| Author | Message | ||
     Blake |
Thank you very much for posting that Matty!   | ||
| Firemanjim |
I stopped by Vallejo HD this morning and found Mike, the Buell mech, busy installing an ECM so he could take out their Firebolt.Saw him whiz by fire engine with big SE grin on his face.So Vallejo is up and running. | ||
| Blake |
My letter to the CW editor. Basic rehash of points previously raised. Will be interesting to see if it gets printed. From: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To: CW_editorial@hfnm.com Subject: Bad Handling Buell, but scorches street course? Date: Fri, 07 Jun 2002 07:20:24 +0000 Dear CW, I enjoyed your coverage of the Buell XB9R in your July 2002 "The World's Best Street Bike" and "Ten Best Bikes 2002" articles. I found the opinions informative and mostly unbiased... except for a few cases. Firstly, I don't understand how Mr. Canet was able to find so much fault in the Buell Firebolt XB9R. According to Mr. Canet in reporting the results of his "How's She Handle" timed street course, the new Buell "requires constant input", is "like wrestling a pit bull through the slalom", has "ultra-heavy" clutch pull, and insists "on standing up while braking." Reading his description one would think the bike virtually unridable through the twisties in any aggressive manner. Funny how such a supposedly poor handling and difficult bike was able to match (within 0.07 seconds) the time of the 1st place bike, CW's pick for the world's best middleweight streetbike of 2002, the CBR600F4i - a 20 pound lighter bike with ten more HP, and according to Mr. Canet posessing "light neutral handling", and a "perfectly balanced suspension and brakes." Funny too how the F4i was added to an otherwise one bike per manufacturer competition, giving Honda two bikes to the other manufacturers single entries. Funny how Canet himself even admits that "Going a tick quicker than the Buell required revving the pee out of the Honda", and that he "had to get a bit aggro with it." Then in an apparent apology to American Honda, Canet comments "I could have used the extra horsepower our '01 testbike put out." Sounds to me like Canet just couldn't bear to have the Buell win the contest. When it came to the distant 3rd place (by 2.3 seconds!) Honda Interceptor, Mr. Canet has nothing but praise, touting its "solid" half second advantage over the 4th place FZ1. The XB9R trounces the Interceptor and FZ1 by well over 2 seconds, but that fact get's absolutely no comment. Even the 4th place FZ1 gets all positive comments. I appreciate objective comments and a fair evaluation. I wonder if I'm getting them from Mr. Canet. Secondly, I question the contrived list of "Downs" for the XB9R. "The front brake needs better feel" For a racebike, maybe. For a streetbike that can match the world's best middleweight on a handling course, why? "Not for the one bike owner" Why not? Does CW have any clue how many American motorcyclists put less than 3,000 miles on their bike every year? Not every biker wants to ride two up and/or for miles on end. "Useless mirrors" That statement is outright exaggeration. When the bike is parked, you can use them to check for helmet hair.  "Drop swingarm replace drivebelt at 15,000 miles" Does the swing arm really need "dropped" to replace the belt? I think not. It has a removable joint to facilitate belt changes. Lastly, while honoring the XB9R as an honorable mention in the "Ten Best Bikes of 2002" article, CW says "If there was an award for the Best Air Cooled, Belt-Driven, Pushrod Twin Cylinder Sportbike, the cool new Buell would be a Ten Best shoo-in." If that isn't a slam I don't know what is. Other than Buell models, there are NO other bikes fitting CW's silly overly specific contrived Buell-only category. Makes me wonder if CW truly understands the meaning of "honorable." CW is an American publication right? Buell is the ONLY American sportbike manufacturer right? I agree that the Firebolt is not the best all around streetbike, but how about showing Buell some respect? Blake ~~~~ Kilgore, Texas ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PS: Re. page 43, next to last paragraph: Steve Anderson mentioned to me that you took his joking/sarcastic comment about the XB9R rake being altered to meet the HD high speed stability standard as fact, when it was meant only as a joke. Please set that straight. I'm sure someone at Buell has already pointed out to you the mistake. The above, less the text shown in blue appeared in the September '02 issue of Cycle World. The CW editor apparently found good reason to cull half of the content of my letter. In addition, no retraction/correction of the bogus rake/test criteria issue was published. It seems we may have struck a nerve. The CW editor's reply was to point out the favorable statements made by test riders. Seems like bias to me. | ||
| Elvis |
Blake, Great Job! | ||
| Blacksix |
Good job Blake. | ||
| Superbad |
Blake Good job! I was considering writing myself, but you were far more "Diplomatic" than I would be. Bobby | ||
| Shot_Gun |
I'm waiting responce in CW with bad... ahh baited breath!!  Great job Blake. SG | ||
| Elvis |
Now imagine if the Cycle World staffers had even one tenth as much experience with the XB9R as with the Honda. I'm betting it would have smoked the Honda. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Great letter Blake! I doubt they will print it though. they always seem to favor the short ones. What about pulling just the most pointed and valid criticisim out... just rearranging some of your words: ==== Begin heavily edited letter ==== Great article in the July issue "10 best street bikes". But what's with the review of the Buell XB9R as performing on the "simulated street course". The reviews of both Hondas (first and third winners) just glowed, and rightfully so, they are great bikes. But the review of the Firebolt (effectively tied as the number 1 bike) was full of negatives. If the Interceptor shone because it was a "solid half second above the FZ1", then why so much criticisim for the Buells handling when it was 2 seconds faster then the Interceptor, and effectively just as fast as the F4i. Geesh! The Buell "requires constant input", is "like wrestling a pit bull through the slalom", has "ultra-heavy" clutch pull, and insists "on standing up while braking." However it can tie a bike with 20 more horsepower and a reputation as one of the best handling sportbikes ever built? Something doesn't add up, different does not always mean worse. By the way, the trail was never changed by Harley, that was a misinterpreted joke (do you really think it failed a "Harley high speed handling test"?). The belt is replaceable through a removable section of the frame, has zero drivetrain lash, lasts longer then any sportbike chain, and never need adjustment, cleaning, or lube. How again exactly is this a "down"? ==== End heavily edited letter ==== Even that may be a bit long. They seem to like them short, light, and playfull. Send something like the above (and if it could be made about 20% smaller it would be even more likely to see print). They are all your words, just edited, so it should still be your letter... | ||
| Cro13 |
Not to change the subject but, Coming out of a local hoagie shop today, I see a guy looking at the XB real close. As I walk over holding my helmet he asks "this your bike?" Now this isn't a new experience the XB has gotten alot of attention. My reply of yes, was met by a lecture about: Jap bike blah blah, You should support America blah blah, After what they did on Sept. 11... What? That last one got me. I told the guy I didn't realize that the Japanese were responsible for what happend up in New York. That just triggered an angry stare so I try to lighten it up by pointing out the "American Motercycles" on the air box. His reply was "YA, I saw what you stuck on there" Needing to get back to work (and I was a little freaked out by him) I just give him a shrug of the shoulders and throw a leg over. He lets go with a string of profanity and walks back to his car... Here comes the punch line... He gets into an old, beat-up Toyota with you guessed it a big Harley-Davidson sticker on the back. On the up side It looks like a great weekend for riding here in PA. Carter 03 XB | ||
| Shot_Gun |
Carter: Don't let it get you down. It must be a PA thing. I stoped at a deli on 413 last year in Levitown and got a similar responce from a guy who called my "BABY" an Japanese abortion. I was floored? I wasn't as nice as you were though. He was driving an old brown Toyota p/u with a rebel flag in the rear window. I think sometimes I'm still mad but I'll get over it. TGIF: SG | ||
| Tripper |
Your bias is showing Blake. They did not pick the Honda 600 as best streetbike, it was only in the mix as a benchmark for street HANDLING. It won the handling course competition. It was not part of the BEST STREETBIKE competition. I wonder Blake, have you driven the Honda 600? I have not, let alone back-to-back with the F-Bolt. I don't recall you saying you have driven the F-bolt, but then I have not been reading every post lately. Have you? The sample I rode (a mere 18 miles) had some quirks. It's slow to turn in, slower than my S1. It has a hesitation at a certain lean angle, then when pulled over past that point is more than willing to go farther (VERY far), and is extremely stable and confidence inspiring. But it is not perfect. It is not as "flickable" as the extremely short wheelbase & rake numbers had me thinking it should be. It is extrememly stable, even though it was not dialed in for my significant girth, and all the way to 133 mph! I am sure it handles exactly as Mr. Buell wanted it to for street use, and takes into consideration the 50% riders capability. The Firebolt IS A GREAT AND EXCITING machine. But I don't think the magazine article warrants the comments above. Respectfully, Tripper (#9 on the waiting list for a Firebolt at Topeka HD, but eagerly awaiting the July unveiling of the new Buell Line based on the F-bolt chassis. XB12 BABEEEEEE!!!) | ||
| Rick_A |
I think Blake and others are right here. Facts show the XB bested most all of the other bikes in the test. Instead of giving it it's props...they lightly bash it in every sense. That's not right. To top it all off they give some obviously false information. They should set the record straight. What is it with people in Deli's and comments? I had a Hog guy bash my Buell...and another fool insisted it was an Italian bike. | ||
| Xgecko |
While Kirk McCarthy is obviously talented here is one of the reasons why he's out in front. At Road America through the Trap he is 10MPH faster than anyone else...factory or no he has better toys than even the other Ducati boys Best Pro Thunder Trap Speeds: 1. Kirk McCarthy, Ducati 748RS, 158.4 2. Heath Small, Ducati 748RS, 149.3 3. Tom Montano, Ducati 748R, 147.8 4. Mike Ciccotto, Buell XB9R, 147.1 5. Clark Freatman, Ducati 748, 145.8 6. Dan Bilansky, Buell X-1, 145.1 7. Tripp Nobles, Buell XB9R, 144.6 8. Kurt Marmor, Ducati 748, 144.1 9. Shawn Higbee, Buell XB9R, 142.4 10. Richie Morris, Buell X-1, 141.9 | ||
| José_Quiñones |
6/7/02 Kirk McCarthy Continues To Set The Pace For AMA Pro Thunder Competition At Road America Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc. Friday Afternoon Pro Thunder Practice Times: 1. Kirk McCarthy, Ducati 748RS, 2:17.793 2. Tom Montano, Ducati 748R, 2:22.573 3. Shawn Higbee, Buell XB9R, 2:23.040 4. Tripp Nobles, Buell XB9R, 2:23.504 5. Mike Ciccotto, Buell XB9R, 2:24.120 6. Dave Estok, Buell XB9R, 2:25.148 7. Heath Small, Ducati 748RS, 2:25.677 8. Dan Bilansky, Buell X-1, 2:27.953 9. Richie Morris, Buell X-1, 2:29.212 10. Kurt Marmor, Ducati 748 2:29.375 | ||
| José_Quiñones |
You think CW is in trouble with Blake? Check out what John Burns got himself into for actually LIKING the BOLT, he's basically been accused of being in Buell's pocket, because they advertise on motorcycle.com Check it out here | ||
| Court |
Carter: That's HILARIOUS ! Court | ||
| Anonymous |
The XB desreves strong crticism. It is not what the rank an file were eagerly awaiting. It is expensive for its capabilities and piss poor at acceleration. | ||
| Court |
Anonymous: That's HILARIOUS ! Court Let the masses ride V-Max's. See Tripper's "I am 9th on the waiting list for an XB9R" | ||
| Jrh |
Anonymous So which one do you own,the beat-up toyota car or that nice brown P/U? | ||
| Bad_Bart |
Anony, Appparently you haven't heard about the Firebolt's special ECM that sends electrical impulses directly to the brain's pleasure receptors. Canet, and Minime thought the Firebolt was hard to turn due to all the involuntary muscle contractions and loss of fluids they suffered. | ||
| Racerx |
Nice RAGGIN on the XB9R "ANONY" boy takes some real BIG ones to say that anonymous, HAVE you even ridden the XB an if so more than in a parking lot? | ||
| Blake |
Remember this... From Road Racing World. | ||
| Blake |
Whoa! There are some VERY interesting items in the RRW classifieds...
So, I wonder what kind of equipment Nash is fielding this year? JQ? Appears to me like he is getting the full blown factory FIM World SS equipment. | ||
| José_Quiñones |
I don't know what spec engine he's got, but I do know he's the one building it/tuning it, and it's blowing everybody's doors off, including the other Ducati teams. But I bet he's getting the same engine other people with the $$$ can buy from Ducati, unlike the two Buell teams with FACTORY unobtanium parts like the trapdoor gearbox/ecm/chain conversion/full fairing/front brakes etc. None of the other Buell teams get access to these yet, hopefully soon. You're making my point. If I had $27,000 I could BUY that motorcycle. Where can I buy last year's HAL or Tilley Pro Thunder bike??? They are unobtanium! | ||
| José_Quiñones |
If it was truly a Privateer team, wouldn't that sentence have said "Tilley HD/Buell representatives said......} | ||
| José_Quiñones |
Whatever he's getting, it's freaking fast: 6/8/02 Kirk McCarthy Takes AMA Pro Thunder Pole Position At Road America Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc. AMA Pro Thunder Qualifying Results: 1. Kirk McCarthy, Ducati 748RS, 2:16.586 2. Shawn Higbee, Buell XB9R, 2:19.962 3. Tom Montano, Ducati 748R, 2:21.025 4. Mike Ciccotto, Buell XB9R, 2:21.238 5. Tripp Nobles, Buell XB9R, 2:21.482 6. Dave Estok, Buell XB9R, 2:21.661 7. Heath Small, Ducati 748RS, 2:23.138 8. Dan Bilansky, Buell X-1, 2:24.325 9. Richie Morris, Buell X-1, 2:24.435 10. Kevin Hanson, Ducati 748, 2:26.363 11. Josh Bryan, Ducati 748, 2:26.892 12. Chris Knight, Ducati 748, 2:28.431 13. Brian Weber, 2:29.293 14. Clark Freatman, Ducati 748, 2:29.872 15. Jessica Zalusky, Ducati 748, 2:37.251 16. Greg Avello, Buell 1200, 2:37.549 17. Alex Freeman, Suz SV650, 2:42.556 18. Charles Sipp, Buell 1200, 2:43.229 19. Michael Handegard, Suz SV650, 2:44.277 | ||
| Ferris |
hiya Blake! say, you certainly know the definition of "scathing", eh? geepers, after i read Cycle World's "World's Best Streetbike" test, i came away with a smile for our beloved Buell, not the frown you apparently have. here, basically, is why. "On the right road the XB9R is pure magic. 'What a delightful surprise!' enthused Contributing Editor Allan Girdler...'it's like the whole machine is carved from billet! Solid, compact, no lag, no hesitation, motor pulls from all over, hits hard enough to yank my feet off the pegs.'" 'Handling is unlike anything else I've ridden' [said Steve Anderson]. 'It's the best bike Buell has done by far, and is probably the most advanced chassis in sport motorcycling.' 'Seemingly unlimited cornering clearance, a short wheelbase and steep steering geometry really allow the Firebolt to scorch the skidpad [said Don Canet], '...the XB9R proves that it can run with the best-handling sportbikes in the world, just like Erik Buell claimed.' pretty bitchin' (as in GREAT!) words, to MY eyes anyway, and the nits that Canet writes about the Buell's tendencies when pushed to the edge thru their handling course are probably right on the money. i've seen Canet race twice in person, once during a STTARS event near my former home in Washington, and once during a BattleTrax event at the Old Highway 40 Motorcycle Days at Donner Pass here in California, and the man KNOWS how to extract the most hustle from a scooter. John Burns, my FAVORITE Bitter Little Man, says Canet may be the fastest motojournalist in the world, and i can't think of a single reason to doubt the credibility of his (Canet's) statements. so when DC says he had to jump up on the porch and wrestle with the Big Dog (paraphrasing obviously) to make the Firebolt eat it's supper, i took his words at face value and didn't interpret them as showing prejudice in some form. further evidence, to me, that CW is taking the Firebolt seriously? --the fact that it was included in this comparo at all. (think of all the Piss & Moan letters they're gonna get from bike owners and manufacturers for machines that WEREN'T!) --the fact that the Firebolt is pictured front-and-center on the front cover, and is the most prominent bike pictured in the spread on pages 40 and 41, and gets it's own photo of the dragstrip testing. --the fact that out of only FIVE motorcycles that were deemed worthy of Honorable Mention in their "Ten Best Bikes of 2002" piece, the XB9R was ONE of them (!!!), plus it received lead billing. i am TRYING not to be skewed in my praise here by the knowledge that their group-bike photo shoots were done just a few minutes from my house here in SUC*ville (*Socialist Utopia of California, according to some on the GDB :-), but i honestly came away from the read with, well, a different read than you. if i were Editor Edwards, reading your well-written (but obviously Buell-biased) letter, when i got to the section where you wrote "Sounds to me like Canet just couldn't bear to have the Buell win the contest.", i would have laughed (maybe...), done my best Kobe Bryant imitation and sailed your missive toward the nearest round-file. again, i SUC, so maybe i'm way off-base on this one, but i just don't see where Cycle World deserves to be banged on so hard here. still love ya like a brother, tho ride to lean, FB | ||
| Blake |
FB, C'mon duuuuude, give me my props on this. In my very first paragraph to CW I stated that 2002 "The World's Best Street Bike" and "Ten Best Bikes 2002" articles. I found the opinions informative and mostly unbiased... except for a few cases." What sealed it for me in Canet's piece were his glowing prose lauding the 3rd and fourth place bikes that were left in the dust by the XB9R. As for pictures, yeah I enjoy them and appreciate the pictorial coverage given the Firebolt, but the supposed "Honorable Mention" picture's subtext was certainly a slam on the Firebolt. Would you want your picture on the cover of Time Ragazine with a subtitle like "The New Face of (insert derogatory insult here)". I didn't see the same type and quantity of snide remarks directed at any of the other bikes in the contest. "CW was apparently eager to quote Steve's sarcastic joke as fact, but was not professional enough to verify it, or to even check with the source before finalizing the copy. I don't have the article in front of me now, but in one quote of supposed praise, the road test rider said something to the effect of expecting the firebolt to be a joke, top off the frame and swingarm or some such statement. Sounds like preconceived bias to me. Before the guy ever road one, he had decided the XB9R was a "joke." I pride myself in being objective. I really do believe that I was fair in my evaluation. | ||
| Ferris |
the subtext for the Firebolt in the Honorable Mention coverage was a slam against CW's arch-rivals at Motorcyclist, whom they're in a bitter yet humorous pissing match with regarding how Burnsie came to become available. at least, that's my take on it. and pre-conceived bias regarding Buells? gotta agree, i bet EVERY moto-journo in the world has this in spades. i mean, let's be honest here, Buells have not historically exhibited the overall reliabilty and build-quality that one would expect from a premium-priced motorcycle with "Harley-Davidson" listed anywhere in the pedigree. the guy (Girdler) who assumed in advance that the Firebolt "was a joke", wrote some of the most glowing praise of the 'Bolt in CW's piece. not bangin' on ya, brother, really not, just tryin' to balance the scales a skosh. plus, i know how ya like a good fight XOXOXO, FB |
