| Author | Message | ||
     Larrycivic |
i am new to Buells and love the way they look. i need help in trying to decide b/n a Buell and a TL1000R. i love the way the TL looks, but no nothing about them. i will mainly be riding with my father in law out in the country, maybe some windy Texas roads. Buells are pretty scarce around DFW area, so are TLs. i was woundering if anyone has ridden both and what they thought of them. i have someone that wants to sell me a 1999 TL for 5000. i can not find a used Buell XB 12 for under 7000 anywhere near me. anyways any help would be great. | ||
| Lovematt |
You should test ride a Buell and any other bike you intend to purchase if at all possible. I had an SV1000S which is similar to a TL in motor characteristics. Although the acceleration performance was impressive I did not really like the handling...felt a little heavy and long to me. I have also had a HD Fatboy in the past. As for the Buell, the handling is much better and the stability at speed is very impressive. The acceleration performance may not be as high but I have to say the sound and torque of the HD motor married to the great handling is very unique and different. I would also say maintenance is much easier on a Buell and could be a lot cheaper if you are willing to do it yourself. | ||
| Dapope |
5000 for a 99 TL?.....Not a chance. You can find a newer SV or Honda Superhawk for less. And they are both much better bikes. | ||
| Cmm213 |
I was almost in your same boat there, but I went with the buell. The TL is a heavy machine that feels like a tank to the xb line, the motor is nice on the TL but I think you will like the XB. | ||
| Johnnyzoomzoom |
Really look into the TL. I believe it's what I should have bought. With he money you save on the TL versus the XB, you can make great changes with amazing results and still have money left over. The XB is a great $8000.00 bike, not a $10,500.00 one. The more I looked at and read about the TL, the more I kick myself in the butt for going this route. Even used, s Suzuki is hard to beat. Just my $0.02.} | ||
| Aydenxb9 |
Really, you have to decide what you want out of a bike. If straight line performance is more your thing then the TL is probably the bike for you. If you're more into corner carving and/or want to spend more time in the saddle, the XB is going to be more to your liking. From what you say you're going to be doing on the bike, you'll probably be happier on the XB. This isn't to say that the TL is a lesser bike, or the XB is a better bike, but the XB's low end grunt, light weight, and nimble handling are going to be an advantage. If money is an issue, look at an XB9 instead of a 12. The power difference isn't so great that you'll miss it and the 9 is a much smoother running package. Also, IMHO, I like the 9's higher RPM capability and more progressive power curve especially when attacking that favorite stretch of twisted tarmac. BTW, What is your father-in-law riding? | ||
| Kurosawa |
Check eBay to see if there's anything within driving distance that you can check out in person. I got my 04 XB12R not too far down the road for 6100. | ||
| Larrycivic |
my father in law is ridding a HD dyna glide lowrider i think? i do not the HD line up very well. i am leaning more towards the XB, but am having a hard time saying no to a bike that i really like the styling of (TL)...i like the fact that the XB does not have much on top end, b/c i would probably get in trouble with too much speed... | ||
| Larrycivic |
does the 12 seem like is has a big power difference? | ||
| Lovematt |
The 12 has more of a power punch but down low...like around 3500 RPM. The 9 has a "softer" power punch but lasts a bit longer and starts around 4000 - 5000 RPM. Overall I found the 9 to be smoother running while the 12 is not necessarily rough...it is more of a beast to ride and shakes a bit more down low. Both bikes smooth out nicely once around 4000 RPM or so. I should also add the 9 is actually 984 CCs and you should consider the insurance cost difference between the 12 and the 9. In some areas this cost difference is significant. If I get another bike I am likely to try out and more seriously consider the 12 with the hope that I can keep it more stock. | ||
| Rocketman |
The TL1000R is a pretty serious piece of kit and a very capable race rep type bike. When first introduced they were known as a 'widow maker' over here. Many claimed the power of the very potent V twin coupled with the short wheelbase and the rear rotary damping system could induce tank slap which ultimately led to a lot of crashes, many fatal, back then. I believe Suzuki modified later models with steering damper etc, and many owners changed the rear suspension for a more conventional shock with remote reservoir and removed the rotary damper. So, a serious bike that deserves respect when pushed hard. Not for the inexperienced. A friend of mine absolutely raved about his. Rocket | ||
| Kurosawa |
Is this going to be your first bike? | ||
| Patrickh |
Larry, I have owned a 99 TLS and a 2003 SV. TLS is a great bike. Loads of power and very good handling. I have ridden a TLR and is is a little slower steering with a much heavier feel. Pulling the stock steering damper helps this a lot. I had my TL motor putting out 126 RWHP. Tons of power. I was living in the UK when all the bad press about poor handling came out, and I did in fact tankslap myself off the bike at 50mph, but I was pushing it...not the bikes fault. IMO, the TL motor makes so much more power it is not even comparable. They are a strange breed because they have a lot of top end rush for a twin. There was a big power step at 8500rpm. A buell motor makes the power you want when you need it. Dialed in right a Buell chassis is just as confidence inspiring as a Ducati chassis. just my 2p | ||
| Tpoppa |
What Rocket said... The TL had a reputation for throwing riders. The rotory shock was prone to tank slap. | ||
| Kootenay |
Yeah, do some research on the TLR--there was a lot of concern over the rotary damper in the rear, and many owners retrofit their bikes with a convential rear shock. Also, keep in mind--when the TLR was first introduced, they did not have a steering damper, but eventually Suzuki fitted the damper stock, possibly in connection to reported handling problems. Yeah, the engine's a lot more potent, but the Buell has enough IMO, and I think it's delivered in a superior overall package. | ||
| Patrickh |
Just to be clear, as someone who was pitched off a TL during a tankslapper, the rotary damper is not an outrageously flawed device. Many TL riders had a good amount of success keeping their dampers working. A common fix was replacing the fluid inside with heavier weight oil. The system itself was a good idea. In application it had some issues because of its proximity to the rear head and small size. It did tend to overheat and lose some of its ability to quell chatter. People who were pitched off (myself included) tended to have a rather specific issue. In my case, the tire was cold and the tarmac was very uneven (mine happened in March in New England). The forces exhibited on the rear suspension did in fact end in a tankslapper. I personally believe that had the tires been warm this would have never happened. I would attribute any tankslapper get-offs to rider mis-management. Also, there was never a TLR put to market which was not fitted with a steering damper. All TL's manufactured after mid 1997 had a steering damper fitted as stock. Both R's and S's. | ||
| Larrycivic |
man alot of good info...i think i am going to suck it up and drive the hour to the Buell dealer to check them out. | ||
| Larrycivic |
no this will not be my first bike, but it will be my first bike since i got married  is there a big difference in bikes b/n the lighting and firebolt? besides cosmetics? | ||
| Rocketman |
Patrick, thanks for inputting what I couldn't. Most of my info came from a friend. as I say, who raved about his TL. He had Maxton sort his suspension out at considerable cost, as converting the rotary to more conventional set-up would. What concerns me about your comment though, is you blame cold tyres. I've never known cold tyres to be an issue, and more alarmingly at only 50mph. I think you might have been caught out by other forces if it were a grip issue, but cold tyres on street compound rubber I find very hard to imagine. But please don't think I'm trying to say I know better or more than you on the matter. You were riding after all lol, but I would genuinely be amazed if cold street rubber were to blame. Thanks for the info all the same. Rocket | ||
| Patrickh |
greasy March roads + lent over deeply in a left handed turn + rolling on the power steeply + uneven surface + stone cold tires + too many pints = operators fault  | ||
| Rocketman |
Beer goggles will do that to ya, lol  No, my comment was regarding the cold tyre thing. I don't think I can ever recall cold tyres been an issue with street compounds, so was curious to know if you knew different or there were other forces at work too, like the beer, lol. Rocket | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
I dropped my X1 in front of a nice big crowd when my rear tire slipped like it was on a banana peel. It was a dunlop D208. Stuck great when warm but felt like wood when it was below freezing. | ||
| Patrickh |
Admittedly, the cold tire was only a piece of the equation, Stella being the larger part. For about 5 years my only transport was of the 2 wheeled variety. When it got extremely cold, like 15-20 degrees F, the tires would turn to stone. These were D207's I think...I really can't remember what came stock on that bike. | ||
| Slaughter |
See if you can ride each one with the suspension PROPERLY setup for you with all your gear! The Suzuki suspension IIRC is not adjustable except for preload (somebody correct me here if my old-fart memory is in error) Many people make judgements on how a bike handles without adjusting preload and damping closely to match their weight and intentions (cruising or spirited riding) The "Tiller" is a great bike, I do think it's a little sluggish in handling compared to the XB but I only did a swap with a buddy in the middle of a group ride when we'd all switch bikes after coffee for a half hour just for the experience. I do think the XB is going to be able to get you closer to what you need in the suspension department sooner than the Tiller. They both are prolly going to have a similar "feel" through the powerband. | ||
| Slaughter |
Hey Larry! I see in your Profile - you're in Fort Worth. I'm here TDY for the next month. Give me a PM and let's do dinner or sumpin - or you can reach me at work (disguised email for spam-bot defeat) steve (dot) slaughter ("at") LMCO dot com (you're right, there are not any Buell dealers around here and you have to check around for deals and shipping costs) | ||
| Rocketman |
Patrick, what is Stella? Surely you mean 'wife beater' lol. Rocket | ||
| Hans |
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