have you ridden a Buell?

[Murray]

Havn't ridden the six speed versions but took an XB9 for a ride a while ago. At Idles there is a lot of heay vibration as soon as its off idle its ok but it really got to me every time we ended up sitting at the lights. Gearbox is awlful there is no other word for it, worse than a five speed Guzzi, yes and then some. Had reasonble power athough little reluctant to run out not earth shattering. Front end always felt like it wanted to tuck under I think this might be due toe the steering geometry and the wide rear tyre short wheel base. It would be a signifcant improvment if you put a 160 on there wit appropiate rim.

 

Did most things resonbly well athough the local shop takes you on aescorted test ride that I am sure sells HD'd buy the boat load. I'll never understand how they ever get a Ducati out the door (what the other half of the store is dedicated too). Friend of mine brought this bike after it finished its stint as a demo. A really odd clunking niose appear at around 32 000kms the motor was pulled down under warrentee nothing was obiously wrong reassembled sure enough it sounded like the bottom end wanted to get out. Pulled motor down replaced rods niose disappeared.

 

To be honest if you really want an updated Guzzi get one of the new ones or have a serious look at the Ducati 1000 dual spark range. Buell has still go a way to go and if you ever ding the frame its messy and expensive. Stay away from the lighting's thier handling leaves a bit to be desired.

[macguzzi]

Yes ridden a couple ot different ones the first ones to arrive on the scene had a seat like a razor blade very uncomfortable after two or three miles. Loads of grunt in the engine department, you wonder why HD's don't go like that, but then you look at the average HD owner and realise speed is not thier thing, although the extra HP would help to drag all that leather gear around, chaps ain't aero dynamic! As to the later Buells they don't handle as well as a sorted Guzzi, to make more of this point I was out for a run last year with a tuned Cyclone, I was on my 1972 V7 sport well he had me in acceleration but when it came to the bendy bits bye bye buell. The owner has yet to come out with me on my V11 the sport put him off. I am going to the V11 Rally in Scotland with two Buell's a Cyclone and a firebolt so I will report back then. The roads to this rally are very twisty so we will see how it goes.

[v50man]

Yes ridden a couple ot different ones the first ones to arrive on the scene had a seat like a razor blade very uncomfortable after two or three miles. Loads of grunt in the engine department, you wonder why HD's don't go like that, but then you look at the average HD owner and realise speed is not thier thing, although the extra HP would help to drag all that leather gear around, chaps ain't aero dynamic! As to the later Buells they don't handle as well as a sorted Guzzi, to make more of this point I was out for a run last year with a tuned Cyclone, I was on my 1972 V7 sport well he had me in acceleration but when it came to the bendy bits bye bye buell. The owner has yet to come out with me on my V11 the sport put him off. I am going to the V11 Rally in Scotland with two Buell's a Cyclone and a firebolt so I will report back then. The roads to this rally are very twisty so we will see how it goes.

83686[/snapback]

 

I'll start cooking your humble pie this evening. There's no comparison between the Cyclone and the 'Bolt.

[Skeeve]

I'll start cooking your humble pie this evening. There's no comparison between the Cyclone and the 'Bolt.

83693[/snapback]

 

The Cyclone was Buell's bid at a bargain version of the Firebolt, wasn't it? One of the old trellis-frame designs with budget suspension bits? It was basically the genesis of the Blast: there wasn't any way they could offer the Cyclone cheap enough to bring in entry-level rider w/o cutting into their margins on the full-line product, let alone all the QC problems & recalls & stuff they wound up having w/ that whole product generation.

As v50 said, totally different kettle o' fish from today's offerings...

 

As an aside, if you ever get the chance to meet Erik Buell, ask him about producing another sports-tourer like the S3T... step back, & enjoy hearing the rant! [i think that there's a bit of a sore spot for him, since of the trellis-frame bikes, only the S3T has anyone asking for another, but the sales just weren't there in the first place.]

[Judge]

I test rode a couple of buells before I test rode a guzzi v11 lemans, the buell (firebolt) was fun but I felt it was too small, my head felt like it was over the front wheel. I felt more comfortable on the guzzi, and liked the motor and looks better.

I'm an engineer by trade and actually was set on the firebolt cause i like Erics engineering ideas, but to hear the bike run (the stock pipes sounded like crap) and actually ride one turned me off.

 

Im 5'11" and about 220lbs, If your 5'8" and 170lbs a firebolt might fit...

 

I am in love with the lemans and its a keeper, no serious issues to date.

 

Have you considered a KTM? Their super motard, adventure, and Duke bikes look pretty good, they have excellent engineering. I have a KTM 450EXC dirt bike that I abuse regularly, Im impressed with how well that baby performs too. Should have bought stock in them about 10 years ago.

[macguzzi]

I'll start cooking your humble pie this evening. There's no comparison between the Cyclone and the 'Bolt.

83693[/snapback]

YUM YUM

[dlaing]

Slowpoke, and any other So-Cal folk,

Weather permitting, I'll be meeting with buddies Sunday 3/26/06 9AM at:

The Blue Mug

122 S. Kalmia

Escondido, CA

My ECU is about half way to being completely sorted out with TuneBoy, and it begs for you to try it.

Don't give up the Goose!   (but if you do, I'll forgive you and still ride with you)

83635[/snapback]

sorry, I know you were looking forward to riding the best setup GuZZi in Universe, but we just got rained out.

[Guest Jeff in Ohio]

I took a demo on the Buell XB9 city X last year. I really really wanted to like this bike. I love the look and was ready to buy. First thing, I found the bike rediculously small. I'm 5'10" 160lbs, so I'm not a large person. Hey Erik Buell - not everyone wants to ride a bike of 250GP proportions! The look down to the gauges was bad too. Felt like I was looking straight down to my crotch in order to see the speedo. Felt unsafe having to look that far down to see the idiot lights and gauges. Did not like the foot controls at all. brake pedal was small and very ineffective anyway. Shift lever was a pain to find accuratly. The motor was OK, but it hit red line way too quick (revy) and shifting was OK - better than my old Sportster. Needless to say, I turned in thier keys and said thanks, but no thanks.

 

By the way, the Buell fuel injection is not programmable either. Changing anything on it requires either their race ECU or something else (whatever that something else is). Also, any changes to the EFI always requires a TPS reset - something only a Harley dealer can do. Also, be aware, the vast majority of Harley dealers treat Buell riders as second class. Don't expect to get the same treatment as someone riding one of their chromed out barges.....

 

 

Now, I rode a friends Monster 1000DS, and that thing was a blast! I'd look at a Triumph 675 also.....

[Skeeve]

I test rode a couple of buells before I test rode a guzzi v11 lemans, the buell (firebolt) was fun but I felt it was too small, my head felt like it was over the front wheel. I felt more comfortable on the guzzi, and liked the motor and looks better.

I'm an engineer by trade and actually was set on the firebolt cause i like Erics engineering ideas, but to hear the bike run (the stock pipes sounded like crap) and actually ride one turned me off.

83823[/snapback]

 

Have you ever met Erik? Something to keep in mind; he's not a large man. Ex-racer, & built like one: medium ht. & wiry build. That might have something to do with his design choices, hmm...

[V11UK]

Have you ever met Erik? Something to keep in mind; he's not a large man. Ex-racer, & built like one: medium ht. & wiry build. That might have something to do with his design choices, hmm...

 

Yes, met the great man himself June 2005 @ Silverstone race circuit. He's just a regular bike nut and great to talk to - not corporate at all.

 

Gives me an excuse to post this picture of Erik with my S1

 

[Pierre]

Have you ever met Erik? Something to keep in mind; he's not a large man. Ex-racer, & built like one: medium ht. & wiry build. That might have something to do with his design choices, hmm...

 

Gives me an excuse to post this picture of Erik with my S1 

83949[/snapback]

Hmmm. Maybe he has a body double (or would that be a doubled body) touring England. Probably makes the "blokes" over there view him as more "genuine Harley."

[wsholar]

Hmmm.  Maybe he has a body double ...

 

Hey, Pierre, re: your avatar, you've lost weight, dude! I'm not sure that hairstyle suits you, though. We're doin' Todd's track day on the 17th at Button Willow (Red Shift). Wanna come? I'll be riding with the C Group. Should be, uh, very educational.

[Pierre]

Hey, Pierre, re: your avatar, you've lost weight, dude!

That's my shop girl, Wallis. Sheesh! Thought it was obvious.

 

We're doin' Todd's track day on the 17th at Button Willow (Red Shift).  Wanna come?  I'll be riding with the C Group.  Should be, uh, very educational.

 

That's the Monday following a 3 day race weekend at Willow Springs with WSMC. After that there's the AHRMA event at Willow the last weekend in April. So I'm pretty booked up for track time that month. Otherwise I'd love to.

[g.forrest]

that is one cool lookin machine..

Yes, met the great man himself  June 2005 @ Silverstone race circuit. He's just a regular bike nut and great to talk to - not corporate at all.

 

Gives me an excuse to post this picture of Erik with my S1 

 

83949[/snapback]

[wsholar]

That's my shop girl, Wallis.  Sheesh!  Thought it was obvious.  

That's the Monday following a 3 day race weekend at Willow Springs with WSMC.  After that there's the AHRMA event at Willow the last weekend in April.  So I'm pretty booked up for track time that month.  Otherwise I'd love to.

84009[/snapback]

 

You racing at AHRMA? I think I'm gonna come up for that one. Looking forward to seeing you run.