| Author | Message | ||
     Rhost |
Two wheel magazine, says that Buell is working a prototype that will decrease the 1200cc motorcycles weight to under 300 lbs. new aerodynamics in the design will compensate to keep the bike on the ground. MCN, a euro bike mag I believe said a while ago that the new 1200 was going to be a version of the V Rod mill. This is what i've been able to piece together. Seems plausible since HD/Buell is planning something big for the future. | ||
| Cataract2 |
Maybe, have to wait until July to find out. | ||
| Midknyte |
decrease the 1200cc motorcycles weight to under 300 lbs. that'd require carbon fiber frame / swingarm eh? | ||
| Whodom |
that'd require carbon fiber frame / swingarm eh? Not to mention an unobtanium crankshaft... | ||
| Benm2 |
Roadracing World stated in a '05 race report that Ed Key was running a 300-pound SV650 superbike in Thunderbike. I don't think he has either a carbon frame or unobtainium crankshaft. I don't believe that its outside the realm of possbilities. Remember that its been stated that Buell's chassis is tens of pounds (40? or so?) lighter than competing sportbike chassis. A similar weight loss effort inside the crankcases & a few other areas might be able to get it close. Plus, there are more advanced magnesium alloys available today that don't have the same issues as the old ones (corrosion, cracking). Mag parts are becoming pretty common on cars & such. For example, BMW's new inline 6 (in the 3 series) uses a magnesium block with aluminum cylinder liners. I wouldn't rule it out. | ||
| Blackbelt |
I am waiting for the frame to be made of WAIT FOR IT! (treky fans will like this) TRANSPARENT ALUMINUM! so you can see how much gas you have left... Sorry couldn't help myself  | ||
| Kcfirebolt |
TRANSPARENT ALUMINUM! so you can see how much gas you have left... HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! "How do we know he didn't invent the thing?" Great flashback. Thanks. KC "I call her Vera" | ||
| Blackbelt |
anyone have any whales to transport? ok sorry for hijacking the thread.. back to the 2007 XB's | ||
| Blublak |
Blackbelt.. Think about it.. Being able to actually see the fuel as it drains! That would be a cool 'bling' factor. I think you're on to something. Swingarm heck.. as many parts as possible.. the worlds first.. 'Glass' bike. hehehehe.. Or, maybe I just had too much LDS in the 60's... | ||
| Gearheart |
Sorry to pile in on the hijack but the material you are looking for is aluminum oxynitride, trade name Alon, which is starting to be used as a replacement for armored glass. Transparent aluminum, not just for trekkies any more! | ||
| Xring |
How could you plausibly reduce the weight of an XB? Everytime I look/work on my bike, I just think it is as minimal as it gets. Except for maybe the muffler. Bill | ||
| Smoothrod |
A liquid cooled V-rod motor on an XB! All I can say is wow! Get ready to lay down the rubber. | ||
| M1combat |
The engine  . The engine should be about 50# heavier than an R1 engine, the bikes weigh pretty close to the same. A lighter engine "could" get us to about 400-415 pounds ready to go in street trim. In race trim... Maybe take off another 20 or so. Clutch basket, sprockets, pulleys, crank, rods, piston, heads, primary and cam cover (I've been dying to see CF covers), body work, lights, wiring harness, triple clamps, tail section, rear wheel... (Message edited by M1Combat on January 11, 2006) | ||
| Dana P. |
The V-Rod motor won't be used in a Buell chassis. | ||
| Glitch |
A liquid cooled V-rod motor on an XB! Buell would have to redesign the frame. The whole bike would get pretty large. Erik likes not the complexity of the V-Rod engine. Plus that engine weighs quite a bit more that the Sportster engine. I'll not say it'll never happen, but, I will say it's likely not to ever happen. | ||
| M1combat |
Something based on the V-Rod could though... Granted... If it's not a "V-Rod Engine" then that's really all just marketing as it would be a different engine. | ||
| Glitch |
Something based on the V-Rod could though... I gottcha, only BMC would have to wait for HD to come up with an engine. BMC only has access to what HD already has. But, given that emissions are getting tighter every year, they will have to come up with something. Just not by 2007. | ||
| Dana P. |
Heres a bad pic I took at last years Homecoming dinner when President of Buell said as I snapped this picture the question was asked. " Will Buell ever use an Liquid cooled engine or the V-rod motor"?? His reply was "I'll never say never that we won't use liquid cooled in the future". He also added that they will never use the V-rod motor. The V-rod motor would take the bike out of the market it is intended for at the bike would be way to expensive.Would you pay $20,000 for a Buell??  | ||
| M1combat |
Yes... If it had a 135-140HP V-4 and weighed about 350lbs ... | ||
| Dana P. |
M1 Just repeating what Jon Flickinger said NO V-rod motor. To heavy,to expensive!!! | ||
| Smoothrod |
I agree I was just replying to what the very first post said. The V-rod is 600lbs dry and about 625 wet. That’s quite a bit diff than the XB. The V-rod is only an 1130cc motor so it’s not beyond question! Buell will have to do something in the near future with the motor; hopefully it will be liquid cooled. Just my 2 cents | ||
| Glitch |
Sounds like I've been talking to the president of Buell don't it? | ||
| Kootenay |
Dunno about the weight and/or engine issues (believe 'em when I see 'em), but I call BS on this: "new aerodynamics in the design will compensate to keep the bike on the ground." Ri-i-ight. | ||
| Raraf |
I bet they lower the weight of the bike by including a year pass to Bally's and a year's supply of rice cakes. | ||
| Xring |
I'd rather see a much lighter thumper aimed at experienced riders (Like an XB, only single cylinder) rather than a larger, heavier, but more powerful XB. I'm sure they'd sell about a dozen a year... Bill | ||
| Olinxb12r |
Nice burn Raraf! That is funny. I just love listening to bike and car guys talking about weight reduction when their belly hangs over their belts. I'm not saying that everyone in this post is a fatty, but I do know the quickest and cheapest way to reduce the weight of your go fast toys is your midsection and arse. ha ha | ||
| Trojan |
What American, air-cooled V-Twin motorcycle has 135 horsepower, 100 lbs-ft of torque, weighs 380 pounds, has a 52-inch wheelbase, 21 degrees of rake, and 84mm of trail? Sounds like a joke, right? Well Mike Ciccotto's Hal's Performance Advantage Buell Firebolt is no joke. That is taken from the roadracing world feature published in 2003 ! | ||
| 650 |
What happened with the Latus bike? I remember seeing the picture of the spec sheet but never found any other info on it. | ||
| M1combat |
I have that article . And yeah... It's no joke . I don't want to see a larger heavier buell with more power either... I want to see a lighter Buell with more power and the same EXACT size . | ||
| Chadhargis |
Honestly I like mine the way it is. If I were racing it, I would want more power, but for the street, it's fine. Weight, handling, etc are all fine for me. There is only so much performance you can use on the street. Now, I would like to see Erik come up with something to beat the rest of the world on the track. |
