| Author | Message | ||
     Kcfirebolt |
Found this but I'm not sure what it means. I think it's good news for Buell. It looks like we're hot in Europe. Buell is ranked higher than some awsome bikes. Doubt we'd ever see any thing this favorable in the US motorcycle press. Buell Lightning XB9S / XB12S belegt 3.Platz bei der Leserwahl zum besten Naked Bike 2004 Stuttgart, im Mai 2004 21.879 Leser der Zeitschrift “PS - Das Sport-Motorrad Magazin” (www.motorpresse.de) haben die beliebtesten und besten Sportmotorräder der Saison 2004 gewählt. Und 12,7% von Ihnen wählten die Buell Lightning Modelle XB9S und XB12S zum drittbesten Sportmotorrad in der Kategorie Naked Bikes. Damit wurden die guten Testergebnisse, die die außergewöhnlichen V2-Sportmotorräder aus East Troy in vielen Vergleichstest erzielen konnten auch von den Lesern ausgezeichnet durch eine überaus positive Bewertung. Neben dem 3.Platz des einzigartigen Streetfighters hat auch der Sportsfighter aus dem Hause Buell, die Firebolt XB9R / XB12R mit 8,8% der Leserstimmen einen 4. Platz in der Kategorie der besten Sport-Motorräder über 600 cm³ belegen können. Diese Platzierungen sind umso bemerkenswerter, als doch eine Vielzahl bekannter Marken und vielfach verkaufter Modelle ebenfalls zur Auswahl standen Weitere Informationen rund um die Wahl findet man in der aktuellen Ausgabe der Zeitschrift “PS - Das Sport-Motorrad Magazin”. Enduro KTM EXC models KTM LC4 640 KTM 950 Adventure Naked Bikes Kawa Z1000 22,8 % Aprilia RSV 1000 Tuono 15,5 % Buell Lightning 12,7 % Kawa Z 750 10,8 % MV Agusta 8,0 % Ducati Monster 4,3 % Yamaha XJR 1300 3,7 % Triumph Speed Triple 3,6 % Honda Hornet 900 2,1 % BMW R 1150 R Rockster 2,1 % Best Sport Bike up to 600 ccm CBR 600 RR GSX-R 600 ZX6-RR Best Sport Bike over 600 ccm Kawa ZX10-R 25 % MV Agusta 17,5% Honda CBR 1000 RR 13,3% Buell Firebolt XB9/12R 8,8% R1 8,5% GSX-R 1000 6,5% Ducati 999 5,1% Aprilia RSV 1000 3,9% Moto Guzzi MGS 01 2,2% Honda VTR 1000 SP2 1,4% Best Allround Bike ZX12R VFR 800 GS500F | ||
| Captainplanet |
Here you go. Buell Lightning XB9S/XB12S occupies 3.Platz with the reader choice to the best Naked Bike 2004 Stuttgart, in May 2004 21,879 readers of the magazine "HP - the most popular and best sport motorcycles of the season selected the sport motorcycle magazine" (www.motorpresse.de) 2004. And 12.7% of you selected the Buell Lightning of models XB9S and XB12S to the third-best sport motorcycle in the category Naked Bikes. Thus the good test results, those the unusual V2-Sportmotorraeder from East Troy in many comparison test to obtain could also of the readers excellently by an extremely positive evaluation. Beside the 3.Platz of the singular Streetfighters also the Sportsfighter from the house Buell has, the Firebolt XB9R/XB12R with 8,8% of the reader voices 4. Place in the category of the best sport motorcycles over 600 cm³ to occupy know. These placements are the more remarkable, than a multiplicity of well-known marks and often sold models likewise to the selection stood nevertheless further information around the choice find round one in the current expenditure of the magazine "HP - the sport motorcycle magazine". | ||
| Kcfirebolt |
How'd you do that so fast!?!  Well, I'd say that's pretty good news considering Europe's sport bike market is a lot larger than ours. We even beat BMW in their own back yard! | ||
| Captainplanet |
http://babelfish.altavista.com/babelfish/tr This web site will translate a lot of stuff. Even does Japanese pretty well. | ||
| Cj_xb |
That's good, cause it looked like Greek to me !! CJ  | ||
| Anonymous |
This is really cool! We also had a European magazine vote the 12S "Bike of the Year". But according to our Motorcyclist magazine, the Buell XB12S is the "worst motorcycle in the world". They're not too bought out by the Japanese are they? Well, I guess that's why we are exporting more Buells than selling in the US, because one of our two major magazines chooses to roast Buells at every opportunity. But, we are going to succeed despite those lying losers. | ||
| Southernmarine |
That's awesome, I'll have to show this to that young man who said he wanted and R-1, but "he was gonna wait until he put on some more weight". He probably weighs about 150. We had a talk with him about his weight and bikes. Sounds like he was wanting to be another R-1 statistic. Hey, after my short talk he later went out and checked out my Firebolt (Didn't actually see him, but he told me later how nice/sweet it was, something like that). I need to talk to him again, might be converting him after all. I would have taken him out to Jim's HD but they aren't a Buell dealer anymore. | ||
| Paulinoz |
"I guess that's why we are exporting more Buells than selling in the US" Well I wish you could send a few more down to Australia I know of 2 people who now own a Speed Triple and Z750 because they where quoted 6 months delivery time on an XB. At a recent ride day well over 60 people tested the XB range, how many did they sell, zero nobody is going to wait 6 months for the bike to arrive. Is this because of slow production or is it a local Oz issue. | ||
| Rocketman |
Well Paul, as an example to Buell imports in the UK, Black Bear HD are this weekend having an open day. According to their flier the full XB range will be available for demos so they must be here. Last weekend at the Northwich Thundersprint, Chesire HD set up stall. Their Buell display was limited to one of the newer XB9R's and lots of HD T shirts amongst the two V-Rods and Harleys. Last Wednesday evening at Squires Coffee Bar, motorcycles galore. Probably 500 or so bikes, the vast majority Japanese. Several Ducati's and Aprilia's present. A handful of Harleys, Triumph's and a couple of BM's. Even a Norton Commando. A Husaberg Supermoto and a fabulous MV Brutale and an MV F4. Other rare beasts too, but there was only one Buell - a 1997 M2. You get the picture? I frequent Squires often during the riding season. It's not the only place I frequent, bike related. Wherever I find myself bike wise seldom do I see Buells, and my eyes or always open. Not a bad thing for me, I enjoy the exclusiveness of my Buell ownership, but I'm curious as to where all the UK XB's are. At Squires, a great yard stick to measure by to see what others are riding, I've only ever seen one XB and that was an early XB9R. Never anywhere have I seen an XB12 other than on a show stand or in a Harley showroom. Certainly I've never seen an XB on the road. Sure the XB's must be out there - but where? They're supposed to be outselling tube frame Buells in the UK. My guess is Paul, we get several XB's in the UK and not many more. I wouldn't be surprised if there was a lot of hype surrounding XB sales in Europe. Someone must know the stat's but dare they post them? I have a theory regarding the XB Buells and their popularity, and it is this. With the tube frame Buells bikers were buying a physically big bike with a tuned Harley motor. This appealed for lots of reasons, not least I suspect because the tube frame and V twin torquer harked back to a generation past. A generation of Triumph, Norton and BSA amongst others. The XB's do not fall back on this heritage. The XB is a cool and high tech bike. Everything about its quirky design is appealing I'm sure - except the motor. That motor is wrong for that bike no matter how well it's liked by its fans. I suspect the XB's sales would rocket, ha ha, if the XB's were equipped with a state of the art OHC motor. As it is now I believe the XB's lose much of their high tech thoroughly modern appeal they may have to non Buell \ HD types, those other bikers who might buy, because of their traditional motor and their subsequent perceived lack of performance. The biker market, over here at least, demands performance from a performance orientated bike. Proper performance usually judged, all be it ignorantly, by a machines engine capacity. Good job Buell went with the S me thinks. The Sportsfighter hype never worked did it. At least with a Streetfighter style the XB's might get away with using a traditional designed engine as the potential buyer(s) might not be so demanding of performance. Time will tell I guess! Back on the soap box, Rocket | ||
| Anonymous |
Rocket, The XB sales in Europe this year far surpass the sales of any year of tube frame models, and for the first time are ahead of US sales (which are at a record pace themselves). I can assure that there are more than "a couple". Time has already told us that answer. Maybe you don't see them because the riders don't go to the same places as the vintage riders? The age has definitely shifted down with the XB customers. | ||
| Steveshakeshaft |
We see them at UKBEG. Sure, our active members are a small minority of total UK sales. But they're around and about virtually every weekend somewhere or other. Steve steve_s@ukbeg.com www.ukbeg.com | ||
| Reepicheep |
Most of us here had dismissed the "other US Bike Magazine that shall not be named" a long time ago as an insufferable bore anyway, regardless of if it bashed Buells or not. John Burns was the only thing they ever had going for them, and even he did his best work elsewhere, and he has been long gone. I think Cycle World (the better US magazine) is way out of touch with what makes a good sporting street bike, based on their riding habits, the fact that they spend "somebody elses money", and the amount of track time they get, but they are at least somewhat rational in their coverage, and usually have some good points to be made, and have some great authors (Steve Anderson, Kevin Cameron, etc). | ||
| Buelluk |
I still miss Cycle, but as was said previously at least we still have Kevin Cameron, i still hanker for the days of Schilling and Neilson...and of course they are fairly positive about Buells although I still can't understand why they think the clutch action is heavy on any XB. The thing that pisses me off about CW is the monthly 600 and 1000 giant test, even the American Flyers thing they do has gone off the boil. | ||
| Torqer |
thanks for the insight anonymous. and everyone else... I feel like the big US Mags are running on an advertising income rail. I have friends in Europe and have visited a few of times in the past few years. The Buell XB always seems to be a hot topic for the Euro sport enthusiasts. My wife and I toured Italy about a month ago. I got attention when I wore my Buell Tech shirt and saw Buells new and old. In my previous tours of Europe, I have found the riders to be more "streetfighter" at heart than we are here in the heartland... Streetfighter Mag. I have learned a bit about what is important in real world motorcycling by following the lines of an original German streetfighter with hacked off fenders, jerry-rigged lights, gaskets that seemed only to hold back engine parts, a plumb bob welded on a piece of threaded rod of the front of his 1980 motorcycle, and a dead bird wedged in his header. Yes a dead bird. When asked about bhp and torque, he laughed and said "ich bien ine motoradfadder" (forgive my German(" I am a motorcycle rider" ) ) to him mag reviews had little value. Real world ride-ablity is a felt piece... and that is what he goes on. (and he goes well... he rode the tires off that thing.) As that became clearer to me, I began to see the politics involved in these mags. It seems to be all about the money. And shame on me for not seeing that sooner. I took me a long while to warm up to the V-twin bikes because of the press they got... now I'm having more fun than ever. Hey... the new R1 makes over 180 hp! Sounds like a great race bike for the guy with a life-time of race experience... or the guy who want to ride the bike of his favorite racer. I'm a motorcycle rider. | ||
| Court |
>>>Most of us here had dismissed the "other US Bike Magazine that shall not be named" a long time ago as an insufferable bore anyway, regardless of if it bashed Buells or not. That is an accurate statement. Some of the stunts they pulled, that I am kinda familiar with, were akin to proving you can whip you uncle while he's on oxygen in a wheelchair at 96 years old. Pointless and failed to intrigue anyone. People generally don't care for either mean people or mean words. I have been contacted about writing again....make note that you were first warned here.  | ||
| Henrik |
"Ich bin ein Motorrad Fahrer" I like that expression. Makes a very good point. Thanks for telling that story. Henrik | ||
| Turnagain |
Court, new title submission: I've Been Reminded To Tell You When now if I could search up every time I've read "Remind me to tell you ..." | ||
| Elvis |
I've read articles in some U.S. magazines that seem so focused on smoothness, comfort, wind protection, light clutch pull etc. that I've wondered if they wouldn't rather be in a car. My guess is some of those writers consider thrashing the things around twisties a dirty business that they really don't want to deal with, so they write their articles based on the spec. sheets. Maybe if Buell added a cup-holder or two, they could impress some of those reviewers. | ||
| Blake |
I don't know why, but I'll always ride a rude machine. Fits my personality I guess. ![: ]](http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/clipart/proud.gif) For creating a bike that stirs my soul... Thanks Erik! | ||
| Martin |
So the XB are attracting a younger client-base? I am 47. Maybe my XB makes me feel younger? I actually think that an XB is a more mature choice. Rocketman, I only stayed 5 minutes at Squires on the one occasion I called this year, because I thought it was boring---oh, such heresy. At least the hot chocolate was still good. | ||
| Bomber |
from what I've seen in the Chicago/Milwaukee area, the XB series have a mean rider about 10-15 years younger than the tubers had/have . . . . . and they definatley hangout at different places (now that the highland house is no more . . .sigh) Almost all magazine survive on ad $$ . . . .newstand price/subscription sales barely cover the cost of printing any more -- the cost difference between Cycle and Motorcycle Consumer News is a good example . . . MCN is what, approx $40 per year, and Cycle is under $10 . . . .. no magize worth the soy in it's ink will admit to "selling out" to advertisers, but to think that advertsiers are not the 800 pound gorilla in the editorial office would be a mistake | ||
| Geoffg |
I just read this thread, good stuff here--I was kinda wondering about all the bad Buell press in North America. Great to know that in Europe, where they know a thing or two about riding, the Buells are just as popular as anything else (moreso that Ducati, even!). Love the bit about "I am a motorcycle rider." That's kinda how I feel, when I ride my aged UJM with a gang--I've been asked rather pointedly whether I think I'll be able to keep up, but once we're on the road I generally hang in there just fine (and sometimes end up leading). I'm gonna get a Buell yet! |
