Back on a Buell

[Brad1445]

After 5 New Buells I was hooked.  Skipping the 2008 Frankenbuell I missed by belt driven high torque carefree twin.

The Firebolt I bought back in 2004 I racked up 23k in 12 months.  Sold it to a guy that owned a Custom Car shop, he painted it and used it for promotional purposes.  I now own it again six years after selling it.  He only put 3000 miles on it.  He coated the headers and a few other extras.  Th bike looks less orange in person than in the pics.

I miss the cool company that made these great bikes

[kevin_stevens]

Damn that's an ugly bike.  Looks like a salamander.  

KeS

[Brad1445]

lol

[Jesse]

Congrats on getting your Buell back, Brad   Maybe the paint scheme will grow on you  

[DogBoy]

 

[atadaskew]

Maybe you should replace the orange shield with a grey smoke shield?  That would tone it down a bit.

Still a sweet bike.

[Prubert]

Why didn't you get an 1125r?
 

[tankhead]

BRAKE lever is tweeked a bit.  Congrats Brad!  Welcome back!!

Sorry bout that couple glasses of wine in at the time of posting.

[st2sam]

I'll bet Paris Hilton would like it.  

ENJOY!  

[Rogue]

OMG!  He's back!  

Congrats anyway.  

I still don't understand how you suddenly miss the company that made these great bikes yet you bashed the shit out of them when they were around.

In any case, I love my XB12R just as much as you.  But let me tell you, the FrankenBuell you speak of is a HUGE improvement in overall performance.  The only step back is maintenance.  Other than that, it's a whole different world.  Too bad you can't get over the pods*.

*Note:  You can always put the fairing that Buell originally wanted on the bike.  It's still available.

[Kyle401]

Congrats Brad!  Enjoy  

[Brad1445]

OMG!  He's back!  

Congrats anyway.  

I still don't understand how you suddenly miss the company that made these great bikes yet you bashed the shit out of them when they were around.

In any case, I love my XB12R just as much as you.  But let me tell you, the FrankenBuell you speak of is a HUGE improvement in overall performance.  The only step back is maintenance.  Other than that, it's a whole different world.  Too bad you can't get over the pods*.

*Note:  You can always put the fairing that Buell originally wanted on the bike.  It's still available.

I am considering buying the solid Black plastics.  
It's not quite as obnoxious in person but close.

and yeah.... I still hold Erik responsible for the death of the company.  If he stood up for quality as much as he says, He could have quit as a sign of protest in 2007/2008 gone to the press etc.   Rolling it out again for 2009 and 2010 was stupid sales only go down after the first year and since it was not widely received  the writing was in the wall.  No one wanted and waited longer than I for a water cooled Buell to park alongside my Ducati, but ......

I'm happy you happy with yours.  I know it performs well when everything is working. I hate dealer visits.  The air-cooled version is guaranteed to keep me out.

[SalsaShark]

needs pods...  






kidding of course. Congrats on finding something that trips your trigger. IMO, when someone else is paying for it, they can have a say in it. Until then, if you like it that's all that counts.

[Kootenanny]

Wow...uh...nice paint...ya know, with pods, there'd be that much more surface for paint...


Anyway, glad you  have one of the "good" Buells again.  Still loving mine.  

And hey, I understand your arguments about the 1125R...don't necessarily agree with you, but I understand your point.  I'm still pissed that H-D shut 'em down...

[2DFlyer]

The fairing is a bit much but I like the rest of it.  Congrats on getting back on something you're only a little passionate about.

[spd2918]

I think it qualifies as "High Viz"

[R Doug]

If you love something, set it free....  


(it came back to you!)  

[Rogue]

If you love something, set it free....  


(it came back to you!)  

It's the other way around.  He came back to it.

[Castaway]

I've like the simplicity and sporty geometry (shortest wheelbase out there?) of the Firebolts, but when I once rode one at a moto show I found the low redline a limit in the fun factor. The handling wasn't too confidence inspiring, but everyone says that's a tire pressure thing. True?

[atadaskew]

Clutch lever is tweeked a bit.  Congrats Brad!  Welcome back!!

The clutch lever is on the right on Buells?
 

[Rogue]

Brake lever is tweaked so it looks like it was dropped on its right side.

XB handling is tricky because it is very sensitive to two things:  tire choice and suspension adjustment.

Get those two wrong and the bike will tell you in no uncertain terms.  Unlike many Japanese bikes that have a fairly wide handling envelope, the XB has a narrow one.  Buell does provide every owner's manual with the correct suspension set up for almost any given rider weight.  The suspension is adjustable for preload, rebound/compression damping.  Follow those settings by the book and the bike will handle wonderfully.  Get the correct tires and the bike's handling will be sweet.   It wasn't until 2007 when Buell cut Dunlop's Kung Fu grip on H-D and switched to Pirellis that the XB's finally got the right tires.  The Dunlops were just wrong on the XB and didn't work.  The bike's chassis has way more performance than its engine.  If you get the settings correct and the tires agree with the bike, it is one of the best handling bikes out there.  Perhaps now it has been surpassed by the current supersport bikes.  But in its time it was a great ride.

[Kootenanny]

I've like the simplicity and sporty geometry (shortest wheelbase out there?) of the Firebolts, but when I once rode one at a moto show I found the low redline a limit in the fun factor. The handling wasn't too confidence inspiring, but everyone says that's a tire pressure thing. True?

A Firebolt is not a high-revving bike, and you can't ride it like one.  If top-end rush is your thing, a Buell isn't your bike...but carving through a tight set of twisties just rolling the throttle on and off, carrying your momentum through the corners and riding the wave of torque is more satisfying IMO.  Keep off the brakes, let the bike carry some corner speed.  Handling...well, some folks hate it ("an anvil on roller skates" is how one reviewer put it), but others love it ("Bike" magazine in the UK rated it the best cornering bike ever built, in 2005).  Personally, I love it...as the "Bike" journos put it, on the Buell you feel like you're actually controlling the bike, not just along for the ride...

[Tyrroneous]

A Firebolt is not a high-revving bike, and you can't ride it like one.  If top-end rush is your thing, a air cooled Buell isn't your bike...

Made a slight addition to your statement.  The Helicon powered buells certainly have a nice top end on them.  

[Rincewind]

After 5 New Buells I was hooked.  Skipping the 2008 Frankenbuell I missed by belt driven high torque carefree twin.

The Firebolt I bought back in 2004 I racked up 23k in 12 months.  Sold it to a guy that owned a Custom Car shop, he painted it and used it for promotional purposes.  I now own it again six years after selling it.  He only put 3000 miles on it.  He coated the headers and a few other extras.  Th bike looks less orange in person than in the pics.

I miss the cool company that made these great bikes

A Firebolt on Fire - makes sense I suppose.  Nice re-acquisition.  

[desert_rider]

So, what color are you going to paint it?

[Kootenanny]

Made a slight addition to your statement.  The Helicon powered buells certainly have a nice top end on them.  

Yeah, I was referring to the Thunderstorm powered Buells--ya know, the "good" ones

[bomber]

Yeah, I was referring to the Thunderstorm powered Buells--ya know, the "good" ones

Nuthin like a well sorted Tuber

[2DFlyer]

The Dunlops were just wrong on the XB and didn't work.

Yeah.  I didn't know if at the time but it was those damned tires that had me put the check book back in my pocket and leave the sales guy standing at the altar in '04.  I rode the the thing before buying it and absolutely HATED it.  I've since giggled my ass off on well sorted ones but that was a bummer day.

Yeah, I was referring to the Thunderstorm powered Buells--ya know, the "good" ones

Lovin' the XB because of the motor, not in spite of it  

[Brad1445]

Lovin' the XB because of the motor, not in spite of it  

+1  

But watercooled can be cool if they don't stall, drain your battery or squirt clutch fluid at you.