| Author | Message | ||
     Cajunrph |
I was able to get away and demo a XB12s today. My perception of the power of the xb12 engine differs from the two previous posters who didn’t like it. I can see where Speedy feels that it is not as fast as his SV1000. I ride a Bandit 1200 a bike faster than the SV and at first it seemed that the Buell wasn’t as fast. The operative word is seemed because one glance at the speedo informed me that the XB12S was just as quick as my Bandit. I rode my Bandit to the dealership today so I could get back to back impressions. As far as the engine vibration, one must differentiate between vibrations and shaking, excessive vibration is bad. The engine shakes, sort of like how Jessica Simpson shakes in her new video for the Dukes of Hazard movie. Ain’t nothing wrong with a little bit of shaking.  When it was first fired up it looked as though the blinkers were going to shake off the stalk but they hung around for the trip. The vibration is no worse than my Bandit. One thing I did find troublesome was the difficulties finding neutral. I found it right off the bat at first but it became increasingly difficult to find. This bike was an 03 model with 39 miles on it. I don’t know if this has anything to do with it. Any commits on this problem? This dealer bought the other Houston Buell dealers inventory so they have bikes ranging from 03-06. What should be a good price for the bikes? I will be paying cash for the bikes, no financing. Also I didn’t notice any place to hook a bungee cord to. I quite often have to bungee a package on the back of my bike to get it from the post office to my work. Anyone have any suggestions? One last thought on the acceleration of the bike. On the ride home on my Bandit, I tried to get it to accelerate as hard as it could and you know what? It accelerated with the same force as the Buell. One must be honest when we test ride a bike vs. a favorite bike. Now I have to work on the wife.  (Message edited by cajunrph on August 21, 2005) | ||
| Cdallen |
I think you hit the nail on the head with your comments. I have only one IL4 bike for experience but when I test rode the XB12S I too was surprised after merging from the on ramp onto a 4 laner that I was already doing 80ish... This is just my opinion but I think the difference and what some may have called "uninspiring" is the fact that there is no change in power delivery along the rev range. With my previous bike you could feel it strengthen between 4-5k and then again at ~8-9k. With the Buell you don't feel that increase in power at any point along the range it's just there the WHOLE time  and that can be interprited as not being there. That's just my thoughts anyway.  Also, I think some here were a bit harsh on this point to a couple of the previous posters, but in their defense when I first posted on this, I presented it a little differently and definately got a much more encouraging response: My first post about the engine & general impressions Good luck with the wife, I had to wreck mine to get a new bike  -chris | ||
| Cdallen |
Oh and for the nuetral issue... I had the same problem and from what I have read over the past few months it is an aquired skill and a known problem. Although the '06 clutch/tranny have corrected it. | ||
| Cajunrph |
You wrecked the wife? | ||
| Cdallen |
LOL, nice...  Fortunately for my children no, just the very expensive BMW... | ||
| Cajunrph |
Yeah, it will go 80 way to easily. | ||
| Cajunrph |
Another thing awkward is the feeling when you sit on the bike. It is like the fork is under your nads. You sit on this bike not in it. The handling seemed touchy at first but I quickly adjusted to it. Is there any different between the 03, 04 and 05 model years? I would like one of the newer ones but if I get a heck of a deal on the older ones I would take it if everything else is equal. | ||
| Thansesxb9rs |
As soon as you put in synthetic oil in the tranny it will shift smoother and neutral is way easier to find. I have 11K on mine and it seems to shift better the more miles I put on it. | ||
| Cajunrph |
That is good news T-man. | ||
| Blake |
Nice write-up. Thanks for sharing. Excellent point about perceived speed. I notice the same effect when switching back and forth between Buell and any higher revving bike. Niggling clarification... No '03 XB12's were sold. They came out in '04 model year. | ||
| Metalstorm |
The 12R & 12S first appeared as 04 models. Perhaps they called the 12 you rode an 03 cause the first ones were built & available in late 03. Only real differences between the 04 & 05 12s are the forks. All models except the 12Scg are upgraded from 41mm to 43mm. This also applies to the 9s but I won't go into the 9 differences since you want a 12. That's all I can think of. The 06 on the other hand gets the new smoother shifting helical geared, dog ringed tranny. It gets the new stiffer swingarm & the very much stronger & tougher belt. It also gets a different air intake that eliminates the opening through the frame which gives you a smidgeon more gas capacity. I think it's now 3.8 over the 3.7 of the older XBs. Not really a lot but it might save some one from pushing that last 1/4 mile to a gas station. If I was buying a new XB & could afford an 06 I'd probably get the 06. On edit: I have an 05 & have no intention on trading her or selling her for an 06. If I didn't already have a Buell I'd get an 06. The upgrades are nice but not nice enough to trade what I got. But if you're starting fresh why not ante up on the new model? (Message edited by metalstorm on August 21, 2005) | ||
| Metalstorm |
Damn, Blake beat me to the punch again!  | ||
| Reepicheep |
Cdallen, primary chain tension has a pretty significant effect on ease of finding neutral, and I would not be suprised if the primary was "settling in" over that first 40 miles. It would take 10 minutes to readjust it, 20 if you also readjust the clutch, and would likely make it even better then when you started. | ||
| Cajunrph |
One additional note on the tranny, it has been said that the shifting action was not up to Japan standards, but other than the finding neutral problem, the Buell shifted as well as my Bandit. I do not know if Bandits are considered smooth shifting or not. As far as the Model years I was going on the date stamped on the frame plate. I saw one in 02, a few in 03, plenty in 04 and 1 in 05. I assumed the one made in 02 was an 03 model. I might have looked at the plate wrong in my haste to pop a wheelie Metal the only way I would consider an earlier model year vs a 06 is if I were given a huge discount on the left overs. That is how I ended up with my Bandit. It was a 01 leftover the dealer picked up from another dealer(paid $5700 for it when 05 were going for $7200). I have the cash in the bank to pay for any year model year, but I'm the type of guy who finds it hard to pass up a good deal. It would also be easier to slip it by the Wife passing it off as a good deal. One last thought (if you believe that I have a Bridge I want to sell you ) I think some people want perfection out of the things we own or deal with on a daily basis yet they more often than not do not seek perfection from themselves. I am the type of guy who can roll with the punches. If you can not over look a small feature on a bike (shifting, vibration/ shaking) you do yourself the disservice of not allowing yourself the pleasure of enjoying the rest of the bike. Some when presented with lemons will wine, some will make lemonaid, I will make Lynchburg Lemonaid (made with Uncle Jack .... Daniels that is) (Message edited by cajunrph on August 21, 2005) | ||
| Metalstorm |
 Well said. | ||
| Truk |
Smetimes difficulty in finding neutral can be the result of too much oil... Been other posts on this subject, might want to check it out | ||
| Davefla |
Also, I'm certain that getting the shift linkage adjusted just right is a big help with tranny issues- mainly because I keep forgetting to adjust it when I swap between the Firebolt & Lightning pegs. D'oh! | ||
| Jerseyguy |
Switching to synthetic oil helps finding neutral. The tranny in general is a bit of a stiff shifter. | ||
| 45_degrees |
Hey Cajun... glad you liked the test ride! The transmission will get smoother with miles. Mine is super easy to find neutral now (I use the H-D Sport-Trans fluid). It's probably an entirely different story with the new transmissions for '06. About the bungee cords... I believe all 2006 models get the same style tie-down points (holes for the hooks) just like the Uly has. Another thing I like on the ‘06 XB12S is how it has the same darker contrast speedo/tach colors like the original XB9S in ‘03 and ‘04. I think it’s a lot easier to read. 2006  2004/2005  | ||
| Cajunrph |
This dealer has plenty of left over 04 and 05 models, and if I get a good deal I will get on of the left overs(is that a word ). Does anyone know about bungee tie down points. There is a plate (an ankle shield I think it is called) on either side of the bike about where the passenger foot pegs are. Could this be used or is there after market options. | ||
| M1combat |
"Oh and for the nuetral issue... I had the same problem and from what I have read over the past few months it is an aquired skill and a known problem. " It's not exactly that it's a known problem as such... It's more that the solution ISN'T widely known . The primary is very finicky wrt how much oil you put in it. The key to getting it right is to make sure you drain it correctly (by leveling the bike for a little while with the primary drain plug open) and then putting one full quart in it. It's perfect every time. Shifting into Neutral and into second is mucho better. | ||
| Paulson |
Cajun- the heel guards (ankle shield) are perfect for bungees. That is why I left them on my bike. | ||
| Cdallen |
I should note that I had absolutely no problems shifting other than finding nuetral. Thanks for the clarification on the solution Don. | ||
| Tunes |
Cajun - I own an '04 12S and finding neutral is an acquired skill. After riding the bike 500 miles, I could find neutral easily. I just upgraded the shifter on my '99 S3, from the "round about" to the one that looks like the XB's. I'm learnin' to find neutral all over again. I test rode an '03 9S back then and still remember how smooth the bike was. The 12 is definitely a ground pounder compared to the 9. Since I have a '99 also, I get to "go back" and feel the evolution. Both bikes are wonderful, in their own ways... So they have their pluses and minuses, but they have personalities and that's why I love 'em. And they sound bad a$$! | ||
| Cajunrph |
What should I offer the dealer for the 04 vs. 03 models?  As stated earlier, the dealer has a plethora of left over from previous years, I like getting a good deal seeing as the shifting is just fine for me and finding neutral problems seem to be able to be dealt with. I'm figuring he picked the bikes up at dealer cost or just under dealer cost when they bought out the other dealers. It is their policy to not give quotes over the phone only with the customer in the shop. So what is a good price? I don't want to screw anyone but I also want to get a good deal. | ||
| Glitch |
Another Bandit transition. The bike I owned before my Buell was a Bandit. I sold the Bandit to a friend of mine that let's me ride it when I want. No regrets what so ever. Yeah, the Bandit has a snicky-snick tranny, but the trade for V-twin torque, handling, and the personality of my quirky, underpowered (two of the things said about the new for 03 XB9S) Buell was/is well worth it. I don't miss the Bandit at all. |
