What's your take on the Buell XB9s and XB12s

[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...

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:Me]

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

[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.