I've been thinking about buying a buell,  my wife has doesn't think i need another bike.  for the sake of my marriage convince me I dont need it..  (she says I have to many toys already) go figure.  apparently the the gs, 2 dirt bikes, 2 four wheelers, a 1/2 built drag car, a partially restored chevelle, 4 sets of golf clubs, and 9 million tools to her count as toys.  to me they are necessaties.  I offered to teach her to rideand give her the gs, she still said no.   whats a guy to do??   :dunno:

Harley engines, need I say more.  Thats the main reason I hold back from telling myself it will be my next bike, and because of it I probably wont have one.


WHOOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, 1000 posts        

I've heard nothing but bad things about Buells. I guess there always in the shop. Other than that I don't know much about them.

I'm also anti-harley and not much of a fan of american made wehicles so I'm a little biased.

have you heard anything about the 1cylinder blast?  maybe able to get one really cheap (guess its not really a buel without the harley motor)

That's the one I always hear about as being crap. Under powered and always broken.

If I had the money I'd go and get an XB12s. But, family first. That said; there is probably no more reliable motor made than the HD V-Twin. They just don't break down and I know because I've owned bunches of 'em (Harleys not Buells). If you do get one then you'll have something definitely different that you can pass down to your children and they to theirs. I like motorcycles of any kind but if it has a Harley motor it has a soul. But, you said talk you out of it...shame on you, you selfish dunk! Who do you think you are wanting to go and spend the cabbage on another ol' piece of crap to put out in the garage! You don't even have that friggin' race car built yet, and hey, when are you gonna get the wifey a new shiny ring or somethin', huh? Oh, you make my ass wanna chew tobacco! Did that do it?   . Love the Baby GS, Harley Davidson freakin' rules the roost, USN is the world's finest navy, Hawaii is da bomb, and I love everyone on this forum.  :kiss:

C........

my sister in law bought one new 2 years ago,  has under 1000 miles.  its been sitting in her grandmothers garage under a cover.  been thinking about getting it from her.  might be worth it if i get it cheap.  only problem is its purple.  only problem she has had is the spark plug going bad.  Im assuming when she parks it she doesn't shut the gas off and run it until it dies.

i've heard the same thing about breaking down because of the harley engine thats designed for cruisers and not crotch-rockets. i was told that the engines weren't built for high revs but to be more torqy and have to be modified so much from the original design that they tend wear out faster. i actually kinda like the way buells look but wouldn't want to deal with engine problems.

Speakin' of the Blast, I'd take one. On the Badweatherbikers forum there is a part dedicated to that little thing. They have had a few minor issues with them but that is supposedly in the first two years. Underpowered...lotsa torque, HP about 32-34 at the rear. Those guys are modding them and getting about 50-60 reliable HP from what I've read. Ya know, everybody talks shaZam! about HD and Buell, but Jap bikes NEVER break down do they? I mean I love the Baby GS, but get a grip...where do all these problems come from? Lovin' the mild and meek GS, Argentina (lost to the UK over the Falklands/Malvinas), and this forum.

C........

Buells are not ment to be reved high and they don't. about 6500-7000 rpm red line. The H-D engine is low maintance, no valve jobs at all and veary reliable.

http://www.mybuell.com/

http://www.recall-warnings.com/auto-category-V.BUELL.html
http://motorcycles.about.com/library/recalls/blmotorecalls023.htm

http://www.epinions.com/auto-review-3FF8-17A1F1EC-39A3F12B-prod1


Good luck.

Quote from: Jaredhttp://www.mybuell.com/

http://www.recall-warnings.com/auto-category-V.BUELL.html
http://motorcycles.about.com/library/recalls/blmotorecalls023.htm

http://www.epinions.com/auto-review-3FF8-17A1F1EC-39A3F12B-prod1


Good luck.

Most of the problems are on models that are no longer in production. the latest "XB" type bikes are very good. Look at the other makes and you'll find recalls for them.

BTW no recalls on the GS  

Buell's seem to be a love/hate thing.  If that's what you want, there is no saving you.  Sorry . . .

They are supposed to be a blast to ride and if they are as unreliable as many people think, you've got 9 million tools and a box of Chevelle parts to put it back together.  How attached are you to the wife?

actually,  my wife bought the chevelle for me as a christmas present the first year we were together.  most of the tools were gifts from her and the kids.  I lost all my other tools in a nasty divorce (court decided that my ex wifes boyfriend deserved them more then me,  great court system ).  the problem is I just dont have room for another bike .  if I sell something getting a buell would not be a problem.   I just dont want to sell anything..
I WANT IT ALL......

Before you all keep dissing Buells, remember that your GS engine design is as old and outdated as the HD V-twin. What has Suzuki done to make an old engine more attractive? - cover it in plastic.
The new generation of Buells will definitely hold their own. You don't buy a Buell to rev the crap out of it, why you would do that anyway, i don't know, they have so much low end power. As for being in the "shop always", a service manager told me that parts are very hard/long  to get for them. They seem to be the black sheep of the HD family. Soon they'll be getting V-rod engines, and then some folks around here will sing a different tune altogether.
But don't knock it 'till you ride one!

The recurring theme from all the magazine reviews of the XB series Buells is that the chassis and suspension promise you one thing, and the engine delivers another.  It's described as an almost schizophrenic motorcycle since the bike itself is so state of the art and hard edged, but the engine is powerful enough but lazy feeling.

I have to think that if Erik Buell hadn't had to align with Harley to start his business, he wouldn't be using an engine anything like he's got now.

Ride one....do more research and did I  mention ride one?

They aren't for everyone, however I think everyone should give it a try.  It's an interesting bike with a ton of creative thinking into it.  Yes it's a Harley engine.....a very low maintenance Harley engine.  You don't even have to change the drive belt for 25K!  

The XB's have an EXCELLENT service record.  The older models had some issues that seems to have built Buell a bad rep for service.  Rumor has it that there is an ST model coming out this year with a motor based on the VROD motor.  Should be interesting if it really happens.

One thing you have to remember about the Buells is this...You do not rev it to get the most out of it.  It seems very few of the mag guys figure this out.  You stay lower in the revs.  Short shift.  Ride the torque.  Works well once you figure it out.

Quote from: gobstopperThe recurring theme from all the magazine reviews of the XB series Buells is that the chassis and suspension promise you one thing, and the engine delivers another.  It's described as an almost schizophrenic motorcycle since the bike itself is so state of the art and hard edged, but the engine is powerful enough but lazy feeling.

I have to think that if Erik Buell hadn't had to align with Harley to start his business, he wouldn't be using an engine anything like he's got now.

imma get a lightning at the end of the summer  

Personally, I think anyone over 5' 11" looks ridiculous on a Buell.  Just this morning coming to work I saw a yellow XB9S parked on the sidewalk right in front of the newly opened Starbucks... on the corner of the gorgeous new Life Science building, the darn thing looks so sexy ( not good taste to compare a yellow XB9S to a dumb blond ) - I wish the parking control would come and impound it...  :mrgreen: