| Author | Message | ||
     Dutchie |
Guys, help me out here, please. The scenario: Previously I had a GS400E when I just finished school, I was 18 and fearless and it was the most bike I could afford. All sorts of very stupid things were done but I and the bike survived more or less. Move on a few years and now I am back on a bike this time a beat up CB400N - not for fun but because I can not afford a car. It sucked big time having only a bike as transport so I got rid of the bike as soon as I could buy a car. Now we move along 11 years. I bought my XB9R in June this year. For the first week I was scared of the bike, then we made friends and confidence returned to me. Now I feel that I need more bike. I purely ride the bike for fun and mostly with a bunch of guys from Ulysses (Bikers'club for over 40s, I am sort of an appy as I'm still a few years from forty) There are a few BMWs, a Duc 900 Supersport, a 'Busa, a couple of Triumphs a Thunderbolt and my mate on his brand new SV1000S. Now I have not ridden anything other than the XB9R but on our Sunday morning runs which are normally about a 100 / 125 miles at an average speed of 110 mph I feel that I have to work the bike too hard to keep up. Unfortunately there are no twisties around here so this is all done on flat, more or less straight stuff. So (finally getting to the point) I think I need something bigger. XB12R is an option but out here in the third world the HD dealers say that it will only be available next year. (bear in mind we are in the southern hemi and heading into summer/riding season). I am also looking at the FZS1000 and perhaps the 2003 'Blade (with 2004 model coming out pricing is keen)Oh, before I forget my XB9R is completely stock. Any suggestions? I like the look of and the looks I get on the 'bolt but I am starting to feel it's not enough. I suppose the obvious thing is that I must actually ride another bike so I have something to compare it to. Ah well, forgive my ranting but maybe someone can throw some pearls of wisdom my way. Dutchie | ||
| Darthane |
Get a rice rocket if you want to keep up with them on the straight roads. Maybe a R6, F4i, Ninja 600R, or GSXR 600? Pretty affordable, nice bikes. They all come in small, medium, and large, so if 600ccs isn't enough ask the dealer to Go Large or SuperSize it (Kawasaki and Suzuki dealers, respectively). You're never going to be able to keep up with most of those bikes on straight and narrows at anything over 90mph with any Buell that's even close to stock. If changing bikes isn't an option, the only thing you'll be able to do is add some go-fast goodies that don't really make it go much faster, ranging from the Buell Race Kit for about $600 to the Force 'kit' for over twice that. After that you'd have to get into engine work (try Nallins) to get any appreciable performance difference out of the bike. Final option - ride somewhere else. Bryan | ||
| Dynarider |
Yamaha FZ1..or as you guys call it over there Fazer. | ||
| Dutchie |
Bryan, changing the bike is an option - I was just wondering if there is something I was missing. To get to twisties would take about 4 hours of riding and then another 4 back. That kinda takes the fun out of it. I have no interest in track time and on our Sunday 'jols' there is no pressure from the group, so it is not all about speed. I do end up spending 80% of the time at high rpm in 5th and I feel I am making the 'bolt do something that is not it's forté. On reflection it's perhaps a case of round peg and square hole. Dynarider, yeah that's the FZS1000 - about $500 less brand new than the XB9R so hopefully I can do a trade. The funny thing is I am reluctant to let go of the Buell because it has been so reliable and low maintenance. | ||
| Fatpony |
Is the "blade" the same animal as the "superhawk" here in the states? If so I'd go with that. I had to pick between a superhawk and my xb9r a year ago and the Buell won out. BUT... it was just because I got a killer deal, and already have an x-1w and a superglide. Superhawk is a killer ride and FEELS ALMOST as strong as a rc-51. I'm a punk for the V twin torque. | ||
| Dutchie |
Fatpony, nah that's 'blade as in Fireblade CBR900. From looking at pics on the web the Superhawk is what we call the Firestorm and I further guess that an RC-51 is what we call a VTR? I think I prefer V twin torque as well but my frame of reference is rather old and based on smaller displacement bikes. So I am off to Yamaha tomorrow to go and test ride the Fazer and see what trade in they will offer on the XB9R. I have also made arrangements with my mate that I will ride his SV1000S on Sunday. Perhaps I'll find out that the 'bolt is just fine and that my expectations of modern bikes are just too high? | ||
| Brucelee |
A used z1000 is about 6K. It will run with most anything and is naked and upright. So it is comfy. | ||
| Brucelee |
BTW-you keep riding at those speeds, what you need is life insurance. | ||
| Freyke |
Dutchie, How did you acquire a Buell in Johannesburg, SA... Is there a dealership?... or you or someone else had it imported?.... I don't see any links on the Buell webpage to Africa.... kk//kef | ||
| Dutchie |
Freyke, you are right Africa does not appear on the HD / Buell site. But we do have 3 official HD dealerships in SA - Jo'burg, Pretoria and Cape Town and one 'unofficial' dealer. Have a look at www.harley-jhb.co.za They are still selling 2003 XB9R and XB9S at R 99 000 - at today's exchange rate that is around $ 14 000! edited by Dutchie on October 17, 2003 | ||
| Easyflier |
Dutchie, If you like the XB9R you might also want to look into getting larger windscreen (Zero Gravity) and the Euro sprockets (assuming that SA doesn't already get the Euro bikes). Would hurt acceleration but if you guys are just running flat out at 110mph+ I think it would work for you. | ||
| Rocketman |
Hey Dutchie, Mike Scott use to be the editor of Bike magazine years ago when it was good. Back then his standing as an editor of a motorcycle magazine reached cult status through his ramblings. Unusual in itself. Mike Scott reckoned the best biking roads in the world were in SA. I digress. Don't buy the Fazer, it's already out dated, out styled and has a de-tuned R1 motor for a heart. That's just my twist on it though! I've a good friend who's graced 9 new Jap bikes in the last year. He's a real biking nut who at this very moment in time owns a GSX-R 1000 and a KTM Duke which he can ride on the rear wheel for an eternity. Amongst the £8000 he's down since chopping and changing his bikes often he rated his Honda SP 1 which he traded for an SV1000. He hated the SV and went to buy back his SP 1. If he'd have gone a day earlier he'd have been in luck but he was a day late and it had sold. He traded the SV and bought a Colin Edwards rep SP 2. Very soon afterward he was convinced the 2 wasn't that different from the 1 and realized just why he'd let the 1 go. He traded the SP 2 for a Cagiva V Raptor, the Mille R motored one. He loved it to bits and enjoyed every minute of it but it had to go because it wasn't really 'him'. He went through several other bikes. Being such a good customer of the same dealer the dealer was calling him up on a Friday afternoon saying "Steve we've got this bike just in come borrow it for the weekend let us know what you think". Well he borrowed and bought that many that I'm not sure if he's happy or not with his GSX-R or his Duke, but he raves about them both but he'll no doubt move on sometime soon. Amongst other bikes he well rated was the little SV650 that so many here including Henrik rave about. He claimed with his riding skills, and if it were me saying so I'd say he's good on a bike, he was blowing bigger bikes into the weeds on the little SV. The new Z1000 he raved about too and having ridden one myself we swopped stories. I'd borrowed 'mine' for the full afternoon one Friday and to be truthful I really did kick its head in and I loved the thing. That is one fast bike for a naked 'sit-up and beg' and it handles too. We are talking a genuine 150 here and yet around town it's docile tractable and light, easy chuckable through traffic too and in my opinion will not bite or frighten anyone. My friend Steve, he agreed with me about the Kwak and thought I should sell my Buell and get one. I haven't ridden the Fazer Thou but compared to the Kwak, just looking at it it's a pig. Only my opinion of course but it's too long and the fairing looks like it's fallen off the front. If I were in your shoes I'd ride a V-Raptor a Z1000 and a Fazer before I made a choice. I suspect the V- Raptor might not be in your neck of the woods though in which case I'd ride the Fazer so you had at least a bench mark to compare to. Bottom line is ride as many as you can. Any more advice send diamonds to seanpepper@thickasthieves.com Rocket  | ||
| M1combat |
IF you REALLY like the Buell, you could look into a 6 speed tranny. That should boost the top speed a ways or at least let you run fewer RPM's while you are cruising. A bit spendy though... | ||
| Chaser |
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| Chaser |
IF thats to slow http://marineturbine.com/ A REAL Turbine Bike The Y2K is the world's first turbine powered street legal motorcycle of its type. Powered by a Rolls Royce Allison gas turbine engine running on diesel fuel, the Y2K has demonstrated over 300 horsepower and 425 ft/lbs of torque on the Dyno Jet 200. Weighing in at just over 460 lbs the Y2K rides like a sport bike with the acceleration of a top fuel dragster. This motorcycle is at home in city traffic or cruising the super highways of Europe. The Y2K Turbine Superbike was designed and built for the ultimate connoisseur, the individual who knows what he wants and goes for it. If nothing but the best is what you desire, you just might qualify as a "Pilot" for the ultimate motorcycle. Innovation and superior craftsmanship are apparent everywhere you look. From the carbon fiber wheels to the rear view mirror (which consist of a camera and TV monitor located in the custom dash panel), the Y2K Superbike sets a benchmark that others can only envy. So far ahead of the rest, the horizon is just a throttle away!!! Specifications - Y2K Turbine Superbike Frame: Aluminum alloy Rake: 27 degrees Weight: 500 pounds Seat Height: 31.5 inches Wheel Base: 68 inches Wheels: Dymag Carbon Fiber 17" Tires: Front: 120 60ZR17 (Pirelli) Rear: 200 50ZR17 (Pirelli) : Front forks: 55 mm inverted Shocks: Mono-shock adjustable oleopneumatic (Ohlins) Brakes: Front: 2 x 320 mm floating system - 4 piston calipers (Brembo) Rear: 2 x 320 mm floating system - 4 piston calipers (Brembo) Engine: Allison Rolls Royce 250 Gas Turbine Power: 320 hp @ 52,000 rpm (286 hp @ rear wheel) Output RPM: 6,000 rpm Torque: 425 ft lbs @ 2,000 rpm Compressor speed: 54,000 rpm Fuel: Diesel, Kerosene, Jet A Lubrication: Dry-sump/ 3.5 quarts turbine oil Transmission: Two-speed automatic or manual Rear Mirrors: Concealed color display (LCD) for rear mounted camera Fuel Capacity: 8.5 gallons (34 liters) Ride: Indescribable!! | ||
| Dutchie |
Hah! Because I had all these plans to go and ride different bikes, we had a bloody freezing weekend with lots of rain and all sorts of other unpleasantness. Easyflier, double bubble from Zero Gravity has been ordered about a month ago - I am still waiting but that is purely because the SA postal service sucks. I suspect that I do have Euro gearing as our stuff is pretty much Euro spec, metric and all that. Rocket, thanks that is the sort of advice I was hoping to get. On the V-Raptor, they are available but hard to find. Something similiar that is on my growing short list is the Aprilia Tuono R. M1combat, 6 speed box how much? Where? Chaser, on the short list mentioned above is a 2000 Hayabusa 'last of the unrestricted models' according to the dealer but to be honest I'm not completely taken by the styling. You know what is scary to me about a turbine powered bike? No engine braking. | ||
| Dynarider |
IF you REALLY like the Buell, you could look into a 6 speed tranny. Not for the XB's. Only available for the tube frame bikes. | ||
| M1combat |
Hmm, I could have sworn I found one somewhere for an XB. I seem to remember a $2500 USD price tag. I don't remember the company name, but I can picture the sight... Dyna probably knows more about it than I do, but I was pretty sure. | ||
| Rocketman |
Ha Dutchie I screwed up again, stupid , stupid. It's good news for you though! All the time I was writing that stuff for you, quote " He traded the SP 2 for a Cagiva V Raptor, the Mille R motored one. He loved it to bits and enjoyed every minute of it but it had to go because it wasn't really 'him', an alarm bell was ringing in my head. Now I know why. It was a Tuono R and not a V - Raptor. Sorry 'bout that I'll go stand in the corner for 10 minutes LOL Rocket |
