Buells?

[nikfleisch]

Wondering if anyone here has one, i love my gs500 dont get me wrong but im outgrowing it prety fast, looking to upgrade at the end of this season when prices are cheap, anyone have any input on the XB9r or XB12R, love the 1125r, but i wouldnt want it as a second bike.

[tt_four]

BUELLS!!! This is what I like to see here!  

This is my 2003 XB9, picked it up last June for $3200 with only 3400 miles on it, cheaper than a lot of people on here paid for their GS. There are definitely some great deals to be had on them because the market is still undecided on them. Grab one now before they get too hard to find!





The only regret I have is not holding out for an xb12. If your only other bike has been the GS I think the xb9 will be more than enough to make you happy. I've ridden some faster bikes though and I wouldn't mind the extra power. Torque monsters but they only top out at 92hp for the 9 and 103hp for the 12. I'd compare the xb9 more like a gsxr600 and the xb12 closer to a gsxr750, although it's really hard to compare the motors when the Buell has all bottom end and midrange, and the gsxrs are all top end. It's a great bike though. I'm hoping to sell mine soon to pick up an xb12, but once I find one I plan on keeping it for decades. The 1125s are cool, a lot faster, but they don't have the same character. Let me know if you have any questions! The XBS and XBR are the same exact bike with the only differences being bodywork and handlebars. The engines are tuned exactly the same and all that business though, you get the same bike either way you go. 

[nikfleisch]

ive ridden motorcycles since i was 6, im not new by any means, my only STREET bike has been the gs500, just looking at specs the xb12 seems like a better fit for the bike i want, enough top end, but not to much i can get myself in trouble with, a solid 0-60 and good cornering

[nikfleisch]

arent the riding positions also a little different between the r and s?

[tt_four]

I avoid the highway, it's just not that much fun on these bikes. They're geared low, so they top out at about 140mph, so highway cruising forces you to keep the RPMs a little higher than a lot of street bikes, and with that long stroke twin you definitely can tell. 0-60, traffic, and back roads are perfect though. The bike is physically smaller than the gs, which is awesome for a 1000/1200cc bike. The wheelbase is 3 inches shorter than any of the japanese I4s so cornering is super easy. It's the kind of bike that's fun whether you're on quiet back roads by yourself, riding around normal streets, or just going from redlight to redlight in the city listening to that engine rumble and looking at all the people's confused faces when they hear a harley coming, look over and see someone sitting there on a sportbike. The last I4 I had was fun but I was always looking for the perfect spot to go wide open on the throttle and I don't find myself doing that on this bike at all.

As far as the riding positions, they're different just because of the handlebars. The pegs are also 1 inch higher on the firebolts, but the pegs are swappable between the 2 bikes, and I see them for sale on the forums all the time. The normal seats are the same height, although there are plenty of options for different seats. All of the parts are interchangeable too. I have a firebolt top triple I plan to put on my bike eventually so I can get the lower clipons for riding. I see people who have lightning tails on their firebolts, firebolt tails on their lightnings, firebolt fairings on lightnings, lightning bars on firebolts, firebolt bars on lightnings, all the body work is interchangeable between the years, even some parts swap over from the 1125s. I'm not 100% sure whether I'll end up with an xb12s or an xb12r, but it's so easy to convert back and forth that I'll just buy whatever comes up first and sort that out later.

[burning1]

im outgrowing it prety fast

Bwahahahahahahaha!

You don't "outgrow a bike," you move on to something else.

(I don't mean to be a jerk about it. 'outgrow a bike' is a pet peve of mine. I say that as a guy who is still trying to find the limits of his GS.)

[burning1]

BTW... The Buell XB9s are good bikes... I rode one briefly. Very compact, but comfortable ergos. Damn things are like paint shakers though, especially while waiting at a stop light. The 1125s have a rotax engine and are much more refined. Not sure about the XB12s.

[scottychop]

My first bike was a Buell Cyclone M2 and just about the coolest, most badass bike i've owned.  I'm now on bike 12 and wishing I had never sold the Buell.  Torque monsters!  Grab one before they are collectors items and worth 12K.

[tt_four]

Damn things are like paint shakers though, especially while waiting at a stop light. The 1125s have a rotax engine and are much more refined. Not sure about the XB12s.

Definitely shakes like crazy. I only noticed it the first 2-3 days though. I don't think a thing of it anymore. I'm amazed how smooth inline 4s are when I get on them though. You couldn't even tell they're running if they didn't make noise. I kind of like the commotion now, refined doesn't necessarily mean more fun. The 12s shake more than the xb9s.

How long a bike amuses you will all depend on how you ride. It tends to cause a commotion around here when someone says they're outgrowing the GS. People don't like to hear it haha. It's perfectly well agreed that 99% of the people here can't handle a GS anywhere near their limit on a track, but it's pretty easy to get tired of the power if you spend much time on the highway or just cruising around. I'm sure most people can't ride one to their limit on the street either, but if you're pushing a bike to it's limit on the street, then you've got more problems to worry about, so it's not really a valid argument. I could have a great time on the GS when I'm riding around back roads, but I don't happen to enjoy wringing a bike's neck. I like bikes with enough power that I can ride around at 3k rpm and and still be able to accelerate out of a turn, or can pull away from a red light with just a little bit of throttle and still keep up with traffic. That's not something I could do on the GS, I used to get toasted by old people in buicks on a regular basis. A bike with a peak of 100hp might be unnecessary, but if you ride at an rpm level where you're still only getting 45hp, how's that any different than riding the GS at 10k rpm? Everyone likes bikes for different reasons, but some people tend to forget that. The xb9 is a great bike, and I'd never outgrow it for commuting, back roads, any of it, but I happen to enjoy wheelies, and the xb9 just doesn't cut it. I'd say in that aspect I'm starting to outgrow the bike  To be honest I've got bicycles that I (nor anyone on this forum) would be able to ride to their limit, yet most of the people on here would probably say they've outgrown them and deserve the 45hp version and I don't ever hear anyone debating that.

[nikfleisch]

only reason i say outgrowing is because im 6 1 and after about an hour of riding my back and neck begin to throb the riding style seems to upright for me. thanks for all the responses keep em coming!

[SAFE-T]

I rode some older tube-frame Buell Cyclone's a couple of years prior to the XB's and they were junk in comparison.

I test rode the XB9 and XB12 back-to-back a few years ago. The 9 was great, but the 12 not so much:

* redline too low ~ fun's over before it ever got started
* the one I rode may have had a problem with the EFI ~ the 9 could go all the way down to 1500 rpm without so much as a hiccup but the 12 bucked and jerked in any gear below 2000rpm

All Buells front disc brake rotors are known to overheat and discolor.

The 1125 has a face only a mother could love, but is often cheaper than the XB models since HD unloaded them at fire sale prices when they dumped the brand.

[Twisted]

I rode some older tube-frame Buell Cyclone's a couple of years prior to the XB's and they were junk in comparison.

I test rode the XB9 and XB12 back-to-back a few years ago. The 9 was great, but the 12 not so much:

* redline too low ~ fun's over before it ever got started
* the one I rode may have had a problem with the EFI ~ the 9 could go all the way down to 1500 rpm without so much as a hiccup but the 12 bucked and jerked in any gear below 2000rpm

All Buells front disc brake rotors are known to overheat and discolor.

The 1125 has a face only a mother could love, but is often cheaper than the XB models since HD unloaded them at fire sale prices when they dumped the brand.

Your riding a big V twin not an I4. They don't like to be ridden at low revs.

[burning1]

only reason i say outgrowing is because im 6 1 and after about an hour of riding my back and neck begin to throb the riding style seems to upright for me. thanks for all the responses keep em coming!

You might want to look into a good dualsport with sport/touring capabilities, like the v-storm. Good ergos for tall riders, much better power than the GS. One of the BMW GS bikes might also be a good choice.

FWIW, the Buells always felt a little small to me. The lightning has ergos similar to the GS, so... Not cramped like a sport bike. But, the GS is actually somewhat roomy compared to a lot of the bikes out there.

[Twism86]

Ummm when did Buell stop making bikes? 

[Bluesmudge]

I agree, I am only truely comfortable for long distances on dual sport bikes and for that reason, by GS does not see as much use as it deserves.  A vstrom is probably the best all around bike if you can get over it's odd look.

A sportier bike is going to be less comfortable, not more comfortable.

[Twism86]

A vstrom is probably the best all around bike if you can get over it's odd look.

Thats the main problem, for bikes, its ALL about the looks.

[burning1]

Ummm when did Buell stop making bikes? 

Late 2009.

[tt_four]

All Buells front disc brake rotors are known to overheat and discolor.

The 1125 has a face only a mother could love, but is often cheaper than the XB models since HD unloaded them at fire sale prices when they dumped the brand.

I've never heard any problems with rotors over heating and discoloring. They can warp because they're so big, but there's only 1 so it's only half the price to replace anyway.

I'll NEVER get used to that fairing on the 1125r. the CR has grown on me and I do like them, but that fairing on the 1125r is just way too wide and too high. I've seen 1125r's with xb12r fairing on them and they look great. They should've stuck with that look.

If you're looking to upgrade for size a normal XBS/R might not be the way to go. I do know a lot of taller guys who have them and love them, but they're tiny bikes. They're about the size of a 250cc 2 stroke gp bike. I'm 5'8 and I think the bike is perfect for someone my size. The handlebar to seat distance is 5 inches shorter on my XB. You can adjust that by picking handlebars with different backsweep, but I'm giving measurements based on the bar clamp and that much is a fixed distance. The R will be a little more stretched out because of the clipons, but you still don't have any option to adjust the bars there, and you're gonna be looking at a bike that's way smaller than any gsxr/cbr. The wheelbase is 3 inches shorter than all of those bikes too. The first time I got on mine and reached for the bars I completely over shot them and felt like I was riding around with my elbows tucked into my sides, but you get used to it eventually. You might do best to look at an XB12SS, or one of their other versions like the xb12stt, xb12x, or xb12xt.

The redline is super low but that's where I ride anyway so it doesn't bug me. I do need to get a test ride in on an xb12 before I pick one up, but to be honest if I don't like the xb12 I might just trade in for a gsxr750 all together. Some people say there's a big difference between the power and some say there isn't any. The 9 is definitely supposed to be a smoother motor, but if you can get used to the change from an I4 to an xb9, I'm sure you'll adjust that little extra bit to an xb12.

Eric Buell is still making bikes, but the actual "Buell" motorcycle company is no more. It's current EBR because Harley is keeping the name. They just introduced their first production street bike but it's about $40k. He's hoping to get back to a point where he's making more affordable street bikes, but nobody knows whether it'll be as big as it was when HD owned them. I think there are definitely a few companies who are interested in making his bikes, but he's not legally allowed to talk to any of that yet.

[The Buddha]

im outgrowing it prety fast

Bwahahahahahahaha!

You don't "outgrow a bike," you move on to something else.

(I don't mean to be a jerk about it. 'outgrow a bike' is a pet peve of mine. I say that as a guy who is still trying to find the limits of his GS.)

Yea I agree, but I am street only commuter, I think I wont outgrow a nighthawk 250.
I had a KZ440 for years and loved it. 70 mpg is very very hard to not love.
Cool.
buddha.

[tt_four]

Outgrowing your needs and outgrowing your wants are just two different ways of outgrowing. I'm always complaining that I need to upgrade my xb9 to an xb12, but I'm also trying to buy a drz400sm, which comes with about 35hp stock, so it all just depends what you want to do with it.

I also drool like crazy over those new KTM Duke 125s, which only have 15hp so it's not like I'm saying I don't have a use for a bike without a ton of power. I'll be surprised if we ever get them here though. A 250cc version would be cool if they could keep them the same size, and still under 300lbs.