| Author | Message | ||
     Edmbueller |
So does the rev limit get raised for the cityx? If so, to what? Why for the love of Jeebus didn't they use better switches????? The only thing I don't like when I look at my "04 XB12R is the mickey mouse switches, even the Sportster has nicer ones.... | ||
| 12r |
Nobody likes the switches. For me it was a big disappointment to see them on the 1125R  | ||
| Hughlysses |
Only the rev limit on the 12's changed. CityX rev limit is same as before. Check the news releases at buell.com; it's there somewhere. | ||
| 4cammer |
One thing that HD has above most any other bike is the excellent controls that they use. Take a look at any of the Asian supersports- Buell controls are just about the same. All for weight loss I am guessing. All look like they belong on my daughters big wheel. Use some of your favorite plastic shine on your Buell controls and they will look a bit better, take some of the dullness out. | ||
| 07xb12scg |
I assume the reason for cheap switches is purely a cost savings on Buell's part not weight savings. Much more exotic materials would be lighter and of better quality, but much more expensive. Honestly, they don't bother me much at all. They work and that's what's important. | ||
| Swordsman |
What exactly would a "good" switch look like? Plastic's plastic, for the most part. I've never noticed any difference between controls on any bikes, or even ATVs. They've all got the same stuff. ~SM | ||
| Chessm |
to me good switches are ones that work. mine work, so theyre good. the only thing pretty switches are good for are to show off to your friends at harley rallies. | ||
| Blake |
Cheap switches? Do tell. Lighter weight than plastic? LOL! Some folks work really hard at trying to belittle Buell while still pretending to be a Buell enthusiasts. Kinda like the old "it looks and smells like dog shit, that doesn't bother me" line of attack. LOL! It's getting very old from some folks here. Might be banning time. | ||
| Buellinachinashop |
I'm not bashing anybody, but when I first saw a XB, "cheapo plastic" was one of the first thoughts that came to mind when I looked at the bars. Enthusiast doesn't have to mean bendoverist. personally, I'd like to see a little better instrumentation all around. I was sorta shocked when I replaced my throttle grip that the only thing holding the entire throttle/start/stop box was a plastic nipple that gets inserted into a hole in the bar. | ||
| Fcbuell |
Its not that they are plastic, its that the fit and finish of the plastic is seems cheap to me - they are small, wiggle around, don't have substantial "click." Not to nit pick, but for example BMW switches are plastic, but hefty, shaped well, with good feel and ergonomics for gloved hands. | ||
| Starter |
Never really taken much notice of the switchgear, but now that I do I realised they are so much better than the shit that's on my GSXR. Ecspecially like the turn signal cancel. Don't know about the BMW call as I have found their switches to be bulky and cumbersome. | ||
| 1324 |
For the record, my Suzuki used the same 'plastic nipple' in the hole method of mounting the controls...pretty common, actually. I won't say the controls are great, but they certainly aren't bad...plus, they work every time I use them. | ||
| 4cammer |
and how much does a BMW cost....?? | ||
| Blake |
"I was sorta shocked when I replaced my throttle grip that the only thing holding the entire throttle/start/stop box was a plastic nipple that gets inserted into a hole in the bar." The plastic nipple in the hole is superfluous and entirely unnecessary. My Cyclone hasn't used that little feature since I bought it six years ago. The clipons it has don't have the hole, so the plastic nipple was removed. The screws that clamp the switchgear around the bar do a plenty good job of holding it in place. | ||
| Metalstorm |
HD does indeed have nice switches but they're big and a little bulky. They'd look out of place on the Buell. I like the switches on my bike. They're light & tight & they work with out fail. At least on mine they work well. That plastic nipple seemed pretty stout to me. I think I'd have a real hard time breaking it off if I tried. I had the kill switch go bad on my Sporty once. Just looking at that really nice looking switch that kept me from riding made me see nothing but red. | ||
| Metalstorm |
Doh! Good point about the screw clamps. Maybe that's why I'd have a hard time breaking it off  The nipple sure is nice for getting it aligned though  | ||
| Sshbsn |
Bendoverist!!  | ||
| Court |
Anybody notice that those cheap plastic swtiches are standard on a $40,000 Series Oro? What the heck were they thinking? Seriously, there are about 2 places in the world that have "Sears catlogs" of motorcycle parts. They come from either Italy (pre-1999 Buells) or Japan. Both the Italian C.E.V. and the Japanese are top quality PLASTIC (same as the switches in the panel of a Porsche 911s) units. | ||
| 07xb12scg |
Lighter weight than plastic? LOL! Don't tell me that you think plastic is as light as it gets... | ||
| Disturbed |
Lighter weight than plastic? LOL! Don't tell me that you think plastic is as light as it gets... Dood! It's a switch..... How much weight could be saved by switching to another material?  | ||
| Tunes |
I'd say the Buell switch gear are damn good. For those of us who remember the "Prince of Darkness", Lucas wiring and functional switchgear were erratic at best. Positive ground system. It takes a lot of detail work to get the Lucas system to be reliable on early British motorcycles. Reliable! That's sounds funny when talking about Lucas!! I own 2 late 60's, early 70's Nortons... and the Prince has visited me several times. | ||
| Bombardier |
How bout spending more time riding interesting places and pushing the envelope than bemoaning what your switches are made of. I have a BMW and yes the switches work and yes they are made of.....................PLASTIC. The most effective way to save weight on a motorcycle is.......LOSE SOME WEIGHT. The bike will be more responsive all round. I am not saying anyone is overweight and I am not taking the piss out of you but really just get on the thing and ride it. When the switchgear breaks from normal use or abnormal use think about it then. My 2 cents worth. | ||
| Elvis |
This actually raises a point that I have found sort of interesting. I've seen some people replace their Surlyn body panels with Carbon fiber. They look cool, but what are they accomplishing? Surlyn has a density of about 0.95 g/cc and carbon fiber has a density of about 1.75 g/cc, so if you replace Surlyn with carbon fiber, you are likely adding weight to your bike. Carbon fiber is stronger, so if the strength of the Surlyn part is an issue, you could be gaining strength. Also if you make the Carbon fiber part less than half as thick as the Surlyn, you may be able to save some weight, but if you replace Surlyn with the same thickness carbon fiber, you are adding weight. What's lighter than plastic? Nothing I can think of. Styrofoam is plastic, right? *Edit - references - http://www.hexcel.com/Products/Downloads/Carbon%20Fiber%20Data%20Sheets/ http://www.plasticsusa.com/in.html (Message edited by elvis on July 14, 2007) | ||
| Xb12rdude |
I love the new Buell and my old Buell, I do agree though that the switches need upgrading for looks even if they look good. My friends call my switches the "LEGO switches" and it hurts my feelings. Ha-Ha I thinking Buell will now start working on the little things, with the big (engine) items now "up to par". | ||
| Hogs |
Elvis, IF what you are saying is true and I don`t see why it wouldn`t be.. after all these years I thought people were replacing to Carbon for the weight savings to justify them high costs if its just for looks I`ll be dame.. That is GooD Info... I can see it on the cars... For weight savings over Steel...But to spend all that $$$ just for looks on the Xb`s Thats Crazy, Besides I don`t care for it anyways ..but thats just me . | ||
| Court |
People put carbon fiber on sportbike for the same reason HD folks chrome their cases. Period Don't get me wrong. . . I do it too. I had a complete carbon fiber S-2. What I didn't do was fool myself into thinking that I was somehow gaining an advantage due to weight savings. | ||
| Buellerandy |
As far as weight savings...I don't know about anyone else on here, but I'm kind of a fluffy guy...if I were to start anywhere with dropping weight, I'd start with me. And I wouldn't have to pay a cent!  | ||
| Towjam |
Don't get me wrong. . . I do it too. I had a complete carbon fiber S-2. What I didn't do was fool myself into thinking that I was somehow gaining an advantage due to weight savings. Here's my tip for a lot of us older riders who are looking to shave a few pounds off our bikes: Instead of spending money on carbon fiber, use that money for a gym membership. | ||
| Edmbueller |
Ok maybe I should have been more specific. The Buell switches work great I am not debating that. My point is simply appearance / feel. MY Sportster switches were nicely rounded, self canceling, flowed with the bike much better than the squared off primary school colors of the buell's. My wife's GSXR has much nicer controls as well. As I said (and anyone that knows me can attest) I am a Buell fanatic through and through, I have my deposit on an 1125R, I just want to see some little refinements! | ||
| Diablobrian |
the GOOD carbon fiber is bag molded and very very thin. It is semi translucent. It is indeed lighter than the surlyn parts. On a street bike it is all about bling factor. On a race bike however the teams spend long hours shaving grams by removing excess weight anywhere they can find it. the more you remove the more expensive and more involved it is to remove more. They used to say every 7 lbs removed (in non-rotating mass) was the equivalent of gaining another horsepower. In a sport as competetive as motorcycle racing you can see how hard they reach for ANY advantage. We gave up the "luxury" of an electric start on the race bike to free ourselves of the weight. It gets that crazy. | ||
| Wazza |
I like the Buell switchgear. It falls easy to hand and has a positive operation. Its better than the plastic switchgear on my MV Agusta which is poorly designed. | ||
| Xb9 |
Does anyone know if the crankshaft pinion bearing has been improved for 2008? I know the crankpin size was increased.... | ||
| Cochise |
Does anyone know if the crankshaft pinion bearing has been improved for 2008? I know the crankpin size was increased.... It has now been changed to plastic to shave some weight. |
