Has anyone owned/riden a Buell?

Spotted a Buell Xb9r for sale, but it's a thousand klicks away.
It's the Xb9r and I would like any input on what they are like.
Cheers.

I've got an idea reddog has experience.

Personally I like the XB12SS but they're still commanding good $$$

I get a grin every time I see one!! Absolutely love them! I've ridden a 99 X1 with all the mods, and also the last XB12 lightning long. Both were fantastic. One of the blokes at work has a XB9 which he too loves but......has spent some cash having the gearbox rebuilt!   
There's a few forums you could checkout, they will have a bit more of an insight of potential problems.
If I had the funds, there'd be a Buell in my garage no question!!!

No but I like the look of them, especially the new EBR 1190rs


I don't mind this one with the parallel twin.

I've never owned one, but I have ridden with two guys that own xb12s. They look cool, and they are well put together but that 1200 runs out of puff real quick. It also vibrates everything off the bike, one guys number plate snapped off and the other lost an indicator. They don't do much for me, the 1125 had a better motor ditching the sportster 1200 but it's ugly as a hat fill of bums.

Yeh, Pete. I just saw the new EBR1190RX in a mag.
$28G ride away. 185 GG's 138 Torques and to help you keep it underneath you 21 levels of user adjustable traction control!!!
Fug me, they would be fun.   

My son's got one XB12. Pic below.


He bought it new in 2008 and was tossing up between a new GSXR1000 or the Buell. The Buell had so much more character that it won him over. He's still got it and he loves it. I've ridden it a few times and it's good fun. Hits the rev limiter very early and first time took me by surprise. Just need to learn to keep it in the rev range and it's fine. Compared to the Bandit there's nothing of it. It still turns heads and much more so than anything with Suzuki written on it.

Sad truth is that if he was to sell, he could get more for it as parts than as an entire bike since spares are now becoming hard to come by (so I've heard).

From my research, I believe parts and the dealers that sell them are becoming scarce.
I love the idea of the bikes, it's just the Harley lump that lets them down by everything I have heard.
Would love to know if anyone has ever swapped the motor for a Tlr donk or similar. I know the drive is on the other side.

Bosco15 wrote:From my research,  I believe parts and the dealers that sell them are becoming scarce.
I love the idea of the bikes, it's just the Harley lump that lets them down by everything I have heard.
Would love to know if anyone has ever swapped the motor for a Tlr donk or similar.  I know the drive is on the other side.

There's nothing wrong with the HD mill.
There's plenty of drag bikes running HD or S & S mills outrunning 4cly Jap bikes.

The 1125 runs the rotax motor. Very ugly though.



http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Buell_1125R.JPG

Hi mate, I know its not the same, and as for second hand prise...who knows as I don`t follow the market with them, but this is something I`ve talked up quiet a bit and would still love one...,,would you consider one?

Its not a v2(have ridden the two, and personally, didn`t like it) but v4. I think its an awesome bike!!!!!!

sb1250 wrote:I get a grin every time I see one!! Absolutely love them! I've ridden a 99 X1 with all the mods, and also the last XB12 lightning long. Both were fantastic. One of the blokes at work has a XB9 which he too loves but......has spent some cash having the gearbox rebuilt!   
There's a few forums you could checkout, they will have a bit more of an insight of potential problems.
If I had the funds, there'd be a Buell in my garage no question!!!

Bosco, I know a fella with an XB9R that has sat in his workshop for years as the gearbox shit itself and its a big job to fix. This bike has low K's so it sounds like there could be a problem there. He did love it when it was running however. Im a bit reluctant to have a ride on one as I fear my bank balance would diminish quite rapidly.

Bosco, I know a fella with an XB9R that has sat in his workshop for years as the gearbox shit itself and its a big job to fix. This bike has low K's so it sounds like there could be a problem there. He did love it when it was running however. Im a bit reluctant to have a ride on one as I fear my bank balance would diminish quite rapidly.[/quote]

Theres one on ebay atm, 19000km & it's had a $3500 gearbox rebuild.

The guy with his xb9r pulled it from auction and re listed it starting at $5500.
I don't think it will sell.

Too low to ground for me. It'd be like riding a supercharged 250

At one time was pretty keen on a XB9R or XB12R; was way back before I even bought the Bandit.  Spent a fair amount of time on the Buell forum, ‘Bad Weather Bikers’, learning about them before test riding a XB12R.  The handling of the XB is quite front-end orientated (what I call pointy) even for someone coming off a 929 Fireblade, but I understand that the XB’s are very sensitive to suspension setup so I expect that you would be able to work this out if not to your taste.

Quite a few posters have identified the elephant in the room; the Sportster derived donk.  Compared with almost any modern design this engine lacks driveability except over a very small range…if I tried to imagine what a diesel-engined bike would be like, then I reckon that this would be it.  Lots of torque off the line, then it’s done.  But hey I drive a diesel car and love it!

Build wise I believe they are good, but not over-engineered in the same way as something Japanese, I’ve seen photos of twisted axle-tubes and don’t feel that this is a bike for the ham-fisted. However, if you are prepared to understand this bike and live with it’s short-comings then it may well be the start of a beautiful friendship.

BTW.  Have you considered a XR1200, could be a better mix.

Thanks, Dekenai. Very insightful response.
I ride a Suzuki SV1000 & love the V-twins.
I have always liked the geometry and ZTL brake of the Buell. It was only the fact that one listed on ebay, that I thought I might be able to get at a reasonable price, that I started this thread.
I would like to ride an XR1200 but would not consider owning one.
Doesn't look like I will own a Buell either.

Dekenai wrote:

.....Build wise I believe they are good, but not over-engineered in the same way as something Japanese, I’ve seen photos of twisted axle-tubes and don’t feel that this is a bike for the ham-fisted. However, if you are prepared to understand this bike and live with it’s short-comings then it may well be the start of a beautiful friendship....

.

I see the XB12R as a good street scratcher, it's certainly no tourer.
My son's been pretty demanding with his. He was 20 when he bought it new (he's been riding mobikes since age 5). In the early days it spent a lot of the time with the front wheel pointing skyward followed by the rear wheel pointing skyward. As a parent, used to give me the heebies going riding with him. He's getting over that 'style' of riding now he's 26, but the Buell has taken it all with no probs. Nothing bent, no stretched chain (  ). It's a quick handling bike yet steady as a rock at speed, and way lighter than any Bandit, vibrates enough at idle to settle cured concrete, but as you say, once you learn where that sweet zone is, it's a lot of fun. I'd be sad to not have "access" to it if he ever decided to sell. Might even consider buying it...