XB to a Blast?

[Fin]

Well my body's better so I've been thinking about riding again.
Since my XB9 wreck around Labor Day, I have looked into other bikes but just don't have the loot. :-/

With that background, I have recently begun to wonder: Has anyone gone from an XB or a Tuber to a Blast?
I know that's not the usual direction, but I've kept my mind & my eyes open.
There are few X1's or XB's out there that I can afford right now.

On the other hand there are a LOT of inexpensive, low-mileage Blast's nearby.
Plus I'm sure it would be way easier on the insurance expenses, etc.

Would use mainly for in-town commuting & a few shorter highway jaunts (maybe an hour or less).

Was just wondering if any Tuber or XB riders have had the experience of "downgrading" (no offense intended to current Blast owners) & whether or not they were able to adjust accordingly.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts, & oh yeah--Happy T-giving, everyone!

--Finny

 

[konarider94]

my mom owned a blast....there is no way i could make that plunge from my xb12s.

if youre really on a budget and could use some saving on insurance start looking around for a dual sport. they can be had for cheap and are extremely fun.

 

[Cecilsan]

I started with a Blast, then upgraded to a XB9 about 2 years later but kept my Blast. Occasionally I'll ride it if I'm working on the XB or just for fun. You can most definitely tell a difference and it took a couple rides to get use to the Blast but its still fun to ride. You can hammer on the throttle and sling it pretty much anywhere. One thing I do love about my Blast and wish it was better on the XB was the turning radius. I can U-turn on a dime with Blast.

 

[wolfo68]

I love my blast. The damn thing is indestructible .

 

[Theycallmecrash]

If what youre asking is, going from a XB to a blast will it still be fun?... Yes!

I ride a 12R, this last saturday the gf got a blast. Well ive riden that more than my own since and all i wanna do is get back on it and ride some more. Get a blast save up for another XB down the road. Its win all around

 

[kelley386racer]

I agree with theycallmecrash. To quote a popular bike mag, it is more fun to ride a small bike hard than it is to ride a big bike slow. I have had more fun flogging a little ninja 250 down the same twisty road that I had to baby my liter bike on.

 

[MAGIC]

it is more fun to ride a small bike hard than it is to ride a big bike slow

Not to offend anybody but if you can't handle the power of a big bike that's what you would say...

I had XB9S and Blast in the same time for my GF. Well Blast is fun and GREAT commuter but I had so MUCH MORE fun on XB.

 

[wolfo68]

I disagree MAGIC, I can handle the big bikes and I have a shitload of fun on my blast because I can actually push it to it's limits without worrying about how much it'll cost me to fix. I also take my blast offroad and it takes it like a champ.

 

[Theycallmecrash]

[Not to offend anybody but if you can't handle the power of a big bike that's what you would say...

Before its taken as an arguement, im stating now all i wanna do is debate this claim in a friendly manner.

I agree with kelley, the blast doesnt have enough power to do anything too crazy, but its extemely maneuverable in tight spaces and i can use all of it all the time. My XB sucks around town at slow speeds, gets hot, low RPMs, speeding tickets. It is only fun when i get out to no where and open it up around some turns over 6000rpms. Lets be honest with ourselves, none of us can get everything out of our big bikes even on the track, we dont have that kinda time or money to do so. The blast is so limited we can push it beyond it. They have their time and place for fun. The blast is just more fun on the way to work.

 

[MAGIC]

Like I said blast is a great commuter, way better than xb, that you can have fun on. In my case I found myself having bigger grin on xb. That's all I was saying.

 

[Theycallmecrash]

In my case I found myself having bigger grin on xb. That's all I was saying

I completely understand, got a little rowdy on my 12, it feels nice

 

[Fin]

Very cool discussion all--thanks! Hadn't thought of the "to its limits" argument. How does the thumper compare to the Vtwin in terms of feel & sound?

 

[Theycallmecrash]

Sounds like broken dreams.....

But i find it smoother than the 12. But its got a carb so throttle response ugh. So wide open all day on the blast is kinda fun

 

[beefy99]

@Magic, you live in FL correct? how many "twisty" roads do you get a chance to ride on? blast or XB even? don't go telling riders that they are inexperienced for riding a slower bike to it's limits in a setting that a big bike can not be "opened up" in...

Blast is a great commuter you'll spend a helluva lot less on gas. I rode a blast all year long in western WA. It is not a very comfortable bike. I'm a bigger guy though 6' 220ishlbs.. I feel extremely cramped on it. You definitly will not have any holy shit I just crapped myself feelings on a blast. Unless of course, you almost get hit by some douche because you can't get out of thier way fast enough... Having both an XB and a blast I barely ride the blast other than to make sure it still runs mostly for comfort reasons, a little for my ego, and a lot because I like to go fast... So if you are doing this because of a money issue, it might be a good choice. Less on gas, less on insurance, less to purchase... but if you are buying a bike just to have fun stick with what you know you love...

When it comes to sound, the blast will always sound like a lawnmower... It is what it is, a single cylinder engine. You're not going to get a big engine sound out of it.

Great bike for it's purpose and fun at times; don't make it out to be anything more than it is. Don't listen to us critics though go check one out for yourself and make your own decision.

 

[beefy99]

Appologies Magic, Chicago not FL... still flat and straight though. Knew I remembered you for some reason. I'm from north central IL...

 

[MAGIC]

@beefy99 if you know where to go you can find twisties around here especially close to IL/WI border and further north. They definitely aren't coastal highways or mountain canyons but its still a lot of fun.

On the blast vs xb debate i was sarcastic about motorcycle magazine quote. I didn't mean offend blast riders. Just think that quote is kind of dumb. If you can ride blast to its limits you going to do just fine on xb just after few miles of getting used to it.

 

[go cytocis]

If you know how to ride, you can have fun on anything! This is something your average 'Busa rider doesn't understand.

The bike in my stable I choose most often to bomb around town on is a little KLX250sf; it's only 25hp(with mods) but it's WAY more fun than my XB12SS or 919 in the city!

 

[Fin]

Many thanks, my friends. I have quite a decision ahead of me. The 'Zook 650F & the Ninja 650R are also calling...different machines, etc. I will consider all of above & report back.

Truth be told I wish I had been able to re-build my XB9, but I know that's a lost cause now. :-/

--Finny

 

[Theycallmecrash]

Of those 2 id say the gsx650 over the ninja, parallel twins sounds terrible, and the styling makes me wanna harm trees with my teeth.

 

[bobaganoosh]

just make sure you look like a pure bad ass if you get the blast.

i loved tearing around on my wifes blast