I must have a Firebolt

[kebrider]

My fellow riders constantly laugh at me and criticsize my adoration of the Buell Firebolt. I have wanted one since my first Daytona demo ride manyyears ago. Living close to Daytona I spend every spring at bikeweek and I demo everything that is available and there are 3 bikes that I have tested that I will own one day and I list them in no particular order...Buell Firebolt (XB9R or 12R), Guzzi Breva 1100, and the Harley XR1200R.

Buell had one of the better demo ride set-ups in that you only signed up once for the week and you could get a bike without having to sign up early so we would always using the Buell demos as filler-rides between the scheduled stuff. Some days I would do 5 or 6 Buell rides and I loved riding the Firebolts. Like riding a motorcycle video game.

I have 2 VFRs which I will always have my 01 but I have wanted a Firebolt since the first time I rode one. I have been thinking of selling my 96 VFR and making room for a Firebolt. I am a regular visiter at the Badweather forum and I have a solid handle on whats what with the Buell model year updates but I prefer the 9s over the 12s for their smoother engine with the exception of the later 12s with the revised crank pin/oiling system/ECU which really felt good during my demo rides.

So my question for Buellers is now the factory is shut down what is Harley's stance on future parts availability? I am not too concerned with the mechanicals as much as I would be with electrics or anything that is Buell specific. I have a chance at a 07 9R that I may offer on this weekened and knowing parts will continue to be available will help me part with more cash if I need to. Looking a a 800 mile 9R that I would like to bag in the low 4K range.

[Tyrroneous]

Harley has stated that they will support Buell repairs for 7 years.  Good luck with your hunt for Firebolt.  I know I'm really enjoying my 1125R (which, coincidently is replacing a VFR).  

[kebrider]

I woould replace my 96 VFR for something new but it is a real beater which i bought for a $1,000. It has 57K, runs and handles like new, but has no lower failrings on it due to the PO having been rear-ended. The tail piece is cracked in several places but i drilled and zip-tied it to keep it in place and i run the wheels off that thing. I may let it go to a guy who has been trying to buy it from me since I bought it to make room for the XB.

I will never let go of my 01. I let my last one go. Never again.

Funny that you replaced a VFR with a Buell. I was on the way to purchase an 08 XB12R a couple of years ago when I stopped at a bike shop along the way to see how much they were asking for an 01 VFR they had sitting in front of the store. Never got the XB. Never regretted getting the VFR.

KEB

[Brad1445]

After having two of them I think its a big bang for the buck.  Ducati Handling 84ft pounds of torque skills the inlines in the corners.  GREAT FUN>

[kebrider]

I have logged roughly 600 demo miles on Buells which doesn't make me an expert but I think I get how they handle. As much as I enjoy their unique turning characteristics I never considered them a real backroad threat. My 01 VFR turns in pretty quick with high end sport rubber such as 2cts or power ones and quick turn in is a huge advantage on the street. I always felt the Buell turned in more like a track bike which I never cared for on the street when hustling through the turns.

I don't consider the XB bikes poor handling or really slow by any means. The eternal truth of sport riding is it's 99% rider, 1% bike. I wait at stop signs for 1098s, R1s, Gixxers, and the odd Hyabusa with my 14 year old sport tourer so I never figure its one bike that schools another...it is always the rider.

I want the Buell simply for the way it feels. That crazy air compressor of an engine is so relaxing to me when tooling along I just love it. The whole uniplanar thing flat works at highway speeds. The handling of the bike is just as strange as the motor with the ultra short wheelbase and ultra dense bike having you think it will turn on a dime but when you hit that first turn and feel the resistance to turning and bank vault solidity it just flat makes me smile when i complete a corner. Totally addictive.

I always tell my fellow busa riders (the ones that are slower than me anyway) that Hyabusa translated isn't a Japanese bird of prey; what it really means is "disappearing dot in VFR mirror". I've swapped rides with many of them and they can't believe how slow my VFRs are and they always tell me when the get to the stop sign. Then we swap back and I can't believe how slow my VFR is. I have plenty of time to think about it as I wait at the stop sign.

I agree with you Brad when you say Ducati handling and big torque but its all you when schooling the inlines.

KEB

[chornbe]

I have logged roughly 600 demo miles on Buells which doesn't make me an expert but I think I get how they handle. As much as I enjoy their unique turning characteristics I never considered them a real backroad threat. My 01 VFR turns in pretty quick with high end sport rubber such as 2cts or power ones and quick turn in is a huge advantage on the street. I always felt the Buell turned in more like a track bike which I never cared for on the street when hustling through the turns.

I don't consider the XB bikes poor handling or really slow by any means. The eternal truth of sport riding is it's 99% rider, 1% bike. I wait at stop signs for 1098s, R1s, Gixxers, and the odd Hyabusa with my 14 year old sport tourer so I never figure its one bike that schools another...it is always the rider.

I want the Buell simply for the way it feels. That crazy air compressor of an engine is so relaxing to me when tooling along I just love it. The whole uniplanar thing flat works at highway speeds. The handling of the bike is just as strange as the motor with the ultra short wheelbase and ultra dense bike having you think it will turn on a dime but when you hit that first turn and feel the resistance to turning and bank vault solidity it just flat makes me smile when i complete a corner. Totally addictive.

I always tell my fellow busa riders (the ones that are slower than me anyway) that Hyabusa translated isn't a Japanese bird of prey; what it really means is "disappearing dot in VFR mirror". I've swapped rides with many of them and they can't believe how slow my VFRs are and they always tell me when the get to the stop sign. Then we swap back and I can't believe how slow my VFR is. I have plenty of time to think about it as I wait at the stop sign.

I agree with you Brad when you say Ducati handling and big torque but its all you when schooling the inlines.

KEB

This is a really, really good post. So many riders should consider this post required reading.  

I've taken to telling people lately, on the topic of how much better their bikes are than mine, "While you're using a scalpel to cut a steak, I've been doing surgery with a steak knife."

[kebrider]

Wished I hadn't been in a hurry when I posted, might have a few less grammar goofs. Funny, I never have had anyone I ride with question my choice in bikes. On the Internet occasionally, but never in the flesh.

Strange

KEB

 

[chornbe]

Would you be interested in recording that, verbatim, and allowing us to run it in the opinions section on the podcast?

[2DFlyer]

...but I have wanted a Firebolt since the first time I rode one.

Forget the distraction of any rational thought.  The simple fact  - and you KNOW it - is this will continue to eat at you until either you or the last XB is too old to ride.  Tic toc tic toc tic toc.

[Mastros2]

I want to add a firebolt to the stable as well.  Beautiful bikes and they handle nice to boot.

Nice pic Brad!

[kebrider]

Would you be interested in recording that, verbatim, and allowing us to run it in the opinions section on the podcast?

Don't know when I could find the time but I could do a brief, politically correct (sort of...maybe), nondemoninational, utterly subjective and virtually useless opinion on something related to motorcycling.

I do have 32 years of squidliness riding under my belt so at least my useless opinion is based on my own experience.

KEB

[chornbe]

Don't know when I could find the time but I could do a brief, politically correct (sort of...maybe), nondemoninational, utterly subjective and virtually useless opinion on something related to motorcycling.

I can get all that bullshit from any magazine.

I want exactly what you typed.  

[kebrider]

I can get all that bullshit from any magazine.

I want exactly what you typed.  

I though that WAS what I typed.

[chornbe]

I though that WAS what I typed.

I thought you were offering to make it more PC and such. I like it just the way it is.

[Kootenanny]

I want the Buell simply for the way it feels. That crazy air compressor of an engine is so relaxing to me when tooling along I just love it. The whole uniplanar thing flat works at highway speeds. The handling of the bike is just as strange as the motor with the ultra short wheelbase and ultra dense bike having you think it will turn on a dime but when you hit that first turn and feel the resistance to turning and bank vault solidity it just flat makes me smile when i complete a corner. Totally addictive.

Well said, and very true!  I find most other bikes feel insubstantial after five seasons on the Buell.

My "9" (now a classic...):

[whodom]

As stated HD has promised parts support for 7 years, and I think aftermarket suppliers like American Sport Bike will step up in the meantime to provide replacement parts.  Everything but the engine is supplied by outside suppliers anyway, and they aren't going anywhere.

BTW- if you haven't noticed, they've added a "find a bike" feature to buell.com:  http://www.buell.com/en_us/tools/find-a-bike/index.asp

It lets you search by state and model.  As of this afternoon, they are showing 1082 new Buells still for sale in the U.S.

[cooter]

Don't know where you are or how far you would travel, but a central Tn dealer on Badweb with a fair selection left and good prices.

http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/290431/529573.html?1263708284

[Rogue]

Did you ever get that Firebolt yet?

You remind me of me back when I first test road an XB9R.  I knew I had to have one.  I finally got mine in 2006 after Buell did a great deal of improvements of the original.  However, I knew I wanted more power so I went for the XB12R.  Never looked back since then because even to this day, after owning a Hayabusa and two other VFR's, I do not regret that decision to get a Firebolt.  

Mine now has 26k miles on it and she is still running like new and almost looking like new.  I have done 90% of the maintenance on her and followed everything down to the factory service manual.  I have just a few basic mods like  the Helibars, Zero Gravity ST screen, Lightning footpegs, upgraded LED tailights, and upgraded headlight bulbs.  Occassionally I have lusted after an aftermarket exhaust but it really doesn't need it as it sounds great when it's at WOT yet sneaky quiet when at small throttle openings.  

If you are lusting after one, now is the time to buy.  Buy an '06 or later.  Preferably one that is totally stock and has not been ruined with too many Boy-Racer modifications.  The bike will be unique forever and you will never see one like it again.  It's kind of like a cross between an 600SS with a pushrod V-twin.  It's intoxicating if you enjoy that kind of synergy and don't care what others say.

There has been two things I had to replace with my Firebolt:
1)  Electric fan - the original one had its bearings wear out and get ratty, although it still worked.
2)  Fuel Pump Wiring Harness- I had the dreaded fuel pump wiring loom scuffed due to insufficient insulation of the early, stock wiring loom.  Replaced using a new Buell wiring loom for $100.

[ninegear]

i loved the firebolt. everything but the belt drive and the looks. it was ugly. very very ugly. to me the fire bolt was like an ugly girl. you want to ride it but not be seen on it. well thats just how it was for me though.

i wanted it to be my first bike. i was going to buy one brand new because i wanted my first to be new. that way i could only blame the dealers,the company and myself if something went wrong. i wouldn't have to worry about others and their squid riding messing it up.

i wound up going with a 2010  hyosung gt250. i hear so much bad about hyosung yet the only problems i have had with this is how ugly it is. soon i plan put diffrent forks on it. the forks are crap.

[Brad1445]

i loved the firebolt. everything but the belt drive and the looks. it was ugly. very very ugly. to me the fire bolt was like an ugly girl. you want to ride it but not be seen on it. well thats just how it was for me though.

i wanted it to be my first bike. i was going to buy one brand new because i wanted my first to be new. that way i could only blame the dealers,the company and myself if something went wrong. i wouldn't have to worry about others and their squid riding messing it up.

i wound up going with a 2010  hyosung gt250. i hear so much bad about hyosung yet the only problems i have had with this is how ugly it is. soon i plan put diffrent forks on it. the forks are crap.

God I love belt drive. What dont you like about it?