Topic: thinkin about buying a brand new bike... hd or buell?

[greasy j]

I have no truck payment or anything, just some credit cards which are almost paid off. once they are paid in 6 more mos. or so I wanna go back into debt.

my credit is ok, now and I've never owned anything new before. I wanna buy a new bike...

wish Honda would make something cool and make it avail in the US, but no.

I have narrowed it down to 2 bikes I dig more than the rest, they are completely different from each other.

HD just came out w/ a new sportster, the forty eight. it looks great, I really like the style, but as far as the engineering it's basically a tractor still. but I've always kinda liked sportsters.



all it really has going for it is looks, but that goes a long way with me.


or there's this guy, the Buell lightning xb9xsbgr9fxxc9zs, shoulda just called it the lighting 9x or somethin.

very cool! modern engineering, radial brake discs on the front! and prob a blast to ride. plus it looks awesome. a lot of bike for the money. I'm leaning towards this one, for sure.




which would you put yourself into debt for? aesthetics are important to me, but I also appreciate clever engineering. the buell is way more bike and way more capable, but I can't get any more speeding tickets. and I'm not gonna be racing, just toolin around and back and forth to work.

wuddaya think?

[MickeyX]

Honda shadow RS 

[greasy j]

it actually looks pretty good. water cooled, though. it has more sensible foot controls. needs drag bars or superbike bars. and bobbed fenders, then it'd look good.

[kslrr]

I'd go for the Buell.  They are Hi-Tech machines.  The only concern is future support since the company no longer exists.

[bucky katt]

how tall are you? i'm 5'9" and sitting on a sportster i looked like a monkey humping a football.

[HavocTurbo]

Bucky did that have mids or forwards?

I have an 883 Low with forwards and I'm pretty comfortable. 6 feet even.

The Forty-Eight has drag type bars and forward controls... so you will be pretty decently stretched out.

I actually like mine for riding around town. Quite the nimble machine considering its fat looks.

Oh... and you'll get a speeding ticket with an 883 just as fast as a buell. 

[bucky katt]

mids, i think it was a 1200 but i'm not totally sure. i had a mid 70's ironhead sportster but it was in a rigid frame with 46 degrees of rake.

[Inigo Montoya]

Have you checked out the xr1200? About the only hd I would own, new anyways.

[greasy j]

I'm 5'7"

if I got the 48 it would have to have mid controls.

one thing I like about the buell is it's pretty much a standard. you are not hunched over or kicked back, just normal like.

and it's more of a historical piece if I kept it forever, kinda wanna buy somthin new and keep it til I'm old. then I can say 'yeah, I got her back in '10 new off the showroom floor, that's the last batch they made at the old factory back when HD had em in a stranglehold' haha. wishful thinkin, but maybe they'll come back. I'm pretty sold on the Buell.

I test rode the xr1200 and it's super fun, but way too tall for me. don't like tippy toes at stops. and FAST!!!

[Joel]

I like the Buells.  The Lightning is my fave.

[the technological J]

buell all the way... the sportster looks kind of generic if i was gonna get harley it would be a night rod or whatever the blacked out vrod is.... i would get a newer triumph if i had the cash its a classy look and respected by everybody

[bucky katt]

i like the look of the nightster and the xr1200 i'm a fan of the way the v-rod runs too. if i ever owned another harley it'll be a v-rod

[BlindJoe]

BUELL!

[greasy j]

i like the look of the nightster and the xr1200 i'm a fan of the way the v-rod runs too. if i ever owned another harley it'll be a v-rod

I test rode that one, too. it's like a honda civic. silent and smooth. not enough rumble to be called an HD in my opinion.

same day(cycleworldbikeshow) I test rode a Star cruiser, the one that looks like an Indian w/ the sculpted head light bucket, w/ my girlfriend on back. that felt like what I thought a cruiser should feel like. kinda rumbly and comfy. but way too big for me.

I am way more likely to get the Buell. the practical side of me can't get over the fact that the one w/ the best performance and engineering is cheaper. and it's kinda a revolutionary bike, a lil at least. like my CB750.

[greasy j]

and that headlight grille is so #$%*in. and the exhaust! I would leave it stock for sure. or try to for a couple years at least.



xcept the mirrors and rear fender

[bucky katt]

that v-rod was also fast as hell, at the time the quickest bike i'd ever ridden.

[vanillagorilla]

Buell all the way! I'd love to be able to get an XB. That new Sport model is cool, but it is no Buell. Get ready to get good at wheelies.... 

[greasy j]

that v-rod was also fast as hell, at the time the quickest bike i'd ever ridden.

I had to ride in a lame pack w/ the other test riders on the V Rod, couldn't go fast. they look awesome, just needs a louder exhaust IMO.

on the xr they let me take it alone, different year. that thing was fast!

[greasy j]

Buell all the way! I'd love to be able to get an XB. That new Sport model is cool, but it is no Buell. Get ready to get good at wheelies.... 

yeah, I'm with ya. on one wheel.

[bucky katt]

when i whacked the throttle wide open in 2nd on the nightrod, the front wheel lifted and i nearly crapped myself 

[hoodellyhoo]

I would go for the buell. Everytime I see one of the xb bikes I always think "Damn that bike looks like FUN".

[greasy j]

when i whacked the throttle wide open in 2nd on the nightrod, the front wheel lifted and i nearly crapped myself 

no #$%*!!??

[Hannibal Smith]

I always thought the Buell was ugly as sin, proportions all wrong etc.

A Sportster is INCREDIBLY fun to ride, super forgiving with gobs of torque. The riding position just fits the motor so well IMO. With forward controls and drag bars, they are more fun than the law should allow. Roll out of a turn in 3rd gear without a care in the world, it just pulls itself right out, and thumps back to the straight. You will be born again after a ride. Harleys are more than image.

[Stev-o]

Get the Buell!  But I wouldn't buy it new, find a perfect year old model and save $2K!!

[greasy j]

I always thought the Buell was ugly as sin, proportions all wrong etc.

A Sportster is INCREDIBLY fun to ride, super forgiving with gobs of torque. The riding position just fits the motor so well IMO. With forward controls and drag bars, they are more fun than the law should allow. Roll out of a turn in 3rd gear without a care in the world, it just pulls itself right out, and thumps back to the straight. You will be born again after a ride. Harleys are more than image.

got me interested, very poetic. I need to ride them both, then I will know...