| Author | Message | ||
     Teddagreek |
*You could save weight with a magnesium case and bits... A few car makers have Re-embraced magnesium blocks.. Kinda smart seeing how VW made millions of AC-VW's with them.. *Dry Clutch saves weight Even FORD is looking at it... I think a transverse V-twin would be a cool option... more weight to the front, better cooling. 1941 indian long before guzzi,honda,lilac  | ||
| Mortarmanmike120 |
If they could produce an engine with: 1) Same comparable powerband as the 9 2) Same reliability as the 9 3) Same ease of maintenance as the 9 4) Considerably lighter then the 9 I'd be all over it in a new york minute. Wouldn't matter if it was air or water cooled. (air preferred) But I'm not willing to give up any of those requirements. I don't need more power, but if you could shave some weight off that lump I'd be behind it 100%. Light, agile, street bikes are what I prefer. A faster top end does me absolutely no good. A lighter, more agile bike would be nirvana. | ||
| Macbuell |
Smaller, as in size, not displacement. The current XB engine is huge. Look at the Helicon bikes. Even with a radiator they are 20 lbs light than the XB's. That's because the sportster based XB engine is big and heavy. (Message edited by macbuell on July 28, 2009) | ||
| Hughlysses |
I'd love to see Buell (or Rotax on Buell's behalf) do a complete redesign of a pushrod, air-cooled, 45 degree V-twin. I'll bet they could cut the weight and crankcase/transmission size way down while keeping all the good things about these engines. (Message edited by Hughlysses on July 28, 2009) | ||
| Chessm |
if i had to pick an update for the xb line, especially the 9 series, it would be somewhere along the line of the new ktmduke 690 but with easier maintenance. I rode a friends for a bit and, except for the maintenance, i thought the bike really embodied the feel and response of the xb9 but with more of the good stuff. It's lighter, the engine was a weird mix of smooth and shaky (like the xb9), the throttle response, the way the torque and hp build up to a low redline, the bikes mix of flickyness and stability, was great, Like a sharpened xb9. It's even comfy and gets great gas mileage! You even get the same funny looks from cagers! But ya, all that for the new xb, but keeping the easy maintenance of the air cooked bikes. | ||
| Chessm |
he he i said air cooked lol | ||
| Froggy |
The XBRR was unreliable. Buell did learn a lot from the RR and incorporated it in the 2008+ bikes, including the new bottom end on the bike and the ZTL2 breaks. | ||
| Teddagreek |
Air/Oil/Fan cooled.. Heads are Oil Cooled... | ||
| Mortarmanmike120 |
True Ted, but thats kinda semantics. I honestly don't care how it's cooled as long as it meets my previous list. | ||
| Macbuell |
Look, I was just using the XBRR engine as an example of how they were able to get more power out of that engine. But, as stated, that engine isn't streetable. Personally, I think Buell should get rid of the Harley based engine and build their own air cooled engine from scratch. Also, I totally do not agree with the idea of getting rid of the XB's. I think Buell sees Ducati as their measuring stick / competition and they have the liquid cooled line and the monster air cooled line. Buell should keep both lines as they appeal to different riders. I also don't think Buell should get rid of the XB line when it is totally responsible for the growth Buell has seen in recent years and the ability for Buell to spend $$ on R&R which lead to the Helicon engine. | ||
| Mortarmanmike120 |
As long as the XB is paying the bills, I wouldn't expect it to go away. | ||
| Zatco81 |
I was curious about something when the 1125 came out. What makes the XB the XB? Is it the engine? Can't be the frame because it looks too much like the 1125 frame. Looks like the biggest difference between the 2 is engine. I think it would have to be something drastic to get away from the XB name. | ||
| Froggy |
They did. The bike that it came in is now cubed. The XB line isn't going anywhere. The president of Buell even said they will keep building them as long as they keep selling. The water cooled lineup will continue to expand, but as you can see by the 2010 XB changes, the air cooled motor isn't dead yet. | ||
| Froggy |
Zatco81, the XB is the frame. The 1125's use a next generation version of the frame. | ||
| Mortarmanmike120 |
the XB is the frame. The 1125's use a next generation version of the frame. That's how I've thought about it in the past. And there are 2 versions of the XB btw, short and long wheelbase. The 1125 truly is a different creature that just resembles the XB's. | ||
| Macbuell |
The XB engine is still a heavily modified Harley Sportster engine. I know Buell has changed a lot with that engine but it's still based on that old Harley lump. I'd like to see them engineer a new air-cooled engine for the XB's from the drawing board up. In this day and age they should be able come up with a lighter, smaller, more compact, more powerful engine. And that would be great in a light and quick chassis like the XB. | ||
| Zatco81 |
The 1125 frames look too much like the XB frame IMO. | ||
| Froggy |
The Brooklyn Bridge looks too much like the Golden gate IMO.  | ||
| Teddagreek |
Can we cube the lump.... That's a campaign I can stand behind... When where done cubing it we can smelt it down make some prison toilets... | ||
| Zatco81 |
I don't know much about bridges but I think for it to be a different model it should look different. How similar are the latest generation Camaro & Corvette? | ||
| Froggy |
And being two different models, they look different. The 1125 frame is clearly larger than the XB frame. They have the same general shape on the sides, but thats about it in common. You can't change the laws of physics, and thats why it has a similar design to the XB. | ||
| Zatco81 |
So Honda broke the laws of physics when it designed the new Busa because it doesn't look like the XB? | ||
| Pogue_mahone |
naw it isnt that. the XB's have common lineage...the 1125 has similar lineage.one COULD call it the 2nd generation of the fuel in frame buell's. with this design mindset,yes the form follows function as the standards set in the XB's are followed.i sure would not want the new Buell's to be so different as say a ducati with buell decals.the future buell's will have that first fuel in frame bike to be it's roots.that design is with us for a long time,and i bet others will soon be changing over.even more so with buell's racing exceeding expectations.can u imagine how the 1125's will be in say 2-3 years,with 3-4 years racing tweaks and bugs ironed out? i bet they change the rules in racing to push the buell's out. | ||
| Mpolans |
What I'd like to see is Buell take its design concepts and apply them toward building an ultra lightweight (250lbs wet) sportbike with a single cylinder engine with a price tag competitive with the Suzuki SV650, Ninja 650. Sort of like an updated, street-legal Ducati Supermono. I think it would be great to have them market it as a bike that, with minimal prep work, would be very competitive in the lightweight WERA/CCS/CMRA/etc racing classes, yet as a stock bike would be a much better beginner bike than the current crop of 600cc bikes. It seems no other manufacturer has the guts to build it. | ||
| Zanon |
Mpolans : Agreed. That would be a cool bike. | ||
| Midknyte |
here's a new 250 single on the block http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/news/megelli-motor cycles-coming-250cc-bike/ http://www.qlinkmotor.com/products/gallery.php?pid =95   | ||
| Midknyte |
I think Buell sees Ducati as their measuring stick / competition Where does Ducati stand these days, financially, etc.? | ||
| Nik |
So Honda broke the laws of physics when it designed the new Busa because it doesn't look like the XB? I've got to get me one of them new Honda Busas! | ||
| Zatco81 |
Oooops, my bad. Train of thought changed tracks. Lol. | ||
| Ramm |
lol Nik, Honda Busas! |
