOSITE from professionals so I guess it really IS a matter of personal taste.

Cornering issues??? well thats a first! maybe that persons particular riding style just wasn't suited to a bike that has been acknowledged worldwide as one of the top cornering bikes...

[SixPackBack]

Circumstances are forcing me of the 'rice rocket' and onto a naked, I guess that means its time to go 'shopping'

After riding black buells 12R I came away with two impressions, the fooker revs to what feels like 500rpm [but had plenty of power] and the small nimble size. No question it handled better than the GSXR. So, a few questions!

Can anyone confirm the maintenance intervals and likely costs? I suspect most maintenance to be straight forward and accomplished easily by a competent? [by contrast shim adjustment on the GSXR is a pain in the arse!]

Expected longevity of powerplant? Travelling over 30K a year I expect to be able to get 120K before rebuild, is this possible? has anyone onsite accomplished these sort of K's.

[buellbabe]

Service is every 4000kms. That may sound frequent but the 2 inbetweens are small. Basically the services work on a 16,000km rotation with 4 & 12 being pretty small, costs me about $200 if I am not doing anything extra. 8 is medium and 16 is the big one, expect to pay between $4 & 600 for that one depending on the labour rate.

My X1 was the first Buell model to come out with the ecm and fuel injection. The next service is coming up and its 108,000km. Bike is going like a dream...totally reliable.

[buellbabe]

Service is every 4000kms. That may sound frequent but the 2 inbetweens are small. Basically the services work on a 16,000km rotation with 4 & 12 being pretty small, costs me about $200 if I am not doing anything extra. 8 is medium and 16 is the big one, expect to pay between $4 & 600 for that one depending on the labour rate.

My X1 was the first Buell model to come out with the ecm and fuel injection. The next service is coming up and its 108,000km. Bike is going like a dream...totally reliable.

And yes I know the question was about the Firebolts but the X1 gave birth to the XB range...

[Ocean1]

Can anyone confirm the maintenance intervals and likely costs? I suspect most maintenance to be straight forward and accomplished easily by a competent? [by contrast shim adjustment on the GSXR is a pain in the arse!]

See attached. Once you're through the initial services it's really just oil and filter changes. That service schedule is for an '04/'05 btw, for later ones the belt is suposedly "for life". Having said that I broke one a couple of months ago, but it was due to damage from stones getting trapped under it... Guess down the track a bit there'd be the odd cable or bulb.


Expected longevity of powerplant? Travelling over 30K a year I expect to be able to get 120K before rebuild, is this possible? has anyone onsite accomplished these sort of K's.

Have to get that from someone else, mine's only on 15k.

[Big Dave]

Expected longevity of powerplant? Travelling over 30K a year I expect to be able to get 120K before rebuild, is this possible? has anyone onsite accomplished these sort of K's.


The compressor motor is simple, cheap and easy to service. Every 8,000km and around $350. There is nada to do on the bike inbetween except check the oil - and even that is easy compared to some of the sight glass balancing and contortion acts.

Kilometerage 'expectations' are unreasonable - depends on how they are ridden and serviced.

Parts availability when I have broken stuff hasn't been very good. But tell me that's Crusoe, R.

[boman]

Seriously considering buying one as well. Has anyone been a pillion on either one, xb12s or xb9s, if so how confortable was the seat. Did you do any distanceetc.

Thanks in advance for your input.:2thumbsup

[Badcat]

Seriously considering buying one as well. Has anyone been a pillion on either one, xb12s or xb9s, if so how confortable was the seat. Did you do any distanceetc.

Thanks in advance for your input.:2thumbsup

if you want two - up comfort, the xb12x ulysses is so much better than any other buell - it's worth a look. it's a tall bastard though - if you're under 6 foot - you may be on tippy-toes...
ken

[Max Headroom]

We bought an 2004 XB12S for my wife two years ago s/h with 8k on the clock. It's now done 14k and apart from a belt that caught a stone and started to tear it's been faultless. My wife has low tolerance toward unreliable mechanical devices, so the Buell would be long gone if it had given trouble.

It has the race pipe/ecu/air filter kit, so it runs like a haunted sh!thouse at idle, and is generally a bit grumpy around town especially with the heavy clutch and tall 1st gear. My wife doesn't mind it though, and seems quite willing to forgive it in exchange for the grins she gets out of it on the back roads where we live.

It fell over in a car park a while ago and broke the r/h mirror, handbrake lever, front indicator and r/h footpeg. I was very pleasantly surprised at how cheap those bits were.

As the yanks would say though, "your mileage may vary"....

[Rashika]

hey Max... welcome to KB! And get your wife online so she can spout about the buell as well ;)

A tip for the clutch? Try these guys and this clutch
http://www.americansportbike.com/shoponline/ccp0-prodshow/A9154.html

they have lots of Buell stuff, several of us have bought the clutch and as long as you DONT do what AJ Turbo did *snigger* they work a treat! Buellbabe has bought a shitload of stuff of them as well, they are good to buy from and pretty quick to get stuff here. And the exchange rate makes it a nice price too.
The hydraulic clutch saves the clutch hand a thousand fold, believe me. Easy to put on, if Dangerous and I can do it, anyone can!

[Max Headroom]

Hi Rashika

I saw AJ's thread about the hose incident! I'll float the idea about the clutch and see what she says. She might be interested in jumping on line too.

We looked at the Bad Weather Bikers site and found some interesting stuff, but like a lot of the 'merican sites we've explored those guys get tangled up in stuff that's a little irrelevant down under, along with perspectives that are often a strain to relate to.

[Rashika]

yeah, ...trust AJ!
Been on bad weather myself but not for a long while, just too much to keep up with there. Yep gota get the mrs on here, even just to say 'hi'. Always good to meet up with another Buell babe! ;)
Managed to follow a chick on another Firebolt most of the way from Davouchelles (sp?) to Akaroa yesterday, bloody cool!

[98tls]

hey Max... welcome to KB! believe me. Easy to put on, if Dangerous and I can do it, anyone can! Must be:shutup:

[buellbabe]

Hey Max...yr wife sounds like she is a Buelligan for sure!

As for the clutch thing... tempted to tell these pansies with their wussy hydraulic clutches to HTFU LOL...(kidding!) the clutch on the X1 is waaaaaaay heavier than the standard XB and altho I am just a girly-girl I don't have any issues.
I would rather be used to and comfortable with a heavy clutch than a light one cos I sometimes ride other bikes and ya never know what you're gonna get!

[jrandom]

I rode an XB12R a couple of weeks ago, courtesy of AMPS. Did the usual northwest loop on it.

I didn't really think it worthwhile to write it up, but since this thread's currently active, I'll make my comments.

I didn't really like it. The drawbacks I noticed were:

- Paint-mixer at idle. I guess that just comes with the territory, love it or loathe it. It doesn't really bother me.

- I kept blipping down a gear into corners and using the engine braking, then trying to accelerate out and hitting the limiter before I could stand the bike up. I guess that's just a matter of riding habits needing to be learned anew.

- The ditch-pump engine is kinda cool, but it's no sportbike motor. It doesn't seem to rev cleanly. I had trouble figuring out where I was in the rev range by ear, like I normally do. Had to keep looking down at the dial, and thinking "ah, bugger, I better shift up now". Heck, my GSX1400's revs rise and fall much faster when blipping the throttle in neutral than the XB12R's did.

- The sharp geometry gave me the shits. I somehow got the impression that the bike's setup and suspension had been given rather little attention, and the designers had chopped it very short and raked everything very hard and upright without really thinking about anything beyond a quick turn-in. It didn't feel stable. I got the impression that riding an XB12R on a racetrack would be a total crashfest as one looked for the handling limits. Turning in hard under the front brake seemed nigh on impossible; the bike wanted to tuck under straight away. Throttling on hard while cranked over, likewise, caused the back wheel to do all sorts of odd skittery things.

Sometimes, I think good handling requires stability as well as twitchiness. The XB12R is absolutely not a bike that encouraged me to push it on the brakes into corners or get on the gas early coming out of them. Maybe that'd come with time and practice, but I can't help thinking that a better-designed bike would allow sufficiently-fast turning while still giving the rider confidence in its stability under heavy braking and acceleration. I felt that if I tried to go fast, I'd crash in one turn out of every twenty.

Perhaps it's just the effect of coming off a whale like a GSX1400, but I haven't had the same impression getting of it on the road and swapping onto an '07 R1 or a K7 GSX-R750, for instance, both of which are fairly sharp-handling bikes.

On the whole, the XB12R seemed as though it incorporated a few good ideas, but wasn't quite 'right'.

I mean, don't get me wrong. It was still fun once I started pushing it a wee bit, but I do suspect that the naked Buells are better. An upright position would allow much better control of the bike.

I'll have to have a go on one soon.

Edit: But it's still the XR1200 that keeps appearing in my wet dreams. Roll on September!

[buellbabe]

I rode an XB12R a couple of weeks ago, courtesy of AMPS. Did the usual northwest loop on it.

... I guess that's just a matter of riding habits needing to be learned anew.


Perhaps it's just the effect of coming off a whale like a GSX1400...



gee...ya think?

Talk about 2 completely different bikes...

Honestly, if you expect a sportbike ride then don't go for a Buell cos you will find it too rough and raucous... and very twitchy!

Really good post mate but to be honest I pretty much have the opposite to say in every respect. When I first rode an XB12R after years and lotsa kms on the X1 the ONLY thing I had issue with was the front fairing not turning with the handlebars! Totally freaked me out cos I was so used to the opposite happening! It really threw me at slow speeds and I was a shocking wobbler into parking areas until I got my head around it!

BTW if you are hitting the rev limiter when powering out of corners thats the bikes not so subtle way of telling ya that you didn't need to chop down a gear for that corner... these things have got torque for Africa and you gotta be going real slow to actually lug the engine. Plus the fact that the gear changes would be most likely be at different revs than what you were previously used to. Change at the wrong time and the back end will wanna come round and say gidday to you!
And I am speaking from experience here, learnt that lesson when I was getting to know my X1...oops! ha ha ha :doh:

Buells are a unique ride and they don't claim to be sportbikes (the 1125R being an exception maybe), they are streetfighters. And in my opinion (probably said this before...) just about the most fun you can have with your clothes on!

Not biased at all...really! he he he

[jrandom]

Honestly, if you expect a sportbike ride then don't go for a Buell...

Buell do market the 'R' models as sportbikes, you know.

I agree with you on the fact that they're not, really. I think the 'R's are a bit of a design misconception. Upright with flat bars, the bike I rode would have worked a lot better. Like I said, I'm looking forward to trying an 'S'.


Buells are a unique ride and they don't claim to be sportbikes...

What Japanese motorcycles from the last decade or so have you ridden that you're comparing them to?


Not biased at all...really! he he he

Heh.

Buells are definitely cool. I'll grant them that. I probably shouldn't have bothered taking the 'R' out. Should have gone straight for an 'S' or a Ulysses instead; those are the ones that everyone seems to have fun on.

[Max Headroom]

As for the clutch thing... tempted to tell these pansies with their wussy hydraulic clutches to HTFU LOL...(kidding!) the clutch on the X1 is waaaaaaay heavier than the standard XB and altho I am just a girly-girl I don't have any issues.
I would rather be used to and comfortable with a heavy clutch than a light one cos I sometimes ride other bikes and ya never know what you're gonna get!

Hi BB

know what you mean about the tubers having heavy clutches... before my wife test-rode the XB12S we sent her out on an M2. Wow, THAT had a heavy clutch. She really liked it, and may have taken it home except that the testride on the XB kinda corrupted things. The M2 did everything the XB could do, but she preferred the XB package overall.

She's spent enough time around '70s BMW twins and a 1200 Sportster (now THERE'S an oxymoron) to understand torque, before she switched to the Buell.

JRANDOM's comments about the handling are intriguing. All the ride reports I've read about the XB12R and the XB12S rave about the handling. Makes me wonder if the tyres on the bike he rode were worn, or the tyre pressures were down. My wife's bike is one of the most predictable I've ridden, and it's very stable at high speed (on private roads under strict supervision etc etc).

[buellbabe]

Oh I know I shouldn't bite but I just can't help myself


Buell do market the 'R' models as sportbikes, you know.


Do they? Have never looked at buying one new so don't pay much attention to marketing hype. But they definately aren't eh?!




What Japanese motorcycles from the last decade or so have you ridden that you're comparing them to?

.


Er...excuse me? all I said was that it was a very different ride to what you were used to, doesn't take a rocket scientist to spot that! LOL...it just seemed to me that you had the wrong expectations. I commented that they are not a sportbike ride ... When Buells first hit the international scene they were marketed as Streetfighters. Maybe they called the R a sportbike to try and lure a new market of riders, not such a good move in my opinion as thats where misconceptions can arise...

I have never made any secret about where my loyalties lie. I don't do Jappas. That doesn't mean I don't have alot of respect for them and even drool over the occasional model but I will never own one. I am not dissing them. I respect peoples choices. Jap just ain't for me, but I would be happy to have a Speed Triple in the shed tho...and thats a totally different ride to the Buell too!

I am not trying to argue with you, I am merely saying that my experience of riding an XB12R was completely different. I nearly traded the X1... THATS how much I loved it!:love:

[jrandom]

JRANDOM's comments about the handling are intriguing. All the ride reports I've read about the XB12R and the XB12S rave about the handling. Makes me wonder if the tyres on the bike he rode were worn, or the tyre pressures were down. My wife's bike is one of the most predictable I've ridden, and it's very stable at high speed (on private roads under strict supervision etc etc).

It was wearing Diablos, and they looked fine. Profile was still good with plenty of tread left. I didn't check the pressures, but the issues I experienced didn't feel like low tyre pressure to me. Then again, praps I'm wrong. It was a shop demo bike, not a second-hander on sale, so I expected it to be in reasonably tip-top condition for the ride.

I was riding it, though, thinking that yeah, I understand why so many people rave about the handling, but I prefer a more settled bike that can absorb a less-precise riding approach. The XB12R felt as though I had to stay restrained everywhere in my inputs, lest it promptly fall over.


I have never made any secret about where my loyalties lie. I don't do Jappas.

See, that's where we differ - I just love motorcycles, end of story. Given your statement, there, I would suggest that your perspective as to the objective merits of Buells is, in fact, somewhat limited.

I wonder whether, if someone dressed a GSX-R750 K7 in 'Buell' plastic and handed you the keys, you wouldn't have several spontaneous orgasms.

;)

Not that I'm trying to start an argument! Like I said. If it's got two wheels, it's all good by me.

[imdying]

I wonder whether, if someone dressed a GSX-R750 K7 in 'Buell' plastic and handed you the keys, you wouldn't have several spontaneous orgasms.Naw, wouldn't tickle her 'bits' right :no:

If it's got two wheels, it's all good by me.Damn skippy :yes:

[buellbabe]

Read what I wrote again.

Just cos I don't aspire to owning a japanese motorcycle doesn't mean I don't like them.

Just like you, I love motorbikes. End of story. Just cos I have my own personal preference does not make my perspective limited.

Dressing another bike in Buell plastics? Yeah right.
You don't get where I am coming from... Its the ride that I love. Only a Buell FEELS like a Buell. Every bone shaking bit of it LOL

[jrandom]

Only a Buell FEELS like a Buell.

How would you know, if you haven't ridden much else?

Edit: One wonders whether ma'am would make that statement if she had ever sat astride a concrete mixer strapped to a roller-skate...

[Monamie]

Ulysse XT :love: arriving at Wellington motorcyles at the end of April-beginning May!! Just for us shorties-780mm seat height-the same as my Black Pearl. Heated handgrips :confused:-could be a good thing, and a taller windscreen-which I have heard directs the airflow straight at your helmet....but I am short so will probably go right over:shifty:

Road trip coming up I think:innocent:

[buellbabe]

How would you know, if you haven't ridden much else?


Says who?
You know nothing about me mate so don't start making assumptions. Just cos I haven't owned lots of different makes doesn't mean I haven't ridden them.

Yamaha
Honda
Harley
Ducati
Triumph
Buell

[jrandom]

You know nothing about me mate so don't start making assumptions.

I asked you what you were comparing the Buells to, sportbike-wise, and you avoided the question. I took that to mean that you didn't really have much to compare them to.


Yamaha

Scorpio?


Honda

CB400?


Harley

*falls over laughing*


Ducati

600SS?


Triumph

Bonneville?


Buell

We kinda guessed that one.

[buellbabe]

Sorry buddy but have to say that this is getting ridiculous. Are you trying to wind me up?
Congratulations you have succeeded.


Jeez and this all started just cos I had a different viewpoint.

I am taking a chill pill and leaving ya to it.
::done::clap:

[Max Headroom]

Just a thought: the handbook on these bikes make a big deal about suspension setup. The front and rear on these bikes have way more adjustability than most Jap bikes, and your ride experience may have been disappointing due to this alone.

When we bought my wife's bike, the thing handled a bit strange, and the ride was very odd. I spent some time going through the spring preload, damper comp & rebound as per the handbook's recommendations for rider weight, and sent my wife out on it again. She couldn't believe it was the same bike.

As the yanks say, "your mileage may vary..."

[Rashika]

It was wearing Diablos, and they looked fine. Profile was still good with plenty of tread left. I didn't check the pressures, but the issues I experienced didn't feel like low tyre pressure to me. Then again, praps I'm wrong. It was a shop demo bike, not a second-hander on sale, so I expected it to be in reasonably tip-top condition for the ride.

I was riding it, though, thinking that yeah, I understand why so many people rave about the handling, but I prefer a more settled bike that can absorb a less-precise riding approach. The XB12R felt as though I had to stay restrained everywhere in my inputs, lest it promptly fall over.



See, that's where we differ - I just love motorcycles, end of story. Given your statement, there, I would suggest that your perspective as to the objective merits of Buells is, in fact, somewhat limited.

I wonder whether, if someone dressed a GSX-R750 K7 in 'Buell' plastic and handed you the keys, you wouldn't have several spontaneous orgasms.

;)

Not that I'm trying to start an argument! Like I said. If it's got two wheels, it's all good by me.

after having ridden shop bikes i would say they are the least likely to inspire me to buy a particular bike, they are often set a particular size/height and often dont work for most people. And i have heard that the quite a few Buell riders have been disappointed at first till they have set the bike up for their shape, and then found it damn good!
But having said that maybe it is just too big a difference when compared with your current ride?
Yep the Firebolt is a quick tipper and can damn near put me off If I'm not paying attention... but that is exactly what makes it so fun in the corners. And yep the motor sure gives you feedback and if you are hitting the limiter then you are in far too low a gear, shit it revs out at 5-6grand, what does the 1400 do? 8,9,10?
and nope i dont think we would accidently mistake as GSXR for a Buell in ANY disguise, dont like the things and yep have ridden one.

They (the 1400 and the R) really aren't comparable, just totally different beasts and thats the way they should be.
And i think they market the Firebolt as a street racer and the Lightnings as Street fighters, hense the slightly more racey handlebars/position on the R.
oh yeah and I wouldn't trade mine for anything, and the last bike I rode for comparison? An MV Augusa Tamburini... now THERES an fkn awesome sportsbike :Punk:

[jrandom]

Just a thought: the handbook on these bikes make a big deal about suspension setup. The front and rear on these bikes have way more adjustability than most Jap bikes, and your ride experience may have been disappointing due to this alone.

Aha!

Yes, that could indeed make a huge difference.

[Jimmy B]

Just a thought: the handbook on these bikes make a big deal about suspension setup. The front and rear on these bikes have way more adjustability than most Jap bikes, and your ride experience may have been disappointing due to this alone.

..."

Yeah nice try Max, I think the reason is that JR is still finding his way with bikes and this one caught him off guard with its differences. Lets face it a GSX1400 is hardly nimble yet can be pushed around very effectively, get used to that and hop on something requiring gentle inputs...

I think if he rode one for a few months the comments would be different. I felt exactly the same first time a rode a soft tail, freaky weird at first but a good bike over time.

[jrandom]

And yep the motor sure gives you feedback and if you are hitting the limiter then you are in far too low a gear, shit it revs out at 5-6grand, what does the 1400 do? 8,9,10?

Yeah. 9500rpm. "Vweeeeeee, vweeeeee... oops, 200kph and my arm bones just stretched an inch, better back off." Etc.


An MV Augusa Tamburini...

When it comes to MV Agustas, I've only ridden the F4-1000S and the Brutale 910R. The F4 was awesome; a little too awesome. Not a bike I felt like pushing hard on. That engine just feels as though it's always about to fly apart with the effort of creating the huge amount of apparent activity that's going on in it.

The Brutale was perfect; I'd have one if I could afford one.

I'd love a go on a Senna or a *swoon* Tamburini sometime, of course...

[jrandom]

Yeah nice try Max, I think the reason is that JR is still finding his way with bikes and this one caught him off guard with its differences.

:laugh:

You patronising shit.

[Jimmy B]

:laugh:

You patronising shit.

You like that one bro...gotcha :cool:

[imdying]

When we bought my wife's bike, the thing handled a bit strange, and the ride was very odd.Out of interest, what made you pay money for a bike that handled a bit strange and the ride was very odd? :confused:

[Rashika]

Yeah. 9500rpm. "Vweeeeeee, vweeeeee... oops, 200kph and my arm bones just stretched an inch, better back off." Etc.

so given the Buell can manage a nice 230 at around 6600rpm (at least this one can), you really dont need to rev the shit outa it like you do a 4. Think I have only managed the rev limiter once, and that was first, and it was at the track.




I'd love a go on a Senna or a *swoon* Tamburini sometime, of course...
you have to be VERY lucky to get an opportunity like that... sometimes i get lucky.

And yup suspension setup, what i was trying to refer to before in my hopeless roundabout way, is kinda important on these bikes.

[ajturbo]

so given the Buell can manage a nice 230 at around 6600rpm (at least this one can), you really dont need to rev the shit outa it like you do a 4. Think I have only managed the rev limiter once, and that was first, and it was at the track.



you have to be VERY lucky to get an opportunity like that... sometimes i get lucky.

And yup suspension setup, what i was trying to refer to before in my hopeless roundabout way, is kinda important on these bikes.
i hit it in top the other day with luke on the back....woops..
i also bottomed it out!!!... didn't see the "slight" dip in the road..

all ok though (apart from the torn muffler mount.. just DONT tell floss!!)

[Rashika]

i hit it in top the other day with luke on the back....woops..
i also bottomed it out!!!... didn't see the "slight" dip in the road..

all ok though (apart from the torn muffler mount.. just DONT tell floss!!)

ooohhhh WOOOPS...


quick text to the appropriate person

[Max Headroom]

Out of interest, what made you pay money for a bike that handled a bit strange and the ride was very odd? :confused:

Like I said in an earlier post, my wife sold a 1200 Sportster to buy the Buell.

By comparison, the Buell was a revelation. And then it got better......

[ajturbo]

ooohhhh WOOOPS...


quick text to the appropriate person


:Pokey::Pokey::Pokey:
i used to enjoy life...:confused:

[Mrs Headroom]

Hey Buellbabe, Its finally Max's wife! Saw your bike on the Aussie buell site and LUV it, I agree riding the buell is the best fun you can have with clothes on!! I havent enjoyed riding any bike Ive owned as much as I do my xb12s- the grin factor is huge. I figure that some people just arent meant to own Buells and will never appreciate them! They are grumpy cum bitchy bikes that handle like there is no tomorrow and take a wee bit of getting used to.Now I'm hooked. BTW Hi there Rashika, I see you're into bucket racing I have been seriously thinking about having a go.
Cheers
Cheers

[ajturbo]

Hey Buellbabe, Its finally Max's wife! Saw your bike on the Aussie buell site and LUV it, I agree riding the buell is the best fun you can have with clothes on!! I havent enjoyed riding any bike Ive owned as much as I do my xb12s- the grin factor is huge. I figure that some people just arent meant to own Buells and will never appreciate them! They are grumpy cum bitchy bikes that handle like there is no tomorrow and take a wee bit of getting used to.Now I'm hooked. BTW Hi there Rashika, I see you're into bucket racing I have been seriously thinking about having a go.
Cheers
Cheers
hey Head!

you HAVE to give the bucket racing a go!!!
BB will be you brolly dolly!..(er .. you may have to ask her first lol)

great to see you LOVE your buell......

[imdying]

Like I said in an earlier post, my wife sold a 1200 Sportster to buy the Buell.Ya ya, that bit I got, just seems like an interesting concept.

[jrandom]

My position on Buells remains that, yes, they're interesting bikes, but that their lauded handling characteristics are a result of design decisions that go off at a tangent from the direction that decades of motorcycle development has led more established marques in. Other motorcycle designers aren't stupid; there are good reasons why most bikes don't handle like Buells.

Take an XB12R out on the track with a bunch of 600s, and you'd see what I mean. You'll get lapped so fast that the arse of your leathers will flap from the breeze. (That is, if you don't crash first.)

Of course, you Buell owners are welcome to stipulate that, yes, they're inferior in their handling and power delivery, and need to be ridden more gingerly from A to B than other motorcycles, and that you get a masochistic buzz from having a bike like that.

Heck, I know I'd get a masochistic buzz from a hardtail chopper; I'll have one someday. If Buells do it for you in the same fashion, more power to you!

I just take issue with the starry-eyed fans who hold the XB models up as some kind of advance in motorcycle frame and suspension design, when, in fact, they're a step backwards. A fun step backwards, but a step backwards nonetheless.

[Big Dave]

I just take issue with the starry-eyed fans who hold the XB models up as some kind of advance in motorcycle frame and suspension design, when, in fact, they're a step backwards.

Bullshit. They are the best cornering road bikes on the market with one of the most suitable engines for a road bike on the market.
The majority of motorcyclist have no interest in the track.

Big Dave: Well Mr Suspension Guru what should I do to upgrade the suspension?
Mr Guru: You won't do much better than the three way adjustable Showas that are already on it.

[jrandom]

Bullshit. They are the best cornering road bikes on the market with one of the most suitable engines for a road bike on the market.

My analysis lies prostrate before such forceful assertions. Your rhetoric is unassailable!

:laugh:


The majority of motorcyclist have no interest in the track.

I'm sorry, come again; did you just imply that Buells don't go, stop or handle as well as the sort of road bikes which are taken to trackdays?


... you won't do much better than the three way adjustable Showas that are already on it.

High-quality suspension components can't compensate for inferior geometry.

[Badcat]

1 - someone rides one example of a bike - then completely pans the brand.

2 - rides some dealer demo bikes - reads some magazines and websites, then thinks they know more about motorcycle design than entire companies that create, evolve and manufacture bikes over the course of decades.

3 - expend huge energy telling people they have never met that they are stupid.

so - this thread is hugely amusing.
i suppose it is raining.

[jrandom]

Heh, y'know, it'll be quite hilarious if I ever buy a Buell, because someone's bound to drag this thread up.

Remember, folks, I'm not saying they're not cool or not fun, I'm just saying that they're slower and more likely to send one bouncing down the road on one's arse than most other bikes aimed at the same market.

[jrandom]

this thread is hugely amusing

;)

Still. Why don't you try arguing the topic on its own merits, instead of simply implying that other people are somehow unqualified to comment?

Also, don't be silly; I'm not 'completely panning' Buells. Just being realistic about what they are in the face of a bunch of fanboi ejaculation over keyboards about them being TEH AWESUM.

Gosh, if we can't have a good old hammer-and-tongs discussion about the awesomeness and/or drawbacks of a particular brand of motorcycle without some snide cunt popping up and telling us that we should shut up because we're not experts, this forum really is going to the dogs.

:nono:

Like I said. Argue topic on merits, or STFU.

[Big Dave]

>>I'm sorry, come again; did you just imply that Buells don't go, stop or handle as well as the sort of road bikes which are taken to trackdays?<<


No - that they handle beautifully at real world speeds and that accordingly the maximum speed characteristics are not as good as longer wheel based machines at terminal speed.



>>High-quality suspension components can't compensate for inferior geometry.<<

True - but in this case it doesn't have to.


You used the example of a 600 sportsbike on the track. That's what a 600 sportbike is designed for - subsequently they aren't particularly good on the road. Their mojo is beyond disqualification speeds now for starters.

XB series Buells are designed for road use - they are particularly good at it. The converse applies.

[Badcat]

;)

Still. Why don't you try arguing the topic on its own merits, instead of simply implying that other people are somehow unqualified to comment?

Also, don't be silly; I'm not 'completely panning' Buells. Just being realistic about what they are in the face of a bunch of fanboi ejaculation over keyboards about them being TEH AWESUM.

Gosh, if we can't have a good old hammer-and-tongs discussion about the awesomeness and/or drawbacks of a particular brand of motorcycle without some snide cunt popping up and telling us that we should shut up because we're not experts, this forum really is going to the dogs.

:nono:

Like I said. Argue topic on merits, or STFU.

errr - yeah.
where did i tell you to shut up?
thanks for your conditions on the discussion, i'll be sure to abide to your instructions on any more posts to YOUR thread.
together we'll make KB a better place.

[jrandom]

No - that they handle beautifully at real world speeds and that accordingly the maximum speed characteristics are not as good as longer wheel based machines at terminal speed.

Define 'real world speeds'.

I found that the XB12R got very twitchy simply braking and tipping into 55kph-marked sweepers. That's not exactly World Land Speed Record stuff.


True - but in this case it doesn't have to.

Well, when I say 'inferior', I'm simply referring to the instability and aforementioned inability to turn stably under brakes or put the power down smoothly at a normal open-road-riding pace.

Surely your 'real world speeds' aren't limited to kph in double digits?

The 12R's brakes were very good, by the way. Must be mentioned. No complaints there.

[jrandom]

together we'll make KB a better place.

:hug:<tencharacters>

[Max Headroom]

My position on Buells remains that, yes, they're interesting bikes, but that their lauded handling characteristics are a result of design decisions that go off at a tangent from the direction that decades of motorcycle development has led more established marques in. Other motorcycle designers aren't stupid; there are good reasons why most bikes don't handle like Buells.

Take an XB12R out on the track with a bunch of 600s, and you'd see what I mean. You'll get lapped so fast that the arse of your leathers will flap from the breeze. (That is, if you don't crash first.)

Of course, you Buell owners are welcome to stipulate that, yes, they're inferior in their handling and power delivery, and need to be ridden more gingerly from A to B than other motorcycles, and that you get a masochistic buzz from having a bike like that.

Heck, I know I'd get a masochistic buzz from a hardtail chopper; I'll have one someday. If Buells do it for you in the same fashion, more power to you!

I just take issue with the starry-eyed fans who hold the XB models up as some kind of advance in motorcycle frame and suspension design, when, in fact, they're a step backwards. A fun step backwards, but a step backwards nonetheless.

JRANDOM, call me thick but I don't follow your logic at all. Your statements are eloquently formed, yet fundamentally flawed IMHO. Last time I checked, the Buells weren't being advertised or marketed as a racebike. They have never been advertised or marketed as the fastest bike on the market. They only put out 100hp out of the box for a start...yet your perception of Buells reveal that they can reasonably be described as punching well above their weight.

The XB series is "fit for purpose". That purpose wasn't to compete with R1's or GSXR1000's. Or GSX1400's for that matter. It was to provide a competent platform for street riding, not a racebike with lights.

So if I follow your argument, you criticise the XB series for being what it is, and failing to measure up to your hypothetical standard. Is that right? And that's based on one ride on a shop bike with suspect suspension settings?

THE XB series can be summarised as being a clean sheet design, copying nobody else. The points of difference are well thought out, and result in a strong chassis, low COG and low total bike weight. Nobody could mistake a Buell for anything else. Try that with most of the current crop of universal jap bikes that can only be differentiated by a sticker.

I wouldn't describe myself as starry-eyed. Quite the opposite in fact. I see the XB as well thought out, well made, reliable, competent, and very good value, based on two years of ownership-based experience. If your perception is different, no logic-based debate will change it.

[kiwifruit]

Buells are poo

U
R

[jrandom]

So if I follow your argument, you criticise the XB series for being what it is, and failing to measure up to your hypothetical standard. Is that right?

I kicked off my train of thought in response to someone making the comment that Buells were 'better' than other motorcycles.

Should I perhaps state once again that I could see myself owning one? Just not an XB12R?


THE XB series can be summarised as being a clean sheet design, copying nobody else.

Indeed. All I'm arguing for is the fact that 'different' does not mean 'better'. When a bike is less comfortable to ride, slower, and more likely to crash, that, in my book, means 'worse'. Set off against that is the fact that some Buells are quite uniquely attractive and sound great, and that it can be fun to ride something that wants to spit you off.

Like I've already said, I suspect that the 'S' models are where it's at, and, of course, the Ulysses is undoubtedly another matter entirely.

I'll be going back to test-ride something other than an XB12R very soon.

[Big Dave]

>>I found that the XB12R got very twitchy simply braking and tipping into 55kph-marked sweepers. That's not exactly World Land Speed Record stuff.<<

It was improperly set up or damaged or faulty in some way.


>>Well, when I say 'inferior', I'm simply referring to the instability and aforementioned inability to turn stably under brakes or put the power down smoothly at a normal open-road-riding pace.<<

It was improperly set up or damaged or faulty in some way.

>>Surely your 'real world speeds' aren't limited to kph in double digits?<<

'Generally' sub 140kph seems sensible in the current conditions.

>>The 12R's brakes were very good, by the way. Must be mentioned. No complaints there.<<

---->Insert my profile pic here

[jrandom]

U
R

Words cannot express my disgust, sir, at your spineless and craven lack of comment on what you thought of the XB12R on that test ride.

<img src="http://i28.tinypic.com/n1cb9l.jpg"/>

[jrandom]

It was improperly set up or damaged or faulty in some way.

You'd think that AMPS would be more careful with their demo bike, wouldn't you?

Inasmuch as having it badly set up could cost them sales, etc.

:confused:

[Big Dave]

I'll be going back to test-ride something other than an XB12R very soon.

Should be some 1125r demos going shortly I'd guess. There were 16 press bikes on the launch.

[jrandom]

Should be some 1125r demos going shortly I'd guess.

Yes, the nice man promised us a go when they arrived.

[Max Headroom]

Indeed. All I'm arguing for is the fact that 'different' does not mean 'better'. When a bike is less comfortable to ride, slower, and more likely to crash, that, in my book, means 'worse'. Set off against that is the fact that some Buells are quite uniquely attractive and sound great, and that it can be fun to ride something that wants to spit you off.

Like I've already said, I suspect that the 'S' models are where it's at, and, of course, the Ulysses is undoubtedly another matter entirely.

I'll be going back to test-ride something other than an XB12R very soon.

Your comments again reinforce the fact that the bike you rode hadn't been set up for your body weight. If it had, you would have found it to give a surprisingly compliant ride, and very stable predicatable handling. It's a bike that thrives on being cornered "on the throttle" without requiring the frenetic gear-changing necessary on many jap bikes to maintain revs in the power band. Torque is a wonderful thing......

You'd be welcome to ride our bike on the B & C roads where we live and judge for yourself. It may or may not change your opinion, but I'm open to that.

[jrandom]

You'd be welcome to ride our bike on the B & C roads where we live and judge for yourself. It may or may not change your opinion, but I'm open to that.

That's a very kind offer, which I'd love to take up some time.

Yes, it'd be nice to have my negative impressions erased.

[Max Headroom]

That's a very kind offer, which I'd love to take up some time.

Yes, it'd be nice to have my negative impressions erased.

Send me a PM and we can hook up.

[Big Dave]

You'd think that AMPS would be more careful with their demo bike, wouldn't you?

Inasmuch as having it badly set up could cost them sales, etc.

:confused:

Did you check tyre pressures?

[Blackbuell]

J Random yes you are open to your comments,but ya got ya hand on it ,I have had my XB12R on Taupo track quite a few times,the only person that has passed me on the corners was Kiwifruit,i have passed many 600 as well as 1000,s yeah they pass me on the main strait but thats it,obvious their was something wrong with that demo,cause i ridden just about every jap bike in the last 30 years of riding,My choice now is to ride Buell cause i know they are a awsome bike!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ajturbo]

My position on Buells remains that, yes, they're interesting bikes, but that their lauded handling characteristics are a result of design decisions that go off at a tangent from the direction that decades of motorcycle development has led more established marques in. Other motorcycle designers aren't stupid; there are good reasons why most bikes don't handle like Buells.

Take an XB12R out on the track with a bunch of 600s, and you'd see what I mean. You'll get lapped so fast that the arse of your leathers will flap from the breeze. (That is, if you don't crash first.)

Of course, you Buell owners are welcome to stipulate that, yes, they're inferior in their handling and power delivery, and need to be ridden more gingerly from A to B than other motorcycles, and that you get a masochistic buzz from having a bike like that.

Heck, I know I'd get a masochistic buzz from a hardtail chopper; I'll have one someday. If Buells do it for you in the same fashion, more power to you!

I just take issue with the starry-eyed fans who hold the XB models up as some kind of advance in motorcycle frame and suspension design, when, in fact, they're a step backwards. A fun step backwards, but a step backwards nonetheless.
Jramdom..
your full of shit....

yes a 600 will beat me...not only on the track but everywhere..

but they friggin handle so well i would be able to keep them insight..

i take it you have not ridden one for lengthy period...
when i first got mine, i rode it like the turbo.....not the thing to do!..lol

[Rashika]

BTW Hi there Rashika, I see you're into bucket racing I have been seriously thinking about having a go.
Cheers
Cheers
ofcourse bucket racing is where its at chicky!! Down to Levels raceway at Timaru tomorrow to give some of the guys the learn... hehehe... yeah right! oh yeah nice to meetcha! ;)


You'd think that AMPS would be more careful with their demo bike, wouldn't you?

Inasmuch as having it badly set up could cost them sales, etc.

:confused:
well you'd think huh? The amps demo bike was the one I rode as well and it really was not the best setup one at that time (several years ago now), but I didn't just ride that one and decide I disliked Buells cos of it... I tried another, that was differently setup and I fell in love. Perhaps you really did get one that just was setup badly, cos you really are the first person who I have heard being so highly critical of them, it does surprise me.

But you seem to have a bit of a dislike for them for a few conflicting reasons- too slow to speed but too quick to corner? (I cant be bothered quoting all the stuff but its all up there somewhere)... tho I really find your reasoning a bit flawed as the others have said.
What is it you want? A racebike with lights as BD has said? I mean lets face it, just what IS the point of having a bike that can do 300kph on the road?
Or a road bike that you can have fun in the corners on and yet still feel relaxed after having been on it for a couple of hours?

Ah well I guess opinion of bikes are as varied as the bikes we ride, and that is a good thing

[Rogue]

Ah well I guess opinion of bikes are as varied as the bikes we ride, and that is a good thing

I totaly agree:apint:

It's not what we ride it's as long as we ride.
We all ride what we want and what suits us and our riding style
As long as its got two wheels its ALL GOOD :scooter::rockon:

[Ocean1]

You'd think that AMPS would be more careful with their demo bike, wouldn't you?

Inasmuch as having it badly set up could cost them sales, etc.

:confused:

Hint of sarcasm there dude?

Did they, in fact adjust anything before your ride?

They are well known to behave badly if not dialled in for the rider reasonable closely. And yeah, you'd think AMPS would know that sending someone out on one not so tweaked wasn't a real good idea.

I rode half a dozen R's when shopping, most without any adjustments from whatever the current set-up was. Some were downright scary, all had individual quirks seemingly not common to the rest. When I test rode the one I eventually bought it was configured for a guy way smaller than me, the front wallowed and felt in imminent danger of tucking under, it shook it's head powering out of corners with almost no provocation, the rear squirmed and the tip-in under brakes was downright dangerous. In short, it was a dog.

By then, though, I knew it wasn't behaviour inherent to the model, just that set-up. Two clicks on the rear preload made it rideable for me, and once home it took me 10min to set it up "to the book" for my weight. That transformed it, it became actually manageable. I've deviated from that a fair bit since then, just playing, and it's possible to dramatically change the feel, it's not going to track like a cruiser with that wheelbase but you can make them quite stable in a straight line without sacrificing too much sharpness in the corners. You can also make it behave like a cat on acid in twisty stuff, but around town comfort suffers.

I don't have much experience with comparable Jap bikes but in passing I don't believe there's any out there with the same design intent. I do ride with a bunch of very experienced big Jap bike riders though, mostly sports tourers. We swap bikes often, invariably the last stop before a closed road section has them all eyeing the Buell. None of those guys are as quick on their own bikes as they are on the Buell on roads where there's no straights, and invariably when they do manage to pry it from my arse for a fanglet they’re laughing out loud when we stop.

[jrandom]

Did they, in fact adjust anything before your ride?

Nope.


... the front wallowed and felt in imminent danger of tucking under, it shook it's head powering out of corners with almost no provocation, the rear squirmed and the tip-in under brakes was downright dangerous. In short, it was a dog.

That sounds exactly like what I experienced.

OK, folks, sounds like the XB12Rs are very sensitive to setup, and my bad opinion is entirely premature. I very much look forward to riding one that has its twiddle-knobs in the right place.

:niceone:

I guess part of my reaction was driven by disappointment after years of hanging out to ride one.

[Ocean1]

That sounds exactly like what I experienced.


All symptoms, btw, that it's either soft up front or too high at the back.
With 21 deg rake it matters, the change in trail is significant. That initial 2 clicks off the rear preload I made amounted to less than 10mm, huge difference. I don't think it's a bike I'd ever be comfortable doing long stretches on, personally. Others do, but I find that no matter how "passive" I've got it set it demands my full attention, all the time, and both of us can't have rampant ADD...

The engine ain't going to change though, some do seem crisper than others but opinions about how effective they are seem as polarised as those regarding the rest of the bike. I could give you chapter and verse about torque vs HP, but given my current ride you'll have the basic gist already eh?

[Badcat]

when i bought my xb12 ulysses, the previous owner had mixed up the rebound and compression adjusters - and had the settings transposed.
it was 'interesting" to ride until i sorted it with the manual factory settings for my weight.
so it's worth checking any multi-adjustable setup before a decent ride.
it takes 10 minutes, tops to do front and rear.

ken

[Big Dave]

when i bought my xb12 ulysses, the previous owner had mixed up the rebound and compression adjusters - and had the settings transposed.
it was 'interesting" to ride until i sorted it with the manual factory settings for my weight.
so it's worth checking any multi-adjustable setup before a decent ride.
it takes 10 minutes, tops to do front and rear.

ken

Until whom sorted out your settings?

[Big Dave]

I guess part of my reaction was driven by disappointment after years of hanging out to ride one.

Yo ass needs to ride an 1125r.

Imagine a Firebolt with a 'Prilia motor. Buell would cack at that comment, but it for illustration purposes only.

Goes and handles much like a 1098 special - for around 10 grand less and with 'Ongoing cost of ownership' part of the design criteria.

[Badcat]

Until whom sorted out your settings?

until i sorted them - with kind help from dave who sent me a scan of the relevant manual page.
thanks dave.

[Big Dave]

until i sorted them - with kind help from dave who sent me a scan of the relevant manual page.
thanks dave.

:-P :-P :-P :-P

[kiwifruit]

ok, ok, buells are not poo, they are cool, leave me alone

thats more like it, Mr.

[jrandom]

Yo ass needs to ride an 1125r.

Imagine a Firebolt with a 'Prilia motor.

Yes. Yes, even with sorted handling, the XB's motor would still have been a shortfall. At least Eric, presumably, realised that a while back when he gave up and called the nice men in Austria.

146 ponies at the crank, they say. It'll be fast.

And < NZ$20K RRP, too!

Gnah.

:crazy:

Now if only they'd put the same engine in the XR1200. Why must the HD-badged bike lag a powerplant design generation behind?

[jrandom]

thats more like it, Mr.

u

r

a

c00nt

[Big Dave]

Why must the HD-badged bike lag a powerplant design generation behind?

Oi! That's not right either!

8,000km service intervals. no shims. cost of ownership a design consideration. engine longevity. excellent fuel economy, etc etc

I have no plans to change from the XB12X - I find the modified Sportster engine close to perfect for how I ride.

I would also still choose a Fat Boy if I were to purchase a cruiser.

[Gregd17]

Have a look at this... http://www.lazareth.org/pdf/buellXB.pdf