| Author | Message | ||
     Nateman |
I read in another thread that some magazine named the XB12R the best-handling bike ever. However, I was surprised to see the XB12S quite a bit further down the list. I've always been under the impression that the the two models were mechanically identical. Is there something about the riding position or suspension on a 'Bolt that makes it corner better than a Lightning? I've never ridden one of the R's, so I can't make an informed comparison. Now that I think about, though, every picture I've ever seen of XBs racing is a Firebolt... | ||
| Typeone |
i'll take a swag.. . i think it basically comes down to bars, pegs and body position. Throw in fairing style/wind protection too.. . R = clip-on style bars. lower, more aggressive S = dirt/flat-track style bars. higher, elbows up! R = higher pegs, corner jockey S = lower pegs, comfort less cramped (1" difference?) R = more crouched/tucked, hunker down for the kill S = more upright, ala dirt/flat-track, muscle it around R = fuller fairing up front to tuck in behind S = fly screen only, more wind blast/resistance | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
I would say that One got it just about right. I have ridden both models at various track days, I would say the obvious: the R can be driven a bit faster on the track because of its clip on bars and higher pegs, but that the S is more comfortable as a daily driver, more appropriate for the " mature rider", ( ie: old farts like me:-), and can still be hustled through the twisties at a satisfying pace, albeit with a bit more effort. Both are very nice bicycles. I have an S, my nephew has the R, and if I were his age, I would too:-) | ||
| Lonexb |
gentleman jon, to bad you have the slowest color that buell offers. every one knows that black is the fastest!! (snicker) brian | ||
| Blake |
Not "best handling", "best cornering". As ground clearance plays heavily into that, the S was penalized for its lower pegs. | ||
| Dana P. |
Bars and pegs are a easy fix though. | ||
| Typeone |
sure are, 55 clams and i'm lower and higher  still got me eye on those Crossroads though. | ||
| Glitch |
Erik once said, he'd choose the S for roads he didn't know and use the R for roads he did know. Since I have a bad memory, I own an S with Cross Roads  | ||
| Duff24 |
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| Tpoppa |
The S has a slight rear weight bias compared to the R due to the natural riding position (yes you can lean forward) being a few inches toward the rear. It is easily accounted for via suspension settings. I love the handling of both, but the S is better suited to my riding style. I generally ride 300-500mile days on twisty backroads. | ||
| 12r |
I rode each one for a day before I made my choice. As you'd expect there's really very little in it - the S felt slightly more at home in traffic but personally I don't care for an upright riding position so I went for the R. It's also a fact that in a given corner, the R's lower riding position means you have to lean over further than on the S. They're both truly great motorcycles - magazines are for wrapping fish'n'chips. |
