| Author | Message | ||
     Pkforbes87 |
Well, I hate to admit it, but I'm currently in a situation where saying goodbye to "Betty" may be in my best interests financially. A year from now, I'll be out of the military and soon after will be a full time student with significantly less income than I have now. I've been regretfully mulling over the idea of selling Betty to pay off some other debt. Selling her isn't a necessity though.. I paid cash for the bike so it wouldn't cost me anything to drop insurance and put her in storage until I'm able to get her back on the road. Anyway, I may have the opportunity to trade straight across for a 2008 XB12R with 800 miles. A guy at work bought the 'bolt brand new, and has had nothing but problems with it. From what I know, it ran poorly at first, and now will not start. I don't know a LOT about newer Buells but I can't imagine the problem being too serious. It's got to be something small and stupid that is being overlooked. Speaking of which, dealers have been failing miserably at getting this 12R fixed for it's current owner, which has him upset enough to be willing to trade for another running Buell. Here's Betty:  (sorry - I can't help but be a picture wh*re with this bike) The way I'm thinking, trading would give me two options. A: get the 'bolt running and sell it for considerably more than I can hope to get out of the X1. or B: get it running and put it away for later use, just like I could do with the X1. I'll still have a 2000 X1 in boxes to rebuild later on down the road if I get a serious craving for some "Old School". Of course there's also option C: can't figure out how to make the 'bolt run, so the whole transaction was a waste. And the bike I'd be trading for as I mentioned before, is a White/Blue 2008 XB12R with 800 miles. Bone stock as far as I know. I'll get more details about the bike's issues and current condition soon. | ||
| Desertfox |
Seriously? You'd trade THAT for a measly XB? Your bike is THE BEST looking X1 I have ever seen in my opinion. If I could have your frame color, all the same polished parts, intake, and so on with my current paint color, I would be perfectly happy to keep the bike forever. Even after it stopped running it would be kept as a piece of art. I could be exaggerating here, I have a drink in my hand after all, but letting that X1 go would be blasphemy. | ||
| Desertfox |
You know what, at the very least you should put an unreasonable price on it and hold out until someone wants it badly enough. | ||
| Nallac |
If i was in your shoes I'd keep your X1..man she is damn nice. Put her?,it?, into storage... no. actually i'd ride the hell out of it who needs a car anyway,the X1 would be better on gas. | ||
| Nillaice |
XB's are a dime a dozen. what you have there is a beautiful thing. she's a 'keeper' in my book someone else will not appreciate it for everything it is. my self included in the 'someone else' category ... | ||
| Thejuicer |
Keep her man...that bike is way to nice to gamble with, just my 2c. | ||
| X1_rider |
Keep it, even if it's in storage. Just looking at your bike and the obvious hours and money you have invested in it, I have a feeling that parting with it will be something you will very much regret down the road. This, of course, is just my personal opinion. | ||
| Glitch |
I would choose D You trade your non-running X-1 in boxes for the non-running XB. | ||
| Guell |
Sell the xt and keep the x1 | ||
| Jramsey |
I'm with Glitch. | ||
| Pkforbes87 |
Yeah.. there's no way the XT is going anywhere. That's the perfect motorcycle for everything, and will be the only bike I own if I ever have to cut back to just one. | ||
| Gunut75 |
Put the one in boxes together, trade him that one for the XB and keep Betty too.   | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
First of all, I am not at all sure that an XB12R would be worth considerably more than the very attractive Betty. Tubers have achieved classic status since the late unpleasantness in East Troy, are much rarer than XB's, and their prices are going up, especially for very nice examples like yours while XB prices are going nowhere. Keep the X1, sell the one in the basket, and thank your lucky stars that you didn't get sucked into trying to fix a lemon. Repairing the electrics on an XB is no walk in the park, especially the first time you try it. Electrics have always been the Buell XB's achilles heel.  (Message edited by gentleman_jon on April 11, 2011) | ||
| Fahren |
I must add my voice to the opinions above. I see xb values dropping (sad, but true), while tubers are holding, or even gaining. The X1 is arguably one of Buell's finest moments, and, as noted above, far more rare. I'd bet your X1 is as reliable long-term as any xb, and more easily repaired. I would keep it, especially the one you show in your photo. | ||
| Andymnelson |
I love X1s, and particularly Betty....but the "tubers are going up in value" bit is nonsense. By buddy just bought an almost mint '99 blue racing stripe X1 with 8000 miles for $1700. Just needed tires and he runs it daily! I'm not saying that there aren't a million good reasons to keep Betty, but value is not one one of them. | ||
| Guell |
I think tubers will hold their value better long term compared to the xb series | ||
| Fahren |
I would rather wrench on a tube-framed Buell than on an XB. And yes, they may need more initial TLC, but it looks as if Betty has already received her good dose. OK, allowing Andy's argument that value issues are nonsense, then the discussion is still not worth having. Will you get $4500 for the guy's problematic xb, after spending a good chunk of time diagnosing and repairing it? You could get at least $3000 for Betty, more than that to the right buyer who knows what he is looking at. So "getting considerably more" for the Firebolt might not be an accurate statement. $1000 - 1500 more, ok, but is that "considerable" enough to send Betty away? I'd look at Andy's "million good reasons to keep Betty," and evaluate from there. | ||
| Andymnelson |
I agree, but that is an "I think" statement, not an evaluation on the current market  | ||
| X1brett |
I want to get an 1125r but not if it means selling my 2000 X1. These bikes are already becoming collectors items. Eat rice and beans and keep the X1. Thank you for your service! | ||
| Blue_pipe |
If it gets tight on the budget...put a cover on it and store it away...You won't regret it,5-10 years from now when you take it out for a ride people that know about Buells are going to say DAMN! I should've kept my X1. | ||
| Brother_in_buells |
If it was mine i did not sell such a beautiful bike! you put a lot of time and $$ to get it like this and have a lot of good memories with it right!? sell the one you have in boxes and if the time and finance gets better then buy a xb! | ||
| Lager |
If I had a non running XB that no one could figure out why it wasnt,then found "Betty"? Heck yeah, I would offer to trade. | ||
| Serialk |
So you have a X1 in Boxes do ya? Let me know what you got and a price. Might be able to help you out on your options and you keeping your X1. | ||
| Gmaan03 |
Tube frame bikes will become a collector bike in the future. They are unique in styling, and looks. keep yours | ||
| Brinnutz |
I've got some ocean front property I'll trade for Betty! I mean it's worth a shot if you're trading her for a ••••••, half assed probably cost more than it's worth non-ish running bike! I think you're crazy...But that's me. Uly's = dime a dozen. Betty = one of a kind. | ||
| Boliver |
Phillip, That bike is all you. From the ground up, you and that machine have become one. I was so impressed how you literally rebuilt it totally all by yourself. No bike will ever equate to that because you know Betty inside out. Why trade her off? You have a Uly and another X1 so whats the quandry? LOL You already have plenty of irons in the fire. You must ask yourself this? " do you prefer the hands on rebuilds or the finished product most? I say if you genuinely enjoy the hands on rebuilding then let Betty go but no way should you trade it off for anything less than a pristine and fully operable bike regardless of the make and model. Just my .02 worth. Peace and grease to you neighbor | ||
| Preybird1 |
I could never sell my X1! To much money involved and to many hours into it. Made to many friends riding it and on this site! 3 reasons to keep the bike 1.It can be rebuilt over and over (simple to repair) 2. trap door tranny (No case splitting) 3. A piece of American history | ||
| Chevysolid |
Man.... I just bought and XB and after reading this I kinda wish I would have just bought an X1 like I used to have... LOVED IT... I concur that the X1's def. have a more"classic" status |
