| Author | Message | ||
     Jonnyrotton |
Wonder if any of you guys have real insight as to why Buell would even bother building the 984 motor. It doesn't seem as though it is a better track or street motor. Buell's claim to fame has always been it's huge low-end torque, which came from its 1200cc motors. So why then would you build a 984cc motor? Is the 984 supposed to be the company's "600" and the 1203 to be the "1000" like the other manufacturers. | ||
| Tpoppa |
That is an odd question. For the same reason that other brands make different engine sizes. | ||
| Hotrod427 |
If I'm not mistaken, its because Buell's air cooled engines are based on the Harley-Davidson Sportster engines, and Harley offers the Sportster in a 1200, and an 883. Why wouldn't you use them both to offer a diverse product line? Personally, I'm waiting for a factory CVO 110 Lightning  | ||
| Spatten1 |
It is a way sportier, revvier engine than the 1200. For sport riding, having less flywheel effect than than the 1200 is very noticeable. Problem is, it just doesn't make as much power. It is a tradeoff. It is NOT just a weaker version of the 1200, it does perform and rev in a different manner. | ||
| Cadhopper |
I like my XB9. It may just be me but I think the motor spins up quicker an runs smoother than the XB12 I owned. | ||
| Barker |
For me a sub 1000cc motor was alot cheaper on insurance. One of the reasons I did not buy a speed triple over the 9R. "Is the 984 supposed to be the company's "600" and the 1203 to be the "1000" like the other manufacturers." IMHO, not even close. A 1203 barely gives a 600cc bike a run for its money. I dont think buell cares about fitting an existing niche. Odd (non 600/1000) displacement modern sport bikes are actually more common than you might think. Especially in the twin market. Here are some examples I can think of just off the top of my head from "the other manufacturers." Triumph 1050 and 675 Ducati 848, 1098 and 1100DS based bikes. Kawasaki ZX-636, 650R and ZX-14 Benelli 900 and 1130 Suzuki SV650 and GSX1300R BMW K1300S, HP2 MV 910 and 1078 | ||
| Reepicheep |
I like my 05 9 better then the 05 12's. I wouldn't trade. The 08 12's (or whenever they started reving them higher) feels about like the 9... a little more grunt on the bottom, a little less rev on the top, probably a wash. My suspicion is that the 9 was originally going to be a stupid powerful bike... a short stroke turbo charged platform. I'm guessing it wasn't reliable enough, so they backed off the turbo. Too bad, it would have been fun, but the "reliable as a rock" nature of my 9sx is awful nice also... | ||
| Rightpecial |
Personally they've nailed my niche in developing bikes for the real world. I still haven't decided between a 9 or a 12 but either way they'll fill a niche that the 600 super sports just don't do. Mind you, I haven't ridden either bike yet but I do have a cyclone that is much more enjoyable in real world conditions than my old 600 Suzuki. For riders like me who will never see a track day the bikes are perfect and I can certainly see the insurance aspect of the equation. | ||
| Ironhead1977 |
My next Buell will be a 9. They are smoother running with less vibration and quicker out of the hole. | ||
| Iamarchangel |
Because he knew it would make me happy? | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
The 9 is a great motor. It's much smoother than the 12 and the peak HP and TQ numbers aren't that different. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
I dont know why Buell made the 984 I dont know whey Harley Davidson is 883 know I enjoy mine tho.   Apples to apricots, Now wheres my 450? | ||
| Woody1 |
probably so everyone would bore them .015" and do some wicked cool head work with some moby cams, tuned exhaust, fat throttle body, and awesome maps and call it a johnnyrotten 1000 and then terrorize women and children ( what I call "ricers")all in good fun. what?, it could happen, it may already be happening | ||
| Chippy |
Why'd your parents make you? It just felt good. | ||
| Hmartin |
Excerted from theKneeslider.com: Erik Buell: Well, ever since the 984 engine and the Blast engine, those were Buell engines, they’re not used in any Harleys ...the XBs have new cases, heads, cams, even spin a different direction so there’s a lot of things in the configuration that look like a traditional Harley engine because, for that customer, we thought that was important, but it really was a unique engine when it came out, it shared almost no parts with the Sportster, since that time they’ve brought more of those parts into the Sportster but there are still many, many differences so it is truly a unique Buell engine. So there will never be a time when we have a Buell where we drop someone else’s finished engine in it. Also, from Buell's own website: The [Thunderstorm 1203] engine achieves its displacement boost through an increase in stroke, from 3.125 inches to 3.812 inches. Both engines have a bore of 3.5 inches...The XB1200 engine is the same physical size as the XB984 engine, so it offers an even better torque-to-weight ratio. - 2003, NEW BUELL FIREBOLT XB12R DELIVERS BRAWNY SPORT PERFORMANCE The cover story appears to be that the 1203 is based on the 984 and the 1203 came through normal stages of engineering development; they saw that they could, so they did. (Message edited by hmartin on May 01, 2009) | ||
| Hotrod427 |
Hmartin- I stand corrected.  Thanks for sharing the info! I do still believe they're based on the Harley design (refer to the tubers) as opposed to the 1125 or the Blast engine, agree? | ||
| Hotrod427 |
and I'd still like to see a CVO 110 Lightning  | ||
| Hmartin |
Oh, absolutely. No question, there. What I glean mostly from those articles was that Buell was wanting something unique for the XB's and went for an engine that spins up quicker and runs at a higher RPM that would be more fitting of a corner carver than a Sportster. Once they saw that they could increase the torque and hp slightly without too great a loss in max. RPM's, they went back to the Sportster 1200's 3.81" stroke and added the tricked-out muffler valve. Edit: 2nd time tonight I messed up my first post. I'm going to bed (Message edited by hmartin on May 02, 2009) | ||
| Hotrod427 |
Makes perfect sense to me! That answer your questions Jonnyrotten? | ||
| Jonnyrotton |
just so everyone knows i've owned an m2 cyclone, firebolt xb12r and currently own a xb9sx as well as many other bikes mostly twins like rc51, tl1000r and tl1000s, sv650, hawk 650gt,harley night train and even an 06 speed triple 1050(yes i know it's a triple), and plan on getting as my next bike a ducati monster 1100 | ||
| Reepicheep |
I've done two track days, and the 9s was great fun on both. | ||
| Ducxl |
After reading i'm reminded of why Chevy made the 302ci engine | ||
| Court |
It's an excellent motor? | ||
| Xbmacon |
+1 "It's an excellent motor?" I love my 9r. Ive ridden a 12 recently, but prefer the 9. They built it for me  | ||
| Glitch |
There now, parts 1&2 together. Why a part 1&2? Hell, I dunno  | ||
| Old_man |
I NEVER felt the need for more power. The 9 has more than I will ever need. I rode the 12, the only difference, I see, is less shifting is needed. To be fair, my 9 has the race stuff. | ||
| Ustorque |
'cause it's a fun motor...thats why! | ||
| Barker |
"I rode the 12, the only difference, I see, is less shifting is needed." +1, but I can ride a 9 easier/faster than a 12. smooooooth, less punchy. For me it not always about raw power. It has more to with how it is delivered. for street the 9 is more than enough. For the track, lets just say I could use 50 ponies more @ the rear and some better brakes. my Niner is still riot @ the track. | ||
| Boltrider |
Anyone want to trade their 9r for a 12r for a weekend? I would love to try one out.  None of the dealers around here have a 9r for me to test ride. | ||
| Glitch |
'cause it's a fun motor...thats why!    |
