I agree, if it's in good condition, it would be worth $2k. Any bike that's fun to ride and will run reliably will definitely be worth more than $2k to you.

9/9/2013 12:04:33 PM

race it in wera's 250 class

9/9/2013 7:12:14 PM

^ That's an Idea! But are there 250's in the $1k range that are eligible and race ready?

[Edited on September 10, 2013 at 12:01 AM. Reason : .]

9/10/2013 12:00:56 AM

you want the 07+ with big wheels for good tires

[Edited on September 10, 2013 at 1:17 AM. Reason : so yes, but not desirable]

9/10/2013 1:17:01 AM

Why are Buells so cheap?

Like $2500-3000 for a XB-9R Firebolt kind of cheap? Maybe not my first choice of sportbike, but probably my first choice for $2500 unless I'm missing something.

9/26/2013 10:40:00 PM

heavy/slow, not terribly reliable, hard to find parts for
all of these are track observations. the only one i see still come to the track at all is the 1125R and that's a rotax motor

[Edited on September 27, 2013 at 8:36 AM. Reason : seen a couple ebr1190's]

9/27/2013 8:35:45 AM

Buells are actually more expensive compared to Japanese bikes of similar with similar specs, but they have definitely came down in pricing since HD dropped the brand. so they definitely feel cheaper then they used to.

Quote :

"heavy/slow, not terribly reliable, hard to find parts for "

Not really accurate, unless you are talking specifically for track use. Heavy/slow comparison depends on where you ride them and what you are comparing them to. There are faster bikes out there, but I certainly wouldn't call the XB's slow, and they do not "feel" slow on the street. XB series are extremely reliable and super easy to maintain, you may be thinking of the old tube frame Buells. I never needed any important parts, but I don't think they are any harder to find than any other discontinued model, unless maybe you are looking for same-day service. I doubt you can find parts for a 2003-2009 GSX-R laying around in stock at any Suzuki dealership.

To see if you'd like a Buell, you have to ride one. It's not a refined ride by any means and is a very polarizing bike. There are more comfortable and faster bikes out there, but there are not many out there with more character than an XB. But if you want a bike that stands out, that looks like a piece of art, that will age well, and that is a hoot to ride, then go for it.

Duke, if your Gixxer was like your C5, an XB Buell would be a lot more like your LoCost, if that makes any sense.

1125 with the Rotax engine was cool in it's own right, but was not my cup of tea.

EBR (Eric Buell Racing) is gonna roll out a new bike, 1190RX, at the end of the October, that will be a more affordable version of their $40K 1190RS race bike.


[Edited on September 27, 2013 at 12:14 PM. Reason : .]

9/27/2013 11:48:19 AM

so an xbr9 is like 75hp and weighs >400lbs. to me that's slow for the weight. that's inline with an sv650, but the weight of 1000cc sport bike.

i have always heard of them leaking oil (both in buell and harley form)

engine parts are easy, but chassis parts a complete pain in the dick to get, because they aren't making more. with big jap manufacturers they carry parts over and also keep making stock parts for years to come which isn't the case with buells right now. without wrecking or racing you probably won't see this as as big of an issue as it would be for me.

i will say, a buell blast is actually hilarious to ride at the track with good tires. it's impossible to upset because it's just not fast enough.

9/27/2013 1:53:51 PM

^^ Yeah I'm talking about price on the used market.

http://mobile.craigslist.org/mcy/3988620216.html

for example.


I'm mostly interested in it just to play with it for a little while, then resell, hopefully at a small profit (I won't pay more than $2000 for it). Maybe track it a couple of times while I have it.

9/27/2013 3:03:24 PM

^^XB9 is probably on par with a SV650 or a 600 inline-four, thanks to the boat anchor it inherited from HD. It's slower than a liter bike at track speed, no doubt. Probably slower than riding 600 inoine-four race replicas with good clutch control. However, around the city is much more fun to ride. I had an R1, which of course was faster once it revved up, but the low end of the Buells is much more useful and fun anywhere but a wide open stretches of country roads, so I don't miss the R1 at all. Also, they may wight as much as a literbike, but they are are really compact, so size-wise they seem like a japanese 250, but wider. They are perfect for short people, and you can even get a factory lowered version (as well as a taller version). Stock XB12 will float the front end at WOT at street-legal speeds, which is fast enough for me. 9's are a bit less torquey but they do NOT feel like an entry-level bike. Modified NA 9's with stock displacement can make about 90hp, which is less than stock RC51 of same vintage but more than VTR1000 Superhawk, and nothing to sneeze at.

Oil leaks were an issue with the tube-frame Buells, but XBs are just as good as Japanese bikes in that regard. Looking at the maintenance, all you have to do is to change oil, tires, and brake pads. No coolant to flush, no chain to lube, no carbs to clean, no valve adjustment. There are some common issues with certain stock parts, such as brake rotors, fuel pumps, and belt tensioners, but other than that, they are very reliable.

Yes, chassis parts are mostly limited to buying used stuff off wrecked bikes, but wearable parts such as brake rotors, pads, shocks, seals etc are available from aftermarket suppliers, and there is plenty of stock plastic left. Wrecking one hard can be pretty disastrous, as the frame will be crushed after the handlebars are gone. For lower-speed low-sides and drops, the replaceable plastic frame pucks do a pretty good job of mitigating damage. Earlier models like Duke posted didn't have them stock, but they are an essential bolt-on (stick-on?)

Blast is an abortion of a bike and should not even be considered. The only reason those were made, in my opinion, is so that HD riding school peeps could have something they would not feel bad about wrecking.

Duke, if you can pick up an XB for $2000, I say go for it. I haven't seen them fall much below 2500 in running condition.

Again, Buells are sort of similar to Saabs or Land Rover Defenders or something like a Subaru Brat or Isuzu Vehicross. They have some really cool tech, they age well, they stand out from the crowd, and the owners are really passionate about them. For me, it was a love at first sight when the XB's came out. i was just getting into college, so it took me a few years to be able to afford one, but I can tell you it's a bike that i'm gonna hang on to.

I probably sound like a Buell salesman I guess i'm kind of a fanboy

[Edited on September 28, 2013 at 3:21 AM. Reason : .]

9/28/2013 3:06:35 AM

hmm

10/4/2013 11:14:22 AM

I will respond as I was into Buells for a long time, the tubers are finicky, but with a good handy owner are fun to ride, I have a buddy with over 200K on one (true he was an engineer for buell for quite awhile). the fuel in frame XBs are wonderful bikes, the HP is not on par with the japanese counterparts but the torque is great, and around town is wonderful. They are easy to work on and there are still quite a few parts that interchange with Sportsters (the drive belts, clutches, and some gaskets) so maintenance is easy. The Blast was not the greatest bike int he world but could be made plenty fun, my wife had one that we did clip ons, exhaust, and primary sprocket change, and it was fun like a giant scooter that woudl do 100 (with a light person on it) and got between 50-65mpg

the uly is the big dual sport Buell, my buddy did two cross country trips alone on his, no problems (other than losing his glasses in Idaho) if I had the money I woudl have a XB in the garage for "sportbike" days

10/5/2013 12:49:43 PM

To bump this, here is my decade-old XB. Still looks fairly up-to-date and polished, kind of like an old iPhone. All stock in this photo minus the mirrors, although I did replace the handlebars since the photo was taken with some lower, aluminum Azonic MX bars. It seems like they put all this money into making this piece-of-art bike from the bottom up, but once they got to the handlebars, they ran out of money. So they slapped on cheapest bars they could find and sourced the hand controls from Toys-R-Us. No repair or maintenance issues here other then an ECU gone bad, presumably due to bad weather sealing (although I don't ride as much as I used to)



Joel, you probably would want the tall version, a Ulyssus or an XB12Ss, which is a taller and longer version of XB12S. Although I honestly see you more on a Fat Boy, Road King, or a V-Rod (no offence, but you're a guy of a big-and-tall variety) or one of the bigger Triumphs (to go with the rest of your British Barn). Although we never met, I could totally see Duke on an XB based on what I know about him.
/streotyping


[Edited on October 9, 2013 at 3:04 AM. Reason : .]

10/9/2013 2:59:28 AM

Bike for Sale 2005 Honda Shadow 750
http://raleigh.craigslist.org/mcy/4122562973.html

[Edited on October 11, 2013 at 12:47 AM. Reason : dd]

10/11/2013 12:46:33 AM

^what kind of bike does she want to replace it with?

10/11/2013 2:04:59 AM

I think she wants a DL650, or something of the like.

10/12/2013 7:37:52 AM

Quote :

"Joel, you probably would want the tall version, a Ulyssus or an XB12Ss, which is a taller and longer version of XB12S. Although I honestly see you more on a Fat Boy, Road King, or a V-Rod (no offence, but you're a guy of a big-and-tall variety) or one of the bigger Triumphs (to go with the rest of your British Barn). Although we never met, I could totally see Duke on an XB based on what I know about him. "

yeah Triumph I have thought about, but I kinda want a Ducati...

10/12/2013 5:28:23 PM

If you got the money and the patience, I don't see why not??

10/13/2013 1:43:59 PM

Wait, so there's a big&tall version of a sports bike out there? I'm pretty sure I asked in this thread a few years ago for someone to recommend a sports bike that my 6'3 ass would fit on, and all I got was a "you're SOL"

I'll probably be selling my Honda 919 in the spring since I can count on one hand how many times I've taken it for a ride in the past 3 years.

10/13/2013 2:03:41 PM

Being, 6'3 you'd look right on most faired liter- and open-class bikes, as well as almost any cruiser or bagger, and definitely on all adventure bikes. Maybe it was hard to find a good "learner bike?"
It is usually more difficult to find a bike that fits a short person and is not an entry-level bike.

10/13/2013 3:49:28 PM

6'3" isn't too big for any sport bike. hop on an sv650 and learn while you find a bike you like.

10/13/2013 5:14:49 PM

finally....a good day for riding!

10/15/2013 9:35:00 AM

New KTM Super Duke 1290 R.

Totally Badass.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6h1e9oulMd8

I lol'd. How a short person gets on a tall bike:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRFyw57o_Ic

Also: BMW Nine T. Modern Day Cafe Racer. I like!

http://www.cyclenews.com/388/22468/Racing-Article/First-Look--2014-BMW-R-nineT.aspx


[Edited on October 17, 2013 at 8:05 PM. Reason : .]

10/17/2013 8:05:20 PM

http://www.cycleworld.com/2013/09/04/2014-honda-grom-125-first-ride-review-photos-specs/

if this thing could cruise at 75 instead of 55 i would want one.

10/24/2013 3:50:20 AM

done

10/24/2013 9:53:05 AM

^can i get a new one of those for $2999?

10/24/2013 11:01:28 AM

you ever seen a white unicorn?

10/24/2013 11:32:56 AM

rode this morning....GOOD GOD it was COLD!!!!!!!!

10/25/2013 10:05:33 AM

Get up this morning, click on weather.com, 31 degrees...ughhhhh. gonna wait till it hits 40 at least to go ride some dirt/gravel.

10/25/2013 11:07:20 AM

Ducati 1199 Superleggera

Highest power-to-weight ratio of any production bike

http://www.autoblog.com/2013/10/22/ducati-1199-superleggera-video/

200+ hp
341 lb

10/29/2013 5:52:24 PM

Quote :

"What does you two-wheel lineup looking like right now, theDuke866? Inquiring minds want to know "

...so I just saw this from a while back. All I have right now is the old BMW airhead ('83 R100 RT). I might get another sport bike whenever I sell the Z06 and pickup truck, but for right now, I have way too much shit (Insight, Seven, Corvette, Ram, motorcycle, and in the middle of a frame-off on a 1966 C-10).

11/10/2013 3:05:23 PM

The beemer is your dad's old bike, no? So that one is in the permanent collection, I guess. Yeah I guess the car side of your garage makes up for a lack of a modern bike. Although the Vette or the Insight can be replaced by a motorcycle very nicely, if you keep the other cars.

11/10/2013 8:42:05 PM

Granddad's. Sort of...it came from his dealership, and has paperwork and service records with his writing and stuff in it from 30 years ago. Not his personal bike--if I ever find one of those, I'll buy it, too...and yeah, it's permanent collection. I started looking and put the word out, and someone notified me of it being on the market while I was in Afghanistan. I mailed my dad a check and told him to go ride it and buy it if it was in good shape.

The '66 C-10 is permanent collection, too. It was my other granddad's, bought new by him in 1966. It was relegated to farm truck duty by the time I was old enough to remember, though. It's what I learned to drive on (when I was, like, 12-13, haha).


The Z06 is for sale, replaced by the Seven. Ram will soon be for sale, replaced by the '66. No need to replace the Insight; it's my practical transportation, and gets better fuel economy than the bike for daily driving, anyway!

[Edited on November 11, 2013 at 12:15 AM. Reason : ]

11/11/2013 12:11:55 AM

Any recommendations for local Raleigh shop that works on older (80's/90's) Suzukis?

Got a friend looking to refresh their early 90's GS500e.

11/16/2013 7:54:06 PM

combustion cycle in durham

11/17/2013 1:46:30 AM

http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/motorcycle_videos/01/yamaha_tt_r125_dirt_track_fun_at_rich_olivers_mystery_school_on_two_wheels_episode_31/19434/#ooid=5tZncyYjpHdb4lIp-N5jrT_WqhBAMAZV

short video about Rich Oliver's Mystery School in Auberry, Ca. He teaches you how to be a much better street rider by learning to control a small dirt bike

11/23/2013 7:51:22 AM

http://www.cornerspin.com in spencer nc is a school i've been to. let me know if you want a referral discount. excellent school

11/23/2013 9:44:40 AM

^may do that once it warms up

11/23/2013 10:27:04 AM

45k mile maintenance service coming up!
Oil change and 4 new spark plugs.

Poor girl has been sittin the last 2 days. Just haven't been in the mood to ride lately. I did practice a lot of figure 8's and tight U turns the other week though. It was fun honing in those skills. Crazy how comfortable I've gotten with riding this bike compared to almost 2 years ago when I first bought it.



[Edited on November 27, 2013 at 11:23 PM. Reason : .]

11/27/2013 11:19:54 PM

rode up nc80 and nc226a and down nc226 twice last sunday

11/29/2013 9:49:56 AM

^you were in my neck of the woods. Check out 209 up to Hot Springs sometime if you like the curves.

12/2/2013 1:15:30 AM

Damn fine to see that bike around and being riden, she is a fun one!

12/3/2013 7:27:03 AM

Another flat. Another nail.

You know. It's only/always the rear tire.

I'm willing to bet that m stop light Green Light Trigger is picking up crap from the roads and my rear tire is eating it... I mean, this is my 4th flat in just 2 years on the bike... I've never had a flat tire in over 10 years of driving cars, minus one new tire that had a manufacture defect and the sidewall failed.

While I enjoy not having to run red lights or waiting for a car to trip the sensor for me, Im going to take this magnet off and see if I get a flat in the next year. Im willing to bet this is what's costing me $Texas$ in yearly tire replacements.





[Edited on December 5, 2013 at 9:38 PM. Reason : .]

12/5/2013 9:36:00 PM

Every tire puncture I've ever hAd has been in a rear tire, except for my most recent one, which was in my Insight--which is FWD.

I think it has to do with which wheels are driven...and maybe front tires kick up debris for the reads to pick up?

12/5/2013 11:19:38 PM

^^test how far away the magnet can move nails laying on the ground in your driveway perhaps

12/6/2013 7:32:41 AM

hot damn today is a great day to ride! rode out for hot dogs with the boss for lunch.

12/6/2013 1:48:30 PM

^^ I've found screws stuck on the magnet before... Its still about 4" off the ground. It was dirty as hell with all the iron stalactites it's picked up from the road over the past year or so. lol.

So I don't know wtf is going on with the bike.

I replaced 3 of the 4 spark plugs. I go to replace the 4th spark plug and the socket doesn't fit the hole. It is literally too big/thick walled to fit into the well so I can unscrew and replace my spark plug. I'm using a 16mm (5/8") socket. So I drop down to a 15mm socket and it fits in the well, but is too small for the spark plug. I'm already using a thin wall spark plug socket, and I was able to get the 2 spark plugs on the left head, but for some reason I can't get one of the spark plugs on the right head.

Stupid random shit like this royally pisses me off. It's the secondary spark plug, so right now it's not that big of a deal. I'll have Capital BMW swap out the plug for me when I go in for service to replace, yet again for the 4th time, the fuel level sensor. This one lasted about 600 miles and about 3 weeks. lol.

[Edited on December 7, 2013 at 8:58 PM. Reason : .]

12/7/2013 8:52:36 PM

I think your nail problem is driving past a metal recycling shop in garner.....

How many times will they replace the fuel sensor?

12/7/2013 11:56:51 PM

This one was from the HWY 40 offramp onto Lake Wheeler road.

I don't know, but its still under warranty so I don't see why they won't honor it. Imma talk to John about it.

He doesn't have a problem with it. He gets paid for it and it's a "free" warrantied service for me. The person getting shafted here is BMW. I've ridden my bike everyday since the last replacement so it's not because of "fuel etching." New battery and the charging system is in good shape, so it's not burning out electrically. Just a shitty design :/



[Edited on December 8, 2013 at 2:23 PM. Reason : .]

12/8/2013 2:21:33 PM

*sigh*

I decided I would change the oil today and give the bike a thorough inspection. Got everything wrapped up and went to start it a second time following a quick test ride and the engine wouldn't quite turn over. Looked underneath and sure enough, the starter motor terminal stud was all corroded to hell from this relentless Florida weather. I went to take off the wire and clean things up with a wire brush, and sure enough, the motor stud popped loose instead and I ended up twisting the stud clean off the wire on the inside of the starter .

Many expletives later, I realized there must have been some sort of short where the stud passed through the housing, as the insulator had charred and cracked until it crumbled apart. After that, it was no surprise things fell apart so quickly. $200 later and I should have a new one in the mail by the end of this week.

12/8/2013 9:59:00 PM