Comments on: Stop me … Before I Buy a Used Buell XB (Bike Reports) (News)

By: Jeremy in TX

Jeremy in TX — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 18:36:32 +0000

Don’t do it. Despite improvements made during the XB series, the bikes are IMO still much more problematic than other makes. And everything you like about your Streetie will cause you to get bored with the Buell pretty fast. Many, probably even most, HD dealers don’t sell Buell parts. Oh, and the lifetime belt ain’t. The ’08+ bikes are worth the extra asking price if you are set on an XB. They are better in most ways to the older versions.

Buy an 1125CR and raise the handle bars. They can be had pretty cheap as well, you still get to be “different”, it is far more refined than the XB and the Rotax mill should tickle the adrenal glands just fine, unlike the XB motor.

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By: Marco

Marco — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 16:13:41 +0000

A $4,000.00 bike that’s fast, comfortable, reliable, efficient, fun as a drunken cheerleader, pretty, sounds seksy, and will last a lifetime: early 2000′s Kawasaki ZRX1200R. Hands down.

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By: Bock919

Bock919 — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 18:49:01 +0000

I owned a Hawk for a couple years. Honestly, I don’t miss it. I replaced a 919 with the Shawk and went back to the 919. The 919 is all the bike I could ever want and more for a street ride. The Hawk just made too many compromises in all the wrong places. I feel the same about the XB line, actually. Now, I wouldn’t kick an 1125 out of bed for eating crackers, though.

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By: diver_down

diver_down — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 13:59:34 +0000

Before you buy a Buell, ride a Honda Superhawk. More bang for the buck and a better level of finish.

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By: zuki

zuki — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 16:21:38 +0000

I wish I had never sold my XB9S! It’s one of the most fun and character-filled bikes I ever owned. It embodied the essence of what ‘motorcycle’ is… it was a bike capable of inducing that “Motorcycle Fever” feeling I had as a kid with my first couple of bikes.

By: zuki

zuki — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 11:29:44 +0000

Haha! I like your comment… reminds me of certain people I know that always have problems with their machines too.

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By: JR

JR — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 13:51:39 +0000

This comment is for all those who always have problem prone motorcycles.. it reminds me of someone I know from years ago after he purchased a brand new Honda 750 K model. Later that same year during the heart of the winter, the temp was in the teens with snow on the ground and he asked me to listen to a sound his bike was making. So out in his garage, starting his stone cold Honda.. he rev’s the engine to red line and looks at me and say’s.. can you hear that engine clicking sound? And ask’s me.. what do you think that is? “Enough said”.

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By: Hewlett Hermit

Hewlett Hermit — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 20:55:01 +0000

Along with several other bikes, I have two Buells (’99 M2 & ’06 XB9R). If times got tough and I was forced to sell my bikes the XB9R would be the last to go. When I ride it for more than a few minutes it becomes more like a natural extension of my body than any other bike I’ve ridden.

I’m not sure what caused the brake problems you have experienced. Tire/brake pad combination problem maybe? My XB9R has Metzler Z6 tires and EBC HH brake pads. It stops well enough to put me over the bars (and probably saved me from serious injury). It also trail brakes into corners very nicely.

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By: UHAULMan

UHAULMan — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 18:30:42 +0000

Mr. G. If we can ever be of service again, feel free to call anytime. East Coast UHaul Association.

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By: FreddyJ

FreddyJ — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 11:46:47 +0000

Having owned a steel-framed Buell for seveal years, I would agree that they are great all-around machines. Not so much a sportbike as a sporty standard. I sold mine when I started doing track days, which is where the imports shine, and Buells…don’t. It’s a great motor on the street, but doesn’t cut it on the track–which is where most sport bike journalists spend a good chunk of their time. I couldn’t think of a better ride for a tight, twisty back road…

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