| Author | Message | ||
     Moondust |
I recently brought an 07 City X a few months ago - its great - I even upgraded the can to a Remus just now also - but in my quest to make the bike more lower with an scg seat & try & get a bit more power - Im realizing I shoulda opted for the 12scg in the first place. So I went ahead & test rode the 12Scg & a firebolt just out of curiosity. WOW ! the difference is very very noticeable - I mean really - I heard from most dealers & other buellers that there isnt much difference between the 12S & the 9SX but the acceleration was so much more tighter & the throttle just had not limit - so much more power there. It just felt like the perfect ride - the firebolt was also very thrilling - I felt like i was on a track with that crotch rocket position but even tho it was tempting - I knew I was kidding my back - it feels really good but not sure I could used to that in the heavy london traffic. Anyway - the 12Scg rocked & I really felt gutted I didn't opt for that in the 1st place - the riding position & the power feels just perfect for what I want commuting in & around London - so I guess Im gonna take a big hit if I go for a trade in on my 07 9SX - the dealer said they can treat me better as I brought the 9sx from them but neverless - Im sure to lose about £1000 to £1200 or so which is sickining - especially after buying a Remus can as well. I played it too safe with my purchase on the 9sx in the first place - thinking the 12 is more expensive (duh... ) & more insurance etc etc. I was hoping there wouldn't be much difference between the 9SX & the 12Scg so - I didn't bother with the 12 - I figured the city X would suit my commuting needs but that hope was dashed, when I sat on the Scg , it felt very different & soooooo right for my height 5ft 8" dammmmn  Anyway - I will be investigating all the options next week - to see if I can balance my finances - maybe sell off the Remus etc & see if this can happen . Just thought I 'd share my experience for anyone who's made the same expensive mistake.   | ||
| Sneth |
i am really glad i just purchased an xb12scg. I would have bought the cityX but it was just too high. My insurance quoted me only $1 more for the xb12, so i said hell, why not... | ||
| Towjam |
Anyway - I will be investigating all the options next week - to see if I can balance my finances - maybe sell off the Remus etc & see if this can happen . Just thought I 'd share my experience for anyone who's made the same expensive mistake. Moondust, don't feel bad. About 3 weeks ago I bought an '07 XB12R. (I had one for a short time back in '04.) I didn't test ride it but I knew I wanted to get back on a Buell and I figured I would figure out how to get myself comfortable with the more aggressive riding position. Big mistake. Within a day, I knew I had screwed up. On the freeway, I enjoyed riding the Firebolt but in the heavy stop/go traffic near my home, it was not fun at all. I called my dealer and made arrangements to trade it in on an '07 12Ss. I lost my ass in trade-in but I'm happier with the Lightning so you won't hear me complaining (too loudly anyway). My sales guy told me that they've had 3 buyers in the past few months who've traded their Firebolts in after only a short period of time. If you can swing the finances, buy what feels good for you and enjoy it. (And for what it's worth, I'm only 5'6" and if there was a 12Scg available anywhere near me, I would've bought it in a heartbeat.) | ||
| Nevrenuf |
just got an scg a few weeks ago to get the wife interested again cause she can at least put her toes down on the ground and the bike is so light. had her out on the blast for a decent ride today and she complains on how the blast handles. but as soon as she feels comfortable out on the road with the blast then will move her up to the lighting. i also think there is a big difference between the cyclone and the new lighting as to the way they handle. just chock it up to experience and bite the bullet, you won't regret it. after the garage gets built, i would like to get the firebolt just to have some other kind of fun on. good luck what ever you decide. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
Best of both worlds, Running a XB9SX with the Scg seat on it.... No regrets, Running down the bendy and dirty every chance I get.  | ||
| Moondust |
Hey cityslicker - did you get a ride on the 12scg at all ? I mean I really noticed a difference - for my height 5ft 8" - it was like night n day between that & the city X. Lowering the seat on the 9sx helps about 10% but the lower frame & suspension plus the added power & faster response on the throttle on the 12scg really ups the game from the 9sx imho. | ||
| Mkenn |
Moondust. It is a shame that you might take that loss. I have a 9sx with a race ECM, K&N and D&D... I also had a Buell race can on it before the D&D. No complaints with the bike. I have also ridden a 12R with a Buell race kit. The 12 definitely had more grunt but honestly not enough to make me change my mind or have any regrets. After following all your posts over the last few weeks, I wonder if you will not feel the same way about the 12scg after a month. Not sure what you are looking for out of a Buell but my advice would be to ride the 9sx for a while (maybe put on a race ECM and K&N filter) and really decide if it is worth taking the hit. After coming off an Inline four 1200cc, I needed to learn how to make the 9sx work for me. I am worried that if you buy the 12scg, in a month, you will be unhappy with it as well. | ||
| Metalstorm |
I'm 5'8 with my boots on. My inseam is either 30" or 32" depending on how I measure it. I wear jeans with a 32" inseam. I found the 12Scg with the Select seat (standard & streetfighter works too) to be perfect. The low seat was a tad too low. Between a standard S with a low seat and a cg with a standard seat, I think the cg with standard seat is more comfortable, for me anyway. But that's just my own observation. There is only one road I ride that ever makes me wish I had the longer suspension travel of the other bikes. It is a god awful alligatored, torn up, pot holed road that would give even an Uly a run for it's money so I soldier through it. Everywhere else the cg is very pleasant. And oh so flickable. Moondust, did you ride that 12 in slow traffic? You need to be aware that the 12 will not be quite as smooth as your 9 at slow speeds/low rpms. It isn't any less fun but it is different than the 9. | ||
| Just_john |
Moondust, which dealer did you test ride the Scg at? | ||
| Perry |
I found the 12Scg with the Select seat (standard & streetfighter works too) to be perfect. The low seat was a tad too low. Ditto for me! The Scg with the select seat is perfect and I'm 5'8" and about 150 lbs. The 12 gets pretty warm in stop-and-go when it gets to 100 degrees out, but that doesn't happen much in London I suppose. The riding position is good for commuting and traffic and still fun in the twisties. I just don't think the more aggressive riding position of the firebolt would be that great in stop-and-go or on longer freeway rides. | ||
| Towjam |
The 12 gets pretty warm in stop-and-go when it gets to 100 degrees out, but that doesn't happen much in London I suppose. If it makes you feel any better, the Buell feels like it's air-conditioned compared to any of the '07 Harley big twins. My '07 Low Rider was damn near painful in stop and go traffic last summer. | ||
| Vanvideo |
Man, I can't believe some of you think the Firebolt sucks for commuting. I ride mine to work in city traffic all the time and love it! Where exactly does it bother you? If it's in your shoulders and wrists, hit the weights! Build up those muscles! Sure, the engine gets toasty, but it'll get warm whether you're on a 'bolt or a Lightning. I ride in the Florida summer heat and it wasn't as bad as I had heard. | ||
| Xl1200r |
Man, I can't believe some of you think the Firebolt sucks for commuting. I ride mine to work in city traffic all the time and love it! Where exactly does it bother you? I have a Firebolt and have no qualms about the riding position, but it's going to be different for every rider. A rider who is 5'8" is going to have a further reach to the bars than a rider who is 6'2". I'm 6' and I feel like I sit pretty upright on mine when I need to. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
The 12Scg would not handle the roads that I push my CityX through, as it is I have a bonk on my muffler from lack of ground clearance. I use it like a lil Uly, and will keep up with most of them except on the extreme single track roads. | ||
| Djkaplan |
Faster isn't always better... but it is most of the time. | ||
| Grlryder |
scg all the way with no regrets! She never leaves me wanting more   The above said...and from what I've seen of London traffic, the 12 may be too much. She seems to dislike the stop and roll traffic that Im sure a 9 would handle better. (Message edited by grlryder on March 14, 2007) | ||
| Moondust |
I've seen of London traffic, the 12 may be too much. She seems to dislike the stop and roll traffic that Im sure a 9 would handle better. The thing is - I go down the motorway for about 20/30 mins & then hit the city traffic - that motorway is the only road for me into the city & I really felt comfortable when test riding the Scg but, I have to admit - I didn't test the stop n go traffic on the 12scg - I guess I should've. The 12scg felt much better - just a tad too much than I need - but the city X feels a tad less for what I want - especially when going down the motorway. Its a hard desicion - if I was thinking practically but, I've seen a fair few 12s's around London & no City X's yet - Im guessing they should be in fine stop n go traffic. Remember - Im not a courier biker who is in London all day traffic - I just commute into the city 9 am & back out 6pm. Weekends out of town vist friends etc across town etc etc. Surely the 12scg is bike for all needs not just long motorways - its a " streetfighter " right ? like the city X but more power..? | ||
| Metalstorm |
Surely the 12scg is bike for all needs not just long motorways Funny that you should say that. That is exactly why I went with the 12Scg. I was originally shopping for a 9R but the 12Scg was the most versatile bike. I can lean forward enough in the twisties, I have a nice upright view in traffic. I can carry a whole lot of stuff on it and the extra ooomph makes evading cages much easier. And it is nice to be able to get the feet down when your parked sideways on a 20% grade The 12 is not as smooth as the 9 in slow traffic but it's in no way unpleasant in slow traffic either. It is something that one gets used to very quickly. Then you stop noticing it completely until you ride a 9 again. |
