| Author | Message | ||
     Vigor_mortis |
Does anyone know the actual wet weights of the XB series bikes? Dry weights aren't much use, in my opinion. Since I tend to ride bikes with oil, fuel, brake fluid, and coolant as indicated in the manual.  | ||
| Wyckedflesh |
Wet weight is what is listed in the manual. 460lbs for the 12 and 450lbs for the 9 | ||
| 99buellx1 |
Coolant? The air is very light.  } | ||
| Bads1 |
Craig good eye.Looked at his profile he's got a Busa.Vigor ya think'n on coming to the aircooled side???? | ||
| Vigor_mortis |
Well. I'm considering moving to a lighter, more agile bike. Perhaps something better suited to the occasional track day than the Busa. There are a lot of things that I like about the Buells. So, they are on my list of bikes I am considering. You're right about the light weight of air as a coolant. :-) Actually I like the fact that the Buell mill is air cooled. Simple, light. I don't know why I listed coolant earlier. Must have had a brain fart. | ||
| Rocketman |
Vigor are you a film buff Rocket  | ||
| Fullpower |
MCN weighed the XB12s at 461.5 lbs. and then they rode it in that condition. removed some reflectors, passenger pegs from mine, down to 455. drummer was a couple pounds lighter also. | ||
| Fuzz331 |
I weighed my XB12R on a local grain scale. I thought they were pretty accurate. It weighed 441 lbs with about a half tank of gas. Maybe the scales are not as accurate as I thought. | ||
| Bads1 |
Vigor you couldn't pick a better bike for the purpose. | ||
| Vigor_mortis |
Fuzz. Don't worry about that grain scale. It is probably very accurate at 30,000 pounds or more. But at less than 1000 pounds some error will creep into the readings. Just the way they are calibrated. I'm a farmer, so I've developed some interest in those scales. Those Buells are awesome. I'm amazed at the performance wrung from that engine. The frame is possibly the most innovative development for a motorcycle in the last twenty years. And to my eyes they look cool. All bikes are a compromise of capabilities. I figure the key is to find the bike that balances those attributes most important to the owner. I want light, manuverable, agile, and forgiving. A healthy dose of torque and a good power-to-weight ratio. Comfortable (for a sportbike) enough to ride for hours. Suitable for track days and back roads. | ||
| Vigor_mortis |
Oh. I thought of some other advantages for Buell. Access to a huge network of dealers and mechanics. Air cooled means few parts to add weight, break, or maintain. A surprising (to me) number of aftermarket parts and mods. A large and helpful community of fellow owners. Belt drive equals no more messy chain adjustments. Under bike exhaust gets all that hot metal away from me, passengers, and baggage. Not another cookie cutter bike so I can be a bit different. They come in basic black or can be made black easily. I'm not bothered by the power issue. Even coming from a Hayabusa. I'm realistic about how I can use power. There are few, if any, places to ride at 150MPH plus. More important to me in a future bike is how it corners. The XBs are way down on power from a Hayabusa, but they also weigh more than 100 pounds less (wet) and have torque numbers that are, in a word, impressive. Those two traits add up to a bike that will be more fun and easier to ride fast on the street and even the track -- in my opinion. | ||
| Buckinfubba |
Vigor I've got a buddy thats gotta busa and an 98 S1 and when he goes tearing thru the mountains he says he enjoys it much more on his buell than the busa for the exact same reasons you speak of. Light and agile and good tourque. he says his busa is his bling bling big bang boom bike. get on your bad motorscooter and ride Brian Tilley hd/buell buckinfubba@hotmail.com | ||
| Henrik |
Vigor; yes, lots of dealers around. Only few are truly Buell friendly *and* knowledgeable - so do your research well. Your dealer will have a huge impact on your ownership experience. It helps to only have the humanly allotted number of thumbs, and not to be afraid of twirling a wrench every now and then Henrik | ||
| Rocketman |
You'd be wrong to dismiss the Busa as a fun motorcycle to ride in the mountains. Forget it's size or weight, a Busa defies what it looks like on paper. It is one seriously capable handling motorcycle on all types of roads. Rocket | ||
| Bads1 |
Rocket kinda like a Lincoln with 18" wheels and urethane bushings.Can handle well but still not a true handling sports car. | ||
| Rocketman |
Well it's about three years ago when MCN took a Blade, R1, Busa and something else I forget to the Isle of Man for balls out testing on the famous 37 odd mile course. Not only did they take the bikes but they also took four BSB and TT champs \ winners to do the testing. They all came away wanting a Busa. Nuff said! If you haven't ridden one in anger you could be forgiven for not knowing. Rocket | ||
| Clydeglide |
Vigor, as far as a track bike the Buell is certainly a strong consideration. A Busa is not a great track bike unless the track is Daytona. However, the Busa is what I would ride TO the track. People that try to compare a Busa and a Buell are the same ones that compare apples and oranges. I rode some form of FLH chassis for over a dozen years prior to the Busa. I find comparing the Busa and the FLH much easier. Large comfortable bikes. I don't need to tell you about the engine. A point was made either here or on another board about Busa handling. Finding a road with turns tight enough for a Buell to spank a Busa given comparable riders is more difficult than the act of doing so.  | ||
| Court |
>>>People that try to compare a Busa and a Buell are the same ones that compare apples and oranges. I agree. My riding partner has 7 bikes and uses his Busa as his daily NYC commuter. It would not be MY choice, but it's a most capable bike and, as Rocket said, until ridden in anger, you can't appreciate what that bike will do. Personally, if I won one I'd sell it. I have no interest, but a ton of respect. | ||
| Vigor_mortis |
The Busa is a sport bike. It certainly turns well and is very stable. In my opinion, in carries its weight well and I have never had a problem keeping up with other riders on the street. I don't want to give the impression that I don't like my bike. It is comfy, low, cool looking (to me), and very fast. But due to the weight and length of the Busa, wringing quick turns out of it is hard work. I suppose my riding style has changed somewhat over the years. So my goal in looking into other bikes isn't to compare them to the Busa. But rather to see how well they might fit with my riding style and expectations. I'm lazy. I don't want to constantly do the left toe shuffle to keep the bike in its powerband. Though I want a quick turning bike, I want stability at speed and in a turn. I want a bike that is both light and physically small. So I've been looking into sporting twins. In a perfect world I'd keep the Busa forever and have a few other bikes too. Get some custom paint done, lots of cosmetic mods, and a turbo. Give it paint to look like the Alien monster from the Aliens movies and about 250HP from the turbo. Not a bike I'd ride every day, but it would be a hoot to have around.  |
