| Author | Message | ||
     Trpldog |
I'm on my third XB, two 9's and a 12. My current ride is a 2006 City X with Drummer installed. Bought it with 4,000 miles on it now at 20,000. Bike is great. Got the suspension dialed in and it rails in the twisties in the hills above my house. I started riding in 1974 and have always turned my own wrenches. I ride 4 miles to work M-F and usually put about 150 miles on it on my days off each week. The problem - I got the dreaded Tuber Itch. I cannot own two bikes, so, it would be a complete fling into the world of tubeism. I'm a decent rider and even road raced a bit years ago. My bikes live in the local twisties weekly, weather permitting. I fully understand I may be giving up some of the razor sharp XB handling (which I really like) and may be bringing some possible reliability issues to the table with a tuber, but, nonetheless - the Itch remains. Have any of you gentlemen went from new school to old school and not regretted it? Hurry before my output shaft bearings explode! Thanks. | ||
| Lakes |
I can't answer that, but when the tubers where new, i got to test ride them a lot. almost bought one new at one time. then the XB came out i test road a few & to me they did not seem to have the same grunt the tuber's i tested did. i did not go far enough to really see how well they handled. just the tuber's i road seemed to have more thrust when you open throttle. & felt lighter. then 3 or 4 years back i saw a well used M2 on e bay & bought it. have ridden many miles. had a few troubles at the start, but when i fixed problems i fixed them to be an improvement so the problem would not come back. now the bike is reliable. only thing is the plastic around the seat cracks. i think i need a new plastic seat surround but just used a resin for now. it flys, love it. | ||
| Alfau |
Tubers evolved into xb because of the introduction of fuel injection; the increased power output demanded both motor and frame modifications. xbs' are less likely to fail supposedly. pre fi models might be ok but early fi bikes chewed themselves up. It wasn't until 2002 things settled down a little but the change to xb had to come. Why go backwards ? Buy a new EBR. | ||
| Ratbuell |
Tubers have soul. You "feel" what they're doing with the road. XB's by comparison feel like they're carved out of a block of billet - firm, accurate, steady, solid, precise. Tubers flex. They bob. They speak to you. You don't ride ON a tuber...you ride WITH it. It joins you, it doesn't carry you. Carb tubers are just about dead-reliable - at least, all mine have been. There is aftermarket support galore because it is - for gasket/seal/internal parts purposes, a sportster motor. There is also good support for brakes. Suspension. Tires. I love my tubers - they talk BACK when I ride them. But conversely...for long trips, my Ulysses is my go-to bike. Most of that is rider position/ergos, and MASSIVE luggage capacity...part of it is that razors-edge, rock-solid chassis. But every day I say "I'll ride a tuber to work"...turns into a week of riding the tuber, every day. Reliability being an effective non-issue...it comes down to what you want. What speaks to you. Go ride one. For a day or two, not just a few miles. You'll know. | ||
| Alfau |
your money could buy this in Oz at the moment. http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/1998-Buell-CYCLONE-/321 451859619?pt=AU_Motorcycles&hash=item4ad8061ea3 | ||
| Reepicheep |
I miss my M2, but if you had to have just one bike, you would be nuts to give up an XB for one. IMHO. | ||
| Dave |
Just get 2 Buells...Issue Solved It's an illness.... DAve 1125CR, XB12X, S3, S2 | ||
| Ceejay |
I went the other way, mostly because it was nice to ride a bike where the motor was developed with the frame - I don't think Buell had a lot of say in how motors were designed, they just redesigned the heads and had to hang a frame and parts off of them the best they could. As such the tubers seemed to always be trying to shake those parts off, most notably the exhaust and wiring connections. I enjoyed the ride of a tuber very much, and I'll probably get another one at some point, but I'm with Reep, if you've only got one bike and it's gonna be a tuber you'll need plenty of garage time. If you can find one that is well sorted, and not messed with much (good luck!) other than smart upgrades you might be better off, either that or a full on basket case that you go through and fix all the niggles as your putting it back together. | ||
| Phelan |
In the last 5,500 miles on my S2 I've only had to replace the front Isolator and oil/tires... | ||
| Mhlunsford |
I would agree m2 chewed itself up due to torque which I put to limits. I suspect if u ride them easy they would last. | ||
| Lakes |
Alfau , they must not ride in Queensland? i got over 100,000 up on my 2000 M2 , love riding it ride it . Cheers | ||
| Gusm2 |
Tube frame Buells can be rebuilt again and again the fueller will end up as a very expensive garden ornament at some point, to quote a very reliable UK Buell specialist " they truly are the bic razor of the motorcycle world" Nuff said | ||
| Mmcustoms |
I have a xb and 1125r s2 m2 Sold the 1125 and xb is up for sale My m2 I will never sell it I always have more fun on it then the others I've put a ton of money into blown up the engine once and some other small issues but I ride it like there's no tomorrow | ||
| Captainkirk |
I had a chance to ride an XB before I bought my M2. I chose the M2 over the XB because it was bigger, had more grunt, and just overall felt better. Just my opinion, but to me, it counts! | ||
| Tailbreaker |
I had an XB city and at 6'2" I felt like a Gorilla on a football, great bike but it was very uncomfortable to me. My M2 Cyclone fits me great. I'm happy with it | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
I had a Uly, now an M2. I was sad to see the Uly go. I'll never sell the M2. The Uly handled better. The M2 is a two wheeled Chevelle. My Acura is better in every way than a Chevelle except for the reasons why you would drive a Chevelle. Same for an XB. After working on both, I can see the iterative improvements in the XB. I would not hesitate to own an XB again. Still lust over an SS. Rs and Ss just aren't made for bigger galoots. At 215, I'm monkey humping a football on an S, SX or R. | ||
| Deanh8 |
I love my tuber. I have a 1190cc 1125 and a 110whp XB9R but my tuber never lets me down. Funniest out of all of them. They are funky looking, part of which makes them so fun to ride. I have the most fun "riding" my tuber. If im racing or trying to drag knee, or being competitive the other bikes are obviously better. But for the street or around town the tuber gets the job done better and quicker for sure. "Tubers flex. They bob. They speak to you. You don't ride ON a tuber...you ride WITH it. It joins you, it doesn't carry you. " /\ this is pretty good. You really ride the tuber different, you gotta be loose and just go with it let the bike do its thing they buck and bob a lot but always straighten out. | ||
| Newmans3 |
No seat time on an Xb, but did a bit on a 1190SX. I wouldn't trade my S3 for one, the tuber experience is so unique, a real torque monster, like driving an old hot rod. Just my opinion, everyone wants something different from their bike, I'll stick with the tuber. | ||
| Mnscrounger |
I compare my S3 to a middleaged Chesapeake Bay retriever. We've all met a dog like that. She's bigger than most, and a little gray at the muzzle. She's not the fastest dog you'll see, the wiry coat is a little oily, smells like wet dog, and always seems to have a bit of grime in it. She'll drop an old tennis ball in your lap, and won't stop staring at you until you throw it. No matter how hard, or where you throw the ball, she keeps bringing it back. She drops it in your lap again, (nastier, and slimier than before), waiting for you to throw it again. The deeper in the weeds it lands, the happier she is to go get it. Only exhaustion, or a ride in the truck, will distract her away from that game. There are prettier, better mannered, and faster dogs out there, but this one has heart, and I'll take it anywhere. | ||
| Fxdrydr |
Tubers are the most fun you can have with your clothes on. | ||
| Rkbuell |
I have a '00 x1 and a 09 Xb , the Xb is smoother to ride and shifts smoothly and easily and the brakes and suspension are far better, thats why I love my x1. Front brake throw you against the handle bars, suspension will bob and weave and dance around, shifter is clunky and takes a real boot at times but that's why I love my x1. Think I'll give my Xb to my son so he won't ride that Kawy anymore. Like them both but the x1 is just a riot to ride and such a stand out around ricers , got to love it | ||
| Fxdrydr |
Love how they stand out around the ricers. Guy next door rides in on an R6 sometimes. No one seems to notice. The M2 always draws attention. Reeks of mechanical, non-bullshit functionality and even people who know nothing about bikes seem to relate to the raw, functional looks. Love it! |
