Rode an Eric Buell Racing 1190RX today

[wibornz]

Rode this



I could not live with it as a daily bike, but wow factor was off the chart.  Lifted the front tire.....of course through the first three gears up to 130+ then eased back out of it.  It was amazing.  It put out a LOT of heat, and the seat was hard, but I would over look all of that for the performance.  I have never rode a v-twin that revved to the moon like that.  Very smooth and deceptively fast.  1st gear was good for over 80mph.  It was next to impossible to get out of 2nd gear in town.  The bike was geared so high that 6th gear is almost not usable on the street.  This thing flew.  It is the funnest bike I have ever ridden.  

On the street it is over kill to the max.  Kinda like using a lambo as a daily driver.  This bike is made for the track and wants to burn your license in an pissed off kind of way.  

[Sport-Touring]

[mxvet57]

  This bike is made for the track and wants to burn your license in an pissed off kind of way.  

That is Sig material rite there.



Ted, I have an EBR dealer 15 miles south of me and they have 2 demo 1190's.  

[turbojim]

Ted I'll bet that was a blast! Did it make the connie feel old? Hey talking about going fast, we ever gong back to the track?

[Tpoppa]

I think the 1190 is a neat bike.  But it's target market is pretty small.  It is definitelty overkill for the street.

EBR needs some bikes with more appeal in the mass market.  I'd love to seem them make a middleweight with an engine configuration other than V2.

[Rattlehead]

If I had $18G buring a hole in my pocket there would be one of those in my garage tomorrow!  
I honestly can't think of a single bike currently on the market, at ANY price, that I'd like to have more!

[Dan K]

If I had $18G buring a hole in my pocket there would be one of those in my garage tomorrow!  
I honestly can't think of a single bike currently on the market, at ANY price, that I'd like to have more!

Motus R, but that's $40k

[Tyrroneous]

 But it's target market is pretty small.

I dunno...its in the same market as BMW's, Aprilia's and Ducati's 1000cc sport bikes.  Seems like those are doing pretty well.  I think the market is there.

 EBR needs some bikes with more appeal in the mass market.  I'd love to seem them make a middleweight with an engine configuration other than V2.

Agreed. I would love to see a smaller version.  Maybe 850cc.  But keep it a V twin!

[Rattlehead]

Motus R, but that's $40k

The Motus would be a close second if price were no object.    That pushrod V4 is just        

I have a serious soft spot for Buells though and if there were any way I could support Eriks new company with a bike purchase I would.
Just think, If Harley had gotten behind Buell that 1190RX would probably be $15g or thereabouts and have a dealer network that is second to none. Alas, black leather and chrome doo-dads are far more profitable.

[R Doug]

So cool.  How did you get to ride it?  Was there a demo or a local dealer that had one in stock?

[Tpoppa]

I dunno...its in the same market as BMW's, Aprilia's and Ducati's 1000cc sport bikes.  Seems like those are doing pretty well.  I think the market is there.

It's the same market as the Panigale, S1000RR, and RSV4 which aren't the best sellers for Duc, BMW, or Aprilia.  They all make better selling models that allow them to be profitable and produce superbikes.   There wouldn't be a Panigale if it wasn't for 20 years of less expensive Ducati Monsters holding up the bottom line.

How many RXs and SXs is EBR going to sell?  500? 1000?  Is that enough to keep them going?  They need an entry level bike to compete with the Ninja300 and the CBR300, and they need a middle weight sportbike.  

They need a commercial success not a niche bike.

[wibornz]

So cool.  How did you get to ride it?  Was there a demo or a local dealer that had one in stock?

I rode it at my buds dealership.  Wow is all I can say.  If you get the chance to ride one do it.  

[bajakirch]

I have a serious soft spot for Buells though and if there were any way I could support Eriks new company with a bike purchase I would.

Even if you had to ride a Hero?

That's where I could see EBR getting into the Everyman market -- start distributing Heros in the US with a little EBR engineering to make them good bikes.

[Tpoppa]

The Hero Hastur has potential, if we ever actually see one.  The 352lb curb weight is pretty impressive, although it looks like a KTM to me:


http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/659/17999/Motorcycle-Article/Hero-Hastur-620-First-Look.aspx

I am curious to find out EBRs business model for their work with Hero.  I know EBR is paid for their engineering.  Perhaps EBR will be Hero's US distributor??  

[scottzilla]

I drooled over one at the NJ AMA race a couple years ago.  I think the OP is 7 foot 4, 380 so I'm not surprised he wasn't all that comfortable.

[whodom]

They need an entry level bike to compete with the Ninja300 and the CBR300, and they need a middle weight sportbike.  

They need a commercial success not a niche bike.

Here's the EBR-designed Hero HX250R.  Looks like pretty good competition for the Ninja and CBR:

[Roadscum]

Motus R, but that's $40k

What is this Motus of which you speak? Pure fiction me thinks!  

Paul

[Dan K]

Here's the EBR-designed Hero HX250R.  Looks like pretty good competition for the Ninja and CBR:

I'd scrub that armor all off the front tire before taking that bike for a spin...

 -Dan

[whodom]

For those of you complaining about the price, how does $2k off sound?

[Tyrroneous]

Dang, that's mighty close to R1/CBRR/Z10 price!    I hope this isn't a sign that they are having major problems moving inventory.

[whodom]

 I hope this isn't a sign that they are having major problems moving inventory.

I'm thinking not.  I figure it's one or both of two things:  

(1) the 1190RX was rolled out last October, maybe they're clearing out stock prior to the reveal of the new, improved 2015 model
(2) the 1190SX lists for $16,995; there's no way leaving off the fairing saved $2000 actual dollars on the production cost of that bike vs. the 1190RX, which must mean as they've ramped up production, their production costs have gone down.  The sale is a way of adjusting the price of the RX down in response to reduced production costs.

At any rate, I'm still waiting on the AX...

[Rattlehead]

I'm kinda curious about the AX.
I mean, it costs a LOT of money to certify an engine so are they going to put a 160whp beast of a twin into an "Adventure" bike?  

[whodom]

I'm kinda curious about the AX.
I mean, it costs a LOT of money to certify an engine so are they going to put a 160whp beast of a twin into an "Adventure" bike?  

A few months ago, I would have said "no way".  Last month, I did a demo ride on an 1190SX, and I was very surprised at how tractable this engine is.  It seemed much happier at low RPM than the Buell 1125 engine did in my "fire sale" 1125CR.  I wouldn't be very surprised if they did keep the same engine in the AX.

[Tyrroneous]

I'm kinda curious about the AX.
I mean, it costs a LOT of money to certify an engine so are they going to put a 160whp beast of a twin into an "Adventure" bike?  

Why not?  KTM has done it!