| Author | Message | ||
     R_d_b |
}Hey all, Im wondering what would be a better starter bike between the 2. I have only owned a 69 Yamaha 100 enduro and a RM125. The bad thing is I havent rode in almost 10 years. | ||
| Rpm4x4 |
Thats a hard question. I am an XB person and cant imagine any other. I do think the blast is a nice bike. My wife is not interested in riding an XB. She feels it is too torquey and does not like the riding stance. Im working on getting her on to a blast currently. I say if you find one that feels comfortable, that is a good bike for you. | ||
| Froggy |
I would say the Blast. Its more forgiving, and its alot cheaper too. Worst comes to worst, you wreck it 10 miles after you buy it, you will only be out $2.5-3k used vs $5-10k on a XB. Also the Blast holds its resale value well, you could buy one for $2.5k, ride it 2 years, put 20k miles on it, and sell it for $3k  | ||
| Olinxb12r |
Blast for sure. Buy a used one, ride it for a season and you should be able to sell it for pretty much the same price if you find a good deal to begin with. | ||
| Mnbueller |
I bought a used 2005 XB9SX for my first bike. Couldn't be happier. I was comfortable on the bike right away, and my confidence is growing everytime I ride. Has plenty of power to keep up with and get ahead of traffic. I have never ridden a blast so I cannot compare, but I don't think I would trade the acceleration my xb9 has for anything. Fun, easy to control, and next season I don't need to try to sell a blast to buy an XB. You will have to pay sales tax on 2 bikes that way, instead of only one. | ||
| Rotzaruck |
R_d_b Welcome!!!! I haven't ridden an XB9s, but I had/have an XB9R and a Blast. The Blast doesn't live with me now, but I miss it. It's so light, maneuverable and easy to put where you want it. If I was choosing now, I'd stay with the XB. When starting all over after years of not riding, the Blast was a good thing I think. We got it first and we both loved it immediately. A Blast is cheap to buy, cheap and easy to fix if you drop it (it's easier to catch too). Sometimes insurance is cheaper. If you get a used one, the resale is often close to what you paid for it. If you don't have to sell it, they make great spares and are just fun to jump on a take a little ride. You may, as many have, fall in love with it and not want anything else. The XB is a little larger, a little heavier and a lot more powerful. If you are going to run over something large while running wide open, do it on the Blast. When it comes to throttles of any kind, I'm kind of like a woman with a thermostat. I don't do in between very well. The Blast was a good start for an idiot like me. It didn't take long to wreck the M2, but like I said, that's just me. Beware; Buells are addictive. My M2 is my first love, then the XB and then the Blast, but I would be happy with any one of them. The drawback to having all three is trying to keep up with all the different BadWeB sections!! You will get more opinions I'm sure, scout around some. It's hard to mess up much either way. Rotzaruck!!! | ||
| R_d_b |
Thanks alot for the comments guys. My other concern between the 2 was the seat height. I am 5'10" and I know for a fact I can sit with my feet flat on the ground on a Blast, just not sure of the XB9S. I think I would buy a new or used Blast, but the XB would be used, cant afford that tag. I have found a few used XB's for under 5G's, which I thought was allright. I am really interested in the 2003 XB9S. | ||
| R_d_b |
Oh yea, I am going to the local Harley/Buell dealer saturday to sit on a few Buells. Is there a big difference in the new and older model XB9's? Sorry to ask so many Q's bikes are my new obsession I think, my Dodge Ram love is fading fast lol. Thanks again. | ||
| Point_doc |
Buellers, Don’t hammer me for this; if it's not an XB I would suggest a SV 650. This is the suggestion I have given my son (21), and have given to a female coworker a Professor at the University and she just bought a '08 and loves it. She is short and the dealer was able to order a couple of parts and lowered the bike for her. This is the one I share with every young rider looking to make their first purchase at school. Even though nothing would give me a thrill as to have them experience a XB, an American sport bike. Just biased!!!!! When I am riding in the back roads, I meet novice riders to thirty year veterans that have these machines and they all praise them. The riding poster is very neutral and the steering geometry is not as nimble as our Buells. Why not; the bike is copied after a very successful bike, the Ducati Monster. The SV 650 is a V-twin bike which will give the rider the very manageable low input ride. Low maintenance motor of a Suzuki machine vs. Duc’s. The handling that is stable and predictable and the bike is relatively inexpensive when used (around $3000). This is the bike I want my son to develop his riding skills on. I hope this is more helpful then not... | ||
| R_d_b |
Actually a friend of mine back home has one. I may look into those at the other dealership near by, if the wife approves lol. The 3 bikes that I know are not good for me right now are the Kawasaki Ninja 250 ( actually sat too high, I was tip toed on it?), a Vstar 650 ( just felt too big for a starter, but really nice) and a Harley Sportster 883L( felt like I was falling off the back and kinda heavy.) The only bike I have fallen for so far was a 79 Harley LowRider, not sure how cus it was on the heavy side but it felt right, not a good starter bike probably but it felt good. | ||
| Froggy |
Don't let seat height be a major factor. I'm 5'9 and managed the Ulysses just fine. There are at least 20 different seats available for the XB_S bikes, so you can get one in the height you like. Buell.com lists 2 different seats for the Blast, so there are options with that too. If you do go XB, get the newest one you can. Blast is 98% unchanged over the years, but the XB's have alot of changes. 2004 brought new belts, bigger front forks. 2005 new fuel injection and other goodies from XB12 for XB9. 2006, new swingarm, new air intake system, more gas in the frame, even better belts. 2007 another new air intake system. 2008 has alot of engine changes, thats for another thread. (Someone correct me if i am wrong about any of this ) | ||
| Diablobrian |
Seat height can seriously intimidate some new riders. They don't feel comfortable at low speed unless they can put both feet down flat on the ground. I'd really recommend the Blast as a first bike. It will do highway speeds, has nice accessible power without it being intimidating. They are inexpensive to own and repair in the event of a drop. Don't forget the lower cost in tires, insurance, and the impressive fuel economy of the Blast either. At current gas prices I'm considering buying a Blast myself! (if I wasn't broke) | ||
| Bombardier |
Go the Blast. XB's are not for first time to traffic riders. They steer too well/quickly and if you panic brake the rear end will come up because they are so short. The suggested route would be the Blast also because of the lower cost both to buy and run as suggested. | ||
| Boney95 |
Go with the XB! I think Blast's are Ugly as hell; look like mopeds (in my opinion). My first street bike was an XB12. I've ridden motocross so that helped a bit with the switch. All you have to do is grow comfortable with the bike, learn the handling, power, braking, etc...and you're Golden (Respect is a MUST). I'd even go for a 12 instead of a 9. I made the mistake about 12 years ago when I bought a KZ125. Well after about 2 months of riding the 125 a buddy of mine bought a CR250. One ride on that 250 sold me, I purchased a CR250 two weeks later. The lesson here is Go big or Go home. | ||
| Ezblast |
LOL - a Blast of course! EZ | ||
| Retrittion |
1: take the safety course offered in your area (I don't care who you are, instruction and practice always make you better and thus safer). 2: buy a Blast (preferably) or a used XB9S with at least a CG (or low) seat, with the full Scg treatment (low seat + low suspension) if possible. If neither feel right, the SV650 is a great bike, the Blast to it's big brother the SV1000(S), Suzuki's take on a big(ish) V-twin. I ride a 12R and love it but it is NOT a beginners bike -- if your asking the question then you should warm up on a smaller bike. Ride safe, not pretty -- the other way around leads to bad things quick. Ride safe, preferably on a BUELL!  | ||
| Jlnance |
If motorcycles were about logic, the answer is hands down the Blast. Of course motorcycles are not really about logic and cautious planning, and if you're going to hate the Blast it isn't going to work. The nice things about the Blast are that it is easy to ride, forgiving of mistakes, inexpensive, and will easily get more than 50 mpg, even if you ride it like a race bike. It also has character, and many people love their Blasts, which is a rare quality for a "beginner bike" to have. On the flip side, it's under powered, uncomfortable on long rides, and is a chick bike. Personally, the negatives don't bother me too much. The Blast is cheap enough so that it's feasible to get another bike with out selling the Blast, which is what I did. So now if I want to go fast or long distances, I take the Uly. If I'm going to put around back roads, it's a toss up which one I'll take on any give day. I don't care that it's a chick bike. That actually has it's pluses, as I have something to talk about with the thousands of women who own these machines. The bike gets a lot of attention, which is flattering. When I'm in California, EZ will loan me a Blast and we will go riding together. Someone comes over to look at the bikes at every stop. And here is what happens when my friend Laura takes her Blast out.  I took the Blast to VIR yesterday and rode it on the track. Sure I got passed a lot on the strait, but it's not so under powered that I was embarrassed to be out there. I demoed on 1125r at one point. While I was on it, a moto journalist passed me on a demo Blast.  That pretty well sums up the difference in our riding abilities. And that's my goal. Someday I want to be the guy on the Blast that no one can catch. I've got a long way to go, but it's a fun goal. Anyway, I guess you can tell I like my Blast. I probably like it more because I've got two bikes, so I don't have to live with it's limitations. But I learned to ride on that bike, and it was great for that purpose. It's still a fun bike, even though I'm capable of riding larger machines now. If the Blast appeals to you, get one. If you get a used one, it's cheap. If you want an XB later, get one too. | ||
| Swordsman |
I learned on an XBSs, and took my MSF on the Blast. I'm glad I went with the XB purchase. The Blast is fun, but I feel you'd be better served to put that money towards a bike you may actually want to keep. The Blast scrapes pegs on leisurely turns, has a seriously squishy suspension, and as mentioned above, looks like crap. If you're willing to sink some extra $$$ into it, you could improve all those things, but by then you'll be looking at the same amount of cash that could have gotten you an XB. The Blast would make a great secondary project bike, but if you're wallet can only handle one bike at a time, go with the XB. You'll kick yourself later on if you don't.  ~SM | ||
| Kowpow225 |
If you were comfortable on the 2 dirtbikes I would steer you toward the XB with one thing in mind. TAKE IT SLOW. However if there is a any doubt about how much bike you can handle... power... weight... etc... go for the blast. The XB's can be a bit of a handful when reintroducing yourself to motorcycles. | ||
| Js_buell |
I would say the XB since it will last you longer, I started street riding on a 97 YZF750 and everything was fine. Yeah a ricer 750 might not be the best starter but it's all in you attitude, if you don't push over your limits trying to follow the other guys you will be fine. | ||
| Ezblast |
Which will you have to pay more when the bike is dropped to fix? - always happens to the newbe. Learning should be easy and fun - so you can concentrate on improving your skill. I've ridden with plenty of guys who started on big bikes and except for 3, they are all slower than me in the twisties, while guys who have ridden the Blast like they stole it, are now really good riders on their larger bikes. Your choice - you want to look good or ride well. EZ | ||
| Spacecapsule1 |
the blast will take a hit like a champ! I put 11.5k miles on mine before I bought an XB. I miss it occasionally. I vote the blast for a first bike. They're so plentiful and cheap, its worth it to learn on for a while. You can drop it over and over with minimal damage. Over the year and half I had mine it was dropped 5 times from 3 different people in various conditions, and never replaced more than a turn signal! The xb is not a good beginner bike, regardless of the people telling you that it is. It isn't. I went to an XB from a blast and I'm telling you, you don't want to learn to ride on an Xb. It's top heavy, lots of torque and expensive when compared to a blast. When you're ready, trade the blast in on the bike of your choice. It's that simple. | ||
| Buellinachinashop |
I bought a 9Sl and in the same month took the Rider's Edge Course on a Blast. The 9 was my first real bike and I never ever had/have an issue with it being too overpowering or dangerous. If I'd have gone with a Blast last year, it would have been for sale this year. To me the Blast was a good course bike, but it was uncomfortable and under powered. If you use proper clutch/friction zone control, you will not have a problem with the XB. So that being said, if you buy a 9 or a 12, take a MSF course, if you opt not to do that, stick with the Blast for a year or two. | ||
| Xl_cheese |
My 'boss' just got an xb9s for her first motorcycle. She's just doing neighborhood rides for now. She rides it just fine. The thought was that with the blast you might be tempted to want a new bike later down the road. She learned how to ride a motorcycle a couple weeks ago in the motorcycle safty course. She wanted the xb9 over various other brands based on looks, comfort, and sound... I bought my xb12 a lil over a month ago and I never even looked at buells until she pointed out a lightning to me. | ||
| Jeffroj |
When I was looking to get my first street bike, I was debating to get a blast to be a safe first bike, but I really always wanted a XB12S. I'm so glad I got my 12s, I'm 5'10" and It fits me perfectly. I once sat on a blast, and said no way, it was too small for me. And as far as power goes, I kinda wish my 12S had a little more of it. The best advice I can give you is get the bike you want, if you don't you'll end up riding a bike you regret. | ||
| Sethbuchbinder |
Start with the Blast, If you start with the XB, you will never gain the low speed bike control, the clutch/throttle control, and the basic fundamentals of motorcycle operation that you (could) if you start on a Blast. Personal preference, style, ergonomics, eventual riding goals mean nothing. The Blast is specifically built to teach new riders proper technique and good riding habits. The mistake that most people make is they either go straight for an xb or standard size bike or rider the Blast just long enough to "get the hang of it" then jump to a bigger bike without having actually learned how to operate the bike properly. The best way to actually learn to ride is to take a MSF or similar coarse (where they usually use Blasts or GN125s.. wonder why?) then buy a Blast or other appropriate learning bike. For the next month the ONLY riding you should be doing is in a empty parking lot just like the one you took the class in doing the same drills you did in the class over and over and over and over. Then after a few weeks of that you can start riding on local streets keeping in mind that your out there to learn, not to be leisure riding. Avoid riding in a group for a few months. Every time you go out riding, take the first 15 minutes of each ride, go back to the lot and PRACTICE. A few months later you should have at that time, the skills if applied properly to ride almost any production motorcycle. Now you can go out and demo ride EVERY bike you can get your hands on from cruisers to touring to sport to dual sport to adventure to standard and actually become an educated consumer and you’ll end up buying the bike you like with confidence. You’ll know what all the genres have to offer and you’ll be able to pick and choose without concern for height or size.. Or you could just fumble your way through learning to ride an xb or other non learning bike. For those that say that learning bikes are ugly or un cool, just think of them as a tool to be used to learn to ride. Probably more info than you were looking for but toooo many people rush in to being a motorcycle rider or biker and skip actually learning how to do it. Take your time, Learn to ride, it will reward you for many years to come, and will also help keep my/our} insurance rates down. Seth | ||
| Ferocity02 |
Not to go against the flow but my XB12Scg was my first bike and I love it. | ||
| Js_buell |
I've ridden with plenty of guys who started on big bikes and except for 3, they are all slower than me in the twisties, while guys who have ridden the Blast like they stole it, are now really good riders on their larger bikes. Well like I said I started with somewhat of a big bike and I can tell you it didn't have anything to do with how good of a rider I am today. I learned with people that were riding twisties and I consider myself a pretty good rider in the twisty stuff, ok I might not be good at doing wheelies but that not how I learned to ride. I say the size will not make you a better rider or not it's all in what you will learn to do and who is going to teach you. I have to agree that sooner or later you will drop a bike but if I talk from my experience well it wasn't my first one that I dropped but my second so it didn't really matter for me which one was the most expensive to fix | ||
| Xb984r |
If you plan on moving up to a XB at some time,you should go on and get the XB now.Most people will get bored with a Blast really fast.Get the frame pucks,and any drop won't be so bad. | ||
| R_d_b |
Wow wasnt expecting this much feedback! thanks alot guys. I think right now before I go to the dealership, i am set on a used Blast, and then moving up to a Harley, but keeping the Blast. I do want to learn the "right way" and not be some idiot out there doing crazy stuff, im not into hurting or trying to kill myself anymore lol. Thanks again guys for the help, much appreciated, and hopefully ill be on here soon getting some tips and advice on upgrades and what not. |
