| Author | Message | ||
     Destroy |
Still trying to figure out if a Buell is for me... On hot days, 85+ degrees F, how badly does your right leg/thigh cook at idle and stop/go traffic? Mag reviews all mention their RH leg gets pretty hot. Or any other heat issues? What kind of gas mileage do you get when commuting? In your opinion, how well do the mirrors work for you; vibration wise and actual rear view ability wise? When commuting do you wish for a lower first gear and an additional 6th gear? This mainly concerns the large rumor that 07 models will have 6 speed trans. Thanks for any replies. | ||
| Cyclonecharlie |
Wrap your headers and it's a none issue.Gas mileage is in the high fifties. As for mirrors I use bar ends (CRG) And when it comes to commuting, Im retired, I go ride the back country roads(it's a great life) | ||
| Nasty73z |
The heat is there but I don't think it's tremendous. I live in Oklahoma where it's upper nineites, low hundered's all summer and I've never had a problem. Don't get me wrong, it does get pretty warm but never terribly. My friend's R6 gets pretty hot too. I ride the donkey piss out of my XB12 and average anywhere from 38-50 mpg depending on how hard and under what conditions. I took the stock mirrors off my S model because they look like sh*t and went to a bar end type, which I think ended up being more functional. I can see enough of the side and rear to stay out of trouble. I commute alot during college and feel perfectly safe on the highway. A six speed would be nice, I still try for it every once in a while, but the bike gets great gas mileage turning 4K rpm on the highway so I guess there really isn't a need, although if the new 07's are going to ahve them I would wait. Good luck with your decision! I think you'll come to love these motorcycles. | ||
| M1combat |
I get low fifties... I've tried to switch to sixth a few times but aside from a "cruise" gear, I don't think it needs it. It CERTAINLY does not need a lower first  . | ||
| Luvthemtorts |
I can't comment on the gas mileage since I never really bothered to track it. The mirrors on the 03' suck but I believe the newer models have longer stems which eliminates the problems of seeing your elbows when looking in the mirrors. Gearing on the 03' is perfect for me. More than enough torque to take off qucikly from a stop and top gear will handle 75-80mph without straining. Finally the heat. Not bad at all when riding above 25mph but will cook your leg on a warm day when going from light to light or sitting in traffic. I had the select seat for a short time and it eliminated the problem due to the added thickness. The tradeoff (at least for me) is it changes the riding position by forcing you to sit further forward on the seat than I like and causes you to lean further a bit. Hope this helps. | ||
| Ds_tiger |
.. right leg/thigh cook at idle and stop/go traffic?.... Yeah- it gets hot, but it's not a health risk or even an annoyance- one you get moving, just move the ol leg around- that takes care of it for me What kind of gas mileage do you get when commuting? 40 or so In your opinion, how well do the mirrors work for you; vibration wise and actual rear view ability wise? I removed them for a CRG bar end- cleans the look up- anything on it is going to vibrate a bit though- and the bar ends require a bigger eye movement down from road level to mirror position When commuting do you wish for a lower first gear and an additional 6th gear? This mainly concerns the large rumor that 07 models will have 6 speed trans. I have not had an issue with the number of gears or their ratios- bike gets along great- but a little clutch fan - action helps at parking lot maneuvers hope that helps | ||
| Luvthemtorts |
Maybe I should revise my initial statement. It doesn't actually heat your leg up to an uncomfortable degree but surely makes my arse cheeks sweat and turn a purty red color  . | ||
| Rackman |
as to heating up, yes it gets warm in stop and go traffic, when riding it is a non issue, it isn't anything that isn't tollerable, as to mileage, I haven't actually checked, but it seems well in excess of 40 mpg, but I haven't ridden it in a straight line cruising for anything long enough that I didn't want to stop and chat about the road and the fun that I was having with my buddies that we didn't just stop at a convenience store at the same time to get a bottle of water, and top off the tank. My buddies are usually needing fuel at 130 to 150 miles, so I fuel there as well. R | ||
| Earwig |
You will feel the heat but its not extreme... City 45mpg highway around 60... and I ride pretty hard lately. My bike had horrible gas mileage when I first got it, so don't get discouraged, after 850 miles the gas mileage JUMPED up. The stock mirrors are GARBAGE they vibrate like hell and you can't see anything. I put on $10 3rd eye mirrors and they work great. I don't miss a 6th gear. It would be nice on really long rides, but the vibration etc. isn't bad at highway speeds in 5th. | ||
| Jerseybuell |
Ditch the mirrors and get bar ends. The stock Mickey Mouse ones, suck. Mileage..haven't really checked but the low fuel light kicks in around 120miles. I began commuting a few months ago as my office relocated within motorcycling distance. I ride on crowded roads and the XB12S was made for it. No gaps in gearing. As far as heat, you get used to it. It's all worth it imho... | ||
| Typeone |
- No heat issues for me. I cooked more on my F4i than the XB - Avg ~48mpg with Drummer, Race ECM, K&N, TFI - not sure, i ditched 'em almost right away in favor of a bar-end - lower 1st gear? no way : ) wanting 6th gear isn't really an issue for me | ||
| Pcmodeler |
Heat....well, I've learned not to wear shorts on the Buell. It gets pretty toasty. Not an issue with pants on. Gas mileage.....good enough Mirrors.....what do you need to see....if the guy behind you brushed his teeth? They are more than good enough to determine if and where a vehicle is. Lower 1st.....heck no. I do wish that it didn't redline between gears so quickly though. | ||
| Xbrad9r |
My 12r seams to put more heat out through the seat and between the seats...has anyone used the heat shields from "Special Ops" and do they really help. I commute on my firebolt about 40 min each way, and i love it. | ||
| Diablobrian |
Odie's heat shields would have to work. The one I fabricated for under my seat works very well. I made it out of the heat shield from underneath an sv650s gas tank. The only time I feel heat is if I stop after an extended ride on a hot day. And that heat is from the frame on the right side. I do have wrapped pipes, but I have heard jet-hot or similar coatings do the same thing if the wrapped pipe look isn't your thing. | ||
| Rhun |
I noticed the heat when I first got my bike. I really don't notice it now. I seem to sense the heat from really hot asphalt more. Gas mileage. Normally 50MPG with some highway and mostly town. Upper thirties on winding roads. The mirrors on my 05 sx are fine. Sometimes on the left mirror the cars get 'bigger'. If I want detail I touch it with my hand. | ||
| Xbeau12s |
My 04 gets pretty warm and I get a little "sweaty" but I just deal with it. It doesn't burn or hurt so I kind of know I'm going to be hot riding on top of a 1203 in 90-100 degree temps in stop and go traffic. Better reason to rip it open on the sraights to cool off! | ||
| Vaneo1 |
I live in the SFV (San Fernando Valley), and it can get into triple digits. I noticed the bike doesnt like to start when it gets avout 90+ degrees, and will just shut off. I assume its because its an aircooled motor being cooled by hot air (so its not too effective). Next, the mirrors are ok if your just looking for a silouhette and not detail. I put some convex mirrors on my bike and I use those most of the time since they show my blind spots. As for the tranny, yea I would love to have a sixth gear, but with the amount of torque involved, its not necessary for highway and canyon riding. I actually spend most of my time in fourth gear because I cant keep high enough revs in fifth unless Im REALLY breaking the speed limit (as in 20 MPH over or more), so a sixth gear would be nice but somewhat useless IMO. Unless your into that kind of stuff then wait to see what the 07 has to offer. Another side note, when I was buying my 06, I actually wanted to buy an 05 but the salesman didnt want to bargain at all so I said then whats the point I might as well wait for the 06 and I did. | ||
| Dpoole |
Ditto to all the responses. I sprung for some Rizoma 851 mirrors which work better and are 375% better looking than the stock mirrors. Bad Weather Bikers is an important asset not to be overlooked. This is my first season on a Buell and nothing but smiles so far. | ||
| Paulson |
If you can wait, see what the 07 models will be. The heat during stop and go on a hot day is noticeable, but doesn't bother me. I have grown accustomed to my stock mirrors - they do vibrate. The majority of my riding is commuting. I do wish (on occasion) that there was a 6th gear, but haven't even considered a lower first gear. Maybe a Buell isn't for ya. Ride what feels right. | ||
| Bubabuell |
My God, Destroy. With all of the posts here and on ST.N I'm not sure you'll ever make up your mind. | ||
| Mikemax |
XB12Ss: Not enough heat generated by the motor to warm my leg when it is cool; haven't ridden in really hot weather yet. Fan goes wild if I hit multiple red lights in not so hot weather. Gas mileage is really disappointing so far (1800 miles) considering the 65 MPG highway rating (a pipe dream, but I expected 50+ based on it), averaging low to mid forties mostly highway speed commuting (60 miles each way at 70 MPH). First two tanks were around 50 MPG during slower and varied break in driving but now my fuel light hits around 160 miles even with the bigger tank and I doubt I'd hit 200 on reserve. Mirrors still junk in '06. Blurry elbows is all I see and cars can sneak up from behind. Replace 'em like everyone else. Ss has different rear sprocket per the handbook. I haven't missed a sixth gear yet but have to feather the clutch in traffic as idle in first is not too slow. Also have some trouble going up my long, very steep, winding driveway at slow speed; lugs and I get pinging sometimes so I have to play with the clutch and rev it some in one spot. It is pretty close ratio so a lower first with the same or slightly higher 5th, and tweaks in between would suffice in most situations. It is definitely fine as is up to 80 or 90; the wind is much more of an issue over 70 on the Lightning. Overall I think it is a good commuter, which is what I bought it for mostly. | ||
| Destroy |
My God, Destroy. With all of the posts here and on ST.N I'm not sure you'll ever make up your mind. LOL. Yeah, sorry to say but the more I delay a purchase, the less excited I am about getting a Buell. No bike is perfect but I'm just having a very hard time seeing a new Buell being worth 3X the actual value or fun of my current bike. | ||
| Snowhownd |
Sixth gear? Geez, I barely use 5th! I ride mostly country roads - so I'm constantly in 4th turning around 3-4k - 5th gear doesn't seem happy unless you are going 65-70mph - or at least it doesn't seem like it to me. I don't commute on the interstate or anything though so I could see how you might want it if you were going 75+ a lot. Overall though I don't think the bike needs different gearing. (Message edited by snowhownd on June 15, 2006) | ||
| Bake |
I'd like a 6th gear for the highway, infact my foot thinks there is one there sometimes. | ||
| Bumblebee |
>On hot days, 85+ degrees F, how badly does >your right leg/thigh cook at idle and >stop/go traffic? Mag reviews all mention >their RH leg gets pretty hot. Or any other >heat issues? It's not too bad. Your right leg will notice the heat, but no worse than some other bikes. The air cooled engine is equipped with a (noisy) fan. The thing is air cooled, so stuck in stalled traffic on a 100+ degree day the bike gets cranky and uses some oil, but keep it moving and all says happy. >What kind of gas mileage do you get when >commuting? 45 to 50. >In your opinion, how well do the mirrors >work for you; vibration wise and actual >rear view ability wise? I can't complain. You do get some vibration, but you can certainly see a police car approaching. >When commuting do you wish for a lower >first gear and an additional 6th gear? This >mainly concerns the large rumor that 07 >models will have 6 speed trans. First is low enough, high is high enough. No wants there. | ||
| Perry |
I get 50+ mpg on a city commute, and 60 or so on freeway at 5000 feet elevation. At over 100 degrees you get hot, but the right side isn't so much an issue as the helmet, black jacket with armor... You just learn to move your leg a little at stops when it's hot. As for the jacket, helmet etc. I would love to hear a suggestion! No need to change gearing for a commute - it's already perfect for anything from 0-90 mph. It's a great bike - maybe look for a deal on an '05 to get a better value. |
