XB12S or XB9S? Major differences. Considerable more power? Best for City?

[Draxsonimy]

I'm probably rehashing a question that has been going on since the introduction of xb12 and 9.

I'm looking to buy an '04 XB12s or an XB9S.
There is one of each for sale at very close price to each other the 9 being around $700 cheaper.

I'm 5' 11" 145lbs. Been Riding for almost 10 years. Would consider myself an experienced rider.

90% of my riding is going to be done in the city.

Is the power difference extremely noticeable? I know the the 12 has more torque but the 9 revs higher.

I just want a fun bike I can push hard.

Thanks in advance for the insight!

 

[rtrac1]

honestly the only reason i went for the 12 is because i wanted a black frame and gold wheels.

would have been happy riding either.

If you dont care either way, just get whichever one is in better condition

 

[MAGIC]

Not much of a difference. 9 revs bit higher, 12 has bit more top end. Some say that 9s shift smoother but I rode both and really didn't feel much of a difference. Also difference in torque is not noticeable.

 

[twoguns]

they will run with each other with no worry. the 12 has more torque which i do notice a slight bit over the lady's 9, but hers does get up and go no worries.

actually the lady's 9 with the drummer sounds better than my 12, and i like her frame.

i would suggest you just stand back and look at which one you like best. you wont be disappointed either way.

 

[wolfo68]

go 12, and if you wan't even more torque get a 9 primary and put it in your 12. tons O fun

 

[CowboyKS]

12 vibration doesn't smooth out until about 3500 RPM, which puts you at 70 MPH - your rocketing between stop lights in the lower gears.
They say the 9 smooths out around 2500 rpm.

As wolfo says, which I haven't tried but would love, is to put the 9 primary gears/chain on the XB12. I can only imagine what the torque would be like!!

so truth is, you are splitting hairs at this point. I LOVE my 12 and I'm sure I would LOVE a 9 if I had bought one.

 

[uly luigi]

if your on a budget, 9, 700 bucks is a good chunk of change, other wise, 2 up on a 9 is not as fun as a 12, if you are planning on 2 up a lot, I would go 12
JMHO, my wife and I max out the cap on my uly 12

 

[atir]

I confirm the 9 smooths up after 2500 rpm.

 

[bikepilot]

My 12 is pretty smooth by 2500 rpm, really super butter smooth at 3k rpm, then a little rough from about 3.3-3.9k rpm, then butter smooth from 4k rpm-up.

I think the ideal would be a big bore 9.

 

[Draxsonimy]

Thanks for all the input guys!
Still not sure which way I'm going.

I think the coolest way to go would be a big bore kit on a 9 like bikepilot said. Short stroke huge bore.

but all the kits I have seen are a $1000 to $1200 and if you want to get the 1200cc the you have to case bore which is complete disassembly.

Not owning a buell and not having one in front of me to look at I'm not even sure how serious a job it is to remove the engine. If it was a tube frame HD then I would go for it. But the (intelligent, beautiful, amazing) frame of the buell puts me in question of how easy a engine pull would be.

Thanks again everyone!

 

[Draxsonimy]

I Ended up getting an 04 xb12s with 8400 miles bone stock with pretty fresh dunlop sportmax q2's. For $4000. Not sure if thats a good deal or not but I love it! The only things I noticed wrong with it is the turn signal posts have broken where they are flexable and there was quite a bit of slack in the primary chain that wasn't making a very pretty noise. But after tightening the primary and geting rid of the noise I'm a pretty happy new owner!

 

[CowboyKS]

It's about right on pricing. Have fun!

 

[Alfatango1]

Good price for the mileage, if it's real clean I think you did well.

 

[Draxsonimy]

Looks pratically new. Even smells like a showroom haha. Had a battery tender and still has the factory battery! is there a free way to check the vin to se where it was bought or how many owners?