My 1200 has arrived!

[garylspolar]

1203 cc's, to be exact. Only problem I have so far is keeping the front wheel on the ground. What a torque monster. Supermoto suspension in the 2009 Lightning Long XB12Ss's this year. Tight handling, but handles the bumps better than my R1150R did. This thing is really, really, fun.

[R4R&R]

That bike has been at the top of my "next bike" list for quite a while. Until the XR1200 came out. Those two are duking it out for top spot. The lightning will always have a spot on my list. I've expected it to be a pure hooligan bike. Let me know how you like it after a while!

[owldaddy]

I say again, that bike looks awesome, I wish my back would allow me to buy one also, oh well my RR is almost paid off, and I have it set up the way I like it (took me 4 years to get it that way), so I guess I'll keep it. Have fun with your new machine Gary! Don't forget where we are, and come back to let us know how things are going.
Don

[iowabeakster]

Very Nice Gary! I'm slowly opening my mind to the Buells.

Enjoy it.

How much do those cost?

[garylspolar]

Very Nice Gary! I'm slowly opening my mind to the Buells.

Enjoy it.

How much do those cost?

$9,995 . I got it for that "out the door".

And, it's quite comfortable Don. Sit up position just like our R's . Sounds like a muscle car too, and I will eventually put an aftermarket exhaust on, so my neighbors can appreciate the beautiful sound of this motor

Sweatmark has a Buell as well. His has been trouble-free, and he loves it. Chime in Mark?

[R4R&R]

<DROOL>

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They aren't popular bikes, which brings their used value down pretty quick. I've been eyeballing some deals for them on Craigslist and eBay lately. Enjoy the bike!

[sweatmark]

You remember how we all flipped out over the R1150R's capabilities when the bike (and this group) first emerged? Well, that same feeling of solid confidence and competence is alive & well in the Buell XB.

I took my little '03 Buell XB9S (Lightning) out for a quick errand tonight, custom pipe booming an obnoxious drum roll. Yes, the original '03 Lightning is a bit small for a man of means like Yours Truly, but if the Shriners can do it then so can I.



Note: Gary's new XB12Ss has a longer frame, swingarm, and subframe, and feels remarkably similar to a boxer R bike.

They aren't popular bikes, which brings their used value down pretty quick.

ok - I agree with that statement, and I'm glad it's true. Glad that the Buell is iconoclastic, because I'm a "root for the underdog" kinda guy, and I don't care about the used value since the bike is a keeper (or at worst a "trader" for another Buell).

Here's a few reasons to ride a Buell XB:

Torque - if you like the boxer motor, then you'll love the v-twin.
Belt drive - no spline or rear drive problems, quiet, lightweight, easy to change, very clean.
Conventional sports tire sizes (just like the Rockster) - take your pick of a wide range of rubber.
Troublefree and easy to work on - the '03+ Buells are tough, exhibiting very few problems, and for the few things (aside from easy maintenance) you might wish to tweak, the bikes are astonishingly easy to work on.
Best model & year-specific shop manual in the business, available to the Buell owner for about $50-... I can't say enough good about the shop manuals.
Aftermarket parts - compared to the R1150R, the Buell has a wide range of aftermarket parts for tuning, styling, sports performance.

If I wasn't stuck with my Rockster (similar depreciation) for distance riding, then I'd own both the little XB9 and another, larger Buell XB to be used for distance riding. They're really that good.

[Buckster]

I've been interested in them since '99. They are good looking bikes. I test rode the XB9, XB12, and the Ully before I test rode the R. They are full of torque and fun to ride. They are very shaky at idle and the mirrors were almost useless. Seating position was very nice. Things that kept me away was information on the noisy fan that blows heat up to the rider and parts coming off from so much vibration. The R just felt more solid and quality to me. I would be more interested to know if these issues have been addressed on the later XB models. The liquid cooled 1125r is so ugly, it's out of the question.

[owldaddy]

The liquid cooled 1125r is so ugly, it's out of the question.

That is such a shame too, that engine has so much potential, but it really does hurt your eyes to look at it. I hope someone at Buell is reading these opinions.

[sweatmark]

"In real life" - those 1125 radiator pods actually grown a bit on you after a while. One of our local Buell crew traded up (er, crashed & totalled up) from XB12Ss to 1125, and the bike doesn't look all that strange as it motors up ahead as I deparately tried to keep up.

I'm hoping that Buell creates a sport-touring model based on the 1125, with Givi bags, seat options, conventional fatbar for ergo changes, and bigger alternator output. Slap some old school adventure tankbag panniers over the pods (to remove an eyesore?) and enjoy. Would be sorely tempted to trade in the Rockster for such a machine.

[GypsyRR]

Nice bike, Gary.

I met a guy on one this past week at a campground. He had been touring for a couple of days and planning to be out another 5-7 days. He had only praise for his Buell. It was the 4th one he had owned and he was only 27 years old. And Sweatmark is right - it did sound really good! It wasn't obnoxiously loud though, because I never heard it the next morning when he rolled out.

[garylspolar]

Some other pretty Buells, some custom stuff:

[sweatmark]

Gary- PM me if you want more Buell XB pics. I must have a couple thousand collected since '04.

Clint's XB12S has always been one of my favorites: it's the black bike with subframe/seat riser and gas mask!

[garylspolar]

PM sent!

[mad1150]

Well since you posted some customs:

OU812, Ves, and Marousek will recognize this one:

[scottybooj]

nice bike!

you still have your FJ?

I almost got a lightning back in grad school...$7K...so I held off.

I must be in the minority, I like the new liquid cooled suckers. Hooray for cooler heads!

There are so many bikes I want...I keep the R still cause it's paid off, it serves multiple roles--tour, local riding, fun...did I mention it's paid off?

[Ves]

Well since you posted some customs:

OU812, Ves, and Marousek will recognize this one:

[garylspolar]

Got my new exhaust.


Blub blub blub blub Vrrroooom!


It's just getting better. Not one ounce of remorse. No motorcycle has ever put this big a smile on my face.

[sweatmark]

Which can did you get? I've got a Drummer SS - beautiful craftsmanship by Kevin, but it's a bit loud (understatement).

For more Buell smiles-per-mile:

East Troy, Wis. -- (Tuesday, April 14, 2009) Buell Motorcycle Company and Sportbike Track Time today announced an agreement to partner for a series of enhanced motorcycle track days at select race track venues during the 2009 riding season.

Under the partnership, Buell will provide instructional sessions for intermediate and advanced group riders on eight dates at four track locations during 2009. The instructional sessions will be conducted by experienced professional riding coaches Nick Ienatsch and Ken Hill and will be open to all intermediate and advanced riders in attendance. Limited on-track demonstration rides will also be available.

The dates and locations of the combined Buell/Sportbike Track Time events are as follows:

Carolina Motorsports Park, Kershaw, SC, April 25-26
Barber Motorsports Park, Leeds, AL, May 8-9
Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI June 8-9 (immediately following AMA race)
Mid Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, OH, July 20-21 (immediately following AMA race)

Have you done a trackday yet on the XB, Gary? Put some sticky tires on that thing and go! I bought my XB9 a second wheel set for trackday tires and run DOTs, but without tire warmers. You will gain profound respect for the XB's design when you're carving turns with knee on the ground. Looks like Mid-Ohio is just 90 miles from Cleveland... promise me you'll attend.

[sweatmark]

Another quick plug for v-twin roar:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xOA_0c4gvY

This is Paul, former XB12R rider, now a Rockster owner. I grabbed the soundtrack off this particular YouTube clip and saved it on my iPod... for those moments when I felt overwhelming Need for Roar. And there had to be a few folks that wondered why that smiling guy in the minivan was listening to a "harley motor" soundtrack over and over.