| Author | Message | ||
     Indy_bueller |
Just doin my part to push this thread to 1000 before Homecoming.  | ||
| Indy_bueller |
Fudd; I like the idea behind that bike but to me, the styling is lacking. IMHO. | ||
| Spatten1 |
That Suzuki will be awesome! I wonder if you can remove that ugly thing on the side of the gas tank? | ||
| Spatten1 |
New theory: Six months ago Ducati needed money badly. They had just finished developing the best V-Twin in the industry. If you are Harley, why not contract to buy it for your sportbikes for the next few years? | ||
| Jaimec |
Post 964. Keep it going, guys! We'll hit a thousand before the end of the week! | ||
| Doerman |
We need to hit 1203 | ||
| Spike |
Where are you guys seeing the post count? | ||
| Garrett2 |
people should quit postign that bogus PS job, we all know damn well the exhaust wont be like that and wont be chain driven a for effort but just quit jesus i want the week to fly by so the BS stops for another year and we find out what buell is actually releasing. plus im looking to buy a new bike soon, want a xb12r, gotta see if buell actually does have a new sportbike coming out or if its just a new color (which could also make me wait) | ||
| 07xb12scg |
jesus i want the week to fly by so the BS stops for another year and we find out what buell is actually releasing. plus +1  I just hate rumors because they get your hopes up and usually you're let down. Actually, I will be disappointed if the Lightning or Firebolt is updated this year since I just bought my 07. It would be just my "luck" for Buell to release our dream Buell this year as an 08. | ||
| Thunderheart |
Seeing as how I'll be using my CityX for a long while, I'm really only interested in the "new" just as something look at while at work :P I do however, hope Buell releases something revolutionary. | ||
| Court |
I won't be disappointed. I've owned 9 Buells and loved each and everyone. I miss my 1990 RS-1200 the most but my S-2 and I are connected like a Lab puppy . . . I'll be happy no matter what. . . . | ||
| Jaimec |
If it really, truly is a "Superbike" then I don't see any alternative BUT a chain drive. I love the belt drive, but I can't see any way they could build a belt drive strong enough to handle modern superbike levels of power, and still be narrow enough to suit a sportbike. Plus, it would make it easier to adjust overall gearing at various race tracks. Hard (if not impossible) to do that with a belt. | ||
| Buellinachinashop |
A totally new version of a sportsbike won't be happening until after 2008, the new stuff will most likely be updates to the current XBs. New motor and air induction is probably coming for 2008. if you're looking for a totally redesigned bike, I think you're going to be dissapointed. | ||
| Reepicheep |
IMHO, a hypersport should come with *either* chain drive, or several sets of matched pulleys for several possible gearings. Or some other clever way to easily change the gear ratios. | ||
| Anonymous |
I love the belt drive, but I can't see any way they could build a belt drive strong enough to handle modern superbike levels of power, and still be narrow enough to suit a sportbike. Oh, ye of little faith . . . | ||
| Spatten1 |
If it really, truly is a "Superbike" then I don't see any alternative BUT a chain drive. I love the belt drive, but I can't see any way they could build a belt drive strong enough to handle modern superbike levels of power, and still be narrow enough to suit a sportbike. Yep. Those roller bearings in the crankcase will have to go too. The new Cycle World has another article by Kevin Cameron that discusses the limitations of roller bearings. Some things work great in a lower power machine, like a 52 inch wheelbase, but will have to change with a stronger engine. | ||
| M1combat |
"I love the belt drive, but I can't see any way they could build a belt drive strong enough to handle modern superbike levels of power, and still be narrow enough to suit a sportbike. " Personally I feel that it'll have to be stretchy... They've been going for the stiff route for the last few years as far as I can tell and I think to support higher power levels they'll need to go for something that can give a decent chunk when the power hits. As far as I'm concerned if they can build a belt that'll do it (and keep in mind we're talking goodyear here (But pirelli makes some pretty serious belts as well)...) I'd MUCH rather have a belt. The benefits are outstanding. If I want to go to the track I'll roll my own chain solution IF the gearing of the belt doesn't suit my track. The current setup suits my local track just great. I do agree about the wheelbase but I don't think it should need to be much longer. The XB frame already puts a pretty decent chunk of weight over the front tire (52% as I recall) and if the new engine is any shorter then we should be able to get even more over the front. The RR engine seems to look a few inches shorter. This should make the swingarm a tad longer as well and I'm sure Buell will maintain the correct swingarm angle ;). Should be even better on the brakes  . I would really like to see adjustable rear ride height from the factory though. | ||
| M1combat |
Oh... and I think we're going to need to hit 1340 posts ;) by the eighth and 1200 by Laguna ;). | ||
| S1eric |
I wont be disappointed. I`ve owned 9 Buells and loved each and everyone. Court your 3 Buells up on me but i`d have to agree. Is #7 in my future ? S1Eric} | ||
| Jaimec |
Hmmmm... well, I know the 500 bhp Boss Hoss uses a belt drive, but that is one, big, fat honking piece of Kevlar. I'd be interested to see how it would scale down to a size usable for a street "Superbike" (I say "street" as opposed to "track" as I wouldn't have to keep changing gear ratios on the street like I would if I were a serious competitor on the track). | ||
| Spatten1 |
That belt better be as reliable as a chain this time, or it's gonna be an uphill battle to sell to the mainstream. When you go against mainstream accepted engineering, you should be 110% sure that it will work as well as the systems that everyone else uses. We are probably on the 3rd or 4th generation belt now. That should have never happened. It would be very foolish to do the same thing with a more powerful bike. Non-brand loyal people will be much less forgiving. If the factory does proper testing with a belt this time, and is 110% sure that it is bullet proof, great. It would be superior to a chain in a few ways(if optional pulleys are offered at a reasonable price). But if it is a repeat of the XB belt evolution, it will be a debacle for Buell. Nothing would be worse for Buell than a reliability issue. It has taken about 5 years to get beyond the reputation of the X1 issues. | ||
| Trojan |
If Buell are gong to build a true sportsbike then it must be capable of selling ot people who would never dream of owning a Buell before. One of the things that turns people off is the belt drive, despite its apparent and alleged advantages. Bike buyers are a conservative bunch and like to go with what they know will work, and what they can adjust and fix easily without resorting to specialist shops. Chain drive, or at least swingarm adjusters to make fitting one easier, would be an absolute must on a bike that is destined for racing. We all know that Buell can come up with 'unique' solutions and engineering, bt if that means remaining slightly eccentric and outside the main stream then they will lose customers. It is sometimes better to be a little more conventional, particularly in areas where the true benefits are as yet seen as unproven and 'quirky'.. Give the world a true sports bike that retains a Buell character, that even a Honda/Yamaha/Kawasaki 600/1000 owner can appreciate and you will sell them by the boat load. Make it a weird and 'too radical' product and it will sell as many as Vyrus and Bimota do today, i.e not many. | ||
| Court |
They said as the left to get in their high performance cars . . . . with belt drive cams. Solve the problem, not the perception. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Yeah! Stop doing goofy stuff like putting the Exhaust can under the bike. Instead, put it where they put it on a GSXR-600. Oh wait... ;) | ||
| Indy_bueller |
If the factory does proper testing with a belt this time, and is 110% sure that it is bullet proof, great. How did they test it last time? Whoot! Post 984! (Message edited by Indy_bueller on July 02, 2007) | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Make it too much like a Honda/Yamaha/Kawasaki 600/1000 and you simply build another clone. It's the uniqueness, eccentricities, quirkiness, and radical design that attracts many of us to the bike. I would like what makes a Buell a Buell plus a few more ponies at the wheel. If I can get water cooling as well, even better. Race bikes and street bikes are DIFFERENT. Many race bikes would suck to ride on the street. Most street bikes are inadequate on the track. The majority of us will never take our bikes to the track enough to warrant loss of street manners. If that means "Ricky Ricer" won't buy a Buell, fine by me. I kinda like not seeing a Buell in every garage. What good would it be for a corporation to gain the world, yet forfeit its soul? | ||
| Prof_stack |
What good would it be for a corporation to gain the world, yet forfeit its soul? I doubt that the shareholders have that kind of faith!  | ||
| Jaimec |
"Soul" + $2.00 = 1 Ride on the NYC Subway System. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
I doubt that the shareholders have that kind of faith! Maybe they shoulda bought Wal-Mart stock. I wonder what the percentage of folks here is that bought their bikes because they were "different". I would prefer "different plus" instead of "same equals". Is there really much of a difference between the liter bike offerings from Honda/Yamaha/Suzuki/Kawasaki? If Buell produced one exactly like the offering by Honda/Yamaha/Suzuki/Kawasaki, would anyone really be willing to leave one of the other four for Buell? If they were, would there simply be a slicing of the same pie share? What would Buell's slice really be? How small? Conversely, how many folks looking for "different" would look elsewhere (Triumph, Ducati, Aprilia, KTM)? Were Buell just like H/Y/S/K, I would never have even looked in Buell's direction. Why would I? | ||
| Ducxl |
Is there really much of a difference between the liter bike offerings from Honda/Yamaha/Suzuki/Kawasaki? At the highest levels of tune it's hard to be different.If Buell goes there it'll mean us guys' who prefer American iron will now have the highest levels of tune. |
