| Author | Message | ||
     Whosyodaddy |
If there really is an XB12S Low on the horizon, I'd put my deposit down today and sell my '04 FXDX. (As much as I love the Harley, a 12S Low would better suit my riding style and address the ergonomics issue I had with my 12R.) WYD | ||
| Outrider |
XB12SL...Just another natural for Buell. Hope your dream comes true! | ||
| Whosyodaddy |
It sucks to be short (5'6"  if you want to sport. Most sportbikes have seat heights of 31" or higher which makes it impossible for me to flatfoot. (And a dual-sport is totally out of the question.) A 12RL or 12SL would be a dream come true for those of us who are vertically challenged but want a little more ballz between our legs than what you'd get with a Ninja 250/500, Blast or 9SL. WYD | ||
| Prof_stack |
Dyna - no Blasts in your crystal ball? | ||
| Tucsonxb9s |
Dyna's lineup looks spot on. I wonder if a price cut is in the works like last year too...especially if they don't bring the 9's back. Maybe they'll skip a model year for the Blast to redesign it for '06. It seems like there is an over abundance of them, and it's due to be updated. A motard would be sweet, but I'm thinking it won't be that drastic of a change. | ||
| Court |
>>>Been pretty damn good with my batting averages on guessing what Buell & HD has been offering the last few years. No one has yet approached the clarvoyance of Mr. Jermey Ricker in 1997. Got my butt in TONS of trouble.... Remind me to tell you someday... Court | ||
| Timbo |
WYD, Why do you need to flat foot on your bikes? You really don't need to. Heck, I'm 5'5" and I own/ride a CRF250X. Seat height is like 38". I will admit that I was intimidated by the seat height at first, when looking at them at the dealer. Then, when out on the trails, my buddy who just bought one, said "Hey, you wanna ride this thing?" Of course I said "heck yeah", and off I went, no problem. I bought my own the next weekend. On the CRF, when your riding, size is no problem, and when you stop, you just slide your tailend off to one side, or step off to one side altogether depending on terrain. Starting off is easy too, left foot on left peg, give it gas and swing your right leg over. Obviously you wouldn't want to do this on the street, and you wont need to, but my point is, you can do it. You just need to get used to HOW to do it. Then it's easy. And I will add, being short doesn't suck. In fact, it has many distinct advantages, you just need to utilize them. Timbo | ||
| Timbo |
Court, I've come to realize that whenever you say... "Remind me to tell you someday"... That you already have. Timbo  | ||
| Jasonblue |
Doing that on a dirtbike and doing it on a bike with 2X the weight is a whole different ballgame. Not saying you can't do it you just can't really compare the two. I know, grew up riding dirt and steet and I'm 5'7". Once you get going it really isn't an issue. The real pain in the ••• is trying to muscle around a 400 to 500+ pound bike when you can't flat foot it. | ||
| Timbo |
My point was to not give up, even when at first it seems you can't do it, or it's too difficult. To try a different approach. That's all. I'm smaller than WYD but I have no problem with my R. It fits me perfectly, but that's probably because I approach it differently. Timbo | ||
| Whosyodaddy |
Timbo, Why do you need to flat foot on your bikes? When actually riding, with both feet up, my height is not a problem. But maybe it's just me and what I'm comfortable with but when I come to a stop, I want that little extra "control" over the bike you have when both feet are solidly on the ground. (Not to mention it's a b*tch for me to walk a bike using just my tiptoes - especially on an incline such as my driveway.) And I will add, being short doesn't suck Point taken. I guess I should've added "in my opinion" In any event, if there is a 12SL or 12RL for '05, there'll be one in my garage as soon as they're available. cheers! WYD | ||
| Dbird29 |
Court, You are nothing but a tease! "Remind me to tell you someday"... Someday never comes.  | ||
| José_quiñones |
Here's a marketing type question: Laguna Seca is this weekend. Ducati will introduce their new bike, the 05 999R, there, in the middle of the greatest sportbike event held in the US every year. Buell waits until the week after to introduce their bikes for the dealers at the dealer show. The 05 Sportsters have already been announced. The dealers don't seem upset about that. Buell is trying to sell Sportbikes, Right? Who is their target audience, "sport bike" riders or a bunch of indifferent, hostile, "do I have to carry these things" dealers? Why aren't the new Buells premiered at Laguna Seca every year? You have to get the sport bike riders walking into the dealers, the more they do that, take demo rides, buy the bikes, the faster the dealers attitude towards Buells will change. The service department atitude is another story....... | ||
| José_quiñones |
VTwin Supermotards? Aprilia is on the case.   450cc's | ||
| Starter |
Yep, I'll take one of those. | ||
| Court |
That Aprilla would make a killer NYC bike. Available in the USA? | ||
| Court |
>>>>Someday never comes. Not entirely true....and I 'll have to make this quick. Bassically back in the old days, when it was only folks like Denise and I and none of you had ever heard of a Buell, I had a good friend names Jeremy Ricker who I'd brought to the light. On the CompuServe RIDE forum, where Erik and I spent a good deal of time, there was a discussion about how Buell, having introduced the S1 in 1996, might follow it. Ricker did about 1,000 word tretise on how they should leverage the good handling frame but bring some of the parts into line with "good enough", reflecting most riders abilities, and lower the price. He suggested Showa shocks, a longer more comfy seat and went on to almost define the still undercover M2 Cyclone. I was on the way to East Troy and had stopped in the middle of the night at a cheaptel and checked my e-mail to find a sharp "call me first thing in the morning BEFORE you arrive at the factory" e-mail from a fellow at HD Juneau. Fact is that Jeremy Ricker was a pretty smart guy. Sprinkle in a bit of luck and he just nailed it. Frankly, had the HD guy kept his trap shut, no one would have been the wiser. That's the short version....that help?  | ||
| Glitch |
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| Dbird29 |
Court, Thanks for the expanded version. Just giving you crap!  Appreciate your posts. DBird | ||
| Trojan |
Still think there will be a liquid cooled version, whether it is water or oil like the old style GSXR's. Mind you hat looks less appetising now than it did  . | ||
| Outrider |
Even though I have my druthers, I will accept what Harley and Buell have to offer for 2005. If I like it I will buy it. If I don't, I have a great X1 and a magnificent Wide Glide to entertain me until something comes along that moves me. Concerning new product intro's, I fully support the method that HDI employs. In essence, your dealers are your direct link to the public and it is extremely important to keep them abreast of new products prior to the general public finding out about them. Sometimes a "Teaser" like a "Concept Bike" is acceptable for PR and Market Research purposes, but it usually bites you in the Butt if you are too close to what you will actually produce. Considering the "Stepchild" and "3%'er" concept that Buellers have of themselves which primarily relates to the experiences incurred at the dealerships, it is most important to strive to continually improve the quality of your dealers. I don't envy HDI having to sell their dealers on selling and servicing a line (BMC) that many perceive as an unwelcomed derivative from their primary business (HD). Attitude is the Magic Word (Earl Nightingale) and developing a Positive Mental Attitude among the dealers is not an easy task. Yet, it can be done and I don't see anyone at HDI giving up on the concept. Evidence: DaveS's success in relationship to the number of HD/BMC dealers out there. Anyone that can sell a bike designed for the twisties in a State where there aren't many is put to the challenge and Dave did well. Concerning what HD/BMC introduce in their 2005 line up, if interests me, I will buy it. Assuming that the new model will be a Sport Touring Bike of sorts makes sense as it was the loosely defined configuration that the majority of you requested. We still will have to wait and see if it will be a reality and whether or not BMC modified the basic platform enough to make a valid entry into the Sport Touring market segment. The bottom line is if they did, those that were so adamant about a Sport Touring bike had best ante up and buy one if you want to see commentary on Boards like this continue to have an impact on future decisions. If you followed this and other threads, you will recall that I have a fetish for a retro styled StreetTracker. Not for racing or even trying to compete with Buell in the corners. Just simply for a the style in a decent handling bike. Either HD (most likely) or BMC (least likely) could make one, but it may not make any financial sense as my desires are most likely the least popular. The good thing about that is the platforms that HD and BMC provide can be modified to provide me with what I want via the aftermarket and shade tree mechanics, which pretty much summarizes how the proliferation of motorcycle types, both foreign and domestic got to where it is today. In retrospect, I just wish that the American and European motorcycle manufacturers were divisions or subsidiaries of larger corporations so they could afford to proliferate their lines as the Japanese do. Unfortunately, the experiment backfired during the AMF days and now they don't have these resources available. As a result the American manufacturers just plunk along with a solid product strategy and make a decent profit. The inverse is, the European manufacturers stick their necks out pretty far with Star Wars efforts and end up in financial trouble on a relatively frequent basis. Catch 22, eh? | ||
| Coyote_xb12s |
In Reply to Jose's comments: I do believe the first time the Firebolt was shown to the public was at Laguna Seca. That was the same weekend that Honda showed it American Flyer concept bike. There has been pictures of that bike around the net for a while, it's the one with the tail that was copied by Kawasaki for the new ZX6R line. There was a comment that circulated back then made by Erik Buell in regards to the Honda, something to the effect of: "Great! Theirs is a concept, ours is going into production." Buell could very well show the 2005 line up at Laguna this year. They are going to have a Brag tent set up with hospitality and monitors for those who signed up. They very well could have a tent display as well, you never know... | ||
| Bomber |
Seca is the natural place to intro the new Ducks, as the connection to racing is what has put them on the map Buell does not either suffer from, or benefit from, an intimate linkage to racing, nor does the parent company . . . . . if you choose your ride due to it's racing heritage, an intro at Seca (or, for older gents, Road America) could help reach a large number of potential customers, and grease the skids for some immediate sales . . . . it's a lot like those who keep lobbying for multi-valve, water cooled engines for their own sakes . . . regardless of any benefit/lack thereof may be relaized from such a choice (not you Jose, smile, but many others) Outie -- go buy ya a Thruxon Bonnie triumph, bring it down to the entropy lab, and we'll have it street tracked in 3 day weekend, promise! (no welding required!) | ||
| Outrider |
Bomber...Not a bad idea, but I am not giving up hope for the other brand. I may get it in time for my 90th Birthday, but WTF, I am a stubborn old German living in NaziLand. LMAO | ||
| Bomber |
I know whacha mean, outie, but I've been waiting for a street legal XR750 since Nixon . . . . .ah well . . .. . hope is fun, and freeeeeeeee! | ||
| José_quiñones |
Coyote/Bomber, As you mentioned, BRAG will be there, the two AMA Formula Extreme Buell Race teams will be there. Let's say they do set up a display with the 2004 models. This is good, but a week later the 2005's will be shown to the dealers! Who won't be at the Dealer Show? The 90+ thousand people who attended the Laguna Seca event last year. ALL THE MAJOR MOTORCYCLE MEDIA won't be there. It's too good an exposure opportunity to pass up. I hope they do show something there to get a buzz going. At least give the BRAG people there a scoop. | ||
| Shotgun |
Our pal David Smith, formerly of Portland, now of Redmond, rode to Daytona and asked Erik point-blank about the possiblity of a 2005 Buell Sport Touring bike. Erik said, "The market is not there. Look at Triumph. Less than 200 units sold in the US last year." | ||
| R1DynaSquid |
But then you look at the aging Kawasaki Concours which continues to sell year after year. The new Yamaha FJR1300 which has a waiting list, the Honda ST1100 replaced by the ST1300, the BMW sport touring models which are growing by leaps & bounds. ETC ETC. I disagree that the market isnt there. I believe it is & its growing & I think its bound to explode into a huge market segment. With the price of gas going up, more & more older couples getting into the sport who have the time & desire to travel, its only natural to utilize the bike for that. Maybe Buell & or Triumph doesnt have the proper bike for the market would be a more accurate statement? | ||
| Sshbsn |
"Sport touring"?? There seems to be quite a few vague definitions of that. To me, my XB12R IS a sport tourer. Fuel range kind of blows, but besides that it's spot on isn't it? Big lazy engine that's relaxed on the interstate, maintenance-free final drive, great handling when you find a twisty backroad, frugal fuel economy, and factory tank, saddle, and tail bags. If you've got bad knees, you can put on lightning footpegs, if you want more wind protection get the ST or double-bubble wind shield. It really is what a sport tourer should be much more than many of the overweight and softly sprung alternatives out there. And in this era of full-blown racer reps, well, "sport bike" may not be the most accurate description of my ride. | ||
| R1DynaSquid |
To me sport touring means the ability to comfortably carry 2 people & enough gear for a weekend trip. Its also means the bike must be capable of running some decent speeds as well as handling well too. The XB's make horrible 2 up machines. Course I think my R1 is even worse when it comes to 2 up. Thats why I axed the rear seat & pegs. |
