| Author | Message | ||
     Mikej |
At the Firebolt tour Erik said they used the standard industry method to come up with the dry weight. He didn't get into the specifics of what the methods were, but I would assume totally dry, no gas, no brake fluid, no shock or fork fluids, no grease, but that's just my speculation. What I've taken part in in other industries is to calculate or weigh all the components, then add up the numbers for the shipping weight estimate. I don't recall every weighing a fully assembled unit in an engineering environment, regardless of what the unit was. (And, no, I've never weighed my own unit.)  | ||
| Davegess |
Yes the factories will all issue "totally dry" weight remosing every conceivable fluid including air. You really only get a true weight when the mags do the road tests. I believe CW does a bike with half a tank of gas and eighs all bikes on the same scale. Of course dry vs wet is even greater on a liquid cooled bike. Regardless the XB is very very light with a very low center of gravity. Dave | ||
| Blake |
So you are saying that the dry weight difference as measured by Motorcyclist compared to the Buell advertised number is explained by 28 lbs of break fluid, battery acid (and battery?), fork oil, and bearing grease? And your saying too that air is considered as wet? I guess that with the battery removed we might get close to 385 LBs dry, but I'm still seeing a significant discrepancy. Do they exclude the brake pads and belt too? Anyone know what a stock Buell battery weighs? How much do you thing the air in the tires weighs? You're killin' me; I'm dying here. So they actually suck the air out of a bike's wheels before weighing it for "dry weight"?  Do they evacuate the fuel and oil tanks and crankcase too? Tie that baby down, it's fixin to float away like a two wheeled blimp... baaahahahhahah. Would someone who REALLY knows, explain exactly how the factory determines the published "dry weight" of a motorcycle. I heartily applaude Duc! I'd much rather see actual ready to ride, full tank of gas weights. Blake | ||
| Kevyn |
Personally,I'm not sure that I want to see the SuperTrackers mixing it up with the 750's. The 750s are well sorted and 'predictable'. They are pedigreed racing machines, massaged and tweaked to near perfection, relying on rider skills and experience for the podium stance. The SuperTrackers are still trying to resolve some suspension issues and the engine differences are significant. Plus, they just don't sound as good "on the pipe" as the XR's I'm all for the SuperTrackers on their own. A few more seasons should give them enough track time to resolve problems and focus engine development. Why would you want to 'restrict' the ST into the XR class? Oh yeah, I'm aware that there is a push to attract 'other people' to the AMA Grand National events...the 600 singles are dominated by Suzuki and Rotax, the Blast is just beginning its ascent to the podiums and has some seasons ahead for more robust performances...ya, it's mostly the HD faithful, but take a look around, other bikes are widely and greatly represented and are making a significant showing all around...but what the hey, it's all my "O"! Kevyn S12T | ||
| Raymaines |
As mentioned above, the bike probably isn't weighed at all. The weight of all the individual pieces and parts are added together and the total is considered to be the "Dry" weight. You can just bet that the parts that are weighed aren’t randomly pulled off the assembly line either. Not only that, but the out sourced assemblies, the rear shock for example, aren’t weighed by BMC. The individual parts of the shock would have already been weighed by the manufacture and that weight would be accepted by BMC and added to the total. I'd be the last person on earth to cast a shadow of doubt on the integrity of the mother company but sometimes not all of the parts get to the scale. The battery is a good example of this point. The only saving grace in all of this is that most manufactures seem to cheating at about the same rate. Without getting too carried away with the moral issues here, lets consider the real world effects of mass centralization, minimal unsprung weight and frame rigidity. A properly designed bike that weighs an extra ounce or two will still be a better bike than a titanium pile of crap. If the bike feels light, handles well and goes fast enough to keep you happy, what difference does it really make if it weighs 385 lbs. or 425? | ||
| Davegess |
Blake, I have not seen the Motorcyclist with th e "weight" BUT it seems to me that no one has yet gotten their grubby little hands on a real bike so how did they weigh one? Cycle World gives the Buell claimed weight (remember all specs are subject to change). I am speculating here but are they just giving a weight that they think it will come ot based on experience? On the tire thing they just take the valves out and weigh em that way I think. And the battery, that is not there also. It probably saves 5 pounds. Just look at any Cycle World to see the diffence between claimed and real weight. It is always huge. Dave | ||
| Blake |
Ray: Yeah I know other manufacturers do the same dance with "dry weight". The lack of a battery explains it pretty well. I'd guess a battery weighs at least 10 lbs. What bothers me is that either the factories seem to assume the general public understands that their "dry weight" really means "dry with no battery weight", or are purposefully misrepresenting a simple weight. I do not believe it's beyond them to simply weigh a new model rather than tally each part in a spreadsheet; in fact based on what Dave knows, it seems they do simply weigh the bike, just without the battery (I'm still chuckling about the air thing). I'd like to see some accuracy and honesty is all. Dave: The XB9R is on the cover, along with the V-rod, of the October Motorcyclist. On page 38 Motorcyclist says of the Firebolt... Motorcyclist gives the XB9R five full pages of very complimentary review. The title page exclaims "A 'Bolt Out of the Buell" and in a bold graphic "AMERICA ROCKS!" So go git you a copy next trip to the grocery store. It's worth the $4. Anyone know the history as to why manufacturers report "dry weights" and why that excludes the battery? What, are sportbikes sensitive about their true weight or what? LOL. | ||
| Jim_M |
Blake... For the benefit of those that do not read (or have not read) Motorcyclist, the writer of the XB9R article is none other than John Burns. Yes, that Burns, who gave Buell a quick little knock several months ago in his column. | ||
| Tripper |
Geez some people are sensitive (especially on ATC). All Burns said was he likes to twiddle with mechanical things, and if faced with the prospect of owning only one machine it would have to be a Buell. Like a Buell will run without constantly having a tool in contact with it. Be real. And be happy, "just go ride the bike!" | ||
| Jim_M |
won't argue with you there, but a lot of ATC did, and a few of the letters in the mag bombasted him for that one liner (me thinks it may be why he got that byline). Hell, Burnsie is why I subscribe to motorcyclist. | ||
| Court |
Tripper......I, your ever the embodiment of sensitivity scribe, am writing a story about my 950 mile ride on Aaron's RS-1200 last Saturday, entitled "just go ride the motorcycle". Some folks, it seems, look to their motorbike to provide them with every sort of thing from Karma to the meaning of life. There comes a time when you simply take up a comfy position astride the beast, add fuel, ride till nearly empty, add fuel, ride to nearly empty and repeat the process from before sunset to after sunset. I repeated it 9 times last Saturday. I could, whilst freezing my ass off in the sleet in Vail/Beaver Creek area, zipping through the red arches of Bryce Canyon or sweltering in the 105F heat of St. George, could have given a flyin' rat's patoot about who the REAL Secretary of State is or what brand of wheel the bike had. Whether it was 440# or 385# faded to insignificance. Folks might be well served to be more sensitive to the beauty and splendor we are surrounded with everyday (ever seen the Bonneville Salt Flats?)in the form of people and places....and less concerned with the, in the big picture, immaterial things. Shoot me before I become philosophical. Court | ||
| Fontx1rs |
Court, Bang. JoeBuell | ||
| Blake |
Court, "...and less concerned with the, in the big picture, immaterial things." Meaning "material" things right? Blake (staringatthewife'snewhandmadecurlymaplerockingchair) | ||
| Tripper |
Court, I was dreaming of trips like you just completed as I test drove an ST4s last weekend. Then I fell asleep at the bars and decided I needed a Thunderbolt. The Duc is just too refined after owning a Buell. | ||
| Court |
It was a FABULOUS trip!  |
