Any one have a Buell Firebolt?

[Urban Coyote]

Any opinions on the Buell Firebolt?

How would you compare it to any of the foreign sport bikes out there?

I was at a Harley Davidson/ Buell dealer today and I sat on a Firebolt and almost wanted to trade in my Sportster for it. It fit me very nicely.
Since I just bought my new Sportster this summer, I'm not going to change to a different bike so soon while I'm still making payments.

But will I switch to a sport bike from a cruiser in the future? Only time will tell.

[BH121869]

I buy every bike mag and really only know what I've read or in talking to Buell owners. All of their Sportster based engines the 984 or 1203 are not just hopped up but beefed up far beyond a stock motor. They have heavier crank pins and more effecient oil pumps too. The owners seem to love them and the articles say that they are good. Handeling and brakes seem to be a plus.
The 984 is 92hp at 7500 RPMs. Thats cranking for a push rod and for the 1203 it is 103 at 6800. As for how they compare? I'll leave that up to others. I rode one of the 06 1203 models and it was very tall and I'm 6'1". I loved the power but did not get to try it out on anything except a fairly streight road for 20 miles or so. I tried to get a left over 06 984 but the Harley shop would not come down at all. I am also looking and may buy one in the future.

[WhiteLightning]

I can't post links yet (not enough posts), but if you go to the Buell website -> 'News and Events' -> 'Buell in the News' there are a couple magazine articles about firebolts:

September 2005
BIKE
"Top 50 Cornering Bikes"

September 2004
PERFORMANCE BIKES
"Group Test: Corner Kicks"

In the areas for which the Buells were designed, they more than hold their own against the Japanese bikes.

[bsporty]

My BF has an '06 Firebolt that he loves to death.He put the racing computer in and a drummer exhaust and he is damn near impossiable to catch in the corners!!!
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f227/bsporty/003-3.jpg

[buellosaurusrex]

Never rode the Firebolt....I have sat on them, though, and find the seating a tad too radical for my tastes. I still prefer the older tubers (tube frame bikes)....the XBs feel too small to me.

[Urban Coyote]

Does anyone know about how much mpg a Firebolt gets?

[WhiteLightning]

Does anyone know about how much mpg a Firebolt gets?

You have to work to get it much under 40. 40-50 is fairly typical, highway rides can approach 60 no problem.

[Darth_Firebolt]

as my ID suggests, i cohabitate with a Firebolt (XB12R). you don't own a firebolt, you don't ride a firebolt, you BECOME a firebolt. when you get one rolling, you are instantly in control of your speed. there is no slop/lag/bog when you roll the throttle open. there is no hesitation when you squeeze the front brake. you think something, and it happens. there isn't a bike i can compare it to. show me another 1203cc motorcycle that handles this well, gets over 60mpg (i have seen 62mpg personally), and looks this good. i have a few *ahem* slight modifications to mine. air filter/ exhaust pipe/ computer upgrade, and a few lighting/ visual mods. i also have the custom seat (made by buell, not a one off. lol), tail bag, and saddle bags. this last summer my father and i made a 5,000 mile road trip to the Dragon area and back. he rode a goldwing and i was on my bolt. i was completely comfortable the entire time. i didn't even have my custom seat or bags then either, i rode the whole way with all my clothes in a backpack on my back. DAD was the one who kept having to stop. go test-ride a firebolt, you won't find an XB series Buell, you won't find a more comfortable sport bike out there.

[buellosaurusrex]

Good to see another Bueller (albeit second-generation) on the forum.

[Darth_Firebolt]

a bueller is a bueller. that kind of thinking is what made the harley guys what they are today.

[buellosaurusrex]

a bueller is a bueller. that kind of thinking is what made the harley guys what they are today.

I'd gladly own an XB if I could afford one. Right after I bought an 1125R......:D

[buellosaurusrex]

Darth....are you a member on the BadWeb as well? www.badweatherbikers.com

[Darth_Firebolt]

no, i am not. the day i got my buell, i google searched "buell +forum" and badweb came up as the first. so i clicked on it, and in the process of about 10 minutes of thread digging, i discovered that it seemed like everyone was always like 'RTFM!' and calling people stupid for asking questions. sporttwin was next on the list, so i clicked on that one. in the first 4 or 5 posts i read, there were 10 or so responses, the first one was always in response, the rest were people chiming in with their experiences on the subject, giving tips and heads ups and things. so i am on sporttwin as... you guessed it... Darth_Firebolt. lol

[buellosaurusrex]

no, i am not. the day i got my buell, i google searched "buell +forum" and badweb came up as the first. so i clicked on it, and in the process of about 10 minutes of thread digging, i discovered that it seemed like everyone was always like 'RTFM!' and calling people stupid for asking questions. sporttwin was next on the list, so i clicked on that one. in the first 4 or 5 posts i read, there were 10 or so responses, the first one was always in response, the rest were people chiming in with their experiences on the subject, giving tips and heads ups and things. so i am on sporttwin as... you guessed it... Darth_Firebolt. lol

Well, I confine myself (under a different handle) to the Old School Buell page and the Knowledge Vault....the folks seem a little more mature, etc. than some of the younger generation of new riders, many (but not all) of whom seem to have little regard to others and a complete lack of etiquette in general. But I hear you regarding the name-calling, etc. Blake tries to keep it policed, but it has grown so big it's almost an impossible job to moderate.

[Darth_Firebolt]

then he needs to get more mods or get stricter with short term bannings. like... i would be afraid to check that forum at school with some of the things said/ posted.

[bk1287]

I had a Buell that I recently laid down :( But I love the Firebolts. THe handling is great and it fit me perfectly. I guess it depends on your style of riding in my opinion. In my opinion though I would recomend a Firebolt to anyone. I might be biased though :)