| Author | Message | ||
     Kowpow225 |
Man, I've be nosing around some other sites and what a bunch of whiners. (News.Motorcycle.com) A bunch of people are complaining that the buell has too little horsepower, and it'll never sell well, and it'll never this and that. I've read it on this site too. SHEESH! I love my bike for what it is, and also for what it isn't. I'd like to think that the second part is what distinguishes Buellers from the rest.  | ||
| Darthane |
Welcome to the club. | ||
| Tucsonxb9s |
It's a dang mystery to me. If you don't like go buy something else! I've been lurking on other motorcycle sites and have witnessed the same thing...about every make. The Aprilia guys get upset at their resale values, the Triumph guys hate the new Speed Triple 'cuz it looks like a Buell, the import cruiser guys bash everything HD, and the Repli-racer guys just hate all other makes. Those are broad generalizations for sure, but it shows NO one is completely satisfied with out bitchin' about something. | ||
| Glitch |
I wonder what these people are doing to our bikes to say they're underpowered. | ||
| Signguyxb12 |
blake just looking at the numbers? | ||
| Keith |
What I can't figure out is why the SV650 gets such good reviews and the Buell XB9 does not. The XBs have more hp, more torque, a much better suspension, and is much more unique both in appearance and from an engineering perspective. The moto press never complain about the lack of hp on the SV.  | ||
| Gschuette |
Keith that is exactly what I have always wondered. How can lesser bikes in the same category get better reviews? it's obviously a conspiracy. | ||
| Kaudette |
I think it is the 3000$ price difference and the fact that Buell is touting the XB as the "ultimate street bike" - the SV is touted as a "volksbike" Kinda asking for a beating. Plus, the mag folks are so obtuse that they feel the need to compare motorcycle by clas - eg- cylinder displacement & price, thereby putting the XB 9 & 12 in the litre class. | ||
| P0p0k0pf |
How would the reviews be if the XB was a Suzuki product? I think the name on the bike has a little bit to do with it. | ||
| Todd_martin |
It is the size of a 600 It has the weight of a 600 It has the horsepower of a 600 It is priced like a liter bike or a Ducati. That makes the comparison makes tough. The price is a pretty legitimate value per dollar issue. When I look at it I look at what other fun little bikes are out there. The others are the naked 600s. For me the XB9 or 12 is the coolest 600 out there. It just happens to have a bigger engine. As for the price? Character does not come cheap. Just look at the prices of Ducs. | ||
| Sshbsn |
I guess I just don't see the price issue. It's easy enough to find a good deal on a new XB if you look around, and you get a BUNCH for your money. You can buy them much cheaper than air-cooled liter Ducaties and get similar or superior performance, maintenance, and reliability. Plus you don't have to cop the Ducati attitude that seems to come with ownership. Sorry, that last part was petty.  | ||
| Todd_martin |
The price issue is if you want the highest performing bike for the dollar, you buy a Japanese bike. Yes you can buy a used Buell, but you can buy a used Japanese bike as well. The point is X number of dollars buys more total performance in a Japanese bike. Or the same performance can be had at a cheaper price. In my opinion those bikes do not match in character(But they sure are fast). If you want character as well you have to look to bikes like Ducati and Buell which will cost you more for comparable performance or age. | ||
| Coldwthrrider |
Keith, on paper the SV650 is lighter and faster than an XB9, that's the primary comparison people make. I almost bought one but got the 9R instead, and I'm really glad I did even though I paid thousands more for the Buell (used). It may be easy to get a good deal in some areas, but not all. I hunted for months to find a good deal on an 9R and ended up paying a little more than I probably should have but I couldn't wait any longer. The Ducati comparison is the only fair one, because of the character and overpriced similarities. Hell, compared to a Monster, an XB9 is a good deal with the '05 prices! Everywhere you look, you'll see people getting too used to a good thing (whatever it is) and they suddenly expect more from and already great product. It's universal and will never go away. That's why the new Corvette has to have 400hp?! Everything has to be bigger/better/faster/more and there will still be complaints. | ||
| Kaudette |
In Europe, where the XB's are selling well there is no such thing as a good deal - they go for list - end of story - and that would be 12000€. For the same price I can pick up a Tuono, MonsterS4R, Speed 3, and any liter-bike repli-racer. All 3 will dust the 12 on an open road, have comparable performance in the corners and have equal or greater torque. As an owner of the 12S, I try not to worry too much about that as I can thoroughly enjoy my bike out on the road and don't really need an extra 20 horses to keep up wiht the crowd. | ||
| Johncr250 |
The average XB9 makes about 78 to 80 hp at the rear wheel. Where your average 600 rice rocket makes 25 more hp at the rear wheel. Suz 103, Kaw 107, Honda, yami 105, but sell for several thousand less. As for the SV for the value they are great bikes, they are just so ugly looking. You can get one new here for $5000 and they can almost match the XB in performance. As well as routinely beat the XB on the track in Formula Thunderbike. | ||
| Kaudette |
Equal riders on an SV or XB9 - the XB should nver be beaten, either in a straight line or in the twisties. You need to really beat the •••• out of the SV to make it go fast. As for the 12 - it will keep up with the 600 sportbikes to 100/110 mph but after that loses ground (perhaps to 110 on the R as better aerodynamics) The 12 will not keep up with the bigger Jap or international bikes in a straight line. That being said, I've make guys on SP-2's and Daytona's, CBR's, feel pretty lonely in the corners as they struggle to keep up - it is all about riding skill & torque in the twisties - no matter what you're riding... | ||
| Starter |
It's just mine is faster syndrome. Every rider from cruiser to sportbike has it. I used to have it, every rider I know has it or used to. In Aust 95% of the policing is done for speeding cause the government can pocket so much revenue and there is no come back from the people. One of the reasons the GSX-750R went as a trade-in was the ever too frequent near misses with speed traps and the fact I wouldn't have a job if I didn't have a license. It was just too easy to get into "go directly to jail" mode on that bike. I seen in magazine the quotes concerning the open class bikes like "buy one while they're still legal" and I can really see this coming in soon. If the manufacturer don't stop the marketing purely on the power figures it will happen. Once that sort of legislation comes in the 92hp won't be so dismal in a world of restricted bikes. | ||
| Kowpow225 |
Very good point starter. The AMA could definitely flex some muscle if this was seriously debated. I'm sure many other groups, sites and individuals would too! Thats part of the beauty of us riders. |
