| Author | Message | ||
     Cro13 |
Thank you Court! Carter | ||
| Court |
Bill: With regards to your dealer, I'd say support them and help them in any way you can. Buell is well aware of their challenges with regard to the dealer network. Ultimately the resolution of ALL problems will end up at the dealer level. Sure Buell Customer Service may CREATE the solution, but, legally for what it's worth, it must always be DELIVERED at the dealer level. The best thing, as an owner and fan, that you can do is to assume the best and help wherever you can. It's easy to take cracks at some things, but ultimately progress will occur when we help the dealers help themselves. Buell has made great strides in training and supporting dealers. Progress has been slow but there are a ton of dedicated folks working on it. So, I urge you to "bother" with it and help in anyway you can. Court | ||
| Fasteddieb |
Phil Peterson's in Miami sold me my Firebolt for $9,995 plus $300 shipping plus some small battery/tire disposal fee plus tags and tax. First service included in that price. I had stopped in to Ft, Lauderdale HD/Buell and they had quoted me $11,600 (base) when they got some in. They have a reputation for gouging. FWIW, in the big picture it's called a free market and they're entitled to charge whatever the market will bear (and it might even be a wise business decision). MSRP is "suggested" and nothing else. Still, I can't see anyone paying much more than list since a few phone calls and a short drive may turn up one at list. BTW, if all goes well my Firebolt is going on a trailer (it is, at heart, a Harley after all) and making the one-way trip to our new vacation house in N. GA on Thurs. I can't wait to ride it in the right "element". | ||
| Anonymous |
If you're in Southern California, Bartel's has 2 blue XBs on the floor at sticker price. Go there on a Saturday and see Erich Martin. He's a Buell enthusiast and deserves to be the ONLY one in that dealership selling you that bike. He only works Saturdays, though. Erich - if you sell a 'Bolt to a BadWeBber, buy me a water at the Rock Store! | ||
| Darthane |
My 'bolt goes in tomorrow for his thousand mile check-up. He'll be a week and a half old. No problems so far, just a couple concerns. The first is the fuel pump noise, which has it's own topic elsewhere. Haven't noticed it in a while. I wonder if it's just something that needed to be 'broken in' a bit. The second is the side stand. Thankfully, mine hasn't tipped yet, but I'm nervous as hell just turning it on if I'm not sitting on it to keep him upright. I agree, I think that stand needs to be a bit more upright to hold the bike properly. As far as sales go, I'd have to say excellent. The dealer I bought mine from (Motor City HD - Buell) has had four go through the door from presales and I believe I heard they now have 4 more waiting. They sold me mine at list, and after tacking on tax, title, and a four-year warranty I think it hit about $11,600. Have to check the invoice to be sure. To be honest, after nine months of waiting I didn't much care anymore. I've just got to say, this is one incredible bike. Thumbs up for Erik and the whole Buell team. Bryan | ||
| Imonabuss |
Cool paint job, Furax Joe! | ||
| Buelliedan |
I read that Modesto has 4 bolts for sale right now at MSRP and no takers. Waterloo Buell also has Bolts just sitting on the floor. Seems like the intitial excitement has passed. Hope they have something special at the dealers show to get the excitement going again. Like a 1200!! | ||
| Sparky |
My Firebolt rolled off the sidestand too but fortunately landed on the soft bumper of the family car & just broke off the mirror. Be aware. What I noticed was that the handlebar was turned to the right when it fell. With the bar turned that way the bike is rather unstable on the stand, taking only a minor effort (like idling when cold) to make it overcenter the sidestand. With the bar to the left however it takes a sizeable force to move the bike forward off the stand. So for now I'm parking it with the handlebar to the left until someone has a better idea. Sparky 96S1, 98S3, 03XB | ||
| Two_Buells |
SIDESTAND! I was in my garage stuffing a rain jacket under my rear seat. I was pushing on the seat hard trying to get it latched. I did push the bike off the sidestand but I caught it b-4 it fell over. If you park on any type of incline, leave the bike in first gear so it dosen't move on the stand. This should be a common practice with any bike. Now for my ride report.... I love my XB9R! this bike is so much fun!  I have 2500 miles and I'm riding it to work everyday. Last weekend I rode up to Schaeffer's Buell to check out their parking lot for a upcoming BattleTrax event. (about 100 miles from my house) Great day of riding. I left Schaeffer's and took some back roads and stopped in at White's Buell, than to Fuddruckers for a burger, and stopped in at Lancaster Buell. I left Lancaster and road the '99 BRAG ride with Erik route down by the river and than home. I started the day about 8 am and got home around 4pm. I have the thicker touring seat and it felt great. I also re-tuned my suspension per the latest issue of Battle 2win mag. (the latest issue of B2win has a great two page story on the Firebolt suspension settings and a chart for aggressive handling settings. The bike felt well planted. | ||
| Fasteddieb |
Leaving in the morning with da wife to head to our new house near Blue Ridge, GA. The Firebolt is going up to stay (along with my Suzuki DRZ400 wihich I'll be picking up in Tallahassee at a friend's house.) Will probably be there through Tuesday morning. If anyone wants to try to hook up for a run through Deal's Gap or the Cherohala or TWO on Sunday, email me at FastEddieB@aol.com  | ||
| Anonymous |
It seems that a simple strategic snip of a white wire on the ECM will restore the lost HP of the export bikes. | ||
| Noface |
Hey ya'll! I'm new to the group and to the world of Buell. Traded my Sportster for an XB9R. Do you guys have any info on when/if D&D, Vance&Hines, or anyone else may be coming out with a performance exhaust or slip-on for the new Firebolt? The thing runs REALLY strong, and I like everything about the way it performs, but I'd like it to sound like real Buell/Harley. And do ya have to get the injection map's re-programmed like the other HD injected bikes? Thanks a bunch! Jody | ||
| Spiderman |
Well after the dealer show they are supposed to introduce the XB9R race kit. I think they will but i still have my doubts. Rumor has it that Force has a full header system for the XB but i haven't called Johnny yet to verify. To re-map you just have to bring it to a dealer to hook it up to a Scanalizer. | ||
| Blake |
Are you sure? None of the previous fuellie Buells were. Plus, the EPA doesn't allow race type modification of stock looking/numbered parts. Jody, You will most likely have to purchase the race ECM when/if it comes out.  | ||
| Anonymous |
is there a difference in power from USA bikes to European bikes can any one answer this Thanks | ||
| Anonymous |
The European bikes are down a little, but as the other anon posted, it's a simple matter of snipping a wire. Aussie bikes are a different story. Don't assume that this is a permanent condition for either. Snipping the wire does nothing for a US bike. | ||
| Crosmyn |
Do any of the bookstore chains carry Battle2win magazine? I'd like to get the issue w/ the XB suspension settings but haven't found it so far. Thanks | ||
| Spiderman |
Crosmyn i have a stack sitting here at my shop if you want e-mail me your adress and i'll send you out a copy. slimspidy@aol.com | ||
| Blasterd |
Spidey, any way I might be able to get a copy of battle2win as well?  | ||
| Spiderman |
Ok, send me 4.00$ that will cover postage and the mag. If you want e-mail me and we can work out the details, I also take credit cards.  | ||
| Blasterd |
Thanx Spidey!!!! | ||
| Davegess |
Just got back from my first post break in ride (a very short one unfortunatly) on the 'bolt. I didn't take it all the way to redline, just up to 6500-7000 or so, boy when you do a hard upshift from first to second at that rpm the front wheel just pops right up in the air. And not just an inch or two it is coming up fast and feels like it would keep climbing if I kept the throttle on. I'll have to try it when I get out in the country away from drivways and cops. | ||
| Darthane |
::claps Dave on the shoulder:: Helluva lot of fun, isn't this wee little beastie? > Bryan | ||
| Davegess |
It is. I like little bikes but usually the little ones have no power, not the case with this eh | ||
| Darthane |
An amusing anecdote: I work for a prototype wire lab in Southeastern Michigan and currently I am working on the 2005 Mustang. Anyway - I rode in there one day and discovered that the systems engineer on it used to work for AFL and did work on the electrical system for the XB9R. I'm hoping he can get me complete schematics of the Firebolt. We started chatting, and he asked me if I'd ever met Erik Buell. I told him, yes, that I'd gotten to speak to and hang out with him for a bit at the Homecoming last summer. "A bit of an egomaniac, isn't he?" he said. I was stunned. I asked him what he meant, since Buell had seemed a pretty down to earth and sincere guy when I got to talk to him. "Well, he's got his name plastered all over everything, in huge letters on the bikes..." ...this from somebody working at FORD. Hel-LO! ::sigh:: Some people just need to be beaten down. But not until after he gets me electrical schematics for the 'bolt so I can tinker... | ||
| Riglar |
Has anyone purchased the updated seat? I saw it on http://www.sporttwin.com for $149.95 which is a nice price, if it's a much better seat. I must say though, this bike is MUCH more comfortable to ride compared to my old Blast!! -Richie | ||
| Two_Buells |
Riglar, I have the touring seat on my XB9R. Its great, now I can ride over two hours | ||
| Two_Buells |
anyone hear when the dealers are getting the race kits in for the XB's? | ||
| Xb9 |
My comments & experience after 5,400 miles on my 'Bolt: Took delivery on April 20th, and on the ride home I decided to order some bar end mirrors and ProGrip gel grips. - These are the only mods I have done to the bike. The stock mirrors are worthless - as on most sportbikes. Rear tire lasted 3400 miles, which included three trips to SE Ohio (twisties) which was very tough on tires. These roads are a full mix of tight and medium turns, high speed sweepers, decreasing radius, blind hills and rises with curves just past the crests. A good test for this bike (short of a race track) for handling and braking. Initially I notice a tendancy for the bike to want to stand up in corners when doing HEAVY trail braking deep into a turn, but once you get used to it and compensate for it, it's not a problem. You just have to adjust. Found out the stock tires are a special version of the D207 that is reported to be 5 lbs. lighter than the retail D207. Checked with the dealer, and the price for these "special" tires are about $60 more than the retail version. I put a retail D207 on and it handles almost as good as the stock version, but you can feel a little difference. Seems to have helped in the "stand up" tendancy also. We'll see if it even gets better when I change the front tire to the retail version. Only problem I've had with the XB was at 600 miles, the starter cable wore through the insulation and started to arc on a starter bolt because it was routed improperly from assembly. Luckily it did not cause any other problems - I was able to get the seat off quickly and disconnect the battery and make repairs to the cable. Dealer replaced the cable under warranty. It was just one of those stupid assembly flukes - not a design flaw. I also had the "side stand experience" but was able to catch it before it hit. That issue looks like they should make a recall on it. Several have mentioned it. I know a fellow in the UK that caused some damage to a car that his bike fell on. Needless to say he was not happy. The only other issue is an intermittent noisy fuel pump that Buell has agreed to replace. (See "XB9R noisy fuel pump" category). Overall the bike is kick ass. Unbelievable handling, stopping power and more than adequate power. FUN! I don't get hung up in all the numbers - it's the riding experience that counts. When I was roadracing, yea, horsepower was everything. But for street riding - the overall experience - this bike rocks! | ||
| Darthane |
XB9, I live in southeast Michigan, and frankly the roads here SUCK for aggressive riding. You mentioned some nice roads in SE Ohio, which is only a couple hours from here. Could you let me in on which ones and where? I'd love to go ripping through them on my 'bolt sometime, and that's close enough to hit on a weekend. Bryan |
