| Author | Message | ||
     Superdavetfft |
I've been lucky enough to put quite a few miles on my Uly the last few seasons and I'm curious as to how many miles I might expect to get out of my top end. Who's done a top end and how many miles did you have on it at the time? Any high mileage bikes out there that haven't been touched yet? How many miles are you up to? I've got about 40k on mine and it runs perfect, no oil usage, plenty of power and good economy yet. superdave | ||
| Froggy |
There are Ulys out there over the 100k mark, and there are even older Buells out there over the 250k mark. You got nothing to worry about.  | ||
| Hughlysses |
+1 to what Froggy says. From what I've seen, the bottom end will live a LONG time. The top end will easily go 100k (if maintained) and a top end renewal is fairly easy and inexpensive if required. | ||
| Gunut75 |
Universal knowledge there. Lets see how far an R goes. 18.5k miles and counting. | ||
| Wesman |
You may want to check this article out on a longterm motor tear down done by Motorrad (thanks for the archive Froggy) http://froggypwns.com/buellpdfs/Motorrad_article_e n.pdf | ||
| Datsaxman |
Nice article. Reminds me of CYCLE magazine with the teardown photos. Best MC mag ever... | ||
| Uly_man |
After my first looks at Buell posts in the Uk, "its got choc cams", I was very shocked at the said life of a XB engine. After a few years with my bike and looking at others around the world I would say its not a problem. What is a problem is the people who do not run them in right. The other one is the people who put down a bike but have little idea of what a good bike really is. The Buell range of bikes have always been astounding road bikes and I did not know what a good bike was until I run a Buell. Its a bikers bike. If you want a Big Mac then buy a Honda. | ||
| 88b |
I think a lot of it is down to good maintenence and oil . No reason why any modern machine shouldn't do over 100k with no problems ( wheel bearings and belts accepted ) | ||
| Dr_greg |
When I had the cylinders off my original '06 for the spark plug blowout repair (and consequences) at 55,000 miles, everything looked very good. 100K miles for sure. --Doc | ||
| Skinstains |
Loose the belt and the wheelbearing problem magically disappears... | ||
| Whisperstealth |
Skin, If I ever get an X, and Mod it for offroad like you have, maybe. But on my XT, I'll stick with the belt. A LOT of highway miles, 20K and bearings still have a set of tires worth of life in them. Too lazy to deal with chain maintainence on a 2000 mile run 4+ times a year. And if my Engine doesn't last 100K, Well I'll just sue, after all it is a American Pastime these days  .... | ||
| Superdavetfft |
Wesman, thanks for that article... it's great to hear all the anecdotal evidence regarding lifespan but somehow seeing some controlled testing in print takes it up another notch. I've always wondered why HD (*spit) didn't take advantage of the Buell drivetrain. They own the patents and parts, just USE them. Imagine if that XR1200X thing had 103HP (and lost a hundred pounds or so hehe)... that could be a fun bike... and HD wouldn't have to do anything except what they are good at. Take pieces from an existing design and put them on another design to make a 'new' model! Thanks! | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
The XR1200 has lower power due to Smaller airbox volume. I was told this by someone smarter than myself. Remember that early Buells had essentially stock H-D engines with nice intakes and exhausts | ||
| Reepicheep |
I suspect the XR1200 "exhaust as a styling exercise" doesn't help either. And more weight is effectively less power (and less other things also) at the end of the day. I suspect it'd be a fine naked standard playbike though. Just not at that price point. | ||
| Uly_man |
The reason, I think, HD have not gone with Buell is like most things in this world today. Money. I do not think Buell was very profitable for them. HD trade on a biker life style. Anything from a bike to cat cuff links. They like people from Microsoft, rather than Easy Rider, these days. $50,000 for a bike that rides like a dead dog? You got to have more money than sense and someone to polish the Chrome. Buell were the last of the real bikes and will past into history as such. HD, and others who use past names, should be ashamed of themselves. It will not happen though because HD, like many others, is run by accountants. If you have a Buell keep/enjoy it because it will not come your way again. | ||
| Gunut75 |
If you have a Buell keep/enjoy it because it will not come your way again. Damn right; and if I get the means, I will get another!  | ||
| Kenm123t |
1190s 1190rs 1190rs Hey the store front of the motorycle pusher has changed the pusher is still cooking up great motorcycles. Most of the badwebers have a Case of Aaron Wilsonitis ( the desire to own at least one of each Buell made ) The best is yet to come! Erik Unchained. Hopefully all the Elves that want to can come back to hollow tree. | ||
| Yamafreak |
I want a 2011 Racing Red 180 hp 1190XT !  | ||
| Reepicheep |
I think you are right, but I don't think it was a straight up "cost too much to make the bike for too little profit" deal. If that was the case, I would say Buell lost fair and square and had a good run but Harley did what they had to do. I think it "cost too much" because Harley was *milking* Buell in a likely criminal shell game of hiding losses. Billing Buell for Blast motors that cost 2x what they were supposed to cost and 2.5x what Rotax could have delivered them for. Charging them millions to deliver "a new logo". Various other shell games with money where either individuals or whole divisions were hiding losses in places they thought the market wouldn't notice. | ||
| Court |
About the time the last Buell employees departed a few of those little shananigans became quite obvious. Some Buell folks are back to work . . now at HD. Some HD folks are unemployed. Some by choice. Some not. | ||
| Whisperstealth |
Ever think some of those movies are right. - That we are just pawns and the toy pieces in Other's game(s)? While I feel blessed to start motorcycling, and find out about Buell Motorcycles in time to get one. I'm convinced people were playing dirty. Using the Buell division in both corporate and personal shell games. I also believe somebody or somebodies were paid off to tank the company. With the Billions being wasted in the public and private sector, Buell getting shut down is criminal in my book. Erik is a modern Tucker. However all of it has bought about freedom for Erik. He is now able to pursue his dreams with out such a huge weight on his neck. I'd like to think it's an All Things Work To The Good type of thing. |
