Author |
Message |
Idaho_pakeha
| Posted on Monday, September 22, 2008 - 05:30 pm: |
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Just some comparison article I found on the web. http://www.visordown.com/articles/view/twin_test/2 411.html The Firebolt came off pretty well considering... |
Freezerburn
| Posted on Monday, September 22, 2008 - 05:46 pm: |
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"Nice" Nice. |
Froggy
| Posted on Monday, September 22, 2008 - 05:49 pm: |
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Its unfortunate that Buell still has the reliability stigma. Hell at least Buell fixes their issues! |
Redbuelljunkie
| Posted on Monday, September 22, 2008 - 06:19 pm: |
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Wow, my bike compared to a TARDIS! I like the way this guy thinks. He pretty much sums up all of the bikes well, and is fair to all of them. It's refreshing when people can be objective. |
Idaho_pakeha
| Posted on Tuesday, September 23, 2008 - 03:07 pm: |
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Yeah, I thought that he had a pretty fair take on the Firebolt and he even likes the looks! Personally I think it is a great bike with real personality and great looks-but then I own one. The difference between it and the Ducati for many owners is the high cost of maintenance on the Ducati. The Buell is way more owner maintenance friendly, and the service costs at the dealer are way lower too. Who knows, maybe Buell will do the same as Ducati and spontaneously decide that the service intervals can be doubled (to convince more prospective owners to buy one)... |
Swordsman
| Posted on Tuesday, September 23, 2008 - 03:35 pm: |
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Do Firebolts not have a steering lock like the Lightnings do? That was one of the complaints mentioned, but then again, that article is nearly 2 years old. ~SM |
Boltrider
| Posted on Tuesday, September 23, 2008 - 03:38 pm: |
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I was wondering about the steering lock too. Mine has one, but it's an '08. |
Azxb9r
| Posted on Tuesday, September 23, 2008 - 03:54 pm: |
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My 07 has a steering lock. |
Spatten1
| Posted on Tuesday, September 23, 2008 - 04:01 pm: |
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Man, I thought that review was uncanny in it's candidness and accuracy. It's true, many reasons not to like it, but the damn bikes are totally addicting and lovable. |
Acejay
| Posted on Tuesday, September 23, 2008 - 04:12 pm: |
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agreed, he seems to have buell owners summed up pretty well. |
Maryj
| Posted on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 - 10:10 am: |
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my 04 has a steering lock |
Dlwilson
| Posted on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 - 10:36 am: |
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my '03 has a steering lock |
Zane
| Posted on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 - 11:11 am: |
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I've been looking at new bikes lately and decide to have an open mind and look at some of the other bikes besides Buell. I've seriously looked into several bikes but I keep coming back to Buell. The more I look at and research other bikes the more convinced I am my next bike will be an XB12. He's right, there's just something about these bikes that is addictive. I've AM going to get an XB |
Idaho_pakeha
| Posted on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 - 03:59 pm: |
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Zane-I just went through the same process as you and ended up with an XB-12R and I have zero regrets (even on a five year old one). Great handling, interesting tech and looks. Unique. Sport bike guys look at it and don't know what to think, Harley Guys dismiss it till they realize it has a H-D motor, then they ask if you like it. Ducati guys sneer at it (but secretly wish their bikes were as cheap to maintain). Go for it! |
Randomchaos
| Posted on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 - 04:42 pm: |
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Its funny how accurate that article portrays the bike. Yea, it has its moments where I jsut want to throw it in a dumpster cause it doesnt want to run well. I quickly come back to my senses though as I rail through corners, and feel that smooth power delivery, and quick turning abilities. Each time I walk out to the bike to get on it, I get butterflies thinking of what the ride is going to be like. The bike has character, and it translates well to the rider. My next bike will be an XB12XT. Testrode one, and holy crap was it fun! I Could ride that bike all day, many days in a row! Has plenty of luggage space for if I want to just take a weekend trip somewhere, or use it to buy a few items. With all that extra stuff I figured it would feel heavier than my firebolt, and be harder to manuever, but it was just the opposite. Those wider handlebars really help the bike turn in even faster! |
Jettdawg
| Posted on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 - 07:24 pm: |
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"there's no steering lock" Did anyone consider that he was talking about the lack of turning radius? "Steering lock" meaning lock-to-lock, not the key position that locks the steering head... that's what I took it to mean. |
Redbuelljunkie
| Posted on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 - 07:52 pm: |
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I don't remember my '97 S1 Lightning or my '02 X1 White Lightning having a steering lock (they both had the weird shunt key) so maybe he's thinking of the tube frame models. Both of my XB's have had steering locks. |
Metalstorm
| Posted on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 - 08:30 pm: |
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I was thinking the same thing as Jettdawg. Despite that it is a Firebolt review, it was probably influenced by the popular "Uly has no steering lock" statements since this was out before the 08 Ulys with increased steering lock.. |
Swordsman
| Posted on Thursday, September 25, 2008 - 11:05 am: |
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Hmm, he actually says "there's no steering lock". If he was talking about the turning radius of the bars, seems the wrong way to phrase it. "Lock" being the actual contact point, he'd be implying it never does, when they actually hit rather early. ~SM |
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