| Author | Message | ||
     Bhillberg |
I am pretty new to the buell world here. I was wondering what the difference between XB's and tubers are. I mean I know the obvious, frame and newer technology but what I am wondering is in HP? and HP vs Weight. Just wondering if the newer ones are much faster. Are they as easily "modified"? | ||
| Capital_g |
Hey Bryan - See my post in a thread below from earlier, I REALLY like the looks of the XB but the fit wasn't "right". | ||
| Bhillberg |
I did read that, that is what kinda got me thinking. I mean I know it happens in cars where the newer model blows the older model away but the older is more easily modified. I was just wondering if there was really much power, power to weight difference | ||
| Capital_g |
From what I read there is not much difference in power. When I began shopping for a Buell I was interested in the XB-R, my wife made me realize that although the fuel in the frame and some other XB trick goodies would only make a difference riding 10/10 and I couldn't tell the difference with what I would use the bike for..... She was right. So I saved a few coins and have a really neat, easy to work on and modify bike. Even though it looks like a dirtbike compared to the XB! (Message edited by capital_g on December 29, 2008) | ||
| Bhillberg |
Ok, so I looked at buell's website and it doesn't look like there should be a HUGE difference in all out power. I am sure the handling is better but in stock power they seem pretty close. I guess they are lighter but the rider plays a big factor into that as well I suppose | ||
| Guell |
They handle better, but are more of a pain to work on. I feel that a tuber is a much more personal bike than a xb is. | ||
| Malott442 |
xb is a great commuter bike..... XB HP/TQ is almost the same as a x1. But the dry weight difference is dramatic. x1 dry/440 xb12 dry/390 Word of warning. Seat of pants dyno will say a tuber is stronger than an xb XB power is more linear than a tuber. Tuber feels more jumpy, I prefer jumpy. But if someone sold an xb cheap enough, I'd snatch one up. Best wheelie machine I have EVER rode, and I stunt so I've been on every 600 out there....... | ||
| Firebolt020283 |
and for most of the tubers with the exception of the 99 and newer s3s and the x1s are carbed so you do not have to plug them in to a computer to tune them. Also with the money you save by buying a tuber you could prob. buy you a better suspension system. Lastly you would be saving these works of art from the nasty chopper people. | ||
| Bhillberg |
I have an 00 X1, I do love it. I do love the "jumpiness". I have been around a lot of machines, drove a lot of cars, ridden plenty of bikes, taxied a bunch of aircraft and this is the scariest thing I have come across. I think that the "jumpiness" is what does it. I just didn't know if there were HUGE differences in the power to weight of these bikes. I know the XB is 50 lbs lighter, and that is a lot when you are talking in the 400 lb area not thousands like cars but still, with a heavier rider it should equal out. The same as if the XB rider was 30 lbs lighter it would be even more dramatic. (Message edited by bhillberg on December 29, 2008) | ||
| Firebolt020283 |
If weight is that big of a deal I am sure that you could shave 50lbs off of a tuber. It would be expensive but you can do it. Lighter brake rotors, the pm wheels, aftermarket exhaust, trim the timing cover, CF body work, lighter fasteners. All and all the cheapest way would probably be to put your self on a diet.(not saying any one here is over weight) | ||
| Bhillberg |
That is kinda what I was saying. That even though it is a big difference when speaking of the relatively low weight with these machines, something as little as rider weight could make the difference null and void. | ||
| Capital_g |
For every 10 lbs or so lost on a machine it feels like a 1 hp increase... Check this site - http://rennlight.com/cgi-bin/hp.cgi} (Message edited by capital_g on December 29, 2008) (Message edited by capital_g on December 29, 2008) | ||
| Bhillberg |
so by that formula it would have about 4.5 extra horses, probably still going to come down to the rider and their skill I suppose | ||
| Jstfrfun |
In my experience the tube frame machine is not as rigid when cornering. By that I mean when you apex a corner and power out you can feel the flex from the tube frame bike and NOT the perimiter frame XB. I know some of you may differ but I've ridden them both on the same curves at speed and I like that squirrly feeling when the front wheel lifts off coming out of a turn and you haven't quite got the bike pointed straight yet, It's kind of a ye-haaa thing. | ||
| Ratbuell |
In my experience the tube frame machine is not as rigid when cornering Yep. I have in the garage, a 95 S2, a 98 S1W, and an 06 Uly. Hands down, the Uly is more stable in at-speed turns. No wallow, no flex - just point-n-shoot. Not to say the tubers are "flexy" or "unstable"...but you can tell they're aged (I hesitate to use the term 'outdated') designs. Visceral feel and overall "personality"? Tuber. All the way, and I love 'em. Useful, predictable, stable speed and power? XB. Damn near utilitarian. If my Uly wasn't orange, muddy, and didn't have the "big bird" front end...it probably wouldn't have enough personality for me to own. They're that refined. Power to weight? hard pressed to tell the difference. I had all three bags on my Uly today and felt it to be working to hit triple digits when I found a hole in the stupid-thick traffic; my S2 doesn't feel strained, and at Homecoming we crossed start/finish at the parade lap at over 100, with bags, 2-up. Tubers are easier to work on; access is better for those of us with human hands. Flipside is, I've not had to turn a repair-wrench on my Uly yet. Mods for fun? Sure. Fix stuff? Nope. | ||
| Kalali |
"Visceral feel and overall "personality"? Tuber. All the way, and I love 'em." That was what got me hooked on the X1 after one short test ride. For some people what draws them to a "machine" is the emotional connection, others look for perfection. For me the best comparison is the difference I feel when I drive my '72 TR6 or my '06 MZ4. Both try to achieve the same objective (sort of) but the TR6 gets under your skin whereas the MZ4 does everything to perfection but stays on top of your skin. | ||
| Pkforbes87 |
"x1 dry/440 xb12 dry/390" I love my X1, but yes it is a heavy SOB. I believe the only heavier buell was the S3T. The 25 Years of Buell book has all the details.. That being said, when I compare riding my X1 to a newer XB, it feels like all the weight is in the right place and really doesn't negatively affect handling. The X1 has a 54" wheelbase which feels very similar to all of the 54" wheelbase XBs. Everyone else is right about the butt dyno feeling, but I don't think the difference is as big as it feels. One of the guys I rode to homecoming with last year has a XB9SX and even the 984 engine is closely matched in acceleration until 80+ mph. Tuber Pros: Character History B-E-A-Utiful Ease of Maintenance XB Pros: Handling Reliability Numerous options for parts swapping (S tail on an R model, etc) | ||
| Akbuell |
Everything has been pretty much covered, so my personal opinion: My '01 X-1 is a great bike. A collection of bits that work well together. Not subtle or refined at all. And no need to look at the tach when you hit 5k RPM. A samurai sword, if you will. My '08TT is a great bike. Feels like it is carved out of a single chunk. Sophisticated, refined. And the power just keeps building and building as RPM's increase. A surgeons scalpel. | ||
| Zac4mac |
My first Buell was an 03 XB9R I bought on a whim. In less than 2 weeks I was telling people how the bike "disappeared under me"... Didn't know I "got it" so quickly until 4 years later when I found this site. I put 20k miles on that XB, while my Shovelhead collected dust. Fast forward to today - Loretta, the first 1125R on the road in Colorado has 14.4k on the clock. When I got a chance to ride my old Firebolt after 3500 miles on the 1125R - I found it awkward and primitive. If an XB is a scalpel, the 1125 is a computer assisted laser. Z | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
Funny you mention the scalpel simile. I often thought of my X1 as a sharp bowie knife and the Xb12X as a scalpel. Now if I compare my 1979 sportster and the XB12X? The sportster is a bear and the uly is a swiss watch.  | ||
| Texastechx1 |
When I was first shopping, I found a 02 X1 tuber and a 05 XB12R in the used section at my trusted HD/Buell dealer. They were nice enough to let me do a LONG test ride on each. On paper the XB was supposed to be a better performer with a couple extra HP and less weight. But when it comes to actual street and highway riding, I loved the X1. | ||
| Buellish |
As far as loseing weight goes,the PM wheels weight the most,the Castalloys are next.With the Marchesinis being the lightest. | ||
| Jstfrfun |
I have both types of wheels,my X1 has PMs and my project will be rolling on casts, and yes you can feel the difference in your hands, say front wheel to front wheel, one in each hand. On another note I preffer the cast wheels naked, as opposed to powder or paint. | ||
| Brokeneck |
Tuber's are "Sportsters Gone Wild" XBs are not. (Message edited by brokeneck on January 06, 2009) |
