| Author | Message | ||
     Jim_Witt |
Anon: The reliability of a turbo isn't a problem, but I'll bet the insurance will skyrocket on a "factory production model bike" that's turbocharged. Cheers, -JW:>) | ||
| Lsr_Bbs |
Demanded??? How have I, nay, how can I, a lowely consumer, demand a damn thing??? Discussing what I'd like to see mfgr. X do is not a demand! Discussing what I see as the pros and cons of mfgr X's product is not a demand. Discussing what I see as good and bad in mfgr. X's marketing strategies is not a demand. Never have I said BMC owed me a thing! I'm not spun up about a thing Aaron...though your panties seem to be in quite the sheepshank. Cripes, you don't attack Jose' and Jmartz for voice nearly the identical opinions...but I'm somehow more offensive. Everyone can Monday morning quarterback but Neil...ok, now that I finally got the rules down, I'll play by them. =========== Turbo...now we're cooking w/ gas. But the insurance thing would be a killer. Neil Garretson ...aw fuck it, I'm taking off early and hitting the road for a ramblin' weekend! X0.5 | ||
| Wruffus |
Price! $7999 at Motown HD, Taylor MI published in their newsletter/magazine. | ||
| José_Quiñones |
those are watercooled trucks, buses and cars.... As mentioned, an air cooled engine has problems with heat management when you want to make 130 horsepower, just ask Tilley. A turbo makes the situation worse. And the insurance hit is a good point. | ||
| Sarodude |
Uh, an $8K Firebolt? Just one at that price? Car dealers do that - one unit at a crazy price... Must...Have...More...Information... -Saro | ||
| Aaron |
Okay, "bellyache" instead of demand, I don't care, although "shit or get off the pot" is technically a demand. Whatever you call it, it sure comes across that somehow you think this company owes it to you to build what you want and market it in a way that makes sense to you. Sounds very self-centered, and like I said, I still don't know why you're so hung up on Buell making such a bike, when there are several fine ones on the market that meet your needs perfectly. Is someone holding a gun to your head and forcing you to buy a Buell? Bottom line, like it or not the Buell strategy (at least for now) is to dream up bikes that no one else makes, not try to make competing versions of bikes already available. As long as you keep wanting them to do the latter, you'll continue to be frustrated, and I expect we can continue to look forward to your incessant whining. I think you just enjoy complaining. AW PS: Jose and Jose' make a LOT of positive contributions. And their comments on the XB come across as constructive, not just someone looking for an excuse to bitch. | ||
| Blake |
Jose: Do you really see it as such an insurmountably monstrous challenge to toss the conventional wisdom of a massive intermediary liquid cooling system in favor of a more focused and controlled direct air/oil cooling system? Does not the XB9R already provide some level of liquid cooling in the form of substantially greater oil capacity, piston cooling oil jets, and an oil cooler? Have some imagination. There's NOTHING majic about big liquid cooling systems in an IC engine. Air is also a fluid; if it is judiciously forced, directed, and regulated in it's function as a coolant, is assisted by some level of liquid cooling in critical hotspots, and if the cooling surfaces of the engine are optimally designed, an air cooling system will outperform a liquid cooling system. There's always a place for healthy skepticism, but man, imagine working on NASA's Apollo program in the 60's! Blake (optimisticskeptic) | ||
| Blake |
Methinks Aaron and Neil are fixin to don thongs and meet in the mud pit. Peter_T similarly garbed, will be refereeing. Nice image, that. (shudder). | ||
| Jima4media |
XBT12R - sign me up. Have you looked at the intake path and air filter box? There is actually room in there for a turbo. Make it an after-market add-on item for getting around the insurance hit. (nudge, nudge, wink, wink, you know what I mean?) Jim X-2.5 | ||
| Peter |
Jose, A fan blowing air around an aircooled engine in the right places, will do the same job. PPiA | ||
| Tavs |
I don't know if I was thrown a line, but last summer when we were all waiting for news on the XB I heard a rumor that this first bike was to be air cooled and there was to be a 2nd bike unveiled next year that was to be the full monster race bike w/water cooling. Sort of like the TL-S to the TL-R. It's probably a lie since the racebike at Daytona seemed to have none of this. | ||
| S2no1 |
Blake, Oh GOD!!! I'm BLIND BLIND BLIND. Why did you make me see that in my mind's eye? Now what is the fuss about. No one ever said that Buell had a genius for marketing. Say, wait, isn't HD the same company that for FIVE STRAIGHT YEARS posted RECORD PROFITS. Although we may want a world class bike, I bet the marketing studies are accurate. The reliability, engineering, and dealer network need a little to a lot of improvement. Unless your two doors down from Modesto your probably not happy. Arvel Court, please fine Neil and Aaron for Temper Unbecoming a Buelligan and really fine Blake for obscene and disgusting imagery. Are there enough patches in the World? Since it's going to be 60 and sunshine in OKC, I think I'll change the oil in the S2. | ||
| José_Quiñones |
I think this is the only reason Buell is still around today, they would have collapsed without HD behind them during the Recall, when bikes could not be sold and the production line stopped. All those RUBS putting chrome on their bikes helped to get Buell through that. Now, as has been reported, the average age of an HD owner is 44 years old and climbing. They obviously need to attract a younger demographic. Buell is an attempt at that, but it has not been succesful yet. The youngest Bueller at Deals Gap was 23! You looked around the room and you could count the twenty somethings in your hands among the 200 people there. So they still need something to get even younger people interested in Buells. The Blast and now the XB are an attempt at that. The XB is a wonderful bike, probably the PERFECT street bike, with real world performance combined with ridiculously low maintenance requirements. No chains or valves to adjust, etc. But they still need the exposure of a Ass Kicking American Superbike in AMA and WSBK to burn the name BUELL in the mind of every 18 year old itching to get a bike. It's a cliche, but it works: Win on Sunday, Sell on Monday! But Win in the Major Leagues, not some AAA division (Pro Thunder). This is where I think Buell is making a mistake. I have only been to three Pro Thunder races, Mid-Ohio, Summit Point and VIR, but the ridicule I heard about the Buell racing bikes was hard to defend. I can summarize what I heard as follows: "You mean to tell me that they are allowed extra displacement and they still can't hang with a DUC? And they still blow up and spill oil all over the track? They shouldn't be out there" Is that the exposure that helps Buell? | ||
| José_Quiñones |
Well, to package it in a Buellesque way and get it past the EPA, yes. And it's only going to get worse. Anything's possible in the aftermarket, the challenge Buell has is selling something that powerful while still being EPA noise compliant. That drive by 80db test is murder on Buells because of the rpm range that they use. They could try what Aprilia did, sell them "crippled", but if the owner removes what Buell sticks in the airbox and cuts a "special wire" you get an instant 20-30 hp! Hello! | ||
| José_Quiñones |
This is an oldie but a goodie, but still just as true then as it is today By Gary Valine:       |
