Advice on a Buell for Street and Track Days

[acoustics3us]

Hello All. I'm new to this site and Buells. I was about the buy a Harley XR1200X until saw a used Buell Firebolt XB12 collecting dust in the corner of the dealer. I absolutely fell in love with it. Now would love to buy a Buell Firebolt instead. I'm looking for use on the streets and for track days. I now live only 15 min. from a world class race track.

I don't know much about Buells other than some of the things I read in magazines. I'm wondering what model, year are good and what price I should be expecting. Any advice would really be appreciated.

 

[RT Performance]

I would lean toward the 1125r
you can find 08 around 6k new 09's 2 year warranty for 7500 new(charging issues on most).
Firebolt's on the other hand are rock solid and great bikes with little to no issues.

 

[dave_xb12r]

1125r is a good track bike, but it makes a crappy around town bike due to it's high gearing and higher revving. A 1125CR is good for both.

Firebolts are great bikes for everything, but you will get passed at the track on the straights.

 

[agfish18]

1125r is a good track bike, but it makes a crappy around town bike due to it's high gearing and higher revving. A 1125CR is good for both.

I have an 1125R and it works just fine for getting around town, in fact, I like it more than my old XB9r for use around town. Sure it likes to be above 5K RPM, but what Jap Bike in general doesnt require the same? It takes a little bit of concious effort on the drivers part to maintain a higher rev, but that by no means makes it crappy for street riding. I also have a CBR 600RR and it likes to be above 7K...and the torque doesnt really kick in until about 10K, but I still love that on the streets as well.

Either bike is great for the track, the firebolt would probably be more suited for a shorter more complex track with a lot of quick turns like the one I go to, but can still be competitive at other tracks as well... I say go with it, either way you will not be disappointed! the XB's are great bikes!

 

[acoustics3us]

Thanks for all your advice. I don't mind being passed. Really, I don't. I forgot to mention that I'm a rank amateur/complete newbie when it comes to the track. I have been away from motorcycling for 18 years. You know the old excuses, marriage, family, job and responsibilities. Now I'm ready to ride again.

I would like to be able to ride faster then I normally would on the streets and also improve my riding skills on the relative safety of the track during sponsored track days as opposed to actually racing. I'm also planning to take the classes that they offer as well.

If the Buell handles well on the track, then that's enough for me. My main concern is comfort and usability out on the street. That's why I'm thinking the Firebolt XB12.

I also had a question on parts and service. Is it readily available?

 

[agfish18]

Buells can be serviced at any Harley/ Buell dealer, although test them out on something simple before you bring it to them for anything major. Many HD places can give a rats ass about your buell and wont do their best. I take mine to a dealer an hour out of my way to have it serviced, but I have no complaints about them. My local dealer however, is another story.

Buell Will manufacture stock parts for 7 years from their date of close. (2016/17) and parts for them can be ordered through HD dealers. However, many times it is cheaper, easier, and faster to order them through other sites which I am sure you can find via posts in this forum. if not, just ask and you will undoubtedly recieve a list of websites that you can order from.

as far as comfort goes, it is a sport bike, so probably not the most comfortable on long trips, but for around town riding, the Buell will be much more comfortable than most other sport bikes.

 

[jeff m]

I've got an 09 lightning that I took to a few track days last spring. Then I got to thinking that I really didn't want to scratch it. I bought a beat to hell 04 R6 for 2K for a track bike. I've lowsided it twice now, so it and my leathers have paid for themselves. The Buell is a better handling bike IMO, but I kept having to pass people in the corners that had passed me on the straight and then repeat that every lap. My preference would have been an 1125R for a track bike, but I didn't want to be responsible for scratching one.

 

[delta one]

I believe the bottom end and oiling system were upgraded in 08 so my choice would be an 08 firebolt because it is simpler to tap into with ecm spy than an 09 or 2010
cover it with race plastics (full fairing) and cut holes for headlights again and you will be in business.

I have heard that shark skins race plastics hold up well when sliding down the track but have no first or even second hand experience to back that up


if I could have another buell it would be an XB12R

I could have purchased an 1125 during the fire sales if I traded/sold my XB but to be honest I like my XB9 more than the 1125. no its not as fast but its tried and true reliable easy to work on and there is just something about it that speaks to me in a way that no other bike even the 1125 ever has.

I like the rap of the 9 as well as its smoothness on the street but there is no denying the bottom end pull of the 12, and on the track it would be a weapon in and out of the corners.

 

[agfish18]

My preference would have been an 1125R for a track bike, but I didn't want to be responsible for scratching one.

I took my 1125R to the track once, and ended up lowsiding it the first time I was out. Didnt do much damage and was all fixed fairly easily, but scared me from taking it out again. Got a cheap CBR that I use now. Havent had it down since... but you never know. I dont want to chance totaling my 1125

 

[vospertw]

First time I took my 09 Ss to the track was my first trip to Willow Springs - and I almost lost it on my second-to-last session. So while I'm still taking it to the occasional track day, I'd probably opt for a Jap 600 that I wouldn't care about crashing if I was making it to the track more regularly. Not that you can't have a blast on an XB, but hey - they don't make 'em anymore!

 

[acoustics3us]

Maybe taking the Buell on the track isn't the best idea. I wasn't planning on crashing, but then again who does. Ok. How about this, what is your opinion on which is the most comfortable Buell for just around town and 2 hr trips?

 

[delta one]

Maybe taking the Buell on the track isn't the best idea. I wasn't planning on crashing, but then again who does. Ok. How about this, what is your opinion on which is the most comfortable Buell for just around town and 2 hr trips?

I think the Bolt would be good for 2 hours if you have already built up your sport bike muscles, if not go with an S. if you go to an Ss you will have more space on the bike and room for a passenger but the steering will be a bit slower due to the head angle difference.

or a Uly will do 2 hours no problem and will commute just fine, I have seen pictures of uly's tearing it up at the track and getting really low.

 

[agfish18]

I have seen pictures of uly's tearing it up at the track and getting really low.

There is a guy on my local track who brings his big ass BMW GS1300 out there complete with touring windscreen and saddlebags...

 

[delta one]

anything like this guy?

 

[upthemaiden]

That's one issue I go through. I LOVE my xb, and have fun riding it like it should be ridden but I hate the though of anything bad happening to it now that it's so hard to get parts and will only get worse. I'm gonna take it easy and keep it in as good of shape as I can so I can still enjoy it 15-20 years from now and I'm gonna go pick up a cheap japanese 600-750 to abuse. The only I get worried about is getting spoiled by too much HP, but I always ride the xb at low rpms anyway so I probably wont notice too much.

 

[acoustics3us]

Ok. I have done a lot of looking and have decided to go with the XB12S. Thanks for the advice guys, but I'm not sure if I should go with the SS or SCG. What really is the difference? I see that the SS is Longer, Higher and fuel tanks bigger, but the engine is exactly the same. And what is the better year? I see that the Buell engine had some upgrades done starting with the '08 model. Is it that much better or should I just go with a '07 which I'm seeing for around $5,500?

 

[agfish18]

anything like this guy?

Haha... what is funny is that is the track that I go to lol... Sandia Motor Speedway...in Albuquerque, NM

Probably is the same guy

 

[vroom]

Drifting on a motorcycle is badass. I have no hopes and dreams of ever doing such on a street bike.