| Author | Message | ||
     Beachbuell |
Selling the 2004 XB12R and Getting a 2007 HD Sportster 1200R. Has anyone made this switch themselves or does anyone own a 1200R currently? Looking for some feedback. Any thoughts or opinions? | ||
| Cityxslicker |
having both an 883R and an XB9SX, The Buell is getting all the riding, the sporty is becoming the sunny day rider 2005 Xl883R - 8k miles 2006 XB9SX - 18k miles. The CityX is the Single most fun bike I have ever owned, not giving up the sporty though. | ||
| Mr1spd |
Why the switch? Go with a lightning much more comfortable than the firebolt. | ||
| Just_ziptab |
I left the Sportster world and never looked back after I found Buells. Superbike bars on the XB's make it all the better. | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
I'd have to agree with all the above, either adapt/modify your current Buell to your taste or get a different one ,maybe an Ss. I'd not think you'd be happy with the handling & braking of the sporty as your only bike, & you'd be kicking yourself mentally. If there's a feminine input on this, emphasise the safety issues & explain that more comfortable seats can be had. Alternatively paint her name on the bike & say "I could Never sell it now".  | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
Of course only you know what will make you happy, and it was not clear from your post, exactly why you think you would prefer a Sportster to a Lightning. To me, a Buell is simply a better Sporty. From the performance point of view, the Buell is much faster, lighter, handles better, has better suspension, brakes, motor, wheels, tires, everything. If it is more a matter of style, then you have to decide for yourself which you prefer. If it is a matter of comfort, the bike can easily be modified as mentioned above. In addition to my Buell, I have a Harley Dyna Superglide Sport. This bike is so much different from my Buell, that it is fun to ride both of them. Sort of like having a Corvette and a hot truck. If I had to keep just one, it certainly would be the Buell: it is a much more interesting device, and I prefer the sport bike world. If you want to do the Harley thing, I say go all the way, get a big twin and really revel in the Harley experience. Finally, I might mention that I feel much more at home in the Buell family, where I have made so many friends, than in the Harley world which has rather less appeal to me, but of course, many people feel exactly the opposite. A lot more people actually. Great country, isn't it? | ||
| Thumper74 |
I sold my first Buell for a Sporty 1200C. The novelty wore off after the first ride. After a couple seats and playing with the suspension, it was killing my back. After 6 months, I got another Buell... Find someone you know who has one, swap bikes and ride a tank out of it. You just may change your mind | ||
| 04buell |
I had a 2004 1200C. I agree with Thumper74. It killed my back when I rode it, otherwise it was a great bike and I loved it. | ||
| Thumper74 |
Not only did it hurt my back, but it was under braked, the handling was funny, slow (compared to Buell), etc. The only thing it did well was get attention. I think my Buell looks better (sucker for technology), definately handles/stops better, faster, more comfortable, etc. There wasn't a thing that my Sportster did that the Buell can't do better. That being said, if I could manage to have two bikes, a 1200R would not be a bad stable mate. However, I would lean to something made on an island across the pond from France. Preferably a Sprint ST or a Scrambler. I do like the Ducati's, but owning an XB, I would not be in the market for a Monster, I'd go retro and try a 1000 biposto. If I won the lottery... I'd keep my 05 XB12ScG. I'd buy an 1125R, a new Monster S4R, a Scrambler, a Uly, and maybe some low flash choppah. | ||
| Teeps |
Beachbuell Posted on Tuesday, December 25, 2007 Selling the 2004 XB12R and Getting a 2007 HD Sportster 1200R. Has anyone made this switch themselves or does anyone own a 1200R currently? Looking for some feedback. Any thoughts or opinions? I see you live in South Fla. With all the straight, smooth roads you have, the Sporty might work for you. I went from a cruiser (Honda VTX1300) to a Buell Ulysses. I never felt comfortable in the "cruiser" riding position. With 30 + years of dirt bike riding, I was (am) predisposed to the more upright or jockey position of the Uly. Comfort wise, the Uly is WAY more comfortable than the Honda was. I think the Buell TT might be a better choice. | ||
| Ironken |
Sold an X-1W for a FXSTI.....Kicked myself for 2 years. Wife wanted something more comfortable than the Buell. Went to the Laughlin River Run (why not, lived there, now live 25 min. away) a couple times. Saw an enormous amount of wanna-bees. Didn't fit in. Refused to wear black H-D garb, forgot to wear my bad face, blah, blah. Yes, more comfortable on long trips. No grin factor whatsoever. Brakes work better on a GE Dash-9 locomotive.....the GE loco also accelerates better. Got an XB12S for me and a Blast for her. Problem solved. Grin factor now alive and well.......Just my experiences....Kenny | ||
| Hexangler |
I've got both 99XL12S with 60k and 07XB12R with 11k miles. I like them both but will ride the Buell over the Sporty given a choice. I recommend keeping the Buell and adding the Sporty when you can afford to. Hex | ||
| Cowboy |
Every one knows what he or she likes, at one time I had 2001 lighting--2004 XB 12 R--- 2004 V-Rod, Got rid of XB 12 just too damn wheele prone now just have the lighting and the V-Rod very happy with both and have no plans to get rid of eather just suits me and wife, get what you like. and ride wheels off . | ||
| Bcordb3 |
I'd say get what you want. If you're not happy with the new ride, sell it and get something else. I've been doing that for about 45 years of motorcycling. It's fun. Make sure you get the best deal possible when you do buy, so that you don't get hurt to much when it's time to move on to something else. I am looking, again, for a XB9R with a real good price. It goes on and on. First bike was a Harley Hummer 165 about 25 bikes later who knows. | ||
| Beachbuell |
I like to bounce around a bit when it comes to bikes. I usually go from sportbike to cruiser, then back to sportbike, lol. It really is kind of comical. I've had up to five bikes at once. Oh the decisions on what to ride when I walked into the garage. Now I am down to one bike that has to do it all for me. I've had this Buell since 2005 and I really like it. I've just been getting the "cruiser" bug again. I like the Sporty because it is the "sportiest" of the HD's and it is also the outcast and looked down upon, lol. I love the underdog/out of the norm personality too. Anyway, hopefully the phase will pass. I'm sure it will! | ||
| Nevrenuf |
keep the buell and get the other bike when you can afford it. all bikes are fun but you will miss your buell. | ||
| Eicas |
I traded my Sportster in for a Buell, I would never go back. | ||
| Packdog |
I had a 1200R when I got my Buell Ulysses. I passed on the XB12R because I didn't find it very comfortable at all. I loved the sportster and would still have it if it hadn't been destroyed when I hit a deer. The R sportsters have a similar seating position to the Uly, so they were both very comfortable for me. I didn't like the original seat on my sportster, but after a couple of tries I found one that I could sit on all day. The sportster was dead solid reliable. It was carburated and still delivered close to 60mpg after the"Harley Tax" was applied. 60K miles and not a single glitch or hiccup. I did the routine maintenance myself. I was never completely happy with the suspension or brakes on the sportster. Race Tech Gold Valve Emulators helped the front end significantly, but I never did get it dialed in where I was happy with it. I spent a ton of money on shocks - including the $400 each Progressive shocks that are supposed to be the cat's meow. Despite the dual calipers of the R, the braking was never what I thought it should be. Installing full floating rotors helped a lot. A little more time and money and I think I could have found a setup that I liked, but the poor bike ran out of time. I actually think that poor braking performance attributed to hitting the deer. After all that sportster bashing, I do have to admit that I really miss it and I am looking for a used R to start all over with. The range with the peanut tank is very limited too, so that may or may not be a consideration for you. The new 1200R has the larger tank for 2008. I prefer the looks of the peanut tank, but to each their own! And to cap off with some advice from experience, expect to spend some money on the sportster to get it running the way you would like it to (the "Harley Tax" in particular). Have you test-ridden a sportster yet? They are very different beasts than the XB12R. The test drive may answer the question for you. | ||
| Beachbuell |
Yes, I've ridden 12R's. But, not for any significant amount of time or at highway speed. Just up and down the street and around the block a few times. As far as upgrades go, I'd just do a stage one for now (pipes, tuner, a/c) on an FI model. I really like the mid controls, but not sure if they are all day comfort for me. We'll see, I'm just kicking the idea around right now. After a long night of riding the XB and a friends 1125 (man, she is silky smooooth) I'm loving the Buell right now! (Message edited by beachbuell on December 27, 2007) | ||
| Bcordb3 |
(the "Harley Tax" in particular) I have never heard that term, what does it mean? | ||
| Packdog |
I guess I'm just an old-timer, I was just informed that they call it the "Stage One" now.  It's basically just installing a less restrictive air cleaner, freer flowing exhaust, and the rejetting required to make it all work together. There is a detailed explanation of it on Sportster.org: http://www.sportster.org/tech/basic-perf/harley-ta x.shtml | ||
| Xl1200r |
Selling the 2004 XB12R and Getting a 2007 HD Sportster 1200R I did the exact opposite. I bought an XL1200R brand new in 2004. I owned it for 3 years and spent something like $6000 in upgrades to the engine (all bolt on), suspension, brakes, lighter wheels, seat, etc. It was a full-out Cafe racer when I was done. It wasn't a show bike, but I entered it in the bike show at Americade in 2006 and won first place for the XL class. I really loved that bike. But it fell WAY short of what I really wanted. 6 months after I got that trophy, I traded it in for my Firebolt. I only miss the uniqueness of the Sportster. Nothing else. An XL will NEVER handle like an XB. It will likely NEVER go like and XB, and likely never stop like an XB. If you like those things, then don't look to a sportster. The main reason I traded mine in was I was tired of dragging parts on the street whenever I went into a turn hot. You should REALLY ride one before you decide. Keep it for a couple hours if you can, get used to it, run it hard and make sure you like what it's capable of giving you. | ||
| Thumper74 |
Ehh... There isn't a whole lot out there for the FI Sportsters just yet. The pipes are limited and PRICEY, the only air cleaner that I am aware of is through HD, and the only tuners that are worth a damn are $400+ (not including dyno time). The lower end tuners are pretty limited on what they can do. | ||
| Beachbuell |
Race Tuner $459.00, Screamin Eagle AC $139.95 and your choice of pipe $200 for slip ons - $800 for a full system. Stage One DONE! All prices are retail of course. |
