| Author | Message | ||
     Balderon |
Ok, so another question for experienced owners if you don't mind. I'm lusting after an XB12S and I know that it isn't a Gold Wing. But, what kind of distance and types of riding do you owners do? What kind of comfort/discomfort do you experience (particularly on long rides). This bikes got to be my numero uno for a while. Also I would probably go with a Corbin seat. Thanks ahead. | ||
| Wyckedflesh |
I have the Streetfighter Seat from Buell. I have done as much as 650 miles in one day but average about 400. I have custom rearsets that are more aggressive then the stock pegs, and have a metal rod in my leg from knee to hip and pins in the opposite ankle. If it were not for those I would be able to pull longer days easily as it is the rod and pins that cause me the discomfort. Bike pic in profile. | ||
| Stainlessmag |
I don't have a 12 but being that the frame and everying is the same it shouldn't really matter. For me it all depends what type of riding I'm doing. When i go out with my step dad who rides either a chopper or a road king my knees and hips always end up really cramped but when i go out on my own i can go much long with out wanting to stop and stretch. I think its because when I'm with him I never approach a speed coming into a corner where I have to move around at all, where as when I'm alone I push alot harder and move around to take the corners. As ergos go, I changed the bars and put pro-taper cr mid bends on which help me not feel so crunched up and changed the seat over to a corbin. But just a prewarning on the corbin for the first couple hundred miles it seemed very odd comfort wise. One time i would jump on and it would be great, then another time it would absolutly bite. Then one day i tried putting the stock seat back on and decided that it was way more uncomfy than the corbin. Now that i have a couple hundred miles on the corbin i love it. Just for ref. sake I'm about 6' and 250 lbs. with a 31 inch inseam. Hope this helps a little bit. Any questions let me know. | ||
| Countryx |
I have done as much as 650 miles in one day but average about 400. I have custom rearsets that are more aggressive then the stock pegs, and have a metal rod in my leg from knee to hip and pins in the opposite ankle. Jeebus!  That's the last time I'll complain about my knee bursitis and 200 mile days on the CityX! | ||
| Wyckedflesh |
Ask the Appleton Sportbike Day Attendees how much I hobbled when I finally landed... | ||
| Tpoppa |
I have an xb9s with stock seat & riding position. I routinely do 350-550 mile days. At first the stock seat really bothered me, either it broke in or I did...I don't mind it anymore. | ||
| Ethanr |
I'm with Tpoppa. I've got an XB12S, pure stock, and have put in a couple 300-500 mile days with no complaints. No, it's not as comfy as my last Gold Wing or my current Valk, but even with bad knees (arthritis) I'm still having fun up until I climb off. Just this last weekend my dad & I rode down to Yuma from Phoenix for BattleTrax...a couple hundred miles each way. We swapped bikes for about an hour on a backroad stretch so he could give it a whirl (his bike is a BMW K1200LT). He's got a bad back but had nothing but a big smile on when we swapped back. Wait, that's a bad picture...he really enjoyed the XB. I, too, have either broken in the stock seat...or broken in to it. | ||
| Opto |
They can be very comfortable over long distance if you set the suspension up well. The suspension and handling is great which takes some of the load off the rider on long distance. I have carried a pillion 300 miles twice on a 12S and she was happy with the comfort zone. | ||
| Glitch |
I usually ride a 300 mile day playing in the mountains on a weekend day. Have ridden 600+ miles in a day before. All with stock seat and pegs, lower handle bars. No problems other than being tired, and just a little sore butt. I now have the StreetFighter seat (thanks MacBuell!) and I can already tell the miles in the seat are going to be much nicer. MacBuell sold me the seat after he got himself a Corbin. Oh yeah. I'm 6feet tall with a 34inch inseam, in case that matters. | ||
| Keith |
I too have the XB9S and typically ride 350-500 miles in a day. The seat is stock but I changed to Crossroads clip-on style handlebars. I found the more upright seating with the stock bars gets tiresome trying to hold on at 80 mph all day. I'm 6' and 185 pounds. Keith | ||
| Ted |
I find the most tiresome aspect of the XB9s is the numb throttle hand I get from the buzz. I switched to the traction grips which helped only a bit. | ||
| Glitch |
Bar end weights, or bar snake will give your hands a break. | ||
| Ted |
thanks Glitch. I didnt know what to expect when doing a search for 'bar snake' ! | ||
| Fullpower |
balder: with the addition of a corbin saddle, the XB makes a fine sport touring mount. 1300 mile weekends are no problem. only 2 limitations are fuel range of around 150 miles , and dont expect to pile too much gear aboard, there just isnt that much motorcyle back behind the riders perch to heap stuff. | ||
| Flick |
Longest ride is about 10-11 hours from Edmonton to Nakusp. One stop for breakfast, ?stops for fuel, but basically just keep on Buellin'! Have the streetfighter seat. First day's ride, no problems...second day, minor irritation...third day, stop often to reintroduce blood circulation to vital areas! Whenever the right hand goes numb, just flick on the throttle control lever and relax your grip. Once you reach the twisties, any recurrence of numb-bum is irrelevant...having too much fun to notice!!!!!!!! | ||
| Jpl9sx |
Speaking of numb-bum, is anyone using an Airhawk seat cushion on a XB ? Is so what size are you using ? | ||
| Crustyspice |
500 mile days on XB9SL is not that bad. Was meaning to put a seat from the SX on, until my bumpertruck incident. Now it appears to be a writeoff... Also, had it hooked up with a slipstreamer tombstone windshield since nobody makes anything for the XBS - which looks goofy on the road, but does wonders for your head and neck on a long day, plus it popped off via thumbscrews when I got to my destination. OxfordSports humpback tankbag and saddlebags with a humpback tailbag held as much gear as I need for a week of conferencing. Ribs are healing, I miss my bike. |
