New Buell.

[slowpoke]

Why do people insist on defending "their" manufacturer no matter what they produce? Why does owning a certain make of bike qualify some people more than others to comment on all of a certain manufacturers products?
Just 'cos you choose to own a K1200 BMW doesn't make you more qualified to comment on a GS650 BMW. Just as it seems ridiculous for BMW boxer owners to cry foul at the idea of a high performance four cylinder BMW it seems ridiculous for current Buell owners to be up in arms at this introduction of a state of the art design.
We probably all do it to a certain extent but falling for the "I only like X brand" mentality just shows how we've been completely duped by the marketing and PR companies. Choose a bike by how well it suits your intended purpose before you have a look at the name on the tank.
Same goes for this new jigger: how well does it do what it's supposed to do?
We can't tell until we ride it but to me the spec's look pretty good if you compare it to an Aprilia or 999 Ducati but the similar capacity 1098 looks to raised the bar.
Yep, it seems ugly but Imdying raises a very good point.

You want to go fast, you add a fairing, it's cheaper than adding horsepower.

I just hope it works well enough to be competitive on the track, the more the merrier I reckon.

[imdying]

I trust Mr Buell, he put a lot of thought into his designs. Ugly or not, I'd bet he has his reaons (not the least of which will be the furor this design has created... no such think as bad press).

You hear it time and time again all over the net, 'I'd buy one if they didn't have a tractor motor'. Well, time for people to stop fronting, he has answered you critics.

[Rashika]

Why do people insist on defending "their" manufacturer no matter what they produce? Why does owning a certain make of bike qualify some people more than others to comment on all of a certain manufacturers products?
Just 'cos you choose to own a K1200 BMW doesn't make you more qualified to comment on a GS650 BMW. Just as it seems ridiculous for BMW boxer owners to cry foul at the idea of a high performance four cylinder BMW it seems ridiculous for current Buell owners to be up in arms at this introduction of a state of the art design.
We probably all do it to a certain extent but falling for the "I only like X brand" mentality just shows how we've been completely duped by the marketing and PR companies. Choose a bike by how well it suits your intended purpose before you have a look at the name on the tank.
Same goes for this new jigger: how well does it do what it's supposed to do?
We can't tell until we ride it but to me the spec's look pretty good if you compare it to an Aprilia or 999 Ducati but the similar capacity 1098 looks to raised the bar.
Yep, it seems ugly but Imdying raises a very good point.



I just hope it works well enough to be competitive on the track, the more the merrier I reckon.

umm I think you missed the point... we are looking at a 'new' bike (tho potentially one that may replace MY current bike)
I'm probably the MOST qualified on this thread to have an opinion about what i dont like about it (given that I ride the equivalent bike now), followed very closely by Big Dave and BB (being other Buell owners), then all the new potential Buell owners, then all the others... some of whom have bloody intereting thoughts about it and some of whom will only wanna diss it cos it is a Yanky bike. This is something totally new and a bit of a surprise to us.
It is interesting to hear the opinions cos it makes me relook at the bike... bits of it are growing on me cos of what others have pointed out, but only bits.

I haven't noticed much talk of my ride is better than yours cos it made by "...." (tho that always happens in these kinda threads anyway) simply a comparison of old vs new and new vs others in the market

And the Firebolt is actually pretty competitive in a BEARS meet... maybe not on a non BEARS meet, and that is where this bike is aiming for, nothing wrong with that at all. It is shame that to get there they have basically changed 75% of the bike, to resemble something totally new effectively.

I wouldn't mind what they do except for the fact that it'll prob mean the end of my bike cos they wont want to have 2 with such a similar purpose

[Rashika]

You hear it time and time again all over the net, 'I'd buy one if they didn't have a tractor motor'. Well, time for people to stop fronting, he has answered you critics.

haha!! yeah VERY true...

[xwhatsit]

umm I think you missed the point... we are looking at a 'new' bike (tho potentially one that may replace MY current bike)
I'm probably the MOST qualified on this thread to have an opinion about what i dont like about it (given that I ride the equivalent bike now), followed very closely by Big Dave and BB (being other Buell owners), then all the new potential Buell owners, then all the others... some of whom have bloody intereting thoughts about it and some of whom will only wanna diss it cos it is a Yanky bike. This is something totally new and a bit of a surprise to us.
It is interesting to hear the opinions cos it makes me relook at the bike... bits of it are growing on me cos of what others have pointed out, but only bits.

I haven't noticed much talk of my ride is better than yours cos it made by "...." (tho that always happens in these kinda threads anyway) simply a comparison of old vs new and new vs others in the market

And the Firebolt is actually pretty competitive in a BEARS meet... maybe not on a non BEARS meet, and that is where this bike is aiming for, nothing wrong with that at all. It is shame that to get there they have basically changed 75% of the bike, to resemble something totally new effectively.

I wouldn't mind what they do except for the fact that it'll prob mean the end of my bike cos they wont want to have 2 with such a similar purpose

No, I think you missed slowpokes point, not vice versa.

They're not dropping the existing line of bikes. There's no law saying you have to buy one of these for your next bike instead of a more conservative Buell (ironic use of the word conservative there, lol).

There's no imperative for manufacturers to continue to produce the same niche of bikes over and over again. Harley does; most do not. Buell producing a mainstream sportsbike should not offend you so greatly, it doesn't affect your chosen niche of bike.

Read what Big Dave has to say, and what I posted earlier. This bike will give something for the non-traditional Buell customers who usually buy Japanese sportsbikes to focus on, and will take away some of the heat from those who make fun of Buells because they're slower. Think of it as a `sports flagship model'.

[Rashika]

No, I think you missed slowpokes point, not vice versa.

They're not dropping the existing line of bikes. There's no law saying you have to buy one of these for your next bike instead of a more conservative Buell (ironic use of the word conservative there, lol).

There's no imperative for manufacturers to continue to produce the same niche of bikes over and over again. Harley does; most do not. Buell producing a mainstream sportsbike should not offend you so greatly, it doesn't affect your chosen niche of bike.

Read what Big Dave has to say, and what I posted earlier. This bike will give something for the non-traditional Buell customers who usually buy Japanese sportsbikes to focus on, and will take away some of the heat from those who make fun of Buells because they're slower. Think of it as a `sports flagship model'.

point missed again... They are not dropping the current 'Firebolt' YET ...tui ad. Where did I mention the whole range?
Talk about it again in 3 or 4 years time... as I have said in a previous post

ummm where have I commented about the Buells sportbike offending me cos its a sportsbike??????? i think its a bit fugly (like that word) but if thats what sportsbikers want, then go for it. (as I have said in a previous post)

Produce the same bike over and over again?? shite you aint looked into Buell too hard have you, the Firebolt came out in 2003 as a 9 only, thats hardly time to perfect it, let alone produce the same thing more than one year running.

yes I have read what Big dave has said and if you had read my earlier posts you would see that I actually agreed with him. A good range is a good thing to get people into the bikes but having 2 bikes that are very similar probably WONT last, one or the other will fade.

AND as I have said in a previous post.. there are some things that are growing on me in the bike, but a few others that are prob never going to.

[HenryDorsetCase]

like someone else says the issue with the current motor (and what gives it its character) is meeting ever tightening EPA/Euro noise and pollution mandates. Real hard to do with air cooling, and the architecture they have. (I thought I'd broken the buell I rode when I turned it off and the fan turned on after the engine was off... that rear cylinder gets REALLY hot....) so Erik and co have an eye to the future....

[slowpoke]

umm I think you missed the point... we are looking at a 'new' bike (tho potentially one that may replace MY current bike)
I'm probably the MOST qualified on this thread to have an opinion about what i dont like about it (given that I ride the equivalent bike now), followed very closely by Big Dave and BB (being other Buell owners), then all the new potential Buell owners, then all the others...

Hmmm, intersting idea you've got regarding the pecking order of opinions. I understand they are your opinions but I don't understand why you think they would be more valid than anybody elses. You say yourself it is a brand new bike: it has a new frame, engine, different wheelbase etc so there is little evolutionary progression here. Just 'cos I ride a Yamaha R1 doesn't mean my opinions are more or less important regarding say an R6, or any bike for that matter..

It is shame that to get there they have basically changed 75% of the bike, to resemble something totally new effectively.

Why would you see it as a shame that they make a new Buell? That's progress, and exactly how they arrived at the Firebolt. It actually seems strange that all Buells are such an "outside the square" radical thinking design, that you are disappointed in their radical redesign.

I wouldn't mind what they do except for the fact that it'll prob mean the end of my bike cos they wont want to have 2 with such a similar purpose

I reckon your Firebolt is safe. It's a waaaaay better looking bike than the new 'un (in my opinion) and there will always be a strong demand for the low down grunt of the pushrod engine in the short sharp chassis (1125R is nearly 3" longer wheelbase). Although they are both sports bikes I don't see them as competing for the same niche, just increasing Buells market share by trying to pinch a few Aprilia, Ducati type buyers. So so styling or not it's gonna be very interesting to see it on the track and on the road.

[xwhatsit]

point missed again... They are not dropping the current 'Firebolt' YET ...tui ad. Where did I mention the whole range?
Talk about it again in 3 or 4 years time... as I have said in a previous post

ummm where have I commented about the Buells sportbike offending me cos its a sportsbike??????? i think its a bit fugly (like that word) but if thats what sportsbikers want, then go for it. (as I have said in a previous post)

Produce the same bike over and over again?? shite you aint looked into Buell too hard have you, the Firebolt came out in 2003 as a 9 only, thats hardly time to perfect it, let alone produce the same thing more than one year running.

yes I have read what Big dave has said and if you had read my earlier posts you would see that I actually agreed with him. A good range is a good thing to get people into the bikes but having 2 bikes that are very similar probably WONT last, one or the other will fade.

AND as I have said in a previous post.. there are some things that are growing on me in the bike, but a few others that are prob never going to.

Please read my post again. Reading comprehension is a good skill to have.

I didn't mention anything about you being offended because it's a sportsbike. What I wrote is that you seem to be offended by the release of it -- it seems to upset you that Buell have produced a motorcycle that's not to your taste.

Don't colour my words. I wrote that Buell have been producing bikes in a particular niche -- as do Harley Davidson. I didn't say they'd produced the same bike over and over again. What I was trying to say (I think most people understand this) is that manufacturers have no imperative to stick to making bikes in the same niche. Suzuki don't just produce faired sportsbikes, they also make scooters. You don't see GSXR riders getting bent out of shape by the release of a new moped.

I very much doubt they'd drop your line of bike. The reasons you've raised (and others too) why you don't like it show that easily enough. Sure, they're both performance oriented bikes, but they're very different in character, and target quite diverse markets. Why drop one, especially with so much affection for it from the community?

[dangerous]

Ok now this thread has become a Buell bashing and Buell rider bashing thread... its actually about the new Buell R and those that ride a R have the best opinions to add to the topic at hand, Buell are going to lose a few hard core Buellers but having said that they will gain more run off the mill riders this putting there sales up.

D, you're as one eyed as that OAB fella. Country of origin does not a good bike make. That's not to say don't be proud of where it came from, even my SV has a Japanese flag on it (man does that polarise opinion! One tiny little piece of vinyl!)

Not with ya... one eyed? Guzzi/buell? at the end of the day the average jappa is a better bike.

The new Buell's got straight cut gears, not helical, if that's what you were trying to imply; it's a little hard to tell from your rambling sentence structure.


Just don't have a go at someone who has a different opinion to you, especially when you insist on talking out of your arse in doing so.

Buell up untill 06 have straight cut gears my comment was aimed at the remark refering to a shitty box/linkages... its due to straight cut gears and they aint the nicest to use but its all part of a BEArs bike... by that I was only refering to a Brit, Euro, Yank bike versas a Japper nothing to do with racing.

This is a discussion forum... I will have a go (if thats how it was perceived) at some one... and the only arse round her mate is you

My over all point was (do you want me to s l o w down for you) people as a general rule buy a BEArs (Brit/Euro/US) bike cos that want something different... Not a Japper

[imdying]

My over all point was (do you want me to s l o w down for you) people as a general rule buy a BEArs (Brit/Euro/US) bike cos that want something different... Not a Japper

Which is pretty messed up, surely you'd buy a bike on its merits (price, performance, whatever). I mean, Grandad who fought the Japs in WWII, I can accept he doesn't want to buy a Japanese bike, but what difference does it make to the rest of us?

[Rashika]

I didn't mention anything about you being offended because it's a sportsbike. What I wrote is that you seem to be offended by the release of it -- it seems to upset you that Buell have produced a motorcycle that's not to your taste.

I aint offended by the release ... cant figure where ya have that from? Buells have a couple of bikes that aint to my taste, doesn't mean I dont like the 'idea' of them. I think its surprising they have gone so far from 'their' norm, and I think this one is a bit Fugly, esp as they dumped those big arsed air covers with the tuber range, and have now brought em back. Till now Buell have NEVER used anything 'cept HD engines for anything... time for change? perhaps...

Don't colour my words. I wrote that Buell have been producing bikes in a particular niche -- as do Harley Davidson. I didn't say they'd produced the same bike over and over again. What I was trying to say (I think most people understand this) is that manufacturers have no imperative to stick to making bikes in the same niche. Suzuki don't just produce faired sportsbikes, they also make scooters. You don't see GSXR riders getting bent out of shape by the release of a new moped.

I very much doubt they'd drop your line of bike. The reasons you've raised (and others too) why you don't like it show that easily enough. Sure, they're both performance oriented bikes, but they're very different in character, and target quite diverse markets. Why drop one, especially with so much affection for it from the community?

pretty easy to colour yours words.
Your meaning of niche must be different to mine... A focused, targetable part of a market: in this case a 'sportsbike' market...'till now the 'R' has been that, now the new 'R' might be it, time will tell. (Have you noticed with all the other Buell models they have a different letter on the end, but not this one?)
If they released a GXR1005 with some major changes, is it possible there would be a few people wondering what it means to the GSXR1000?

[skelstar]

Which is pretty messed up, surely you'd buy a bike on its merits (price, performance, whatever). I mean, Grandad who fought the Japs in WWII, I can accept he doesn't want to buy a Japanese bike, but what difference does it make to the rest of us?

Probably a lot to do with a potentially misguided idea that theres some wrinkled old Italian man hand-crafting their RSV-R or F4 312 in a shed somewhere in North Italy.

[imdying]

I guess I'd take a robot over a man who might've drunk too much wine over lunch

[dangerous]

I guess I'd take a robot over a man who might've drunk too much wine over lunch

And theres ya answer right there... I dont, I like the idea a half pissed Iti shoving pizza down his throat putting the wrong parts on my bike, forgetting to tighten bolts, and using cheap arse electrics cos they just ran out of funds... My bike is the only Nero Corsa in Australiasia... how many SVs in Christchurch? why be normal and follow the millions? Ill take the chance