| Author | Message | ||
     1324 |
OK, so I can read specs all day long and know what the numerical difference between 9 and 12 power/torque, but how noticeable is it? Every dealer I go to doesn't have any because they are being discontinued next year. From everything I've read, an xb9 should be around the same as my sv650, maybe slightly slower. I've ridden several 12's and liked them all, but I've found quite a bit of used xb9's on the market for what I consider fairly reasonable. So my question is, what is needed for the 9 to meet/exceed the 12? Stock crank? Might be kind of cool to have the power of a 12 at the insurance expense of a 9... | ||
| Glitch |
Slower...?  | ||
| New12r |
Dude, I got an sv650 and the 9 will pull on it, out handle it by leaps and bounds too. My 12 is so far away from the SV comparing it would be useless. The 9 has potential but you will never get the torque the 12 makes reliably. | ||
| Kdan |
New12r's SV is slower than my XB9, but I still can't catch the sumbitch. We both ride well within our limitations most of the time, he just seems to have a higher limitation than me. Get the XB9, if you like your SV, you're gonna love the Buell. More down low grunt and way faster to top end. The XB12 takes the XB9 and turns it up to 11. For a price. | ||
| Lazyj |
Hmmmmmmm........had a 9.........glad I own a 12. Thats all I can really say.. | ||
| Hammer71 |
9 here havent been lost by a 12 yet. Either way you'll be more than satisfied. | ||
| Ducxl |
}9 here havent been lost by a 12 yet  Anyone who's ridden with you knows why.You(and guys' like New12r) are VERY skilled.But some of us are learning.. | ||
| Smokescreen |
My 9 has yet to be left by a 12 as well. Always up for a challenge though! Only in the straights can one pull away, just ask Djkaplan. When the tight stuff comes up, I am so glad I bought a 9! Smokescreen | ||
| Slaughter |
I raced the SV and the XB9 - same track, same day for 2 years. I'll never put down the SV - even on a Buell board - because within limitations, it IS a good bike... - but it is just not the same bike and despite what some people tell you. You can have a pretty penny invested by the time it's race ready. They're pretty similar bikes in power delivery BUT the SV can't get you the grunt the XB9 can. With MINOR engine mods, the XB can really be made to perform (check your rules first on allowable modifications) I found that I could use almost the same shift points at the higher speed sections of the track but in the lower speed sections, I'd have to shift more on the SV - but they were pretty similar overall EXCEPT the total power. The XB9, punched out to 3 13/16 bore, bored out XB12 throttle body, 585 cams, some other stuff - keeping the compression about 10.5 to one - you can make nearly 100HP on pump gas. I know people claim more HP but I've never seen it without more compression (and hotter running, less reliable). Also it's nice not having to buy race gas! You can get sweet deals on the XB9-motored bikes and I personally like the power delivery better. One thing - you have a very usable suspension STOCK on the XB but you KNOW you have nothing usable on the SV until you change AT LEAST to a GSXR rear shock and use cartridge emulators in the forks - or better yet, put a GSXR front end on it. Since I'm spending my own money on racint (who's kidding about "sponsorships") and ultimately decided to race just one bike, I kept with the XB and the SV went to a good home. I'll race the XB for a few more years (Message edited by slaughter on May 29, 2007) | ||
| Slaughter |
Wrote above without reading... since you're NOT racing, you don't have to worry about class restrictions. The one modification that is hard to beat (amazing, this is the THIRD time today I've said this) - is punch it to 3 13/16 bore. Balance the crank. Makes a much quicker revving engine than the stocker and CERTAINLY quicker revving than the 12. Virtually the same HP. More "usable" power to my way of thinking. For my money, "there's no substitute for cubic inches" - | ||
| 1324 |
Thanks to all for posting your thoughts on this subject! I'd just like to point out that my statement about the XB9 being slower than my SV was one made out of ignorance due to what some people/dealers have told me. Plus, (while worthless to me), 1/4 numbers for the 9 were slower than my sv. I personally have no experience riding a 9. Like I said, every dealer I try ends up telling me they don't keep any on the floor because no one wants them. Obviously, for the price differential and profit I can see dealers pushing the 12s over the 9s. That being said, the one thing I didn't like about the 12s I rode was the lower redline. Granted, with the five speed (versus my six), I didn't have to shift very much, but I still found myself 'finding' the rev limiter more than I do on my SV. This is more of a compliment, but still, I'd like more room to play. My main reasons for wanting to go to Buell are suspension, looks, low maintenance. If I can get the power of a 12 or better from a 9, I am up for a project. I've done auto engines before, so I'm sure I can tackle the engine work over winter. How much $$ does it take to get all this done? I'd rather not spend more on the 9+mods than I would on a 12... For reference, this bike is intended for street usage (maybe some commuting should I ever move somewhere else), and a couple track days here and there. On a side note, is there an option to have this thread send me updates when posts are made? Thanks! | ||
| Freezerburn |
The 9 with the Micron and map is close in HP to the stock 12. You would still save money on the purchase, have a sweet sounding bike, and save every year on insurance. I love my 12, but in hindsight I would have got the 9 and done the mods Slaughter suggested. Big insurance difference up here across the line. | ||
| Moondust |
Is'nt the 9+mods gonna cost the same as a 12 or more ? I've noticed a trend amongst most ( not all.. )xb owners and that is - once they've had a 9 for awhile - most get curious for a 12. I'd say go 12 & dont look back - the extra torque is plus ..surely ? | ||
| 1324 |
The other thing(s) I was wondering about...is the suspension the same between the 9 and 12? | ||
| Theroamr |
My buddy has a xb9 with a drummer, high flow filter, airbox mod and has the mapping near perfect. Mine is a xb12 stock. From roll ons at about 50mph to about 90mph were dead even. I do weigh about 40 more pounds than him though. I was very surprised at how well his bike ran. | ||
| Leeaw |
Never did any real side by side comparison, but I have an 03 9R and my wife has an 03 SV650. No offense to the SV, which she loves, but I find it bland, not sprung well for my 195lbs and brake do not come close to the Buell. I am trying to push her to get a 9S, but it is my turn for a new bike first.  Having gone from an M2, I like not banging the rev limiter so quick. Isurance on the SV is almost half my 9R though. (Message edited by leeaw on May 30, 2007) | ||
| 1324 |
Thanks for the continued responses, everyone. Little by little you are swaying me from my bigger is always better mentality. Maybe the 9 would be better to gets used to more torque, anyway. One of you mentioned doing the rebore engine build that 100 hp can be had...seriously? That is pretty cool (I'm assuming that is 100 whp). That sounds awesome....better looks, sound, torque than a Japanese sportbike with about the same hp...NICE. | ||
| Jackelfox |
i've had a 9 and currently a 12. There was about a year space between the two, but he 12 certainly feels more powerful. Like has been said, when i had a nine i wanted a twelve. The 9 + mods thing is really out weighed if you just buy used. I got a 06' 12scg for 7,500, financed it for value, put in almost a 1000 bucks in mods and still saved 2000 or so what i would have paid at a dealer, and didnt have to break it in! | ||
| 1324 |
Good points. I will definitely be buying used, and preferrably, in cash if I can sell my sv in time. $7500 is more than I'm willing to spend though...I'd like to see $5500 or less. $6k could probably be swung, but I'd rather not. | ||
| Jackelfox |
... then a 12 might be a bit hard to find, although if i remember right you are looking for an R which seem to resell for less, so you're prolly in the right ballpark | ||
| 07xb12scg |
I have the Lightning 12. It's my first street bike and I don't have problems handling the torque. I don't like the low rev limit at all, but that's because I'm coming off of a 2 stroke 250cc ATV. I don't have an inline 4 to compare it to, but I do want an inline 4 as a second bike. If you buy a Buell for torque I don't have any idea why you'd want the 9 over the 12. Are the 500 more revs or so that important? It doesn't seem like they would be. If you want to look at used Buells I can tell you of a place in PA. I see you live in Bangor so you're not too far from me. | ||
| 1324 |
I saw that link you sent, but there was only one bike on there. I'm in no rush and have to sell my sv first, so I have time to look through the market and get what I want. I still feel like I want a 12, but with a little work, a 9 would be cool, too. The xb12scg was the first buell I rode...and loved. I'd love to pick one up, but I did like the clip-ons on the Firebolt. Although, I'm sure I can just add those later. | ||
| Semirgdj |
I have a 9 and a 12 both with race ecm, jardine pipes, and open airbox mod... the 12 kicks the 9's ass in corners and on straight aways. | ||
| 07xb12scg |
Oh I posted that link on here? It was the wrong thread so I deleted that post. Here's that link again incase you or anybody else wants it: American Classic Motors. I looked at used Buells at that place before I bought mine new. I would have bought used if they had any Scgs, but they didn't. They only had Firebolts and regular Lightnings and I'm too short for those. I think they had 3 in stock late last year when I looked. They may have more than what the website says. | ||
| 1324 |
Well, today I found a dealer that had a XB9X, so I rode 60 miles to the dealer to try it out. While it does have more torque than my SV, I can honestly say my SV pulls away from idle with less fuss. Chalk it up to the Buell's lope or whatever, but my bike moves from a stop much easier/faster. Once moving though, the bike is quicker than my SV. There is definitely a difference between the 9 and the 12, but I didn't find the difference to be a deal breaker. In all honestly, the 9 has more grunt than my sv and more than I should need. Handling wise, no surprise here...much better than my SV. I know there really isn't a difference between the 9 and 12 other than power, but the 9 sure felt lighter on its feet and more maneuverable. Call it the placebo effect, but that is what I noticed. Overall, I was very pleased with the bike and would probably buy one over the 12 if the price was right. Knowing that I can mod the difference away, I should be OK. The bike I rode was an 06 and they were asking $7999. They must want to get rid of it because when I didn't respond, he started talking about how they can do something with the price because it's old. They were even talking about taking my SV on trade.... Chances are good I'm going to stick to my guns and sell my SV privately and buy a used bike, I'll entertain their efforts...who knows? |
