| Author | Message | ||
     Spike |
Anybody catch the XB12R vs. SS1000DS article in the new Sport Rider? I don't have it in front of me right now but there were quite a few comments made that just didn't make sense. They claim the XB12 has a narrow powerband and needed to be ridden close to redline. The also complained about the XB's handling stating that it has heavy steering and they were never happy with the suspension settings. They praised the SS1000DS for it's strong frame and stable handling. Then they complianed about the XB's lack of wind protection on the highway but praised the SS by saying that at triple digit speeds the wind helped to take the weight of your wrists. In summary much of the article didn't make sense and was quite contradictory to other articles I've read and my own experience. Any thoughts? Mike Luddy, Jr. '04 XB12R Firebolt (510 miles!) '99 Cyclone (sold) '94 FMII Turbo Miata | ||
| M1combat |
Jappers don't like Buell? | ||
| Jim_m |
I really hope you're not referring to Kent K that way... | ||
| M1combat |
I don't even know who Kent K. is... That's the first explanation I came up with though. I am thinking he was probably just expecting something more like the traditional Jap sport bike is all. Who's Kent K.? | ||
| Mikej |
There is an extremely strong contingent of Buell enthusiasts in Japan. A whole bus load of them showed up here for one of the past Buell Homecomings and they all seemed to be very good natured and really enjoyed their stay here. Plus with the recent Buell 20th celebration I believe there were many pages of signatures submitted for the book sent over from Japan as well. Based on my observations I would say that many Japanese people really like Buells. | ||
| Apex1 |
To each his own. Personally, I couldn't be happier with my decision to buy a Buell (both times- '00 X1 & '03 XB9S). I'll likely get another when the next iteration is released. Different strokes for different folks, I guess. | ||
| M1combat |
I didn't mean Japanese people... Sorry. They developed Jiu-Jitsu, that tells me a LOT about them as a culture and it's good. I meant people who have a thing for Jap sport-Bikes. | ||
| Court |
>>>Based on my observations I would say that many Japanese people really like Buells. That *IS*, and has been for years, a more accurate statement than you can imagine. Erik, ever the ambassador of diplomatic goodwill, even went there to destroy a guys Goldwing. Japanese riders have played a pivotal role in the history of Buell. Court | ||
| Dynarider |
The sportrider article never said they didnt like the XB, only that the Duc was easier to setup & more forgiving if the suspension wasnt set dead nutz perfectly. Overall they prefered the Duc, but what do you expect? Not every tester or every article is going to think the XB is the greatest out there. | ||
| Turnagain |
Now is that story going in your book 'Remind Me to Tell You When...' or can you expound on that here?  Steve(2) | ||
| Jim_m |
"I didn't mean Japanese people... Sorry. They developed Jiu-Jitsu, that tells me a LOT about them as a culture and it's good. I meant people who have a thing for Jap sport-Bikes." oh, that makes sense (though it was an Italian/American comparison  ) Kent K is the editor in chief of Sport Rider...sorry, I misconstrued that one...didn't see how it applied (if there were a Japanese bike in the comparo, then i would have gotten it quicker) | ||
| Daves |
Can I prepay for a copy of that book right now? Ride to the edge! Dave Iowa HD/Buell (Buell Cycle Center) | ||
| M1combat |
Ahh, I'll put my foot in my mouth now  . I guess I need to read up on the many species of sport-bike . Anyway, sorry for the hi-jacking Spike. Please, back to topic . | ||
| Court |
Steve: One of the reasons I like you is that you are SMART. Would you, armed with what you know, jump on Erik Buell's RS, give him your Gold Wing and challenge him to "follow me" up a mountain road? I do not know, but sketchy bits of vauge tales lead me to beleive the Wing and the Buell were never separated by more than a foot or two. The Buell was intended for such duty.....The Wing as "pressed to fit". | ||
| Mikej |
"and it was said the sparks could be seen for miles" | ||
| Turnagain |
SMART ???  highly debatable and NO! Don't think I'd challenge Erik to much of anything. back to the subject: shot this one last month, though I'm not sure how a Buell would fare in a comparo with it either. Might give an S1W a run for it's money. Steve(2) edited by turnagain on October 08, 2003 | ||
| Davegess |
"I do not know, but sketchy bits of vauge tales lead me to beleive the Wing and the Buell were never separated by more than a foot or two." You can slip a GW thorugh some very tiny spaces between speeding trucks if you are determined enough. | ||
| Court |
Steve: Make no mistake...I love the looks of the Monster. It's like a '57 Chevy, you never stop wanting one of those. Court | ||
| Kevyn |
I'm surprised that they did the comparison with the SS. In my feeble twisted mind, the XB's are closer to the Monsters in design, ergonomics and purpose. WTFDIK? | ||
| Kevyn |
Anyone ready for a Monster 999? How about a 160 RWHP Desmosidici?   edited by Kevyn on October 10, 2003 | ||
| Dbensavage |
JUST READ THE ARTICLE AND HAVE TO SAY IT SOUNDED JUST SLIGHTLY BIASED. BUT HEY, THATS TYPICAL. IF YOU WAN'T TO SEE A GOOD REVIEW CHECK OUT MOTORCYCLE.COM. THEY HAVE A GOOD REVIEW OF THE XB12 -DENNIS | ||
| Tinytim |
I'll say it again: it seems the magazine testers have a bias against Buells and a bias toward Italian bikes, especially Ducatis. Read any Ducati roadtest and you'll find the bike's shortcomings glossed over while the same traits in another brand of bike (especially an XB) are panned. Makes you wonder if those 'objective' testers aren't swayed a bit by the advertising dollars coming in. Maybe Eric needs to spend a bit more on magazine advertising in order to get better roadtest results. | ||
| Tinytim |
But hey, lest you wonder, I like Ducs, too. Especially Monsters. But I like the XB better. | ||
| Brucelee |
The monster would have been a much better comparison. I love the monsters but the xb is a better bike in my opinion. | ||
| Dbensavage |
Hey, I have nothing against Duc's but reading that article just made the vanes in my forehead about blow!! They did enough complaining about the corner handling. Maybe they should try braking before the corner and excellerating through it (like your supost to do!!!). They made it sound like they were trying to steer an untrained cow...Notice the roll ons. The Buell is faster in both but they state in the article that the Duc beat the XB everywhere they ran it.  Me with hammer. Editor on other end of hammer.. | ||
| Bigsherm9r |
OK, you guys gotta take another viewpoint, it'll cause you less stress... Do you want to see a Buell just like yours on every block? Of course not! different in every sense! ...Live it! If the magazines all raved the way we would about our bikes, they'd sell a million of 'em, and that's the end of having a unique American hotrod bike. Who cares what someone else thinks? ...how someone else rides? ...when some else brakes, tries to shift with no clutch, blah, blah, blah? If we all gave weight to the opinions of others, we would never take up such a dangerous, foolish, activity like riding that makes us outcasts in the first place. The thing is, you gotta apply this live and let live outlook within our own community, too. If someone wants to know how to get something done with their Buell, don't waste the space telling him not to do it just like someone wasting their breath telling you not to ride(a recent thread about sliding the rear tire around with the brake on the street comes to mind). Live the Difference! We're all eccentrics in our own way. If numbnuts like the Duc 1000SS better, so what? I'm sure Ducati owners would be just as furious if Sport Rider raved about the Buell. Different is what made Buell, Kenny Roberts, Mr. Honda, BMW, Guzzi, what they are. Sherm  | ||
| Brucelee |
Good points. I guess the only issue I had was that the numbers that they publish dont jive with their assertions. But as you point out, being exclusive is kind of cool! | ||
| Spike |
Being different is cool. Random complaints that don't agree with facts aren't cool. Sportrider's article strongly contradicts what I've read from other magazines and really just didn't make sense. Elsewhere in this month's sportrider they stated that the R6 had a much broader powerband than the RC51. I don't know what's gotten into them, but I certainly won't be renewing my subscription. Mike L. '04 XB12R Firebolt (886 miles) | ||
| Orangeokie |
I just read the article. It made me want to cross off both bikes from my list of favorites. I will just have to get a demo ride before making up my mind. | ||
| Ghostrider |
I just read this article, too. I'd have to agree with many of the comments above. The article sounded very biased to me, like they knew from the get-go exactly which bike they liked better. It's disappointing to me. It seems that many magazine writers have been riding too many GSX-R1300s or something. I look at those bikes as the Cadillac of motorcycles. Ducati's are exotic, like their Italian automobile brethren. But Buells are like the muscle-cars of motorcycling. They don't have to be as smooth or as well mannered, but they make up for it with attitude, style, and in my opinion, precision. I'll take a short wheelbase corner carver any day over a long wheelbase straight-away monster. |
