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Ducxl
| | Posted on Saturday, April 01, 2006 - 04:14 pm: | 
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Well i finished winter maintainance today on the X1+XB,oil and filter,primary adjust and oil.SIMPLE.The Ducati needed a clutch pack/basket,chain and sprockets,a shim kit,a set of belts since it's apart,blah,blah,blah.I ordered the parts one week ago today,i'm waiting on the basket,a rear disk and some trivial parts i need.My dealer(when i called today)said the parts DID just ship from Italy(no parts warehouse here in the U.S.).He said they'll ship directly to him.I've waited for a Duc wrench now for 2 ****ING MONTHS! I don't think these parts will take as long but i'll keep this thread updated. NO Harley-Davidson product requires THIS much hassle.The Ducati(when running) is hard to beat but,ROCK ON BUELL! |
Kurosawa
| | Posted on Saturday, April 01, 2006 - 07:58 pm: |
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>> Fun and cheap. Can't beat that.
> How about fun and reassuringly expensive.
Bought my 3600-mile 2004 XB12R off eBay for 6100. Seemed cheap to me! |
Davaz
| | Posted on Saturday, April 01, 2006 - 08:16 pm: |
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I traded off an S4R four valve Monster for my XB12Ss. The Ducati, as I re-geared it, had absolutely violent acceleration. The Buell- relaxed. Both handle superbly. The Ducati was pretty, the Buell- masculine. The Ducati wouldn't run properly below 4,000 rpm. The Buell- I'm waiting for a race kit from Daves to cure the low speed surge before I make judgement. I don't think I would trade the Buell for another Ducati, S4Rs be damned. I do miss the elegance of the trellis frame, but am addicted to going around corners on the Buell. |
Diablobrian
| | Posted on Saturday, April 01, 2006 - 08:29 pm: |
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You know, despite the fears expressed early in this thread, this has turned out
to be a pretty well balanced discussion about the relative merits of each bike.
(Message edited by diablobrian on April 01, 2006) |
Grndskpr
| | Posted on Monday, April 03, 2006 - 09:07 am: |
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Grndkpr,
I think you are confusing over engineered and well engineered. I think an over engineered bike is unnecessarily complex...sometimes done to show off and sometimes done to compensate for less than state of the art technology. Albeit, done quite well in the Duc.
Actually what i was doing was making a comparison based on a current Ducati Monster and the former tube frame Buells, but from my perspective i see nothing really over engineered on a Ducati monster, maybe you could explain, again considering its a tube frame chain drive, fairly basic bike, with no bodywork, and nothing fancy at all, i just thought it was an odd statement, and again requiring an explination, IE what is over enginereed??(on a monster, again consider numerous items interchange with tubeframe bikes)\
I sort of remember the older (60's and 70's) Italian bikes like Ducati and Moto-Guzzi as being sort of cursed or troublesome on some of the details.
I sort of remember 99 tube frame FI Buell being junk , that combined with a poor isolator has turned away numerous Buell riders, however making a comparison to current bikes is incorrect, both brands have had there issues, refering to the past sometimes can be good, but in reality were the good old days as good as some would claim???
I'd set aside $100 and go to the dealers I was considering buying the products of and try to buy a clutch lever. The simply log how long you wait to get it. It's a fairly cheap way to look behind the curtain.
Bad example, at least hear, my dealer stocked both brembo levers(thats who made them for ducati) and aftermarket(which was cheeper than the Buell) i would say price a tank, clutch pack and shims for a ducati 900(the dry clutch only lasts around 10k miles if that, the tank is astronomicaly expensive, as are the shims if you were to ever need them, however on the other side of the coin, if you dont have a good Buell dealer near by, and dont know Dave, it could take you just as long, if you ever get it(refer to my experiences trying to order a faring spyder from a local dealer, which was paid for and never recived)
Again all brands have there issues, ride them because there all different, and at least to me there all fun
R |
Jlnance
| | Posted on Monday, April 03, 2006 - 09:47 am: |
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IE what is over enginereed?
As someone who works in engineering, I would like to answer that question. This answer does not directly address the Buells vs Ducati discussion.
Engineers are supposed to create useful, reliable, low cost things. However, engineers like to play, and useful, reliable, low cost things are not necessarily fun things to design.
Overengineered, to me, means dumping tech into something, when a simpler, cheaper, more reliable way already existed. |
Grndskpr
| | Posted on Monday, April 03, 2006 - 10:03 am: |
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Overengineered, to me, means dumping tech into something, when a simpler, cheaper, more reliable way already existed.
So acording to that definition
carb is better than FI???? or would be more like tube frame VS fuel in frame
or maybe Hydro lifters VS desmo
It sounds like thats a bit of an overly simple, maybe????
obviously it would refer to air cooled vs water cooled
but reliable is the catch
R |
Chadhargis
| | Posted on Monday, April 03, 2006 - 12:30 pm: |
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I've got a 1995 Monster 900. It's one of my favorite bikes to ride. My Ulysses is fun, but in a different way. The Ulysses is comfortable, handles well, and I love it too, but there is something about that Ducati that has me hooked. It's not insane fast, but it's quick. Maintenance is really easy. The valves aren't hard to do, belts are a easy as well. Other than that, and changing the oil, there really isn't much to them. Heck, my Monster is so dead simple it doesn't even have a clock or a tach. Just a speedometer, some idiot lights, an engine, carbs, coils,ignition modules, a fuel pump (vaccum operated), tranny, frame, wheels, and brakes. Anything that goes wrong is easy to troubleshoot as there isn't much that can go wrong. It's a motorcycle in it's purest sense. No technology getting in the way of the ride.
As for being delicate, don't let people fool you. Ducati 2V motors are plenty stout. You can't float a valve thanks to the desmo valvetrain, and if you keep the belts maintained, then you can pretty much forget about any top end problems. I've never any pinging or overheating on my Ducati either...and I run 87 octane in it.
I've beat it on the race track, and crept along in stop and go traffic without issue. It just keeps running.
A friend of mine races a 750 Supersport in WERA. After four seasons and a move from amateur to expert, he's still winning races on the same engine. It has not been overhauled, rebuilt, or had anything done to it other than maintenance.
There is no prettier sound than a Desmo twin. Period. It's audial porn. I still get goosebumps when I roll on the throttle and hear those big FCR flatslides hiss as they suck in a mouthfull of air and then get to hear the Staintunes bark that 90 degree L-Twin staccato.
I'm not saying Ducati is better than Buell. I'm just saying they are different beasts. I feel blessed to have both. |
Rocketman
| | Posted on Monday, April 03, 2006 - 08:20 pm: |
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Over engineered to me is a good thing. I understand the terminology to mean in most cases, the object was built to last over and above being fit for its design purpose.
A good example for me would be anything, be it bridge, steam locomotive, building or other, designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Just a wacky thought brought to you from...............
Rocket |
G4string
| | Posted on Thursday, April 06, 2006 - 02:58 pm: |
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OK you guys won!!!! I just pulled the plug on a XB9S today. I should pick it up Saturday. Thanks for all of your help. I must admit, I thought this thread would be all Buell, but it was actually a fair debate. This really helped me make an informed decision. Here are some pics of the new bike - its an 03' with 3K on her. All I need to do know is go to the dealer and order a race kit!!
\
(Message edited by g4string on April 06, 2006) |
G4string
| | Posted on Thursday, April 06, 2006 - 03:01 pm: |
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one more!!
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M1combat
| | Posted on Thursday, April 06, 2006 - 03:09 pm: |
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That's an SL BTW  .
Ummm... Is that an F-Car in the back ground? If so, what model? 355? |
Bueller69
| | Posted on Thursday, April 06, 2006 - 03:36 pm: |
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No, looks more like a Lotus to me? |
M1combat
| | Posted on Thursday, April 06, 2006 - 03:49 pm: |
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Good call... I was kind of thinking 355 or 348, but yeah... Now that you mention Lotus... |
M1combat
| | Posted on Thursday, April 06, 2006 - 03:50 pm: |
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I'd love to have a 348TS. |
Court
| | Posted on Thursday, April 06, 2006 - 03:54 pm: |
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I had a red Lotus in Marina del Rey in 1995, headlights looked alot like that. . . WELCOME TO THE MADNESS OF BUELL ! |
Ducxl
| | Posted on Thursday, April 06, 2006 - 04:01 pm: |
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Great decision "G4string",just for simplicities sake.In addition to my Duc post above i discovered the dreaded "flacky rocker" syndrome today whilst checking valve adjustment.I've got 3 of them that MUST be replaced.I'm at 12,500 miles right now
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Hattori_hanzo
| | Posted on Thursday, April 06, 2006 - 04:07 pm: |
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Definitely a Lotus Esprit...mid to late 90's?
Good job on the Buell by the way! I was facing a similar dilemma when I bought my '03 brand new. I would've purchased a Ducati M750 if it weren't for the dealer I had in Tucson. For some reason, he didn't want my Sporty for trade, but Tucson HD did....imagine that! 
Just to let you feel even more comfortable in your choice, 3 yrs later, nothing major has gone wrong, I've done nothing but oil changes, normal maintenance, and tires. |
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