| Author | Message | ||
     Cnaeus |
Hello gents, Have been following this board for a while & would appreciate some answers to a few queries. Now I'm a 30 year old guy who's 2 wheel experience lies entirely with a cool 90cc Vespa I had in my teens. From then, I've had absolutely NO interest in bikes whatsoever, preferring to invest in funky original cars (Fiat X1/9 - MGB - Lotus Elise to name a few). No interest UNTIL I came across an HD dealership with a couple of Lightnings on display (XB12 & CityX). These things look so good & so right to me - kinda like the equivalent of my Lotus Elise on 2 wheels!!!!!!! Now my questions are as follows: 1- Do you guys believe that acquiring a Buell as a first ever bike is asking for trouble? On account of that torque & peculiar handling? 2- Are these things acceptably reliable for every day use? (funny question for a 10 year old British car owner I know!  ) 3- Should I go for a 9 or a 12? 4- Would anyone happen to know if these bikes can be brought into the states or Canada from Europe? (I'm currently working in Italy but I should be making my way back to North America in a few years, & seeing that no way is my car gonna be allowed in for road use...) Thanks in advance for you help chaps. Cheers (Message edited by cnaeus on May 19, 2005) | ||
| Daves |
1. no, as long as you respect the bike. I would also suggest getting some training,MSF,Rider's Edge etc. 2. Yes 3. Ride both and then decide 4. I don't know? | ||
| Race_pirate |
Buy a Buell XB CityX Take a MSF course | ||
| Reepicheep |
There is no "quirky handling", it's just very responsive. The D208 tires (stock on the non 9sx) have a sharp profile and fall into corners. They do this on any bike. The 9sx with the Pirelli's has a nice even turn in, pick what you like. The 9sx is a nice all around bike. So long as you have the frame sliders, and maybe the swingarm sliders, applied before you leave the dealership, I think it would be an OK starter bike. The only real risk is that it is more expensive then a beater SV-650 or something, so if you ride it for a year and decide to get out of the sport, the depreciation is higher. | ||
| Eor |
I like seeing folks on Buells, but I don't think a 75+ HP bike is particularly appropriate for what is essentially a new rider. I'm a fan of small displacement single cylinder dual sport bikes as first bikes. Find a used one...drop it a few times, ride on some gravel, take the MSF and then move up to whatever v-twin Buell moves you. Keep the dual sport for teaching the SO or kids to ride, if interested, or for playing off road occasionally. In addition to being the most versatile bike, a small dual sport is cheap to operate, maintain, and insure. A used Blast is an option....used because a new one probably isn't going to stay around long enough to justify the expense and it is too narrowly focused to keep as a second bike when you move up to something else. If you are intent on getting a Buell V-twin, I'd recommend a XB9S or XB9SX model. The ergonomics on the R models are an acquired taste for many. INSERT STANDARD YMMV DISCLAIMER HERE (Message edited by eor on May 19, 2005) | ||
| Mrcoffee |
Got my CityX as my first bike and I like it. Took the MSF course first, of course. Had some issues with the bike at first(mechanical, not me), but eventually the dealer swapped it out for a replacement after about two weeks of BS. Used local roads to commute to work for the break-in period, after that I started taking the highway. I've used the car probably less than half a dozen times in the past two months. And most of those are grocery store trips. Definitely take it easy when you first start with it. On the first bike(the one with the mechanical problems, nothing like a brand new bike that can't start or the engine cuts out on you when there's an SUV tailgating) I let out the clutch too fast a couple of times and popped the front wheel up a few inches. After that happens a few times, you learn to be careful with the clutch. But, definitely take a MSF course first. I didn't even walk into a dealership until after I got my endorsement. I wanted to be absolutely sure I could handle a bike and be comfortable before buying. I know at least one person in the class bought a bike before taking the course and failed. (Message edited by mrcoffee on May 20, 2005) | ||
| Joele |
My first bike was a Honda 919 - super torque monster with HP to boot. I rode it very slowly while learning but I'm very cautious - be the judge of yourself - are you cautious or indulgent? That will help you determine what to start with. Being a novice, you'll most likely appreciate the 9 series' longer RPM band - the 12s have a shorter red line so there's a little less flexibility and experienced management it more crucial. (Message edited by joele on May 20, 2005) | ||
| Jeremyh |
Cnaeus, my Buell was my first bike ever, and my first sport bike i had ever really ridden. My only other experience was 80 and 125 cc dirt bikes. The Firebolt was the BEST move i made for myself in terms of building rider confidence and skills. | ||
| Truk |
I would not recommend the XB12 for a first bike. Even the XB9 will be a bit much because you get a good bit of power immediately off the throttle. Could be done, but you will need more care to start with Most 600 sportbikes are softer off throttle and require you get way up into the rev range to plug into their power band. This makes life easier for someone learning because you do not have immediate access to the power, and you can ride the bike in the lower rev range just find. But when you learn how to ride you still have a bike that has power once you learn how to keep your revs up, and subsequently you can stick with the bike for some time. I would also recommend taking a riding /safety course first. Here in SC they provide the bike so you do not have to buy one first. Plus half the fun is all the shopping and learning, why rush it | ||
| Nadz |
My first bike was a 12R. Go for it! The biggest thing I'd ever been on was a Honda Rebel 250 (maybe for fifty miles), and I managed to get the 'bolt home (in the rain). Then I took the BRC and ERC- and you should too. Just ride scared, and lean forward when you let the clutch out, and in a week they won't be able to wipe the grin off with a sledge! -NadZ | ||
| Mike_bolts |
My situation was similar to yours, I rode Honda mopeds (Elite 80) in high school and then moved on to cars. I sold by 375 HP Mustang fastback last year and was looking for a new toy. A buddy at work told me about Buells and one day I visited the dealership and fell in love with the Cityx. I liked the upright riding position and the concept of low center of gravity. I admit 984cc made me a little apprehensive at first so I had it delivered to the house. First I familarized myself with the controls, etc. and then I went for a ride to the nearest large parking lot to practice figure 8's and braking with the help of my dad who has been riding for years. I also took Rider's Edge and since then I have about 2K miles on the bike. It's been a very positive experience for me. Some pointers, these bikes have a lot of torque so avoid laying on the throttle in 1st and 2nd until you get the hang of it. Relax your arms and learn to get a feel for the bike. The CityX is a very rewarding bike to ride, go for it! | ||
| Fullpower |
i let my 13 year old ride my XB12, he did not have any trouble. if one is respectful of the throttle peak horsepower is not a liability. the XB chassis is very stable on the road, and is easy to ride. i agree that a smaller bike would be closer to ideal to "learn on", but an XB9SX is only 450 pounds or so, and in this day that qualifies as a middle weight standard style bike bike. |
