| Author | Message | ||
     Bcordb3  |
What Bud said! And enjoy it. You'll love the attention the bike gets even when parked! | ||
| Imonabuss |
Buy the XB, add a set of frame pucks, and then just ride it for 10,000 miles. After that you can do two things: first tell the Suzuki guys how wrong they are and where the sophisication really is, and second you can decide what (and if) you really want to change. The stock exhaust sounds nothing like the typical H-D loud pipes, BTW, and I HATE loud pipes. Had a gift from heaven the other day regarding this, too. Some twit OCC waanabe guy pulls up to me on the highway, revs his open pipes on his chopper and hits it. Guess what, I smoked his sorry butt with a stock-piped quiet 9, in a straight line, no less! God, I HATE poseurs as much as their straight pipes. It felt so good! | ||
| Ben_jamminvfcc |
I'm going to test ride the 9r and the SVS1K. I have the 1st gen naked SV, Bigeasy...it's a sweet bike, and I dropped it down with clip-ons and some rear-sets to really give it that cafe' racer feel. I think, with more money, the SV can be a real Monster killer aesthetically. Performance-wise, its pretty much better than the Duc in every way but suspension. However, what strikes me about the Buell, is most of the work I'd want to do aesthetically...has already been done, and its stock suspension is much better than my upgraded SV suspension...w/adjustability. What, perchance...is the quietest performance exhaust for the Buell? I'd like to see the performance gains from upgrading from stock...without much of the noise. By the way...listened to the sound clips...that air-cooled engine has a lot more mechanical noises going on than my liquid cooled SV...I kinda like it! How fast does it rev? I mean this question especially for those who've ridden an SV....I really enjoy the quick revs of my bike, and the simplicity of blipped downshifts. Does the 9r rev like a truck? I mean...7500 redline...why...my honda civic redlined at 7500....  | ||
| Unchi |
ok then get a 9R w the race kit dont let the "redline" fool you the xb 12 i rode felt like my sv but w 100% more sack. i only went to like 4500 and it felt like going to 9k on the sv its hard to explain, but i can try. sv starts movin around 4-5k till about 10k xb pulls right off idle to 6-7k ride its powerband and you will have a "blast" Bad pun anywho you cant really know whatim sayin till u ride one. The xb12s has got to be the most fun bike ever produced !!!!!!! i also looked into an SV1ks, while its "numbers" are better the experience is nowhere near the same hence me buying an XB12 oh and the civic reference, my Turbo ls powered 1991 hatch redlined @ 7k yet i made 260 whp (6k) and 230 ft lbs (4k) it didnt rev to the moon but i smoked porsches, type r's and pretty much any street car i encountered (civic ran 12.45 1/4's) | ||
| Outrider  |
Ben...The stock and aftermarket sound clips on the BWB, Motorcycle Online, etc, are nice but not accurate portrayals as most are done indoors and some on Dyno's. As a result, the just don't reflect the sound you or the folks you pass on the street hear. Additionally, don't sweat the motor noise issue. I have read about it, but honestly have never noticed it on my X1 or anyone else's Buell for that matter. Well, at least not on the one's that had oil in them. If there is any noise there, it disappears once you get rolling. | ||
| Buells Rule! (Dyna in disguise)  |
Additionally, don't sweat the motor noise issue. I have read about it, but honestly have never noticed it on my X1 or anyone else's Buell for that matter. They all make noise, some more so than others. Nothing to worry about, in fact the time to worry is when they stop making a racket.  | ||
| Cataract2 |
It's a noisy engine, but it sounds sooo nice. Helps drown out the buzzing sounds of the "other" bikes. | ||
| Outrider |
Dang...I must have gotten deaf...Whoops forgot...I wear ear molds under my helmet. LOL Still, I don't recall anyone's M2, X1 or XB making any noise that wouldn't be associated with a motorcycle. Am beginning to think that Young Ben had just go take that test ride and then find a local BRAG group for some bench racing. We can say whatever we want, but until he experiences a Buell first hand, he just won't know for sure. Ben...That's why Buell is so generous with the test rides. You just have to experience the throttle control and low rpm torque vs high rpm horsepower. Is a huge difference in real world riding conditions and I love it. | ||
| Joele |
I wasn't sold on the thought of getting my XB9SX until I rode it. Looked real hard at the new Ducati S2R that will hit the stores in Feb. - major issues with pricey service intervals, super expensive insurance, and lack of reputation of quality. Too many "yea, I owned a Duc for a few years" stories. | ||
| New12r  |
Never test rode, never looked back, The Buell called to me in a way no other bike has ever called to me and I will own a Buell for the rest of my life. Yes there are other bikes I want but really only to play with, the Buell captured my soul! | ||
| Brucelee |
I test rode the SV right after I tested the XB9S. It was not even close! Like driving a 4 cylinder after testing a V8. | ||
| Reepicheep  |
And that is just the tip of the iceburg. The deeper you look on the XB platform, the more of this stuff you find, architecturally, mechanically and aesthetically. The folks at Buell keep solving all sorts of problems for me I never even knew I had (but that were there nonetheless). The more miles I rack up (and i still consider myself a newbie at about 35k streetbike miles under my belt) the more I appreciate this bike.
 Uh oh. He took a sip of the cool aide! I for one am ruined for any other motorcycle noise now. When it first occured to me that Harley is keeping an aircooled 45 degree pushrod twin in many of their bikes because "they sound right and they feel right" I thought them fools. The more seat time I get, the smarter those folks get. (Message edited by reepicheep on December 26, 2004) | ||
| Aldaytona  |
Can I get an "AMEN" brother? | ||
| Whistle |
AAAaaaaaameeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeen! Go test ride. I thought sportbike bikes were a bunch of huey and the sport riders were psychotic overly testosterone filled thrill seekers. I HAD a Harley. I test rode a Buell "Just for fun!" Just to prove to myself that sportbikes were dumb and my bike was great. Uhhh, yeah, the test ride picked me up turned me around and put me down looking 180 degrees from where I was. I bought my XB9SX a couple of weeks ago.  And I couldn't be any happier. | ||
| Coldwthrrider  |
I almost bought an SV last summer to upgrade my Suzuki Bandit. You can get a good used SV for half the price of an XB so it was hard to shell out the extra coin for the 9R I got. After 5000 miles I can say that I'm so freakin glad that I got the Buell. For people new to motorcycling, the SV is my #1 recommendation because it can go from starter bike to top performer at an easy to swallow entry price. But if you're already there, the Buell is the next level of enjoyment that you just can't get from any other bike (that I've ridden). The only complaint I have (which may be an issue for you) is the lack of luggage support if it's your only vehicle. On an SV you can get 3 45L Givi cases and carry as much stuff as a Honda Civic! On the Buell you need to get creative with storage space, and give up passenger pegs for cargo capacity. For me it's worth the tradeoff, I wanted the bike first and dealt with carrying luggage second. Ride one and you'll want one. Good luck! | ||
| Ben_jamminvfcc |
Yea...I went to test ride an SVS1K today, and they wouldn't allow it. No test rides for sportbikes due to liability issues they said.... So perhaps Buell will be more generous. | ||
| Mikej  |
Ask the salesman if he'd buy a car without a test drive. Most existing Buell dealerships will be more generous if they're one of the ones who'll still be around through 2005. | ||
| Ben_jamminvfcc |
Hey....does the XB9R have passenger accommodations????? That would be a deal-breaker right off the bat if it didn't. Riding with my girlfriend on the back is too much fun to give up. | ||
| Mikej |
Yes, somewhat, take the ladyfriend with you for the test ride. Don't dump her off the back with a wheelie though, that would be another deal breaker. | ||
| Court |
>>>>Ask the salesman if he'd buy a car without a test drive. I wouldn't. It's inflammatory and suggests your time is of so little value as to allow you to waste it. you are not going to "re-learn" the salesman. Leave and get on the high road. Buell pioneered the motorcycle demo ride. Your dealer should be able to fix you up. If there is any problem, just let me know. The great news, as Mike alluded to, is that some of the "luke warm" Buell dealers have been allowed to excuse themselves. You will soon see the rising tide carrying all the ships. Get on board. Court | ||
| Ben_jamminvfcc |
Yea, I spent a long while looking at the SVS1K. And it's was pretty, but lacked a great deal of personality. It's nice seeing a motorcycle looking all shiny and new, as opposed to my rugged bike...but, the shine didn't deceive me to the fact that this bike was somewhat sterile. I said to the salesguy: "One thing I'm worried about with the 1K is the extra heft it has compared to the 650 when I'm going into turns." His response: "Yea, but the extra power it has will make up for it." First off...if I wanted straightline speed, I should get a hayabusa or i-4 literbike....twins just aren't the ideal platform for it. Second, who'd want to get a bike so they could be slow in the corners and then hammer it to supra-legal speed on straights? Honestly, I had to ask before I even threw a leg over the 1K, since the sign forbade it. Though with the huge liability concerns of test rides, and motorcycles...I can almost understand...but still...you're right, would you buy a car without a test? That's like gambling. I'm not hugely concerned about long distance pillion comfort...just enough that we could go around for a ride, or to dinner and be in relative comfort...and style. By the way...not to sound squidly... My SV topped out at like 115 indicated which was probably more like 105 actual. What sort of top speed could I expect from the 9r? Not that I would go that speed...but it's nice to know it's there and that I couldn't possibly get run down on the interstate by some psycho in a Hyundai Accent. | ||
| Glitch  |
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| Ben_jamminvfcc |
Wow, your friend is a real menace to society and should be stripped of his lisence! So....did your friend know if it had anymore steam left at 125? (Message edited by Ben_JamminVFCC on December 28, 2004) | ||
| Glitch |
Sure felt like it. Not sure how much she had left, the wind was killing An XB9R has the fairing so wind wouldn't be that much of a problem. Shred says he went 135 (indicated) once or twice, he used to have an XB9R. your friend is a real menace to society Surely you jest!  | ||
| Cataract2 |
Err, I was, or I mean I mistakenly took my 9SX to 100 with no problems. Course, we were doing a holligan ride. (You didn't read that.) | ||
| M1combat  |
Right around 135 for both "R" models and I think just a tad slower for the "S" models. | ||
| Court |
Ben: Several things. First: Motorcycles are intended to be ridden. One that you are not even allowed to sit on would be great cause for concern. Don't get me wrong, the elaborate fancy paint job....I'd dare not touch one, lest risk a belt buckle scratch. But a showroom bike? Please. I got in this same argument with some friends in NYC who own "boutique collector" motorcycles. I got mouthy and eventually spouted something about "if you can't ride it, why own it?" and ended up riding Aaron Wilson's PRISTINE RS1200 Buell from Bethroud, CO right smack dab all teh way in one day (with a short detour through Bryce Canyon for a photo op) into the Guggenheim Museum display.  You want art? I've got a house full of it and you, most assuredly, may NOT sit on it. You want a motorcycle, don't buy one you can't ride. Team Elves Australian group set their Land Speed Record on a bopne stock Buell. I'll have to look and see what the speed was. Court | ||
| Buells Rule! (Dyna in disguise) |
I havent ever had an issue with test riding any bikes. Back in the mid 80's I test rode quite a few hondas, suzukis, etc. Maybe it was because the general manager was a personal friend of my family? Triumph allows test rides now as does BMW. Pretty hard to score a ride on any of the japanese models now days, all it takes is one clown to wipe out a new bike & thats it game over. | ||
| Dago  |
I've test ridden the new honda 1000rr, the zx-10, the 1150 bmw, and the gsxr 1000 without a flinch from any one of the dealerships. Then again, I sat around and talked shop with the sales guys for a while before asking. Come to think about it though, I did have to sign a waiver to ride the zx10. | ||
| Fullpower  |
Ben: you simply must take a test ride. that is the only fair way to evaluate the machine itself, and it's suitability for you. as for your points of note; Q"I spent a long while looking at the SVS1K. And it's was pretty, but lacked a great deal of personality." A: fer cryin out loud, ITS A SUZUKI. Q"does the XB9R have passenger accommodations????? " A: if your passenger is under 110 pounds or REALLY wants to go for a ride with you you should be fine for very short 2 up rides. Q"I think, with more money, the SV can be a real Monster killer aesthetically." A: in regard to aesthetics, comparing a ducati to a suzuki is akin to comparing Angelina Jolie to my mother in law. |
