| Author | Message | ||
     Jssport |
Just wishing here but,..... how about some form of the ill-fated RW motor, orbital fuel injection should make it EPA ready two stroke bikes rock ! | ||
| Ducxl |
I'd like to see a 120RWHP aircooled engine but that is just prolonging the inevitable.Emissions and increased power dictate watercooling.Face it,this pushrod engine is nearly at the end of it's life cycle.Hey,let's diss the poor qualities of the previous flathead engine,and how OHVs are soo much better.Sure OHC,water cooling,etc. has been around for nearly a century but,so has the Turbine.Except metallurgy advanced to the point where the turbine is superior to the ones of the 1930s. Technology is always moving forward,and pushrod tech. is becoming antiquated.Silly NASCAR,Super F1... | ||
| M1combat |
Ferrari 550 Vs. Corvette Z06 Vs. Dodge Viper Silly pushrods? Silly people. Please think before speaking. Maybe we should play the money game instead... Old busted ass Ferrari 348 vs. Shiny new Z06... Of course the Z06 still wins... Don't even know why I went there  . Teddagreek... In your post above you mention 150HP for the XBRR... Isn't that at the rear wheel where the other quotes are at the crank? I could be wrong. People have been making 145RWHP for a number of years on FX class XB racebikes. Duck... Do you realize what would happen if you put an F1 engine in a streetcar? Well, if you could find a clutch to suit the task anyhow? And a 30 speed transmission? And a 500 gallon fuel tank? Oh, and jet fuel or better? Good luck with the maintenance... Silly pushrods? Come again? | ||
| Thespive |
BTW People, our bikes ARE liquid cooled! With oil! I think many of you mean "water-cooled". And I agree with Blake, I hate having to rev for power. I like 4500 rpm, I like 3rd gear, and I love the Pace. I have a buddy with a brand new CBR600 and when we ride the twisties, he is always shifting, I never leave 3rd. I love my City and sure there are times where I think I can use more power, the truth is, the 9 is a very balanced machine, perfect for my style of riding. I could have gotten a 12, but I am happy with my 9. I wouldn't mind if Buell brought out a high horse halo bike, but hopefully not at the expense of what makes Buell a Buell, namely good balance, a torquey twin w/good low end power, and super handling. A Buell that revs to 10K+ wouldn't appeal to me. And I have said it before, I like our lumps. Nothing like the sound of engines at a bike night in a sea of I-4s... There is no mistaking out twins. --Sean (Message edited by thespive on January 02, 2007) | ||
| M1combat |
A few number I guess... The valve trane in an XB is good to what 9200RPM (not a stock XB mind you...). The power delivery goals dictate a stroke length that's too long for that sort of RPM anyway. The bottle neck is not the valve train. It's piston speed and/or conrod material and/or bottom end strength. I'm sorry, but give me a 125-135RWHP Buell engine over a 160RWHP IL4 or 145RWHP Desmo V2 any day of the week. Especially if the air cooled XB engine (or it's next generation) can be made lighter and still be put into a BRILLIANT XB chassis. That said... The 1098 Duck does have my ear. I'll be buying another bike in '07. I hope it's a Buell. Another number? 40 lbs lighter... | ||
| Slaughter |
Frankly, a 103 RWHP Buell frightens me - and I have ridden it hard, put it away wet more than once. My threshold of fear seems to be well below that of most folks. In 3 years, I haven't yet figured out how to use the HP I have - I can't imagine being able to "use" 120-150HP. | ||
| Liquorwhere |
That Rotax Engine will provide what you are looking for Don...I am not sure about whatever else you are looking for. The handling of the bike is excellent, but I would enjoy riding a 115-130 RWHP Buell that is smooth with a rich torque curve. The real problem I have with the engine is the inability to make a 6 speed. I have read that the area is too small to do it and make it strong enough to hold up in the XB model. I know Baker makes or made a six speed for my X1, but without the trap door the XB models do not have the room to do it and be dependable. Gearing would do wonders for that bike in my humble opinion. Either way if I keep mine, I will have to do something else with it, I have emailed Saintly about a chain drive to adjust the gearing for more top end. We shall see. | ||
| Mainstreamer |
I'm with you on this Slaughter. There will always be a faster bike and a better rider. The XB12X puts one big arse grin on my face, so does my H-D Road glide and the FJR1300. Ya gotta ride what puts a smile on your face. Just just like people, there just isn't a perfet bike, but like people there's some good in most of them. | ||
| Liquorwhere |
Steve, I have bounced my bike in fifth off the rev limiter, tucking as much of my fat ass as I can..lol..must be a sight really...trying to get just a little more go from 143 to 145 or maybe that elusive 160 (I am just dreaming here folks) on the speedo...as my buddies fly by me on their GSXR 600's and R1's...maybe I should not be riding that fast, that does not mean I will stop, as you put in your profile...Big V-twin - liquid cooled. Rotax or the like... Use that power man!! | ||
| Rex |
I think the magazines will read "Finally" I think Buell needs another motor, just to get rid of the image of using an old designed, heavy motor....(even if it is new, and a modern push rod motor) I too like my current Buell motors power characteristics....love the sound and the torque.......I also love the sound of all Vtwins.... I think a version of the RR motor would be cool for the street. I see air cooled and water cooled being sold together. Ducati does it. read this months cycle world, and the comments sent in about the harley davidson sportster flat track bike......everyone seems to love it...and guess what , you can see the motor..... I might even be persuaded to buy a sporster flat tracker, if it is sold at the $99 buck a month sporster deal. I like the idea of fuel in the frame and oil in the swing arm, but I like seeing the vtwin motor....I like seeing all motors...rex | ||
| M1combat |
The XB won't break 140 . Sorry to burst your bubble there Liquorwhere... In any case... The Rotax engine may give me what I want on one path, but I can already get that engine in a great sportbike. That said, I can't stand the look of any of the Aprillias. Besides... I believe Buell can do better. Yeah Steve... I've been frightened a few times on my 103HP XB12R... Just last week I was riding home in the snow and the snow plow that I was passing had the nerve to honk at me. He was motoring along with a line of five cars behind him doing about 45MPH... There was no way I was going to take the time in the snowfall to ride home at 45... That was a very loud horn. | ||
| Slaughter |
Today we'll be working in Bartels racing all day. Next week will be back on the dyno again. 2 weeks will be my return to racing after my last race put me in a wheelchair for 4 months and tripled my lifetime collection of broken bones. Gonna be waaaay cool!  | ||
| New12r |
Liquor, I talked to the Buell engineers, At peak rpm with the current gear ratio 140mph is all you get, my speedo reads about 149 at redline. We shall see about a new motor, I really dont care, the one I have works just fine and I dont have to work on it other than oil changes and spark plugs. | ||
| Anonymous |
Don't worry, the XB motor isn't going away. There may be additional Buell engines some day, but as long as people are enjoying and buying XB's, we'll keep making them. After all, there were over 10,000 of them sold last year. | ||
| Nutsnbolt |
we? we'll? Am I dreaming, here? | ||
| Ezblast |
no | ||
| Spiderman |
first off all bikes are liquid cooled in physics air is a liquid, it has liquid properties, etc, etc... secondly, how well do you think a 150 RWHP XBRR motor would hold up in normal street use? It would have to be seriously de-tuned for street use and thirdly JET FUEL IS BASICALLY KEROSENE! Avgas is the hi test stuff | ||
| Not_purple_s2 |
Hmm.... I'd be persuaded to buy a new XB (I'm already leaning that way) by the addition of a 6spd and a short stroke 1200+cc combination. But I think the XB line is starting to loose steam... They're great and I hope they stick around a bit more. But right now Buell seems like a two bike company (XB's and Blasts) there needs to be a significantly different addition to the fleet. It would attract more buyers. Heck, it might even sell more of the current bikes. Some young kid may come in to check out the new Buell Superbike and leave with an Blast or XB. | ||
| Diablobrian |
Good luck on your triumphant return to racing Slaughter! I think that you and I met at Autobahn Country Club during a track day/CCS weekend. I think we were even both sporting Vincent Haskovec t-shirts, if my memory can be trusted | ||
| Rocketman |
as long as people are enjoying and buying XB's, we'll keep making them. Could have sworn I got ridiculed in another thread for such claims. How many anonymous participants do we have these days? Rocket | ||
| Court |
>>>>the XB motor isn't going away. That's an accurate statement. . . be mindful that Harley-Davidson is now, de facto, using the BUELL motor. Save me your "it's built at Capital Drive" drivel. . . . Buell designed parts are built in a number of places, continents, countries and venuations. The motor will be around for quite a while. Court | ||
| Rick_a |
Aircooled, pushrods, long stroke...seems the things everyone considers antiquated are the reasons I bought the thing. I personally don't see the need for a six speed. These things get great mileage cruising at 5K rpm and up. On a 9 it makes more sense, but 12's have enough torque to handle being geared a bit tall. The XB12SS and the Ulyssis I would classify as very different platforms...the ULY being a very popular one. They both have characters all their own. | ||
| Midknyte |
But right now Buell seems like a two bike company (XB's and Blasts) hardly... we've got 18 dozen model variations of the LightningUlyCrosses and 2 Firebolts (9 vs 12) (yes, argue that the XB's are basically all the same - I'm just pointing out the lack of attention on the Firebolt side of the fence) | ||
| Blake |
Two bike company? That's not what I see. I can see characterizing Buell as a two frame (three really) company. But to characterize them as a two-bike company doesn't make sense to me at all. Spidy, You mean "fluid"? | ||
| Not_purple_s2 |
Just saying that compared to many motorcycle companies Buell's bikes are not as diverse. They're all variations of a single streetfighter theme. Don't get me wrong I love streetfighter/naked bikes but I think that adding a supersport and/or touring model to the line up would really help broaden the brands appeal. More so a supersport/superbike since that's what really sells these days. I will add that with the many variations in the XB line it makes for an almost custom factory bike where you can get the "One Bike = XB" any way you want it... I want more power and torque - get the 1203 engine, I want to go off road - get the X or TT, I want a more aggressive riding position and aerodynamics - get the R, I want a more relaxed position and less aggressive handling - get the Long, or I want some goofy side plates - get the TT But really I see them as varioations on the same bike. (Message edited by Not_Purple_S2 on January 03, 2007) | ||
| Blake |
"They're all variations of a single streetfighter theme." I don't see it that way at all. The only thing I see is that they use the same frame and airbox cover configuration. | ||
| Percyco |
For all you guys that don't like seeing pushrod tubes..........note the handy back-up pull starter !  | ||
| Not_purple_s2 |
lets see we'll consider the XB9R as the standard since I do believe it was the first. Now looking at the different models XB9S - different seat and fairing, slightly different ergonomics (bars, pegs, ect.) XB12S/R - same as 9 models but with increased stroke and different gearing XB9SX - replaces XB9S, only difference is cosmetic, seat height (Or did they raise the suspension?) XB12Ss - Longer wheel base XB12X - Probably the most "different" variation, raised suspension, cosmetic differences, and increased fuel capacity XB12TT - slightly raised suspension, cosmetic differences Maybe I missed some things? The only changes I see that are beyond the skills of your average shade-tree bike mechanic are the fuel capacity increase and wheelbase increase (though the swingarm swap would be easy enough). | ||
| Jon |
This thread reminds me that I never understand why the Buells as made come under the dissatisfaction of some who wish it weren't a Buell. If you want an inline 4, get one. They are great bikes. I am a fan of the Buell as is. They have evolved by light years in a span of a few short years. All the innovations are astounding, yet the bikes have to be nit-picked to death by the garage expert or the none fan. Don't get me wrong, there are better than me who don't care for the platform, I recognise that. But then you just get what you want and move on. From what some say, I suppose the H20 cooled engine will be added to the line, but hopefully like Ducati, there will be plenty of room for the air-head fans. The engine does work after all. | ||
| Kootenay |
I kinda like the ol' aircooled lump. Does what I want it to do, requires little maintenance, and I always feel like I'm riding a motorsickle! There's so much more to riding enjoyment than horsepower, IMO. I've ridden 140 hp bikes which made me yawn. But I guess there are always those who want bragging rights. I generally slow down of my own accord long before my XB9R runs out of steam--I like my license, and would like to keep it. I've ridden with a few who are considerably faster than I am, and maybe that's partially the bike, but the majority of riders I know have to work to keep up with me, at least once I get going in the twisty sections (on roads with little or no police presence...). I can certainly understand why a pro racer might want something a bit more "sophisticated," but for (mostly) legal street riding, my Buell is exactly right--pushrods and all. |
