| Author | Message | ||
     Domindart |
Heres what Ive gathered. Based on youtube videos, what others have said, and what I think. The XB has a lower RPM range, allowing the Xb to have better low end torque and pull than a SV1000. But the SV spools up and gets the XB in higher RPM/higher speeds. The SV has a bit more horsepower. More top speed. But the XB has a good top speed of around 135 -ish. Whos going alot faster than 100 anyways on public roads or highways.  So as far as speeds, the Xb is fine. The XB has a lot more looks. Aside from the possiblity that I may look awkward (6foot tall) on the XB (shorter wheelbase), it is better looking.  People have said the XB seems smaller than other bikes theyve ridden. The XB also wins in sound department. Handling is also the XB! Everyone I ask says the handling of the XB beats that of SV1000. Better suspension. But Im guessing the SV is no real slowch. But, Ive seen videos, and the XB looks really good in the twisties. So much that it would loose the Sv, possibly. Now for the downpoints. Ive heard that reliability is a issue for the XB, and the SV is really reliable. "the sv is mechanically a better bike, but the buell is less vanilla" Ive read a lot of posts on here about problems electrically (reseting TPS and Ecm problems etc) One person gave me a list of things that went bad on his buell. Something else every 1000 miles or so. He thought maybe it was just his bike, maybe it was the heat. Which brings us to the next issue. The heat. Its not the heat to the rider that concerns me. I think the heat pads you can get would remedy that. And for everything a buell is, I could stand a bit of heat to the legs or butt while sitting in traffic. But does the heat hurt the engine/mechanical parts so much that traffic is not good for the buell? I live in atl ga where there is traffic while commuting. I really want a good commuter too. The SV is liquid cooled and people say its a better commuter and better in traffic. Theres a few people I know have good experience with the buell. No_rice is around here I think, and hes also over at the customfighters forum where I read his great posts on the many buells he owns. Hopefully he and others will chime in and give a honest opinion of these things. I really like the buell. The sound of the buell realy has me. If the SV sounded like that I would probably be going w/ the SV as of now. I know its really silly to go with a decision solely on sound, but I just like the feeling the sound of the buell gives me. (based on my little experience on these two bikes, or any bikes actually, this will be my second bike, I have a suzuki gs500 now) Superb handling is great. BUt reliabilty and commute-ability may win. Im sure the SV is fun in twisties too. (My suzuki is really reliable) Oh, and I forgot to mention the better fuel economy of the Buell. Thats really nice too, since Ill have to put premium in these bigger liter bikes. Ultimately, Ill have to test ride a few of these to make my final decision. BUt I wont be ready to buy for another season or two. Of course I will have to decide what really means most to me and go with the bike that fullfills that. Its a game of give and take b/n these two bikes, Im finding. So please chime in and give your honest opinion on these issues in SV versus a XB.  | ||
| Jeffroj |
The Buells like premium also. | ||
| Nik |
In 20 years you'll see Buells in Museums, and SVs rotting on craigslist. My Buell has been more reliable than my gs500, easier to work on, and way way easier to get parts for. The bikes just aren't even in the same class from an ownership perspective. | ||
| Glitch |
Whos going alot faster than 100 anyways on public roads or highways. No one I know.  Aside from the possiblity that I may look awkward (6foot tall) on the XB  Maybe not. The XB also wins in sound department. Handling is also the XB! Can't argue with that! Ive heard that reliability is a issue for the XB, Over 60K and running as strong as ever! Ive read a lot of posts on here about problems Yeah, that's the way things are, you'll always hear the bad before the good The heat. The only time heat bothers me it's so hot it wouldn't matter what bike I was on. The SV is liquid cooled and people say its a better commuter and better in traffic. That's possible I guess, but I have such a good time riding I take the less traveled road every chance I get, hence the over 60K miles. I really like the buell. Me too, while I may own another bike, I'll not get rid of this one. Superb handling is great. BUt reliabilty and commute-ability may win. I used to work 40 miles from work, had to ride from the suburbs to town (Atlanta) I had no issues what so ever. That's 80 miles daily. So please chime in and give your honest opinion on these issues in SV versus a XB. I've ridden both, and the SV1000 just doesn't do it for me. | ||
| Glitch |
Oh and by the way, there's only one guy in the video that's shorter than 6feet tall. | ||
| Firebolt020283 |
despite what you have heard from who ever it is you heard it from the buell is far more reliable than the sv. the engine will not over heat because it is AIR/oil cooled. Also the xb is more cumfy than the sv. Another thing to think about is that the xb is easier to work on than the sv. The only ones that have the fueling problems is the 08's and posibly the 09's(not sure on those). The 03 to 07's don't have those problems and if they do it can be fixed with no problems. Now dont get me wrong the sv is a nice bike but they dont hold much on the xb. | ||
| Domindart |
Yes I know, thanks. (about the premium gas) Heres what I want my buell to sound like. Ive listened toa few vids , and I know the quality of sound isnt all there on most, but this one is nice. Its a buell race (in the race kit). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nvGnleWfPo Heres a gutted stock muffler that sounds great too. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4CkM-Zzznc (Message edited by domindart on September 20, 2008) | ||
| Firebolt020283 |
go on the American Sport Bike web site and they have the exhaust shootout that you can download and it has sound clips of all of the different exhaust offereings for the xb's | ||
| Jeffroj |
I commute on my XB12S everyday and I'm in ATL, so maybe that will give you a little more faith in the Buell. The bike can handle the traffic but as far as the long run for the engine through a life of stop and go traffic we'll just have to see. I'm just over 5k, only big problem I have had is an intake leak 500 miles ago, I think it may have been caused by a cleaning agent I used and it drying out the gasket. Other than the leak, a few seat staples popped out and my horn bracket broke from the vibration. | ||
| Xbswede |
I put 17000 miles commuting on my 06 XB12Ss before wrecking it. Not a single mechanical issue except for a fuse that went out and a burnt out headlight bulb. Bike was comfortable and I am 6 foot 1" and it only looked small if I looked at myself in a picture. So I stopped looking and just enjoyed riding. | ||
| Domindart |
Thnx for the posts. Good to hear about the atl commuting. Reliabily is a concern of mine cause I dont really have my own garage to work on a bike all the time, nor the desire to be honest, or the money. Im 30, living in a basement apartment, and I use my moms garage. Thanks for the vid. Is that the ga mountains?? Sounds like you have a Buell club going there. If in ga, Ill surely have to get in on that, if I get a buell. Ive listened to those sound clips on that exhaust website, and its kind of hard to get an idea there... thnx though. | ||
| Domindart |
how do you quote on this forum? thnx guys! | ||
| Glitch |
I didn't notice you were in Atlanta until now. Yes, that was filmed on HWY60 near Suches, the 3%ers playground. The 3%ers post here www.badweatherbikers.com/3p Also we are having a little get together we call Buelltober Fest. Infor here. Come join us! It's this coming weekend. It's not a real formal club, we are not formal, or very organized, we like it that way. We are not brand snobs, so we have other bikes as well. Quoting:  | ||
| Domindart |
thnx glitch, I will check that out. It sounds like great fun. I wish I had a buell!!!! | ||
| Redbuelljunkie |
The SV1000 does have more power than the XB because it is liquid-cooled and therefore more efficient. The SV1000 has mediocre handling because Suzuki cheaped out on the suspension to keep the price down. Most people who race SV's retro fit them with GSXR forks. The SV1000 has mediocre brakes (see above). The SV1000 pulls like a locomotive right about where the XB runs out of steam, and has about 15mph higher top speed. The SV1000 can sound just like a Ducati (without the dry clutch) with the right exhaust (Yoshimura 2-1). Some people think they sound really great... I called mine the Sucati because it's Suzuki's version of a Ducati 996. The SV1000, when ridden hard, sucks down fuel at an alarming rate... one time at Deal's Gap my reserve light came on at 87 miles! The SV1000 does have typical Suzuki reliability, but does require valve checks every 12k-14k miles. The SV1000 is a half-faired bike, and the factory full fairings just don't quite look right. The naked version was only made in '03. The SV1000 looks ok, handles ok, can sound great, has a really good motor, and is just as plain as vanilla can get. It's almost like riding an invisible motorcycle- no one really notices them. The SV1000 is no longer in production. The XB has iconic design, sound, torque, handling and definitely stands out from the crowd. The XB is air-cooled and therefore less efficient, but it is simpler, proven, reliable, and by design able to operate at high temperature. Have you ever seen what happens to liquid-cooled bikes when they start running hot? The XB does not produce any more heat in city riding than the SV1000. The XB's frame does retain more heat than the SV1000, but it is negligible. The XB was voted "The best cornering bike in the world" by a European bike mag a few years ago. The XB does not require valve checks, and from '08 on there is no TPS reset required. The XB does have a less-than-stellar reliability record, but a lot of that comes from sub-par dealers who can't/won't maintain the bikes properly. The XB has twice the warranty of the SV1000. The XB is basically a a high-tech GP style chassis with a hopped-up Sportster motor. The SV1000 is a great engine that was stuffed into a mediocre chassis. The XB is currently in production. Out of 23 bikes I've owned, there have been 4 Buell v-twins, 3 Ducati v-twins, and 1 Suzuki v-twin. Draw your own conclusions. | ||
| Jeffroj |
Also we are having a little get together we call Buelltober Fest. Just practicing. | ||
| Glitch |
The SV1000 does have more power than the XB because it is liquid-cooled and therefore more efficient. What do you mean by efficient when you also say... The SV1000, when ridden hard, sucks down fuel at an alarming rate... one time at Deal's Gap my reserve light came on at 87 miles! My fuel light consistently comes on at 127miles regardless of how hard I'm on the throttle. | ||
| Mathen001 |
Domindart,Where in the Atlanta area are you? southside here | ||
| Dc29 |
Here is a few things to think about.When you are out and about on a Buell you get a lot of people asking what is it, where did it come from,whats that noise, is it fast, will it wheelie? Or man that bike looks good,sounds good,way cool,etc.Also not really part of the HD chrome crowd,not really crotch rocket top end death speed,but get em in tight twisty where it has a big advantage and make em cry.Then as they depart just say well that thing your riding sure must be fast in a long straight line but any body can do that!If you ride up on a Susuki does anybody really notice? Or is it just another motorcycle.If you dont mind turning a few wrenches and having a big smile on your face  Buell. I have 07 XB12s 10,3xx miles since 5-29-08 80 mile commute every day rain or shine,2500 mile trip from Dallas to Colorado no major problems.I do all my own maint. Mobil 1 15/50 every 3000mi.It's hot in Texas.Good luck with your decision. | ||
| Domindart |
Great info there, redbuell. thnx . So these TPs resets, do they need that when you upgrade something or is it something that you need from time to time? I will probably be going used, whatever I get. I didnt know they quit making the sv1000 in 2009. | ||
| Domindart |
Im in smyrna, NW of atlanta. Basically next to marietta. | ||
| Gschuette |
I disagree with people saying the XB's reliability being an issue. From what I have read they are among the most reliable bikes on the road. My 16k mile example just enforces that belief. Zero issues. Don't get the XB if you are concerned with having a fun commute. My ride to and from work is among the most fun parts of the day. Lunch break too. Attention factor important? Nothing gets more looks than an XB. Saw an orange Lambo Gallardo at the gas station today so I turned around to take a look. When I pulled around everyone that was looking at the Lambo was looking at the Buell. I don't really like Lambo's but you don't see them everyday so I had to look. | ||
| Redbuelljunkie |
It's rather complicated, and I don't claim to be an engineer or a physics genius, but basically heat is wasted energy in a less efficient engine. Because of the differences in heat transfer to air and liquid, a liquid-cooled engine transfers heat more efficiently and therefore wastes less "power" dissipating heat than an air-cooled design. Air-cooled designs must have a large surface area for air to travel over in order to dissipate heat, and that presents several design limitations. This is why a 1203cc air-cooled v-twin has less power than a modern liduid-cooled 600cc I-4 at half the displacement (along with differences in reciprocating mass and other small details). I'm sure someone here can give you a better explanation than I'm capable of doing. If you ride really hard (keeping at the top half of the rev range) for an entire tank of fuel, I guarantee you will see a decrease in fuel mileage. Spend a day a the track and you'll be seeing about 100 mile (or less) fuel warnings. | ||
| Dc29 |
Rather work on my Buell than ride a Suzuki.  | ||
| Glitch |
The XB engine is limited by the relatively low red line, not heat. It makes as much power during the same revs, it gets passed after 7000RPM. The revs are less because of the valve/head design. There are plenty of air cooled bikes that make bunches of power. How they're cooled isn't the issue. Track days are done, and you're right, but I still see over 100 miles | ||
| Jramsey |
Hey Domindart when somebody tells/explains how to QUOTE on this website please PM with instructions. I've asked the same question several times since I registered last October and the only responses I received "look at formating". Not everyone who has a PC is Bill Gates. BTW a bad day with either one of my Buells is better than a great day on a SV. And that comes from devoted Zuke rider. (Message edited by J.ramsey on September 20, 2008) | ||
| Glitch |
Maybe it's that my 03 XB9 is more efficient than your 08 XB12? | ||
| Glitch |
James type this in the text box | ||
| Glitch |
Check this out as well. http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/board-format ting.html | ||
| Redbuelljunkie |
2007 was the last year for the SV1000S, but there are still new ones in many dealership showrooms... kinda makes sense why they discontinued them. If Suzuki had given it the GSXR forks, brakes, and swingarm, and actually designed a full fairing for it, I think it would have been a totally different story. But they didn't ask me... I agree that the resale value for SV1000's will be pitiful- definitely worse than Buells, and even less that it's little brother, the SV650, mainly due to the cult-like following of SV650 racers. Heck, the SV650's give XB12R's a run for their money on the track! |
