| Author | Message | ||
     Pwest |
Im sure this has been talked about a lot before but I havent been on the XBoard much. I have on 02 M2 But would like to get an XB. I tested a CityX and thought it was very slow compared to my M2, The shop didnt let me ride the 12 unless I wanted to buy it, How does the M2 and Xb12 compare motor wise? thanks Pat. | ||
| Bigbird  |
Xb12 is faster than a stock M2. It has 12 more hp if I remember correctly, and its lighter. | ||
| Aldaytona  |
I own them both, the best way I can describe the difference between them is the M-2 is like driving a 70s Hemi Charger and the XB12 is like a turbo Carrera. (substitute your favorite muscle car and exotic car, Ford, Chevy, ect.) Both exciting in their own way. Technology wise Fred Flintstone VS George Jetson. Get the XB12 but keep the Cyclone if you can. | ||
| Shotgun |
Pat, find a dealer that will let you ride it. Then stick with your M2, the best Buell ever built. | ||
| Blake  |
Strange. I've ridden my buddy Keith's XB9S a number of times and got the impression that it is definitely faster than any of my stock Cyclones including the 2000 Cyclone. He does have the D&D pipe and modified airbox and race ECM. That thing hits 5,00 and flat out rips. | ||
| Buells Rule! (Dyna in disguise)  |
Blake, my feelings echo Pwest. The 9 felt much slower than my X1...I have ridden several different 9's & they all felt the same. 2 of them had race kits, airbox deal, etc. But the XB12 is definitely much more like the old 1203's just a bit more refined, may be a touch quicker. Pwest, find a different dealer. Just about any Buell dealer who is serious about selling the bikes will allow test rides. | ||
| Cbig |
Curious - I was thinking about the same issues. I have a '00 M2 w/40k+ on the clock. I Been debating getting an xb12...before any major mechanical probs set in. Don't get me wrong, M2 is a great, simple, competent bike. I found the XB power comparable. XB12S did not fit - the crotch area was smashed! (Maybe I'm well endowed?  The pegs were fine, but no seat play and rather stiff seat. I did feel as if I could ride some distance on it, and my knees hugged the gas tank a la dirtbike w/great turn control. I thought this was a bike to tighten up my skills on if it but fit! I rode the XB12R after hearing the seat's better. Nice bike but the handlebars didn't give me easy turn leverage and were so low they hurt my back.. If I could find one that fit I'd buy it! Best thing about the new stuff was the kickstand. I'm not sure anymore this is a purchase worthy of the 5-7k difference. Ask yourself if the XB will make you a more competent, safer, happier rider? (I firmly believe my M2's performance envelope makes it one of the safer bikes - outa trouble quick! Reliable and mechanicals understandable, fixable) Enjoy | ||
| Aldaytona |
Cbig, Put the XB9SX seat on the XB12S and you got yourself a XB12M2S, it's that easy. | ||
| Reepicheep  |
I put about 20k miles on an 00 M2, a fine motorcycle, that I will miss for the rest of my life. I traded it in for a 9sx, and don't regret it, as I like the 9sx even better, so until I can afford both, I'm keeping the XB. The M2 was rejetted, had a forcewinder (with the right bowl cut), and a supertrapp IDS. The 9sx is basically stock right now (cut airbox and race filter and race ecm, but that is only a couple horsepower over stock until I get my new exhaust). The M2 "felt" faster, as it had that wonderful "yank your arm sockets off the line" aspect of it's performance. The XB9 "feels" more refined, a more linear rush, and like blake says when it crosses over about 4k, it is like being shot out of a rubber band. The 9, maybe by virtue of it's more refined chassis and revvy engine, feels slower, but every time I do my "0 to 60 rip through the gears from a country stopsign", I think "nice, just like the Cyclone". Then, I look down, and my 0 to 60 rip was actually a 0 to 80 rip. I had the same experience on all my test rides of xb9's. My test loop included a short stretch of interstate, and every time I hit it I thought "rats, all this traffic is moving at 45 and I wanted to feel how the bike behaves at speed". When I looked down at the speedo, the traffic *was* at 65. I bet an XB12 feels slower then an X1, but is a little bit faster, and an XB9 feels slower then an M2, but is faster. | ||
| Pwest |
I shouldnt have said the 9sx felt slow cuz from a stop it got up and went but on the freeway at 65 I didnt feel like it would pass without taking a few seconds to build up steam where as on my m2 it will go at any rpm at any speed. I didnt feel safe on the XB9 but I think you just have to ride it different. Pat | ||
| Ingemar  |
I have never ridden an M2 or any other tuber. I've ridden along with them on several occasions, and none of those ran away from me. Especially through the twisties I got the impression the xb's are much more flickable than the tubers. Of course this depends much on the rider, but I'm certainly not the best nor daring riders out there. Yet I could keep up with any of them. On my 9 I do shift down to get it going. I keep up up the revs to keep up with anything out there. An xb12 or any previous tuber model would pick up immediately from lower revs. | ||
| Tucsonxb9s  |
As a wise man once told me, who happens to be a member of this board, "Just drop two and WHACK IT!"  | ||
| Blake |
Greg, Your observation is valid. But the topic starting question was not about comparing an X1 to an XB9. A Cyclone is not the same as an X1. Seven to nine more peak HP will make a significant difference. The question was about a comparison between a Cyclone and an XB9. PWest, Good observation, the Cyclone has much better low end grunt but falls off on top, where the XB9 hits hard and goes well all the way into the 7,500 rpm rev limit. Instead of 3-6K rpm, the XB9 goes hard from 4.5-7.5K rpm. The XB9 is also leaner. Truthfully, there isn't much difference in the peak accelerative performance between the later model Cyclones and the XB9's. | ||
| Richieg150  |
Pat,I have a 2000 Cyclone,I love this bike.If Im not mistaken,the flickability of the XB's is the real difference.You can defenitaly Feel the difference when you roll on the throttle between the Cyclone and the XB9.I've ridden both the 9 and 12,and there is a difference in the seat of the pants feel to me between those bikes.I cant compare the 12 to a stock Cyclone,because I've done alittle to mine,to make the OLD TUBER abit snappier.The major thing for me between the Cyclone and XB is,I can ride the Cyclone more comfortably, loaded down for hours on end.You know,you can take your Cyclone,put some money in it,and have a bike that will out pull,and out run the XB12's,for less than a new XB12,you just wont have that FLICKABILITY factor the XB's have thru the corners.I think the XB's are great bikes,new generation and all,but I will keep my OLD TUBER.Now........if they come up with a XB12T,then I may consider adding another bike to park next to the Cyclone!  | ||
| Trenchtractor  |
Tucson... Funny, a mate of mine used to swear by: 'Double down and nail it!' | ||
| Aydenxb9 |
I get to ride a buddy's '99 M2 from time to time and refinement is the key here. My XB9 just flat works better than his M2 in my opinion. As far as straight line performance is concerned, the couple of times we have "raced" the XB seems to have the edge until about 90 mph then the M2 just blows on by for a while then we both seam to top out about the same speed. The XB9 engine is about momentum, horsepower, rpm. The more you twist it, the better it gets. The M2 engine is purely about torque, it seems happiest riding along the fat torque curve from about 2500 rpm to about 5500 rpm. The XB12 seems to combine the best of both in one package. In the end though, they're both Buells which means they're very addicting, absolutely fun machines, just with their own personalities. Keep the M2 and buy an XB. BTW:The Hemi Charger/ 911 Turbo comparison is about as spot on as one can get. | ||
| Blake |
you can take your Cyclone,put some money in it,and have a bike that will out pull,and out run the XB12's,for less than a new XB12 Define "some money", and keep in mind that the XB starts out weighing in 45 LBs lighter, which in a drag race equates to around 5 or 6 RWHP. So your Cyclone will need to get up to around 100 RWHP to outpull an XB12. I also find the XB12 much more comfortably appointed than any stock Cyclone pre or post '99. That said, I like my old uncomfortable '97 Cyclone so much, I'd not trade it for a new XB12. Ride both bikes, see which you prefer. Simple.  | ||
| Richieg150 |
So your Cyclone will need to get up to around 100 RWHP to outpull an XB12. NRHS sells bolt on parts that will do exactly that very thing!Its worth every cent,you dont have to race or outpull the XB12's,all the time ,but knowing its there if you want to use it is fun! | ||
| Richieg150 |
I thought that for every 14lbs.,you loose 1 horsepower.So,a 45 pound difference would be about 3 horsepower.I went to an AMA flat track race and one of the riders shared that information with a group of us. | ||
| Raceautobody  |
you dont have to race or outpull the XB12's,all the time,but knowing its there if you want to use it is fun! Ammen Al | ||
| 1320  |
Which bike..MOVES YOU? Whatever bike you chose will be the right choice if it stirs that inner voice...Hah! | ||
| Firebolt020283  |
richieg its 7 pounds = 1 hp | ||
| Richieg150 |
ok,thanks Firebolt,that makes it even worse....for the big Harleys to keep up with our Buells!Not that I would ever do such a thing. |
