| Author | Message | ||
     Cheesebeast |
Howdy all, In the spirit of putting the cart before the horse I have my eye on a 2003 XB9R with 5k miles on it. I believe I can get the bike for 4k. The reason I am putting the cart before the horse is I have no license, have yet to attend a MOST class, no helmet, no gear, no clue, etc. That said, I am forging forth with some basic questions. The bike needs new tires. I have read up tire wear, and I can see that the rear tire (stock Dunlop- date coded to match the bike) needs to be replaced. I would probably replace them with Pirelli Scorpion Syncs, as I gather most people seem satisfied with them. The exhaust is not stock. It is a Jardine model that is frigging loud. I don't know if I like that or not. The bike runs well, however. Do you have to replace the ECM to get the bike to work properly? The bike doesn't have any marks to indicate it has ever been dumped. I carefully checked the usual spots. That said, there is a condition issue worth noting. The triple tree on top- forgive me if my terminology is incorrect- has a crack in it. It looks like the bolt that keeps the triple tree attached to the center was over-tightened and a hairline crack formed. I will check the lower triple tree again closely soon. Is the crack the result of metal fatigue, over tightening, or abuse? As in the bike was riding on one wheel too often and was slammed down to mother earth and this cracked the part? All in all, is 4k a fair price? The bike is in very good shape overall, taking into account the condition issues I outlined. Am I out of my frigging mind to buy this thing that I can not legally ride and then sit on it for the entire winter? Is an XB9R the fastest route for a complete newbie to get to the emergency room? I am 35, and I am not (usually) nuts. Thanks, Cheesebeast | ||
| Bake |
My opinion; Tire wear sounds about right for the mileage, you can put a longer lasting tire but sacrifice some cornering ability. I doubt that would be an issue in your case. The Jardine can be tamed with an insert, I am sure you can find a cheap stock muffler here or ebay. I cracked my tripple tree in the same spot and have put about 2000 miles on it cracked. I do plan to change it out one day. I bought mine in November and left it at the dealership over winter (free storage) it would have been nice to have it home but I got other bikes to look at. I bought mine new and wasn't able to test ride because of ice on the roads. But I knew what I wanted. I cannot comment much on the price but look in the "for sale" section here, it sounds like a good price to me though. | ||
| Chainsaw |
I was in the same situation as you when i bought my first bike at 31. Looks like you have your priorities in order, you'll be fine. I'd use the cracked triple as a bargaining point. ECM will work as is with different exhaust set ups. Tires and gear cost $$$. Start saving! Buy the 'frame pucks' in case of a drop. Good luck! | ||
| Midknyte |
In addition to those pucks, consider getting the DarkHorseMoto axle sliders as well. http://www.darkhorsemoto.com/ | ||
| Boyd |
hey cheese im kind of in the same boat. i found a 2003 xb9r with 2200 miles on the clock for 3650 the only problem is it has a bad paint job and the front fairing is cracked. i am having a hard time deciding as well. im watching this post closely to help make my decision | ||
| Cheesebeast |
Thanks for the responses! I am leaning towards getting the bike. Leaning hard enough to fall over, actually. I will look at the frame/axle sliders/pucks options- thanks for the advice. I mentioned to a friend that I worried about dumping the bike and he corrected me. "WHEN you dump it, not if," he solemnly said. I definitely have to budget in for some good quality riding gear. Thanks again, Cheese | ||
| Truk |
I don't agree with the "WHEN" you dump it mentality, if by that he means sooner or later everyone is going to, or suppose to crash. If I have heard that once I have heard that a hundred times. And why we tell that to one another is beyond me, especially someone who is getting started. Everyone does not have to have a wreck. Some of us will, but why people have to make it sound like it is inevitable for everyone is beyond me It is one thing to drop a bike at stand still, another thing to wreck. I am a big believer in being prepared (good fullface helmet, leathers, gloves and boots as well as bike protection frame pucks and axle sliders). I am also a big believer in learning how to ride properly, which includes safety techniques in riding. It isn't a bicycle and there are a number of techniques that you need to learn (counter steering, counter weighting, looking thru corners, reading corners, throttle control, braking early then turning, etc....) There are plenty of good books as well as Safety Riding course available. By your initial comments it sounds like you are planning to attend a course. I hope that is the case, if not I would encourage you to check one out. Check out Barnes and Noble for a good book on how to ride. When you get a little riding time under your belt buy Keith Code's "Twist of the Wrist" (Books 1 and 2) Find someone who has a lot of safe riding time under their belt and pick their brain and see if they are willing to help. Take your time. First be safe, then have fun. Prepare your mind and prepare yourself never to wreck. Have good protective gear in case. I got my license in 1975. I have had a number of bikes over the last 30 years. I ride a lot. I currently have an 01 R1 with 52,000 miles, a 02 Goldwing with 23,000 miles and an 03 XB9R i got in Feb with 1,800 miles and now 10 months later I now have 12,450 miles. So far, with all the bikes I have owned and all the miles I have ridden over the last 30 years, by GOD'S grace, I have never had a wreck. I do not allow myself to think "I am expecting to wreck one day" I am planning and thinking I will never have one and never have to have one. I ride thinking everyone is planning on hitting me and taking responsibility not to be hit. I might have my first tomorrow, but I am planning to never have one. With GOD's help, I am on a quest to prove that negative thinking wrong. It is not my intention to come across as bragging. I would rather not mention how long I have ridden without a wreck. But if my trek not to wreck and my time and mileage on a motorcycle without wrecking can help one person approach it with the right attitude and preparation, it is worth it. I have had to help one to many people who have wrecked, and to date those have all been due to rider error. In other words it didn't have to happen Perhaps if less people had the attitude that wrecking is inevitable and approached it determined never to wreck, less would. Perhaps if I can get one less person framing the need for caution and preparedness in that way. I am sure they mean well, but I believe we can make the point without setting the mind that it is inevitable... It doesn't have to be. Cheesebeast - I hope you get the bike you want. I really like my XB9R. I hope you and have a great lifelong experience riding motorcycles accident free. I encourage you to do all you can to make that happen... PS - Excuse my preaching, just love motorcycle and want others to have a safe and enjoyable lifetime of riding. I also hope those of us who have been riding will give some thought to what we tell others who are new to the sport PPS - Let the flaming begin (Message edited by Truk on December 28, 2005) | ||
| Stealthxb |
dumping a bike depends on where and why you ride. If I was riding a chromed out cruiser across country, I would certainly hope not to dump it. however, when I am riping through the twisties on my XB with my band of merry hooligans, I am fully aware that there is a chance I will end up in the ditch. ...::INSERT 3%er BASHING HERE::... when riding a snowboard you will fall by the same logic when riding a motorcycle you will fall prepare for it and live to ride another day! | ||
| Stealthxb |
if i approached every ride determined not to wreck, I am afraid I would not enjoy this sport very much. one of the reasons I am so fond of my Lightning is there are less pieces to pick up when I fall! | ||
| Glitch |
Leaning hard enough to fall over Give it the gas! I honestly try not to lay 'er down. But, I concentrate on riding, I do however wear all my gear just incase something happens. Court once (or twice) said, "No matter the season, dress for the Fall." ...::INSERT 3%er BASHING HERE::... Bash bash bash! 3%ers, lovin' it twisted! | ||
| Glitch |
There's always the little spill you're not in any way connected with...  | ||
| Midknyte |
I don't agree with the "WHEN" you dump it mentality... Agreed. You should understand that it can and may happen and that you are in good company if it does. You'll need to do your best to keep it in the right frame of mind, as a learning experience. But to go out riding with the expectation that you're eventually going to crash will set up the phsycological oportunity and eventual reason for your crash. Not unlike "you go where you look", you'll crash if you believe that you are going to... | ||
| Fresnobuell |
Cheese, I am pretty much in your boat. I have had a Lightning for about 6 weeks and it is my first bike ever (save riding a buddy's dirt bike in high school). took the safety class, got the gear, etc. I have been pushing the envelope pretty much every time out and haven't had any close calls at speed. HOWEVER, I got a little bold coming into the garage after picking up some wet leaves from the gutter and the front tire slid out. No way of keeping it up and I laid it down as gently as possible. Also, a couple of times I have been slightly off balance coming to a stop & had to use all I had to keep from falling over. That is something us newbies need to keep in mind. Although Buells are light in comparison to alot of other bikes out there, don't get too comfortable as you will end up looking like a jackass picking your bike up at a stoplight... | ||
| Schmitty |
I agree you shouldn't go out expecting to crash, however, many times it is circumstances outside your control that get you. I crashed my last bike in a low speed low side when someone pulled out in front of me. I did everything right, brake then turn, look through the corner, don't target fixate, and stay calm, and "BANG" I still went down. And it was all thanks to the fine concrete in that intersection. The section where I lost it had a one and a half inch ledge between the two sections. My front tire went off the top leaned over and washed right out. I only sustained minor injuries thanks to proper gear. My helmet really saved my a**. I landed flat on my face. Had I not been wearing it and my leather jacket and gloves who knows what might have happened. To repeat a quote from a previous post "No matter what the season, always dress for the fall." | ||
| Bomber |
I'd check inot replacing that cracked tree soonest -- I'll put up with a great deal of shenanigans from my rides, but a cracked chassis componant would have me a bit concerned -- I'm sure there are a number of folks that could ride for years with that cracked tree and have no problems -- but, especailly as a newish rider, I'd want the pup up to spec before I started learning to ride -- ymmv, of course | ||
| Isham |
"No matter the season, dress for the Fall." I like that quote a lot. This is a great thread filled with many wise words. Someone once told me, that there are two types of riders out there. One that has been down and one that on their way down. If you ride smart it doesn't have to happen. I'm afraid of the dreaded intersection left turner. Now out of habit I slow down a bit and keep my eye on the potential turners and set up for an evasive move. | ||
| Cheesebeast |
Howdy all, Thanks again for the advice. I have been reading the "Proficient Motorcycling" and "More Proficient Motorcycling" as a primer for the MSF course. I discovered I don't know much about motorcycles. The concept of countersteering, for one. I will source the Twist of the Wrist books soon. I can definitely say that I am noticing a bunch of things on the road that I wouldn't have noticed before. How crappy the roads are, for one. Potholes, tar snakes, giant irregular railroad crossings, gravel traps, odd garbage, on and on. I also am aware of left handed crossers- especially at traffic lights. It seems to be some kind of bloodsport (Kamikaze Chicken?) for people to race across (without losing their blinkers, as I gather you lose "points" for that) out in front of me. That used to be a mere annoyance. Now I think "Heh, what if I had been on a bike?" All in all this grasshopper has a lot to learn. I will definitely get the bike up to peak shape before hitting the road (figuratively speaking, of course). Thanks, Cheese | ||
| Thomasreuter |
Yes, you will definitely start "reading" the street in a way you don't have to with your car. I got my driving licence this year (in Germany, I'm 42), and I had a few hours driving lessons on a Honda and the rest on a Buell XB12S. I bought a XB12R then. The XB12 is definitely not the best bike for a beginner, since it has a lot of power at very low rpm, but I enjoy it nevertheless. My wife (more experienced then I) has a XB9R, which is easier to handle and probably a better choice for a start. We both have a "Power Clutch", since the original one is tough to handle (I made my first wheelie, unintentional, when the original clutch slipped through my hand ...). Regards Thomas | ||
| Fullpower |
cheese: get the bike. you will love it. keep your eyes open for a good deal on a stock muffler, the loud can will get more and more annoying with the miles. consider having the triple TIG welded or replaced. fresh rubber is a nice way to start the season. have fun. | ||
| Slaughter |
Just get a new triple. Small price to pay for piece of mind. Get the XB - but ask LOTS of questions about getting it setup and handling right. Horse Power comes easy, handling comes with experience and patience. | ||
| Truk |
Cheese - Another way to go with the triple is to replace it with Heli Bars. It comes with top triple as well as more comfortable bars than the stock. Have them on mine and love them... Just a suggestion |
