| Author | Message | ||
     Electraglider_1997 |
1190SX review. Why sell a street bike that can't act civilized in slow going while in 1st gear. Erik apparently needs to actually ride these bikes before selling them. What could possibly be wrong about a bike that is smooth riding at zero to 20 and everywhere in between. Pretty much the same with the ULY which bucks about below 20 mph. Watch the video about the 1190SX. Bike is great a fast speeds but apparently sucks at slow going. It needs to be great at both. Kinda of pisses me off to see that the Buell engineers are in lala land about what is necessary in the design of a well behaved street bike. How many likely buyers of the SX will go elsewhere with their money when they see a video and review like this. http://www.gizmag.com/ebr-1190sx-video/35273/ Why let a reviewer ride a pre-production bike that will be changed is probably not the best way to introduce a bike. Clutch effort reduced and 2 to three sprocket teeth change. How hard would it be to provide those changes before letting someone review the bike. Jeesh! (Message edited by electraglider_1997 on December 19, 2014) | ||
| Hughlysses |
Craig- isn't it a bit premature to go off on EBR because of one review? I test rode an 1190SX this summer and didn't observe any low speed driveability problems. It was significantly better than the 1125CR I owned in that regard. Yea, the bike could stand to be geared lower but I'm sure there's are sound engineering reasons for the gearing choice. Besides- it's chain drive; it's simple to change the gearing to your liking if you don't like the stock setup. | ||
| Jesse_lackman |
Slow speed performance is tied to the 1st gear ratio. It seems the higher the HP and the lighter the bike, the higher the first gear ratio. My son's GSXR 1000 can do 100mph in first gear. One reason to gear 1st high is to bog the engine down for safety reasons. If that GSXR was geared like the Ulysses in 1st it would be much more challenging to ride, and actually more dangerous for less experienced riders. So I think a high 1st gear ratio is part of the issue. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Hugh, Maybe they took care of that issue like the reviewer mentioned they might. Seems to me that the guys at Buell should be able to review their bike before a magazine does and take care of all these issues before hand. I changed front and rear sprockets on a Yamaha Radian and it wasn't hard to figure exactly what I wanted it to do but that bike was 1000 bucks and this 1190SX is about 16 or 17 times that. My wife's 07' Sportster can ride a 10 or 15 mph without bucking and so can my 97' Electraglide. I just think Buell should sort out this low speed ride-ability problem through transmission gearing or sprockets and be done with it before a customer has to deal with it. And a street bike really doesn't need to do 100 mph in 1st gear, otherwise we'd only need about 2 or 3 gears instead of the complexity of 5 or 6.  Mostly I'm just pissed that Buell has relegated us ULY type rider's to the red headed step child bin and actually believes that hooligan riders have more money to spend than us folks wanting the AX. Wonder how that is playing out for them. | ||
| Ratbuell |
EG - have YOU ridden an SX or RX? I haven't. But, given past reviews, I'm willing to bet it's like 95% of past reviews - they're TRYING to find something to bash Buell with. While I haven't ridden an EBR yet, I have ridden 99% of Buells (pre-EBR), and I'm comfortable saying a) reviewers are biased against anything that's not Italian or UJM, and b) yes, there is some inherent snarky behavior because we're not talking a zippy IL4, but a big snortin' huge displacement TWIN. Physics says two huge pistons going back and forth will make more vibes, and more snorts, than four tiny ones that aren't much larger than our twins' intake valves. That said...I don't notice anywhere NEAR what these "reviewers" notice in my twins, and that's why I can only assume the EBR reviews are equally slanted. Go ride one before you bash the builder. Everyone I know who owns one is tickled pink with it. As for the "it's not an AX" argument...think about how competitive the adventure market is right now. MORE so than the sport market, if you think about it. Think about the number of variables that buyers consider for an ADV. Then, think about the number of variables for a sport/super. If it were you...which would YOU build first? Which would YOU use for field testing and research and data acquisition and beta testing? I think Erik and the elves are smart for choosing the narrow-focused sport market as their entry - use that to get their shit together before they toss a bike out to the GS-A / KTM / ADV market buyers...who WILL pick everything apart. How did Uly owners react to the HB case latches? How did Uly owners react to the lack of a 21" front wheel? How did Uly owners react to having to put blocks on the ECM mounts...or chasing wiring issues in the steering head...or the overall lighting from the headlights? And, these are Buell LOVERS - imagine trying to CONVERT someone...with your inaugural offering. They're getting comfortable with what they build. Collecting data. Hammering out the details, fixing the widgets, chasing the bugs. Making sure it's RIGHT, as soon as it hits the street. Ya want it soon? Or ya want it right? (Message edited by ratbuell on December 19, 2014) | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
"And for decades, people have complained about the lost power – so when Erik Buell decided to make a streetfighter out of the 185-horsepower EBR 1190RX, he left its massive 1190cc v-twin engine untouched. In fact, despite its flat handlebar and the lack of fairings, the 1190SX is just about the exact same bike." There's your problem. | ||
| Cyclonedon |
I wonder how the sales are going? I've yet to see an EBR motorcycle outside the dealer's showroom with the exception of Homecoming. Any feedback? | ||
| Court |
Local dealer is packing it in as of 1/1/15. Shame ......in the largest market in the USA. P. S. - that's the word from salesman..... He could have been blowing smoke. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
I just want Buell to prosper and hate to see unnecessary things reported by bike reviewers. And on issues that Buell could easily have identified on their own and have taken care of before these bikes ever leave East Troy. They need to have us, the BadWeb faithful come to East Troy and test ride these bikes and then tell them what we think needs to be better or fixed. Plenty of us would be honored to make the trip to help out. Look how many of us would ride from all points to those Homecoming events. I made three of them with my son and wife and we rode to them from Nebraska. Others were willing to come way further and did. Maybe a different way to do things but probably a smart way to go. Great way to sell bikes too. | ||
| Ratbuell |
But that was my point - I don't think they are "issues". I think it's a case of "critics" riding a V-twin, when they're used to riding an IL4. Apples/oranges. Totally different beast, totally different feel. Not an "issue", just characteristic of a big twin. I don't think it's a Buell thing...I think it's a reporter thing. | ||
| Froggy |
The Rx and Sx I rode had no low speed issues that couldn't be fixed by bypassing the EPA chokehold. Same as it has been with all my 1125s and XBs. | ||
| Rayycc1 |
I think more thought could have gone into the gearing on the Uly...That tall gearing is really ..well..uncomfortable. I am really surprised that all i had to do was switch the primary gearing to get it right...and because it was such an easy fix...it seams strange to me that Buell didn't do it . | ||
| Blake |
I like the stock Uly gearing, But I'd like a lower low and a higher top gear if it were available. | ||
| Blake |
It's not uncommon for me to run it hard in 2nd then shift straight to 5th once at cruising speed. | ||
| Johnshore |
I test rode the SX and was impressed with how well balanced the bike was at slow speed. After being used to the Uly way up high ergo's , were a slight misstep can lay you on its side at parking lot speed, it was a joy. I commented after I rode it that I didn't think it needed a kick stand it was so nice at slow speed you could get off it and it would balance. I still need my Swiss army bike. Detachable bags for when my wife comes with me and great handling for the solo rides. Don't have money or room for both. Although there is a slight chance I can pull it off this year and if I can I'll add the SX and happily run the ULy to nubs. | ||
| Uly_man |
I agree with Frog and Rat with what they said. "Pretty much the same with the ULY which bucks about below 20 mph". The 06 ones will as it is the nature of the beast. You need to "slip the clutch" for good control. I have not had a 08 bike but the 10 bike is MUCH BETTER for sub 20 mph stuff. That is due to the better fueling from the ECM and other stuff. I have had NO ISSUES with sub 20 mph stuff on my ULYs in city traffic and that is in London which must be close to the worst you will find in any city in the world. It is VERY COMMON and normal to change the drive sprockets, on bikes, to give the ratios that are preferred by the rider for there riding conditions. The sad fact of the matter is that 30 years ago people would asses a product on "actual user tested facts" but today they tend to work on internet/ reviewer opinions. |
