| Author | Message | ||
     Duphuckincati |
For those of you that have/had Sportster engine based Buells, which of those models would be of most appeal to an 1125 rider? | ||
| Fresnobuell |
Easy. Firebolt. But you will be disappointed with the motor if you are used to literbikes or the 1125r. | ||
| Fresnobuell |
As far athe 984 versus motor, you will get more revs from the 984 but more power from the 1203. I personally liked the smaller, revvier version. YMMV. To me the 1203 didn't separate itself enough from the 984. | ||
| Froggy |
The Firebolt is the closest thing to the 1125R obviously. The Lightning's are more like the CR with highbars. Both XB's are great, they just don't have the umph of the 1125  | ||
| Jdugger |
I enjoyed my XB12r (firebolt) when I had one. Tight, compact bike that's a lot of fun to ride. I didn't care for it on the track, but enjoyed it a lot in the canyons. | ||
| Puredrive |
I enjoyed my first Buell XB9R  | ||
| Dannybuell |
The character of my Buell's is so unique. My 96 S1 all set up for handling is very old school. Finesse the daylights out of it and it isn't too bad. The S1 has all the torque in the world, a great city bike. On the road the CR has more power for passing etc. The CR has so much handling potential that you can do 2 of 4 finesse moves and that is usually good enough. It reminds me of a Corvette I had many many years ago, you could drive it wrong and it would still be good. | ||
| Kenm123t |
THE M3T of course | ||
| Duphuckincati |
Found this thread elsewhere on forum.. http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/476 23/567922.html?1276438112 Just to add to discussion. | ||
| Rpm4x4 |
I love my 1125r but I do love my XB9. The things I love about my 9 are the heavy flywheel which makes stoplight to stoplight much better and the fact that it runs so much cooler (as a rider) in city traffic. I like the fact that its naked which is a drastic change from my 1125r. One last thing that I like about my 9 is that it makes me look like a better rider than I am. When I go into a corner I can pick my line and just whack the throttle open and go. If I do that on my 1125 its will most certainly spin the back tire and lowside. Now I have to say I like the 1125 for a lot of things that the 9 is not. Thats why I think that they make such a great pair. | ||
| Jng1226 |
Oh boy, the regular readers are going to be sick of my pictures and videos and general raving about my XB9SX. I have an 1125R and a XB9SX. As Rpm4X4 states, the best thing about the XB9 compared to the 1125R is being able to whack the throttle open with reckless abandon in most any corner and not be afraid to highside yourself to the moon, which you would most assuredly do on the 1125R. I also agree with Fresnobuell that the 984 is better for a 1125 aficionado since it has a 500 rpm higher redline than the 1203 and has a more top-end weighted powerband, although it does give up 10-15 rwhp to the larger twin with both in stock form. There was a recent thread asking whether the 1125 had too MUCH RWHP to be fun on the street. I answered by agreeing with the original poster's preference for riding a smaller bike to its limits, rather than having to consciously limit the bike's capabilities to your own. The XB9SX demonstrates this perfectly. Mine puts out about 80 HP to the rear wheel (minor mods such as D&D, Race ECM, American Sportbike Open Airbox mod, American Sportbike Carbon Fiber EVERYTHING for another 20 pounds less weight) and you can have a ton of satisfaction wringing it's neck out without getting into felony-class speeding. In fact, I would wager that I am faster through Deal's Gap (318 turns in 11 miles in NC/TN) on my XB9SX than I am on my 1125R or MV Agusta F4 1000R. Actually, I know the answer as I've done it and actually timed it. With the shortest wheelbase in the industry (52 inches) the steepest rake (21 degrees), excellent Showa stock suspension, and race grade rubber (120/70 front, 180/55 rear - BT-016s on mine) you can use all the ground clearance available (basically unlimited) to absolutely RAIL around tight turns. The upright ergonomics give tremendous leverage at the bars and great steering feel, plus are comfortable for 300+ mile days of attacking the twisties and on top of that it gets 55+ mpg. Finally, add the exotic exhaust note (Harley 45-degree V-Twin mixed with race cam lumpy idle and full-throttle scream through my D&D race exhaust) plus the so-ugly-it's-cute styling, and you have the American version of the Ducati Monster, but with WAAAY more character, IMHO. Did you know you can pick these up for around $4K nowadays and the maintenance is RIDICULOUSLY simple? Slam-dunk, grand-slam, the XB9 wins!   Jeff | ||
| Jng1226 |
More XB9SX Pics Blazing through the Smoky Mountains!    Look at these sexy curves! Damn this bike is cool!  Jeff | ||
| Easyrider |
Here we go Limited Edition S2:   | ||
| Jng1226 |
Aha! Easyrider, your girl is both good-looking AND smart - she know's which bike is the best: the XB!  Jeff | ||
| Barker |
My XB9R Firebolt is still my favorite bike.  | ||
| Cataract2 |
Any of them. | ||
| Dman |
Great thread, and awesome bikes posted above. I've had about every liter bike out there since '87, but just love the Buell look & feel, thru all the evolutions. I had a X1W that was molten orange & nuclear blue, it was sooo cool, handled like my current motard, flicked it around like nothing, wheelie, carving, whatever, a total play-thing and with exhaust it sounded awesome. I was too young at the time to deal with "only" 101hp, stupid, and the rear cylinder would cook my nads, but I believe later versions got better there. I'd love to have that bike back. | ||
| Black |
I have a 2002 X-1 White Lightning and a 2007 XB12 STT. Every time I ride one of them, I have somebody rolling down their window to tell me how cool my bike is. Rode the XB 12 today. Had pretty girls waving to me...you know, when they weren't texting and drifting over into my lane. Only funny in retrospect. | ||
| Ratbuell |
I love my CR. I love my S1W. I logged over 100 miles on my S2 today in 98 degree weather and loved every inch of the ride. My '99 M2 was an awesome bike when I owned it (sold it to keep the license alive). My Ulysses just did a lap from Maryland, all the way around Lake Michigan, to Homecoming, and back...in three days' riding, 2-up, with no complaints. They're all awesome bikes...but like children, I love them all for different reasons. No two are alike. S1W - shakes, rude, noisy, violent. Great handling. No luggage. Long on torque and handling, short on comfort (by comparison). M2 - dirt-simple bike to ride. Intuitive torque and powerband. Ride at 100% all day long, without breaking the laws of physics and still have a ton of fun. Comfortable for a naked bike. S2 - sexiest bike I've ever had the pleasure of looking at and riding on. Fixed fairing is just perfect. Rock-steady at over 100mph and it gets to that speed effortlessly - and it's FIFTEEN YEARS OLD. Always gets the stares. Ulysses - Swiss Army Bike. Haven't asked it to do anything yet that it's refused to do (or bitched about afterwards). All the aircooled bikes are going to be totally different animals than your Loki. I do love the XB9's - it's the old "smallblock versus bigblock" debate, and the 9's are a ton of fun. But don't get an XB or a tuber because you want it to be "like" your Loki...because you'll be disappointed. Get something different. Enjoy the variety. | ||
| Jng1226 |
Ratbuell - you bring up an excellent option with the Ulysses. My '07 Barricade Orange XB12X was the first "adventure" bike after 17 years of sportbikes and I absolutely loved it! I too used it for nearly everything from carving up twisties to filling up the Hepco and Becker hard bags with groceries and it offered nearly all of the handling of an XB-S in a Hummer-eye level, ULTRA-comfy platform for 2 with 6+ inches of ground clearance and suspension travel. Hands-down it is my wife's favorite Buell. The original question was which Buell would be most appealing to the 1125 rider. If said 1125 rider wants a great handling bike capable of nearly EVERYTHING, look no further:   Jeff | ||
| Duphuckincati |
OP here, and I'm glad I asked. Seems like a lot of passion for the "other" Buells and if you check around (look up "search tempest" for a great tool for craigslist searches) they are not much money. I never cared for Sportsters but these aren't them are they. I already have a wide range of six other bikes but am always curious. Thanks for the response. | ||
| Zac4mac |
I recently picked up an 09 Uly. Extremely good deal and every time I throw a leg over it, I like it more. I rode it to Homecoming last week and had zero trouble. Not much use for a car now even for grocery trips with the bags, every once in a while I go thru a field instead of around it.... | ||
| Milleniumx1 |
My first Buell (and only other besides the '09R) was my '00 X1, hence the screen name. Yes, I know it's not spelled correctly  Plenty of character, fun ride ... But I actually preferred the H-D big twins in my garage. But the '09R? Converted me!! Mike | ||
| Skinstains |
How about one of each ? That would make you almost as cool as Froggy. That's right "almost"... |
