| Author | Message | ||
     José_Quiñones |
Aaron, yes to what? The latest FUELL featuring the Firebolt, has some mighty chest thumping going on about this bike. Let me quote a particularly interesting paragraph: "We've gathered tons of data about what sportbike riders expect and how they 'really' ride," said Tim Osterberg, Program Manager. "This drove the definition of our test programs. And yes, there was a significant element of 'play hard' in the mix" Now my question, is there enough 'play hard' in this new bike that it will not: 1. Detonate when the throttle is whacked open, 2. Puke oil into the intake when riding it at 7000 rpm all the time 3. Miss shifts or give false neutrals when triying to shift fast or crunch when downshifting at "track day" speeds 4. Blow gaskets when ridden hard while it's still cold? 5. Have a lifter fail trying to keep up with 600's and on and on.... the other José | ||
| Rocketman |
Tripster : 150 daily ? You're a dark horse my friend  Aaron : What jose said ? Jose : If Tim Osterberg says "really ride" I reckon that means "for most of the time" which means "play hard" must mean something different from what I understand. I haven't read that article yet, but that sounds like the usual "real world performance" b u l l s h i t ! After all, with our Sporty engine derived Buell's, I could understand where that statement might have come from given the chassis design and motor performance (compared to its Sportster habitat), but to re-hash it all over again with the new motor is a poor disguise for sorry we couldn't afford to risk spending another fortune on a new high performance Buell motor just incase the product failed again. Here in the UK, I'd say most sportsbike riders, most of the time, drive at realistic speeds, but they almost always will hit very high speeds on any given ride out. Say for example I ride with some friends who are on various bikes, we won't have to ride more than 5 miles out of town before we hit a suitable road that we could easily surpass 150mph, but the funny thing is, neither one of them will consider this feat anything out of the ordinary, not that it's done all the time, but those test riders\developers of the 'Bolt must be in cookoo land if they think the 'Bolt is in that league, never mind what Tim Osterberg tells us. Frankly I agree, not everyone wants to go that fast and some maybe never will, but that's no reason to stop the 'Bolt itself going that fast, nor anyone that wants to, but to sell a bike with what the manufacturer thinks is acceptable as {sic}"statistically proven riding" is just plain wrong when the rest of the world is going by at 150 + if they want to, and that to me is what PLAY HARD means. I'd like to know when the US bike manufacturers are gonna realise that high speed capability is the key to winning the praise of any would be critic. After all the Japanese learnt this lesson years ago. Even in the days of spindly frames and pogo shocks, they were still pushing the envelope of high speed and they still are even today, and as far as I'm concerned, I'd say the Italians have recognised this Japanese secret weapon and they now have a thriving sportsbike empire because they took the fight to them on and off the track. As for Buell trying to convince us that "real world riding" is where it's at, I'd say they need to start winning a few races, on and off the street, rather than trying to tell us a whole new category of biking is out there, discovered by Buell, because I'll say this much, a really hot Bonnie would be a match for a stock Buell on any road or track. No offence to Erik or his creation, but hell, Triumph Bonneville's were real world riding years ago. So, at the end of the day, to me, HIGH SPEED shows what the manufacturer is really capable of, and that means in all categories from design to manufacture and above all, to me the buyer, because it puts confidence in me to want to buy the product because I beleive it to be of high quality because it can go REAL fast. Am I on my own here ? As I always say, it isn't speed that kills it's the incorrect application of it that does. Anyway, I'm a SPEED FREAK, but then again who isn't ? Rocket in England | ||
| Aaron |
I plead the fifth. | ||
| Chuck |
okay...everybody's heard of Einstein's Theory of Relativity...right? (the closer you get to the speed of light - the more time slows down) So that means that if we all ride our bikes really fast - we'll never die  | ||
| Jmartz |
I like that philosphy Chuck... | ||
| Rocketman |
So who's Einstein ? Is he still dead ? Rocket in England | ||
| José_Quiñones |
Rocket, I agree. Buell can wax poetic all they want about "real world riding" but most bikers are "squids" or "bench racers" who can't do 50% (I can do maybe 15%) of what a race rep can do, but on paper, it's the hottest thing this week, so they have to have it. Which is why I don't get why Buell bothers to race these bikes. By their own admision, they are meant to be street bikes, but they try to race them against Ducati 748's, which are horrible street bikes, but are excellent race bikes. And the Buells break down, because they can't take the abuse. One missed shift is all it takes! I'm a fan, so I cheer them on when I'm at the track, but I realize that Buell is trying to race a "fork" vs. Ducati's "spoons". Most people don't understand this distinction, and the image that they get is that racing Buells are quick, but they break down a lot. Hmm, that goes for the street bikes too! Kind of like SUV drivers here in the US, who buy this thing that could do a Paris-Dakar rally, but in the real world the only off-road they actually do is driving through a steel plate at a construction zone. But, they could do it if they decided to do it! | ||
| Chuck |
Rocket, yes, Einstein is still dead......but he didn't have a bike as cool or as fast as yours  | ||
| Davegess |
Jose "Which is why I don't get why Buell bothers to race these bikes" I think they race 'cause Erik loves to race and he can get people to sponser Buell race bikes. doesn't really care if it is good or bad marketing he just wants to race and this is the only class he can race in and even have a hope of being competitive. Sure they get beat a lot, but not always and racing is a lot like sex; good sex is better than bad sex but bad sex is better than no sex. Well racing and winning is best but racing and losing is better than not racing. Dave | ||
| Buellzebub |
perfect analogy Dave. Buellzebub in search of twisties in the BC interior | ||
| todd |
dave, while it's true bad sex is better than no sex. How many years are you willing to have bad sex when you know good sex is out there if you just change partners? [bikes] The only answer that i can think of to that ? is, cause you love your partner [bike] no matter what. now the next ? is, if you just have sex with your bike. Is that good or bad sex? :<] lol | ||
| Tripper |
Did we take a vow of some sort when we bought a Buell??? Some days I think so. | ||
| Jmartz |
I took a vow of HD celibacy when I saw Easyriders in 1969. 30 years later I'm ready for something faster. Dear HD: I promise to wait 1 more year for the VR powered FIREBLAST with 120 RWHP. I know in your omnipotent wisdom and economic solvency you are capable of this. Your faitful devotee...Jose | ||
| Anonymous |
Those of you waiting for a water cooled Buell are in for one hell of a long wait. Ain't gonna happen for at least another three years. Bank on it! And if you think the V-Rod motor is a viable alternative to power a Buell. Well, you should try picking one of them suckers up. That is NOT a sport bike powertrain. | ||
| Mikej |
Jose, Print that out and stick it to your refrigerator. Don't forget to date it as well. Just replace the letters "VR" with something else. |
