| Author | Message | ||
     Boatz |
Well I sold my 09 CR. Now, as Spring approaches I'm sitting with a pocket of money shopping for a new ride. Not sure if I'll get an XT, XB, or tuber again. Or another brand. I did sit on a later model Sportster Roadster and liked it. I have a bunch of American V magazines from UK where they did head to head tests on the tubers/XB/Sportsters/Uly's etc, so have been poring over those. I put a wanted ad in the classifieds here. I liked the air cooled lump in my 01 M2L, which I bought here off BadWeb. Come to think of it, I got a great deal on that bike here. Only problems I had with the Cyclone were the shift peg vibrating off, and the speedo sensor failing, both of which were easy fixes. | ||
| Aj2010 |
I'm thinking air cooled V-twin as well. A little lighter weight and a little less power, should be just about right. Let us know what you finally decide on. | ||
| Avalaugh |
You guys that are selling your 1125's, whats the main reasons ? Ive noticed its not the '08' models that really seem to be coming up in the classifieds, so that would point towards this startor failure issue being the main problem/concern..... Or am i way off ? | ||
| Boatz |
For me, that was part of it. I can tell you I didn't trust the bike. I showed up to HD dealer with cash in hand. We get bike out for test drive. Fire it up and go for a ride which impressed me, then the turn signals quit working while on the drive. So I left the bike there for them to fix it. Paid my money and took her home awhile later (not the dealers fault I flew overseas on biz and the new led turn signals had to be ordered as they were failing on all new Buells). Then get back from trip and retrieve the CR, the battery will not hold a charge for 2 weeks once home. I'm told I must have a charger connected at all times she's shut down. So had to connect a charger to it, first bike I've ever owned that needed that. Then I start reading here on BWeb and see the signal issue, charging issue, instrument cluster issue, etc. It handled nice, had good power, was surprisingly comfortable with the 2010 high bar kit which it came with new. Finally, my warranty was going to run out in late October 2011, and the extended warranty thing seemed like I should have it if I kept the bike, but I didn't like the bike enough to throw more money at it. I was already thinking I should get something else. Installed a new battery as she would no longer charge at all, just so I could get her to the dealer. They did the warranty update on wiring harness, and they reflashed ECM. Once she was in for service I never sat on her again. She stayed in their heated storage until a guy paid me cash for her, handed him title and all Buell pubs I had for her and here I sit with an M2 or XB in my pocket! Well, after converting paper to metal. My CR was built late Sept 09. Did a lot of reading here, and felt sorry for some guys having problem after problem. Stator or otherwise. So I didn't trust her. And I didn't really like the bike like I did my M2. Would the CR trounce it? Yes. Did I enjoy it as much? No. That's just me, for a lot of you guys I can totally understand why it is your only bike, or you have an R and CR. Bravo I say to that. I'm not riding as fast as I did in my 20's/30's at 52. Just felt like the thing could go south at anytime and I don't want to troubleshoot my bikes anymore, I just want them to work. So not dissing the Helicon bikes, just relaying my experience and looking at getting back to a different Buell that's better for ME. My M2L I got here with 4000 miles I think. It had the SS race muffler, ignition, Lightning cams, Mikuni and the K/N intake can't recall the name. It was all setup by Gary Nixon in St Louis for first owner. That was my first HD product, and I never thought I'd own one. I bought it w/o ever riding one, shipped it here. Was quite an experience. All my friends said "tractor engine", blah blah. It shook at idle, was smooth at any road speed, had torque, handled well. I was amazed at what Erik/Co did with the Sportster engine in that chassis. They're fast enough to kill you if you're unlucky or worse yet careless. Typed this amidst phone calls a bit of a ramble but there you have it. | ||
| Foxy_1 |
A really good honest write up....i loved my xb 12s but after riding my uncle's 1125r i just had to get one,so i sold the xb12s and got the 1125r. First ride out went about six miles and died...i didnt know anything about them but knew the battery was dead,i found a local hd dealer and paid for a new battery over the phone and a taxi bought it out to me,i fitted it at the side of the road and it started fine and got me home well just,battery was dying again,i knew there was something very wrong so started to do some research and found this great site. After checking and finding no reacalls had been done by the first owner i got them booked in with balck bear who are an amazing hd/buell dealer..and yes they do really love buells.My ride is all sorted,loom,stator,slave cylinder etc etc, and im enjoying it no end....even when the other problems arise i will just deal with them at that time.with all their flaws its still the best bike i have ever owned,and i have rode most makes! So i suppose to some up i will be keeping her and will be enjoying her for what she is...and the fact that they are different. | ||
| Rex |
I think one of the 2008 XB's would be a great buy. Would love to find one. I think the air cooled motor by then was really on top of its game, with all of the Buell upgrades... | ||
| Boatz |
Thanks Foxy1, yours is a good write up too. I totally get why you love the bike. The low weight on these is amazing. Love that in a parking lot. Yeah Rex, I think you're right about them being sorted toward the last couple years of production. I'm thinking if I go tuber it will only be 2001/2, and if XB 08/09/10. I'll have to ask some questions on the Uly board about the XT. Sure looks like a good all around bike. The seat looks perfect for one or two up. When I got the CR it was Oct 09 right after the shutdown was announced, I'd been in Africa and Malta, and figured I'd come home and get a XB12scg or XB12XT. Logged into BW, saw the shutdown news. Called the dealers all over western wa next morning adn headed down to dealer and they were all sold but my CR, and the crates due in had deposits. I can't recall the price now but the CR was a couple thousand below the XB as I recall. And it was the only one left, so I rode it and bought it. What a time that was. I think they got more crates allotted to them later, but I'd already spent the money on the CR. At the time I thought I was a thief! A lot of bike for 7400 out the door licensed. When I took it in for the warranty service in Oct, the service manager started it to drive it in the shop and told me "now this is a nice bike, we should still be making and selling this bike". That surprised me, he went on to say "because this is a true performance bike, it's not just painted fast" yada yada. So some of the dealers "get it"! | ||
| Dannybuell |
The 96S1 has the engine is 1" further forward. The F/R weight bias is unique. Comparing two years of riding the clubman CR and getting on my drag bar S1; the S1 seat feels low and rides a bit more upright. In 1996 the S1 was culmination of the sportster engine. The 1125 is the culmination of the XB line with a modern power plant. |
