| Author | Message | ||
     Piercethekiki |
I've got the opportunity to snag a very good looking 05 XB12SCG with 21K miles. lots of service records and such. The price is $3600 which seems pretty damn good considering it comes with a set of new in box Pirelli Angels. I already have a 2000 X1 that I love. Also I take care of my mother's 03 sportster which is a chill ride but the 883 is definitely underwhelming. I'd just hate to skip out on the bike, especially because its the SCG model and I'm a shorter rider. But I'm worried about the 05 reliability long term. Im a bit afraid to work on the XBs because of the massive frame and aircleaner on top. I'm spoiled with the Tubers easy access maintenance. | ||
| Nillaice |
i don't think the XB maintenance is all that hard. i'd say get it, but me and the rest of the audience on this forum is gonna be biased ... you can only ride one at a time. would this bike fill a different role or replace one in the same role in your stable? | ||
| Piercethekiki |
Thanks for the input Nillaice. I'm mainly worried about the oil pump gear failing. I'm in the process of doing my research to change the gear on my X1. Seems like an alright job, I just don't have a garage which makes things very inconvenient. Well aware of the bias on the BadWeb, but I know you guys and gals will tell the truth. The XB could possibly replace the X1 if it was a bit more comfortable. But the X1 does have excellent range which I think the XB could not match | ||
| Skipbarberman |
So please excuse the opinion, but you'd be a fool to pass this up if you are remotely interested. The later Sportster pump and the bronze gear are easy fixes. This is by far the most bullet-proof bike I've ever owned. Change the oil and it just runs. (Message edited by skipbarberman on September 14, 2021) | ||
| 1_mike |
Since my retirement, the only bike I'm keeping the lic., and insur. updated on is my XB12. My 1190 EBR and my 1125CR are just sitting, loosing air pressure ! Mike | ||
| Upthemaiden |
Maybe my opinion will be a little less biased since I own a tuber and not an XB, but if you're interested, I'd definitely grab it. I had an XB9s years ago. It was actually the XB9s-low, the SCG before they came up with a fancy way to label it. How tall are you? People seem to love the SCG bikes, but at 5'8 I felt like it was way too short. I ended up swapping the suspension for the regular height and honestly it was still a small bike. Plus the XBs came with 3 different seat heights, so I eventually found the other 2 and was able to easily swap seats depending on what type of riding I was planning on doing that day. As was said above, it was the easiest bike I've ever owned. In the time I owned it I never had to do a single thing to it other than change oil and put gas in it, which I loved. I think it was also one of the most comfortable and best fitting bikes I've ever owned(way more compact than my friends X1 I rode briefly). It's also the only bike I've ever sold that I was really sad to see go, and have missed once it was gone. If I had bought an XB12 I probably would've kept it a lot longer, but I was still pretty young and still rode with guys on inline 4s and got tired of trying to chase them on the highway, so at that point I thought I wanted something faster. Despite the extra 200cc, my S1 actually feels pretty much the same as the XB9 did. I know your X1 is a bit faster with the thunderstorm heads and FI, so I'm not sure how the power on an XB12 would compare. The XB9 did still shake, but it was on a whole other level when it came to fit and finish. | ||
| Falloutnl |
"The XB could possibly replace the X1 if it was a bit more comfortable. But the X1 does have excellent range which I think the XB could not match" I never could get my Scg to handle as well as my X1, but I'm 6'2 which maybe has something to do with it. In terms of comfort... the X1 also edged out the Scg, though my dad's XB12s (which is a bit more accommodating) offers a more refined seating position than the X1. Reliability -> both are fine and easy to maintain (should the need arise, rotating the engine on an XB is doable, though less so if you don't have a garage). The only real trouble with the XB's is that the trap door is gone which means that - unless you are willing to split cases - you're sol when something happens to the transmission. Had that happen on my old Ulysses. Was a lot of work getting it back on the road again. Still, the odds of that happening are quite small I reckon. One thing I did have twice (on my xb12x) was the voltage regulator failing. Once it left me stranded 200 miles from home which was no fun. Installing a voltage indicator is not a bad idea. In terms of fun: I love XB's (Uly is probably the best all round bike I ever owned). They handle exceptionally well. But, there's just something about a tube frame that was lost in the transition to the more modern setup. '08 and up I don't rate because the engine feels too different for my tastes. No longer really that Sportster feel. Regardless, more Buell = always better. (Message edited by falloutnl on November 15, 2021) | ||
| Upthemaiden |
I'm sure size plays a good part of it, but I thought my XB was one of the most comfortable bikes I've owned. I'm 5'8 though, and I can picture the bike being pretty cramped for someone who's 6'2, especially with the lowered suspension of an SCG at a redlight. I like my bars close to me, so on any bike I ride I typically sit at the front of the seat and hug the tank, and the bars on that XB felt super close to the seat already. I rode a friends X1 once back to back with my XB and I felt completely different, much long reach to the bars. | ||
| Falloutnl |
Yup they are completely different. I think the effect is: yeah you have more room on the X1, but it feels like a 'sportier' seating position with the gap you have to bridge before you reach the bars. You're more upright on an XB by comparison. Am I wrong in saying they feel closer to the S1 in that regard? | ||
| Upthemaiden |
There was a pretty long gap between when I rode the X1 and when I got my S1, so I can't compare them directly, but I do remember the X1 feeling a lot longer than my S1 does. I also remember the XB feeling a little shorter, but again it's been years. Hopefully someone that owns a couple of them together can be a little more specific. | ||
| Tomahawk1976 |
if you're looking for a group of guys to talk you into it....youve come to the right place. you know you want it, you know its an awesome bike.....just buy the damn thing already | ||
| Cvc |
Did you buy it? And if not a guy with a 30” inseam here wants to add an scg to his stable someday. | ||
| Piercethekiki |
@Cvc I did not buy it, lost contact with the owner. I don't regret it, I'll just wait for another to come along. Would greatly prefer a later model year to avoid most of the recall stuff |
