| Author |
Message |
    
Brucelee
| | Posted on Sunday, September 24, 2006 - 11:09 am: | 
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I would love a lighter drivetrain, six speed trans and an air cooled engine.
New alloys please! |
Interex2050
| | Posted on Sunday, September 24, 2006 - 11:31 am: |
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I tried to rant about this before but here it goes again...
Even if Buell/Harley do not release a Rotax based XB,
with some time and money a somewhat simple conversion could be made;
The Rotax V990 engine is pretty small and should fit inside the XB
frame without much trouble. Mounting it shouldn't be too big of an
issue as one could just put together a cage for the Rotax
and make the mounting points (the ones that attach to the frame) be
identical to that of the of how the current engine mounts,
which would include using the isolation system. The only part that
could pose some difficulty and aggravation is the swingarm since
the XB swingarm is opposite of what the Rotax wants...
Any whom just a nice thought. |
Spatten1
| | Posted on Sunday, September 24, 2006 - 12:40 pm: |
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One problem that gets forgotten is that the short wheelbase of the XB isn't suited to a powerful engine, which is why the racers have extended the wheel base for stability.
What makes the XB chassis work now might not work if you just shoehorn in a more powerful engine and don't make serious chassis geometry changes for increased stability. |
Spatten11
| | Posted on Sunday, September 24, 2006 - 12:46 pm: |
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I think the Buell guys would have a good handle on needed chassis changes for a stronger motor, but doubling the power of a XB is like putting a Banchee 350 engine in a YSR50 (which has been done by a Yamaha employee I know). The XB would wheelie like the Britten did at Daytona with a gnarley engine in it. |
Skully
| | Posted on Sunday, September 24, 2006 - 03:14 pm: |
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Let's stick to just the engine for now as I keep hearing the term "modern power plant". What is it that we really want?
Are more than two valves per cylinder really that modern? How many of you are aware that Harley Davidson developed and raced an eight valve, twin cylinder engine around 1916? There may have been others but this is the one that comes to mind.
Is water cooling really that modern? A motorcycle built in 1894 by Hildebrand & Wolfmueller was credited with having water cooling. Again, there may have been others but this is what a quick Google search turned up. So what is considered modern and/or technical?
If you had a blank sheet of paper and began writing a specification for your dream Buell engine that would go in a Buell chassis, what would it be? Please be specific.
Keith |
Jeffnights
| | Posted on Sunday, September 24, 2006 - 06:21 pm: |
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And keep it in perspective... my buddy rides a V-Strom, which has that "wonderful" Suzuki superbike derived TLR watercooled twin. By the time they tuned it to make a non annoying amount of torque down low, I'm not sure it makes that much more power then an XB12, maybe even less. And it gets worse fuel economy.
Ahem, For the record.  The V-strom1000 delivers 93HP at the wheel, and 67Footpounds of tq.
I get 45MPG. I think the fuel mileage isn't a world-beater becasue the thing is a beast, it's DRY weight is 460 pounds.
That said, stock it does the 1/4 in 11.3
Go Buell. |
Jkhawaii
| | Posted on Sunday, September 24, 2006 - 06:48 pm: |
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It would be very interesting to see a Cotes Rotary valve headed Buell. |
Altima02
| | Posted on Sunday, September 24, 2006 - 09:03 pm: |
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^ That would go right along with the whole Buell way of doing things But I wonder what big brother Harley would say? |
Blake
| | Posted on Sunday, September 24, 2006 - 11:13 pm: |
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A modern engine must run efficiently and quietly, utilize electronic/digital fuel injection, require minimal maintenance, be compact and lightweight, produce good power, and be reliable and long-lived. 
So it is written, so it shall be.  |
Thespive
| | Posted on Sunday, September 24, 2006 - 11:20 pm: |
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I would want the engine I have now.
Torque, Reliability, Simplicity...what more could you ask for?
I am sorry, but I am going to continue saying how much I like our air-cooled V-twin lumps.
--Sean |
Skully
| | Posted on Sunday, September 24, 2006 - 11:41 pm: |
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I am sorry...
Why apologize for something you like? People like to point to high revving, multiple valve, and water cooling as "modern" or containing more technology. It seems to me this is backwards.
As you saw from my post above, multiple valves and water cooling have been around for a century. Power with simplicity, reliability, and low maintenance is the modern power plant in my opinion.
My perfect Buell engine is:
Air cooled
Two cylinders
Low maintenance
smooth power delivery
50 mpg
110-120 RWHP @ 8,500 RPM
90-100 lb-ft of torque
As Blake once said, state what it is that you want the engine to do and let the engineers figure out what the best configuration is for the task.
Keith |
Anonymous
| | Posted on Monday, September 25, 2006 - 01:38 am: |
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Spatten,
FYI, Jeremy ran the wheelbase of the XBRR at 52.5" at Daytona. No length of wheelbase is long enough to tame the power available in high performance bikes today, so might as well go for handling! |
Thespive
| | Posted on Monday, September 25, 2006 - 02:09 am: |
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Thanks Skully,
I came from Sportsters, so I'd like to think I have a different kind of respect and perspective than other Buellers who started with the brand first. To me the Buell is all the things I like about H-D, but wrapped in a package that better fits my style. I like to tell people I am a Harley guy that likes to corner.
I like Buell because I tend to be different, because I respect Erik for his vision and drive, because I like torque over horsepower, because I like people to look at my bike and think it European, only to hear that race kitted V-twin fire up and see the confused look on thier faces, because nothing sounds better than a V-twin coming off of 7000rpm, and because I feel like I am part of a select group that "gets it", that understands what this madness is all about. Plus, I hardly ever see another one on the road, but when I do, there is a special connection that both riders have that can be seen in the enthusic greeting that goes beyond the typical wave or nod.
I am a Bueller, and damn proud to be one!
And if I were to change something, I'd add a 6-speed and a better dealer network that also "gets it". If Erik Buell deems a water-cooled engine to be a necessity down the line, as long as it fits the Buell vision and philosophy and doesn't detract from all of the reasons that I love the brand, as mentioned above, BMC doesn't have to worry about me being a lifelong customer - but if I had my way, we'd keep refining our air-cooled, 2-valve, V-twins
--Sean
(Message edited by thespive on September 25, 2006) |
Skully
| | Posted on Monday, September 25, 2006 - 08:31 am: |
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Sean, I could not have said it any better. My first bikes were Japanese then I migrated to Harleys in the 90s and then to Buell and I've never looked back.
Keith |
Skully
| | Posted on Monday, September 25, 2006 - 08:34 am: |
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FYI, Jeremy ran the wheelbase of the XBRR at 52.5" at Daytona. No length of wheelbase is long enough to tame the power available in high performance bikes today, so might as well go for handling!
Traction control is legal now! |
Spatten1
| | Posted on Monday, September 25, 2006 - 08:32 pm: |
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Anony:
Very interesting!
Could the lesser riders work with the short wheelbase as well? |
Usroute66
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 26, 2006 - 01:32 am: |
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I had a 2000 S3T, then went to a 2004 Aprilia Tuono. Now, I am going to get a 2007 Uly. HOWEVER, I will keep the Tuono. The two can not even come close to being compared, and shouldn't. The Tuono is an awsome bike. However, I am a V-twin nut, want a bike that gets 50+mpg (the Tuono gets 35ish if I stay off the throttle NOT ) I want the integrated hard bags, and I want to sit up high and tour in comfort. The V-strom is nice, but yawn, it is so plain. The Tuono is built for track days, the Uly is built for what I do the most of...back roads, long days, and touring. And I want an aircooled one, thank you. |
Anonymous
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 26, 2006 - 10:47 am: |
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There never has been an issue with the bikes being too short for any of the top riders. After Mid-Ohio the riders were complaining they couldn't get it short enough. |
Red_chili
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 26, 2006 - 02:44 pm: |
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Anony, *IF* you go H2O, for gosh sakes make it look like something other than an air compressor.
My only complaints relate to the EPA mandates you have to live under, and they are relatively minor (and not unique to Buell). There is a beast lurking in the shadows of my Uly and I feel its breath.
Real beasts have leathery scales. Don't make them vinyl, if you take my meaning. HonSuzYamaKaw handle that space. |
Ducxl
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 26, 2006 - 04:32 pm: |
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The '08 should be a culmination of what they learn on the new "RR"" and bump street bike displacement for a detuned version of the "RR" would be nice.I'd buy water though. |
Anonymous
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 26, 2006 - 11:44 pm: |
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watch for the 08 model year. it'll be "cool" and different! |
Diablobrian
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 27, 2006 - 03:05 am: |
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It should be interesting to see what's in store, the speculation is gaining momentum.
People will be absolutely feverish by next summer. Like Blake says "only 10 months to go!" |
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