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Bought a Buell today!
- Thread starter Wavex
- Start date
ok sorry for the delay guys... here it is:
Thanks again Cali_Rider for picking me up on the FZ6 yesterday... the ride up to the dealership as pillion wasn`t bad at all... the FZ is indeed pretty comfy from the back
So after picking up the Buell, Cali_Rider and I went up Angeles Crest Highway (the dealership is about 5min away from the bottom of the mountain!), and I have to say I was impressed with the Buell's suspension and brakes... the bike rails in corners and I felt REALLY comfortable... here is a summary review:
- the dealer set the suspension for my weight, and both rear and front felt great in corners. The bike inspires lots of confidence.
- the front brake is violent. The caliper has 8 pistons, and they bite that rotor very aggressively. Brake modulation demands some getting used to (1inch travel with little braking followed by 1/4in of strong/violent braking), but it definitely works great.
- I absolutely LOVE the engine... even though I could only use about half of the rpm range (first 500 miles break in), it is very smooth and torquy, and is about the opposite of the FZ engine (as expected). If you`re in the right gear, it pulls from 2k rpm and up to the 7+k redline (85% of the available torque is available from 0-100mph). It feels weird to ride at 80mph in fifth gear @ 3750 rpm! It`s like going from a F1 to a hotrod
- some of you won`t believe this, but I could barely feel any wind at all on the freeway, at speeds up to 80mph. Over that, I could start feeling it, but really nothing to worry about at all.
- ergos are VERY comfy, even though I may try the regular seat (1inch higher than the Scg model) to check it out. The bike disappears beneath you, and I could ride all day long without any problem. It feels like a bicycle!
- surprisingly, at cruising speeds, the engine is VERY quiet... on the freeway, I could barely hear it, except when I would open up a bit... then it rumbles like a big v-twin. Overall, very quiet.
- Everytime we would stop, the engine fan would kick in (like a car fan) for about 5 minutes... and it's quite loud. Pretty funny and not a problem for me.
- At idle, the bike rumbles quite a bit (I like it!), with low frequency vibrations in the bars... and the whole bike actually. As soon as you take off, the bar becomes smooth as silk... at freeway speeds, the bike felt super smooth (I was positively surprised).
- it looks absolutely GORGEOUS!!!! clean, tidy, mean, small, naked, blacked out... etc etc... everything I like.
I am very happy with the bike, it fits me perfectly and I am glad I went with a v-twin this time. I think it fits my type of riding better, and helps me keep it smooth in the twisties... on the FZ, I was always tempted to keep it up in rpm to always have power available... keeping the tach in the upper limit all the time makes for a more aggressive and exciting run up the mountain, but it also takes away smoothness and control (that is for me only, some of you may have a completely diff experience)... the v-twin feels much "mellower", even though the torque is there at all times, and powering out of a turn is pure sex...
Botom line: I am stoked and can`t wait to ride it more!!! :cheers
Couple of pics from yesterday (****ty camera):
Thanks again Cali_Rider for picking me up on the FZ6 yesterday... the ride up to the dealership as pillion wasn`t bad at all... the FZ is indeed pretty comfy from the back
So after picking up the Buell, Cali_Rider and I went up Angeles Crest Highway (the dealership is about 5min away from the bottom of the mountain!), and I have to say I was impressed with the Buell's suspension and brakes... the bike rails in corners and I felt REALLY comfortable... here is a summary review:
- the dealer set the suspension for my weight, and both rear and front felt great in corners. The bike inspires lots of confidence.
- the front brake is violent. The caliper has 8 pistons, and they bite that rotor very aggressively. Brake modulation demands some getting used to (1inch travel with little braking followed by 1/4in of strong/violent braking), but it definitely works great.
- I absolutely LOVE the engine... even though I could only use about half of the rpm range (first 500 miles break in), it is very smooth and torquy, and is about the opposite of the FZ engine (as expected). If you`re in the right gear, it pulls from 2k rpm and up to the 7+k redline (85% of the available torque is available from 0-100mph). It feels weird to ride at 80mph in fifth gear @ 3750 rpm! It`s like going from a F1 to a hotrod
- some of you won`t believe this, but I could barely feel any wind at all on the freeway, at speeds up to 80mph. Over that, I could start feeling it, but really nothing to worry about at all.
- ergos are VERY comfy, even though I may try the regular seat (1inch higher than the Scg model) to check it out. The bike disappears beneath you, and I could ride all day long without any problem. It feels like a bicycle!
- surprisingly, at cruising speeds, the engine is VERY quiet... on the freeway, I could barely hear it, except when I would open up a bit... then it rumbles like a big v-twin. Overall, very quiet.
- Everytime we would stop, the engine fan would kick in (like a car fan) for about 5 minutes... and it's quite loud. Pretty funny and not a problem for me.
- At idle, the bike rumbles quite a bit (I like it!), with low frequency vibrations in the bars... and the whole bike actually. As soon as you take off, the bar becomes smooth as silk... at freeway speeds, the bike felt super smooth (I was positively surprised).
- it looks absolutely GORGEOUS!!!! clean, tidy, mean, small, naked, blacked out... etc etc... everything I like.
I am very happy with the bike, it fits me perfectly and I am glad I went with a v-twin this time. I think it fits my type of riding better, and helps me keep it smooth in the twisties... on the FZ, I was always tempted to keep it up in rpm to always have power available... keeping the tach in the upper limit all the time makes for a more aggressive and exciting run up the mountain, but it also takes away smoothness and control (that is for me only, some of you may have a completely diff experience)... the v-twin feels much "mellower", even though the torque is there at all times, and powering out of a turn is pure sex...
Botom line: I am stoked and can`t wait to ride it more!!! :cheers
Couple of pics from yesterday (****ty camera):
On a side note, here is what I plan to do to the bike:
- FE kit
- remove passenger pegs (2 bolts each and done)
- remove stickers and reflectors
- I want to try CRG bar end mirrors, even though I don`t dislike the stock mirrors... they work great too.
That`s about it... everything else is up to my standards
:cheer:
- FE kit
- remove passenger pegs (2 bolts each and done)
- remove stickers and reflectors
- I want to try CRG bar end mirrors, even though I don`t dislike the stock mirrors... they work great too.
That`s about it... everything else is up to my standards
:cheer:
AJ_rider
Published FIZZER
Excellent write-up! You've got me wanting to a test ride a Buell. The available torque at lower rpms sounds amazing.
That is one sweet machine! I love the "tank" a.k.a. the airbox! How much gas does the actual tank hold?
Congrats David! Awesome!!! :thumbup:
Congrats David! Awesome!!! :thumbup:
urbanj
Junior Member
That looks so sweet. Congrats. It's everything you wanted from the FZ and more. Now just do everything in your power so you don't have to make a
XB12 v1.0
j/k:thumbup:
XB12 v1.0
j/k:thumbup:
It's almost impossible to tell how the engine is mounted. Where do you put sliders? and an automatic belt tensioner? NICE!!!!!!!!!
and an automatic belt tensioner? NICE!!!!!!!!!
Thanks! The tank holds 3.82 gallons, with a reserve at 0.75 gallons. Yesterday, riding mellow, I got about 45mpg... which is sweeeeet for a 1200cc
Oh, forgot to mention the bike has a 12V SAE power connector ready for use just under the seat... pretty usefull!
Few more pics taken a few minutes ago:
It's almost impossible to tell how the engine is mounted. Where do you put sliders?
Sliders are on the frame already... look closely
they`re those triangular "pucks" right in the middle of the frame, below the Buell logo on the tank.You can add some at the swingarm + forks as well... which I shall do ASAP.
Yes, the belt requires ZERO maintenance. The rear axel is fixed, no adjustment either... slap the wheel and belt in there, and done... love it.
Very nice bike! I love the lines of it. Hope you have fun on it!
timberwolf211
Junior Member
Very good review of the bike. Had Been considering one as well. Just cant get enough good honest reviews. I would most likely look into the uylsess myself. But glad your having a good time with it. Also are you having any kind of heat issues with it?
teeter
Frank Zappa the 6th
Congrats! That is one bad looking machine. If I didn't love my Fizzer so much I'd be jealous.
Ok, maybe I'm still a bit jealous.
Twice the displacement and yer getting almost the same gas mileage..? Impressive. Though, once break-in is a memory I'm sure the mileage will go down as the revs go up. (A fair price to pay to be sure!)
:thumbup:
Ok, maybe I'm still a bit jealous.
Twice the displacement and yer getting almost the same gas mileage..? Impressive. Though, once break-in is a memory I'm sure the mileage will go down as the revs go up. (A fair price to pay to be sure!)
:thumbup:
Tailgate
Senior Member
Nice Wavex! I know practically nothing about a Buell. It looks 10K EXPENSIVE! I wonder how it stacks up to a Suzuki SV1000? I'd take the torque over high RPM's also in twisties!
Last edited:
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Very nice Wavex. MORE PICS!! HAHAHA! Maybe a video??!?! Can't wait for some more reports on it as you put more miles on...
timberwolf211
Junior Member
And if your bored check out this place. When your not surfing here.
Buellforums.com A Harley-Davidson Buell Sportbike Forum
Buellforums.com A Harley-Davidson Buell Sportbike Forum
No heat issues at all. It radiates heat, but in my experience so far, not more than the FZ does, even at a stop. Couldn`t feel any heat while moving.
Oh and I forgot to comment on the tranny... to my susprise (since some reviews bash the tranny) it was good... no problems for me. The 1st gear makes a little clunky sound, similar to the FZ, but the other gears clicked in smoothly, and without difficulty.
Finding the neutral can take a few seconds though... I had to re-engage the clutch half way a couple of times to find neutral... no biggy.
yeah I personally don`t care much at all about gas mileage... coming from France, where gas is like $10 a gallon, filling up the bike is almost free! Same when I compare it to the family SUV
Thanks, I am actually on this forum: Topics - Buell Motorcycle Forum
They have Buell factory techs helping out... really good forum, except it`s missing the family atmosphere we have here :thumbup:
That thing looks bitchin'!!
BTW, is that the one with the translucent tank?
BTW, is that the one with the translucent tank?
Scott64a
Junior Member
I'd rather have an FZ1...
Not a fan of twins, but this bike looks fun.
I just don't ever want to walk into a Harley dealership and say the word, "I'll take that one."
*pukes
lol nice bike though
Not a fan of twins, but this bike looks fun.
I just don't ever want to walk into a Harley dealership and say the word, "I'll take that one."
*pukes
lol nice bike though
