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Buell Motorcycle Forum » XBoard » Buell XBoard Archives » Archive through May 22, 2004 » Test rode XB12S today « Previous Next »

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Kbbeckius
Posted on Friday, May 14, 2004 - 11:48 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Overall impression was good, handled well. Noticed a few strange things, it seemed kinda slow, until I looked at the speedo, the low growl from the engine is deceiving, on a 4 cyl bike the screaming engine lets you know you're going fast. Due to the riding position, and lack of front fairing, I had to look down to see the bike, defiantly gave more of a zen with the bike feeling.

What I didn't like was the big dead spot in the throttle response. Off idle there was a big hole, is this normal??? The guy at the dealer (Sun HD/Buell) said that was because it hadn't warmed up yet. What?? It was running for 20+ min, when I shut it off the cooling fan came on. Maybe the TPS needed adjustment?

Please comment as it may influence my purchase.

Thx Brad
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Imonabuss
Posted on Saturday, May 15, 2004 - 01:05 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

This bike should in no way have a dead spot. They have fantastic midrange torque. It may have something set wrong, but it also is extremely linear, as in there is no hit when a motor comes on cam as you find in a multi. So you won't feel a big surge of torque, but that's because it is always there, as opposed to an engine that goes from poor power to a lot quickly. That kind of engine gives it more of a feeling of power, but actually makes the bike harder to ride and slower.
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M1combat
Posted on Saturday, May 15, 2004 - 01:33 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I have noticed mine is less powerful (I don't want to say sluggish as it isn't) when it's not warmed up. I always let mine warm up for two minutes if I'm in a hurry or five if I'm not. On a 12 you will notice the exhaust valve opening in the power. Below about 3500 it will be closed while cruising and a sudden opening of the throttle will cause the valve to open. You can feel it. Some people may mistake this for a cough or sluggishness but it isn't. You get great torque instantly and then it opens up the power. If you roll on (as you should anyway) it's not really noticeable.

I've never thought there was a "hole" off idle but the only thing I can think that may be what you are talking about is when th bike is cold. It takes about ten minutes or so to really warm up and I think there is a decent bit of a performance difference.

Maybe ask the dealer to let you ride it again if you really are serious. Tell them "I really like the bike but that stumble I may have felt... You said it may not have been warmed up. Let me ride it again just to make sure." How could they pass that up?

One more thing... I call lugging the engine on an XB riding anywhere under about 1800 RPM's. Maybe you were below that? I certainly don't get any dead spot though. Mine snaps my head back quite nicely at >1800 RPM's. I generally find that I run about 2K-2500 around town. I only mention that because if the dead spot you felt was below that I really doubt you will spend hardly any time there at all except maybe pulling in or out of your driveway.
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Opto
Posted on Saturday, May 15, 2004 - 05:02 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Yeh, Kb, it's a Zen bike, the front end that you can't see, the bike that won't steer if you try to steer it. If you you ride it it goes great. No there shouldn't be a dead spot anywhere. Just smooth constant power, you rode a very unusual test bike.
"off idle" I presume you're giving it a bit from a standing start, and you should have trouble keeping the front wheel on the ground doing this. don't expect any decent power under 3500 rpm. Welcome to BWB!
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Torqer
Posted on Saturday, May 15, 2004 - 08:52 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I can go from a balanced stop to one wheel under 3000 rpm with a factory set-up. The bike may be out of tune.
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Kbbeckius
Posted on Saturday, May 15, 2004 - 02:45 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Thanks for you input everyone. I'm starting to think that something wasn't right with the bike or it really wasn't warmed up yet. Another thing I noticed is that it seemed to idle real low, I kept thinking it was going to die. I'd give it some throttle, even though I probably didn't have too.

Thx Brad
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Jasonblue
Posted on Sunday, May 16, 2004 - 02:13 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

That may be the problem. It should be idling right at about 1050 to 1100 rpms.
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420at145mph
Posted on Sunday, May 16, 2004 - 04:19 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

from a stop to 1 wheel in UNDER 3 grand????!!!
were the HELL did u learn to do wheelies?
at 3 grand mine sounds like its about to stutter to a stop( well not really but it does have a NOTICBLE stutter at about 2-3000)
are u clutching that wheelie???
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Darthane
Posted on Sunday, May 16, 2004 - 04:36 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Torqer rides a 12, 420. The 9's need a bit more revs to be happy. Actually, the 12S I rode wanted to be above that as well, but it was more than capable of lifting the wheel at low RPMs from a stop without clutching it much.
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Yeahcmon
Posted on Sunday, May 16, 2004 - 08:47 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Not my 9, at 2100 just throw the beans to it and the front tire is airborn. Rode a 12R and it was a real dog. Hit the throttle at 2100 on the 12 and it felt like it shat a piston. It was a demo bike and definately was not running right - I hope.
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Fullpower
Posted on Sunday, May 16, 2004 - 09:30 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

i have demo'd a couple xb's. the normal demo bike has fouled plugs, and a screwed AFV, due to dipstick salespuds starting and stopping the engines, not warming them up, blipping the throttle repeatedly, and short test rides.the bikes need to be warmed up fully, and run a bit for the 02 sensor to give the proper signal to the ecm to get everything dialed in right. this process is automatic, works just fine for most owners, but is not real conducive to the normal dealership demo/ test drive pattern.
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Oneway
Posted on Sunday, May 16, 2004 - 11:27 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

when i test road mine i did'nt wait for the light to go off to start cranken i'm sure a few times doing this has got to take its toll on plugs. my other bike has a linkert.who would of thought they were injected
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Stealthxb
Posted on Monday, May 17, 2004 - 11:53 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I have seen Torqer do it on a 9 too!
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Darthane
Posted on Tuesday, May 18, 2004 - 12:21 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Well, it's definitely possible to wheelie from a stop (I've done it a couple times taking off hard), but it required more revs and slipping the clutch to avoid just flipping the thing!
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Stealthxb
Posted on Tuesday, May 18, 2004 - 12:40 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

He can go from a complete stop to a 10 o'clock wheelie to a stoppie in less than 10 yards! It's all about skills. Unfortunately I lack the aforementioned.
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