Seeking Advice Re: Am i up to a buell

[synesthesiaxb12scg]

hello forum people, i am seeking some advice from hardened buell riders.

'am i up to a buell?'

i have been riding on the road for 5 years commuting daily inner city, i am a short ass at a 168cms

i commute on a berg 570 motard and have ridden dirt bikes in the forest every other weekend but have never had a 1 litre plus motorcycle.

i have been obsessed with the buell thing ever since i can remember, i would like to move up and buy a xb12 lighting for commuting.

is this just going to be too much bike for me?

when i asked a bikie mate of mine he said "very mad crazy bike be careful and think about it these bikes are for expert riders"

will i with some time be able to successfully & safley ride a buell to work each day or need i stop this dream dead in its tracks?

would appreciate peoples thoughts,

cheers

[iman501]

I think of you've been on a bike for as long as you have a buell will be just fine for you! Yes they have lots of Tq, but if you take time to learn the bike it should be fine!

[Beau]

I'd say go ahead. You have experience on two wheels already and most likely have respect for the possible dangers. Take time and get used to a new machine is probably common sense. An XB9 was my first bike ever and I had a lot of fun with it.

[wolfo68]

You should be okay. They do forgive a lot with the v twin.

[Enemy Zero]

I think coming from a motard you understand the torque and handling aspect and an XB would make a good transition. They're the best handling big bike I've ever been on and reminds me of the fun I had on my old motard. Such a great bike. I'll admit I'm a bit jealous of you having a berg 570 and would love to see a picture of it :D

oh I'm also a short guy at 170cm with a 68.5cm inseam and fit comfortably on mine so you should be fine.

[Restlessrustler]

im estimating 5'5", im 5'7" on an xb9sx with the low seat.....its a great bike and great for me being vertically challenged. I think that with all new bikes, if you dont just jump on and grab a handfull of throttle on the first 3 seconds...learn to love it....youll be fine. and as above said....with your experience and motard bikes....you should be ok. good luck and enjoy!

[rah7777777]

Go for it!!
It sounds like you have plenty of bike experience. Just learn the Buell and go.
You'll love it

[frankiefilth]

Definitely get one, you'll love it! I was a little timid when I bought my 9sx.. I had ridden quads and small dirt bikes a bunch of times in my teens (but never my own) and I rode my dad's 1200 Sportster a little bit when I was about 28.. Virtually no real world experience at all when I bought my bike. Now, at 33, I've been riding my bike for four years and still can't figure out why I didn't get the 12.. I don't know what I was so nervous about!

Everybody's different and should ride within their skill level at their comfort level but like everyone else has mentioned, it sounds like you know what you're doing behind handlebars.. Don't chop the throttle right away, mind the steep rake on the front end, and have a blast!

[Blue xb12]

.......and welcome to the forum!

[Dave A]

You won't have any problems. Welcome, ride safe.

[buellbuell]

My first bike EVER was my xb12ss. I restricted myself to half throttle for a 6 months and didn't get on the highway for 3 months once I started ridding it. I took it slow and haven't had any wrecks yet in two years (knock on wood). If you take it slow and control yourself it isnt' to much to handle. It only puts out the power you give it...you just have to be extremely careful. You have way more ridding experience than I had and should be ok. Good Luck.

[2004xb12s]

if you can ride a berg that big you will be just fine. The powercurves are very similar

[Omiotek]

Learn to ride the bike.........don't ride like a jackass........you will be fine. My first bike was a xb9r and its been my one and only bike still to this day :)

[MustangGuy]

I started riding again in October 2011 after a 20 year break. I bought a used Ninja 250 then. A few months later I'm riding home on my new-to-me Firebolt on our famous California freeways after I bought it from a guy that lived an hour away. Take time to get to know it and with the riding experience you already have, you'll be fine.

[synesthesiaxb12scg]

well thank you everyone for your thoughts, i honestly thought you were all going to tell me to 'F%$# OFF motard pussy'

i test road a 2007 stt with 20,000 k's on it the other day, i think i now understand the effects of a steep steering angle, something which is new to me, the bike seems to be more difficult to steer at slow speeds.

the test bike coughed and spluttered a bit and back fired on the odd occasion, is 20,000 k's alot for an xb12, i think i would like to find something with lower k's.

[Beau]

I don't think that's too high. Decel popping is fairly common if that's what you mean by backfiring. It might just need some new plugs too. Those engines are a little slow revving, so quick snaps of the throttle, especially at lower rpm, tend to make them sad.

[synesthesiaxb12scg]

what sort of things am i likely to have take care of at 20,000k's

[Tbone]

That is the beauty of it, regular oil changes and service. None of the other stuff that other bikes require like valve adjustments are required at regular intervals. There is some rental place on the West coast that stated that the buell rentals require a fraction of the maintenance, downtime, and expenses that the other rentals such as BMW GS, Triumph, etc... bikes cost them. They said they just keep renting them out and they rarely are in a shop. If I find the link again I will post it up. This is for the 1203 motor, not sure about the others.

[synesthesiaxb12scg]

i finally bought a '09 xb9sx with 800 miles on it. triple black with cherry bomb plastics. i am in love.

thank you all for your encouragement, cheers.

[anrkizm95]

the xb be is a very user friendly bike great tq and good power its a bike for beginners and expert.
my wife learned on my xb12s

[go cytocis]

Congratulations! Both on your new XB, and on taking a graduated approach to motorcycles. You've increased your odds of survival greatly just by doing this.

i honestly thought you were all going to tell me to 'F%$# OFF motard pussy'
BTW, I have a XB12Ss, but I also have a BMW G650x-moto. Don't tell anyone here, but my 'tard has sometimes been known put a bigger smile on my face than my Buell! :D

[synesthesiaxb12scg]

the fleet

http://www.buellxb.com/buell_images/17424_20131123191838_L.jpg

[thrstrmech]

welcome to the forum, you've got yourself a really nice bike, 800 miles... wow, she's not broken in yet, download the service manual from the link below the Buellxb header or from buellmods.com, that will help you with maintenance issues, also check out the DIY videos posted on the right, also below the Buellxb header, ride safe

[Enemy Zero]

Great looking group of bikes you've got there. I wanted a 650 berg a few years back in a bad way. Still drool over them like crazy.

you've got a great looking 9SX there with a great color combo (I have the same one:D).

enjoy it!

[ctrvl]

Amazing bike you've got and welcome to the forum. There is much fun to be had and lots of learning to boot with this bike. It's definitely more machine than I am man, but it's a welcome challenge. Take it easy and have a great time.