About Buells...

[jrandom]

If by "cruiser rider" you mean cruiser speeds then the answer is right there. Peter Fonda thought his chopper was stable too.

Mmyes.

My comments re. 'instability' were from the perspective of getting off, say, a GSXR600, Street Triple (haven't ridden one, but I hear they're great...) or whatever, and onto an XB12R.

Similarly priced bikes, advertised at the same target market (as far as I can tell), but the Buell simply doesn't work as well, where 'working well' is defined as the bike's ability to go quickly (and, preferably, safely) around corners and in straight lines.

And, sure, going quickly is only one small part of motorcycling. It's commonly called 'sport riding'. But I thought that a 'sportbike' was what the XBnRs were supposed to be.

[Big Dave]

And, I think, that's the sum of any criticism that I would be personally inclined to make.

You must admit, Buell haven't historically advertised their bikes as 'optimum enjoyment at around about the speed limit'.

All the advertising I can recall has been about the 'experience' and the 'one with the machine' trip - owning the corners.

It was nicely done and I thought pretty accurate. Been a while since we've run any. (Tell that to your conspiracy theorists)

What I was trying to say is that the bikes they rate for masterbike are bikes that (as a consumer) I'm not interested in. Track performance and 10/10ths capability are not important to me.

Hooking a Buell in third gear and hitting the road between Waihi and Whangamatta (at legal speeds) is one of the sweetest things I've ever done on a motorcycle.

[Big Dave]

>>Similarly priced bikes, advertised at the same target market (as far as I can tell), but the Buell simply doesn't work as well, where 'working well' is defined as the bike's ability to go quickly (and, preferably, safely) around corners and in straight lines.<<

Based on my experience the Buell has superior cornering ability to the vehicles mentioned.

[jrandom]

All the advertising I can recall has been about the 'experience' and the 'one with the machine' trip - owning the corners.

Mm, OK. Just a perception thing, I guess. After years of drooling over the ads, I felt let down by the ride.

What I was trying to say is that the bikes they rate for masterbike are bikes that (as a consumer) I'm not interested in. Track performance and 10/10ths capability are not important to me.

Well, me neither. S'why I ride around on a GSX1400, innit!

I guess the older Buells just are what they are.

Now, it certainly sounds like the 1125R can hold its head up high in the true sportbike market. So did Buell change their focus? Wasn't the 1125R lauded as the bike Mr Buell 'had always wanted to build'?

Sounds to me like the previous ones, while not horrible in their own non-sprotbikey way, weren't quite up to scratch.

[jrandom]

Based on my experience the Buell has superior cornering ability to the vehicles mentioned.

With respect, pig's arse. Nobody would be quicker through the Taupo infield on an XB12R than they would on a GSXR600. I'm sure of it. You can't brake in as late, turn as quickly under the brakes or accelerate out as early on a Buell as you can on the average modern sprotbike. What do you see as 'good cornering ability'?

Case in point.

My first day riding at Manfeild (PMCC round 2 this year), I pootled around on a K4 GSXR600 belonging to someone else with worn, mismatched road tyres and a lowered rear end, doing 1:21s. And I'm not a fast rider. That's about as slow as that bike would go without falling over due to lack of forward momentum.

If anyone out there has recorded (on mylaps.com or some other verifiable source) a lap quicker than that on an XB12R, I'll give them the dozen Steinlagers that Crasherfromwayback's going to buy me next weekend.

Buells are just slow.

Good stunt bikes mind you! Being both timid and uncoordinated, though, I don't do that shit.

[Big Dave]

Mm, OK. Just a perception thing, I guess. After years of drooling over the ads, I felt let down by the ride.



Well, me neither. S'why I ride around on a GSX1400, innit!

I guess the older Buells just are what they are.

Now, it certainly sounds like the 1125R can hold its head up high in the true sportbike market. So did Buell change their focus? Wasn't the 1125R lauded as the bike Mr Buell 'had always wanted to build'?

Sounds to me like the previous ones, while not horrible in their own non-sprotbikey way, weren't quite up to scratch.

Erik rides a XB12X - so do 'his people'.

My theory is he wanted to build a bike that had the power to win races and 'prove' that his designs work.

They squeezed 103 hp out of the 'sportster' (don't tell them I said that!) but no matter how well his 'trilogy of tech' works that ain't competitive.

So with the 143hp donk you have a wonderful handling and cornering, wicked fast machine for $20k.

(As a tester) I loved the 1125CR. Test is in this month's rag.

[Big Dave]

With respect, pig's arse. Nobody would be quicker through the Taupo infield on an XB12R than they would on a GSXR600. I'm sure of it. You can't brake in as late, turn as quickly under the brakes or accelerate out as early on a Buell as you can on the average modern sprotbike. What do you see as 'good cornering ability'?

Case in point.

My first day riding at Manfeild (PMCC round 2 this year), I pootled around on a K4 GSXR600 belonging to someone else with worn, mismatched road tyres and a lowered rear end, doing 1:21s. And I'm not a fast rider. That's about as slow as that bike would go without falling over due to lack of forward momentum.

If anyone out there has recorded (on mylaps.com or some other verifiable source) a lap quicker than that on an XB12R, I'll give them the dozen Steinlagers that Crasherfromwayback's going to buy me next weekend.

Buells are just slow.

Good stunt bikes mind you! Being both timid and uncoordinated, though, I don't do that shit.

Good road bikes actually.

My experience - I can't ride a GSXR600 fast - preying mantis syndrome - and it corners better than a Standard street triple. Sorry - it just does.
Haven't ridden the R yet.

[dangerous]

Mmyes.

My comments re. 'instability' were from the perspective of getting off, say, a GSXR600, Street Triple (haven't ridden one, but I hear they're great...) or whatever, and onto an XB12R.

Similarly priced bikes, advertised at the same target market (as far as I can tell), but the Buell simply doesn't work as well, where 'working well' is defined as the bike's ability to go quickly (and, preferably, safely) around corners and in straight lines.

AHHHHHH... BUT, you wont get off ya GSXR or street trip with a grin, buzzy feeling in ya gut and wanting more after a scoot through some tight n curleys like ya do on a Buell, the sound and feel you will never get on the above. Mate ya cant explain it but it is what owning a buell is about.

[ajturbo]

20,000ks with no problem is not "reliable", yet. Your yardstick is a few feet short.

Buellbabe's X1 has done 124,000ks

YES 124k!!!

and is still going strong!!!!!

so.. reliable...yes... she gets it serviced when it is due, every time.

[dangerous]

Buellbabe's X1 has done 124,000ks

YES 124k!!!

and is still going strong!!!!!

so.. reliable...yes... she gets it serviced when it is due, every time.

yeah but... she rides it like a girl

[ajturbo]

but remember people... we WERE suppose to be talking about

RELIABILITY.....

[ajturbo]

yeah but... she rides it like a girl

these are fighting words there ya ginga.. (HER words!!)

bring it on... she says,

oh that's right.. your tooo chicken

[Big Dave]

The tile is 'About'

[dangerous]

but remember people... we WERE suppose to be talking about

RELIABILITY.....

OK...
from new till now (4yrs and 44k)
the engine on the XB12 hasent missed beat
Battery shit out
clipon welds broke (AFTER MARKET)
belt broke (but was on one wheel giving it the berries and it has no guards)
front rim has a leak due to a pin hole in the casting.
Lights were replaced as a recall

Relibile, yeah for a non mass produced japer I think so.

[AllanB]

Relibile, yeah for a non mass produced japer I think so.

Actually this is a valid point in this discussion. They are a relatively low production, dare I imply 'hand built' (compared to say a Honda, Suzuki etc) bike. So with respects to reliability how do they fair to similar machines, Guzzis, Aprilias, KTM's etc.

And previously stated - if you have ridden one and loved it then buy the sucker.