| Author | Message | ||
     Bagoxcalum99 |
Hey guys, Just curious what your thoughts are to an XB as a starter bike. Been doing some research and it seems like a good choice. Give me some feedback guys! Thanks, Matt | ||
| Jeffroj |
I got my 12s as my first street bike and felt very comfortable and confident. But I did grow up on dirtbikes and took the safety course a long time ago, got my motorcycle license 7 years ago, just never closed the deal and bought one. If you have done a lot of riding on dirtbikes, you should be golden. If you have literally never ridden a dirtbike or a motorcycle, get something a lot cheaper first. | ||
| Nik |
If first bike period... There's worse first choices.... but its still a terrible first bike. It has aggressive steering geometry, aggressive brakes, and is quite the wheelie machine. Riding a motorcycle is not intuitive; it is better to develop the necessary reflexes on something that won't bite so hard when you do it wrong, and preferably something that you don't mind rashing up a little. Your first bike isn't your last, but it could be. (Message edited by nik on June 08, 2008) | ||
| Simple |
i'm with Jeffroj. i have experience on dirtbikes and quads. i just purchased an xb9sx (1st street bike) and i feel from the 10 or so miles i have put on it in my neighborhood that it is a great 1st choice! it envokes confidence, comfort and the riding position is very 'familiar'. i feel i made a good choice for the 1st road worthy 2 wheeler. now i just need to get my license and i'll really put the miles on her! | ||
| Whitexc |
You need a license to ride these things?!?! Go for it...it's my first street bike and I am already, after only a couple of weeks and a few hundred miles, feeling very at home in the saddle. Good luck and be safe. | ||
| Werewulf |
think blast, not xb.. | ||
| Randomchaos |
I would have to say that the XB is not a great choice as a starter bike. That torque can get you in a lot of trouble if you arent very good with controlling the throttle, like most newbies to motorcycles. I would say to try something smaller if you have never ridden any kind of motorcycle. If you have ridden a motorcycle before, preferably a 2 stroke like a dirt bike, or another v-twin, the XB might be right up your alley. | ||
| Buellray |
I got the 9r as my first bike. I was very comfortable learning on it. I found it to be very forgiving but I didn't do anything aggressive or stupid while getting used to it. My only complaint was that I didn't get the 12  My only other riding experience....Mt Bikes. | ||
| Badlionsfan |
If your brain out weights your right wrist, an Xb should be fine for a first bike. I would recommend a lightning over a firebolt, and a 9 over a 12. IMO the ergonomics of the lightning are better for a noob and the 9 is a smoother, more forgiving power plant. no matter what you get, TAKE THE SAFETY COURSE!!!! | ||
| Brazenbuck |
I'm a new rider of two weeks, and I ride a 12Ss. I asked this same question before I bought my bike, and one of the many things I've learned since then is that the starter bike question is totally dependent on the rider. For me, I think an XB was a good starter bike because I was comfortable with the controls and I respect the geometry and torque. Notice I said torque and not power. These bikes can go from really nice sportbike to PBR bucking bull in a half a heartbeat. I haven't had my front wheel take off, but I can see how someone could have it happen to them. There's no lash in the drivetrain and everything happens RIGHT NOW. Learning how to control the throttle on these bikes goes a long way towards controlling them If you haven't taken one already, take a rider's course. The stars lined up for me in that the Rider's Edge program came to CA last month, so I'm signed up for a class in July and can't wait. | ||
| Prof_stack |
Much smarter to start on a Blast, imho. It gets you in the game on a safer level, especially if you've got a lot of testosterone. Safety course is a good idea, too. | ||
| Ferocity02 |
My 05 XB12Scg was my first bike, good choice on my part, I love it! | ||
| Retrittion |
The XB is not a good starter bike -- PERIOD. I love my 12R, I love Buells, and I love getting more people into riding but facts are facts. Calling a XB a good starter bike is like calling a Ford F350 a good commuter -- it just ain't true. A good starter bike is a Buell Blast, Ninja 250, etc. The best way to learn to ride street and have a better chance of surviving is putting your ego in check and taking whatever course is available in your area to learn the basics (riding a motorcycle well is not something that you can figure out yourself -- anyone who says otherwise is full of it). Then spend a full season riding that starter bike and learning to make the most out of it -- then sell it (or don't, many people keep them) and get the bike you want. Doing it right will save your skin -- being impatient will get you killed. My fiancee will be riding a Blast her first year before she gets that Cherry Bomb XB12Scg she really loves -- as much I would love to have a second Buell in the garage I want my fiancee around more. Yet AGAIN why Buell needs to make an XB5!!!  (Message edited by retrittion on June 09, 2008) | ||
| Boltrider |
First time rider, just bought an '08 XB12R. I think age also has a lot to do with this question. I'm not 19 anymore, and with that comes maturity. Oh and I took the foundation safety course as well. It helped A LOT!! | ||
| Ezblast |
Concur! EZ | ||
| Nik |
I think age also has a lot to do with this question. I'm not 19 anymore, and with that comes maturity. Mid age crisis are overrepresented in motorcycle accident statistics also... And a lot of those are returning riders. Wouldn't recognizing the benefits of getting a more appropriate starter bike over what one really wanted be a greater sign of maturity than saying, "I'll just take it easy..."? The biggest part of street riding is interacting with your environment; wind, rain, terrain, and all the crazy people in cars. A good starter bike is not one that you can handle putting around your neighborhood on a nice day, its one where you can learn to react to all those things calmly and smoothly, IE one that won't throw you off if you're a bit too ham-fisted. On the other hand it's not as if its impossible to learn to ride on a bike such as the XB. It's just that in my experience and observations a smaller bike will allow a rider to learn the fundamentals better, faster and cheaper. | ||
| Retrittion |
Yeah, you can learn to ride on an XB -- but you have to put the time and effort in to taking the classes (all of them) and taking it super easy. Not a good idea but it's not impossible either. | ||
| Boney95 |
Some of you guys sound like the the XB have a Viper engine attached to it. It's only a 1203 V-Twin. | ||
| 4cammer |
Ninja 250R Get a pre-2008 version (looks older than G-d), thrash it, scare yourself, drop it and then decide if bikes are for you. If not sell it to the next lucky adventurer....if so, get a Buell and don't look back. I am glad I did. | ||
| Nik |
Some of you guys sound like the the XB have a Viper engine attached to it. It's only a 1203 V-Twin. That's over 20 time's the displacement of my first ride, and Erik's... I consider the brakes and steering geometry of the XB a bigger hurdle than the engine besides. | ||
| Retrittion |
Yep, a Buell XB has a 1000cc or 1200cc engine. That is a big engine, bigger than is safe for a beginner (first time rider on the street, sorry dirt doesn't count though they do catch on more quickly). Period. Then you add in the ZTL (strong braking), ergos, and flickability. Results in a great bike -- NOT a beginner bike. Any instructor will tell you this. Period. ...and for the record I have taken a Viper to school with my 12R. I don't have the engine but I don't have the weight either. | ||
| Nik |
any size bike with a twist throttle can get hairy in a split second. scooter on up to an 800lb cruiser, it doesnt matter what combination is involved. True to a point, but my scooter won't do a stoppy no matter how hard I try, and locking up the brakes at all takes conscious effort. It doesn't have any headshake if I muck up a down shift at low speeds. It doesn't have nearly the same tendency to stand up under braking mid-turn as the XB does. It is a pretty good wheelie machine though... And it has thrown me off due to hitting a slick spot mid turn; but the difference was it was slower and lighter than my XB, which meant it had a lot less energy to transfer to me. | ||
| Werewulf |
and then theres riding in the rain.... | ||
| Gschuette |
If you live at high elevation the wheelies problem isn't really a problem. My 12 wont't get the front end up in first without some clutch and there better be a steep hill, lots of revs, and a lot of clutch to get it up in second. More than 6000 ft. of elevation does that. It was fun having it on California's highway 1 in January. Seemed like a brand new race motor. | ||
| Starter |
I been through this argument with my wife and best mate in the last few days. A quick ride will remove all doubt or reinforce opinions. In my state in Australia we are limited to 150kW/1000kg for learner and provisional licences. From memory this knocks out anything under 200kg dry, and 41hp. Sure the XB9 "only" has 70hp, but there is huge difference in what happens with the twist of a wrist comparing the two bikes. I refer to it as "resistance to go". Most learner riders think their bikes are pretty quick, and they are, but it's a whole other world out there once you start getting on a bigger bike with very little experience. | ||
| Flyingpenguin86 |
My first bike was an XB9S that I got a year ago, and still ride. I feel extremely confident on it now, but speaking from experience, a smaller bike would probably be a better starter. Buells are fun, but take practice to be good on. That and the first time you accidentally take off on one wheel, you get a new appreciation for the amount of torque they have. | ||
| Mschultz2735 |
My first impression from your question and checking your profile is that you are a new rider. If you have to ask if a bike is too much for you it probably is. My first road bike was an 2005 XB12R, but I've been riding minibikes and dirtbikes since I could throw a leg over, and I took the safety course and had my motorcycle license before I made my purchase. I was able to test drive all the Buell models at that time as well as many other makes of cycle. Find demo days (you can usually get some cool shwag on top of going on a cool ride) they're great for riding multiple bikes in one day. But beyond being an experienced rider, or riding until scared turns to scarred. I'd start with a Blast or at most XB9. | ||
| Werewulf |
a new rider will probably drop the bike several times...the xb frame will more likely be damaged than a blast, or at least be cheeper to repair the blast...not to mention the original cost of the bike... | ||
| Buellinachinashop |
I took the Edge course on the Blast, but was riding my XB9 for a month previous to it. BIG difference. I'd practice the course on my XB after a day of riding the Blast and had a much harder time. The Blast moves alot nicer and easier while in first at low RPMS. Which in turn will make a much safer bike for a beginner. | ||
| Darthane |
Buy a Blast, ride the piss out of it for a year, sell it for 75% of what you paid for it and get yourself a 'better' bike.  ...or keep the Blast, 'cause it's an awesome little machine, and who doesn't want two motorcycles? |
