| Author | Message | ||
     Buellnewbie |
Greetings everyone.....I'm new to this whole Buell thing and I have a few questions I hope some of you experienced Buell riders can help me with. I've been riding sportbikes for about 15 years now and am tired of the whole crouched over cookie cutter race bike thing. I saw a Buell on the road a couple of months ago and fell in love with it. So I'm thinking about getting one for the above mentioned reasons, plus I'd like to buy an American bike but I'm just not ready for the whole Harley cruiser thing. I'm thinking a Buell XB12Ss would be the perfect compromise for me. Here's my questions........1)I'm a little concerned about an air/oil cooled motor overheating, should I be concerned about this? 2)In your opinion, at approximately what speed does the wind blast become irritating on the Lightning models?....(sure is a small windscreen) 3)Does anyone make an aftermarket windscreen for the Lightning that's a little taller? 4)Does the motor have enough power for two up riding at interstate speeds without noticing any dramatic power loss? 5)Has anyone here gone from a jap sportbike to a Buell and regretted it? Any help will be greatly appreciated, and please feel free to add any other comments or opinions if you'd like; I'm about to drop 11 grand on this thing and I want to make sure I'm not going to regret it. Thanks and God bless. | ||
| Typeone |
I'm new to Buell too, came from a life of Hondas (mostly dirt), the bike I sold to buy my '05 XB12S was an '02 CBR600F4i... I'll add what I can... 1. Bah! Don't sweat it (no pun intended) 2. Hmm, probably around 90+MPH for me, highway speeds of 65-70 are no sweat. I had the same fear but that vanished once the bike was in my possession. 3. Yes, there are a few I believe. Although they look awful to me. Check out the sponsor web sites. 4. I ride solo only. No input here. 5. No way, my CBR was a great bike, I do miss her, but it wanted to be on a track. My 12 is way too much fun on the street, even if I'm not on twisty back roads I still have an absolute blast on my 12. And the looks/questions/attention you get from the thing is fantastic. Everyone wants to know what the hell it is. Hope some of that helps, best thing to do is go test ride one if you can, that way you'll get a better sense. Its a bike you can feel living and breathing, snortin' and rumblin' under you. Unless youre one to read all the stat nonsense in the big mags I've always felt my 12 has plenty of power for me where/how I ride. I'm only 5'11 165lbs so she takes me where i need to go quick enough  I prefer the grunt down low rather than wringing its neck up in the 11K+ RPM range to have a little fun. | ||
| Plsdks |
hang on to your bars above 90 mph, below that....no sweat. it also helps to get down low. | ||
| Xb12burner |
I had given Buell a bad rap by just reading magazines and making my own assumptions. After riding one I can tell you that just like typeone stats and charts mean didley squat! I test rode one and never looked back. I am a Kawasaki 636 convert, and am now riding a 04 XB12 R, which is the sportier of the Buells, but still feels a lot more comfortable than regular rice rockets. Only loss was top speed and everyone knows that speed kills!!! | ||
| Lovematt |
I used to have a Fat Boy but went the metric route for a number of years...but then my love for some heart, soul, and character in a bike returned and doesn't look like it will go away anytime soon. That is why I have my Buell and why I am selling what I had at the time I bought it...just doesn't compare. | ||
| Dbird29 |
The windblast is annoying starting at 100mph Dbird | ||
| Buellerx |
1) Overheating - I live in South Carolina and it is only an issue for me if I am stuck in slow moving traffic for long periods of time. Like cruising the strip at MB Bike Week. Then some unmentionable things start to get really warm 2)Wind - I ride a 12R so I cant tell you about the wind on the S. 3)Windscreen - I dunno 4)Enough power - Uh the 12 has somewhere around 80 ftlbs of tq. I think you could put an elephant on the back and not slow it down. I have never had an issue with cruising well in excess of the speed limit (often triple digits) 2 up. 5) Regret - I am sure there are people that regret trading their jap bike for a Buell, but I am not one of them. I have ridden and/or owned Yamaha's, Suzuki's, BMW's, Triumphs (the list goes on) and the Buell is absolutely the most fun I have ever had on a motorcycle. | ||
| Cataract2 |
1)I'm a little concerned about an air/oil cooled motor overheating, should I be concerned about this? I ride in the good ol Florida heat. Never once overheated. Heck, my parents ride HD's and they've never overheated. I've done parades on my XB9SX, stop and go and long idling with no problems. Though, like someone else said. You yourself do get a bit warm (ok, really warm) but my FZR use to do the same thing with dumping heat on me. 2)In your opinion, at approximately what speed does the wind blast become irritating on the Lightning models?....(sure is a small windscreen) I did a long trip about a month ago with Interstate being the main traveling we did on the way up. At 70mph I didn't notice the wind. It's around 80mph that I began to notice it. At 90mph I'm hanging onto the handle bars. Though, I can't see any sane person wanting to travel at 90mph for an extended duration of time. 3)Does anyone make an aftermarket windscreen for the Lightning that's a little taller? Yes. 4)Does the motor have enough power for two up riding at interstate speeds without noticing any dramatic power loss Never done this myself, but I have seen other Buell riders 2up with no problems in power on the interstate. 5)Has anyone here gone from a jap sportbike to a Buell and regretted it? I did. Had a Yamaha FZR600 before. I know it's an older jap bike but still, it is a sportbike. I myself have no plans on going back. I love my 9SX. | ||
| Fl_billy |
OK, all good responses here so I will give a big DITTO to what everyone has said. I ride a 12R and came from Suzuki sport twins (SV's and TL's) and have no regrets. Handling is way better, mileage is way better, looks are a toss-up, no messy chains, no expensive valve adjustments, straight-line acceleration is on-par (or slightly better) up to about 110-120, Buell sound is meaner (but just by a little), character, heart, soul are all just slightly ahead of the big Zuke twin engine. So bottom line is, I love my Buell and don't miss my Jap bikes. In fact, I had an 03 SV1000S in the garage when I bought my Buell and ended up selling the SV 4 months later because I just wasn't riding it anymore. Just like others have said, ride one and see if it's for you. | ||
| Kenny_v |
Like Fl_billy said "Ditto" to what everyone else said , and to add my 2 cents . BUY IT !!! You will love it , a great Real World Bike . I love mine , I've even taken friends Liter Bikes out for beatings and as impressed as I was with their power , couldn't wait to get back on my 12R . You will never look back | ||
| Dwolk |
Highway speeds over 80, depending on the winds and weather, keep me pretty attentive. I'm looking into this fairing (http://www.hillbilly-motors.com/html/jp_graphic.html  and people at this site are making their own. Also I was told it's not too hard to take a ULY screen and bolt it to the XBs. Does the motor have enough power for two up riding at interstate speeds without noticing any dramatic power loss? Yes. A wonderful bike. Best of luck no matter what your decision. | ||
| Buellnewbie |
Thanks to everyone who responded to my questions....it's nice to see others actually taking the time to give help and advice. Based on your responses I believe my decision is sealed in favor of the Buell xb12. Of course, I'll test ride one, but I really don't see a viable alternative right now.......so thanks again everyone. God bless. | ||
| Buellin_ri |
1. no problems in NE 2. Firebolt gives a fair amount of wind blast compared to a full fairing jap bike 3. Dunno firebolt rider 4. Ride 2 up on a 9r with no problem 5. Miss the crazy power of the jap bikes, but have way more fun on my buell on every other road except the highway. | ||
| Lenny |
1 I'm a little concerned about an air/oil cooled motor overheating, should I be concerned about this? I have had the bike overheat on me in real bad traffic back ups, in the summer, if the temperature is over 95F. First the cooling fans will come on,then motor will start running on one cylinder if gets too hot. Also if I stop for a while the upper part of my right leg start getting hot. 2 In your opinion, at approximately what speed does the windblast become irritating on the Lightning models? Any thing over 5000 rpm becomes irritating, or 100 miles an hour. I have been riding at 80 miles an hour for extended period of time and have no problems with the wind. I was looking at the new screen on the XB12X Ulysses It’s a little higher with the clear attachment on it 3 Does anyone make an aftermarket windscreen for the Lightning that's a little taller? There are several after market web sites that make extended wind screens. 4 Does the motor have enough power for two up riding at interstate speeds without noticing any dramatic power loss? You have more then enough power to do this 5 Has anyone here gone from a Japanese sport bike to a Buell and regretted it? I have been riding different motorcycles for years, The XB12s is the best all around street bike that I have ever own. It turns on a time and has lower end torque that the Japanese sport bike don’t have. Sure it does not run the quarter mile in 10 seconds or run at 185 mile an hour, but who would ever do this in the city. It reminds me of my BSA TT racer, that's tavern to tavern. Well that’s just my two-cent |
