| Author |
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Fdl3
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 22, 2006 - 01:55 pm: | 
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quote:...keep in mind, with our powerband, you're going to be shifting less anyway...
Maybe. I find that I shift just as much on my XB9R as I did other bikes I have owned; but instead of a double-downshift (or more) for example, I may single-downshift the XB. In fact, I find myself short-shifting often and using the gobs of torque to just burp me along...!  |
Bébèrt
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 22, 2006 - 05:15 pm: |
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Commuting every day from Antwerp to Brussels and back on my city 06 is my long life..... Your clutch-hand will get stronger, better, faster ...a real 6 bil. dollar hand but who dosn't love a strong handshake (pity it's your left hand so try braking hard with your right hand to compensate) |
Fl_a1a
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 22, 2006 - 08:07 pm: |
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In heavy, heavy, heavy traffic I like the buell blast or the yamaha tw200...but they don't well at speeds over 65 mph. XB are tight all around. |
Doon
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 22, 2006 - 09:45 pm: |
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I do about 100-130 miles a day commuting to the office (I take the roads through the mountains to avoid slab, have 6 different ways depending on my mood) Normally ride 3-5 days a week, depending on weather and if I have to carry something that won't fit on my back. I am on a 05 12S, so my clutch hand is getting strong. Since everybody was is posting. I am 5'6" about 29.5-30" inseam, and I am perfectly comfy (with the corbin).
-Patrick |
Chromebob
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 23, 2006 - 08:28 pm: |
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mrsteve, check out my 06 xb12Ss for sale in the classifieds. i am right here in central california. the heading starts out with 06 xb 12Ss black and chrome...plus it has all the bolt-on goodies. |
Harley_jethro
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 23, 2006 - 09:30 pm: |
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I ride to work every day 90-120mi round trip depending on route. Backroads are more comfortable than hammering highway as your not sitting still.
I have an 03 9S and would like more fuel capacity, going with the SS would give you this as well as more rear seat for a pack.
Just my $.02, can't go wrong with an XB! |
Dpoole
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 23, 2006 - 09:42 pm: |
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I'm 5' 10", and commute 16 miles along the beautiful Lake Erie shoreline anytime the weather allows. I can't imagine trading my 04 12S for anything. Do it, and take some time to dial in the suspension. I tried the settings someone posted, and it makes the bike an absolute joy. While I haven't been on an I4 in years, the broad powerband of the Buell's seems to me like a great compromise between the top speed of a big I4 and the stop and go of riding in the city. Clutch pull is not an issue for anyone who is 6' 3". |
Paulson
| | Posted on Thursday, August 24, 2006 - 01:28 am: |
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I always commute on my XB. I prefer it over my FZ6 for hot weather riding. My average commute is only 20 miles, but they are all smiles when on the XB. I find that stop and go traffic is a strain on my clutch hand whether I am riding the XB or the FZ6. Given the choice, it is the XB for me all the way. |
Mikemax
| | Posted on Thursday, August 24, 2006 - 02:34 am: |
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I haven't driven my car since getting my Ss at the end of May (8500 miles now). Marin to Fremont and back commute in the Bay Area and a couple of trips to LA and San Diego. The XB is great for commuting except for a few minor things.
Replaced the stock grips w/ traction grips and soon will go with Gel grips... cheap and stops most of the sore hands when stuck at slow speeds with no wind to hold you up.
Got bar end mirrors. With the stock Mickey Mousers you can't see anything behind you... unsafe in traffic.
Air cooled engines don't like sitting still. Usually you can split at low speeds if traffic is stopped but I got stuck on 152 with lots of oncoming traffic and no shoulder and was stopped for long periods with nowhere to go. It was a very uneasy time, shut off the engine alot, etc.
The stock Dunlops (Pirellis for '07) are about to be replaced with Conti Road Attacks because the Dunlop rear is worn flat with all the straight riding. They started to get squirrely well before worn near the indicators (still not quite there but imminent).
The Buell tank bag is OK but not really big enough if you need to bring work home. Cortech Sport rear bags work well for me but can rub the finish in places. And I got one of those bungee cargo nets and have carted around computers, etc. with it on top of the side bags.
All in all a good bike to commute on and fun when not commuting. Could use more range, I bought the Long to get the bigger tank but I'm only getting low 40 MPGs on the highway so my range is under 200 miles safely so I still end up gassing up daily. Most people seem to get better mileage so I might just have a lemon in that respect. The mileage is still better than most bikes, especially those with larger engines.
Also, the pull is fine but I think the clutch cable stretches as I've had to adjust it several times to be able to find Neutral reasonably consistently (necessary to pay bridge tolls), the hydraulic conversion might help in this respect.
Oh, and schedule the 1000 mile service when you buy or you'll be waiting without use of the bike, or running past the interval. I got the VDSTS and manual now and am doing the services myself to avoid this. |
Desertted
| | Posted on Thursday, August 24, 2006 - 02:55 am: |
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I gave up my last bike (Goldwing 1000, yes old!),prior to marrying my darling wife of 11 years. Just recently I went car shopping and found that what I could afford, 6.0 GTO & Misu 8, just didn't have the oomph that I wanted. So wifey said "what about a bike?" I looked at the Duc monster, but the Buell does have THAT motor..
Anyway, I commute accros the valley here 15 miles each way, 4 times a week. I see less than 30 cars each morning & maybe 6 traffic lights, park in an underground secured Police parking lot. Then I ride home at usually between 105 and 117 degrees with more traffic. On warm days my cooling fan runs just as I pull into the PD in the morning. On hot days the cooling fan screams about 5/8 of the way home
Very fun (many thumbs up) and 42 miles per gallon |
Midknyte
| | Posted on Thursday, August 24, 2006 - 12:10 pm: |
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So wifey said "what about a bike?"
There's a keeper! |
Mikemax
| | Posted on Thursday, August 24, 2006 - 10:19 pm: |
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Why do people keep saying they shift less on a Buell due to the torque? The RPM range is a lot less than most bikes so I find I shift a lot in normal driving so as not to wind it up or lug as traffic speeds, corner speeds, etc. vary. I do DOWNshift less to pass because the torque allows me to just roll on to pass slow Priuses trying to own the carpool lane. |
Phwx2
| | Posted on Saturday, August 26, 2006 - 07:05 am: |
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I commute 20 miles each way from the end of March to the end of October (connecticut, usa). I have seven back road routes to work or it can take the highway. I love the bike. I did this commute on a blast for 1.5 yrs. The xb doesn't do as well with the mileage but gives bigger thrills. I'm getting high 40's for MPG. But the rear tire only lasted to 4.5k. I average two rain soakings per year. When it might rain I leave radar on my computer and leave work when the rain comes.
Midknyte - my wife called me at work last summer and said her bother was selling his XB9 and wanted to know if I wanted to buy it. |
Juniorkirk
| | Posted on Saturday, August 26, 2006 - 12:03 pm: |
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I can not find one reason to complain about my bike. I have an 06' XB12R, and its nothing but fun, and to my surprise, pretty comfortable too. I am 6'5", and I still fit perfectly in the tank groove. I DID ride it to work as much as I could because it gets 50 mpg. Right now I live 52 miles from work, so only using about 2 gallons a day instead of about 3.5 with my car, I choose the bike. But right now I'm car bound for the next month and a half. I dumped the poor thing, got stuck in the rain on the way home, and I went down. The ONLY thing wrong with me is a nice hole above my left knee, and i can only get my leg about 1/4 the way to the peg right now. but as soon as I am better, back on I go , by the way, this is my first post, and from what I have been reading on here, this is a pretty cool place for info and just to socialize with other Buell owners. Glad to be part of it now |
Cataract2
| | Posted on Saturday, August 26, 2006 - 01:38 pm: |
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City X and I commute like crazy on it. That's how I got 29,000 miles on it before I left for Basic in May. I've had the bike for about 1 1/2 years now. Love it! |
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