Topic: Anyone here ridden a Speed Triple or Buell Firebolt?

[Jeff]

Buell's aren't trying to be like every other bike. They are their own flavor, that is for sure.

The 984cc motor isn't a powerful beast to be sure. But it'd be adequate. The S3 is far more powerful, without a doubt. But the motor is only one part of the Buell. If it had quirky handling, odds are it wasn't setup to your weight, style etc. They have EXCELLENT suspension components. Setup the suspension to your weight and go through a good set of twisties that demands more than twisting the throttle. The XB Buells are superb. The paint shaker vibration is a natural trait of that engine. I-4 engines are frequently buzzy, it's a trait of them. Same thing. And once you get moving, the paint shaker feeling goes away.

From all the research and reading I've done, Buell's are an acquired taste, and very polarizing. People seem to either love'em or hate'em. I'm more in the love'em camp, but I'd still go with the Triumph, just because it's the one that tugs at me.

Jeff

[HondaJay]

As far as looks go, I definitely think the Triumph is the winner.  I can understand how some people like the look of the Buells but I personally don't.
Performance?  Again, the Triumph wins.
I dont know how they compare in price, but unless the Buell is significantly cheaper my vote is for the Triumph.

The newest bike I currently own is a 1978F, and the newest bike I have ever owned was a 1984 V65Sabre from 2002-2003.

I love the V65 Magna.  I rode one last year that had aftermarket exhaust, intake, cams, clutch, valve springs, oil mod, and more... and thats when I fell in love .  I never expected a 1985 cruiser to pull that hard to 140 and run out of space before power.  I was actually looking for one of those when I bought my CBR.  I think I would still take one of those over any other bike if I could find one in good condition and knew where to buy parts for it.
I still havent figured out how that bike I rode ran a 9.6 quarter mile (true story- I saw the time slips) with less power than my CBR and hauling over 600 pounds of bike alone.
I would love to find that exact bike... too bad the owner is now in jail for the next 5-10 years

Sorry to ramble... I do that when I get excited

[Jeff]

I would love to find that exact bike... too bad the owner is now in jail for the next 5-10 years

Hell, see if you can find who has the bike now (wife, parent, angry ex)... maybe they'd get rid of it cheap since the owner is in the graybar hotel.

[cben750f0]

have riden the XB12 and wasnt impressed, it made good power, but not enough, was like it was geared wrong, just when you thought it was gonna get exciting, the lkimiter cut in.... sorta interesting to look at awsell..... the new speed tripples... they are another story, you can help bein a hooligan one one of those... i just dont like the mythical reliability stigma that goes with them...

peace

[putnaja1]

Buells - They are well designed other than the engine.  A V-Twin can't compete with an inline four, just ask Ducati...
Sparty

See, in my opinion, it's the exact opposite!  I like all motors, and although I personally prefer an inline 4, I got no loss of love for any twin..  They sound pretty cool, and they can be plenty fast.  I once raced a guy on a harley drag bike with my CB900F, and he pulled past me and just kept on pulling!  I couldn't believe it!  The V-rod is supposed to be pretty bad ass too.  Now that I see that modernized looking Sportster, I'm gonna have to do some reading up tonight!  That thing is way cool!

What I can't handle is the ridiculous Buell styling..  Call me boring, but I want a motorcycle to ride, not some freakin modern art masterpiece!  That's why I can't stand the BMW's either, except for the K1200S, which to me looks great.  Remember the early Buell's- that looked like they had a car muffler across the whole bottom?  Ducati on the other hand, looks the business to me!  I don't keep up with motorcycle racing, but is it true that they are unable to hang with the Jap bikes at the races? 

Also, remember the GSXR looking bike that Suzuki made with a 1000cc V-twin?  I think it was a TLR or something.  Those things were AWESOME!  Honda's RC51 too.  They make the windows rattle when they roar by..   

Oops!  Sorry for rambling.  I guess there are so many cool bikes out there, I can't focus!  Love the SOHC4's though- that's a given.

[pmpski_1]

Remember the early Buell's- that looked like they had a car muffler across the whole bottom? 

This thread popped up before the deal is final, but I'm picking up my Buell on Saturday. I don't want to do anything to jinx it before I get it, but I just have to take the bait on this one

The bike I'm buying already has an aftermarket exhaust. And in fact, it's made from an Edlebrock car muffler!

[angeldeville]

I just found a 2003 XB9R locally and i may just check it out tomorrow, here is the description...


"2003 Buell Firebolt XB9R. New performance built engine. All machine work done by Hoban Cycles. Specs: Red Shift 585 cams, Roller rockers, new oversized valves, springs lifters. Millennium 1050 kit, Hoban Dark horse crank, 11:1 compression ratio (10 is stock). Techlusion TFI tuning module.

Other goodies: LSL steering damper, billet high grip foot pegs, Micron exhaust, chain drive conversion, Frame slders. Forks and shock have been reworked by Aftershock Suspension in Palo Alto Ca. EBC race brake pads. The tires are Dunlop 209 race compound. Plenty of tread left.

I also have a spare stock engine, and full race bodywork. $6000 for the bike as is, or $8000 for everything. I will not sell the spare engine or bodywork until the bike is sold.

I don’t know much about the stock engine, but I did use it one weekend, and it runs good, and both the clutch, and trans work."



If it doesn't look like it has been beat to hell it may be worth having. but I'll definitely be picky

[nickjtc]

I also have a spare stock engine, and full race bodywork.

Ominous??

[dusterdude]

buy it

[Jeff]

I would be VERY cautious with this bike. It's a race bike, and could've very likely been thrashed and wadded.

Jeff

[ProTeal55]

I would be VERY cautious with this bike. It's a race bike, and could've very likely been thrashed and wadded.

I agree.
Buy a street ridden bike, if you are gonna buy used.
Same as racecars , the guy has to be selling it for a reason (think about that)...

[ProTeal55]

This thread popped up before the deal is final, but I'm picking up my Buell on Saturday. I don't want to do anything to jinx it before I get it, but I just have to take the bait on this one
The bike I'm buying already has an aftermarket exhaust. And in fact, it's made from an Edlebrock car muffler!

I wanna see a pic of this beast !

[dusterdude]

I would be VERY cautious with this bike. It's a race bike, and could've very likely been thrashed and wadded.

I agree.
Buy a street ridden bike, if you are gonna buy used.
Same as racecars , the guy has to be selling it for a reason (think about that)...

he probably wants to go faster.

[pmpski_1]

This thread popped up before the deal is final, but I'm picking up my Buell on Saturday. I don't want to do anything to jinx it before I get it, but I just have to take the bait on this one
The bike I'm buying already has an aftermarket exhaust. And in fact, it's made from an Edlebrock car muffler!

I wanna see a pic of this beast !

I'll be sure to take lots of pics of mine tomorrow.

Angel - The bike has been thrashed for sure. It's a race bike. There's two ways to look at it:

If you want a pristine bike that has been babied from day 1, run away.

On the other hand, you know it's a race bike. There's no hiding that fact. There's quite a few things going for it though. It has a chain conversion. This is 600 bucks minimum. It has a steering damper, another 300 bucks minimum, probably more. It has an extra stock engine. You can use that or sell it. Race bodywork, eh, take it or leave it. You could sell it if you wanted. See why he's selling and how many miles it has. it's the end of the race season, many people are selling race bikes, for a multitude of reasons. I know guys that do this every season.

I guess it really comes down to what you want. If you wanted to you could probably buy it for 6k and make more than that parting it out.

[angeldeville]

OK here is the scoop... I checked it out today.... it is HOT SEX ON WHEELS!!!!!

The owner is in his late 30's to early 40"s and isn't out to thrash the hell out of his equpment. (he also has a 59' BSA)

He just finished the engine mods and ran into money probs, so the race engine hasn't been raced yet, but it is streetable on premium.

He has a Suzuki GSX he uses for his regular racing ( I guess he actually wants to win once in a while)

The bike sounds and runs great! Hasn't actually been raced much! ( just once before the engine mods, and never been down.

[pmpski_1]

So are you going to buy the whole thing for 8k or just the bike as is? As is, that is a helluva deal, but it's always nice to have an extra engine laying around. Although for some reason my wife doesn't understand why extra engines are so nice to have.

[pmpski_1]

Did you buy it?

[angeldeville]

I ended up passing on it, I think I'm giving up on the "NEW" bike thing. I seem to have a hard time spending that much money on a bike.



Although I am picking up a 73' 350four tomorrow.  $500 was easier to part with than $8,000

[crazypj]

I've ridden the XB12R (lightning?) was real impressed. Handles fantastic, loads of torque, feels like your going much slower than you really are, it is hell on your wrists at low speeds.
Didnt get to do enough miles on it, but, as it wasnt mine I thought I'd better take it back before I did something stupid (like get arrested for 140+)
If the Firebolt is anything like it you'll bre impressed
PJ

[KB02]

So, back to your origanal post and the four bike you asked about, I've ridden all but one, the Honda. I have been a huge fan of the Beulls ever since they came out. I love 'em. I want one. They're TINY. It's great.  The 9's have a hard time keeping the front wheel on the ground, so you can only imagine about the 12's. I've ridden one of the older S3's. They're an awesome machine, too. Street fighter extrodinaire!

The Honda I have not ridden, but have sat on and it is very comfortable (Honda). I wou;dn't call it ugly, just non-exiting to look at. They say the engine is a good engine, though (Hey, it's a CB. It's got good heritige, right?)

If you're willing to mortage the house for a new bike, though, the K1200R is the bike to get. Great handling, great gobs of power, and it's a Beemer, so you know its going to last forever.

[aptech77]

angeldeville,

 It looks like you have given up on a new bike. I gave up on Honda making a cool naked bike for the US. I just picked up my BRAND SPANKING NEW....'07 Speed 3 last week.  PLEASE, for the love of all that holy....look at the S3's again. You won't go wrong.   

[Jeff]

angeldeville,

 It looks like you have given up on a new bike. I gave up on Honda making a cool naked bike for the US. I just picked up my BRAND SPANKING NEW....'07 Speed 3 last week.  PLEASE, for the love of all that holy....look at the S3's again. You won't go wrong.   

Your Speed Triple doesn't exist without photos.

[aptech77]

How rude of ME!!!!

  I would post a lot more pics of all the mods I have already done, but I'm limited here so..... Here's Speedy taking a long winters nap next to the Super Sport.     Big brother and little brother. You can see I already add a few mods and a one off rear plate holder/tail. My heart is still with my one-off SUPER SPORT, but gosh this bike is UNREAL. And I only got 44 miles on it until the weather hit. I'm going  NUTS waiting for next year or some REAL NICE salt,cold,and ice free days.  Winter is long, but my camera is hot. 

[aptech77]

Ok, one more for now.....

[angeldeville]

True, I have given up on getting a new bike, but when the urge strikes again, it always does, The S3 is on the top of my list, partly because my local dealer is much cooler than the arseholes at the Hardly clothing store.

Beautiful S3 appy!