About Buells...

**Big Dave** · 16th September 2009, 14:42

Originally Posted by Pwalo

I must admit that I've had a hankering to own a Buell, but until their later model bikes there did seem to be a lot of niggling and annoying faults.
.

That reputation put me off till I test rode the XB12X.

Parts availability is my biggest gripe. But they aren't Caruso R. in that regard either.

**98tls** · 16th September 2009, 14:48

Originally Posted by buellbabe

Brakes shite???
Wow thats a first!

Bad handling?

Most bike critics would disagree with ya there...

I recently demo-ed and subsequently bought an 1125CR.

I was reminded of a report on a CR on here earlier in the year. It was a very unfavourable report. I mentioned this to the dealer .

Their response was "oh yeah...well maybe if the suspension hadn't been totally f**ked with (front and back set to extreme soft and hard) he might have had a different experience...

Now they weren't actually saying that this reviewer was responsible for the alteration ...buuuut...thing is that the suspension is really easy to adjust and people do tend to fiddle just cos they can. Now maybe some else had fiddled in which case bad one dealer for not setting back to default before giving the bike to a journo... My point? I just find it hard to fathom that an XB12 can be accused of bad handling...I have ridden quite a few of them and they never fail to put a grin on my face...
Also what some people call 'bad handling' is the fact that they just aren't used to a bike that drops into corners as ridiculously quickly as the XB does, it can be a bit disconcerting if you are used to a different style of bike LOL.

As far as niggles and problems go...jeez I have owned a Buell (an older model) for the last 9 yeras...no niggles and problems and all my Buell riding friends report the same satisfaction from their beasties.
People tend to focus on the small percent of reported niggles and forget about the huge percentage of absolutely trouble free bikes.

And anyway, "niggles" are something that happens with ANY brand of motorcycle. Buell certainly haven't cornered the market on that score LOL.

Your old Buell was a pretty good testament to there reliability,certainly shut me up.

**Ducky848** · 16th September 2009, 20:09

Originally Posted by buellbabe

Brakes shite???
Wow thats a first!

Bad handling?

Most bike critics would disagree with ya there...

Their response was "oh yeah...well maybe if the suspension hadn't been totally f**ked with (front and back set to extreme soft and hard) he might have had a different experience...

My point? I just find it hard to fathom that an XB12 can be accused of bad handling...I have ridden quite a few of them and they never fail to put a grin on my face...
Also what some people call 'bad handling' is the fact that they just aren't used to a bike that drops into corners as ridiculously quickly as the XB does, it can be a bit disconcerting if you are used to a different style of bike LOL.

And anyway, "niggles" are something that happens with ANY brand of motorcycle. Buell certainly haven't cornered the market on that score LOL.

Ok, I know what Eric Buell says about the XB12R and is low unsprung weight, 250cc frame geometry and low centre of mass etc.
Sounds great...but..I just dont think it handles that great. Maybe it seems that way if you get off a CX500, j/k
Fact is I think I know how to set up suspension and I know how I like a bike to handle. The XB I owned no matter how much setup time spent still would not hold a nice line and tended to push the front. It refused to brake into a corner and would constantly fight to stand up. 3 hard laps at a track day and the brakes fade. Changing up out of a corner full tit causes the frame to flex and will throw your line. All these things combined make it less stunning for me than the promo material suggest.

Im not scared or put off by a bike that 'falls' into a corner, I raced Honda RS125's and 250's for a few years.

All that said I stand by my comment that the engine is its best feature. I had a lot of fun with that and I would avoid the 1125 purely on that basis.
I like Buells, many of my good mates ride 'em and I drunk a lot of beer at the 2007 SI Buell rally.

It just aint that great in the handling and brakes in my opinion...depending on what you are looking for. Personally I like big twins, gobs of torque, sharp handling and brutal brakes...hence my choice to move from Buells to Ducati's.

Just an opinion of course

**Ducky848** · 16th September 2009, 20:22

Originally Posted by Big Dave

Don't agree about the handling or brakes, but now you remind - my fan failed too. But then I don't find it annoying, I appreciate what it does.
Mine has never missed a gear either.

I've ridden a lot of later model ones, they've all handled as sweet as - when set up properly.

Had yours been crashed or something?

Brakes I reckon are about average. Buell says that the advantage is in unsprung weight - then 1125R are really nice.

Some reports of XBs pulsing due to residue are about. Mine's not done that either, but apparently it's fixed with aftermarket pads

Mine was 3rd hand and I dont think it had been binned...no marks that would suggest it.
I don't know if the later ones are better or not, the 04 handled great round town and mild fangs, but push it and it struggled.
Never had the brakes pulse just fade quickly. I tried a couple of different brands/types of pads including new factory ones with little improvement.
I like the idea of reduced unsprung weight and the big single rotor looks the bizzo, just doesnt seem to work for me. I havent ridden an 1125R, cant get past the Rotax engine thing and the front air scoops..but thats just me.

**hospitalfood** · 16th September 2009, 20:29

i must say mine has been reliable. 19,000 km from new and no issues.
you either love them or don't. i do love them.
the handling is an interesting one. on most corners i find it is best for me to put my arse over into the corner and my body the other way into full countersteer and rape the throttle.

i guess the 1125r would be the one for the track, don't think the XB would be great on the track but they are heaps of fun on the road

**buellbabe** · 17th September 2009, 07:19

Well Ducky it sounds to me like you had a lemon cos what you say is at complete odds with everything that is a known fact about the XB12R.

Shame about that.

Glad you are enjoying your Ducati, V-twins ROCK!

**Ducky848** · 17th September 2009, 13:17

Originally Posted by buellbabe

what you say is at complete odds with everything that is a known fact about the XB12R.

Bit like anthropological global warming, it needs to be considered in context and with balanced information. The XB12R is a capable bike, but compared to other examples of modern sportsbikes when ridden hard, particularly on a track (its supposed to be race bred according to promo material) I do not rate the handling or the brakes....its not a pig at any stretch, just not what I expected.

Originally Posted by buellbabe

Glad you are enjoying your Ducati, V-twins ROCK!

Hell yes. I have found the 996 and 848 much more suited and V twins/L twins indeed rock.