| Author | Message | ||
     Jaimec |
To everyone who expressed an interest in this article, it is now online at the Motorcycle Consumer News website: http://www.mcnews.com/mcn/model_eval.asp | ||
| Teddagreek |
I think both are great bikes... The triple is faster... but I think the article is a bit jaded as far as ridability and Corning.. | ||
| Diablobrian |
Thanks, nice article, but they fooled themselves on the tires. They said they thought the falling into corners was because of the front tire profile until they got it back with new tires (D208 again) and it still did the same thing, along with standing up under braking. If they would have done their homework they would have known that it WAS the tires and a very easily fixed problem. Braking performance and other handling is also greatly improved with almost any other brand of tires. All in all they didn't give that bad of a review of the Buell, but they clearly preferred the trumpet from day 1. It's much closer to what they are used to. | ||
| Bigwallfish |
Taddagreek....I agree, I've ridden both bike and the Lightning Long is much more stable and confidence inspiring in the corners....and it's American muscle. No contest in my opinion. | ||
| Jaimec |
They also say the maintenance interval is 2,500 miles which would be correct if they were reviewing a 2005 or older Buell. Unfortunately, they were reviewing a 2006 model, and that bike has a 5,000 mile maintenance interval. That CLEARLY tips "value" equation in the Buell's favor. No valves to adjust, only two spark plugs, no radiator to flush... | ||
| Jaimec |
More nits: I never noticed a tendency to fall into turns, even with the stock Dunlops. I have no idea what they're talking about. I have the Sportec M1 tires now and they're GREAT, doesn't feel like the same bike. Also, I rode my friend's Ducati 749S this past weekend and that bike has no more engine braking than the Buell. In fact, the only bike I've ridden with the kind of engine braking they're describing is my BMW K-bike. On that bike, rolling off the throttle IS like whomping the rear brake but like anything you learn to adapt. I don't find either tendency annoying. | ||
| Robino |
i agree, the Dunlops were the only things needing to be changed and handling would have went to the buell. why does Buell insist on continuing to use those junk tires anyway? changing from 208's to Diablos made a night and day difference with nothing else done. Is Dunlop that far up Buell's ass that they actually like it? After owning an 05 triple, i also have a problem with the shifting/tranny comments in the article...my '05 xb12 shifts far and beyond better than the Triple i had, in fact one of the only reasons i got rid of the Triple was due to a notchy shifter that was practically impossible to find neutral with (i had to reach down and do it by hand each time), so either they got lucky with their test bike or got a built on Monday Buell. | ||
| Pwnzor |
Dunlop makes good cruiser tires for heavy bikes that don't need to corner. That's what HD sells. HD has this little thorn in it's paw called Buell. 'nuff said. | ||
| Crusty |
Dunlop also makes tires for Miguel DuHamel's and Mat Mladin's bikes. Last I heard, they were known to corner at a fair clip. | ||
| Jaimec |
Has anyone else here completed California Superbike School Level 1? One of the exercises Keith has you do on the track is "Quick Flick." Instead of lazily leaning the bike into a turn, you delay the press on the bars and then quickly snap the bike down into the turn (this should be practiced carefully and you damn well better NOT be riding on cold tires). The second part of the exercise involves relaxing on the bars; that is, do NOT provide any further input (other than steady, increasing throttle) until it is time to straighten up the bike at the end of the turn. What I discovered is that very often, cornering problems are caused by one hand FIGHTING the other on the handlebars, and that once on the path of the curve, the bike will continue on that path until additional input is provided through the bars. In no instance, either with the original Dunlop 208s or with the Metzeler Sportec M1s, did the Lightning Long "fall" into the turn. It cornered as neutrally as any bike I've ever had. The testers who were involved with this article were doing something WRONG. | ||
| Teddagreek |
Just a bias since since the Trumpet come back its been a suck fest... I'm happy that a non asian company can make a competitive bike money wise and performance wise.. Triumph has Growing US sales every Year... I'm curious? What would have been the results with both bikes with factory race kits??????? The XB12SS with Race with full race Kit The Triumph with TORS "Triumph Race Cans" Their mapping is adjustible stock.. | ||
| Buellshyter |
I have the race ECM and maybe that is different but my XB has no problem coming down in the rpm's and I'm almost able to stop without using any brake at all. | ||
| Earwig |
Why are the HP and torque numbers so crummy? | ||
| Beachbuell |
Wonder what they smoked that day? |
