Posted on Wednesday, December 16, 2009 - 09:20 am:
Had my XB12X up to about 115mph indicated. Didn't get the chance to test the Uly beyond that since the top speed of the windscreen was apparently 114mph.
Posted on Wednesday, December 16, 2009 - 10:28 am:
Actually, you could break the speed of sound on a bike. You'd just need to take a 3 hour balloon ride first! Joe Kittinger did it and is considered the first man in space. Traveled to 100,000 feet and then jumped. His terminal velocity was about 700 mph and he's the only person ever to break the speed of sound without an aircraft. Insane!! http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-369888258 105653405#
By the way, there are some good tunnels on the Pa Turnpike near Johnstown.
Posted on Wednesday, December 16, 2009 - 11:13 am:
I posted it because my husband has a highly modded 1200 sportster that does a 125mph indicated and he wants a new xb1200r. But if it is only slightly faster than sportster he already has than why bother with it. We read in cycle world tests that the xb12r is good for 130-133mph with a 165lb rider online.
Posted on Wednesday, December 16, 2009 - 01:23 pm:
If he has a 'Busa, I don't see why he would be interested in anything else just for the sake of going fast. There isn't much that can touch that top speed even with mods. However, I just read today on MC Daily that two independent dyno runs of BMW's new S1000RR measured 183 and 185.5 hp at the rear wheel for BMW's new 1000RR. That's probably going to be the standard for out of the box performance assuming there are no tuning differences for US models and should be significantly more nimble than than the Busa.
Posted on Wednesday, December 16, 2009 - 01:52 pm:
They actually call those new BMW's 'Busa Beaters'. I just don't dig the unbalanced headlights, one light with one spotlight, ehhh no thanks. But if I'm right I think they're around 18-22,000 a piece, more than a Hairybusa. If you've ever sat on a Busa then you know it's built for speed, the dash and wind screen is like a cockpit of sorts. I felt like I was on rocket when I test rode one, sluggish as all hell in the city, but out on the interstate...Ha, well, it's fun.
Posted on Wednesday, December 16, 2009 - 02:06 pm:
Where TF do you people ride these things at those speeds? Most anywhere in the USA you'll get tossed in jail for that fast. I just can't see where there is anywhere on a public road that is really safe for anything more than a quick sprint up to see what it is like (and the safety of that is questionable). 100 in the middle of the desert where you can see for miles would be one thing, but last time I checked a modded Busa would go over 200 (or at least near it). I think the ZX14 will also do up around 200 out of the box and as mentioned the 1125r is no slouch for out of the box speed.
We are still talking about road riding aren't we? (and yes I do sometimes push my machines up to a pretty quick pace so don't call me a prude)
Posted on Wednesday, December 16, 2009 - 02:32 pm:
Most anywhere in the USA you'll get tossed in jail for that fast.
Twisting the throttle on those things is frighteningly addictive. Crack doesn't have anything on it. It will drive sane, even-keeled prudes to do things they would never do otherwise. Friends and family will be shocked. Coworkers will talk about what you were like before you came under the influence.
Like the cliche goes: Absolute power corrupts absolutely. Which is why the much-slower-but-still-fast-enough XB12X suits me just fine. I'd rather spare some poor EMT the duty of scraping what's left of me out of the impact crater I would inevitably leave if I were to own a 'Busa or some other such beast.
Posted on Wednesday, December 16, 2009 - 05:09 pm:
Funny how there was a BUELL in the first video... Something you want to confess too? I seem to recall seeing that Buell cruising at about 120 before the Busa kicked it in the guts.
I also hope that the persons that uploaded those videos made accounts using a good anonymous proxy, same for the emails, and uploaded through more good proxies. There could come a time when they start going after people again, that first video was really very dangerous for the cages. Cage drivers get all confused and often crash when something goes flipping past them like that, especially the pass made while the other car was passing. ANd yes I did think about those things when I was 20 and had my fairly new Katana. And also when I carefully waited on a stretch of highway to allow traffic to get away from me so I could push it up near maximum to see how it worked.
And people wonder why I don't want my camera visible. Nothing says pull me over because I probably have been breaking the law like a camera on top of a helmet.
I will say that the audio from under the bubble was really good, goes to show how much time they spent on the streamlining of that machine.
I remember the first review of that model, out of the box they couldn't quite get it to 200mph, but they thought that a simple fix with a pipe and muffler would put you over the 200mph barrier. Obviously that is true and might not even take a pipe and muffler now.
All that said I'm not really sure why anyone would want/need something like this on the street. My "little' 9R gets you up to 100 pretty damn quick and seems like it would be happy cruising there all day long. Hell second gear will get you to 70, not really sure where third stops but I know it is somewhere above 100.
Posted on Wednesday, December 16, 2009 - 05:49 pm:
I'll admit I was brain dead when I got my ticket, but just the adrenaline rush one gets when they stare Death in the face can't be measured with any kind of drug, except catching a 6-10lb bass, or a tiger-muskie. What scared me though was after I got the ticket I found out that where I got it was where a kid and his girlfriend were killed buy a car pulling out in front of his bike. Now I limit my 100+ mph escapades to runways and dead highways.
-------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ "I posted it because my husband has a highly modded 1200 sportster that does a 125mph indicated and he wants a new xb1200r. But if it is only slightly faster than sportster he already has than why bother with it. We read in cycle world tests that the xb12r is good for 130-133mph with a 165lb rider online."
The 100 lb. lighter XB12 will handle like a ballerina compared to the Porkster and will reach it's top speed of around 135 mph well before his Porkster will hit 120 mph.
Fudge let me first apologize; many of us here have been asked that question a lot, especially since the fire sale prices on our bikes. bringing me to the next point; there is a lot of misplaced hostility towards the HD brand name since the announcement in October, Harley riders are not the corporate entity responsible for our beloved bikes ceasing production. They are however a target of opportunity, the pent up frustrations tend to be unleashed at unsuspecting riders.
With that out of the way....
The beauty of an XB Buell is it's ability to corner, mass centralization reduced un-sprung weight and rigid frame to only name a few of the things an XB has above many other bikes. If he already has a Busa why should top speed in any other machine matter? the busa will be the fastest thing in the garage for a fairly long time. cheep mods will push it past 200, you will not do that on other bikes for as little money. sportster = cruiser, longer rides cheaper harder compound tires and racking up the miles. the weight is more conducive to a plush ride across highway joints and bumps. (granted this is refutable because many riders including HD fans do not like the ride of a sportster but the class remains the same.) XB12R = a corner carving machine, apex, mid corner speed, and stability. more expensive tires mean mile for mile they are more expensive to tour on but many of us do it. not technically a super-sport like the inline 600cc and liter bikes, but commonly compared to them. classed as a street-fighter, hooligan bike, naked and many other names. It is a very common day to day bike with great street manners and enough performance to get you in trouble several times on your way to work. GSX 1300 R Hayabusa = commonly referred to as the Cadillac of sport bikes. (though technically a hyper-sport bike) this is a great image because the bike is much heavier that the other Gixxer production bikes and does not corner as well but the suspension and longer wheelbase conform well to a softer suspension setup for highway comfort. This bike until the release of the ZX-14 was the fastest bike available to the general populace, (it was set to beat the Honda blackbird and did so) in '08 the displacement was upped along with other changes and the current ZX and Busa are now so close in speed and power that its all about the rider for what bike wins. (though they put the power down n different areas of the power band) this class bike due the the weight and size is a popular sport touring bike (super-sport touring/ hyper-sport touring) and many mods are available to make it more tour friendly.
*Whew* that was a lot. now here is a great vid. for the liter bike vs. hyper-sport guys.
and as far as the BMW, its ugly but if its as good as I read about nobody riding it will care. and anybody giving them flack about it will eat their dust. traction control available ABS clutchless shifting (ignition interrupt) and on the fly suspension tuning will put this bike more with the pricey Ducati bikes glittering with electronic gizmos than the big 4's
edit: prices for the BMW are much lower than anticipated. 16k loaded! look out world BMW just stepped up.
XB 12 top speed limited by rev limter. Paul Rogers took his to Lake Gairdner in Aus in 2004 and WFO with stock gearing it would only do 125.243. Soft rev limiter would kick in and slow him down. In 2005 with help from a ecm on loan from Erik he went 140.292. All because rev limits were changed. Unless you change gearing and/or rev limiters you are not going to go faster.
The limiters are there for a reason. If you are doing a speed run or racing, then you are willing to risk the longevity of the machine for the prize of winning. Not a good idea for a street machine.
I dont see a problem of someone asking what a great machine's top speed is, or how fast someone has gone. Im 39 years old not 70 yrs old. I still get the urge to get on it once in a while. Riding a Buell is exciting! If a Buell owner wants to ask a question feel free to ask. If your out of touch with the question then dont get involved. The beauifull thing about buell is we are diff from everyone else, we as a whole define who we are. No one persons opinion can define as as a group. By the way, buells are very fast bikes, handle like nothing else.= FUN Wear your gear always!