Eric Buell Talking about the Buell XB Firebolt Motorcycle

[mrbrunse]

guys u know what´s best? he completely understates in all Points!

[azuay]

I think the sole purpose of owning a bike it's to enjoy the experience. I've been a big fan of buell bikes and hope to own one someday. My previous bike was a YZF600R I got rid of due to financial reasons but I hope to own a xb12r summer of 2012. Can anyone give advice as far as the xb12r vs xb9r? 10hp worth the extra cash?

[0R33D0]

its the torque that gets you through the curves that win ama. not the 4 mile straight away 250mph top end that you will never see.

[dobypaw]

Erik said it best...it dosen't take skillto go fast in a straight line...Buell own the corners!!!

[beechnerpaul]

I just bought a brand new firebolt after previously owning a ninja 900 and will never ride japanese again, there is no fun to the bikes, they are just about top speed and trying to impress. When you ride a buell you dont try to impress anyone by beating any other bike, you ride a buell to have fun, thats what its about

[skeeterbuggy]

well said.

the xb's are about fun and miles of shit eating grins!

[mission100uk]

fight fight fight!! lol

[themaxrider]

So finally the Buell is overwith. Now they finally use a Rotax engine, but its too late. Using an antique for an engine all these years it what did them in. When you can ride a 600cc anything else that eats it for lunch in every department, why would you subject yourself to something that vibrates its way down the road with barley any powerband? We are not all that stupid as to try in vain to impress people that don't give a flyin shit by making obnoxious noise to get their attention. Bye bye

[Buellrulez]

Nonsense. The Thunderstorm engine gave the Buell motorcycle it's unique character. Moreover, the handling of the bike is far better than most Japanese 600cc bikes. Third, Buell was terminated due to a poor HD decision and not because the bike concept was flawed. You obviously have never ridden a Buell. Bye bye!

[themaxrider]

Nonsense, I have not only riden them I have had the displeasure of working on them as well. I own a shop and I get in all types of bikes, and the worst absolute garbage is anything using harley engines in them. Sure I can nail the customer two or three times as much $ to do what takes a fraction of time on any Jap or German bike, but the amount of frustration doesn't make up for the $! And to compare to a 600cc bike using twice the cc is funny as hell. A 600 can still out run it, why is that??

[Buellrulez]

So far, maintenance costs for my Buell are around USD 0.0. Wear and tear is minimal compared to high-rev motors. Riding a (XB) Buell is not about topspeed as Erik Buell tries to explain in the video, it is about the fun you have cutting through corners due to mass centralization and the tremendous amount of torque that is available throughout the powerband. More CC's, horsepower, topspeed are insignificant factors when using the bike on the street.

[themaxrider]

You are out there bud. Wear and tear is minimal? Give me a break! I know exactly how reliable or I should say UNreliable they are. Hell I know a guy with two of the damn things because he can't keep em both runnin he has to have two to be able to have one to ride and that is no bullshit. The comment of more cc's or horsepower is also misinformend as bikes with more power are just that much easier to ride on the street due to the powerband being more linear. You are not talkin to the uniformed

[Buellrulez]

I wish I was so lucky to have two Buells...three would be even better. Although my bike has never failed me, it would be nice to have a couple of other models to choose from, once and a while. Speaking of Bud, he and his business partner Dris are the only guys allowed to touch my bike, because they know what they are doing. So in your "informed" opinion, more horsepower means a more linear powerband? Yeah right!

[themaxrider]

What you are too used to is an underpowered pushrod Vtwin. IF you were to actually get out and try some other bikes you would understand what it is like to have over 175 horse and 100lbs+ torque at just off idle to the end of the power band which is 11 or 12 Grand! You instead are used to a torque band just off idle and virtually no power band to speak of. Get out and ride others and you will understand why i make fun of such an engine. Nobody that rides other bikes thinks anything of harleys.

[Buellrulez]

Actually, I have riden bikes with more powerful motors, like the Honda CBR 600RR and Kawasaki ZZR 1100. More power just doesn't do it for me. I am only interested in bikes that put a smile on my face when I take off. Back on topic, I only wanted to point out that the disappearence of Buell has nothing to do with the HD motor. Also, your comment on 600cc bikes outperfoming Buells in every department is simply not true. Antipathy does not justify twisting the facts.

[themaxrider]

Well I am glad you enjoy yours, I know others that are VERY pissed off over theirs. I will disagree with you saying 600's can't out perform it, I have ridden both many many times. I think you are missing out on some much nicer rides but ride what you wanna. I would personally like to bitchslap Erick for making such ass-backwards bikes. Good luck with yours I hope you can keep it together longer then all the others I have seen in pieces. May the rest in pieces good riddins Buell!

[themaxrider]

When you build a pushrod Vtwin single throw crank engine for horsepower, you end up with a peaky engine that eventually explodes. Nothing but noise comes from such an engine. Its useless technology only made to try in vain to impress people that have no mechanical knowledge whatsoever. I am glad you enjoy it but realize others are laughin at it. Thank God Buell is over with now as it was a joke of an attempt at a sportbike when other companies build such beautiful awesome machines.

[129Slayer]

Hey maxrider, I've outrun 600cc bikes with my XB12R. Bring your little 600 bike to the curves and I'll demonstrate. Anyone can go 180 in a straight line, big deal. It's the twisties that seperate the men (like me) from the boys (like you).

Have a nice day. :)

[themaxrider]

Anyone can go 180 in a straight line but you! Hahaha And as far as the twisties go, thats all you guys can ever say about your Buell. You just have no idea how many times I have worked on them or have rode with guys just like you that brag about how good they handle. BULLSHIT. They don't handle any better then bikes half their cc and half their cost either. And if they were even somewhat reliable and somone actually bought them they wouldn't be belly up now would they. You don't understand.

[themaxrider]

You should be able to out run a 600 if you have a 1200 dillweed. Why is it everyone compares 600's to your 1200? Maybe because its actually a race? How bout comparing your 1200 to a GSXR1000? You still got em by 200 cc's think you have a snowballs chance in hell of catching them any way shape or form? You have to quit riding with old 600's and ride with newer one you would work hard to do anthing better in curves and for sure top speed. Hell they have you by 45mph on the top side Thats funny!

[129Slayer]

I've passed 1000cc bikes too. You're definately showing what a BOY you are. Grow up son, one day maybe you'll get a bike and learn to ride.

[themaxrider]

Ya know I wish I was a boy again, I'd do things quite differently if I were. But back to your dumbass, the only 1000 cc bike you have passes must have been sittin at a stop sign or fillin at a gas station. You must think everyone is as stupid as you. Got some news for ya boy, Buell is dead, done for, out of business!! Good reason why. I'd bet you have to clean the bugs off the back of your helmet its that slow. Remember I have ridden them fixed them and now laugh my ass off at them!

[129Slayer]

Sure you have, LOL

It's obvious you don't know shit about bikes. You go to a Buell video so you can bash people's bikes,....proof that you're an immature ignorant kid. Come to Deal's Gap, I'd love to humiliate an ignorant rookie like you. LOL!!!

Last year I owned a Hayabusa, done 190mph (boring). Been there, done that, moved on to better things.

[themaxrider]

Well son I go to the Dragon every year so maybe next year I will see ya there. "You owned a Busa" sure you have, then you went to a Buell hahahahaha and we are supposed to believe that??Try again Like I said Buell is overwith thank God! The obvious points you seem to miss is that the bike company failed. Its over and its about time. The old sportster powered versions will sit in museums among other relics that were lessoned learned and the new Rotax powered versions were too late...........

[Buellrulez]

I see you're still going at it. Get it through your thick scull: Buell did not go broke and they did not fail. Actually, sales were going up. It was a stockholders decision, in order to disguise that HD is selling less bikes. The reason is obvious: HD sells bikes with loans. Due to the current crisis, people cannot get these loans as easily anymore. Btw, I think you'd lose if you'd ever find the balls to go up against 129Slayer...

[themaxrider]

Wow is it getting deep in here, I better get my boots! Its amazing the bullshit you guys can come up with. It blows me away some of the crazy stories you guys invent to cover up for harley. One was told to me a few years ago when I asked why harley gets all is clothing from China? The answer I got was China doesn't use barb wire so the leather is of higher quality it doesn't have any scars. No kidding hahahaha!! Now pull your head out of your ass before you suffocate and wake up you fool.

[Buellrulez]

The way you keep circling around the topic never seizes to amaze me. Maybe you should do some research first before vomiting this stupid crap online.

[themaxrider]

I am just telling you how rediculous this and everything else harley comes up with. You can take it any way you want. It hurts your ego so bad to think people don't have respect for this bike. I have to laugh at you guys because your so damn blind and stupid to the downfalls of this company and you KNOW it but you stay loyal because its harley. Well I have news for you, most everyone laughs at you guys when it comes to performance and how much you spent to get so little. Bye bye Buell bye bye

[Buellrulez]

I just do not understand where the resentment is coming from, it is completely misplaced. Nobody is forcing you to ride a Buell, but you seem to find the need to put people down that do. I'm not saying a Buell is for everybody, but I am not jealous at people with other bikes either. I am proud to own and ride a Buell. The fact that someone like you doesn't proves to me right once again.

[themaxrider]

The resentment comes from being exposed to these bikes. I am trying to inform people to stay clear of them. People have the right to know how bad these damn things are. I am not jealous of anyone I like to help people and do every day. When you grow up and quit defending these damn dangerous piles of junk, then I will not have to come on here and straighten you out and make sure the truth is told!

[Buellrulez]

Then start by telling the truth for once!

[djkaseone]

Actually Harley is the problem. Buell was actually doing good considering the market. Harley sold MV as well but didnt want to sell buell becuase it would make them look bad for them to be a success under someone else. Yamaha wanted to purchase Buell. FYI

[themaxrider]

Harley has always been the problem. They are dead set about building vintage style bikes for the un-informed public rather then make something innovative. I'd rather see Buell go work for a Jap company and have some of his ideas incorporated into the bikes that already work well. Some ideas were ok, some were not. The V-twin engine should be V4. Then you have the best of both worlds as the Aprilia decided to finally release.

[djkaseone]

Yeah I was always suprised that the jap companies dont do the fuel in frame, Oil in swingarm and underslung exhaust and dry sump oiling. I bet if Buell truly had his way the Buells would have atleast been DOHC 4V engines with lightened Cranks, Ti Rods & forged pistons & water cooled. But I still love mine for what I do and for what I want it fits perfect! It really does ride nice (XB9SX). When I mileage it out I'll probably go with a Ducati as they are the only thing out there thats close.

[themaxrider]

I don't know if I totally agree on the location of the fluids tho, as you when you have a problem, such as bad fuel you are really up the creek. How do you get contaminated fuel out of the frame especially if it has debris in it? Some day harley has to change, it can't continue to reinvent vintage bikes forever, the luster has to wear off sooner or later. When I rip on Buell I was referring to the sportster powered versions. They suck ass so bad it isn't funny. Vibrate themselves to death.

[djkaseone]

I like vibration lol. reminds me of my race car lol

[themaxrider]

The Rotax dont' have much if any vibration. The sportster engines are a bad joke. Vibrate so bad they break the exhuast off, break filiments in light bulbs, etc... Once Buell went Rotax, it was a whole different machine. Finally it had power not just noise. But again, they were finally making headway and harley stopped it. It appears harley doesn't want anything to do with performance. It is all about making noise and appearing to be cool to the other sheeple of the world. Its too bad really.

[djkaseone]

FYI Engines are more than displacement there is a large difference between a V Twin and an Inline Four no matter what the displacement. The engine architectures are completely different. Much like comparing a 250cc two stroke to a 450cc fourstroke. two completely different animals.

[themaxrider]

FYI I work on and with engines every day. I only knock things when it could be done better. Now that Buell is done for, it doesn't pay to even give a rip about them. Harley blew it like usual, quiting when they finally made something somewhat decent. It only took them 100 + years!

[coyotemutt]

@themaxrider

Depends, are we racing or are we riding above 130mph?

[zexeru]

take this buell , put an aprilia engine in it , and you got allmost the perfect bike !

harley engines are for cruising , not for sporty bikes !

[129Slayer]

Anyone can go super fast in a straight line. The twisties are where it counts. After experiencing Buell, I'll never ride rice again.

[natural2112science]

Amen Eric! The last comment says it all. I always plan the longest twistiest route home when on mine!

[koolking17]

I wish all the stupid Buell bashers would look at this video. Did Erik say, "this bike will out run any Japanese 1000cc supersport bikes" No. He says they are fun bikes. Thats what they are. Thank you Erik for making a fun motorcycle to ride.

[billtwo7]

I agree with what was said, it's a great bike to have fun on. Inline fours that go 175+mph in a straight line do'nt take any skill to pin the throttle, plus it gets boring real quick. Give me some canyons to carve anyday!

[wcwiegman]

Hey, howcome you can't make the rotors from carbon fiber and embed some rare earth magnets in them, face every other one opposite directions n-s s-n , take a four pot brake rotor and put an electro magnet in the 1st and 4th position, add a 500w stator with a sensor system to fire the electromagnets like a monorail uses and turn the rotor into an electric motor to push/pull the bike along at cruising speeds with the motor idling at about 1200rpms.

[wcwiegman]

Slipper clutch would let the engine 'catch up' when throttle is applied. Do it on front and back wheels for two wheel drive, probably get about 150 mpg at 55-60 mph!