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Natek
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 12, 2010 - 12:19 am: | 
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I got an X because it's what I could find close by. That being said it's what I was looking for.
I'm 5'8" with a 30" inseam and the X is not too tall, yea it's tall, but nothing I can't handle.
It's not like I can't easily put a taller screen and bags on my bike, you can't easily change out the suspension on an XT.  |
Pso
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 12, 2010 - 08:00 am: |
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Go with best deal you can get. As a species we adapt well. Both bikes are great. If it is a toss up sit on both and get the one that fits best. If you like the looks of the other you can get the parts you need for cosmetics. I found my X to be more comfortable than my 01 goldwing for 14 day tours. Wife also found the seat on the x to be more comfortable. As far as handling etc, these bikes are more capable than I am so that is not an issue for me. Street versus dirt etc. |
Tiltcylinder
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 12, 2010 - 09:06 am: |
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I wanted an X when they first came out ('06?). The incredible seat height was just too much for me (32" inseam). Had just bought an 883R when the XT's started showing up in dealers. Traded it in after just one test ride. I wanted the bags, heated grips (had the heat-demons on the sporty) and a fully adjustable suspension; but, I also wanted my feet to touch the ground. Off road I do my best to keep the feet on the pegs, but if I need to touch down (happens) I didn't want to be wondering where the ground is/was with 500 pounds trying to demonstrate it's ability to squish me.
The tall windscreen bites. It does keep the wind off the chest/torso but leaves my head in a noisy buffeting zone that I don't like. Removing it proves a little tiring on long rides, but the helmet gets clean air. Do a lot of riding north and it's not uncommon to find the bikes crusted with ice in the mornings. I want a screen that works. In the process now of making my own design from a 21" harley style screen. Had a 17" or so screen from a Vectrix electric cycle installed but needed more height to get a good quiet zone. |
Jhallgren
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 12, 2010 - 12:07 pm: |
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"Damn it, I'm 5' 9.5" "
Xenox, well I am 5'8.75" and I ride an X. It really comes down to what you plan on doing. The XT may suit you better if you plan on riding mostly street and some dirt roads on occasion. |
Reepicheep
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 12, 2010 - 12:36 pm: |
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I was working on the Uly last night, and put the seat over on my KDX, and got a laugh and thought of this thread...
This is a proper dirtbike...
This is a Uly...
Buy road bikes that are good road bikes first and foremost. Don't buy a ruined road bike just to be able to do dirt badly (cough KLR-650 cough).
It took me a while to get to this point. I had a lot of fun on the KLR-250 for a season playing on both dirt and street. But at the end of the day, the things that made it dirt worthy were a liability on the street, and the things that made it street worthy were a liability on the dirt.
So now I say buy the best dirt bike you can buy based on how it will do on the dirt. If you can plate it and make it street legal so much the better, but don't make dirt compromises in order to be better on the street.
Likewise, buy the best street bike you can buy based on how it will do on the street. If it will do gravel and dirt roads well also (yay uly!) so much the better, but don't compromise the street features for dirt benefits.
Both the Uly and XT nailed this... both are great street bikes. The uly is taller with a nice soft suspension, but somehow still manages to rail through the turns. The XT has a world class sportbike suspension, but with luggage, and has a low seat height. Both are great bikes.
Then go buy an old 225 pound KDX and beat the hell out of it in the woods. 
That being said, if you can get a cheap KLR-250 or KLR-650, it'll be a fun bike to play on for at least a season...
(Message edited by reepicheep on May 12, 2010) |
Xbeau12s
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 12, 2010 - 01:38 pm: |
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Natek - I'm 2 inches taller with the same inseam. The more and more I ride it I feel more confident. Just like someone said about adapting. Plus riding with my Field Armor boots helps a little as they have a thicker soul! Just get one! I used to have a lightning which I really liked but always wanted a Uly. The XT is too much of a lightning to me and I wanted something totally different. |
Xenox
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 12, 2010 - 09:32 pm: |
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I finally managed to sit on an X today it it felt fine , didn't feel too tall (6'), but the suspension felt very,very cush, I thought there was something wrong, but the adjustments seemed about right. Like the post said above the ride is softer on the X........So interesting stuff here I may have to check out an XT as well and compare...
I had a friend who was 5'1" back in the day I used to let him ride my 1984 VF1000f, too tall of a bike for him I thought, we'd be at a light and he'd have his thigh on the seat because it was too far a reach for his butt, he didn't seem to mind .As a side note, his sub 100 lb self was fairly evil on it. |
Natek
| | Posted on Thursday, May 13, 2010 - 12:48 am: |
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Xbeau12s, I rode one home last weekend!  So far I'm loving every second of it!
Xenox, The suspension setting on the owners manual are the "recommended" settings, you may prefer a stiffer setup than most. Right now I've got mine a bit stiffer than what is recommended by the owners manual and am planning on trying it stiffer. |
Cyclonedon
| | Posted on Thursday, May 13, 2010 - 01:20 am: |
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I have an X since it's a 2006 and the XT we're out yet. I don't really do any off road riding so if I was purchasing a new Uly today, I would most likely go with the XT.
But I'm NEVER going to get rid of my 2006 XB12X!!! |
Boogeyman
| | Posted on Sunday, May 16, 2010 - 10:13 pm: |
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I wanted the most awesome SUB (sport utility bike) there was! The X was it.
I really liked the idea of the little bit of extra travel, I live on a dirt road. I just run right over all the potholes for fun now! And I liked the looks of the fenders better. I figured it is an adventure bike, it needed a dirt bike lookin' fender on the front. |
Luftkoph
| | Posted on Monday, May 17, 2010 - 04:48 am: |
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you got chocolate on my peanut butter,no you got peanut butter on my chocolate.
Did not the latter x's have a tighter turn radius?like maybe 08 and up |
Rays
| | Posted on Monday, May 17, 2010 - 07:58 am: |
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I'm 5'9" and have had an 'X' since Nov 2005. There are some situations that are a struggle (can't possibly paddle backwards sitting on it for example) but I have put on 60,000 very happy miles.
Last year I had the opportunity to buy an 09 XT in the Buell firesales here so now I am just plain greedy and have the choice of X or XT. The XT suspension is harsher on the 'B' roads and I don't like the low seat (I currently swap the standard 06 high seat to whichever bike I use) but am quite happy riding on either.
The X is like an old slipper and I still love riding it. The XT is a little more civilised with the later refinements (heated grips are very nice) but the X is my first love. 
 |
Jphish
| | Posted on Monday, May 17, 2010 - 10:13 am: |
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Wow! an X & XT !! Lucky Dude. There ya have it folks - a side by side comparison. I had a choice when I bought my 08' X - XTs had just been born. @ 5'8" & 30" inseam and with a KLR & Tiger being my other objects of experience...I didnt know ones feet were supposed to touch the ground ?! I bought a pair of patten leather moon boots left over from the 80's DISCO crowd - lots of WTF? looks from other riders. I stencelled 'SIDI' on the sides with white paint - now all the short guys want to know where they can get a pair. ( : |
Ulyranger
| | Posted on Monday, May 17, 2010 - 11:31 am: |
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The differences are minor (08 and on; turn radius, ground clearance & fork spring rate basically), go with what you feel better on. I wanted an X originally but ended up with an XT due to the height and 2up rides tippy-toeing in off camber situations did not appeal to me. Oh, and it was available when I was shopping them in 08. The X height solo is no problem though (5'6", 29" IS).
Like said already; front fender bits and bags/screens are inter-changeable. Unless you put my XT right beside an X you'd never know the difference......
Oh yeah, my XT goes down any road/trail an X will. For the knarly stuff the KTM gets the nod......
Good luck, now stop thinking about it and go get one. |
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