| Author | Message | ||
     Reepicheep |
See! I told you. Grey aliens are building nuclear powered bikes in East Troy with old B2 bomber technology. I saw the pictures. | ||
| Spatten1 |
Mileage will likely go down if horsepower climbs 50 percent, regardless of cooling method. just the cam profiles (unless variable) will result in lower efficiency at low RPM. I also agree about the advantages of controlled temp for controlled tolerances. If there is an advantage to running hotter they just change the thermostat to optimize it. As for the KTM: I love its aesthetics. I'm pitching a tent. | ||
| Dbird29 |
Spatten1 (Erik), Is that a "thepup" tent you are pitching?  | ||
| Davefla |
Spatten1(Erik): I concur that mileage will likely go down with horsepower increase. Do you have any interest in the Concours14? The AMA have already posted a first ride report. The old Connie did a lot of things wrong compared to today's bikes, but getting 30-35 MPG on premium wasn't one of them, IIRC. | ||
| Spatten1 |
Yeah, that 14 is a great idea. Detuning the ZX might result in good mileage. Still must be insane power for a sport tourer. This one should buzz less than the old Councours, huh. | ||
| Tom_k |
I picked up a couple of Courts hints and tried to make something out of them. Give me your feedback. "Doesn't anyone read Fuell?" and "Look at the picture" I was looking through back issues of Fuell I downloaded and I found the picture of the Uly on a banked dirt track (the one that showed up on the Buell website a short time ago) as the lead photo on an article about Buell test riders. Coincidence? Perhaps. It is on page 8 of the July/August 06 Fuell. I then started to scrutinize the pictures in the article. Does that Lightning in the picture on page #9 have a distinct lack of fins on the jugs? Does the primary on some of the bikes in the group picture on page #9 have a little bit different shape than an XB engine? These things don't really jibe with the "poweRRing the future" blurb (get it, RR) on the cover of the Winter 2007 Fuell, but what do I know? Is this more smoke and mirrors, or am I sniffing glue? YOU DECIDE! | ||
| Davefla |
I've never ridden a Connie (though I've often thought about picking up a decent used one. Then I stop and think about how much time & money I have into my '78 Goldwing, never mind my Firebolt. There's something to be said for specialization!) I do know that most of the enthusiasts recommend adjusting the balancer early & often to lose the buzzies. But: again, I've a strong impression that a ZG1000 would have to be in a rotten state of tune to return 30mpg in the city. Of course, getting 30 due to a bad tune is quite different than getting 30 because you can't ignore the 150 horses that keep whispering "go ahead, be a hooligan..."  Tom_k: I must have the same eye problem as you. I don't see fins, either. But I also don't see a front-mounted radiator. Maybe an underseat radiator and NPG coolant? It also looks as if two of those mules had Uly fronts and Lightning tails. One of them looks to be simply a 9s with the front changed out. But I'm basing that on paint colors, so who knows? | ||
| Doerman |
The EU press (Motociclismo and Motorad) have been speculating and concluded that: Motor: 1000-1200 45Deg LC twin with output nearing 150hp and top speed of 175mph. Motor is said to be developed in cooperation with Rotax. Chassis: Same as current with a "Frank" and oil in swingarm (although modified to fit new power plant). Slightly longer wheelbase and less rake. --------------------------------------------- So I think that the 12R and XBRR are gonners and replaced with this machine in street and track trim. I believe that the the current XB12S and XB12X series are continuing much as is. Perhaps minor changes to address issues. I also think that simultaneously, or perhaps early next year there will be a replacement to the XB9R with 750cc engine of the new design. So, what do you think these will retail for in the US? XB12R(new) 12,495 XB12RR (new) 35,000 XB7R 10,995 The rest of the current lineup stays at current prices. These are my WAGs and wishes Asbjorn | ||
| Spatten1 |
I'm going to have to go fising or riding Sunday so I don't keep checking the Buell website every 15 minutes. | ||
| Trojan |
 | ||
| Davefla |
But Trojan - I can see fins!  | ||
| Paintballtommy |
i hope to god it doesnt cost 12 grand msrp | ||
| Trojan |
But Trojan - I can see fins! Just thought I'd liven things up a bit  This bike was built by Ilmberger for a 'well to do' customer and friend of Julius Ilmberger. It features one off bodywork. They also did a race version. very nice too | ||
| Davefla |
Thought there was something familiar, I've seen that before. I'm not normally fond of the "Stealth" style, but for that I'd make an exception! (PS: Post 1123, I think. We'll make 1350 by Sunday.) | ||
| Spike |
Just some food for thought on the horsepower/fuel mileage issue: The 2860lb Pontiac Solstice is powered by a 177hp 2.4L DOHC/VVT I4 and has an EPA mileage rating of 20 city and 28 highway. The 3179lb Chevrolet Corvette is powered by a 400hp 6.0L pushrod V8 and has an EPA mileage rating of 18 city and 28 highway. The Corvette is heavier, has a motor with more than twice the displacement and horsepower, yet still pulls in the same highway mileage. For whatever reason, big displacement 2-valve pushrod motors tend to get great mileage. | ||
| Spike |
Backing up a page or two to the physical engine size discussion- pushrod engines do not need to be bigger than DOHC counterparts. Check out this image comparing the physical size of a Ford 4.6 DOHC V8 and the Ford 5.0 pushrod V8:  | ||
| 45_degrees |
And even the 7.0 liter 427 (btw- it is a small block not a big block) LS7 Corvette Z06 engine with 505 hp officially avoids the "gas-guzzler" tax... gets 26-28 highway. It is small and light compared to an over-head cam engine... such as the Northstar 4.6, but still able to rev higher at 7000 rpm! It even has a pretty long stroke too (4.125" bore, 4.0" stroke) (Message edited by 45 degrees on July 05, 2007) | ||
| Spatten1 |
Spike: Compare the Vette to a Honda or Toyota four cylinder. Pontiac/GM 4 cylinders are not exactly at the forefront of engineering. | ||
| Spatten1 |
Pushrods are not good for mileage, that is silly. Large engines can be efficient over a narrow RPM range due to volume vs. surface area. It has nothing to do with pushrods. There are many tradeoffs for power, mileage, driveablity, power spread, etc. Two valves and push rods can only be used at low rpms. Therefore, if you have a limited rev band with a large engine, you can make power. You can also get good mileage. However, you have more weight and size as the displacement increases. This is not always good. All tradeoffs. (Message edited by spatten1 on July 05, 2007) | ||
| 45_degrees |
Spatten... the Ecotec is a better engine than a Honda four. Do more research. They are balanced and smooth. The Honda is not. I guess you don't know about the direct-injected/turbocharged version. Or the 1000 hp version that has set Bonneville class land speed records. | ||
| Davefla |
"Pushrods are not good for mileage, that is silly." That seems kind of a blanket statement. Wouldn't it also depend on tradeoffs? I'm sure that Buell could easily build a Blast variant which returned 90mpg. I'm also sure that since it would be likely to have a 125cc engine and have undergone a serious weight loss program, I wouldn't much enjoy riding it... | ||
| Blake |
Longer stroke lower revving engine will give better efficiency. The type of valvetrain is probably inconsequential. Compare the fuel efficiencies of the current XB9S versus XB12S or the XB9R versus the XB12R; it the same bike, just with a shorter stroke for the XB9 versions. | ||
| Spatten1 |
Longer stroke lower revving engine will give better efficiency. The type of valvetrain is probably inconsequential. Exactly. | ||
| Davefla |
So you're saying that the next Buell engine will be a direct-injected turbodiesel? (Yes, I'm kidding - though I'd love to take a test mule out for a lap or two!) | ||
| Elvis |
Doesn't the Corvette have "displacement on demand"? Wouldn't that do a lot to help fuel mileage? | ||
| Dongalonga |
So how about them 08 Buells huh | ||
| Chadhargis |
Now...if you want efficiency AND power...then step up to a turbo diesel. Audi is winning races with this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audi_R10 Just spanked 'em all at LeMans...with a diesel! Talk about "different". Imagine a diesel sportbike. Torque to spare, and 100mpg! Hell yeah!! (Message edited by chadhargis on July 05, 2007) | ||
| Hughlysses |
Chad, that is like, so 2 nanoseconds ago.... http://www.badweatherbikers.com/cgibin/discus/show .cgi?tpc=32777&post=915943#POST915943  | ||
| Tankhead |
http://www.sport-touring.net/forums/index.php/topi c,3519.0/all.html Go to the buell section on child boards and find the thread about Buell dirtbikes. Someone under the name lurker1 from WI says" Think Rotax, think Liquid, Think Aprillia, 130rhp, (Message edited by tankhead on July 05, 2007) http://www.sport-touring.net/forums/index.php?PHPSESSID=147061e390649cda5a50ee646b51ef1b&topic=3519.0 (Message edited by blake on July 05, 2007) | ||
| Blake |
Tank, that link just goes to a main topics page. |
