| Author | Message | ||
     The4ork |
Rode one the othe day and thought it was boring. Had a race kit but still. It lacked all the eccentrics my s1 has. Doesn't vibrate like a big twin, less roar not as throaty, less torque? And pulls mildly less. It seems like my s1 but watered down, like what always thought the xb9 would be like. Those must be really boring :/ Now I need an 1125cr instead me thinks, xb12 for the gf | ||
| Littlebuggles |
My first impression of a XB12R was similar. I walked away from the 9R without another thought, it seemed devoid of any character. Fast, but it bored me. Difference between riding a bull or a horse maybe? Now that I own an XB too... well it still feels like a Buell, just a different sort of animal. | ||
| Foximus |
"Now that I own an XB too... well it still feels like a Buell, just a different sort of animal... like a big scooter" Fixed it for you | ||
| Pkforbes87 |
The XB's are cammed for more top end than the tubers. XB's all have .551"/249*, while the S1, S1W, X1, S3 and S3T have .497"/256*. The M2 was sold with stock 1200XL cams. Less lift, more duration makes the older bikes feel "faster" IMO. | ||
| Littlebuggles |
The "old" bike has a ton of grunt. That torque down low feels so cool. The tuber feels so much more raw, like it'll get you if you aren't careful how you deal with it. Good comparison Fox, but I'd have to call it a rocket powered scooter though. It feels so sedate just rolling around town (well, sedate for a Buell), then when I let it open up, like getting on the freeway - !!!ZOOM!!! - it's exhilarating.  | ||
| Foximus |
Well, when I said scooter, I really had my friend's moms scooter in mind. Aprillia single cylinder 500cc scooter. The XB9 was just really flat. And I had no idea how smooth it was. I'll take my Ground Thumper. | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
Gearing is different between my XB12X and X1. The X1 takes off on the highway like a rocket in fifth gear compared to the uly. Look at the tachometers at the same speed. | ||
| The4ork |
i have the same exact gearing as the xb 12 does, since i have the xb rear wheel, sprockets, and primary... only different maybe would be trans ratios... and im on the even more mild non s-1w cams, i have the crappy 96 s-1 cams... went for a s-1 ride tonight. hit the redline out at the local airport, 7k ft strip with about 3k feet remaining  not sure how fast the redline is but its gotta be in the 150+ range with that gearing at 6800rpm. that s1 sled is mean  i love that tube beast | ||
| Kalali |
I test rode the 1125CR during the fire sale with the full intent of buying one. Ironically it felt slow and too "civilized". In fact I stalled it twice leaving a light. The problem was I rode it like my X1. Once you rev the thing up, man you better hold on...Of course I learned that after they sold out. Different machines with different characters. | ||
| Guell |
I thought s1 cams were the same as s1w cams? | ||
| Ratbuell |
Look at the speedometer. The XB is actually faster...just not as peaky. Power is much more linear and civilized. You're going just as fast...just less drama to get there is all. S1 and S1W have different cams; S1W is a Thunderstorm engine, S1 is 'just' a Lightning engine. 101hp versus 92hp. | ||
| Guell |
Yea but I thought that was in the heads, I could be wrong | ||
| Ratbuell |
Heads, pistons/compression ratio, flywheel is lighter, and I'm 99% sure the cams are different profiles. | ||
| Tleighbell |
Don't dis the XBs. I had a 9 and a 12, both S versions. The S was the one to have, fun. The 9 had the factory race kit and was a sweet little motor, wider useable range because it was happy reving higher due to short stroke. There was a real flat spot at 4500 rpm but not too noticeable if you just rode through it. The stock 9 was pretty anemic, The 12 had a lot more grunt but was a little disappointing because the mid range was a little underwhelming then it ran out of revs at 6000. The problem was the restricted intake and exhaust and lean fueling. Take a look at the exhaust shootout on American Sport Bike to see what the potential of that engine was. The exhaust, open airbox and re-mapping made a huge differenct to the 12 motor according to those dyno sheets. The XBs are really all about handling IMHO. Unbelieveable. I loved them, and they were comfy on the road (for one). But now I want to try a tuber. | ||
| Foximus |
I find it funny that you say the Xb's are about handling. When I rode my friends home from across the state, I thought it handled mostly awful. Not to say that it was terrible, but the damn thing was to stable. It was as if they had pushed the rake out so far on it that it would only ride in a straight line. I really had to throw my entire body into it to get it to swerve into the next lane. Where as my S1, i think about sneezing and it will swerve. Obviously the s1 is more twitchy and you have to be much more carefull in long sweeping turns, but I thought the loss of that quick twitch maneuverability was a great sacrifice. | ||
| Jersey_thunder |
cause S1 ARE BAD ASS !! | ||
| Foximus |
obviously.... I mean really, I just got rear ended by 3 cars the other day. All 3 cars were totaled by my bike. I have a scuff on my derby cover. Bad ass? More like the Bruce Willis of bikes. | ||
| Tod662 |
ya my S1 ruined me for life, I thought about getting a newer buell till i rode a couple and they were all so boring/pedestrian | ||
| Whitetrashxb |
with properly set up suspension, i'm pretty sure the XBs will out handle a tuber. I'm almost positive they don't have more rake, and their wheelbase is about 2 inches shorter. I've been on an XB9r w/ full race kit since '04, suspension set correctly, and i have a S1W in the garage as well. Love them both, but they are different animals, and the S1 w/ factory bars rides dang near like a caddy compared to the bolt.... | ||
| Ratbuell |
with properly set up suspension, i'm pretty sure the XBs will out handle a tuber They will. I have an S1W, an S2, an M2L, and a Uly in the garage. While the tubers handle great...they still flex and "talk back". The XB is like a solid chunk of aluminum and it goes exactly where I point it, every single time, loaded or unloaded. The suspensions MUST be set up properly, though, or you're comparing apples to oranges. | ||
| Foximus |
I'll compare your apples to oranges....  | ||
| Tleighbell |
Foximus, if you are talking about an R, I know the feeling but it can be dialed out. The S set up right would just dive for the apex so fast you wouldn't believe it, yet it was really not twitchy in a straight line at least up to over 100mph. The rake on the XB if I remember correctly is about 22 degrees. The reason for the relatively stable handling was said to be a secret, I suspect it was related to weight on the front wheel, or maybe that perimiter disc had a greater gyroscopic effect. | ||
| Foximus |
Hmm... now that I'm thinking about it, I forget if it was a lightning or a firebolt. It has the full tail though.... I dunno. But I really had to push some weight behind it to get it to move. I attributed it to both the off angle mounting of the "clip ons" as well as more weight up over the front. | ||
| Ratbuell |
.....and if you make the rear taller, or the front lower, you will turn in quicker. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Tires on an XB make a HUGE difference as well. My Uly with a flat spotted 170 D205 bordered on alarming. With a Sync, it was wonderful again. Looking forward to trying the PR2's. | ||
| Foximus |
Thats true... I forgot how much of a difference there was when I just changed the rear from a crap dunlop to a nicer shinko Apex | ||
| Rick_a |
Ya don't hear that everyday. The Q2 is a popular and good performing sportbike tire and most of the guys around here prefer running Dunlop GP-A's at the track. I rode a Drummer SS equipped XB with a race ecm and it did the smoothest power wheelies of anything I've ever rode. That said I still prefer my S1, how it handles, and the way it is so raw and elemental. | ||
| Tattoomark |
"Hmm... now that I'm thinking about it, I forget if it was a lightning or a firebolt. It has the full tail though.... I dunno. But I really had to push some weight behind it to get it to move. I attributed it to both the off angle mounting of the "clip ons" as well as more weight up over the front" If it had clipons, it definitely wasn't a lightning. I couldn't find any clipons for my xb9s, other than the crossroads adapter style ones. | ||
| Foximus |
Thats because most of your friends would never run a Dunlop 616. LOL. So yea, a Shinko Apex is a step up. I feel like an idiot because I dont know what his bike was, but I'm really just not an XB guy. They were not clip ons, but the clip on style that are molded into the upper tripple tree. They look like a cheap toy. (Message edited by foximus on March 07, 2011) | ||
| The4ork |
im really torn on what to do... im thinking about picking up a CHEAP xb, i found a 9'bolt for 2500 locally in decent shape. i was going to purchase a 1125cr because i love the look and woulnt mind having 146hp and stuff not falling off on every ride. but i just love my s1 too much. ive already done the xb heads, port and polish, xb wheels and forks, xb primary... so many mods so far. im stilling thinking about taking it down to the frame and doing a resto with a 88" and high torque cams with a fatty carb. repowdercoat everything and throw on a fiberglass tail and 1125cr headlight. i think then it would be a bike worth keeping forever and satisfy my two wheel needs for a very long time. thoughts? picking up a 07 xb12scg for the girlfiend tomorrow, i was going to get her a 9 but after realizing how boring the 12 was i figured it was good for her, she doesnt like to wind the motor out like the 9 sounds like it needs. plus it was a good deal. |
