I had been looking to pick up a 2nd bike for a while, but I wasn't sure what I wanted. As we all know, the SV650 is pretty much a do-it-all kind of bike, but it's lacking something. Not sure what I wanted, I looked into getting a cheapo Kawi C10 or maybe a 5th/6th gen VFR for touring, or maybe a Duc S4R for that big twin grunt. A couple weeks ago I picked up a 2005 Buell XB12s with only 850 miles. Of all the bikes I had researched, I never thought I'd go for a Buell. I used to hate,
hate the Buells of the mid-90s when I first started riding. I just couldn't understand the styling or their use of HD engines.
Lo and behold, I now have one and couldn't be happier. I don't have pics of my own, but it looks like this:
http://www.freedesktopwallpapers4u.com/img-buell-lightning-xb12s-2005-wallpaper-09-1283.htmThe thing shakes like a tractor. It shifts like a big truck. It grunts and snorts and is anything but refined. And that's exactly what the SV doesn't provide. In researching different bikes, I came to the realization that I had lost sight of what motorcycles meant to me. I grew too focused on maintenance costs, MPG, insurance costs. Don't get me wrong, all those things do matter (and fortunately, the Buell XB12s gets good marks in all those categories). But this bike reminded me why I love motorcycling. It isn't a whisper-quiet and perfectly balanced engine. It isn't a comfortably-sheltered and faired ride. I can always get a Concours or some other "gentleman's bike"
some day. But for now, this beast is what I needed.
By the way, I read countless threads bashing the Buell. This forum, badweatherbikes, advrider, you name it. I read a ton. And I do empathize with some of the posters who detailed horrendous experiences with HD dealers & mechanics who failed to deliver/service their products. And maybe that actually encouraged me to get the Buell. Frankly, reading all those posts gave me even more reason to despise HD. Not the bikes. Not the riders. But the corporation...the brand. The "it's HD or it doesn't exist" mentality. I think it's shameful how Buell owners were treated and how the brand was killed off. Perhaps that's why I'm glad my money went to an individual (CL seller) as opposed to a HD dealer. And for the record, I'm not naive to the fact that parts and service may be hard to find in the future. I'll deal with those issues if/when I get there. Life is short, and I'm enjoying this bike a hell of a lot more than I thought I would. And that's something I had lost sight of prior to finding this bike.
