| Author | Message | ||
     Ebwhite |
I found a cheap 00 m2 (7k mi) for 3k (had typical upgrades) and a 08 XB12SST (2k mi) for 5k (same upgrades)... I like the look of both. I do like the ease of working on the Cyclone but do want a good handling like. Do the cyclones handle almost as good as the XB? I will be taking a passenger on the bike once and a while- which is better for that>? Thanks! | ||
| Dwardo |
I rode a Lightning Long at a demo day last year. Rode my '02 M2 down to the dealer to do it. My impression was that the XB seemed much stiffer and more solid than my M2, it was a really nice bike. Having said that, I was surprised at how good my M2 felt when I got back on it. I didn't want to throw rocks at it, not at all. I also think the M2 is way cooler, but that's just me. I have to say that I carefully avoided the Harley dealer during the "fire sale" period, because I was afraid I might buy an XB that I need like a hole in the head. | ||
| Littlebuggles |
Maybe I missed something, but I don't think there is an SST There's an XT (shorter sport touring uly, comes with hard bags) And an Ss, which is a long wheel-base version of the S And there's a STT, which is the next bike on my list. The XT is in my opinion the best for two up touring and I've considered them and the regular (tall) Uly for my next bike for its practicality. Tough choice, if you can only have one, in my opinion the Uly is the bike to go with, esp for the passenger backrest. | ||
| Littlebuggles |
In the same order I listed above: Here's an XT  And an Ss  And here's an STT  The 'TT would be a poor choice for two up riding without adding the touring, two person seat which is something like $300 extra. The XT and the X are prolly the best out of the box distance bikes... But that's just my opinion, and I'm pretty opinionated, so hopefully others will also chime in. My wife didn't like the stock passenger seating for the Cyclone and was sick of it after 35 min, so I took it as the go ahead for the S1 tail =] Others have found it to be fairly comfortable, if you can test ride each of your options with and without a passenger it will help immensely. -Mike | ||
| Littlebuggles |
Oh, since no one has shut me up yet... ...all three bikes above have the 54.? inch wheel base, I believe only the regular S and R models still have the 52 inch, but they may have been stretched too. | ||
| Guell |
I think the r and regular s models still have the 52" wheel base. The SS in 09 got the stt suspension. Thats going to be my next bike when i have the funds for it. | ||
| Ratbuell |
An '08 STT is going to be an Ss with a solo seat, slightly taller suspension (halfway between an Ss and a Uly), a Uly front fender setup, and number plates. 54" wheelbase, 4.4g fuel capacity. I own tubers, and I own an XB (a UlyX). They all handle awesome - that's been a Buell trademark since day 1. I can handle turns just as well on my 1995 S2 as I can on my 2009 1125CR. At track speeds, sure, the CR is gonna turn faster laps...but for a street hack like me they both do just fine  The difference is, the XB platform feels like it's carved out of a solid piece of billet. There is NO chassis flex, it is rock-solid. Goes where you point it, never deviates, no question. The tubers...have a little more chassis 'english' while you're riding. I can feel my tubers flex under me. They speak. They don't go off-line or anything like that...but there is definitely more going on. Same end result.....just a slightly different journey to get there. If it's a TT you're looking at...my personal thought is, that was the best bike Buell made on the XB platform, marketing just screwed it up. It's light, compact, flickable, and for my height (6'4" with 34" inseam) the taller suspension is awesome. It's not as big and touring oriented as the Uly (which I also love - I do own one after all) but an awesome all-around bike. There is a 2-up "kit" you can get...or you can make your own if you buy a pair of passenger pegs with the mounts, and an Ss seat, somewhere like eBay or here in the classifieds. Any XB (other than Uly) or 1125 passenger peg setup will fit just fine. For the M2...it's easy to live with. Carbureted, simple, elegant in its own way, flickable handling, light weight. My first bike was a '99 M2 and my wife's current bike is an '01 M2L - Cyclones are good bikes At this point...buy emotional. Get the one that speaks to you, you'll be happy with either one. | ||
| Blazing_saddle |
I did the same thing Dwardo did. Tried a Lightning, found it very stiff and good handeling but was happy to get back on my M2. | ||
| Cbig |
Let's see....I just bought a 09 xb12ss and put almost 2k on it. I own a 2001 cyclone with 15k on it and previously put 46k on an 00' cyclone. xb12ss 09 model has the same travel and suspension as an xb12stt, Fantastic suspension. Love it. This bike has very little flex, and when tossed from side to side in tight cornering such as Palomar or maybe back East the Dragon the suspension is well sorted, the bike goes where it is pointed better than anything I rode before. Has a few more ponies than an M2 also. Tires are better, more lean angle. Because the pegs are up a little higher it's less comfy. Also the fuel injection stumbles on occasion and the bike is not as easy to fix as an M2 with a don shalla stand. I do comfortably put 300 miles on this. Feels well done, almost Japanese. My M2 is the best looking bike (to me) I have ever seen. Nothing says BIKE! quite like an M2 or S1. Extremely easy to work on, parts are plentiful and the most comfortable bike I ever owned. (Right now I also have a Harley fxdx) It's not as well sorted flopping from turn to turn, but then I never spent the bux to upgrade a basic, harsh suspension. It will never be an xb12ss suspension tho with the travel that soaks up the bumps..From past experience, I know if I tweak a couple of things, the power is there with the new xb12ss. No stumble...easy to fix carb. I'm not sure I needed the xb12ss, but did get caught up in the dying Buell deal. .and might sell my M2. Too much to lose if I sell the xb12ss? | ||
| Ebwhite |
Well guys, just bought a 2000 buell m2 with 7k miles and a basic stuff (exhaust/intake) for 2900 bucks... The thing runs great, lots of power, handles good. I test drove a XB12SGC and liked it but dealer was unwilling to do 7k out the door. I'm happier spending much less than half of that on the M2. honestly, i do not feel a big difference in the handling with the m2 and XB12. The XB did feel a little unstable (like quick to turn almost) which is not a problem with the m2..the XB seemed to soak up corners a bitt better but again its much lighter...I'm happy though! | ||
| Outdoors |
I also have an '00 M2 and it is a great bike and easy to work on. You did good. For what you paid you could go buy some really nice bits (penske or works shock, etc) and still be just over half of the XB. If you keep your eye out and are patient, you can pick up some really good used stuff for the tubers. Ride safe. | ||
| Judotrip |
I have a Uly and a 01 M2L...I agree with all that was said. My Uly is a way better 2 up bike though.... | ||
| Daveswan |
The "fun ride" thread here is tuber leaning. I'm bias toward the tuber though I do like the newer bikes. But I also love the relative ease of working on the M2, I prefer it's looks and I just upgraded to a Works shock and Corbin seat. What a difference! |
