| Author |
Message |
    
Kevyn
| | Posted on Monday, October 20, 2003 - 04:20 pm: | 
|
This lil' gem will carve a pretty sharp corner!
edited by Kevyn on October 20, 2003 |
Bads1
| | Posted on Monday, October 20, 2003 - 04:34 pm: |
|
I've got a friend that just bought at the beginning of this past summer a brand new 999s.I took it for a spin very nice bike.But for $27,000.00 theres alot of bike that will do what it will do for $12,000.00. |
Kevyn
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 21, 2003 - 09:29 am: |
|
FYI, even though they look 'exotic' and do have a $$ amount upfront, Ducati's are just another mototcycle...and yes, there are other bikes that surpass them in top speed and handling. Aprillia Mille R and the RC-51 come to mind instantly and again were talkin' mere 10th's of a second on a track. Top shelf performance requires top shelf components and it all comes with a price tag. In the real world folks, the Duc's are highly street-able, corner carvin vixens.
I know lots of folks with beautiful Japanes bikes that get excellent performance, do minimal maintenance and others who lavish them with extravagant care and accessories. All for the love of the ride.
The Buell community asked for/demanded a reliable, mostly maintenance free motorcycle with enough power to hang with the rest of the pack even in the straights. From what I'm reading, you have it in the XB12's.
If I remember correctly, there have been some XB's kikkin' some Italian hiney on the race circuit, but these are rare instances. Generally speaking, Ducati, Aprillia, Honda and Suzuki are leading the pack out of the corners and across the line.
As for comparing an XB to an SS, it would have been better to compare the XB to a Monster900ie to my thinking...but on the particular day the moto-journalists were out riding, the SS was available, hence the comparo!
I have an SS and I chose it over the XB. Reasons aside, the SS has been just as reliable as my other Buells, easy to maintain, easy to modify to suit my needs ergonomically and performance wise and is just a dang pleasure to ride ANYWHERE AND EVERYWHERE.
Bottom line, will I buy another Duc? Yes! Another Buell? Maybe.
While the comparison read a bit too the Duc, it did a good job of drawing attention to continuing refinements from Ducati applied to an easily accessible model. Come on, the XB more than held it's own against some highly opinionated writers and seasoned riders! |
Kaudette
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 21, 2003 - 06:08 pm: |
|
Here's my 2 cts (as those of the journalists seem to come up a dollar short on every occasion)...
Compare a XB12R to an 1000 SS (DS model) - and you have a fair comparison - get a 12S and 1000ie Monster and same goes.
First of all on the esthetic side - the Buells have a MUCH better fit and finish than the Ducatis - when one looks at a Monster, there are more wires, sensors, zip locks, etc than one could imagine - the dash is cheap looking and the plastics / metals look of inferior quality.
Second, there is the ride / motor esthetics, and although I own a Buell and decided recently for a 12S vs. a 1000ie Monster, the Ducs simply make a better music when you get on them - the Italians have simply found the formula for magical exhaust notes equating to an aural symphony.
Third there is the power and handling - in honesty, in real world situations the buell probably takes the cake here - specifically with the 12 and the great torque curve. The Ducs pull well and have become quite linear but they still lack a bit of bite down low. As for chassis, the Ducs have a more typical layout and handling characteristics than the XB's but the XB's handle day to day riding better (smooth & bad roads, etc) - what many of the journalists don't seem to do is work the suspension to each riders' preference / handling characteristics with the suspension adjustments - anyone who rides an XB knows that this is ABSOLUTELY critical to getting the handling traits one is looking for (something I find amazing on the XB's as one may go from track duty setup for max stability to ultimate "flickability" in 5 mins of adjustment) the Ducs simply don't have this range of adjustability which for unfortunate reasons the journalists don't appear to have grasped, or appreciated.
Fourth, there is braking - same goes here as for the handling characteristics - one is immediately more comfortable on a Duc with its Brembo's than on an XB as they are more dosable and affect handling less - that being said, the XB stops just as well if one rides the bike as intended by design - do not brake in the corners, carry more speed into the cornes, brake with the engine and accelerate after the apex - as one is meant to ride on two wheels.
Finally, one has to keep in mind that most of these journalists are blasé with 170HP R1's and their point of reference is track times and top end HP (which mean NOTHING on the street and twisties) - I still recall numerous articles praising the new MV Augusta Brutale (nice bike) for its torque, while in the same article complaining that the XB12 was missing "peps"... now that is just downright ridiculous.
In short, ride both and you will see - selecting a bike is about as subjective as giving a preference for a fine vintage wine (or micro-brew depending upon tastes...) - beauty is in the eye of the beholder and although I like the Ducs, I wouldn't buy one over a new XB12 for the same purpose. And to be honest, the 749 and 999 are beautiful pieces of machinery, but there is no use for that on the open road (at least at non-felony speeds).
As for the magazines, I always knew there was a reason why everyone ended up reading them while in the toilet! |
Imonabuss
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 21, 2003 - 09:34 pm: |
|
Kaudette,
That was really well written, and right on target.
From my perspective, the depth of criticism of unique and exceptional motorcycles by any journalist is invariably inversely proportional to the depth of his experience and riding skill.
Or in clearer language, if it sounds like a squid talking, it is.
|
Imonabuss
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 21, 2003 - 09:44 pm: |
|
Oh, and by the way, anyone who thinks Sport Rider has any credibility should compare their comments with the facts found on another posting. A Buell XB running a stock 12 motor won a British National Championship running against, not 1000SS Ducatis, but against 996's, as well as Mille's and Suzuki TLS's!
Here's the results:
When the final points were added up for the year, the result was:
Jonathan Harrison (Buell XB9/12R) 215 points
K Pringle (Aprilia RSVR) 200 points
P Smith (Yam) 185 points
S Swales (Ducati 996Corse) 97 points
A Wightman (Aprilia RSVR) 92 points
E Brittain (Suzuki TLS) 64 points
G Brittain (Suzuki TLS) 63 points
J Carson (Suzuki TLR) 20 points
|
Blake
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 21, 2003 - 10:19 pm: |
|
I believe the story of the Brit championship is even more impressive... The folks at Trojan ran a stock XB9 motor for the beginning of the season and only switched over to a 12 as they became available. |
Dynarider
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 21, 2003 - 10:23 pm: |
|
I thought it was a 9 with the 1050 kit, but still very impressive no matter what. |
Bads1
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 21, 2003 - 10:30 pm: |
|
Didn't Erik at the 20th tell us something about them running a stock 12 motor and putting on the box Dyna????I recorded his speech I'll have to watch it again. |
Dynarider
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 21, 2003 - 10:41 pm: |
|
Dana, as Blake pointed out, they were using a stock 12 motor for the last half of the season. But for the beginning I believe it was a 9 with the 1050 kit. |
Rocketman
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 22, 2003 - 04:36 am: |
|
I'd have expected the Buell to fair well and I suspect the points tally is a little misleading.
A 996 Corse with 97 points against Buell 215 suggests to me the Ducati didn't contest all the rounds, suffered major catastrophes or their rider was a donkey.
Likewise we all know the TL's handling is not in the same league as a Firebolt. When the TL first hit the street Suzuki had major problems with the handling. In any case I'd expect the Buell to fair well on British short circuits but rightly so congratulations are in order but hey one swallow does not make a summer!
Rocket  |
Blake
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 22, 2003 - 01:20 pm: |
|
FUSA Sportbike - Loudon 2002. |
Imonabuss
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 22, 2003 - 08:03 pm: |
|
Of course the Mille RSVR's had problems too, Rocket. Must be. And, one British championship...well, wait a minute, that actually did make a summer. Although that may be hard to swallow, I guess... |
Rocketman
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 22, 2003 - 09:33 pm: |
|
Not hard to swallow at all but I wonder why a genius would build possibly the finest handling motorcycle in the world...........and leave it at just that? My point being if it were really that competitive it could race in the premier league couldn't it?
Ah shit, I didn't want an argument here but come on let's be straight and talk facts. You call three racing circuits in the north east corner of England, all within 20 miles radius of each other, a British Championship? Yeah it's British alright but in reality it never moved out of the one county, East Yorkshire. What's in a name I suppose!
Auto 66 Club Racing Circuits
Yeah the Buell did real well in the NATIONAL championship. Sorry I'm taking the piss but a reality check is in order, but don't let me piss on your bonfire, you go ahead and celebrate, it has been a lovely summer.
Rocket
|
Hippo888
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 22, 2003 - 09:53 pm: |
|
A somewhat related Ducati note:
I read that in MCN that Ducati has lost 40% of their USA marketshare in the last 3 years. Terblanche's designs are basically killing the company in the USA.
Paul in MI |
Court
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 22, 2003 - 10:04 pm: |
|
>>>Terblanche's designs are basically killing the company in the USA.
He has a partner in his effort in the Ducati USA folks. More house cleanings than my compulsive Aunt Kay in Hoyt, KS.
I'm proud as hell of what Buell has done in the United Kingdom. If we are down to the point where we are debating just how grand a championship it is, well I'm happier than a pig in s**t.
Next thing you know someone will be deriding folks for Land Speed Records taken in open classes.
The word WIN always seems quite pleasing to me...
Court |
Rocketman
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 22, 2003 - 10:47 pm: |
|
Well you can blow smoke up each others arse as long as you want but I know first hand where Elvington, Olivers Mount and Carnaby 2 are. Sure they're in Britain but so's 85 other counties.
Racing in 1 county does NOT make a British national championship in anything other than name. That's my point but it's directed at the fact that Buell don't make a motorcycle that could race competitively in a true premier national level championship. When they do I'll start blowing smoke up Erik's arse too!
86 British Counties
Rocket |
Paulinoz
| | Posted on Thursday, October 23, 2003 - 01:04 am: |
|
"When they do I'll start blowing smoke up Erik's arse too!"
That's half the trouble with you Pom's if you ain't blowin smoke, yer looking at the wrong side of the wrong gender.
How are yer Sean  |
|
