| Author | Message | ||
     Blake |
I do NOT believe that the truss framed Buells will disappear from the line next year or anytime soon. This may be wishfull thinking on my part, because for me, and I think MANY others, the appeal of my Buell owes MUCH to the beauty of it's exposed engine. It is the ONLY production sportbike that displays such art in the form of it's engine. If HP and top speed were my priorities, I would have bought a V-Twin Duc, Aprilia, Honda, or Suzuki. Nothing wrong with Buell going after that market, but PLEASE Buell, keep the current philosophy alive as well. Please! Blake | ||
| Detroit |
I am going to vent here a little. Why the Fuck (can I swear here?) would harley put a liquid cooled multi valved engine in a cruiser and put an air cooled 2 valve 45 deg twin in a FUCKING SPORT BIKE. I know the USA is filled with the best engineers in the world but somehow the cream does not rise to the top. Why cant an American company do it right. Fuck it. I am saving my money till POLARIS comes out with a modern sportbike. They will do it before harley will. Gotta go. | ||
| Blake |
An addendum from José on his IMS report concerning the XB9R. Thanks again José!  View looking up from under the fairing The last bit was that the Pro Thunder Full fairing Firebolt was so "clean" that other bikes could not catch a draft behind it at Daytona! And the reason that they are not using two inside out rotors and sticking with the conventional rotors on the race bike is that they paid top $$$ for those brakes, and they work well and want to get their money's worth. | ||
| S320002 |
HD cafe-style VRod? Don't hold your breath waiting for that one. Air cooled vs. water cooled; Do people realy want the added complexity of a WC (did you catch that Rocket?) engine or do they just want more HP? Its like single sided swing arms. What is the real-world advantage? Even race bikes a going back to conventional swing arms. Some of the magazine writers/test riders are beginning to admit that they can't use all of the horsepower of some bikes on the track, never mind the street. Reminds me of what my son told me about riding in a Lamborgini. "It was so loud you couldn't hear the $3,000 stero and is was so twitchy it was miserable to drive in any kind of traffic. I thought Lamborginis were realy cool until I rode in one." If you realy want that kind of power you could build a balls out race bike or buy one of several models from overseas. One other thing. When a bunch of dealership employees got a chance to ride the latest sport bikes, including the Hayabusa, around a race track some of them were amazed that they had their fastest lap times on a BLAST! Me? I wouldn't mind a few more HP but I still ride in the real world and like to work on my own bike. Just one man's opinion. Greg | ||
| José_Quiñones |
I think I'll have to wait till about August of this year. It's coming, the VROD is the first of a series of bikes, so expect a cafe/sportster style version, a sport touring version, and a full bagger. The biggest complaint about the VROD is the handling. The biggest complaint so far bout the Firebolt is the lack of top end power. HD has the engine, Buell has the chassis. But it's so obvious that will they actually do it? If Buell wants to expand it's market into the traditional Japanese/European buyer, they need a modern, non vibrating, oil tight, high revving engine design. From the feedback I heard at the show this weekend, a lot of that crowd won't get a Buell until that happens. Obviously this is my humble opinion, what am I agains all the money HD/BUELL has spent on market research and surveys? I hope it was money well spent. | ||
| Jmartz |
Detroit, Jose: You guys have it right! I love this brand and will forever keep my S1. Maybe my wishes will come true and Buell will release a modern competetive bike. It doesn't have to be an R1 killer, just something that can run along with the best of them. | ||
| Greasebag |
 Today's Thoughts I'm not sure if reading all the posts in these forums for the last few months (the time I've been here) has strengthened my admiration of Buell's products or is making me shy away from an underpowered (?) bike that might get recalled 10 times for this and that.  I love the fact that it's American (mostly) and that not EVERYONE has one. I'm currently waiting for an XB9R. (was a harley rider for 5 yrs) This bike has been getting great reviews in the mags. That's cool. BUT 90 something HP?? What the?!  I mean, if I was going to buy a Suzuki etc, I'd get a 1000, not a 600. That's just me. Now I'm getting a 900 something bike that performs like a 600. And now I'm hearing rumors of a 120+ HP Buell in the works. Am I wasting my hard-earned $$ here? Is my XB9R going to be worth dirt when this 125HP bike comes out? As soon as it does come out (IF it does), I'm gonna want one! OK, OK, I just had a revelation as I was typing...My wife is riding a Blast right now. I can always sell the Blast, give her the XB, get my new and improved version, and all is well. ummmm.....please disregard this post  | ||
| S320002 |
JQ, If your idea of a cafe racer is a Sportster you might be right. If your idea of a sport touring bike is a Dyna Sport type bike with bags I'll give you that one too. The stripped down version we keep hearing about will probably a be lighter weight bike for the more serious straight liners. As to the bagger, there should be no doubt. But if you are expecting HD to build a bike that handles like a Buell, like I said, don't hold your breath. Greg | ||
| Blake |
Patience people. Rome wasn't built in a day. Detroit: Congrtatulations, the profanity checker has been disabled for well over two months now. I think you are the first to blow profanely in public, un-euphemized. I don't much like it, but if it helps you vent and feel better, well, maybe next time you'll euphemize it just a little in consideration of my delicate sensibilities. I've been know to vent on occasion myself.  | ||
| Mark_In_Ireland |
I see the Firebolt is bristling with stainless steel nuts and bolts.......NOT. Galvo fittings might be okay for sunshine states but in the real world we have ice and snow and salt on the roads and it rains a lot....just how much extra would it cost to fit stainless fastners????? | ||
| Detroit |
Sorry guys. I'll keep the profanity to myself for now on. But man I feel better. | ||
| Tripper |
And how! You should read his posts on SacBorg. Make me blush... | ||
| Blake |
Someone is posting on SacBORG under MY name?!!!  | ||
| Lsr_Bbs |
Air or water cooled, I don't care, I just want reliable and more hp than what they are offering...and come on folks, what's so damn hard about working on a H2O cooled motor??? Have many of you really worked on many water cooled bikes or even car motors??? After draining the cooling system, there's no difference. What really doesn't make sense to me is that the XB motor is STILL a 2v design. Could have easily done a 4v (or 5v) that would have had great high rpm ability...or better yet, variable valve timing to keep the low rpm torque and get high rpm power...oh, wait, that's high tech and y'all don't want any of that....then 90hp it is. E.B. and BMC have great frame designs, but should outsource their motors (there's no shame in acknowledging what you do, and don't do, well)...oh well, I'm stuck w/ my X0.5 (at least till someone steals it...ha!), but it'll be the last buell I buy till the dealer problems are fixed...regardless of what they come out w/. Neil Garretson X0.5 | ||
| Lsr_Bbs |
Intake/Cool Air Duct (Is this really a "ram" intake?) Great IMS pics...the answer is NO, and I wish people would quit calling it this. There is no way that that setup could pressurize the airbox...therefore, no ram air effect. Why? (1) the intake is not in 'clean' air...there is a huge amount of turbulence once the airstream breaks over the front of the bike; and (2) look at the picture...the intake scoop isn't even directly connected to the airbox, no way that the airbox will get pressurized. That factory reverse shifter location is a nice touch. Kinda silly that they can't/won't have factory installed frame slider mountings...who wants to buy a brand new bike and start welding on the frame???? Neil Garretson X0.5 |
