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Xbolt12
| | Posted on Sunday, November 20, 2005 - 10:27 pm: | 
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"If you want a Ducati, get a Ducati."
Actually, I did. I recently bought a new '05 749R and now have over 1000 miles on it in just 2 weeks-all canyon miles. I still have the xb12r and I still love the bike, but I have to tell you that the Duc IS everything they say it is. It's like the XB is Moet and the 749R is Dom Perignon. Everything is just more precise on the Duc and the experience is just better in many ways. Even turn-in is actually easier that the 12r and both bikes are running the same size Pirelli Diablo Corsa tires, so it is a good comparision. The Duc is way more stable than the xb even with the Innovation damper on the Buell. The xb is easier to change lines on mid-corner, but the Duc will still do it, just with a little more effort. The Duc feels heavier loading the bike in a truck, but out in the canyons it just inspires more confidence. As for acceleration, Holly •••••! The Duc would waste the xb. It feels very similar to a xb9 from 2k to about 7500 RPM, but then hold freaking on tight because it gets exponential on accel from 7500 to 11000+ (yes it has the race kit). My friend told me today that what I though was happening is-the rear tire is smoking at about 55 mph when I get on it to pass...
I would admit though that cost of parts and repairs is astronomically higher than the Buell and it is a torture-rack in traffic.
Anyway, as Buell owners, we shouldn't be so quick to dismiss other bikes. We should know better because we have heard it all about Buell from the rice-rocket crowd (half-truths at best and usually just plain wrong).
As for price, many of the rice-rocket crowd would say they could have two bikes for the price of the Duc. Well you could say that, but I would say two Corvettes don't make a Ferrari. And since I'll never be able to afford a Ferrari, why not buy the equivilent motorcycle for the price of a V6 Toyota truck....
That said the XB is still one of my favorites, just a little more crude than the Ducati and there in lies it's values and fun.
Just my (happy) two cents... |
Rocketman
| | Posted on Monday, November 21, 2005 - 01:39 am: |
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I far prefer the air-coooled Monsters. Yeah but they're slow like Buells  It will be interesting to see how well the S2R performs though.
Hey, that "65 yr old woman" has 130BHP The funniest thing you've ever said on BadWeB Bruce!!
That said the XB Buell is still one of my favorites, just a little more crude than the Ducati and there in lies it's values and fun. Never a truer word spoken (just with the one alteration)
Rocket |
Brucelee
| | Posted on Monday, November 21, 2005 - 09:59 am: |
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Just to be clear. The XB is gonna stick around my garage for a long long time.
However, that new Duc may be sitting along side it when it hits our shores. |
Monorad
| | Posted on Monday, November 21, 2005 - 04:34 pm: |
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My buddy just got the new S4R. It really really hauls and is amazingly fun to ride. Much more precise than my city-x. I don't really like the look (though the new duc motard bike is beautiful). However, he's had it for three weeks and already had it in the shop twice for electrical glitches. Those ducs are expensive as hell everytime you bring em to the dealer ... |
Jak
| | Posted on Monday, November 21, 2005 - 05:43 pm: |
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I'll agree with Xbolt12 on many points. I was so close to getting the new 749(biposto) just a few weeks ago but I am glad that I held off. Xbolt12, you really have the right set-up. Unless your best friend owns the Duc dealership or they are fairly close distance wise, I would not have the 749 as my only bike. However, now that I have my 12R, I would be more open to having a Duc because if something happened to it, I would still have another toy to play with. If my Duc dealer wasn't 2+ hrs. away I most likely would have purchased it but I'm very happy with the way things have worked out. |
Epierce
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 22, 2005 - 10:54 am: |
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Did you guys happen to scroll down to the bottom of the page to see the 145 hp Buell XB????? |
Xxxb9s
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 23, 2005 - 12:32 pm: |
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it is the german "hellbender".... i've written about it a few posts above |
Xbolt12
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 23, 2005 - 04:23 pm: |
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Took the 749 to Willow Springs (big track) yesterday for my 2nd trackday (first on the big track) and I love this bike even more. Was able to keep up with the liter bikes on the straights and smoke them through turn 4 and 5 (too bad they didn't allow passing there). Much like the Buell in the tight stuff, but unbelievably stable in the fast sections. Makes me wonder what the xb would have been like with the Ohlins!!!! I truly believe the xb has made me a better rider on the tight stuff which is now transferring to the Ducati.
BTW, I had an oil leak on the Duc because of a d_p sh_t mechanic who put the clutch push rod in backwards. How this relates to Buell is a guy named Baker fixed it for me at the track and I found out he does a lot of Buell work (nice resource for us So CAL guys). I'll post up more details after I confirm the name of his shop. I guess he started some work for a racer on this board but there was a time frame issue.. so the work got completed elsewhere. I'll do a little checking and then post up. |
Mountainrider
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 23, 2005 - 06:22 pm: |
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Ducs are fine bikes but people think that more power or a more high tech bike will make them faster. It might help some but the rider is the most important part of being fast. A real good rider will be fast on any kind of bike but an average rider will be the same no mater what bike they are on. I rode a Honda motard for a year that only had 40hp. It took one heck of a rider and bike to even stay close to me. Now we all know that if we just rode on straight roads the 130hp would be way faster then the motard. I do not see any fun in going fast on straights. My X has not even been close to 100mph and might not never see 100. If you want to improve your bike take a racing course it will be the biggest improvement you can make. |
Matty
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 23, 2005 - 07:25 pm: |
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Kelly Baker?
He SAYS he does a lot of Buell work, but I don't believe a word of it.
Nice enough guy, but personally, I'd never let him touch anything.
(Message edited by matty on November 23, 2005) |
Xbolt12
| | Posted on Friday, November 25, 2005 - 01:16 am: |
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Yes. He certainly knew the Duc and turned a what would have been a miserable 1st WSIR trackday experience into a great one with his quick fix of my bike for a very reasonable fee. One of the mechanics from the Duc dealer screwed it up in the first place. |
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