| Author | Message | ||
     Pupu |
what he said  | ||
| Diablobrian |
Well, on the race track a built sv650 can be pretty competetive with the XB's, but in classes like thunderbike the XB dominates. There is no way the sv650 will "walk circles around" your xb12. Not on the SV's best day. Rider is more improtant than the machine on the street though, at least on equipment that is fairly closely matched like the XB & SV. Even if he could run faster than you (highly doubtful), you could always challenge him to run on your terms. Then drain both tanks, put 1 gallon in each bike. The one that goes farther wins  | ||
| Crashm1 |
I'm with New12R. I've done an honest tire slide on corner exit once. I still haven't found the limits of my X1. I keep pushing a little bit more and keep finding there is more go or more lean to be had in the thing. It's starting to get mildly annoying after 15K miles thrashing this bike that I'm the weak link. My wife and I rented a couple sport bikes last month in CA and I never got the Ninja anywhere near it's limits either, hell I never managed to find the rev limiter. I found the stoppie lever and the wheelie grip and scared myself a couple times in strange corners but didn't even get out of second most of the time. I don't need more engine I need more skill. Where can I buy some of that. Buellfirebolt31 I have a friend with a SV650 and if anyone is doing a ring walk it's me, I can leave him for dead anytime I want. My friend Zachs and his Aprilia is a different story he can kill me on a straight and I have to push to keep up with him in the corners. | ||
| Pwnzor |
My bike is capable of more than I will ever ask of it. I'm not a racer and don't pretend to be when I'm on the street. I ride as fast as is fun for me. I love coming home to my family in one piece. | ||
| Blake |
The added stuff associated with liquid cooling systems is a concern for most folks who appreciate elegance in engineering and beautiful aesthetics in a naked motorcycle. In automobiles and repli-racers the mongo hideous heat exchanger and associated plumbing and overflow reservoir is hidden away out of sight. The artistic appeal of my motorcycle is important to me. Pretty sure that is true for most folks. I'd take an air-cooled Duc M1000DS over its liquid cooled sister every time. Ditto for an R-model Beemer versus its K-model brethren. If you crave a liquid cooled motorcycle, simply head on down to your local Japan Inc. motorcycle retailer and have at it. Or better yet try a Triumph or Duc or Aprilia... Me? I'd rather ride my Buell.  And for some really wacked-out reason, that really seems to burn deeply into the psyche of some folks. People sure are funny. | ||
| Blake |
I'll be honest though, I'd like to see more power. Frankly I'm a bit shy about presuming to dictate how HDMC/Buell should accomplish that goal. A street-going detuned XBRR powerplant would be FINE with me.  Die-cast XBRR cases? Pretty sure they are sand-cast XLCR. | ||
| Diablobrian |
The primary cover looks to be sand cast, but the others looked to be the more finished die cast pieces, suitable for volume production kind of stuff | ||
| Blake |
You've seen it up close and personal. Wait, so have I. I wasn't paying close attention though. Was more interested in the naked Hot chick on the bike instead. Oops. Topic bleed.  | ||
| Wazza |
If you go to water cooling then thats gotta add some weight and some size (bulk) to bike not to mention a high HP engine may test the limits of belt drive reliability. I prefer light, nimble, simple to service and compact size with no chain mess or lash. Thats the features that brought me over from the quite powerful water cooled Speed Triple I traded. | ||
| Tbs_stunta |
>>Can someone clear this up for me....Will a SV 650 "walk circles" around the XB12's? this guy keep telling me that his will "walk circles" around my bike....i laugh at him, but will someone gimme something really good to say to him next time he says it...thanks So go ride the twisties and settle it properly. | ||
| Bake |
If they go liquid cooled I hope they offer the old aircooled version for us diehards! | ||
| Brucelee |
"Blake said--The added stuff associated with liquid cooling systems is a concern for most folks who appreciate elegance in engineering and beautiful aesthetics in a naked motorcycle. In automobiles and repli-racers the mongo hideous heat exchanger and associated plumbing and overflow reservoir is hidden away out of sight. The artistic appeal of my motorcycle is important to me. Pretty sure that is true for most folks. I'd take an air-cooled Duc M1000DS over its liquid cooled sister every time. Ditto for an R-model Beemer versus its K-model brethren. If you crave a liquid cooled motorcycle, simply head on down to your local Japan Inc. motorcycle retailer and have at it. Or better yet try a Triumph or Duc or Aprilia..." I could not agree more with these statements. I really like the fact that the XB is air cooled. I would like a lighter engine and trans unit, which I assume is possible with today's alloys. I think dropping the weight of the drive train and adding say, 20 HP would really transform the XB/ 1400ccs anyone? | ||
| Eexb |
"If you crave a liquid cooled motorcycle, simply head on down to your local Japan Inc. motorcycle retailer and have at it. Or better yet try a Triumph or Duc or Aprilia... Me? I'd rather ride my Buell. And for some really wacked-out reason, that really seems to burn deeply into the psyche of some folks. People sure are funny." Blake - you should save the above and post it every time this (worn out) topic comes up again (and again ............. ) EE | ||
| Oldfz |
For 98% of us, these bikes make plenty of power. However, I'd like to see three improvements to the engine/trans on my 12S: 1. Less weight. 2. Refine the fuel injection to eliminate the random pinging, surging, and stumbling. 3. A six speed gearbox with closer ratios so there really is a gear for every occasion. | ||
| Wademan |
Just FYI liquid cooled is generally lighter. When Porsche went to liquid cooled their engines got lighter and more powerful. Go figure? Its a common misconception. | ||
| Davo |
I am going to keep my a/c engine. I like the sound of the tall valve train, simplicity and durability. It will not be long before the a/c engine will no longer be offered in large displacement motorcycles because of future EPA regulations. The current engines are tuned so tight that they are having some minor ignition problems due to the high compression, heat, and lean mixtures. The only way to further reduce emissions would be to add a CAT and some type of anti knock technology either piezo sensor, EGR or water injection. After that the only solution is temperature management, ie. a water cooled engine. Until then, I am going to enjoy the a/c experience. | ||
| Buellfirebolt31 |
just word from my general manager here at the harley shop....he said, just people talking, about next years xb's being water cooled 6 speed. just rumor tho....but thats from a g/m | ||
| Diablobrian |
Those rumors have been circulating for several years now. I'll wait until I hear it from a source that I trust that KNOWS what's what. hearsay and rumor are unreliable from almost any source. Facts are better. | ||
| Sgthigg |
I want a new engine too. The bottom right of mine makes a sound like two pieces of metal slapping together. | ||
| Davo |
Sgtthigg, What kind of oil are you using and how many miles are on the oil? Is it more prevalent when it is hot? The noise is probably normal if it is more of a clack than a slap. The culprit is lifters. That tall valve train noise is what I like about the bike. I do not like the sewing machine noise metric alternative. | ||
| Slaughter |
Buellfirebolt31: Can someone clear this up for me....Will a SV 650 "walk circles" around the XB12's? this guy keep telling me that his will "walk circles" around my bike....i laugh at him, but will someone gimme something really good to say to him next time he says it...thanks Short answer: No Long answer - depends on setup, everything else. The SV is a much more developed system from an aftermarket parts standpoint but stock, the SV is about useless in the suspension department (forks and shock) Stock suspension on the SV is NOT adjustable for damping on either end. Setting preload on the forks is done by adding shims in the forks and what you end up with is NOT usable for "spirited riding" because there's just no good/usable damping to speak of. Damping adjustments are made by changing fork oil viscosity. With cartridge emulators and proper springs in the forks and a rear shock change to a GSXR, it becomes a passable handling bike. Swap the front end to a GSXR and put a Penske or Ohlins on the rear and you have a fine handling bike, down a little on power compared to the XB. I raced both the XB and SV on same track, same day for a season. Once I got the XB properly setup, it was consistently 2-3 seconds a lap faster (1:31 v. 1:34 at Willow) He's blowing smoke. I'd say a TOTALLY setup SV with the above suspension mods AND an engine pumped up another 20-25HP will give the XB a run for its money - but with the extra HP, you sacrifice reliability and those suspension extras (GSXR front end, Ohlins rear) are another $2000 - $3000 | ||
| Xring |
I wouldn't buy a water-cooled XB. My mostly stock XB9 has more ability than I do the way it is. If anything I'd go for a much lighter, slightly less powerful package. Anyway, it would have to be a revolution, not evolution, to get considerably more power in an XB, and still meet applicable durability and EPA standards. It is a matter of degrees, adding power and losing weight. Face it, our XB's aren't going to gain 50 hp and lose 50 pounds anytime soon. Not for production, anyway. Ditto what Blake said about the BMW's and Duc's. And artistic appeal. The last time I looked closely at a Japanese bike with the bodywork off it was rather horrifying. It looked crude and thrown-together in comparison to my XB. Granted, he would be a crude-appearing, but rapidly disappearing dot on a long straight. Bill | ||
| Jkhawaii |
refine the current engine. like GM has done with the pushrod. better fuel injection, better heads, no pinging so a xbrr based engine would likely fit the bill. | ||
| Midknyte |
The last time I looked closely at a Japanese bike with the bodywork off it was rather horrifying. It looked crude and thrown-together in comparison to my XB. Granted, he would be a crude-appearing, but rapidly disappearing dot on a long straight. I had the same reaction when I finally went looking at some Duc's. Aside from being too dang tall for me, they did look like they had soul - two or three of them actually. Bolted, strapped, and crammed together. | ||
| Toxic |
Ok, I've got something for everyone on this topic...if you want some other engine, get some other bike...if you never want buell to use new engine technology, perhaps you should suggest going back to carburated engines...honestly, are we really arguing about what somebody else's desire is? If the powers that be decide they want to push for a new engine, i'm sure it will work out with all the styling and ingenuity we have come to expect from Buell. If not, they are still making one hell of a product. Why get so hot headed? | ||
| Snakedriver |
'Cause Its Fun! What if? This or that...Its fun. Complancy, failure to adapt to changing times, EPA and DoT regs. Thats what killed the British sports car industry. I know that wasnt the only reason. But the biggest. (Message edited by snakedriver on July 20, 2006) (Message edited by snakedriver on July 20, 2006) | ||
| Toxic |
I understand that snake, but to sit here and argue online seems...silly | ||
| Sgthigg |
Heck, even if the XB was water cooled the heat still would be felt. Unless you put the radiator behind you. Is my bike hot??..YES COmes with the territory. I have a couple buddies who ride liter bikes. And I laugh at how sweaty they are compared to me when we get done riding. I will sweat but these guys are hating life, they look like they ran about 3 miles. Heck at that point they dont even want to ride anymore cause they cant take it. lol It must suck to be them, they have it worse in my opinion. Im in South MS, It gets pretty darn hot. | ||
| Dongalonga |
My moto for my 03 9s when asked how much power/how fast is it is the following: It has enough power/speed to get hurt on if you dont know what you are doing. I guess I have never really understood peoples fascination with all out power/straightline speed on bikes. I have always found more joy at the apex than the vanishing point. | ||
| Diablobrian |
It takes less skill to pull the trigger in a straight line, so the squids can impress themselves with how fast they are. I in particular love the ones that look at the speedo to determine how fast the bike is.  |
