| Author | Message | ||
     Rocketman |
The honest to gods truth is my 916 is very fast through the gears. The Techtronics Quickshifter makes a hell of a difference. The difference between the 03 Blade getting away from you or just ever so slightly gaining on you. I have to say, anyone believing an XB of any sort could take an R1 on in the twisties is seriously delusional. As I posted in another thread last week, a stock R1, except for a pipe and slicks, has come home 9th at this years F1 TT. Over four laps the R1's average was over 119mph! An XB in any state of tune will NOT run the TT that quick. I'm all for my S1W despite the troubles I've endured, and one day soonish she will be ready for her final and ultimate incarnation. 100 or so RWHP is ok by me these days. That's all I can be bothered with now. Instead I get my high speed kicks on the 916. It's great. I get to dress up like a racing snake. Matching leathers, gloves, Suomy Gunwind in Ducati red, one simply can not knock it. I can hit the streets with my friends on their big multi cylinder repli-racers and I can play with them proper. I'm not thrashing the nuts of a Buell trying in vane to keep up. The 916, despite her years, will keep up. You know, it's just not like the old days where Japanese big bikes are concerned. You won't see the likes of young Eddy Lawson's or Wayne Gardener's pushing some stripped down once overweight production behmoth around a track. Instead you'll often see in many corners of the world some of the greatest racers today pushing around a track the greatest bikes ever to come out of Japan. Those bikes have been honed from many years of experience on and off the track and you can buy any number of them from your local dealer. I recall when Yamaha launched the R1 back in 1997. It was ground breaking, like the Fireblade had been previously, and Bike magazine tested one. This was at a time when the late great Barry Sheene had a page in Bike magazine every month. Bike said that anyone of some experience riding fast bikes and entering the 1976 World Championship on an R1 would have beat Sheene for the title. You think Sheene would have let that go if it were not true? 20 years my friends. 20 years. That's all. Times have changed. The Japanese simply do not build an ill handling or bad bike and what they build today you can bet will be raced today too. My question is, when will Buell enter the fray? Do I care? Not anymore. They've gone a different direction these days. I'd have thought by now Buell would have built another bike to shock the world, like the S1's did. In a world of Monsters, Tuono's, Benelli TNT's etc, the XB's kind of blend in. The one bike that's stunned the world this past few months? No question, MV BRUTALE - the bike Buell should have built. Rocket | ||
| R1DynaSquid |
I have to say, anyone believing an XB of any sort could take an R1 on in the twisties is seriously delusional. As well as some of the other liter bikes & even the Gixxer 750. Rocket you understand this as do several others here. hell when all I had was the X1 I too thought it was the bestest, but once you sample a modern high performance bike then your mind is opened up. And its not enough to just take a quick spin with a jaded mind, you truly have to be open minded & accept the fact that Buell may make great street bikes, but Japan as well as Ducati make excellent track bikes that also preform extremely well as street bikes. | ||
| Spike |
The next paragraph from the motorcycle.com article: Well, all I can tell you after all my years of riding motorcycles, is that strange things happen sometimes. For one thing, a bit of familiarization with the Firebolt has taught us how it needs to be ridden. If we found ourselves at first running out of revs (the Buell's done at 7500 rpm), we've since learned that the little dear pulls just as hard in the next lower gear, doing so lets you get back on the gas even sooner--and no bike on the market lets you get the throttle open as early as the Firebolt does. In theory, we've always known that a short wheelbase is a good thing. In practice, the Buell's stubbiness makes clear why that's so: It finishes a given corner while the other bikes are still turning, and by the time the R1 is pointed in the right direction and its pilot feels safe enough to whack open the throttle, the Buell has already scooted halfway down the straight. The Yamaha, of course, closes the gap a bit, but here comes the next corner, the Buell flicks into it quicker--and if there are more corners than straights, you should be getting the picture by now. The Buell's extremely short wheelbase (aided by its superior "mass centralization"  means it gets to full lean almost instantly and needs to spend less time there. Obviously, these magazine guys smoke crack and are paid mega-bucks by Buell advertising. Dyna and Rocket are right; there is no possible way any Buell could ever even keep an import in sight on a twisty road. Anyone who says otherwise is a liar and their personal experience is simply a figment of their imagination. It's flat-out amazing Buells are even allowed to share the same road with the imports.  I've asked myself this many times, now it's time I ask you guys personally. Rocket, Dyna, Why are you still here? | ||
| Buellfool |
Correcto mondo... Own a Buell because it is what you want. But in the real world the Buell may be easier to ride fast and pull like a pig but the IL4 will smoke it every time. Provided it is not a cruiser then the Japanese do not make bad handling Motorcycles. I own a Buell because it's a good way to keep my license. I have gotten over riding at stupid speeds. | ||
| R1DynaSquid |
Magazine articles & Buell riders are a funny bunch. 90% of the articles writtne about them find faults & the Buel owners cry foul & denounce all writers as frauds. Yet 1 dot com site which is sponsored by Buell writes an article & all is forgiven & these writers know what the hell they are talking about??? Which is it? You cant have it both ways. And we are here, because we both own Buells, we were on Buells before you had even heard of the brand & we have both gained many friends thru our Buell experience. Just because you may not agree with our current sentiments regarding any particular bike does not give you cause nor reason to question why anyone is here. | ||
| R1DynaSquid |
Better behave Mr Fool or Spike will question why you are here  Spike, I have a question for you & maybe you can answer it. Why is it that a large portion of Tube framed owners have quit posting since the large influx of newbie XB owners? Ask Spidy, you do remember him right? | ||
| Sportsman |
I think the question is what do you really want it to do? The Jap inlines are incredible and handle really well as proof by the "stock" R1 taking 11th in a AMA race. That in of itself is enough to put me in awe of the new liter bunch. But we ride our street bikes on the street and go to bars now and then, hop on to go get stuff, take Susie for a spin. I don't want white knuckles everytime I ride, though sometimes it would be cool. The X1 I love could use a little juice, but it's as close to perfect as I've found. | ||
| Spike |
Dyna, That's great that once upon a time you liked your Buell. What's obvious now is that you don't like Buells. You actually carry quite a bit of angst against them. Everytime someone posts something postive about a Buell you respond by telling them how bad their Buell is and telling them how great imports are. What's the point? If you don't like them anymore, why don't you just move on? What causes you to stay here and ridicule others for what they like? Please don't say you stay for the friends you made. If so, you would merely stay and communicate with those friends. Instead, you spend your time making negative posts. Why do it? Just for the record, I started looking at Buells in '96. I suppose you had gone through a few motors by then? | ||
| R1DynaSquid |
Find a post where I tell someone how bad their Buell is. My posts say how bad MY Buell was & is. I can respect that others like their bikes & I am happy for them. Perhaps if you took off the rose colored glasses & accepted the fact that their are dozens of funtastic bikes produced now days you could see how narrow minded your 100% Buell induced mind is? | ||
| R1DynaSquid |
BTW..if you are trolling you are going to need a lot better bait. | ||
| Rocketman |
I've owned two Sportsters, my first I bought in July 91. They were both great bikes - but proved unreliable - sadly. I've known of the Buell brand since the early years but the RR's and Westwinds didn't appeal. In Dec 96 I saw the yellow S1 on the front cover of a magazine. I'd looked for two years or more to find my ultimate Sporty, the XR1000, see I believed it was fast, but all that went out of the window that December. The first week in 1997 and I was riding Sparks of London demo S1. That was before HD got involved in bringing Buells to the UK. They were very expensive and beyond my budget, that is until 1998 when HD had control of things, then the price dropped by about £3000. I bought my S1W. It still is the worlds greatest bike. I could harp on for hours about its classical yet super modern ideologies, and likewise I could do for its letdowns but the biggest letdown of all is the company itself. Buell should have shot the bean counters and continued to develop the S1's, no matter the cost, into something more extreme than it already was. The S1 had something that no other Buell had, or has had since. It had something 'bad' about it. Can you imagine the S1 becoming to Buell what the 911 is to Porsche after 40 years of development and production? The XB's do not follow in the S1's footsteps. Instead the XB's have carved their own place in motorcycling history. Its high tech and most unusual design concepts take care of that, and follow Buells pattern, but in my opinion such clever antics deserve more motor, always Buells problem. By now Buell should be building an OHC V twin for himself rather than selling his designs to the Japanese on the quiet. Oh you didn't know? As I fast approach a young and immature 43 years of age, I DO NOT WANT TO SLOW DOWN. In fact, I want to go faster. Rocket. | ||
| Mikej |
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Beyond that nothing matters. Ride your own ride and be happy. And if the ride breaks then hope you have the support to get it back on the road again in short order. Life is too short to spend it sitting in the grandstands. It's not what you ride, it's that you ride that matters. I've got a picture of an old Knucklehead sitting in a field on top of the Rocky mountains hanging in my cubicle. I'd trade either Buell for it in a heartbeat. Slow, leaky, ornery, bothersome, but I'd still trade for one in a heartbeat. And I keep tripping across images of the Sachs bikes. My dad had one when I was a kid, big old single cylinder. The new Sachs are totally different, and I don't hear much about them, but they catch my eye every time. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.   So different, and yet the same. Go ahead Mr. Buell, show me what you've got. edited by mikej on June 23, 2004 | ||
| Kaudette |
Mikej - you're right. I've ridden many a bike and still like the Buell (maybe not best objectively, but from a subjective point of view it is a great steet bike). Sure, Dyna & Rocketman would eat me alive on an open road but that is only part of the story. I've ridden some extremely fast bikes and yes, the adrenaline rush of scenery stretching acceleration is incredible, but the reality is that most roads and conditions are simply not up to 100 mph first gear starts. I don't know who Rocket & Dyna ride with but I can neither afford to lose my license nor my life having fun at warp speed on the street. I'm sure on either the R1 or 916, fun may be had at more reasonable speeds as well but they (at least the 916) are far from a mello cruiser when you want them to be which is what is nice about the Buell (XB12 in this case). No point is getting into a pissing contest - IL4 with 170 HP and radial brakes will get you there faster and stop faster than any Buell ever produced. And the 916 chassis is better than the Buell in the turns. So what. I'm an 8/10ths rider who knows where the last 2/10ths will take me on an open rode so I don't need the extra oomph to take me to my maker. Does this mean I'm a Buell worshipper. Not in an thousand years as I like almost all the bikes out there (hell, I find bikes easier to like than their riders in many instances...). Next stop likely KTM Duke II (for me) or an MV Augusta Brutale for my wife (closest thing to jewelry on 2 wheels and I'd feel much better about that investment than shiny coal.) They are both faster than the XB but in "my" real world, that's not the point. Dyna & Rocket - ride safe and enjoy your bikes - too bad we're oceans apart (channel for you Rocket) because it would be good to go for a ride sometime and just enjoy the sounds & scenery. Ride safe. | ||
| Cowboy |
I did knot know the 916 was so fast, I have a friend that has a 998 and we ride the twisties every week he dont show me any thing. I say it is more impotant what is above the tank than what is below it.....I have never seen a bike that I did not like any bike sweet is a pleasure to ride. enjoy what you are fortunate to own. | ||
| Blake |
Its strange that the guys who are so concerned with racing type performance, don't race. | ||
| Bigblock |
Yea Cowboy! My old Ma Two has never been left behind on the street by bike or rider below triple digit speeds, of course the in the wide open stuff any idiot can twist their wrist on a inline four or any other 130 = hp bike, a sportster motor is what it is, and I'd have to say that SOUL and FUN FUN FUN are what keeps me pushing the ol starter button on that ol Cyclone as often as I can! 23,000 miles of fun in 4 years is alot, I know plenty of you ride a lot more than I, but I'm only a leetle jealous! Ray | ||
| Spike |
Dyna, A guy started a thread about enjoying his Buell without the top speed of the import bikes, then you and Rocket come in claiming that anyone that thinks an XB can keep up with an import is delusional. How is that not negative? You have not only spoken out against the bike, but you also have spoken out against the people who believe in the bike. Why do it? Also, I'm well aware there are a multitude of new hyper-bikes on the market. Every year they make more power, rev higher, and weigh less. The problem is that they all still need riders. So far, Buell seems to be the only manufacturer designing bikes that cater to the average street rider. There's a big difference between a "fast bike" and a bike that's easy to go fast on. edited by spike on June 23, 2004 | ||
| R1DynaSquid |
You have not only spoken out against the bike, but you also have spoken out against the people who believe in the bike. Read thru the post again, the poster asked for opinions & said to flame on. There is nothing derogatory towards Buells, even a few statements how they handle good & hope the owners are happy. Funny how you are reading into it what you want & not what it says. So far, Buell seems to be the only manufacturer designing bikes that cater to the average street rider. Then why are sales dwindling, salesmen are quitting, dealerships are dropping the bikes, & owners are crying for more power & Nallin is doing booming business providing these same people with the power? If they were perfect for the "average" person why is the slogan "dare to be different"? Shouldnt it read "dare to be average"? | ||
| R1DynaSquid |
Its strange that the guys who are so concerned with racing type performance, don't race Same goes for the Buell goes who want new heads, pipes, dyno charts, etc. How many here actually do race? I know you do, as does Englishman. 99% of us will never race competitively but at least a few of us do track days to improve our skill levels. Does that mean we all should be riding around on 50cc mopeds? Cause if you aint racing whats the point of having more than 20hp or so? | ||
| Bads1 |
Dyna your bike is awesome I told you to your face and I ment it.But you or anyone else on this board can't use its potential on the streets,hell you can't use the BUELLS either.I've owned a liter bikes and many other awesome performers. | ||
| R1DynaSquid |
Dana..where did I state I could????????? Just because you or I cant use its full potential doesnt mean its not nice to simply have & know that the bike can perform even if the rider cant to 100%. | ||
| Bads1 |
I Suppose Dyna!!!! | ||
| R1DynaSquid |
??  | ||
| Bads1 |
Gonna go to the grove tonight Dyna???Wes posted said he's gonna show around 5:30-6:00.I should be there shortly after unless the weather shifts for the worse. | ||
| Clydeglide |
Just because you or I cant use its full potential doesnt mean its not nice to simply have & know that the bike can perform even if the rider cant to 100%. I kinda like the feeling of power I get knowing that the only reason anyone is in front of me or passes me is because I let them. I do not have to prove it, I just like to know it.  | ||
| R1DynaSquid |
No grove for me tonight. Weather is iffy & the wife has a night off work & wants to go out to eat...sounds like a plan to me. BTW Dana..email me with the hrs you are at the bar. Have been by a few times but your truck & or bike is never there. Clyde....yep..no 5hit. | ||
| Spike |
Then why are sales dwindling, salesmen are quitting, dealerships are dropping the bikes, & owners are crying for more power & Nallin is doing booming business providing these same people with the power? Come on Dyna, everyone here knows the answer to that one. The dealers suck, period. There are a few good ones, but the majority are an embarrassment to the brand. I think you'd be hard pressed to find an import dealer that treats it's customers and it's products as bad as Harley dealers treat Buell customers and Buell products. If they were perfect for the "average" person why is the slogan "dare to be different"? Shouldnt it read "dare to be average"? If you'll scroll up about half a page and re-read the post, you'll notice I said they cater to the average rider. I never used the word perfect. Funny how you are reading into it what you want & not what it says. By average, I meant average skill level. Average riders would find it easier to tackle a set of corners if they had more tractable power delivery, even if it meant they had less power overall. I don't think I really need to explain what Buell means by "dare to be different" edited by spike on June 23, 2004 | ||
| Bads1 |
Dyna, I'll be there with the wife sometime between 8:30 and 9 Pm tonight..got a new bar tender starting tonight so I need to be there for a bit if you'd like stop in with the wife we will be there for a bit. We are looking at the doppler as well and thinking not to go wife and I are both JONES'n to go out for a RIDE | ||
| Socoken |
Then why are sales dwindling i thought last year was one of the best years ever for sales? and projections for this year are even higher? thats what i remember hearing. nice to simply have & know that the bike can perform even if the rider cant sounds like someones got something to compensate for??? Cause if you aint racing whats the point of having more than 20hp or so? you realize how silly that is, dont you? i cant believe Blake let you get away with that. 90% of the articles writtne about them find faults & the Buel owners cry foul & denounce all writers as frauds. Yet 1 dot com site which is sponsored by Buell writes an article & all is forgiven & these writers know what the hell they are talking about??? find me ten articles about XBs and then prove that nine of them give Buell owners something be be upset about. 90% of statistics are made up. in all reality dyna, you never say anything bad directly, but you have a derogatory, condescending note to your posts. they NEVER say anything good about Buell, and most of us are here because we have good thoughts about our Buells. i havent read a post of yours in quite some time that was anywhere near complimentary or helpful. i have, however, read many a disdainful post that incites anger or resentment from other board members. you have an R1, and you had a bad experience with your Buell. your R1 is fast, maybe even the fastest machine on Gods green earth. but I, for one, am growing tired of hearing about it. in the last month, this went from a great Buell board, to "dynas great R1 and satirical posting". and then you have the nerve to blame other people for the loss of former frequent posters? im sorry if im offending, thats not my intent. what i mean to say is, i, and im sure im not alone, wish you would tone it down a little. thanks, Ken | ||
| Spike |
Ken, Thanks for the support. I knew I wasn't the only one that felt this way. Dyna, Before this gets too far along, I'd like to think that neither one of us will come away from this holding a grudge. From what I've heard, you're much easier to get along with in person. I even understand your point of view sometimes. It's just that recently your posts have gotten more and more negative. It's frustrating being a Buell enthusiast and hearing someone bash the brand relentlessly. |
