2 Buell or Not

[Sensei]

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g265/BING-03/XBss.jpg
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g265/BING-03/XBs.jpg

Well today road up to Hamilton & called into Road & sports to see about a Buell for a demo ride , & as luck would have it they had 2 to try . First I took out the XB12S this bike had the race kit fitted & Fuck did it sound the Dogs bollocks they filled it up & brought it round front & I hopped on & headed of down the road . Couldn't stop smiling as I nailed it through the traffic & listerned to the noise of the open Vince & Hanes race muffler against all the cars very KOOL , but things where not as sweet as I had hoped for once I got it out to some back roads to open it up & feel what it handled like To put it plainly it was bloody scarey was good till it got above 160ks & then it felt like it was going to tuck the front wheel out from under me every time I pushed the front in a corner so that was that ride done back to the shop which seen me near drop it going around one of the round abouts when the Totally Shit Avon Azzos crap tyres let go & near highsided me into the deck just caught it then gassed back on & it let go again not impressed & told they dealer to put some real tyres on it before someone drop's it . Next was the Brand new XB12SS the long swingarm model this bike was stock standard so didn't have the sound or the punch of the raced kitted one but what a totally different bike felt so much more roomy more planted & stuck to the road with out any felling of sliding the front like the short wheel based XB12S . I loved this version & it had some sticky Diablos on to so no near death cornering from it at all . Been 6ft the short XB12S was far to small for me & the bars pushed you over the back wheel more as you where sitting up more & this unbalanced the bike badly to where it made the front very light ,not what you look for when cornering hard . At the end of the day I could live with the XB12SS with a race kit & look forward to trying the XB12R as this had alot more weight over the front wheel but was still a short wheel based bike so may still be a bit flighty still will wait to see if they bring out a long swingarm version next year . The RSVR I looked at is looking very much like it may be in my shed next week tho . Power to the Mighty Buell one hell of alot of bike in the right conditions & size .

[slowpoke]

20 more horsepower and 20 less kilo's and I reckon their sales would double.

[Crasherfromwayback]

look forward to trying the XB12R as this had alot more weight over the front wheel but was still a short wheel based bike so may still be a bit flighty still will wait to see if they bring out a long swingarm version next year .

The 'R' version seems far more 'normal' to me.
With the 'S', they're so short (same as the 'R') that being so upright (and steep in the rake), I feel like the front tyre is under your feet.
When you go hard out you can feel like the fronts going to tuck.
It won't.

If you've been round clip ons as long as I think you may've been, go the 'R'.

They feel right.

[Sensei]

The 'R' version seems far more 'normal' to me.
With the 'S', they're so short (same as the 'R') that being so upright (and steep in the rake), I feel like the front tyre is under your feet.
When you go hard out you can feel like the fronts going to tuck.
It won't.

If you've been round clip ons as long as I think you may've been, go the 'R'.

They feel right.

Owned a T509 Speedtriple before my GSXR & have ridden & owned many dirt bikes etc with up right sitting postion that wasn't the trouble , it was just to small , May go back when they have the XB12SS kitted out with a race package in it & see what it does , still I think I will go with the RSVR Aprilia for the mean time . Unless you have a Grey GSXR1000 K6 for sale ?

[Crasherfromwayback]

Owned a T509 Speedtriple before my GSXR & have ridden & owned many dirt bikes etc with up right sitting postion that wasn't the trouble , it was just to small , May go back when they have the XB12SS kitted out with a race package in it & see what it does , still I think I will go with the RSVR Aprilia for the mean time . Unless you have a Grey GSXR1000 K6 for sale ?

I'm pretty sure the only K6 we have avail now is Blue/White.

I'll check for you Tues when I return to work, haven't been there for a week or so, so not sure what's about/avail.

P.

[Lou Girardin]

The comment on Avons is interesting, they get good reviews and I thought they were OK till the rear spun up on my RF when merging onto the North M/way.
RF's aren't the gruntiest thing around, and my, much torquier, Bandit never came close to spinning up the Z6 on the same patch of road.
They seem to have good side grip but piss poor straightline traction.

[98tls]

I nteresting you say that lou...my mate had them on his 04 bandit....had a few moments with the rear so binned them...

[Colapop]

What is the difference in wheelbase length between the two? Seeing the XB9 next to a Hornet they didn't look too different, although the body style gave the impression it was alot shorter.

[sAsLEX]

Compared to the super duke ?

[Sensei]

XB12S is 52inch wheel base / XB12SS is 79.6 inch wheel base

[Big Dave]

one of these would be more your speed.

[Sensei]

Nice Pics & bike , but power on the race kitted XB12S was bloody great for what it is no problems there it was just the size & handling that I wouldn't except Dave . How is the Buell XB12X like yours compared to the XB12SS does the XB12X have the long swingarm too ?

[Big Dave]

Nice Pics & bike , but power on the race kitted XB12S was bloody great for what it is no problems there it was just the size & handling that I wouldn't except Dave . How is the Buell XB12X like yours compared to the XB12SS does the XB12X have the long swingarm too ?

I *think* it has the same wheelbase as the long. But it has longer travel suspension too.
I'm real happy with mine. Had it out with some quicks today. You have to wring it's neck to be on the pace of the sprotsbikes, but it will sit on the cruising speeds my demerit point total now dictates all day - and is just as fast through the tight stuff.
Over the Coro ranges today I was sporting wood almost with the way it tips in.

Size wise the X fits 6'2" or more perfectly. For my 6'5" it is the most comfortable bike I've ridden - and I've tried everything except a Goldwing - and that ain't gonna happen.

[Dazza]

Come on Scott you know you want the Buell, get the Buell