| Author | Message | ||
     Retrittion |
I would go with a 9S that has a "cg" or "low" conversion (seat + suspension). I have a 30somthingish inseam and on a 12Scg I am flat footed compared to my 12R where I am balls of the feet. Buells make you bowlegged so they seem taller than they are when you sit on them if you don't have broad hips (I realized this when my wife hopped on my 12R and was flat footed and she is the same height as me -- hrrrmmm, maybe Erik made these bikes to impress the ladies?  ). Also, aftermarket mods like bar-end mirrors, Traction grips, CRG levers, Dark Horse Moto sliders, and either a Race Kit or a SpecialO.P.S./Drummer pipe are good things that make the bike better. If you get an '03 make sure your wheel bearings are orange (upgrade) and a belt upgrade is nice but NOT necessary if the bike has been taken care of. Good luck hunting, and check the sales threads here as there are often bikes coming up for sale (especially with the new '09 all black engined bikes coming out + the new 1125CR) now for the hijack... I just wish I knew how in the heck you guys get your insurance so friggen low -- maybe it is just because I live in Washington or something...at least I can off-line it in the winter nasty months and that cuts down what I actually pay per year to 600-700ish, but still. I have one ticket, 12mph over, and I have taken the MSF -- is the 12R that much more to insure or something? Ok, hijack(/rant?) over! | ||
| Cityxslicker |
Ehren, you have a PM from a fellow Evergreener. | ||
| Retrittion |
.....  You're an 'greener? That explains the CityMutant you ride! Man, we are everywhere. PS. I suck at checking my mail when it's sunny outside -- haven't figured out how to balance my laptop and ride at the same time...  (Message edited by retrittion on September 05, 2008) | ||
| Buellinachinashop |
Ret, I'm old, 42, and insure my truck, house, boat, sled and bike all through one company. I'm not light on the gas either, I get 1 every year. It helps to insure more than one vehicle through the company and I'm sure not having an "R" bike helps. My agent didn't even know what my S was. I told him a light cruiser. I don't know if that mattered though, but I can tell you there would have been a difference between the 9 and 12. | ||
| Retrittion |
yeah, figure the 12 and the R might be part of the problem. | ||
| Buellinachinashop |
My agent said that by keeping the cc's under 1000 it helps alot. I told him that I could do the same burnies and wheelirs with a 12 as a 9....."do you want insurance mr. heibler?" | ||
| Zane |
I had to take a day off for other reasons so used it as an excuse to run buy Fletchers HD/Buell. They have a red translucent XB12s, and a red SB12ss in stock. There was also a TT an 1125 and a Uly XT. Anyway I sat on the 12s and the 12ss. The 12S was just a touch shorter but I liked the 12SS better for the seating. But with both I could sit on the bike and have both feet flat on the ground. I could fall in love REAL easy with the 12ss. While talking with one of the sales guys (Ken) he says they don't bother ordering XB9's. The demand is all for the 12's. He did say he'd special order one for me but thought the XB12 was a better deal. He did ask if I wanted to trade in my Blast and before I could stop myself, I actually laughed at the man. I'm not parting with my Blast, but oh man do I want an XB. Just as a reality check I also stopped by the local Yamaha, Suzki, Kawasaki dealer to see what they had. I told the sales guy I was looking for a sport bike in the 1000cc class and that I wanted something that didn't have aggressive seating. All the stuff he showed me was sport/touring and every time I told him "naked" he'd show me something with a bigger fairing than the last. I didn't see anything that interested me, let along got me excited. Nice bikes I guess but for me there just wasn't that WOW factor like the XB has. (Message edited by Zane on September 12, 2008) | ||
| Packrat |
Zane--re-read my post !! the '05 I bought IS 2-3 years old, which is what u said you were looking for... | ||
| Froggy |
I took a XB9SX out for a demo ride about a week ago. After the ride i got off the bike, and checked the engine to see if it was really a 9 or if someone transplanted a Blast engine in it. I had no idea that the 9's felt so weak in comparison to a 12. | ||
| Zane |
Packrat, I only went there to see what they had and how different models would fit me. They do have an scg but it's still in the crate so I couldn't check it out at all. Looking at new is fun but I don't have the $9500 they were asking for the new untitled 2007. When time comes to buy I'll have to do a 2005 or 2006. Financial realities get in the way some times. But Dang! I really liked the XBs. (Message edited by Zane on September 05, 2008) | ||
| Ezblast |
I've liked all the Buells - they are all unique and any one of them stands out from the rest of the crowd of bikes made. Erik's unique and fresh thinking has caused a hell of a dilemma for me - I want an S1 for the living room and special occasions - its a work of art, a custom 08 or later XB9R - cause that would be the way I tour - lol - an 1125cr for track days and group rides, and my Blasts for in city bombing, and back road dueling - since I'm not rich, all that is unlikely to happen, however, by that same token - I know I'll be adding more Buells to my garage, and you'll only get mine from me by prying my cold dead hands off the keys - lol EZ | ||
| Zane |
Yeah... I started out thinking that an X9 would be a great next bike for me. But after sitting on a 12s and 12Ss I think that's the route I need to go. After going to the Kawasaki, Suzuki, Yamaha dealer, I'm more convinced my next bike will be a Buell. As Ken at my dealership said, Buells are an acquired taste. Once you do get that taste, everything else pales in comparison. Out of the 20 or so bikes I looked at, nothing made me lust in my heart like 2 minutes sitting on the XB12. I sat on several "popular" bikes and I just do not get it. Each one had more fairing that the last. Most felt like I was on a Civic. That trip just convinced me that the only real decision left is do I get the S SS or the Scg. I guess I've been Buellified. (Message edited by Zane on September 08, 2008) | ||
| Ezblast |
I'm a R fan and miss the 9R's - perfect for insurance reasons and for extra long term potential - so its turn a 08'or later 9S to an R thing - old news in this forum - Still it is something I look forward to doing - EZ | ||
| Zane |
The R bikes look cool but I know my back. Half an hour in that aggressive position and I wouldn't be able to get off the bike. I'm 54 and have a lousy lower back. I do much better in a more upright position. I can't afford anything right now but after the first of the year. I think either a SS or an Scg is in my future. | ||
| Djkaplan |
"You will love either... no bad choices here." I think this post is still valid with your new short list. | ||
| Zane |
"You will love either... no bad choices here." Heck, I knew that... | ||
| Retrittion |
Scg, then take the seat to a custom seat builder and get some better foam/gel put in -- then you can always trade someone for a R front end and you'll have the perfect bike! Well, at least until the 1125CL(S-type tail, Low suspension/seat, 1125CR front faring) comes out -- that will be my second Buell if I have to build it myself! | ||
| Brad_buell |
I owned a XB9S and now have an XB12R. I really liked the XB9....But I love the XB12. There is really no comparison in power for me. | ||
| Domindart |
Im also looking at the XBs Right now I owna suzuki 500. I want a 12 but well see how insurance rates are. | ||
| Zane |
Yeah, insurance may be a deciding factor. The 9 is just under 1000 cc and that is supposed to be a threshold where the rates jump up. We'll just have to see when the time comes. | ||
| Froggy |
That reminds me, one of my co workers called up some insurance company trying to get insurance on his Ninja ZX-12R, and they told him they don't insure 1200's. Right after they hung up with him I called them up and got a quote on my XB12SS.  | ||
| Walrus2004 |
i originally started shopping for Buells purely because of insurance reasons. I have full coverage - 50,000/100,000 coverage through progressive, with a $500 deductible. And I have a flawless record, no wrecks & no tickets in the last 5 years. Here are how some bikes compare... My XB12s - $305/yr a XB12r - $655/yr Yamaha R6 - $795/yr HD 1200 Sportster - $285/yr o ya, and I am a 22yr old male. I took the safety class, and I own my home. (certain factors lower cost, and some raise). --Hope that helps some. | ||
| Zane |
Thanks for the numbers Walrus. I'm a 54 year old guy, own my own home and haven't had an accident it 7 years. Right now I have an 04 Blast and it's $267 a year with All State. I also have both my cars with them. One of them is driven by my 17 year old son with 2 tickets. You don't want to know what THAT cost...lol | ||
| Domindart |
damn it! the 12r (firebolts) is the one I like, and its double insurance? well see. | ||
| Caperken |
What's this about being "old" at 42 or 54? I'm 64 and just got a new XB12Ss two months ago and love it. This is really weird, but after going on at least an hour ride on my XB, I feel like I've had a really great chiropractic adjustment. I think the XB12s are fun AND healthy!!! | ||
| 12x9sl |
There is nothing wrong with a 9. I ride a uly with the race kit and my 100 pound wife rides a xb9sl with a race kit. After she shifts into second gear, it's all over-she's out in front and pulling me. I love my 12, but love the way the 9 revs. I am definitely with you on the acquired taste-once you go Buell you never go back (well, almost never). | ||
| Domindart |
So is it the 12 just has a higher top speed? | ||
| Cityxslicker |
The evergreener thing is from being in Washington state. They call it the evergreen state because it does nothing but rain here. Which is fine, because it makes really good mud to go slugging through with the City-X. Between the 9 & the 12?... Get thyne self to a dealer that does demos, you will prefer one over the other. Some people like Ginger over MaryAnne... I doubt that makes any difference either. | ||
| Retrittion |
Ah bummer City, and here I thought I had a fellow Evergreen grad on Badweb -- I've been running into them all the friggen time lately in the darnedest places! Don't know about top speed, though it would follow since the 12 is a bigger engine. There is a difference in the internals -- 36 tooth v 38 tooth -- that changes how it rides. I like my 12R personally, but I think I would be fine with any Buell twin (probably any Buell period, really), the 9 included (though it really is a 1000cc, not a 900cc engine). Personally, I found it had a similar feel to the Suzuki SV1000S my buddy has -- a "light" version of my 12, still a kick in the pants. Personally, I say get a Hero Blue CityX -- a classic, good insurance rates, and you can always swap for an R tail or even a R front down the line if you really still want one (heh, I'm looking for an S tail... ). Heck, if you buy a XB9 and then put the 1203 kit on, it will be faster than my XB12 off the line. So you can always "get" a 12 down the line (though the insurance will always consider it a 9, so bonus! Cheers! | ||
| Domindart |
1203 kit? This isnt the race kit right? Elaborate on it if you can, thnx |
