What's your take on the Buell XB9s and XB12s

**imdying** · 17th April 2008, 17:47

Originally Posted by Max Headroom

When we bought my wife's bike, the thing handled a bit strange, and the ride was very odd.

Out of interest, what made you pay money for a bike that handled a bit strange and the ride was very odd?

**Rashika** · 17th April 2008, 17:56

Originally Posted by jrandom

Yeah. 9500rpm. "Vweeeeeee, vweeeeee... oops, 200kph and my arm bones just stretched an inch, better back off." Etc.

so given the Buell can manage a nice 230 at around 6600rpm (at least this one can), you really dont need to rev the shit outa it like you do a 4. Think I have only managed the rev limiter once, and that was first, and it was at the track.

Originally Posted by jrandom

I'd love a go on a Senna or a *swoon* Tamburini sometime, of course...

you have to be VERY lucky to get an opportunity like that... sometimes i get lucky.

And yup suspension setup, what i was trying to refer to before in my hopeless roundabout way, is kinda important on these bikes.

**ajturbo** · 17th April 2008, 19:15

Originally Posted by Rashika

so given the Buell can manage a nice 230 at around 6600rpm (at least this one can), you really dont need to rev the shit outa it like you do a 4. Think I have only managed the rev limiter once, and that was first, and it was at the track.

you have to be VERY lucky to get an opportunity like that... sometimes i get lucky.

And yup suspension setup, what i was trying to refer to before in my hopeless roundabout way, is kinda important on these bikes.

i hit it in top the other day with luke on the back....woops..
i also bottomed it out!!!... didn't see the "slight" dip in the road..

all ok though (apart from the torn muffler mount.. just DONT tell floss!!)

**Rashika** · 17th April 2008, 20:02

Originally Posted by ajturbo

i hit it in top the other day with luke on the back....woops..
i also bottomed it out!!!... didn't see the "slight" dip in the road..

all ok though (apart from the torn muffler mount.. just DONT tell floss!!)

ooohhhh WOOOPS...

quick text to the appropriate person

**Max Headroom** · 17th April 2008, 20:11

Originally Posted by imdying

Out of interest, what made you pay money for a bike that handled a bit strange and the ride was very odd?

Like I said in an earlier post, my wife sold a 1200 Sportster to buy the Buell.

By comparison, the Buell was a revelation. And then it got better......

**ajturbo** · 17th April 2008, 20:21

Originally Posted by Rashika

ooohhhh WOOOPS...

quick text to the appropriate person

i used to enjoy life...

**Mrs Headroom** · 17th April 2008, 21:30

Hey Buellbabe, Its finally Max's wife! Saw your bike on the Aussie buell site and LUV it, I agree riding the buell is the best fun you can have with clothes on!! I havent enjoyed riding any bike Ive owned as much as I do my xb12s- the grin factor is huge. I figure that some people just arent meant to own Buells and will never appreciate them! They are grumpy cum bitchy bikes that handle like there is no tomorrow and take a wee bit of getting used to.Now I'm hooked. BTW Hi there Rashika, I see you're into bucket racing I have been seriously thinking about having a go.
Cheers
Cheers

**ajturbo** · 17th April 2008, 21:40

Originally Posted by Mrs Headroom

Hey Buellbabe, Its finally Max's wife! Saw your bike on the Aussie buell site and LUV it, I agree riding the buell is the best fun you can have with clothes on!! I havent enjoyed riding any bike Ive owned as much as I do my xb12s- the grin factor is huge. I figure that some people just arent meant to own Buells and will never appreciate them! They are grumpy cum bitchy bikes that handle like there is no tomorrow and take a wee bit of getting used to.Now I'm hooked. BTW Hi there Rashika, I see you're into bucket racing I have been seriously thinking about having a go.
Cheers
Cheers

hey Head!

you HAVE to give the bucket racing a go!!!
BB will be you brolly dolly!..(er .. you may have to ask her first lol)

great to see you LOVE your buell......

**imdying** · 18th April 2008, 09:11

Originally Posted by Max Headroom

Like I said in an earlier post, my wife sold a 1200 Sportster to buy the Buell.

Ya ya, that bit I got, just seems like an interesting concept.

**jrandom** · 18th April 2008, 09:45

My position on Buells remains that, yes, they're interesting bikes, but that their lauded handling characteristics are a result of design decisions that go off at a tangent from the direction that decades of motorcycle development has led more established marques in. Other motorcycle designers aren't stupid; there are good reasons why most bikes don't handle like Buells.

Take an XB12R out on the track with a bunch of 600s, and you'd see what I mean. You'll get lapped so fast that the arse of your leathers will flap from the breeze. (That is, if you don't crash first.)

Of course, you Buell owners are welcome to stipulate that, yes, they're inferior in their handling and power delivery, and need to be ridden more gingerly from A to B than other motorcycles, and that you get a masochistic buzz from having a bike like that.

Heck, I know I'd get a masochistic buzz from a hardtail chopper; I'll have one someday. If Buells do it for you in the same fashion, more power to you!

I just take issue with the starry-eyed fans who hold the XB models up as some kind of advance in motorcycle frame and suspension design, when, in fact, they're a step backwards. A fun step backwards, but a step backwards nonetheless.

**Big Dave** · 18th April 2008, 10:02

Originally Posted by jrandom

I just take issue with the starry-eyed fans who hold the XB models up as some kind of advance in motorcycle frame and suspension design, when, in fact, they're a step backwards.

Bullshit. They are the best cornering road bikes on the market with one of the most suitable engines for a road bike on the market.
The majority of motorcyclist have no interest in the track.

Big Dave: Well Mr Suspension Guru what should I do to upgrade the suspension?
Mr Guru: You won't do much better than the three way adjustable Showas that are already on it.

**jrandom** · 18th April 2008, 10:12

Originally Posted by Big Dave

Bullshit. They are the best cornering road bikes on the market with one of the most suitable engines for a road bike on the market.

My analysis lies prostrate before such forceful assertions. Your rhetoric is unassailable!

Originally Posted by Big Dave

The majority of motorcyclist have no interest in the track.

I'm sorry, come again; did you just imply that Buells don't go, stop or handle as well as the sort of road bikes which are taken to trackdays?

Originally Posted by Big Dave

... you won't do much better than the three way adjustable Showas that are already on it.

High-quality suspension components can't compensate for inferior geometry.

**Badcat** · 18th April 2008, 10:21

1 - someone rides one example of a bike - then completely pans the brand.

2 - rides some dealer demo bikes - reads some magazines and websites, then thinks they know more about motorcycle design than entire companies that create, evolve and manufacture bikes over the course of decades.

3 - expend huge energy telling people they have never met that they are stupid.

so - this thread is hugely amusing.
i suppose it is raining.

**jrandom** · 18th April 2008, 10:22

Heh, y'know, it'll be quite hilarious if I ever buy a Buell, because someone's bound to drag this thread up.

Remember, folks, I'm not saying they're not cool or not fun, I'm just saying that they're slower and more likely to send one bouncing down the road on one's arse than most other bikes aimed at the same market.

**jrandom** · 18th April 2008, 10:28

Originally Posted by Badcat

this thread is hugely amusing

Still. Why don't you try arguing the topic on its own merits, instead of simply implying that other people are somehow unqualified to comment?

Also, don't be silly; I'm not 'completely panning' Buells. Just being realistic about what they are in the face of a bunch of fanboi ejaculation over keyboards about them being TEH AWESUM.

Gosh, if we can't have a good old hammer-and-tongs discussion about the awesomeness and/or drawbacks of a particular brand of motorcycle without some snide cunt popping up and telling us that we should shut up because we're not experts, this forum really is going to the dogs.

Like I said. Argue topic on merits, or STFU.