| Author |
Message |
    
Buellgirlie
| | Posted on Thursday, September 29, 2005 - 10:54 pm: | 
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i have a 2004 XB9SL 
purchased from St Paul H-D/Buell in MN last summer
proof they exist! |
Starter
| | Posted on Monday, October 03, 2005 - 08:15 am: |
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I got an '04 XB9R. So they must exist. It's got white wheels and tank decals, which is the easiest way to tell. |
Scottyu
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 05, 2005 - 09:06 pm: |
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Hi folks, I'm new to this forum and quite interested in Buells. Would there be any significant advantages to getting an '04 or '05 XB9R over an '03? The used market certainly seems to have '03's more than anything else, and for good prices as well.
Thanks!
Scott
'01 Suzuki SV650S
Belmont, CA |
Lovematt
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 05, 2005 - 09:21 pm: |
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Scottyu,
Belmont's a nice town...got some family at the top of the hill on Ralston.
Main advantage over the 03's would be the improved belt...I have an 03 myself and did the upgrade to the '06 belt recently and it makes a big difference...the belt is substantially beefier and you can see more of it as the guards don't need to cover as much.
Also consider it is another year for Buell to find out any issues and get them sorted out. |
Scottyu
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 05, 2005 - 10:07 pm: |
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Thanks Matt! Belmont is nice, some of the state's best moto-roads are right in our backyard!
Thanks for the info about the Buell - I'm a little torn on what to do. I know I'd learn more by continuing to ride/track my SV, but I find the Buells to be so quirky-cool, and the damper rod forks on my bike make me a little scared sometimes.
If the major difference is the belt, I'm happy to hear it. Are HP/TQ ratings are the same on the 9's from 2003-2006? No suspension changes, right? |
Dana P.
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 05, 2005 - 10:13 pm: |
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Scott both years are pretty much identical.Update the belt and you are set.Welcome to the BadWeb. |
Lovematt
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 05, 2005 - 10:28 pm: |
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You are correct sir...I grew up in La Honda...probably in the heart of such roads...
Of course in the central coast where I live now...there is some good stuff here too!
Ironically...like you I also have an SV1000s...but I am trying to sell it since the Buell is such a better fit for me. I like to turn more than anything else and the SV was better than what I had in the past...mostly IL4s. However I rode the Buell for just 20 minutes and I was hooked...the SV just doesn't handle like the Buell does. I do think it is a better bike than most other imports but it is just not for me. |
Justice
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 05, 2005 - 11:14 pm: |
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I love feel of the engine in my 9. I've tried the 12 and don't enjoy it near as much.
As an added bonus:
- The 9 was cheaper to buy.
- Where I live the 9 is in a lower insurance class than the 12, so I save every year. |
Scottyu
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 05, 2005 - 11:25 pm: |
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Dana, thanks for the welcome!
Matt - Just got back from a quick romp to La Honda, Pescadero, Stage, Skyline, and a couple other places! Pescadero just got paved, it's REALLY hard to keep the speeds somewhat legal now. Thanks for the SVS comparo - I find it quite compelling that an SV1k owner is selling his for a 9R.
Also good to hear Justice's (and other's) 9 vs 12 comments - I love the looks of the 12R, but flickability and less chance of highsides = good for me.
Man... talking to you guys is going to be bad for my bank account, I can feel it. |
Diablobrian
| | Posted on Thursday, October 06, 2005 - 12:48 am: |
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didn't the forks go from 41mm to 43mm in 04 or 05? I have an 03 as well, but mine is chain driven. see profile or pm me for details. |
Lovematt
| | Posted on Thursday, October 06, 2005 - 09:09 am: |
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COOL! Pescadero just got repaved eh? I may need to come in from the coast the next time I visit my mother then...
Yes...the forks did get a little more diameter from '03 to '04. Let me think for a bit on the other differences:
- Belt guards and rear Brake Master Cylinder are a little different.
- Belt has 25,000 mile replacement instead of 15,000 mile...if you get the '06 belt you likely can increase this to 50,000 or more but still check it at each oil change.
- 2 year warranty if you buy new instead of 1 year
- Kickstand recall not needed (mounting bolt may need replacing on a few of them...check the VIN).
- On the S models I believe the Horn wire issue was resolved. |
Xbcrazy
| | Posted on Thursday, October 06, 2005 - 02:53 pm: |
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Not sure how much of this was already covered, but to the best of my knowledge the XB line rolled out this way... 03 XB9R in May of 2002, the 03 XB9S followed in October of 2002. That's about a year and a half of XB9 production for the 03 model year. This left "Harley" dealers way over stocked. The 2004 XB12R & S appeared in July/August of 2003. With the assembly line tooled to roll out as many 12's as possible the 04 XB9 was only produced at the end of the model year. XB9 production was slim due to the fact that Harley dealers were still strapped with leftover 03 XB9's. So you can find a hand full of XB9's out there but they will be few and far between. They were mechanically identical to the 03 model year bike with slight color changes. The 43mm front fork with the flat spot under the upper triple tree for mounting clip-ons didn't appear until the 2005 model year bikes were released.
Hope that didn't make things more confusing! |
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