glad i found Buell when i did.

[Darth_Firebolt]

anyone else really really really glad they got their Buell instead of whatever else they were considering at the time? i was about 70% on buying a suzuki sv 1000 when i finally decided to try a buell on the game Tourist Trophy for PS2. without even seeing one in person, dad and i went dutch on an 04 xb12r, and i haven't looked back.
i was thinking about it the other day while i was riding to school. i used to drool every time i saw a newish crotch rocket fly by me, sounding like it was about to enter a motoGP race. i used to imagine what it was like to have all that power in my right hand. i have since ridden them, the power scared me to be honest. it was amazing around the racetrack at the time, but i knew i would never need that kind of power once i left. now that i have my buell, i don't lust over any bikes, unless an 08 xb12r counts... i want those engine upgrades!
i don't even lust over the 1125. i like the step forward it represents for buell, and i openly admire it's performance, but i love my firebolt. something about a 1203cc crotch rocket that gets 60+ mpg and can still go 140mph if i want to just makes me smile. that and the sound. loooove the sound. and the handling. of course, the handling. and how easy it is to maintain... and the lack of a chain...
sorry, but who else is glad they got their buell, instead of following everyone else?
i am

I am new to the forum but not to Buell. I purchased my first Lightening about two years ago and have since picked up two more. Something about the tubers that I still enjoy, even just sitting here in the shop. Knowing that at my age I can start a fire breathing rocket that will still idle (although a little rough) around town and pass everything I choose to, going up the pass, remains exciting to me. Life is good and I have these toys to remind of that occasionally

[Darth_Firebolt]

welcome, david.
good to see more buellers here.
:]

[buellosaurusrex]

Welcome, David! Three Lightnings....I'm jealous! Any S1's?
Darth, I know exactly where you come from. I saw my first Buell ('97 M2)after my brother bought it. I didn't know quite what to think of it...for some time. It didn't fit my "inside-the-box" Japanese inline-4 thinking.. But it grew on me-more & more, in fact. Until the day I knew I had to have one, and started looking. It took over a year to find the right bike at the right price, but I did and I've never looked back! I own multiple bikes now, and probably always will. There are a lot of different bikes I'd like to own, but will probably always hold on to the M2. There's something special there.

Good evening folks / fellow Buellers.

To be more descriptive; One is a Blue & White 2000 Lighting that was used as a stunt bike and converted to chain as the owner broke two belts before changing to an R1. Second is a beautiful 2000 Lightening with all white plastic's and nuclear Blue powder coated frame & wheels. Even the Corbin seat has a blue detail seam cord and the third is an S3T that I have personally driven at 130mph. Finding the rear suspension a little tight for the freeway also meant that at one point I was in flight rather unexpectedly - so I just don't see that happening again even though I can turn it down I think the next time with be on the track.

[Zack]

I went in to the local HD shop to pick up a clutch cable for my FXWG.
The cable was expensive, 7600 bucks, but they threw in a free 03 XB9R.

Actually, I was looking at the Firebolt while they were getting my cable and the salesguy asked if I wanted to take it for a ride.
The dealership was still in the mirrors and I knew I had to have it.

Three years and 20k miles later, I traded it to my little brother for his 95 Z-28 and bought an 1125R.

Hardly ever ride my Harley anymore, I've put 7500 miles on the 1125R, Loretta, since December.

Buells rule.

Z

Proud of their parts. I understand that's why they are so expensive. Actually is more likely due to our labor and insurance rates but they are pricey, I know as I also ride a Dyna Glide. On longer rides the added mass is comfort which is why I am going into a K1200 RS

[Darth_Firebolt]

dang. an xb9r for a z-28 AND an 1125r, i wish i had your bargaining powers. :P

[Zack]

He was going to sell the Z, family and all that stuff.
I wanted the Firebolt to stay in the family and he'd been without a bike for several years.
I popped the idea of a trade and he dove the Camaro up to Colorado and rode the Firebolt back to Texas.

The Camaro's in very good shape but it does have a tad over 200k miles on it.
LT-1's a good strong motor tho and it was rebuilt @ 100k.

Had to have an 1125R when I saw the news in July.
Very happy with it even if it doesn't have a Harley heart in it.

Z

[whiteknight521]

Originally Posted by Zack

I went in to the local HD shop to pick up a clutch cable for my FXWG.
The cable was expensive, 7600 bucks, but they threw in a free 03 XB9R.

Actually, I was looking at the Firebolt while they were getting my cable and the salesguy asked if I wanted to take it for a ride.
The dealership was still in the mirrors and I knew I had to have it.

Three years and 20k miles later, I traded it to my little brother for his 95 Z-28 and bought an 1125R.

Hardly ever ride my Harley anymore, I've put 7500 miles on the 1125R, Loretta, since December.

Buells rule.

Z

7600 for a clutch cable, damn.

[Dodsfall]

Originally Posted by whiteknight521

7600 for a clutch cable, damn.

Not too bad of a price since they threw in a free bike.

[sbkal08]

I like almost everything about my XB except the engine and a couple of odd design cues... The sound is weird. I miss the howl of an in-line four and the kick of hitting that powerband! I thought I was over the top end thing, but yeah, I miss the top end of a race rep. The vibration is amusing when I'm standing next to it - can't walk away out of fear of it falling over, annoying when I'm riding at low speed, or worse, at a stoplight. In-line fours run like precision machines, like... racing machines. Then there's the kick stand, which is bizarre! I ALWAYS have to hunt for it and I never know if it's locked in the down position. The oil cooler; does it have to stick out like that? And what about that hideous air scoop? It hides the engine! The Buell is supposed to show off the mechanical qualities of the motorcycle, hence the minimalist fairings. Well you can't really see the engine, can you? OK, rant over. All in all, I like my Buell, but it's certainly not the best or favorite bike I've ever owned. Flame on!

[Zack]

SB - give it some time to acclimate.
If you're used to an I-4, it'll take a bit.
Explore the low-end, XBs are tractors compared to your rr-s.

If you really miss the I-4 after a few months, try an 1125R or 1125RC.
Loretta is smooth like an I-4, but with torque.
Loretta now has 11,600+ miles.

[sbkal08]

Yes, the torque is great! This is my second season with the XB12R and I really do love the handling in the twisties, 'cause that's really my thing. I like to do the occasional wheelie and stoppie but I'm certainly no "stunna". I'm trying to improve those "show off" skills and the Buell is excellent for those maneuvers. I don't think I'll ever get used to the roughness of the thing, though. It's as though the bike will shake itself to death at any moment. I love the simplicity of the thing. I can tear one down to the engine in a couple of hours! The machine is STOUT with big ole forks and swingarm. There's no weird shock linkage, or a bazillion bolts holding it together. There's no chain to clean or adjust. I love the look most of all, because it is so different. The Buell plastics, being colored plastic, look so much better than Japanese painted plastic. I have spare sets of bodywork and swap them out when I want a "new" bike. Then, there's the beautiful wheels, especially the front. It looks like an expensive aftermarket wheel. I think my next bike will be a 999, '04-'05 ZX10R, '04-'05 R1, or '05-06 GSXR1000. I am building a track bike out of a badly crashed XB9 City X. I have almost all the parts I need. I even found a front number plate! Bonus! It should be pretty cool when done. I'm doing it in HD orange and black.

[sbkal08]

Here are my Buells. The color du jour is blue. The XB12 has a spare set of white and red bodywork. The white is an eye catcher and the red is simply stunning in the sunlight. The XB9 arrived DOA at my house. LOL!

[buellosaurusrex]

Looks like a cool project. Do keep us posted!!!

[BH121869]

I got my first Buell a few weeks ago and am loving it. I went for the XT as there are times I like the cargo space. I usually leave the side bags off till I need them. I've had a few Sportsters, one Ultra Classic and a dozen metrics and this is the most fun you can legally have.

[buellosaurusrex]

Originally Posted by BH121869

I got my first Buell a few weeks ago and am loving it. I went for the XT as there are times I like the cargo space. I usually leave the side bags off till I need them. I've had a few Sportsters, one Ultra Classic and a dozen metrics and this is the most fun you can legally have.

Welcome to the family!!! Glad to have you on board!

[sbkal08]

Here's an update to my XBS to XBR track bike conversion project. Damage found was extensive. The only original parts that survived the crash were: lower end of engine, rear shock, rear wheel, rear brake rotor, and rear sprocket. What I have now is a Frankenbike, made from the bones of many deceased Buells!

[Dodsfall]

That looks like quite a project. What's your ETA on being complete? I'd like to see pictures of the finished bike!

[sbkal08]

Well, like all salvage bikes, I suspect, there's more than meets the eye! LOL I don't really know when completion date is as I work on the XB9 when I have the time or I find a part I need. Right now, I'm searching for a cam cover which is really hard to find used. They must get busted up a lot. Really, there are only a few more parts I need. Once the engine is reassembled, the rest of the project would move fairly quickly. I'm kind of torn between making it a full on track bike or a streetable track bike. When it's done, it will be HD orange (front half) and black (rear end) and have white number plates. The engine will be stock but has a CF Jardine slip-on, K&N filter, a custom mapped stock ECM (I hope I can do it with ECM Spy), and race suspension springs front and rear. I also purchased a cool CF upper fairing that is light as a feather and this funky polished swing arm brace, which really highlights the Frankenbike theme!

[sbkal08]

Here's a crappy phone cam pic of the mocked up CF fairing and number plate...

[buellosaurusrex]

Looking good!
Sounds like the damage was more extensive than you thought originally. Hope you didn't take a bath on it!

[sbkal08]

Well, the bike did come with enough spare parts and bodywork to almost make another XBS OR XBR! I had a parts cache of my own but the parts I needed have been kind of hard to find e.g. cam cover, swing arm pivot bolt, cylinders and pistons, amber/orange front wheel, etc. I wasn't expecting the engine to be a goner, either. I paid 1150 for the bike, parts (9 boxes full), and shipping. FedEx delivered it to my garage by semi (with lift gate) on a 8' skid. Pretty cool. I think the original owner paid too much and didn't know what he was getting into. He didn't appear to have even attempted disassembly...

[Darth_Firebolt]

i thought something looked funny in that last pic... NO ENGINE!
awesome weight savings mod, yo! lol

[po28der]

I am thinking of getting one. Any major problem with these bikes

[Ronbob43]

I got my XB9SX in Feb. for my 66th birthday. It is the bike I have been waiting for all my life. My wife got her Blast last summer for her 59th birthday. It has renewed her interest in riding again. She was so bored with cruisers but is too short for other sport bikes.

[Gotaro]

Originally Posted by sbkal08

I like almost everything about my XB except the engine and a couple of odd design cues... The sound is weird. I miss the howl of an in-line four and the kick of hitting that powerband! I thought I was over the top end thing, but yeah, I miss the top end of a race rep. The vibration is amusing when I'm standing next to it - can't walk away out of fear of it falling over, annoying when I'm riding at low speed, or worse, at a stoplight. In-line fours run like precision machines, like... racing machines. Then there's the kick stand, which is bizarre! I ALWAYS have to hunt for it and I never know if it's locked in the down position. The oil cooler; does it have to stick out like that? And what about that hideous air scoop? It hides the engine! The Buell is supposed to show off the mechanical qualities of the motorcycle, hence the minimalist fairings. Well you can't really see the engine, can you? OK, rant over. All in all, I like my Buell, but it's certainly not the best or favorite bike I've ever owned. Flame on!

Haha.. I can totally relate with the vibration thing! When my Blast is warming up, if I don't have it on level ground the bike rattles its way on down the road/driveway lol! It also leaves this nice white streak on the cement where the kickstand is.