| Author | Message | ||
     Jak |
Okay, I'm a total newb here and I having major difficulty selecting my next bike. I have trimmed my selection from Duc 749, S2R, Aprilia Tuono, Yam R6 Raven down to the Buells. I want something a little different but now I can't pick between the two. I have ridden EX500's, GSX-750, Ducati 748, and an R6. I want the sporting ride but I want something that is going to be comfortable. I like the extra length of the Ss cause I generally have a lady hugging my ••• when I ride. Any problems with passengers on the R? Ss? Any one have both at one point or another? The guys I ride with have 100RR and a Falco. Need to keep pace. What's the word? | ||
| Jak |
Thought I'd add a little more info...I am a Duc freak. Been boning over 748's forever. Finally got over the style of the 749 and then bam!!!! I went to the local Harley/Buell dealer and the sales guy started up a 12Ss for me that they had in the back of the shop. Made my heart thump and I can hardly look at a Duc any more. Also, I would have to go to Tulsa to service a Duc and the Buell dealer is just across town. 2 hrs. vs. 20 min. Same with the Falco but I've never lusted after them like I do(did) Duc's...oh yeah...it'll be a black one. | ||
| Blake |
They oughta let you take an XB for a test ride. Not much room on back of an XB12S for a passenger, unless you are both lean and mean so to speak.  Will you really be riding that much with a passenger? | ||
| Cochise |
took my wife for a trip around the block on the Ss, not bad plus she thought it was comfy-ish. Passenger on the 'bolt, not so much. If you wanna keep up BETTER get the Race ECM. Notice I didn't say keep up entirely, you just won't be as FAR behind as you would be on the unmolested Ss | ||
| Fullpower |
easy solution: get your lady a ducati, and get yourself an XB12. best of both worlds. | ||
| Thomasreuter |
My wife complained about my uncomfortable XB12R when I took her to the Buell dealer (only a 3 minute ride), but she has her own XB9R (and a Bimota KB2), so she is not happy about sitting behind me anyway. | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
XB12Ss is a nice ride, a little more stable than the short wheelbase models, but not quite as handy: small thing really. You need to test ride both.The added length of the Ss definitely makes it more usable with a friendly passenger, as all the added length is in the rear end. In addition to the race kit, which is an absolute must, you might want to fit some bars with a more aggressive position, like the CR Azonics Low which are popular with Bad Webbers, (including me), if you are planning on riding with rice rocket pals. The are available at Cycle Gear. More info on them somewhere in the Knowledge Vault. Most of the hot shots are running other than stock tires, like the Pirelli Diablos, Michelin Pilot Powers, or Metzler Sportecs. I am no hot shot, but I do like the handling of my Pilot Powers much better than the Dunlops, and they wear twice as long too. PS: Check out the current " Good Bars" thread on this board for a good discussion of sport bars for an S. (Message edited by gentleman_jon on November 01, 2005) | ||
| Old_mil |
Jak, There are bikes and there are bikes. In my opinion, bikes like the Aprilias, Ducs, Triumphs and so on are like Ferraris or Porsches. Sure, they're fast. Yeah, they turn some heads. They'd just be a pita to live with as a daily rider - from both a parts and service perspective. The Buell - it's more like a Trans Am or Vette. It's plenty fast, but I don't know that I'd want to race a Ferrari in one. But it's a lot easier to live with... | ||
| Jerseyguy |
I rode my XB9S for 2 or 3 years and now I've got about 1K miles on my new XB12Ss. I'm not going to comment on the 9 vs the 12 engines just yet since that wasn't your question. For me as the pilot, the ergos of the two bikes feel very similar. On the other hand its night and day for the passenger. My wife basically refused to ride on the 9S and is relatively comfortable on the 12Ss. She is still lobbying me for some kind of backrest and a bit more height on her part of the seat. I'm discussing it with Corbin now. As far as handling goes the Ss feels a bit more stable in the twisties and much more stable at top end. The twitchyness that my 9 demonstrated on the pothole patched corners so common in Jersey seems to be gone. On smooth sweepers I think I can go faster with more comfort on the Ss but don't quote me on that one just yet. Its a wheelie monster as was my 9 but it carries the wheelie a lot longer at a low angle. I don't know if its the engine, the 2" longer swingarm or maybe both. As far as the bar position goes I'd probably opt for a bit more upright position (coming from a dirt background) as opposed to my friend gentleman_jon. I've got no intention of a bar change as of now. | ||
| Jak |
Wow, thanks for the great responses. I guess I have two more specific questions. First the Firebolt (XB12R) that I'll be looking at when it comes in looks like it has decent passenger space due to the multi-level seating. Is this a bad assumption? Second, somebody commented on not being able to keep up with the other bikes in my group. I looked at 1/4 mile times for those bikes and they're within a couple tenths or so of the Buells so I would have to assume that riding in the Ozark twisties would not be about top speed but my ability to corner versus the abilities of my friends. Am I wrong? Do you guys keep up with your groups? Thanks for the great post. | ||
| Olinxb12r |
The only time an XB will not keep up with the I4s is in long straights. In the corners you will be all over everyone, even the guys with litre bikes. | ||
| M1combat |
My girl did 260 miles twice in three days on the back of my bolt. | ||
| Jerseyguy |
M1 - MY Girl is 54 lololol | ||
| Taxman |
i've got a firebolt and my girlfriend has ridden on the back a few times. the only time she complained was when we went on a 4 hour bike ride. she was a bit stiff after that. mainly she said her legs felt to long. she is on the taller side of the line up though. if she is really going to be riding with you that much you should take her with you when you test ride. let her get a feel for each bike, and she can throw in her input. | ||
| Olinxb12r |
You can also buy a better seat for her if you want to. | ||
| Hogs |
HEy Jersey, Sup pal,Hows it going... My Girl is soon to be 52 and she rides her own damn Xb the way it should be LoL...! | ||
| Buellnewbie |
Jak, for what it's worth, I'll give you my 2 cents...I just bought an '06 XB 12Ss. I've had more Jap sportbikes than I can count, so I won't bother trying to list them all here, but let's just say I've "had alot of them". As far as passenger seating, my girlfriend prefers the XB to any of the sport bikes I've had which she's ridden on. As far as the bike itself, I think you'll love it. I sure love mine. I looked at the Firebolt but I thought that if I was going to get another bike that makes me feel like a contortionist after riding for 30 minutes, I'll just buy another Gixxer or R1. I wanted something more comfortable, yet handled good, so I settled on the XB12Ss and am soooooo glad I did. It's comfortable for both me and the girl. It's unique-looking, and, believe me, it WILL handle with anything else out there, even though you are sitting more upright, you just have to get used to the seating position when hammering the twisties. I briefly considered a new SV1000, but the comfort, uniqueness, ease of maintainence, handling and looks of the Buell won me over. Plus it's American built too. After having this Buell, I just don't think the Jap bike manufacturers are making anything for me anymore. Hope this helps. Ride safe and God bless. | ||
| Jak |
Your post are much appreciated. | ||
| Jerseyguy |
Hey Hogs you old fart how are you? - seen my new ride?  I could never get my wife to learn to ride. She's always preferred the convertibles we've owned. | ||
| Lovematt |
Technically a motorcycle is a convertible....just no top is all. | ||
| Lovematt |
I have a friend who rides two up on one of the new Ss's (see pic above) and his girlfriend says it is very comfortable. His past bikes have been an SV1000S and an FJR. | ||
| Hogs |
HEy Jersey, Look whos calling an old fart an old FART LoL NICE Ride pal, all except that funny looking chrome thing under there LoL...>! MAy the FORCE be with YoU.! (Message edited by hogs on November 02, 2005) | ||
| Tommy_k |
FWIW, The seat is def. a bit wider in back on the Ss, the seat is a bit longer, it's a gel material so it's real comfy, and it has a bit more fuel cap. (4.4 gals) for a touch more range. Back roads are where it's home! TK | ||
| Jerseyguy |
I'm trying to convince Corbin to make a seat with a bit more drop in the front seat like a gunfighter and either a flip up on the back seat or a removable backrest like they sell for the tubers. They need a mule bike to design around. | ||
| Opto |
VERY nice Steve, I haven't seen one like that over here. The SS Drummer too. Hogs, where have you been of late? Did you get your Uly? Jak, back on topic, the Buell is hard to beat in the twisties, you will not be disappointed on an XB, but your riding mates will be! With my wife on the back of my XB12S (suspension set up properly) I could go as fast around corners as me solo. If you want GOOD HANDLING then Buell is the way to go. On top of that as an owner there is simple easy cheap maintenance and a heap of info on this board for support if needed. | ||
| Hogs |
Hey Opto, How ya been , Well been tied up with the young fella in the hospital, with first his xb smashed up, then he had a appendix or how ever ya spell it removed, then he had that infected another operation, all is good there now, bought a smashed 2005 xb R for parts to make a go fast , But maybe son going to have that now and sell his old xb9s etc. And been busy trying to have a life myself.. Never knew I was getting a Uly, 51 years young I`ll keep my go fast R for now LoL ...Sorry for robbing this thread Jak... Back to the topic I wd. say the R is good for one up only( depends on age) your best bet wd. be the Ss, having said that nothing looks better than a babe sitting on the back of a R spread out LoL Good Luck !!! | ||
| Jerseyguy |
Hogs, Its good to hear from you. Sorry for your troubles, but I'm glad it all worked out. You can have the Force, I'm sticking with the DARK Side - down in Hickory, NC. LOL. BTW that's stainless. Chrome is for cruisers. | ||
| Hogs |
Hey Jersey, Thanks Buddy, YEah my Bad Your right My chrome days have long gone, Stainless DRUMMER EXHAUST NICEeeeeeeeeeee!!! | ||
| Cochise |
Hey Jak, sorry it didn't work out over the weekend, it was a blast. The group that I ride with on Friday Nights in the spring through October, ride gook bikes, I am the Lone Buell. Anybody who tells you that you have to have the fastest bikes in the world to enjoy your ride are IDIOTS. Everybody claims that their bike is the fastest and the best. We ride pretty hot, 70's, 80's and 90's and sometimes even faster. I am right there with them, buuuuut, I have ridden with that group for about three years and three bikes. Learn how to ride your bike and they can't say sheet, because unless they get to stretch out their proverbial Horsepower Legs on a long straightaway, they aren't gonna COMPLETELY leave you in the dust. | ||
| Jak |
Cochise- I see that you have an XBR pic but you state the XBSs. Are you moving up or moving on? | ||
| Cochise |
I have moved over! I now have the Ss only FOR NOW!!! | ||
| Jak |
I loved my ride on the Ss but the deal on the 12R was too good to pass on. What made you switch and what year was your R? We should go ride sometime. I like this weather but I am from Minnesota...I pick up the ride on Sat. so any warm weekends thereafter give me a shout. |
