| Author | Message | ||
     Alstroker |
My best friend rides a monster s2r1000 and he tried my xb12r the other day. He his 6'-4" so he felt uncomfortable but his biggest turn off was the engine. He said it just revved so slow and didn't pull a wheely as easily as his Duck. He likes the way the Duck likes to stretch its legs and rev out. Interestingly he ignored the usable torque the bike put out in the lower rpms. The thing I like about my bolt so much is how well it works as a package. The engine is not a liability but an asset that compliments the excellent chassis. It allows me to carry more corner speed and get on the throttle earlier and drive out of corners smoother. This is a tight corner "street" bike. I am not a great rider. The Buell has elevated my ability due to the confidence it gives me. Just an amazing bike to me but maybe not for everyone. | ||
| Toona |
Opinions are like belly buttons (or other body part) everyone's got one, but your's is the only one that counts when dealing with YOUR stuff. | ||
| Diablobrian |
It takes a while to re-learn how to ride to take advantage of the Buell's power band. When I first started riding mine (coming off of a gsxr750) I was wringing it's neck and not really using the mid-range because I was not used to there being a mid-range to use! This is exactly why magazine test that are done in a single afternoon on the bike are worse than useless when their stock and trade is the japanese IL4s and other higher revving engines. You have to acclimatize. Even Ducati twins, while having more torque than the IL4s, are much higher revving and tuned to make power on the top end. Not mid-range. Erik and the Elves designed our bikes to be outstanding street bikes that you can make into track day weapons, not the other way around which has become more the industry norm. Bottom line: Don't sweat your buddies opinion. Just compare the time and/or money spent on valve adjustments and grin like a cheshire cat.  Do this after slipping through town without breaking 3500rpms while getting 50mpg. | ||
| Pgsus |
Ok you can read all the posts till the cows come home. The XB does instill confidence providing the suspension settings are set right. As for revs I prefer anything under 7000, anything above in my opinion is extreme or plain expensive at service or rebuild.Riding 2 up on my xb9r provides no surprises apart from passing accel is down but still carry the same corner speed and enjoyment. To each his own but I enjoy my Buell XB9R and I will not part with it  | ||
| Bikertrash05 |
I have a friend who used to race Gixxers, and he thought Monsters got their name from the way they handled. | ||
| Rah7777777 |
It takes a little getting used to. But once you do, you will never look back. And it DOES instill confidence. not just corners but braking too. My old bike, if i had a panic stop, i would nearly shit my pants! it always wanted to lock up (04 FZ6) on the buell, its not a big deal at all! just give that brake a good push and bam, your stopping with ease and no lockin up! and then theres the cornering thing! And you all know how that is!!! | ||
| Diablobrian |
I absolutely LOVE my Buell, I was just saying that there was a period of adjustment where I learned HOW to ride a Buell the way it was meant to be ridden. I even commented to Steve_Mackay during homecoming I was trying something beyond riding it like a Buell, during the group rides I was short shifting and riding it like a Harley because I had the loudest bike in the group and I was trying to minimize the crap Brian (tattooed_n_screwed) got from his neighbors as we left his house. I hope it helped a little. I am always amazed at the torque of these bikes (mine puts down 86ftlbs peak, with at least 68ftlbs available from idle to red line) http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/384 2/148752.html?1137447326 It is SO different from bikes that have a 2k rpm power band. | ||
| Sub65chris |
I had a similar experience with a friend of mine in california. he rides or rather rode a daytona 955i . we swaped bikes for a little while adn he went a nd traded his bike in for a 12r the next month. I guess its not that similar but a fun story. | ||
| Xb9er |
I bet he likes your service checks better. | ||
| Buellfighter |
It was my buddy who owns a 900 monster that convinced me to buy another street bike after spending some time off in the dirt. Always told him his Duc felt like two YZF 450 motors crammed into that trellis frame. I didn't want a Duc since he had one and I wanted to be different. Found a used 96 S1, bought it and it's perfect. He digs the Buell power band and they sound great side by side  | ||
| Buellishxx |
Have someone on a monster try and follow you around a track. Seems they don't have the cornering / lean angle that the buell does. I've seen it first hand and it surprised me how low all the dangley bit are on the monster! | ||
| Hdbobwithabuell |
Take his girlfriend for a ride and then offer a similar review. Get's 'em every time | ||
| Spatten1 |
The XB is great fun and perfect for relaxed street corner carving. However, there is a reason that the 1125 is on the way. Acceleration. | ||
| Kowpow225 |
I rode a new S2R 1000 a couple of weeks ago as a demo. Your friend is partially correct wrt the power. From my experience on the Duc, the flywheel is incredibly light. This felt great when it came to acceleration and responsiveness but absolutely terrible with on/off/on throttle transitions. Real catchy. Almost wondered if the chain was misadjusted. It was a little loose but not terrible. Later rode the S4R with the liquid cooled testastretta engine in it. A very different story there. Still not trading the Buell.  | ||
| Bake |
The Buell is less expensive than a noisy dry clutched Duc, way less maintenance too. Really both are nice bikes, just depends on which one suits your needs best. | ||
| Spatten1 |
Later rode the S4R with the liquid cooled testastretta engine in it. I thought that was the Duc he was referring to. My fault. Interesting that the air cooled Duc actually feels like it has more acceleration, that surprises me. Quick reving engines feel good to me too. I gave up a lot of power to take the 9 with the quicker reving engine. |
