| Author | Message | ||
     Geforce |
Ok, so I ride an 1125r, and I got the woman a 250cc Ninja to learn on. She's been doing great on it and pretty soon I want to get her on a real bike so she can start to enjoy the dark side...safely of course. She likes the Firebolt, a lot. I think the XB12Scg would be the best FIT for her due to seat height, but I want her to be happy on what she likes to ride. I have rode a XB12R before and I enjoyed it greatly. I think she will be ok on this bike but her concern is being able to touch the ground at stops... I've explained that she can do it fine with one leg, but in the hill country it can be a bit tricky on hill sides and slopes. From personal experience which one would you recommend? For any female riders, which of the two do you prefer? Any quirks with the two that I should know about? Thanks for the help, I'll think of some more silly questions after work. Yes I have been reading for months now.  | ||
| Xl_cheese |
xb9's are smoother and easier to drive. You could get any model of bike and put the low seat on it. the S models are shorter in reach due to the normal hbar style. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
get the XB9S low 2003-4. Put the rear seat cowl on it from American Sportbike, get that rear look of the firebolt. ride it for a season, and see if she really 'needs' clipons of the R. I bet she will be more comfortable with the S setup. Welcome her to the Dark side. | ||
| P_squared |
My wife has her own XB9SX which was 'lowered' via 9SL suspension & a seat change. She loves it. As for what she wants, let her decide after she rides as many as she can. If she picks an R, so be it. If she thinks at some point that you 'browbeat' her into getting a bike she 'really didn't want' (e.g. an XB9SX instead of an XB12/9R), you may as well just relocate to the doghouse now, right next to the dead horse. | ||
| Mnbueller |
Get her the bike she wants, and then make it fit. Change seat, suspension etc... Its never good to settle, belive me I know. I have bought a lot of things where I've wanted one thing, then I buy something simalre but not exactly what I wanted and I always wish I would have just spent the extra and got what I wanted....hummm you'd think I'd learn, but it keeps happening! | ||
| 2008xb12scg |
Does she not like the scg? | ||
| Geforce |
She likes the scg, and quite frankly she's seen more of 9s in the dealer. She likes the looks of the 12 online and wants to see one in person and sit on it with her boots on. Hopefully this next day off I am planning on taking her to Joplin, MO so she can sit on one and perhaps ride it. She likes the looks of the Firebolt but wants to see it in person to decide. I understand that because I thought oddly of the 1125r from pictures until I saw mine on the showroom and began to drool, pictures never do Buells justice I think. If she is dead set on the Firebolt I'd rather her get it, I just want to foster a positive learning environment for her to encourage her to get lower in time and be able to go to track days with me on the 1125r and just have fun. The local dealer mentioned lowering the suspension for a girl on a 9 before and they said it was quite costly, which is why I am leaning to the scg. I agree with you guys though about getting what you truly want the first time. Better to spend once and be happy then spend twice, thrice or more. Thanks for all the input guys and gals, I really appreciate it! I wasn't sure how the 9 was powerband wise. I hope I can get her on both so she can make the choice. | ||
| Pogue_mahone |
citycross.great riding position,and plenty of fun to be had | ||
| Ochoa0042 |
any 650! like the ninja650r or suzuki sv650, or the  09kawasakiER-6n  this board is very biased  (Message edited by ochoa0042 on May 07, 2009) | ||
| Fast1075 |
If you peeled the decals off of a ER-6n and put Buell decals on it...most people would think its a Buell...it looks very Buellish...it even has "pods"...I think that says something (they say imitation is the most sincere form of flattery)...and with 72hp it is what a Blast should have been...if it had high quality adjustable suspension, even I might be tempted. But...I'll wait for that scg to come along in a year or so...it's the only Buell besides the Blast that I can feel comfortable at a stop with (I'm NOT gonna hack up the suspension on a bike to lower it..I already have a dragbike that you can barely turn onto the return road without dragging parts on the pavement)... (Message edited by fast1075 on May 07, 2009) (Message edited by fast1075 on May 07, 2009) | ||
| Xb1200rick |
My wife just got the xb12scg and loves it. She is 5'5" and can just barley reach the ground on the scg . She would not even try to ride the my firebolt because she was afraid she would end up somewhere and not be able to reach the ground. Actually after riding her bike for a week while I was working mine, I think I like the ride of the lighting better,especially around town and average riding. I am 5'6" tall but only stopping with one foot does not really bother me on the firebolt , the xbscg just seems to be the perfect fit for the vertically challenged Rick | ||
| Damnut |
Blast? | ||
| Geforce |
I have a bit of time on a jap bike or two, and I made the switch to Buell for a good reason. She on the other hand hates the 250. Not so much because it's Japanese but because she see the difference in the engineering between my friend's rides and my 1125r. And yes I got ya, huge difference between a Ninjette and a 1125r, but even the 750s and 1000s she notices things that I don't have to point out and I kind of like it. A lot actually. lol She wants a Buell because it's American, and we *Me being a veteran and still active duty* find a special sort of pride in it. Plus, most of the IL4s she sat on have very narrow saddles and she likes the Buell wider seat much better. That being said, we are buying an XB, just depends on which one now. Hopefully saturday we will cruise down to the Joplin dealer and check out a 12R. | ||
| Geforce |
The blast was a good idea at first...and she likes them. But this is why I bought the Ninjette, cheap, she can trash it, and it's nimble enough to learn some good MSF like skills in a parking lot. | ||
| Ochoa0042 |
the ones mentioned are twins BTW.... but yea go all for the xb's if thats what you're into, i was mentioning the others because they never get a peep here and should be worth mentioning.  | ||
| Iamarchangel |
She a grown up now, if she wants the 'bolt and you guys have the dough, go for it. It is a tall ride but check it out. I was down at the demo days last week and there was a woman on the '03 9R with some mods on it. She looked happy enough with it. | ||
| Geforce |
Called Joplin dealer, tomorrow we are heading that way to go see a 12R so she can sit and make vroom vroom sounds and see if it will work for her. Starting to wonder if I should pick up a good used one. I'd like to get her on one before Buell Homecoming, we are both riding up that way. | ||
| Ducxl |
Geforce.THink selfishly as i did.I bought her a new '05 Red Racing XB12r for valentines' day.I scored POINTS.And i get to ride it whenever she isn't.What fun. I wouldn't offer her a bike i wouldn't be proud to ride myself (Message edited by ducxl on May 08, 2009) | ||
| Iamarchangel |
I wouldn't offer her a bike i wouldn't be proud to ride myself Now there's a good rule of thumb. | ||
| Jumpinjewels |
As a 5'3" female with an Scg, I LOVE IT. How assertive/aggressive a rider is she? The Blast for me was like riding a motorized bicycle (sorry if I offend any Blast riders). I did have a Suzuki SV650 prior to this and it also was a great bike. I've ridden the 12R and did really like it except that I couldn't touch the ground even tippy toed. It wasn't a comfortable feeling especially if I had to stop on a banked road. Now I'm ready to move up to an 1125CR. I'm trying to convince the hubby to get one and we can SHARE it. Would have to keep the Scg too. Good luck and have fun. | ||
| Geforce |
Oh I've ridden a good friend of mines 07 XB12R for quite a few miles, we actually swapped bikes for one night. He took my 1125 and I took his full fairing 12 out and we went on a afternoon cruise through the Ozarks. Love the Firebolt, I'd like her to get one, but I just want her to be happy. If she comes home and cannot wait to go riding that's the right bike. She's not very aggressive, but I don't think it's a matter of being afraid as it is comfort. She's ridden cruisers before so it hasn't been hard to teach her basic fundamentals on a sport bike. But I want her to have something she can grow into and not to wild right off the bat. She understands my rule. "You can die on a bicycle just as fast as a superbike. The true difference is self control and being smooth." Thanks for your input Jewels, I am trying hard to find her a female riding partner too in the event I am on TDY doing Army stuff they can go out and ride together. Hard in these parts though. | ||
| Ray_r |
My buddy has a 2004 Firebolt he's been talking about selling for years now. It probably has about 5k miles on it. New tires, books, manuals, etc. He simply doesn't take the time to advertise....a real life procrastinator! If someone were to contact him and make an offer, I'm 100% sure he'd sell it. He's a dual-sport guy, and obviously rarely rides the Buell. If interested, send me a PM and I'll provide his contact info. He's in Oregon. | ||
| Geforce |
PM Sent. | ||
| Didactic |
Suggestions for a new rider: 1:Take the class (whatever safety class that is available) 2:See #1 3:Small bike for a season, Buell Blast is perfect. Get 5K at least. 4:Then one that fits first, looks good second. If it doesn't fit you will learn to hate riding it eventually. Suzuki SVs and Buells are a good choice IMO, but I am partial to Vtwins for new riders because of the smooth power delivery. I chose to stick to them because I like them, but that's me. 5:New riders need to keep away from race replica bikes except for track-day use or until they have a few seasons under the belt. Same goes for any "twitchy" bikes (Ducatis spring to mind). 6:When you are a proficient rider (10-20K miles), get the Repsol, 848, 1125r, etc your droolin' over and ride safe! PS.Squids, RUBS, and 1%ers feel free to ignore this advice, you're going to anyways...  -d |
