| Author | Message | ||
     Mfell2112 |
This looks to be a great bike and I am happy to see America will be back in business with a serious contender in Superbike. http://venus.13x.com/roadracingworld/scripts/NewsInsert.asp?insert=4815 Too bad Buell didn't make one of these. Reagrds Mike | ||
| Bads1 |
I read the artical in Cycle World it sounds awesome. Plus they say they will compete with price as far as other brands are concerned. Rotax powered. | ||
| Geofg |
Bitch bitch moan spit Man you guys gripe a lot. Buell didn't miss the boat. It may have missed your boat, but yours isn't the only one on the water. -Geof | ||
| Geofg |
BTW, that *does* look like a cool ride. More power to them. There's plenty of room for more American motorcycles, imo. Frankly, I'm wondering how long it'll take Polaris to put one of their I4 snowmobile engines into a bike. That'd be sweet, too. -Geof | ||
| Bads1 |
Geof why don't you just relax it doesn't mean we don't love are buells any less.I don't hear anyone complaining. SO CHILL OUT!!!!! | ||
| Geofg |
Sorry, just a little touchy. The amount of "Buell Sucks" posts on this board these days is kinda high. And I really don't think Buell "missed the boat" - I don't think their intention was ever to make a Superbike class machine. With the XB series bikes Buell's made a reliable, fun, fast (come on, folks, it'll go way faster than most of us need it to. And what difference does a second or even two mean in an off-track quarter mile? ), uncommon bike with loads of character and plenty of cool trick stuff. That's pretty damn good, if you ask me. -Geof | ||
| Imonabuss |
Don't bet on that bike ever appearing. It's darned easy to do a few sketches and outside shell CAD drawings, but damned hard to make motorcycles. | ||
| Bads1 |
Harvey that sketch has appeared in a couple different places. They are working on a running proto type right now and Rotax is being used for the engine. You should maybe read the articals,Road Racing News is a pretty good source. | ||
| Hootowl |
Yeah, I think they'll build it. Someone else is making the frame, and they're using an existing engine. I have NO manufacturing experience, but it seems to me that a determined individual could pull the rest together in short order. | ||
| Loki |
Didn't Britten do it in his own garage? How about the Tularis(race bike). Mr. Buell(and friends) did it in a shed. Fischer can and will do it. Will it be affordable to the mainstream? Time will tell. | ||
| Court |
>>>>>"If America can put a man on the moon, why can't it build a world-class sportbike? Apologies to the Buell XB9R. Given the absurdity of the statement, no apology is necessary for reasonably well read folks. The Fisher story makes interesting reading, but serves, in my mind, only to highlight what Erik Buell and John Britten did BESIDES just design a world-class design. They should have no problem developing some of the world-class engineering and production processes they propose......many were pioneered 6.65 miles to the Southwest. I like the picture. I like Erte's dancers, too. I'm betting my Erte ballerina dances off the canvas before this motorcycle hits it's dealer network. Hey, what dealer network? Without exception, each of the innovative engineering and design procedures these folks propose to bring to the market. "The MR chassis was done entirely in CAD before any metal was cut. Excellent idea, Buell has appeared in a host of industrial magazine, been the subject of interest by Microsoft and heralded for leading (not implementing...but actually doing it while other hypothesized) the development of CAD techniques. (NOTE: S-3 "Spider" on S-3) "The technology Gemini possesses is incredible," says Fischer, "everything from CNC to FEA to Computrack to carbon fiber." Excellent idea and if they need a copy of the definitive text on FEA, they can find the author, at work, 6.65 miles to the Southwest. No problem getting help with carbon fiber either...although Buell's lesson, admittedly, was pretty much an exercise in learning "this is something other people can do better". Kerr supervised clay modeling himself, and brings his experience working with almost every major manufacturer to the program. Clay modeling....someone wanna run down the road and tell Ti, he'll love hearing about that! Who are the "major manufacturers" that are on board? How committed to really making this happen are they....remember the old "ham and eggs...the chicken is involved, the pig is COMMITTED". including rapid prototyping machines Excellent idea...particularly if they can, like their neighbors have, learn to integrate it with SOM and analysis programs. It's not my intention to sounds like a pundit, but frankly, I think the XB represents a quantum leap in design, testing and manufacturing. It's just now, that some of the journalists are beginning to have their eyes and minds opened by some astounding "real world" test results. Credit where credit's due. I hope these guys make it but if they were figuratively traveling from LA to New York, they've not reached San Bernardino yet. Let me guess...the Hanlon brothers are going to run it The treatment that The History Channel gave John Britten and Erik Buell last night was a fitting tribute to how much more they have done for the motorcycle than just build innovative ones. WE were robbed when we lost John Britten and it hurts to think that Erik and John were just about to meet for the first time. It's not my intent to be the curmudgeon, but in light of what Buell has done in the last couple years and with the innovation, in design and manufacturing, that the XB platform represents, I'm a little sensitive that all these dialogues take on a "Buell missed the boat", "here's what they should have built" , etc type of tone. At the risk of quoting Steve Jobs (when he did what PARC could not) "Real geniuses ship". I'm excited about the bike, disturbed that the writer is ascribing techniques pioneered by Buell to others. If you missed Boy's Toys, buy the VIDEO. Court | ||
| José_Quiñones |
Cat fight! | ||
| Bomber |
the number of sketches and bills of materials I've seen touted in the enthusiast press boggles the imagination (well, mine, at least . . .) for every Britten, and even Henderson, there are numerous "companies" poised on the brink of producing motorcycles . . . . though I wish these folks luck (is it odd that it's another midwest based concern?), given a couple of weeks, and access to the editors of 3 or 4 publication's new-product editors (generally not the most senior of mag staffers), 2 or 3 of us could be credited with exactly the same thing. I hope to see this scoot in the flesh, but I'm not comparing a mediocre rendering with a aluminum and steel reality | ||
| Kerryx1 |
"Credit where credit's due. I hope these guys make it but if they were figuratively traveling from LA to New York, they've not reached San Bernardino yet." The major pothole in their trip will be Washington,DC. At that point, our elected officials will see to it that air bags, air vests, outriggers, restrictor plates, charcoal cannisters and whatever else is necessary to protect ourselves from ourselves and the environment will be added. A quick stop in Philadelphia for a second mortgage on our home to procure an insurance policy so that we may operate it on the roads with impunity and we're off to NYC. Unfortunately, we are restricted from using either tunnel to enter the city because security can't figure out what it is and have to detour to the George Washington Bridge. What is finally delivered to Court's door for evaluation in urban guerilla street fighting will faintly resemble a 1969 Rupp minibike with a 75 lb catalytic converter. Meanwhile, I'll enjoy the hell out of my Buell's. Strange, I don't have the longing for anything better on two wheels. I wish Mr. Fisher the best of luck and hope he's not using the Hanlon brothers used computer equipment. 'Ole Baldie | ||
| Court |
>>>>The major pothole in their trip will be Washington,DC. For a guy with no hair (by the way, what does it say under "hair color" on your drivers license?) you are one fart smeller! Anyone care to take a crack at just some of the processes other than designing and building a motorcycle that go into making a MARKETABLE motorcycle. Truth be known, the XB is the tip of Erik Buell's personal iceberg. Start your list with homologation and acoustic emmisions compliance testing.....you've already, at this point, exceeded the budgets of most wannabes. The road to conquering twisty roads is, itself, much twistier than it initailly appears. Court | ||
| Jrh |
Yah,i saw "Boys Toys"last night.The Britten was stunning.They followed it with the Buell segment and guess what my first thoughts were?ENGINE. Why did'nt John Britten use a Briggs+Stratton super heavy low horsepower engine?Did'nt he know thats what we all want? This Judge Smails attitude from the firebolt riders sucks,if they're happy with 75 hp good for them but that engine configuration will be forgotten as soon as Buell uses something with serious power in their state of the art chassis. | ||
| Jrh |
Smails to nosepicker nephew,"you'll get nothing, and like it." | ||
| José_Quiñones |
This "new" bike will use the same engine that Aprilia Uses, so if the engine, intake and exhaust designs are similar, Aprilia will have done most of the testing/certification work for them. And this engine is water cooled so it's quiet, so they will probably spend most of their testing on the intake and the exhaust systems. Buell had to come up with a totally different intake and exhaust system design from the "donor" Sportster motorcycle while trying to cope with a really noisy air cooled engine, a totally different challenge and a huge drain on resources. | ||
| Mikej |
Just curious, but stuffing the rear cylinder head and part of the front cylinder head up into the central box of the frames on the XB, did that have any effect on the noise emmissions, and was that an intended concept of the design configuration or was it just a nice side effect or indirect benefit? | ||
| Eeeeek |
Buell missed my Boat. I just bought a CBR954RR. I will be watching this new bike with great interest... Vik | ||
| Court |
Vik: You're going to LOVE that bike...... Watch and prepare to take notes.  Court | ||
| Benm2 |
Boy oh boy! Sign me up! Where can I send my deposit? Maybe there are some investment options available? I've got a few cents back after sale of Excelcior-Henderson stock, and I'm ready to go! Since they've got that neat sketch done, I bet the bike is just weeks from production! And that neat-o CAD prototyping of the frame? I bet they've got technology now that just assembles the frame from atoms of aluminum deposited by a precision plasma system. Cool. Look at those neat dual-disc front brakes! Wow, is that real chain drive? Water cooling? Whodathunkit? Really stepping out too, by using that Aprilia engine. Bet there's innovative american engineering in there too. Yawn. Did someone really have the BALLS to compare that bike (or effort) to Erik's accomplishments???!!! Ben | ||
| Benm2 |
Sorry Charlotte. Sexist comment, by bad. Did someone really have the GUTS to compare that bike to Erik's accomplishments? | ||
| Eeeeek |
Court: I already do. I bought the bike on Saturday afternoon and put about 280 miles on it. I haven't taken it above 5,500 RPM's and the engine is already impressing the hell out of me. Most of these miles have been in the twisties and the bike just takes everything you throw at it and begs for more. The handling is simply awesome... Vik | ||
| Steve_A |
Having lived through a large number of proposed American and English world beaters, and even ridden some prototypes of the same, I would suggest being entertained by stories in the magazines about these "flags" (run it up and see who salutes), but don't start comparing them to real machines until they are also in showrooms. It's amazing how long a road it is between concept and production, and how often something is lost in between. A few things to keep in mind when looking at things like proposed Fischers and Vincents are these: What will they cost, and what will the existing manufacturers be producing for 2005-2006 model year or later when these bikes just might ship? Buell, for one, has indicated that the XB9S and 9R aren't the last models they'll ever offer . . . and there are MotoGP replicas coming from the Japanese makers, for instance. But the Japanese and Erik have real bikes to sell now, and would rather people buy them, and not wait for what they might have out in a year or three. They're not talking. Accordingly, we can't even compare the proposed worldbeaters with the more certain plans of experienced manufacturers, who will succeed in getting their new models into production. Articles such as the one linked to above are about dreaming and having something to talk about at the bar, not about what to buy. | ||
| Court |
>>>Did someone really have the BALLS to compare that bike (or effort) to Erik's accomplishments???!!! Not yet....wanna be the first to compare the Grand Canyon and the Greensburg, KS "world's largest ball of twine" exhibit? Vik: I predict that the bike will continue to thrill for many miles. It's an excellent bike that is well thought out. And, BONUS, the Honda came the closest to keeping up with the XB in the motorcycle online shootout Go get'em ! Court | ||
| Dynarider |
The Hanlons have been mentioned a couple times now & I hope to god those asswipes never crawl out from whatever rock they are hiding under. I wouldnt let those guys run a sidewalk lemonade stand. Outta be in prison for the crap they pulled. | ||
| Court |
>>>>Buell, for one, has indicated that the XB9S and 9R aren't the last models they'll ever offer PRESS LEAK ! I love when folks whisper to me "is Buell going to be coming out with a new model?" My pat answer is "You betcha and so is Briggs & Stratton, Dell and Butterick patterns". The words "new and improved" are etched not only in our minds but our expectations, as consumers. Motorcycles, and a few other "boy toys", exacerbate the behavioral phenomenon and help us justify the "bigger, faster, shiner is better" way we've learned to live. I live, each passing day, with the sickening thought that I'll never ride as good as Steve A and when he says cautions about comparing/juding the Buell in the driveway to someone else’s "coulda/shoulda/woulda" dream....well, I listen. The XB, in addition to being a bike that skilled hands can appreciate, also screams fun and embodies a lot of things and memories I fondly enjoy. Besides, can you guys imagine ME armed with one of those Austrianese Super VelleZohmers succumbing to the bigger is better trap? Court (off to pay homage and do a photo essay of Ms. Simon and Crow at the BIGGEST CHRISTMAS TREE! . . . yes, boys, for at least today, MINE IS BIGGER THAN YOURS!) | ||
| Kevyn |
The XB9S continues to gain accolades in the MC press...once the true riders catch on, it's going to be a great show. I can hardly wait to see the improvements over the next few years. Can't say that it will pry me off the S2 bandwagon or separate me from the DucSS, but the XB9S coupled with the HC/Nallin/Wilson developments is going to be quite 'special'. | ||
| Nevco1 |
The Fischer is still a dream in process. At the production levels they are planning, I think it is safe to assume it will be no bargain which will still leave a viable niche for the Firebolt. Court's "leak" concerning Buell planning new model(s) is no big expose. Nobody can rest on their laurels in this competitive market. Hence, the key to a prosperous future is continued research, development and hopefully cost reduction. |
