| Author | Message | ||
     Reepicheep |
Just to add a little more fuel to that fire, the Cycle World special issue (vtwin performance or something, excellent one shot publication) was quoting some information that clearly came from inside of Buell that included "that airbox can deliver enough air to go up to 120 horsepower without restricting"... So the thought has at least crossed their mind. I hope they do it. That way, I can buy one of the original firebolts used at a much lower price  Bill | ||
| Rocketman |
Well Motorcycle News UK is reporting this week that the V-Rod motor is going to power a new naked Harley to celebrate the co's 100th birthday. MCN claims their source has seen designer pictures ? Rocket in England | ||
| Blacksix |
Rocket, Could you post the link to that story? | ||
| Blake |
Can a bike dragging around a mongo radiator ever really be considered "naked"? | ||
| Ralph |
Yes bighairyralph | ||
| Rocketman |
I've looked on the MCN page and they didn't post the story. They did mention the radiator cowling. It's going, as is a lot of the chrome crap. Says the frame will stay as it's a special manufacturing process special to the V-Rod motor. No sense in building a new frame if you can get away with it ! It sounds to me like a stripped down V-Rod, that's all. Not really what I'd call a Streetfighter. Seems 'naked' covers (sorry about the pun) a lot of ground these days. My Buell isn't naked, it's minimalistic in the true sense of the word. It's had nothing taken away, like the Fazers or Hornets for example. Buell designed it minimal and that's so very important, at least to me, in Streetfighting terms. Rocket in England | ||
| Mikej |
Sounds like a bar-hopper version of the V-Rod in the works then. | ||
| Blake |
José (Buellstradamus) Quiñones posted the following as part of his "Pictures from the IMS in Philadelphia" report on the Quick Board. It's too good not to include here as well. THANKS José!!!    The Buell Leaning XB9R Firebolt! This was the most fun display to watch, just because it was fun to see people trying to figure out how to get on the thing, then trying to hang on! Buell reps were taking polaroids of everybody, which was very popular. Excellent idea, Buell! . . .  Cam cover and air ducting/trim beneath airbox  Note that the other side of the swingarm is also hollow.  Intake/Cool Air Duct (Is this really a "ram" intake?)  Primary Chain Adjuster, Tranny Drain, Kickstand Note the primary chain adjuster and the tranny fluid drain screw, which are easily accessible compared to the current Buells. The kickstand, btw, is very difficult to engage when you are on the bike. I guess that you would get used to it after a while, but it takes practice.  Front Engine Mount, Right Side  Rear Engine/Tranny Mount, Right Side  Front Muffler Mount, Left Side  Front Muffler Mount, Right side I couldn't see any rubber in there, so it might be rigidly mounted.  XB9R Shifter Note the extra mounting spot. This allows you to switch the shifter to allow a GP style shift pattern. You can see this in use on the Pro Thunder spec Firebolts. How long will it take an aftermarketeer to come up with a plug to cover up the mounting hole you are not using? Finally, some bits of information that I picked up from somebody at the Buell Display: 1. The Pro Thunder Firebolts are still using the Fuel Injection, and the only difference in the airbox is that they removed the filter and altered the intake plumbing a bit. So the stock airbox can handle the extra HP. And to put the icing on the cake, the F.I. bikes fuel efficiency is THREE times better than the Dual Carbed X1's (30mpg vs 10 mpg). 2. The frame sliders are mounted to the frame via a welded on mount. 3. The rear fan was removed, they don't need it on the race bike. 4. The full fairing/belly pan is designed to mount at all the stock locations, and Buell is "considering" selling this as an aftermarket option, but it wouldn't be cheap. Start writing those letters to Buell! 5. The Idler pulley has a sproket instead of the wheel to help to keep the chain in tension. 6.The suspension is Showa's "top of the line" stuff, but Penske supplies the rear shock on the race bike, and Traxxion Dynamics works on the forks a little bit. And the last one, which shocked me, was that there might not be a Sport Touring version of the Firebolt, as Buell apparently does not feel there is enough of a market for it. Is this the end of the S3? I hope not. José: I think you missed your calling compadré. You would make an excellent investigative reporter/photographer. Your "not seen before" XB9R pics are wonderful. They show a lot of the pertinent details the rest of us (at least me anyway  ) missed. I've said it before; I'm sure I'll say it again... José, YOU ROCK! Thanks for taking the time and effort to share your photos and information on the Firebolt. Don't make me ride up the BRP just to buy you a beer! (at least not until Springtime anyway)  Blake  | ||
| José_Quiñones |
Thanks for the kind words. I had fun yesterday, but sometimes I get carried away. There were two examples of this. JeffH was witness to the first one. There were some people talking about the muffler being underneath, so I started to explain that it's like "an ice skater, notice that when his/her hands are out, they spin at a certain speed, but when they move the hands inside, they spin faster" The problem was, while I was saying that I spread my arms out and hit a lady next to me in the head! The second time was when I removed the oil filler dipstick from the swingarm on the leaning bike and somebody working at the display caught me!  | ||
| José_Quiñones |
Now, the Buell display was good, but the overall best display was the APRILIA in my opinion, for the following reasons: 1. They had Rossi's and Corser's racebikes on display 2. They had Mike Himmelsbak (I'm sure I spelled that wrong) from Blackman's Racing. 3. They had their scooters/bikes there too. 4. The cutaway RSV bike 5. They had the best looking babes working there by far! | ||
| José_Quiñones |
And another thing, the guys/gals that worked at the BUELL display got an earful of dealer horror stories from the existing Buell owners that I saw there. They were understanding and said "We are aware and we are working on it" I hope so! Like I told one of them, the dealer network should be Buell's greatest strength, and it is actually their greatest weakness. I also heard people say "I like the bikes, but I won't buy a Buell 'till they get rid of that engine" quite a few times...... | ||
| Jmartz |
Jose: Now that the end of the tube frame Buells is upon us, what do you think that fact is going to do to the market value or collectibility of these "older" models? My beloved dirty bird will be retired in December this year when its tag and insurance expire. It will have been 7 years to the day from when I 1st brought it home, one rainy afternoon in mid December 1995. At its present rate of use final milage will be circa 48,000 miles. I will be looking for a 2003 model year replacement for a daily rider. The Buell should make a good project bike (not that is hasn't been that). I have acquired an extra set of bodywork for a new paint job which could be complemented with a new set of wheels and some changes in the bars/headlight/gauges area. | ||
| José_Quiñones |
José I honestly don't know. What I think is that the S2's and S1W's will keep their value, but the 99-01 bikes will not, because they are the "recall era/early FI" Buells, especially if the Firebolt and it's other versions prove to be RELIABLE. 2003, I think what will happen is that HD will come out with a Cafe Style VROD, with rear set pegs, higher ground clearance and much better handling. If Buell sticks with the air cooled engines, guess which one most people here will want to buy? | ||
| Blake |
Air cooled Buell for me please. | ||
| Jmartz |
I don't get the Company's current philosophy. A sport bike with lackluster power and an ultramodern cruiser. Neither seems fit for the present market. A sportier VRod would be welcome but it will be no sport bike. As much as I regret it my days in the domestic market are coming to a close, and I'm hating every moment of it. I love my Buell and had high hopes for a hotter bike in its next evolution. Instead I got the X1 and now the XB. You are correct in estimating what might get to be collectible but perhaps for the wrong reasons. The S2's and 1's will likely appreciate because of their relatively small production #'s and not because '99 models got a lousy fuel map. If one would submit all Buell models to a beauty pagent my vote (and I would hope and guess the majority as well) would be for the S1 and 2. But the coolest Buell ever made has got to be Lucifers Hammer, a naked version of the RR1000. |
