| Author | Message | ||
     Adsva83 |
I recently just sold my '02 M2 and am wanting to buy an XB. I was sold on a 12 but have been finding some really good deals on the 9. Is there anyone who has rode both and can better project the difference in power? I see the numbers on paper but how does that translate to the road. If I buy the XB9 am I going to regret not buying the bigger XB12 is what I'm trying to figure out. Any help would be appreciated. | ||
| Froggy |
The XB9's have shorter gearing to compensate for the lesser power. As result of that and a shorter stroke, they rev up faster and to a higher redline. You need to ride both and decide, I personally don't like the 9 motor, but many like it over the 12. | ||
| Bishopjb1124 |
Both bikes are a lot of fun, the xb9 is faster revving than the xb12. As far as top speed and getting there the xb12 takes the cake, it depends on what you are looking for in the bike. My wife rides an 03 xb9s and I absolutely love riding that thing it is fun. Either way you go you will not regret it. Jimmy | ||
| Buellmalarky |
I rode both before I bought the XB9S, I do mostly city riding and like the quick blips and fast revs on the 9, it's personal preference I think. That and I found my 03 XB9S with 3500 miles for 3800.00, that's a pretty sweet deal, $1500 cheaper than any 12 I could find. | ||
| Old_man |
You'll probably get a break on insurance with the 9. I have a 9, weigh over 250 with gear, and it has more than enough power for me. | ||
| Adsva83 |
I think if a 9 is comparable to the M2 that i just got rid of that I won't have any complaints. The only thing I didn't like about it was that it was screaming at highway speeds and felt like things were going to vibrate loose on it. Common sense tells me though, if you want smooth and lower tacking at highway speeds, don't buy a V-Twin with a 5-speed gear box. | ||
| Mr2shim |
if you want smooth and lower tacking at highway speeds, don't buy a V-Twin with a 5-speed gear box. Pretty much.  I personally like my 9 over the 12, when I do ride it's mostly city riding, some highway. The 9 has plenty of power for me. I couldn't ask for more | ||
| Sloppy |
If you can afford it, get the 12... More HP, more torque and if you need to sell it'll be sold faster than a 9. The only reason not to get the 12 is if you can't afford it or don't want the higher performance of the 12... | ||
| Adsva83 |
Good point, the only reason I was considering the smaller one is because I have found some really good deals on them right now. | ||
| 80rs427 |
My son and I owned a '03 XB9R and an '04 XB12R at the same time. We took them both out and rode, then switched bikes and rode home. I could be perfectly happy with either bike, in fact unless I was riding each right after the other and side by side, I'm not sure I could tell the difference. The gearing is a bit different....at highway speed the 9 was a few hundred rpm higher than the 12. If we pushed them, the 12 would pull ahead of the 9. The 12 does have a different "feel" to the engine pulses. If I had two similar bikes and similar money, I'd take the 12. If I found a good deal on a 9, I wouldn't hesitate to buy it.  | ||
| Caféelite |
I ride a cityx daily and its name does it justice. Its almost perfect to hual you around town. Enough power to scoot around other cars if need be and not to much power to make it pain in the arse in traffic. My buddy has a 12 and when I ride it I feel like im on a rocket compared to my bike. Maybe its me but I think they are night and day diff. After the first few OMG rides I actually paid attention to the feel of the bike dont see it being any more of a pain to ride then my nine. I will be buying a 12 very soon and probably give my dad my nine. (Message edited by Caféelite on February 21, 2009) | ||
| Skinstains |
You need to ride one of each. | ||
| Jraice |
How would you compare the pull of each to say, a super sport 600cc I4? HP of the 12 is just a bit under that of a 600, maybe on par with an early 2000's model. Torque however is nearly double, and max torque on a 600 comes on around 12,000rpm (atleast on my R6). Just wondering how the XB12Scg (going to ride one before picking one up) will compare to the R6, around town, at 65mph rolling on etc... | ||
| Cityxslicker |
difference between oooooooh, and aaaaaaah ? Either way its a Vtwin fireworks show. | ||
| Srwitt |
Jraice, this is for you. I am on the inside lane, 08 XB12R, it is an 05 R6 in the outside lane. Neither of us had spectacular launches, the R6 edged me out in the top end. I trapped ~115 @12.04.  | ||
| Jcbikes |
I prefer the stump pulling torque of the 12. The 9 would be fine for around town but the acceleration feel is much greater with the 12. At higher elevation here in Colorado, the 12 feels much stronger than the 9. If you buy the 9, you will always question if you should have gotten the 12. If you can afford it, get the 12. | ||
| Jraice |
Thanks for the vid! Sounds like it will pull just like the R6 does, atleast at legal speeds, just a bit different feel  . More raw. |
