Making the Buell more comfortable?

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rigger4343

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Dec 1, 2012
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Making the Buell more comfortable?

I have looked into doing some things to make my XB9R more comfortable but I had pretty much dropped the idea of most of it because of the overall cost of parts. I like my Buell but the riding position is not much fun for me anymore. I have thought about selling her and finding a bike that is more comfortable, maybe something like an adventure bike or a sport touring machine, but I am also still entertaining the idea of modifying my bike to get her more where I would like it to be.

What I would like to be is a bike that I can ride for longer periods with or without a passenger and not hurt during or after my ride. I also want the bike to be more comfortable for my girlfriend because she loves to ride with me. On occasion, we also need to be able to carry some stuff with us too.

My Positives to modifications….
It would be a cool project and I love cool projects.
She is a fun ride and she is paid for.
I love the old V-Twin motor.

My negatives to modifying her…..
Dumping money into her that I will not be able to get back in the future. (Right now if I sold her, I could get 100% of what I have invested the bike back out of it.)
I am also not real big on the idea of modifying the bike too much and also hurting resale potential in the future. I have had several people offer to buy mine in the past year because it is clean and not hacked up.
I know I can make it more comfortable for me but it does not seem like I can do much for the passenger.

Some of my ideas for the bike have been the normal things like….
The risers from ASB. But they seem like a lot of money for only a little rise. A handle bar conversion makes more since to me for what I want but it’s a lot of money. I could also make my own handle bar conversion and I could do a nice job but I don’t want that hurting resale.
I know there are better seats out there and drop pegs would help too.
I can weld up my own quick release frames for some saddle bags to sit back on the bike so they will clear passenger feet.
I have also heard about some people changing out the hole tale section for one from a Lighting but I like the way the Firebolt tail looks better.

So I guess I am just looking for a cost effective plan to make the bike more what I want it to be. Or any ideas or thoughts or maybe I should just sell her and find something else to ride that is already a little more of a sport touring machine.
 
spiegler complete handlebar/riser/ignition setup is alot of bang for the buck and beautifully crafted parts. not cheap but money spent wisely. as for the the hunk of vinyl covered plastic posing as a firebolt seat......no idea.
 
Lightning pegs on my firebolt made an unreal difference. I'm 6'4" though. I can ride my bolt all day long with minimal pain (get real, ANY bike is uncomfortable, even a road king).

I also put on grip slip on covers that give the bars a larger diameter. This helps ease some hand/wrist pain by giving a larger diameter grip.

Right now my seat is the only issue, I want to repad it thicker to make it comfortable.

My bolt is 10x more comfortable than my "standard" suzuki bandit was. I'll also say that riding two up on any sport bike will never be comfortable for either of you over long distances. Every sport bike has the passenger tilted forward leaning on the operator. I took my rear peg brackets off and the wife sits at home now while I ride lol.
 
Sounds like you're a prime candidate for a Uly. ;)

After reading through your wants and needs, if I were in your shoes, I would consider replacing the bike. You *could* rig up a handlebar comversion, drop pegs, stuff the passenger seat with better foam, rig up some luggage mounts... But at what cost to your wallet and appearance of the bike?

If you're looking for a bike that fits your needs better that still has some of the uniqueness of your current ride, there are tons of options that are filled with character.

Buell Ulysses
Buell lightning or CR (not the best fit, but still better than a bolt for your needs)
Suzuki V Strom (650 is comparable to xb9, 1k is comparable to xb12)
Honda VFR 800
BMW GS or ST series
KTM Superduke 990
BMW F800R
Speed or Street Triple
Yamaha Super Tenere
Triumph Tiger (any version)
Triumph Sprint ST
Moto Guzzi Norge

That's just what I could think up in a couple minutes. None of those are a boring I4, and any of them would be more comfortable for longer trips than a Firebolt. Some more so than others. Life is too short to glue yourself to one bike. If you find yourself yearning for something different, go do it! You can always find another clean xb.
 
Indeed. I'm afraid you straight up just have the wrong bike for "comfort". I rode rockets all through high school and college. I couldn't take the back pain and numb hands after longer rides so I went straight to a XB12s. Even with that I was not completely satisfied so with my current build (xb12scg) I got the 1" lowered pegs, 1.5" bar risers AND ATV rise fat bars. Now I have achieved a completely neutral and natural riding position and can happily ride ALL day w/o fatigue.

In the long run honestly you will be better off selling your R and buying and S or other streetfighter type bike.
 
Do what suites you best for sure, I just find my buell to be by far the most comfortable sport bike I've ridden. My drop pegs from a lightning(Uly, actually) cost me less than $50 I'm sure(don't really recall) and the grip covers were free from a member(probably $10 or so to buy). If I spend $100 making the seat comfy, that's nickels and dimes to achieve comfort IMO.
 
im in the same boat.. My SS is comfy for me but 2up can get cramped quick.. made my own luggage rack than sits back farther, tank bag. and im teaching the GF to ride so she can get her own damn bike!!!! a uly would be a great addition to the family.. alot more useful than a kid for sure!!
 
I agree with what everyone has said above. Every bike on that list has been on my "Bikes to be considered list".

I like the old Buell but it really does not suit my needs very well. I have thought about changing a lot of things on it but even with the changes made, it will still not be what I am looking for. I have had my share of sport bikes and standards over the years and now I am getting to where the sport bike is not what I want to ride anymore.

Me and my girlfriend had a chance to ride up to a couple of bike shops today just to spend some time sitting on and checking out a few different machines. We were both sitting on a new BMW F800GS and she was really impressed with the comfort level of the bike. At least as far as sitting in the showroom. We also sat on a Hyperstrada and she also felt the same. I personally really like the way that both of those bikes sit. But I also like Monsters and a few other standards that I have had the chance to sit on or ride.

My problem is that I want one machine to do a lot of things. That is hard to find!

I do not mind at all putting some cash into my bike to make it better for me but dropping a 500-1000 in it for bar conversion and seats and whatever else, I have a hard time with that one.

But I am still open to thoughts from my fellow Buell riders. I am still trying to figure out what is a good road to take. Keep her and make some changes or sell her and look for something else.
 
Oh, another that is wildly popular... MultiStrada. That thing is a god damned missile with a couch on top.
 
Sounds like you're a prime candidate for a Uly.

Agreed. I'm 6' tall, and own a Bolt and a Uly. The Uly is my long distance, go anywhere bike. The Bolt is for around town and playing in the mountains.

I did put Uly pegs on my bolt, and it's amazing what a 1" drop makes in comfort.

My problem is that I want one machine to do a lot of things. That is hard to find!
Definitely a candidate for a Uly. If I could only own one bike, it was be the Ulysses.
 
I'm seriously considering a VStrom 650 as a street bike, and converting my 9R to a trackday ride.

Today's 'adventure' bikes come in many flavors, some (like the Uly, Strom and Tiger) are more street oriented and make fantastically comfortable sport tourers.
 
In my area, I have found almost no used machines that I would be willing to drop my money on. They are either to ragged out for the asking price, or not right is some way or another. I am seriously leaning towards a new BMW F800GS as a replacement. Insurance cost is the same as my Buell, it has enough power for what I want to do and will go anywhere or carry anything that I want and with one or two people on it. I know a bike like that is not as "Cool" as my Buell, but sometimes I think cool is not that fun when all I want to do is get off of the bike.

I am kind of tight when it comes to spending money and I in no way have a lot of extra money to spend on a bike. But I love to ride and sometimes you just have to pay to play. I am still trying to justify to spend the money on the Buell and modify, keep her and ride her as she is now, or bite the bullet and pick up payments on a new or good used ride.

Too many choices !
 
I did put Uly pegs on my bolt, and it's amazing what a 1" drop makes in comfort.

^this.

Like I said, I'm 6'4" and this mod alone made my bike a 2 hours and my knees are on fire bike to an I can ride all day bike.
 
rigger: all great info above. if you can find one as selection getting thinned out now....ride a Uly before you commit to anything else. that is if you want to stick with Buell. i own a lightning SS, a lightning city, a lightning 12 cherry bomb, and a 2007 Uly. the Uly is one of the most comfortable bikes i've ever ridden in stock configuration. with heated grips a 400 mile day is reasonably "do-able". i'm 6ft and 195lbs if that helps.
 
I appreciate all the input from you guys. I think I pretty much know the pros and cons to all of it but it is still really good to hear others opinions and thoughts. I really like my Buell but I think I am going to look into a different machine.

I threw it up on CL in my area with some good pictures and decent write up. I priced it a little high I think but hey it cant hurt to start a little high and see what happens. There are none in my local area for sale right now and the only other one is a bit up the road and even I think it is a bit high on the asking price. I will just see what happens. If someone buys it and gives me decent money for it, then the hunt will be on for the replacement! I think I truly enjoy that part more than anything. :)
 


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