| Author | Message | ||
     Obioma |
I am in the market for a new bike so I’ve been doing my research. I basically have come to the conclusion that it makes no sense to get a Buell XB (been looking at the firebolt). For one thing, I think they are over priced, for the same amount of money I could get a Jap liter bike (don’t care what you guys say they are just built better) with more horsepower and better performance. Don’t get me wrong I love Buells, but for the money I might as well get better machine. The only reason I could see getting a Buell at that price is to stand out from the rest of the crowd and that not a good enough reason to make me shell out $11,000. If they were priced $2000 lower they would be selling like hotcakes. Is just me or are 80% of the people in this forum middle aged and white? I can see why a buell appeals to them but what about the younger riders (I'm 25 and not white), what makes you love the XB. Have a good one guys maybe some one can help change my mind | ||
| Easyflier |
Buy the litre bike. Nobody here can change your mind, nor would we want to. A Buell either appeals to you or it doesn't. | ||
| Joojoo |
Obioma, I dont want to change your mind. You see, in my opinion, a Buell is built for a very unique rider. A rider who truly understands what athletic motorcycling is all about. As well, the term "Better built" that you used may not have been the best choice of words. Really should not be used when comparing anything with multiple components, because you're always comparing apples to oranges. You really have to get VERY specific about parts of any machine (right down to the metals used) to start using the term better. HOWEVER, I can say this...feel free to use the term "smarter". Buells are built smarter than any bike I have been on for providing the most fun on the roads that they were built for. I've owned litre bikes (yamaha R1's and Ninjas)....Nice pieces of EQUIPMENT. Really they are. They cant make me smile like my Buell though. Reason is, the Buell is a Buell. Go buy a Jap bike, I think you need to. I dont think you will be able to appreciate a Buell until you buy the machine that as you said "are just better built". Then, in a couple years, you'll be telling us how you just came off your new Buell with a smile that your Jap bike just never gave you. You may even give your Buell a name, and talk to her at night. Totally normal with a Buell, because as we all know, our Buell's are as alive as a horse is. Guess what? When you do all of these things, Im sure that every Buell owner here will smile and give you a thumbs up, cause the owners of these bikes are as "smart" as the bike design. So Obioma, I dont want to change your mind. I want you to go get this jap bike marketing virus that you have out of your system. Sooner you do, sooner you'll sell her and get your Buell. Maybe we'll ride our Buells together too... L8r Jack | ||
| Jard |
thats right  | ||
| Dbird29 |
A young fisherman! What is your true reason for not getting a Buell? Price? Get a R1. Performance? Get a R1. Age of the rider? Why would that make the motorcycle good or bad? It is how it feels to you when you test ride it. Just get a R1 if worried about ageism. Race of the motorcyclist? Again why would that make a motorcycle good or bad? Just get what feels good to you. Or an R1 if worried about racisim. Of course if it is about looking good for your buddies get whatever they are riding so you don't feel different. I got a XB9s (black) because I liked the feel, performance and appearance.  DBird | ||
| Imonabuss |
Obioma, Don't bet on the Japanese bike being built better. If you want horsepower per dollar, you can't beat them. But if you want low cost maintenance (no chain adjustments, valve adjustments, etc.), unbelievable handling (the Buell XB-12 just won a handling shoot-out against the best Japanese in the British sportbike magazine Performance Bikes...and that was on a race track, the difference is even bigger on rough street roads), exotic chassis, supremely light wheels, incredible brakes, unique looks, and the pride in riding something designed and built in America that wins on everything but power per dollar, buy a Buell XB. The value is absolutely there for Buell owners, the XB owners are very happy with their bikes, and no, it's not a bunch of old white guys, just not a bunch of skill-less squids. The price reflects the value of the exotic parts, you can get deals at dealers, and you will never regret it, unless all you want is power per dollar. | ||
| Cataract2 |
My 2 cents. I own a 1993 Yamaha FZR 600. It's got a stage 3 jet kit in it, 14 front 46 rear sproket. I love my bike. Yes, it's a Jap bike and it is quick and nimble. I test rode a Buell XB9R, the moment I got on that bike and after I got off I could not stop smiling. My FZR has made me smile a bit but that XB got me smiling more. Man, it was fun. I'm 22 and want one. Do I care about top speed? No. I care about around town fun with power and handling for the twisties. The XB has that and more. I won't get rid of my FZR but there will be an XB next to it or whatever Buell comes out within the next year or so. I'm not here to change your mind man. I just want someone closer to your age group to tell you how he feels. | ||
| R1DynaSquid |
Quick, someone had better call Gearhead & tell him he's not a middle aged White man. What the hell does the age or race of the person have to do with what bike you own???? Thats some major league •••• poor trolling. CYA, wont be missing ya. | ||
| Prozac |
In the end it's what lights your fire. I got to want MORE out my bike than pur performance, let's be honest who really USES all the extra performance? I remember when the R1 came out and all the dickheads here in the UK were chopping in their 'Blades for R1's 'cos they weren't fast enough (?!), if a blade ain't fast enuff you ain't riding it right. I've had my buell (S1W) for 5 years and have stopped reading the press because there isn't a better bike for ME. I don't know haw fast it goes, it's fast enough, especially with no fairing. It handles well and stands out in a crowd. What do YOU want from YOUR bike. Prozac | ||
| Mr_cuell |
Buy the liter bike. Don't try to convince yourself of something you don't believe, or you will probably end up with regrets. You'll never use all the speed of the XB, so the fact that it is slower than a liter bike won't ever make any difference, but in your own mind it will bug you. You'll ride for awhile and decide that GSXRZX is not a great street bike, even though it is an outstanding piece of machinery, and you'll look for something different. But you probably can't short circuit the process and realize the XB for what it is until you have owned other stuff that doesn't end up working out. No shortcuts, especially at 25. Go for the liter, and just don't get over your head, so you can live to enjoy really pushing a 400cc bike round an on-ramp somewhere down the road. That's a different kind of living than warp speed on a liter bike, but in the end more satisfying to me. | ||
| Blake |
Obioma, If you have a motorcycle license, pay a visit to your local dealership and take a Buell for a test ride. You might find a good deal on a used or prior year's model. The Jap bikes are "built better"? Not likely. | ||
| SouthernMarine |
With that kind of attitude you young whippersnapper, I won't sell you a Buell, you don't deserve to have one. MY GOD, this is 2004 right, race, age, get real. Hell the first guy that I knew of in this area to buy a Buell was a black guy in his 20's. Hell, he got a 9S, then upgraded to a 12S. I know the problem, the Buell is just too much bike for him to handle. That's it. Obioma, they do have the Blast, a lot smaller. Sorry, that's the closest thing Buell has to a scooter. But it is a Buell and still might be too much of a machine for him. By the way, I had a Blast, loved it, wish I could have kept it, awesome little bike with a big heart. Obi,........ the force is strong with you.........no it ain't. | ||
| Darthane |
Was there a point to that? | ||
| Obioma |
You guys d0 not seem to get my point. I have said that I love the XBr but I just think it is over priced compared to the Japs (I have read dozens on posts in this forum saying the same thing). About the age race thing, I am saying I know why most Older white guys like buells (had/love HD and want to stay in the HD family or dont want/need the speed of a liter bike). I just wanted to hear from a younger demographic thats all. I know a riders age does not influence the performance of a bike but it does influence the reason he/she buys whatever bike they ride. As I said I'm not a buell hater, I just want the best value for my money. | ||
| R1DynaSquid |
And again...what does race have to do with the type of bike you buy????? You have something against middle ages white guys? How about young white guys? Middle aged Black guys?? What is your point there? And BTW...how the hell do you know which of us is or is not black? | ||
| Moedank |
obioma, i am 21...if my xb12s is declared totaled, i will buy another xb12s. the s is definitely a unique looking bike, more so than the r in my opinion. the small tail is sexy. its almost exotic. hence, the reason why i bought the customized license plate "XZOTIK". hehe | ||
| Xbvictor |
Do like Blake said demo one. I use to have a Ninja, but once I rode my friends Buell it was over I got rid of the Ninja and bought a S3T. When the XB's came out I had to have one. To me it's not about having a fast bike, it's the handling and performance that does it. And it's always better to Stand Out from the Crowd. Just my opinion. Victor | ||
| Crip2nite |
Had A Honda CBR....real quick...got bored though after about 5 months.... Purchased an XB12S....Look foward to going to work now in the mornings just to ride the damn thing...then end up watching the friggin' clock counting down the minutes I can hop on it and take the back roads home. Keep getting home a lot later when I take the Buell as opposed to the car!! | ||
| Lpowel02 |
dude...buy the litre bike...be happy with what YOU chose...and don't try and tell anyone here to be unhappy with what THEY chose... Join JapWeb and have a nice time... bye now | ||
| Spike |
Obi, For what it's worth; I've been riding Buells since I was 20 years old. There are many good reasons to buy a Buell over a japanese liter bike, but none are easily explained through a message board. It's really something you have to experience for yourself. Before you dismiss Buells based on the specs, do yourself a favor by getting your hands on an XB and attacking your favorite set of corners a few times. Mike L. '04 XB12R | ||
| SouthernMarine |
Obioma, look at it this way, price = quality. Hell, find a good used one out there. I'm sure there are a couple, if not, look around for a dealer that has some good deals, from what I've seen there are plenty. If you really like the bike and you feel "that is what I really want", then get it. Otherwise you'll wind up regretting it later. If you feel the strings of your heart tugging the other way, then so be it. Do what you want to do and ride what you want to ride, but as has been said, race, age, etc... have nothing to do with it. Hell, when you think about it, the older the rider on an XB, the more I would trust his word than a younger rider. Of course I'd want to know their history as well. But I've made my decision, I like the Buell's. | ||
| Whosyodaddy |
Obioma, I've owned a 12R and currently own a 600RR. No doubt about it, the 600RR is a quicker bike on a straight road, more high tech and relatively vibration-free compared to the XB. But, it seriously lacks in the "fun factor" department when compared to the XB. And as someone else mentioned, the XB beats it hands down with regards to maintenance requirements. Or to put it another way, if/when the '05 12Rs are available in my area, I'll be trading my RR in. But do yourself a favor, step back for a moment and forget about price, race and age and test ride an XB, then a liter and see which bike makes YOU smile. cheers and good luck! WYD | ||
| Stainlessmag |
Im 21 and bought an xb9s. Yea i could have gotten and R1 for a little more money, Yea its faster, yea it will do 185mph, yea it will wheelie in every gear. But the highest speed limit here is 65 on the highway and no i dont do 65. But i have no need to do 120mph over the speed limit, or have the fear that as im commin out of the corner and get into the gas early that the front end will stand up on me. To me the buell is just more usable on the street. If i were gonna spend alot of time on the track i would get something else. The buell just offered everything i wanted in a bike. oh and the buell has more character than the rest, plus its great to stand out in the crowd. | ||
| Sshbsn |
Obioma, I think Mr_cuell put it best. I'm not trying to be a d1ck, but if you can't decide between the XB or a modern liter bike, you really shouldn't buy the Buell. It's something most people had to grow into, including me. | ||
| Tatsu |
Obioma, You've come to the wrong place to be convinced. The very fact that you came here and posted means you have a curiosity. Every rider has their own reason for riding the bike they chosen. You have not found that reason yet. Once you do, then you will make the choice that is correct for you. My first bike was a Ninja 600R, fun little bike. Then I got a M2 Cyclone and that bike really made me smile. One day I walked into the dealership and saw the XB12R in black. I had to have the bike. It was different. Here in Hawaii there are two crowds..Harleys and Jap Bikes. Then there is this rouge band of bikers.. that ride Ducs and Buells. There are different and they turn heads. When I brought my Buell, I asked myself a few questions. What do I want to do on my bike? Do I wanna race on the track? No. Do I wanna race the 1/4 mile? No. Do I need a high end performance machine. No (Got too many tickets going fast already). I wanted something DIFFERENT and something that handled DIFFERENT. This was proven to me all so well, when a group of us were going through a pass called 12 turns. We had R1s, Busas, Ninjas.. you name it, it was there. These guys were all over the place, crossing lanes, low siding, mashing the brakes. I was crusing through like there was no tomorrow. At the end, the guys where nodding and showing respect, cause the Buell was able to hang and in most cases kick butt. Granted the better riders were able to smoke me, but I bet a better rider on a Buell could smoke me on a R1.Actually the best rider that day was guy that was riding a Yamaha V-Max, he smoked everyone. That's when I learned that there is more to riding than raw power and performance. I am far from being a really good technical rider, but I am learning everyday. BTW.. if your worried about the ladies not checking you out on the Buell, your wrong. I have given many hot looking chicks rides on the back of the Buell here in Hawaii. Good luck with your choice and see you on the road. OBTW I'm not white and middle aged either!  | ||
| Aa5ch |
Obioma.... Sorry you're getting beat up here. Several of the middle aged white guys apparently have spent too much time on the political rant and other penis extension threads and don't know how to turn off the confrontational and defensive attitudes.  Your observations regarding the demographics of Buell riders and the posters here are correct...that's neither bad, nor good but does represent reality. It may be because Buells, in being so unique, appeal to less style conscious and more mature riders, even though there is a strong marketing slant to younger riders. I hope that isn't a factor in your decision process. I assure you the bike doesn't care and none of us should either. The Japanese supersport bikes are wonderful machines, but they don't "speak" to me. I am not interested in screaming down the highway at 100 plus MPH speeds and splitting lanes. I am not interested in pretending I am Matt Mladin, Eric Bostrom, Miguel Duhamel, etc. I am not interested in stunting, on or off the street. I don't feel a need to impress anyone with my bike's engine size or HP rating. All of these are valid considerations for some people...just not for me. I was drawn to Buell as a brand [ and the XB bikes in particular] because it is an American product, it is unique, and its purpose [as I understand it] is to provide maximum smiles in the twisties, which is where I try to spend my time. I am fortunate enough to live in an area where there are allot of curvy, rural, mountainous roads... where the Buell bikes are truly in their element. I actually think I understand where Erik Buell is coming from and agree with his perspective on riding. People [supposed Buell fans] always seem to clammering for him to use this engine, change this, change that, etc. so they can compete with the Japanese bikes. I don't give a damn about competing with Japanese, Italians, or Germans. I just want to have fun when I ride. I had more fun when I rode my Buell than anything I have ridden so far. Perhaps Erik will build a wacked out big bore, water cooled V-twin that can run with the R1's, ZX12's, GXSR's etc. Maybe they will be happy...I wouldn't want one. If I wanted a race replica I would have gotten a race replica and not a Buell... I was willing and able to pay an additional sum for the pleasure of owning a Buell because that is what I wanted and that is the vision of biking that seemed most consistent with my own. I believe when people start analyzing HP / Torque curves, resale value, performance versus cost issues, etc. in their decision making process, they are more likely to get the wrong bike...even though their heads told them they were getting the right bike. For most of us bikes are toys, whether we want to admit it or not. It is a hobby that often masquerades as a "way of life." Unless you are buying a bike as your primary source of transportation, I think you are better off going with what "moves you" in an emotional way when you see it or ride it. For you that might be a GXSR1000 or an XB12R. Try and get a ride on each one. If it comes down to an economic limitation, you might have to go with your second choice, but financing seems to be readily available for someone with a reasonable credit history. Try not to cheat yourself. Buying a bike is something that you do for yourself. You'll spend the vast majority of your life doing things for your family, friends, or employers and you only get one shot at this dance my friend. Whatever route you choose, please make sure you have some MSF training in your background, wear protective gear, and ride responsibly. Whenever I start pushing things,I force myself to imagine my mother,sister, and wife being told by the police that I have been mangled or killed in a horrible accident as a result of riding beyond my abilities. While I owe it to myself to have fun, I owe it to the people who care about me to use some caution...WE ALL DO.  You can rest assured that the XB models are as reliable as anything out there so that should not be a concern; however, the the dealer support network is spotty as many Harley dealers would just as soon that the Buell brand went away. They have never appreciated, nor understood, the "big picture" regarding why Buell was brought into the H-D fold. And YOU are exactly why the Buell brand is in Harley dealerships. Would you be in one if not to look at a Buell? It is somewhat ironic that your demographic may be more in line with what Buell intended with their marketing...it just worked out that allot of middle aged white guys really like them too. If you get a Buell you won't be winning any popularity contests with the Jap supersport riders nor the cruiser crowd, but you WILL be a welcome member part of this community in spite of the rude reception you got here today...really. Buell riders are good peeps...a tight group and very loyal to each other from what I have seen. They are passionate about their riding, their bikes, and revel in being unique.  FWIW...I owned an 03 XB9SL and sold it looking for "greener" pastures. I got impatient trying to get the suspension dialed in correctly. I haven't been riding that long but have bought/sold/traded several bikes recently trying to find the "perfect one." The Buell is the only one I regret getting rid of. I'll be back. Good luck! | ||
| Reepicheep |
Chill Dyna, I think the point being made was about the diversity of people you find riding Buells of all kinds, and it is absolutely one of the things that attracts me to the brand. If I pull up to somebody on a Buell, I never know what to expect when they pull off the helmet. Japanese repli-racer? 99 times out of 100, I know exactly what I will find (with you admittedly being the 1 in 10 that would throw me). | ||
| Downundabueller |
"You guys d0 not seem to get my point. I have said that I love the XBr but I just think it is over priced compared to the Japs (I have read dozens on posts in this forum saying the same thing). About the age race thing, I am saying I know why most Older white guys like buells (had/love HD and want to stay in the HD family or dont want/need the speed of a liter bike). I just wanted to hear from a younger demographic thats all. I know a riders age does not influence the performance of a bike but it does influence the reason he/she buys whatever bike they ride. As I said I'm not a buell hater, I just want the best value for my money." Overpriced? Well I agree but am willing to pay the price, so much so I will upgrade my 03XB9S to an 04 soon. Last year I worked out I wanted a naked bike with an personality suitable for hard sport riding, sport touring, cruising down the highway and getting around town. (my only transport and fun machine) I rode a few bikes japanese and Italian, nearly got the Kawasaki Z100, cos it was cheaper and faster. went from the kwaka dealer back to the buell dealer, rode the buell, left their driveway with a big grin and decided this was the one. The kwaka was good but somehow sanitary in its experience, I knew it was faster but it did not make me smile as much. I have never had a Harley and never will, I just don't get the attraction. The dealership often gives me one when mine is in for service, I give it back quickly.(heavier.slow,cant corner) As for the speed of a liter bike, there is really nothing in it until we hit 140klms per hour then my friends on the big jap bikes are gone. Oh did I mention we do most of our fun riding in tight twisty mountains, where rider skill plays a big part, and my lesser skills keep me up front most of the time. The transport sections to and from we generally keep the speed down cos we all want to keep our licences, and most of us have 'damaged licences'(demerit point scheme) Good luck with your quest hope I have been some help. Oh BTW-29 yrs old when I got the Buell. Thats me in the pic, witha friend on the back.  | ||
| Brucelee |
I have a Honda VFR and it is a fine bike. I never ride it, just ride the Buell. The Buell is simply a blast to ride, hands down more fun. I don't care what other folks think of the bike (they love it), I just plain like it. Get the Jap bike! | ||
| Outrider |
You guys are doing a good job handling the issues. Would love to make some positive comments but I am a little miffed about the inference of being an Over-the-Hill Honky Racist. |
