| Author | Message | ||
     Rainman |
I teach the course and our newest are 05 and 06. I bought an 03 from them (they used to rotate them out before the 1,000-mile check up. Now they hang onto them) and have had 4,000 kick-butt, ride-it-hard through the city and down the freeway and backroads miles with nothing but grins. It is a little scratched and dented, but that's why I got it so cheap. | ||
| Bonjoxb12s |
Blast sales were artificially inflated because any Harley dealership that wished to give the "Rider's Edge" training program had to BUY a fleet of Blast models EVERY YEAR. This statement is totally false. As an old Program Manager for Rider's Edge, I can assure you that buying new blasts every year IS NOT mandatory. You can hold your current inventory for up to 4 years before replacing those bikes. | ||
| Court |
That is an inaccurate statement. | ||
| Jaimec |
To protect the names of my source (because I forgot it anyway), this is what I was told by the manager of a Rider's Edge program in Jersey (no, it WASN'T Liberty). I was looking to pick up a school bike for my girlfriend since they were blowing them out the door at bargain prices, but they were far too beat up looking that even with the warranty I wasn't interested. | ||
| Bonjoxb12s |
Not true at all.... you can turn your bikes over every 2 years and still offer a manufactures warranty, or keep them for a full 4 years and just bang them out the door at super low prices...... I should know, I used to run the Rider's Edge program at a dealership. | ||
| Fmaxwell |
The 1125 is seriously nice, but it's also a much higher revving, more complex engine than the air-cooled XB mills. I like the fact that my XB engine chuffs along at a leisurely pace on the highway. I like not having to deal with valve adjustments, radiators, water pumps, cooling system flushes, etc. I'm no Valentino Rossi (as my recent highway crash in which I broke my collarbone and suffered significant road rash demonstrated) and I don't need 146 horsepower. Heck, I stepped down from a breathed-on, twist-and-wheelie Suzuki Bandit that was making about 120hp at the rear wheel for my XB12SS. No regrets. If Buell decides to cut the production of the XB air-cooled line, then I'm not sure my next bike would be a Buell. That said, I'd not be opposed to Buell creating their own air-cooled V-twin that's not based on a Harley. Or they could even tempt me with a liquid-cooled V-twin if it were a low-RPM torque monster that didn't need valve adjustments. | ||
| Chadhargis |
I wonder how long it will be before everyone realizes the Ulysses is no more a "dual sport" bike than the Multistrada or Tiger. It's a sportbike for tall people and I'm sticking to my story!  | ||
| Pushrodpete |
At the very real risk of getting back on topic, how difficult would it be to do this? I mean, it only took two minutes in "Paint":  | ||
| Rich |
I sat on one the other day at Seminole Buell, and thought the same thing. It'd be fairly easy to put a S or R fairing on it, if someone wanted to. | ||
| Fmaxwell |
Nice job, but I'd go for the following changes: 1. Tubular handlebars like the current Lightning has. 2. Two-up seating rather than the turtle shell over the passenger pad approach. 3. Lower, more forward, footpegs. 4. I'd stick with something approximating the fairing on the current 1125, just placed and sized for a more upright riding position. I didn't buy a Lightning because I hate wind protection. I bought it because I'm too old for the monkey-humping-a-football riding posture of most sportbikes. That said, I'd still like to see a stroker version of the 1125 that is tuned for more torque and a lower redline. Now that would be my idea of a street fighter engine. | ||
| Chadhargis |
I agree with everything except the "tuned for torque" engine. I would think that the 1125 engine has PLENTY of torque the way it is. I do agree that I have no need for this riding position:  | ||
| Fmaxwell |
I probably should have said "tuned to shift the powerband lower." The 1125r has a published torque of 82 ft. lbs. @ 8000 RPM while the XB12 has a published torque of 84 ft. lbs. @ 6000 RPM. So the 1125r has a little LESS torque than the XB12 -- especially if measured at 6000RPM. I'd much rather see a long-stroke version that was closer to 100 ft. lbs. at 6000 RPM (115hp at the torque peak) and maybe hit 135hp at a 7200RPM redline. | ||
| Dalton_gang |
A mild remaping and a sprocket / belt change would probably turn the Helicon into a torque monster!! | ||
| Budo |
"A naked 1125? It's pretty naked now; not sure what they could do to "strip" it down further..." Take a look at a Ducati Monster or a Aprilla Tuono. That is what would appeal to me. (Message edited by budo on December 17, 2007) (Message edited by budo on December 17, 2007) | ||
| Buellnick |
A Superbike needs a full fairing... There are plenty of upright naked bikes in the Buell line. The photoshop mod above is an interesting look. However, the airscoops stand out even more on a bike without a front fairing. | ||
| Krassh |
From the side with those pods and the streetfighter front, it kind of looks like one of them tribes that shrinks heads got a hold of it. | ||
| Budo |
"There are plenty of upright naked bikes in the Buell line" None with the Rotax motor. For an example of how to setup a side mounted radiator go here http://benelliamerica.net/bikes/tnt_sport.html | ||
| Zac4mac |
Dear God NO!  The pods aren't near that fugly! Z | ||
| Aeholton |
"....eye of the beholder." Personally, I think the Benelli is dead sexy!!! | ||
| Freezerburn |
I have sat on the Benelli Cafe version of the TNT. It is a beauty. The radiators are very cool. The cafe racer version is more to my liking than the TNT. It happens to be 23K up here in Canada. I would be way better off tricking out an 1125R to my liking. Especially when you read the reviews of the TNT. | ||
| Zac4mac |
Sorry, don't mean to insult anyone. Benellis have always been "too busy" for my tastes. Z | ||
| Budo |
Just depends on what you want. Much to my surprise a small local shop just started carrying Benelli. The first time I have seen one in person. Very nice, but pricey. The Cafe racer is $13999. Then there is the scarce dealership and realibility question. But they do a outstanding job on styling and design IMHO. (Message edited by budo on December 18, 2007) | ||
| Unibear12r |
I'm with Zac. Just shows its all a matter of personal taste. However, ANYBODY that likes that bike's looks should be VERY understanding when it comes to another's view on good looks! (OK, I'll admit that it does look better than the Duc Monster anyway). | ||
| Buellnick |
Are we dreamin of a Rotax powered upright naked bike??? Tuono anyone? More importantly...what will happen to the Lightnings ?? The beginning of the end?? BTW: I think it was Jay Leno who once said that he didn't trust any bike he could not see-through. | ||
| Buellinachinashop |
Wishfull thinking? I go into my pictures folder to do some Photoshopping of an 1125 to make it into a street fighter. I highlight an 1125 image and low-and-behold, what appears in the "filmstrip" preview...the street fighter from above. Look at the image I had highlighted and the image that actually previewed...the 1125 wants to be a Streetfighter!  | ||
| Buellinachinashop |
I gave it the full XBS treatment  | ||
| Xnoahx |
I think it needs different radiator pods for the street fighter look. Thats just me though | ||
| Buellinachinashop |
I agree, I tried shaving and rounding them a bit, but they do need to be smaller imo. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
there were a pair of shark skinz radiator covers on a silver single thumper that was at a show IMS last year. Cant remember the manufacture, cant search it. But it was a silver single thumper with a promenint yellow shock and an articulated shark gill pod. (I am sure somebody remembers it) That would look good on the S version | ||
| Molly_hatchet |
now thats a little more of what i wanted...can u fit that arse end on the 1125 ? . (Message edited by molly_hatchet on December 21, 2007) |
