| Author | Message | ||
     Buellkowski |
For those who have owned/ridden Speed Triples, how would you compare them to tubers? Pros? Cons? | ||
| Spooky |
What is there to compare? The triple will leave tubers behind in the straights. | ||
| Bykergeek |
I had a 2000 Speed Triple. No question about who would win that contest. Reliable, Stunningly Ugly (in a good way) and scary fast off the line. 0-60 in under 3 seconds with a good rider. Very good handling for a big naked bike. | ||
| Gixxer851 |
Hi Folks  I have a similar question... I'm finally going to trade my old '89 GSXR750 and have been looking at Buell X1's and M2's for a while, as well as SpeedTriple's and Suzuki TL1000S... These days I ride my bike to work once or twice a week (40 minute commute), and take to the local mountain roads (very twisty) every second weekend when I can. Occasionally I do a long ride up the coast with my wife on the back, and a track day about once a year. My favourite type of riding is really really twisty roads (30mph-100mph) hunting Ducati's and new GSXR's etc, but I've found I'm not so interested in doing 120mph+ anymore. I do most of my own maintenance, and I used to work in a Moto-Guzzi shop when I was a teenager. What I can't decide is whether to buy a really nice 2000 M2 I've seen, or hang out for an X1 at the right price. I know most of the technical differences, but does anyone want to give subjective/gut-feel opinions of what they prefer (considering the type of riding I do)? Whatever I buy, I'll be keeping it for a long time, which is why I'd like a Buell rather than another Suzuki - I think I'll still like the Buell in 5 years+. Thanks,(sorry the post is so long) graham | ||
| R1DynaSquid |
Get the M2. The X1's dont exactly have a stellar reputation. Oh sure some folks have had decent luck with them, but many many havent. | ||
| Reepicheep |
I ride like you do, and love my M2. Nothing wrong with the lightning though, you get more top end, less bottom end, and a better front suspension. | ||
| Rocketman |
......and it's the best looking bike on the planet despite the new breeds doing the rounds. Well ok maybe I like the Brutale's ergo's to. As for the M2's, we've been waiting for Court to prove 'it' for several years. Even if 'it' is true what Court says (doesn't say LOL), the M2 is still an ugly duckling next to a Lightning. Ouch! Rocket | ||
| Henrik |
Graham; if you aren't in a hurry and are looking around, you should be able to pick up a good S1WL - to me it has all the tuber appeal and a real in-your-face attitude. Put a better seat on it, tweak the suspension, and you'll have a hoot of a classic. Of course, for 2-up the S1WL may not quite fit the bill - but I think there were a twin tail available?? Henrik | ||
| Shotgun |
M2, the best bike ever built. | ||
| Crusty |
If it's a choice between the X1 and the M2, go for the M2. But if it's a choice between an M2 and an S3... the s3 is the most beautiful motorcycle ever made | ||
| Gixxer851 |
Wow! Thanks for all your thoughts. It's part of the appeal of a Buell that there is such a community of Buellers  I was worried if I bought an M2 I'd always be wishing I'd bought an X1, but from all your thoughts it sounds like I'd be more than happy with an M2. Values here in Australia are a bit all over the place at the moment. When the XB12's came out, they dropped the price of the XB9's by $3000 to $15,995(did that happen in the US?), so prices for X1's are all over the place, some are just under the price of a new XB12. M2's are more consistent price-wise. S1's and most pre-99 Buells are pretty rare here, I know of one S1 for sale, never seen an S1WL for sale here, or a twin tail. And I like the seats on the M2/X1's more. I'll keep looking... hopefully you'll see a post in the next week or two, and I can say I've become a Bueller (IMHO M2's look good, but X1's are one of the best looking bikes ever.) | ||
| Fuscat |
Chimin in with Rocket and Henrik on this one! Get an S1 you won't regret it!  | ||
| Cyclonemick |
Definatley the M2! You won't be disapointed. | ||
| Firemanjim |
Sorry,but the S-2 is hands down the most beautiful,looks like a curvaceous woman in repose. And the Speed Triple is a hoot,if you are looking for a naked bike.I have 3 good friends with them.And you should see Bob Gussenhoven push that T-3 around a Battletrax course!!I have had a Daytonna and currently have a Sprint St,great motors,great sound,and really nice bikes.Sorta refined.Course then I go get on the S-2---kinda like a meat cleaver,a little loud,a little heavy handling,a little clunky---but god it hauls •••,and is so much more visceral and inspiring. | ||
| Gixxer851 |
S-2's are nice, but not my cup of tea. I know what you mean about visceral. When I first went test riding about 2 months ago, I rode an X1W, an XB9R, and a SpeedTriple and an M2. The last two I rode back to back. The SpeedTriple was really nice, very confidence inspiring, more character than most fours, but more refined than my GSXR. Then I hopped off it and on to the M2 (with Forcewinder/Wiley exhaust/ignition module), and "Wow", that SpeedTriple seemed pretty bland. I couldn't get the grin off my face! It was loud, it shakes, it rumbles, and I just kept smiling... Whatever I buy, I'll be keeping this bike for a long time, it's the most I've ever spent on a bike too (wish I could spend more, but don't we all!), and I want something with that grin factor... I do like naked bikes, I had the fairing off the GSXR for ages, so I figure an M2 or an X1 should do it  | ||
| Court |
>>>the S-2 is hands down the most beautiful,looks like a curvaceous woman in repose. Well now...I wonder how that happened? It is luscious. | ||
| Kevyn |
I would guess that the S2 may not be your cup-o-tea because you haven't partaken... Rebound and compression adjustments front and rear. Excellent frame geometry for commuting, weekend getaways or long hauls. In capable hands I'd reckon an S2 in the twisties is more than enough to go, ahem, Duc hunting with. A healthy 'tractor motor' with clear breathing passages can easily apply 90+ ponies to the pavement with torque galore. Consider your choices carefully. Each and every S2 was built with much love and affection. | ||
| Buellnuts |
 Thats all I need to say! In The Rain Forest, Bob | ||
| Buellnuts |
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| Al_lighton |
Wow, the speed triple comes with an antigravity device. Tires must last forever! I must own one. I road Debbie's (Bob's wife) Speed T up at the No Wine'n tour. It was not at all what I expected. I thought the triple would be between a 4 and a twin in terms of "lumpiness". There is NO lump in that engine at all, it is turbine smooth, but different than a smooth 4. Plenty of power, no doubt. Very relaxed ergos, much more than I expected. Did not feel as quick steering as an S1, but I didn't wring it out. I was back to back on it with the shop XB9S, which is a WAY tighter package with WAY quicker steering. Different animals altogether, naked or not. God knows it can handle the curves great in the hands of a good rider, as I watched Bob/Steve/FMJ disappear every time we hit the twisties. | ||
| Reepicheep |
I doubt there is a person on this list that would not enjoy a speed triple. If somebody offered me the keys to either and said take a ride, I would probably grab the triple, it would be interesting. If somebody offered me the keys to either and said "one's yours, take it home" I would take an XB12s. The clincher for me is that I keep seeing these absolutely beautiful S1's for $4000 or less. Can you find speed triple's anywhere near that price that have not been wrecked? | ||
| Gixxer851 |
Great pics, Buellnuts, love that second one! Think about this: Around here, S1's and S2's are pretty much non-existent, but a 2001 SpeedTriple is about the same price as an X1W, and a 98/99 SpeedTriple is a bit cheaper than a 2000 M2 Cyclone..... if you could only have one bike, occasional commuting, but the bike is mainly for weekends, which would you prefer??? (These are actual bikes I'm looking at, all with pretty low miles in nice condition, I can afford the X1's if I stretch my budget and haggle a lot) | ||
| Bomber |
one of the deciding facotrs is your locatio, I believe . . . . being at the end of a supply/knoiwledgeg chain that reaches half-way round the world, I believe I'd go for a carbed bike, rather than the EFI (not trying to start a religious war on the topic) so, M2 vs X1, I'd go M2 (I love mine) . . . .S1 is aces, but not sure about pakcing, even with the twin tale option | ||
| Gixxer851 |
Al, Triples are turbine smooth, aren't they? If you ever get a chance, ride a Kawasaki Z1300 six, just for fun. Really smooth. It'll make a triple feel a bit rough! | ||
| Gixxer851 |
Thanks Bomber. Good point. There is a reasonable amount of knowledge around here (plus the internet!), but parts are harder to get and/or expensive here. | ||
| Blackbelt |
Ok i gotta defend X-1's, I have almost 19K miles on mine and only problem i ran into is the same as the M2's had, the leaking rockerbox gasket. The X-1 is a great bike... Gixxer, when you get a bike just ride em, and take the one you like the best.... and you can't trust Dyna's opinion on X-1's his was a freaking LEMON!! big time.... | ||
| Buellkowski |
OK, the Triple wins the smooth HP prize, but what about torque? Is that the difference? Do tubers pull your arse nicely out of the turns better than the Triple? Like a crush on a neighbor's wife, I'm infatuated with the Triple because of what it has that my tuber doesn't. And like a mistress, I unfortunately can't afford both!  | ||
| Steveford |
Go for the X1W. Add a race kit, replace the weird plastic junk with carbon fiber and bob's your uncle as they say. | ||
| Ftd |
Yea!   | ||
| Gixxer851 |
Oh, I'm so confused!  Actually I'm not, all your comments have helped heaps  I'd really like an X1, as much on looks as well as I think they handle that tiny bit better, so I'm going to keep haggling on the X1W I've seen, plus I found another X1W last night, which is interstate which my brother-in-law can check out. If neither of them works out, the M2 might still be for sale, and from what you guys have said I wouldn't regret either Buellkowski, if I could have a Buell and a Triumph I would , but I can only have one  |
