Buell Motorcycles: Reviews and opinions

[Raoul Duke, Jr.]

Has anyone here had a chance to check out any of Buell's new bikes lately? I've been thinking of investing in either a Blast or XB9S Lightning sometime in the near future.

[GrandMasterTerwynn]

Has anyone here had a chance to check out any of Buell's new bikes lately? I've been thinking of investing in either a Blast or XB9S Lightning sometime in the near future.

I tend to be a bit more than mildly disturbed by a motorcycle company that uses (of all things) a drive belt to get power from the engine to the back wheel.

I just happened to be walking by my school's motorcycle lot one day when I spied a Buell. Thought there was something odd about it, so I took a closer look and noticed that it used a drive belt similar to the variety you'd find turning a automobile timing cam. Not sure exactly what advantage a drive system like that would confer on a motorcycle . . . apart from belts being cheaper and easier to replace than chains.

[Raoul Duke, Jr.]

Has anyone here had a chance to check out any of Buell's new bikes lately? I've been thinking of investing in either a Blast or XB9S Lightning sometime in the near future.

I tend to be a bit more than mildly disturbed by a motorcycle company that uses (of all things) a drive belt to get power from the engine to the back wheel.

I just happened to be walking by my school's motorcycle lot one day when I spied a Buell. Thought there was something odd about it, so I took a closer look and noticed that it used a drive belt similar to the variety you'd find turning a automobile timing cam. Not sure exactly what advantage a drive system like that would confer on a motorcycle . . . apart from belts being cheaper and easier to replace than chains.

That's probably it exactly; low maintenance. Do you recall which model it was?

[Cal Wright]

If I'm not mistaken, Buell's are made by Harley Davidson. That right there warrants you turn away. POS. LoL. Either way, a friend of mine who used to work with me rides a Buell. As far as I know he never had any problems with it. Although, personally you should get something from either Honda or Yamaha, because it is farrrrr easier to get ahold of add on aftermarket parts and the prices should be somewhat cheaper. As far as a drive belt, trust me, it's the next best thing to drive shaft models. Chains are fucking worthless. (You actually have to maintain those.)

[Raoul Duke, Jr.]

If I'm not mistaken, Buell's are made by Harley Davidson. That right there warrants you turn away. POS. LoL. Either way, a friend of mine who used to work with me rides a Buell. As far as I know he never had any problems with it. Although, personally you should get something from either Honda or Yamaha, because it is farrrrr easier to get ahold of add on aftermarket parts and the prices should be somewhat cheaper. As far as a drive belt, trust me, it's the next best thing to drive shaft models. Chains are fucking worthless. (You actually have to maintain those.)

Actually, the Buell I had been most seriously considering is the Blast. (Belt-driven, air-cooled, and only $4.595 brand new.) Cheap, moderately powerful (492cc), and easy to ride and maintain. Plus, I realize this is a really stupid prejudice, but I think I'd prefer an American bike. I like to stand out, and trust me -- a truly decent American motorcycle really is something different.

[Cal Wright]

Key worde decent. Besides, all of the 'Jap' bikes as people call them, Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha, Kawasaki, have plants here in the United States were they manufacture a shit load of thier stuff now. Either way, yeah, the American made bikes that are decent, Buell, are good. Your pick though man.

[EmperorChrostas the Cruel]

Before everone rips the bike for having a belt, a few things to consider.

The belt is made of kevlar.
Chains pick up road dirt, and grind themselves to bits over time. (one year, tops)When they stretch, and become loose, they can snap and become a steel whip. (broken leg, cracked case)The belt will outlast the chain 10 to 1,and be quiter and smoother to boot. (when it fails, it causes no colateral damage) Shaft drive never wears out in theory, but on practice it will just out last the motor by a factor of 2.
The play in the gears, and the mass of the whole package, (shaft, and both direction changing gears are AFTER the trans, and suck power directly from the wheels) make up too big a burden on the engine to be competative with chains or belts in the performance realm.(it is not a coinsidence that ALL the shaft driven bikes have large displacement engines, in cruisers)

The Buells, although pricey, have some hot features. The exhaust system being UNDER the frame, being a big one. (Think, heavey, noisey, think balance, and center of mass as low as possible)
Remember too, that it is only BASED on the Harly.

[Raoul Duke, Jr.]

Actually, the Buell I'm looking at isn't even all that pricey -- the Blast runs about $4,595 brand new.

[aronkerkhof]

Buells are a decent bike; god bless Eric Buell for building the only American sportbikes. Its just too bad he has to be saddled with 30 year old engine technology to work with. Buells usually use HD Sportster engines, and the Blast basically uses half of a sporter v-twin engine. I've demo rode one, and can describe it as a easy, unintimidating bike to ride and throw around corners. Its power, brakes, and handling overall is pretty mediocre, though. And it shakes like a paint shaker. Disclaimer: I ride a suzuki bandit 1200, so I'm a little predjudiced towards power. Build quality on Buells are dodgy too. I think they are kind of ugly, primarily because of their hideous plastic air boxs, but surely the aftermarket has come up with a cure for that by now. I can't imagine you wouldn't be bored of it after a year or so though.

My advice if you want a first time motorcycle, is buy used. You *will* drop the bike a couple of times, and you want something that is already scuffed up so when you sell it next year for your true hearts desire, you won't lose your shirt. A used Suzuki SV650 would be a good choice, or something like a Ninja 500. Good handling, good acceleration that still won't get out of hand, and excellend reliability. Or a used Blast, I guess, though again those are more risky on the used market.

BTW, for those of you skeptical about a belt's viability as a final drive system, it is actually the superior way to put the power to the back wheel, in terms of weight, reliability, maintenance, and efficiency. Shaft drive is maintenance free, but very heavy and impossible to change ratios. Chain drive requires constant maintenance and frequent replacement, but allows near infinite combos of sprockets and chains to customize your gear ratios. Belt is best of both worlds, as it is light and maintenance free. Its sole drawback is its width, which is why you rarely see it outside of V-Twin applications; in-line fours are already too wide.

Personally, I can't wait until Buell gets to build a bike based around the new VROD engine that porche designed for them. Buell has some radical concepts in frame and suspension work, but they really need a screaming engine to sell to anyone but guys who desperately want to ride a sport bike but can't get over their American Made hang up. If Eric put a VROD engine an a Lightning, I'd probably buy one.

[Raoul Duke, Jr.]

One thing that aims me toward American bikes, Buell in particular, is that I personally find the "streetfighter" style appealing, but can't afford the European iterations of the style.

Second, the reason I'll stay away from any country's sportbikes is the riding position. For that reason, I'll never buy a Buell FireBolt, although I like the design. The Lightning XB9S allows for my preferred riding position -- but at close to $10K, it's more than I want to spend for my first bike. The Blast is a good deal, and I'm hopeful that build quality will improve further, as it's been said to have done in the '01 and later models.

[aronkerkhof]

Well, you could get a wrecked streetbike, and make a streetfighter out of that. I personally go for the look myself, which is why I settled on a naked bandit, as it is kind of a streetfighter out of the box. I'm looking this winter for a wrecked CBR/VFR/GSX to strip plastic off of and make a real backroads burner out of. I think the cheapness of the plastic and body work of the blast, combined with its lack of power hurt its streetfightin' potential. The lightning certainly is lustworthy, though as you point out, its 10k pricetag is rediculous, especially for a first time bike. Did I mention you'll drop that?

But as for comfort, Ninja 500/SV650s are very comfortable. I wouldn't recommend an agressively positioned bike to a newbie. Their ergos are similar to the lightning, while perhaps slightly more agressive than the blast. And really, you need to sit on a bike for a good long while before you can say how comfortable one is or not. I've ridden a Ducati Monster, and while it looks like it would be comfortable, the front suspention dives so much, and requires so much effort from the clutch hand, that your forearms will be screaming in round the city riding. Some sportbikes, on the other hand, are surprisingly upright and comfortable.

One nice thing about HD/Duc dealers is that they generally will let you ride their bikes if you ask. The Jap guys will just laugh at you. All motorcycle dealers are evil though, especially after they get your money.