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Road_thing
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 26, 2006 - 04:09 pm: | 
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Bran_flakes, you could be wrong, but I don't think you are!
rt |
Xb12rdude
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 26, 2006 - 04:26 pm: |
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If you want to go 180mph don't buy a Buell. I figured I didn't want that anymore so I sold my R1 and bought a firebolt which is much funner. No matter what horse power mods, you will not go over 140MPH unless you change the gearing or the Rev limiter. |
Brineusaf
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 26, 2006 - 04:28 pm: |
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I don't think your wrong either.... just saw a Repsol bike earlier... rider all decked out in matching leathers... riding very slowly.. not even a mark on his knee sliders. ( i don't have knee sliders... but I got marks on my boots!! haha )
Court... i like the "in the united states".
I think that when you're riding at a fast pace (above 110 or so mph) that you loose the "riding" sensation. I enjoy being able to absorb the scenery, something you can seldom do when ringing the neck of a motorcycle. |
Pisymbol
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 26, 2006 - 05:02 pm: |
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Well, I suppose my original question was worded badly. I was actually more curious about the 0-100 speeds. I THOUGHT because of all the low-end grunt, from 0-100, the XB could keep up with the best of them (Triple, Monster, etc.).
Am I wrong? |
Brineusaf
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 26, 2006 - 05:14 pm: |
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I think 0-60 is the better end for the Buell's. |
Hattori_hanzo
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 26, 2006 - 05:26 pm: |
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XB's aren't much for straight line acceleration due to the short wheel base. A hard launch has the tendency to get an XB up on one wheel (unless you're riding an S&S Prostock drag bike!  ) For me the few tenths of a second I'm "losing" to whatever bike is of no real concern. Some people like stat sheets, I like to ride. (and quite frankly I have no use for straight roads!) |
Luckydevil
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 26, 2006 - 06:53 pm: |
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The other reason "they" say the Buells have no top end is the fact that the limiter is at 7000rpm. I4 bikes spin way past that.
not that a buell can't pull strong all the way up to the 130+ range, but the do it at an RPM range that most of "they" don't get. I have read reviews that complain about that, the location of the exhaust, etc... but it seems that the new suzi gsxr600 and gsxr750 s feature a "mass centralized underslung exhaust" hmmm.
Yes, they don't spin as fast (as the oranges), they don't make as much HP (as the oranges) and they are not fitted with the kind of gearing that would allow them to run as fast as they could. acceleration and top speed are a trade off in the gearing world.
It took me a while to get the gearing thing. More HP means faster right? not so. Example... your gearing means that you will turn the wheel once for every 150 engine revolutions, you cant make it go faster at the top end with an increase in power. You CAN get to your rev limiter faster with more torque and HP, but the gears and your rev limiter will limit how many times the tire can spin, ie how fast you go.
It's a fixed equation that can only be changed by changing a gear, wheel or sprocket size.
Buells have no top end... but who cares? they handle better than anything on the road. (Bike magazine's #1& #8 best handling motorcycle EVER, XBR and XBS respectively)
did i mention EVER! |
Pisymbol
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 26, 2006 - 08:39 pm: |
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Luckydevil, good points regarding gearting, it certainly does come into play.
Now, I love the Buells, no doubt, but I thought the Buells were the best handling cruisers in the world, not bikes. I mean the Japanese sportbikes are designed for the track, while the Buells are a mix of cruisier/sportbike, i.e. streetfighter.
I mean 600/1000 I4s on the track are very very fast to say the least. I realize its apples and oranges but still...
I have to admit, 7k is kind of low. I am used to reving past 7k at lot (with that said, the power below must be outstanding). |
New12r
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 26, 2006 - 08:41 pm: |
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139.9 on a dyno, confirmed by Buell engineer.
Speedo was reading about 145. |
M2nc
| | Posted on Thursday, July 27, 2006 - 12:34 am: |
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Pisymbol - At the Drag strip I took a GSX-1000R to about 80mph or just before we passed the 1/8 mile mark on the M2, but then he flew by me at about 100mph. I took him off the tree with a decent 2.00sec 60 ft on the rear wheel. In my defense I had stripped teeth off the belt on my rear wheel launch and the bike was very flat up top. Even so I was within 6/10 of sec of the 600s on the 1/4.
On the street when I ride with friends on Supersports, they get aggravated with me. We catch a car and I just twist the throttle and I am gone. They down shift two or three times and finally find their power band and come on too strong because I am slowing down by this point. Out on the street the extra low end grunt leaves the Buell rider enjoying the ride and not looking for another gear. On the street or strip, from 0-80mph the Buells keep up fine, but then the I-4s start to pull away.
I have not topped out either of my Buells. I have had the M2 north of 130mph once and the Uly passed 125mph.
My suggestion, if straight line speed is a must for you, try out some supersports. Talking about Triumphs, I really like the Daytona 675. Great handling and speed. In the Cycle World Comparison this year the 675 blew away all other 600s and almost took the big bad ZX-10R and the Aprilia. |
Vaneo1
| | Posted on Thursday, July 27, 2006 - 02:55 am: |
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Bikoman said, "I think they are talking about on the track, because when you are tapped at your 138, I would come screaming by you on my GSXR600 like you were standing still on a nice long straight ala Road Atlanta"
was this after the 12S passed you up on the track in a sweeper? } |
Diablobrian
| | Posted on Thursday, July 27, 2006 - 05:55 am: |
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The other problem people have is the perception of speed. It takes a bit to recalibrate your ear to the "lazy" sound of the Buells.
After our first 2 up ride on the Buell my son, who was the veteran of many such rides on a gsxr, when asked to estimate
our top speed during the ride said 35-40. We had done in excess of 80mph but since the motor wasn't screaming he did not
get the sensation of speed. This was true for me too the first few times I rode it. I was surprised when I hit the rev limiter,
and even more surprised at the speed when I looked down at the speedo.
These testers get a couple of hours on these bikes tops to evaluate them and don't have time to acclimate themselves
so it's no wonder they do not fare well in magazine tests, or even during some brief test rides.
These bikes are not for people that worry more about spec sheets than riding. You can't ride a spec sheet.
I din't spend much time over 120 (anymore) so it's not that important to me.
"I'm not afraid of going fast! It's the crashing and burning that sucks" from an H-D shop helmet sticker. |
Pisymbol
| | Posted on Thursday, July 27, 2006 - 08:45 am: |
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M2nc: Thanks man, I understand. Straight line speed isn't a must but I do admit, I like to pick up speed fast. The 675 is an AWESOME bike no doubt, and if I was going to buy a 600, that would be it. I'm also a big fan of the B-King but insurance is crazy (I'm 28 too).
A couple of years back when I was going to buy a new bike, the Buell was still my top choice. In fact the only other bike that peeked my interest is the new V-Max which looks like it ain't never gonna happen.
I love the look of the Buell and the fact that in its class is probably the best handling of the bunch. I'm not really concerned about going past 100mph anyway. I really want something that handles on rails but still practical enough to ride 2-3 hours (with a break). The 675 to me is built for the track and trying to take that anywhere far doesn't seem practical. The Busa can probably do it since its a big bike but there are other problems with them (I'm also afraid with that kind of power it won't be that enjoyable since I will rarely be able to crank the throttle).
I suppose that's why I keep on coming back to getting on a streetfighter setup, i.e. Buell, Speed Triple, Monster, and maybe even the Brutale (though maintenance must be a nightmare on that thing). |
Beachbuell
| | Posted on Thursday, July 27, 2006 - 10:40 am: |
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Top end, meaning........ Top speed! The Buells will get eaten all day by I4 600's top end wise, not to mention the liter bikes doing 180 mph. But when you cut their inside line or come around on the outside and pass em (usually on exit ramps around here) they are shocked! I have had my XB12R topped put at about 147 mph indicated and one of my buddies took me on his HD Road King. Keep in mind he has more $$ into his motor than what my bike is worth. |
Pisymbol
| | Posted on Thursday, July 27, 2006 - 10:53 am: |
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Yeah, but 147 is a lot in my book, that is top end! I mean anyone going over 100 on public roads is pushing it. Over 120 is just nuts (and yes everybody does it once in a while on a nice long stretch of asphalt, but its still dangerous).
The low-end grunt though does attract me as well as the handling characteristics.
Beachbuell: Please don't tell me your buddies ROAD KING is faster than your XB12R? |
Beachbuell
| | Posted on Thursday, July 27, 2006 - 11:26 am: |
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Yes indeed his bike is faster, in the TOP END! He gets a good jump, he can do wheelies and does! BUT, keep in mind he has OVER 6K invested in his bike and motor to accomplish these speeds. Like I said I was indicating 147 mph and he was about half a car length or so in front of me. Keep in mind these speed where on a quiet road somewhere out in the Florida Everglades. I do however reach speeds of 120 mph on a regular basis when I ride. I have seen people at 160 mph doing wheelies! |
Pisymbol
| | Posted on Thursday, July 27, 2006 - 12:10 pm: |
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That is unbelievable. I would think the Road King is unstable at those speeds just do to shear wind resistence and the fact that bike is not very aerodynamic. I knew of a guy in a similar situation with a Road King who invested similar amounts of money and claimed after 120ish, the bike was very unstable and would wobble (he was running a bore kit, GM LS1 valves I think, something like that).
A Road King wheelie...that is sick! |
Court
| | Posted on Thursday, July 27, 2006 - 02:09 pm: |
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Okay.....let me get this straight.
You say you were doing 147MPH on a Buell and were passed by a Harley-Davidson Road King? |
Hogs
| | Posted on Thursday, July 27, 2006 - 02:17 pm: |
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Hmmmm, I Find that HArd to Swallow, A motor to do them Numbers, And not to mention gearing / and Especially Suspension on a R.King LoL
I wd. think HE wd. have to spend more on Suspension/gear than all,... Say 150 mph on a R.King
Pass it this way.!Your toke is up!!! |
Road_thing
| | Posted on Thursday, July 27, 2006 - 02:53 pm: |
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The braided handlebar tassels on my Road King start to unravel at about 130. That's all for me!
rt
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Xbeau12s
| | Posted on Thursday, July 27, 2006 - 03:16 pm: |
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I LIKE TO RIDE. Can't be put any better. There is so much whining about the Buells. Won't go as fast as my R1, Needs a 6th gear, Can't keep up with my Friends Hyabusa. wah, wah, wah. I'm glad I knew what I was doing when I bought my Buell. I just had to vent. I love cruising the board and absorbing all the Buell knowledge I can. 180m.p.h. is for the race track pure and simple. |
Rocketman
| | Posted on Thursday, July 27, 2006 - 05:36 pm: |
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You say you were doing 147MPH on a Buell and were passed by a Harley-Davidson Road King?
GULP !!!!
Rocket |
Beachbuell
| | Posted on Thursday, July 27, 2006 - 06:02 pm: |
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Whenever anyone wants to come down to my neck of the Everglades and PLAY, I'm sure we'll have no prob proving you wrong. And just for the record I never said he passed me, he had about a half car length lead on me. Just because someone is on a couch of a motorcycle does not mean it is slow. If you were to look at this bike, you wouldn't even give it a second glance. Its not all purtty and chromed up. Like I said before..... More $$ in his motor/bike than..... Nevermind. |
Diablobrian
| | Posted on Thursday, July 27, 2006 - 06:13 pm: |
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If it is that fast I like the guy that built it.
"Sleepers" ROCK. |
Wademan
| | Posted on Thursday, July 27, 2006 - 07:07 pm: |
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Like Hatori said Buells are very hard to launch fast due to their very short wheelbase. For instance the wheelbase on a 06 CBR600RR is 54.5 inches. Compared to Buells bikes the 12r,s and all nines have a 52 inch wheelbase and the Long and Ulysses have a 54.1 inch wheelbase.
Yes you read that correctly the Ulysses has a shorter wheelbase than a supersport 600.
Buells like to wheelie and handle on a dime, they just are not the best in a straight line.... but who gives a shit. If you DO go buy a I4 and squid it up. |
Aesquire
| | Posted on Thursday, July 27, 2006 - 08:30 pm: |
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Buell's are not cruisers. Not in the sense of a Victory Vegas, or a Honda Shadow. The gearing choices are for real world riding, with the right cogs, 150 would be not impossible. ( snicker, guffaw, try easy ) I'm pretty comfortable with the result. Faster than they seem, torque with viper handling. Dr. Jekyl, I presume? oh, Hi Mr. Hyde.
I have a need to keep my drivers license, so might hit over 100 while tuning, & might once in a while on empty roads, just for the thrill. But I won't race on the road, or even wick it up to follow a faster rider that passes me, as a rule. That'd how almost all the speeding tickets I've ever had came about. Your life, your choice.
I remember back in the '80's, when Cycle World hit 150 with a semi stock bike. Katana 1100 I recall. The description of intense speed, combined with the knowledge that you were pushing the limits of the machine to the max, made quite the impression. Very well written.
Remember, redline means the odds of an engine failure are lots higher than just mellowing along at 100. Top end runs are useful to check tuning changes, but sustained 135+ speeds are just an invitation to "issues". Have fun.
Speedy Road King? Sure. & a sleeper? Neat. Hogs can be Boars. Tell your bud I like it.
(Message edited by aesquire on July 27, 2006) |
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