| Author | Message | ||
     Futureduc |
OK guys, I seem to be asking a lot of questions, but these darn Buell's have really got me going! I couldn't head over to the dealership this weekend due to unforeseen circumstances...but... how do you all do on 2-up rides? Preferably need opinions from XB9s and XB12s owners. I know the XB12 will have a bit more power over the 9, but how much when taking the girl out for a ride? Seems I will be doing a lot of this until my lady can get a bike of her own. thanks!!!! | ||
| Delta_one |
only my 16 year old sister at 95lbs could share the seat with me on my 03 XB9S there is only a few inches of usable passenger seat before they fall off the back. I think the R models actually have a bit more passenger room (length wise anyway) but I hear good things about the XB12Ss | ||
| Astroman7766 |
I have a 2007 12x and I think the power is just fine...I weigh approx 165lbs and wifey weighs approx 115-120lbs. What I find funny is when I take off from a stop light I goose the throttle and the bike wheelies with her on the back...she shreiks like a school girl every time. Oh, and the seat is plenty big enough for her and I to fit as well... | ||
| Nextcorner |
I know you're not asking about the Firebolts, but my fiancee prefers my '03 XB9R over the back of my dad's Road King. We've made 2 non-stop trips from Appleton, WI to Egg Harbor, WI. Which is about 100 miles, 2.25 hours. Keep in mind we made the trip home on the same day. She says she was comfy the whole ride. As far as power, no problem. Still plenty of torque to climb from 55 to 80 mph to pass Gram's and Gramps on their Sunday drive. | ||
| Ochoa0042 |
how do you all do on 2-up rides? very carefully  | ||
| Andymnelson |
XB9S, and my girl loves it. We test road some FireBolts together before buying the Lightning and her comfort was one of the main factors in me buying the Lightning. Had a Triumph TT600 before that and she says it's night and day difference- the lightning is great. Her reasoning: 1) taller seat to peg length, which gives her more leg room, 2) more upright seating position, which keeps the weight off her wrists, 3) seat height, which is low enough to not have to mount it like a horse! and 4) seat comfort (I run the select seat when riding 2-up). There is PLENTY of power for 2-up riding in the 9. | ||
| Delta_one |
very carefully +1 LOL  for you guys with the extra room for women I'm about 190Lbs so that's where the extra seat room went, and I have a streetfighter seat but I don't know if that makes a difference. so far the combined weight is around 280. (Message edited by delta one on August 16, 2009) | ||
| Rpm4x4 |
Ive gotten mixed responses from my passengers. My wife has no experience riding motorcycle and did not care for it. The most she has ridden was 160 miles and she was sore. However my cousin has a lot of passenger seat time on various motorcycles and said that it was one of the most comfortable bikes she has been on. She was not sore at all and asks often when we can go for a ride again. For the record my wife and cousin are very close in height around 5'6" and my cousin probably 20 lbs heavier. I will say there is not a lot of room left on the back of an S with a passenger. | ||
| Ripdog28 |
08 12scg and im 200, wife is 115. She loves it, no problems and plenty of room. | ||
| Coops53233 |
XB9S - Plenty of power to run two-up. I forget she's there... until its time to stop. I'm 5'11" 185lbs and she's 5'7" 110lbs though, so that probably has something to do with it. We ride around the city and, about once a month, we do weekend trips, about two hours each way, to visit my sister and brother-in-law. I bought a Corbin earlier this year because she WOULD NOT do that trip twice with the stock XB9S seat. Comfort level? For me, like I said, I adjust the suspension for the extra weight and I almost forget she's there. Then again, I had no qualms doing 800mi+ days on the stock seat, so take my opinion on comfort for what its worth! For her? The short rides around the city are fine, as are shorter rides on the back roads where she gets to move around a little. The longer rides? Hmm... how do I put this...? The bike is faster, cheaper, and more fun than public transportation, so she TOLERATES it. I wouldn't say she's comfortable though. If we superslab for much more than an hour and a half without stopping to stretch out, I can count on hearing about it for the rest of the weekend! She has long legs though, so she gets a bit cramped. And even with that Corbin - the best passenger seat for the S BY FAR - I think the shape/size just isn't made for long passenger rides. If I were planning on longer trips 2up, I would probably check out the Uly, the XT, or the Lightning Long. The passenger seats are noticeably larger. (Message edited by coops53233 on August 16, 2009) | ||
| Delta_one |
Rpm4x4 may have hit it there. most of my passenger prospects have virtually no saddle time on the back of a sport bike. (neither does my sister but she is fearless and tough) I suggest you get her a lid and make time to test ride. we can say allot of things but it comes down to the two of you and YOUR comfort. | ||
| Jakecheez |
Good info guys! I have a Question, too! I've NEVER riden two-up and I want to take my girl out on my bike, bike I'm nervous I'll dump it or somthing. Any tips? | ||
| Delta_one |
local motorcycle safety is a good starting place. the passenger does more than just sit there. they can teach you and her both what to do while you are both on the bike. but the most major is for her to not shift her wight around while you ride and to lean as you lean, go with you, don't fight the movement or she can force you down faster than you can say "oh $h!T" ride as one turn as one. and remember that you are 100 sum pounds heaver with her on so tire grip and braking characteristics will be drastically different, as will lean angles so adjust your corner approach accordingly. that and get a "if you can read this she fell off shirt" | ||
| Glitch |
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| Jakecheez |
Thanks Glitch. I'm still lookin for that jacket. | ||
| Deadduck |
didn't the book "Total Control", have a section devoted to two-up riding? or was it "Twist of the Wrist"? one or the other. Any way, my point is, my wife and I have been riding together for the past 20 years or so, it wasn't till this past year, when she read that section of which ever book it was, that our two-up riding turned into an absolute joy. She has always been a good passenger, but this past trip to the North Georgia mountains, she really got it, and she was wanting to go faster down Richard B. Russel this time. I'll also have to say that both or all three of these books really helped me as well: Total Control, Twist of the Wrist 1 & 2, know matter how long you've been riding, there is something in these books for everyone. I reallize that this post has nothing to do with comfort, but there isn't a bike made that is "comfortable" made without some level of body conditioning on your part. (Message edited by deadduck on August 17, 2009) | ||
| Captcaz |
 Sorry ... couldn't help it. On another note, I changed to a select seat on my XB9S ... not much padding on the stock seat. | ||
| Froggy |
My stock Blast has plenty of power for 2 up. | ||
| Jaimec |
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| Futureduc |
This is all great info and further strengthens my desire to purchase a Buell vs. it's Japanese and British counterparts. Now I gotta find a taker for my little Ninja and then come up with the difference  Thank you! | ||
| California69gs |
I'm 220lbs and I drive around town all the time with my kids and wife. At first my kids liked my superhawk better as there was more room, but now they love the buells. I've got a XB9 and a XB12. The 9 seems more friendly on the side streets, but my 12 scg they all love, because it's easy to get on. With the kids ages 10 and 17 I only notice them when I stop and feel them slide into me. As there isn't much to the rear seat I'm super careful easing it into gear. With the 12 I can certainly feel them being pulled back when I hit the gas unless I'm super carefull. My wife has never really complained and she's 220lbs. Both bikes handle it just fine. You won't have a problem either way. Driving solo around town the 9 is a gentle and forgiving creature. The 12 launches a little harder and with some experience under my belt I prefer this bike my 0.02. | ||
| Etennuly |
If your concern in comparing the 9 to the 12 is a question of power and torque for handling the load, both handle it well. I have been to 255+, and let's say two up with luggage we crossed the 500 line. Even on the City-X, taking off from a stop, up hill, was not a power problem, the front tire was more than light though, and the seat.....well I got a Uly when they came out. As for my passenger and I.....combined loss in the past year has been around 90 pounds with a ways to go. | ||
| Ochoa0042 |
I've NEVER riden two-up and I want to take my girl out on my bike, bike I'm nervous I'll dump it or somthing. Any tips? commonsensicle advice.. dont go show the good roads untill they get used to the bike and handling it. I had the hardest time with a 2up ride because she didnt understand balance well enough at the time. you'll know when the time is right for both of you, stick to city streets and highways before you hit the twisties | ||
| Slaughter |
1-2 clicks on the rear preload BEFORE you ask her to board the bike (don't want to imply that she needs a "weight adjustment") | ||
| V8basil |
Tell the passenger to keep there feet on the pegs until you stop and turn the bike off. Pretend there are super glued there! If they start putting there feet down on one side while you are stopping with your foot on the opposite side you will dump it real fast. | ||
| Niceguyeddy |
Glitch, your headlights work! Jake, I think the local dealers have "your" jacket(ouch, spendy though.) | ||
| Chadr81 |
I've got a '04 12S and Melissa was miserable on the back after riding about 5 miles. Stopping was the worst for me... my balls got sick of getting squished. Gave me a good reason to get an S3T. Now the 12S is the "me" bike and the S3T is the "us" bike. Worked out pretty good in my eyes. | ||
| Nextcorner |
I feel ya on the ball squishing. I use a lot more rear brake when 2-up to prevent that from happening. PS.. 2-wheel tuesday tonight? | ||
| Firstfamily |
I have an 09 xb12r and rode from Cleveland, OH to Niagara Falls with my girl on the back. I'm 6'0" 185 and she is bout 5'4" 115; got a little stiff towards the end of what turn out to be a 4 hour ride but really wasn't too bad. Looking forward to making the trip again next year. My buddy has an xb12s and when his girl is on the back looks like she could fall off at any minute, not too much room back there. | ||
| Muise |
I have a Ss and no probs. I'm 6'3" 235, the wife is 5' bout 110 - 115. She likes it more than the rigid I had before. |
