sell me on a XB12 (nooB here)

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gbalias

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hey everyone....

1st, id like to introduce myself...im George. Hi.

next, ive been browsing around your forums for some time and i finally decided to register because i believe getting a lightning is in my future. my request is, that i wanted to hear real world experiences from owners on their bikes and how they do for everyday riding. aside from all the magazine articles and critic reviews, i mainly want to know about the pros and cons of the lightning.

i have owned sportbikes in the past, and im over them. i currently race and ride supermoto (my daily rider is a Suzuki DRZSM)...so i think the lightning is a step in the right direction as far as blending the two niches. I DO NOT like the SuperTT buell. sorry.

my other candidate is/was the new KTM Duke 690.


thanks everyone. i appreciate it......maybe ill be on the bandwagon as well soon!



-george
 
The lightning is a great bike in my opinion. I love the style and the attitude. The ride position is far more comfortable for me than my old, 2000 Honda CBR. The bikes definitely have a personality and will beg you to ride them hard. If you're looking for a calm bike to cruise around town at 30 mph I would suggest looking elsewhere. I also preferred the Buell Lightning XB12Scg for the low seat height (I'm 5'7" tall). The low center of gravity combined with the low seat height made me very confident on this motorcycle.
 
the ktm is a good bike, no doubt.

but as i would say to everyone, go for a testride on both and you'll know!
the buell sells itself...ride it for 2 minutes and you'll feel what i'm talking about. after those 2 minutes, you'll be riding the rest of the test with a huge grin on your face, making up several excuses for an extra minute on the bike! :D

buell is by far the most fun bike i have ever ridden.
 
I to came off a DRZ400SM to the Buell Lighting, before that it was a R6, YZF 600r and FZR 750 so I know where your coming from. The V-twin takes some getting used to but the torque is unbelievable and the seating is very comfortable and upright. More of a sport touring feel. I have no more reason to go fast and tired of my lower back and wrist hurting on long trips and after just sitting on a Lighting I was hooked. The XB excels in the handling department and the attitude is cool. My only complaint would be going slow in traffic sucks and the heat from the air cooled motor is not fun when stuck in traffic on a 98deg Florida day. If you get one don't take the first 2k miles as the way the bike is, it def gets 100% better as it breaks in.
 
awesome gator. given im in las vegas....the heat might be an issue.


im definately leaning to the buell over the KTM.

im also looking to get one used, not new. ill keep my eyes peeled and keep up on my research.

thanks everybody
 
gb: I echo what these guys said. I too live in Florida and so it does get hot, but it really hasn't bothered me too bad and I ride most days to work. I leave early so it isn't bad then and I really don't care if I get hot or wet in the afternoon.

The sound, look, ride of the Buell is cooler. No doubt. (I do like that KTM though). I also get great gas mileage and I don't take it easy. I get 42-45 around town and 50+ on the expressway. There is nothing to do maintenance-wise on the Buell. I really don't know about that on KTMs.

For me, I have ridden just about every kind of bike and owned an eclectic collection from Yamahas, Moto Guzzi, etc and this is the most fun bike by far.
 
glad to hear mainly the heat is the only 'complaint' ... i can deal with that just fine.

as far as maintaining it or anything of the sort, it will all be taken care of by myself, so i generally wouldnt consider it a major issue.

the ktms (690) are sweet, but im thinking they just dont have enough. the super duke on the other hand seems more in the same class, even with more power, but i think i favor the geometry of the buell.
 
<~~~I've been researching as well...
come bonus time, I've decided to go with the XB12Ss.
Passenger room :D

I guess you've probably already done this, but actually go to the buell.com website and watch Buell's clips on the design of his bikes.
It just makes sense.

I'm hooked.
 
Passenger room
Click to expand...

I have a 06Ss...passenger room is better...but not great by any means. Thats the one thing about Buells, not really the most comfortable passneger bikes. I was considering getting the Corbin seat with the small folding back rest for the passenger, see if that helps but...dunno. I also wish you could change your final drive gear, so I could have lower RPM's on the expressway. With a loud aftermarket pipe doin about 90 mph for extended periods can get annoying.

If those are my only 2 complaints, that really isnt too bad.:D
 
naw...those arent too bad at all.

you cant change the gearing? can you at least make them reliable chain drives? that way you can make whatever gearing you want.


how long do the drive belts last?
 
how long do the drive belts last?
Click to expand...
40000km warranty on belt...meaning if it snaps due to wear (not because of stones or something) you'll get another for free.

beltdrives are great, don't know why everybody wants to change to chain...more maintenance, more $$$

can you at least make them reliable chain drives? that way you can make whatever gearing you want.
Click to expand...
you have different belt sprockets on the market, not as much as chain, but you're riding a buell...has enough torque from start to get away with any gearing.
but there are also chain conversion setups.
 
I don't own a Buell but I will soon. I too come from sport bikes yzf750 and gsxr750 and now I'm riding a drzsm too ;). I did ride many Buell from the X1 to the xb 12 and 9 r and s and I love it I'm getting a 08 black xb12s. I love the way they handle and I like to be different, you see more Duc around here then Buell. For the gearing well I know you can switch the primary gears for the ones from the xb9 and apparently it make a xb12 a wheelie monster even more then it already is but you do loose a bit of top speed so I heard.
 
The XB12's are the BEST street bike, PERIOD. I wouldn't consider it a good passenger bike at all and I guess if you're thin skinned the heat might be an issue. I do 'cruising' on my Firebolt but it really is just a fun bike. If I had the money and room in my garage I would cruise and take a passenger on a Softail or Road King, I'd have a Sportster (after all, a Sportster is THE quintessential motorcycle in my humble opinion) and some rev happy HP type bike for track days... But at the end of the week, I'd spend the most time on my Buell, it's the best all around bike out there.
 
Yep and thats exactly why I'm going back to a real street bike and on top of that I have been wanting a Buell for 8 years now so I guess it's about time I make the move
 
awesome guys....yep....the ol DRZ should be getting her new owner tomorrow morning, then its straight to the dealer to work out the fine print on getting the 07 XB12S Orange w/Amber wheels shipped to vegas from Monterey, CA. i couldnt sleep last night, and i doubt ill be able to sleep tonight.

heres the suzi....most recent pics for my classified ad ... :(

289051596_UYGTk-M.jpg


289051627_4mHqC-M.jpg


ill keep you posted on how it all turns out.
 

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