Today's test ride...

[Gromit]

Following a discussion on Visordown about Buells, I took a bimble over to TVHD this afternoon for a demo ride on their XB12SS (Lightning Long)...

This is the 'roomier' version of the normal Lightning (athough such things are relative here). Longer wheelbase and seat, larger fuel capacity and a less steeply raked front end.

The demo bike had the racekit fitted which is basically a loud pipe and a chip for the EFi. Sounds bloody marvellous too - loud, but not offensive and a typically gutteral bark which all Buells should have. As usual the race kit's pipe was showing signs of rust - why the hell they can't make them out of stainless or even alloy I'll never know. It's a real shame as the pipe looks quite smart otherwise with its twin outlets - but as I said, any deficiencies in the finish dept are made up for by the simply wonderful noise it emits.

I'm 6'3" and had no problem comfort-wise; the increased size of the ergos do make a difference and the 90 mins I had out on the bike passed with no aches nor pains.

The motor has only done 1200 miles or so and as a result is a fair bit tight still. Having ridden TV's Ulysses demo as a loaner at 500, 1500 and 3500 miles I can vouch for the fact that the bikes come alive by about 3000 miles. Smoother, quicker and very noticably freer revving. Still, the Long I rode went pretty well and had enough torque for useful low-down acceleration. The business end of the tach is definitely above 4500rpm though were the engine is slightly cammy - it prefers to operate up here (limiter's somewhere around 7000rpm). Smooth too - some low frequency vibes get through but nothing buzzy to cause numb hands/feet etc. This one reached 130mph (on the private test track of course) without too much trouble and was surpsiingly urgent above 80mph - not too shabby for a shonky old pushrod twin.

Handling takes some getting used to, but I know from experience the standard D208's don't suit the bike at all. Diablo's transform the bike, making it quicker steering with less need to hold the bike down in turns. Buells do like to be ridden with a firm hand though and seem to respond better when doing so. There's a tendency for the bike to feel hinged in the middle like the back wheel doesn't want to follow the front, or at least this one did until I realised that someone had wound the rear shock's damping right off. I parked up and added a couple of turns to the adjusters - this was definitely more by trial and a lot of error but even this suck it and see method transformed the bike.

All in all, loadsa fun, loadsa (fabulous) noise and something I'd definitely have on a bike shortlist.

Oh...the gearbox was excellent - smooth, light shift action and not in the slightest bit notchy. Harley/Buell gearboxes live or die by how well the primary chain is adjusted - this one was sweet as.

[sandbar]

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And your point is what - exactly????

sandbar

[Archie]

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And your point is what - exactly????

sandbar

He's trying to work out what to do after March 1st probably.

[Gromit]

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And your point is what - exactly????

sandbar

Sorry...you've lost me??

[winger]

Must admit when i read it thought, and the point is!!!

[Malc]

After a very expensive Ducati test ride a few years ago I'm reluctant to take a bike out unless I intend buying it (996's are definately not cheap to throw down the road).

Gromit - do me a favour and pop over to Colin Collins for a comparisson againts the Super Duke.

[Nigel]

Rich.

You have to put a "Conclusion" section in todays Road Tests.......


Nige.

[Gromit]

Sorry Nige - for a couple of people the English language seems somewhat difficult to decipher...

I'll try again by altering the thrust (or at least the prose) of my dictum...

Ahem...

Went for a test ride on a Buell
Enjoyed it
It made a nice noise
Handles well
Goes quite well too
Exhaust pipe was a bit rusty though
All in all the sort of bike I'd like to own sometime.

Or perhaps the PB/Emap version...

We rode a Buell - it was shite because Buell UK don't spend as much as Honda on their ad budget...but we're not allowed to say that. But at least it hasn't got BMW switchgear.

[nab 301]

Following a discussion on Visordown about Buells, I took a bimble over to TVHD this afternoon for a demo ride on their XB12SS (Lightning Long)...

This is the 'roomier' version of the normal Lightning (athough such things are relative here). Longer wheelbase and seat, larger fuel capacity and a less steeply raked front end.


I'm 6'3" and had no problem comfort-wise; the increased size of the ergos do make a difference and the 90 mins I had out on the bike passed with no aches nor pains.

. Having ridden TV's Ulysses demo as a loaner at 500, 1500 and 3500 miles I can vouch for the fact that the bikes come alive by about 3000 miles. Smoother, quicker and very noticably freer revving.
All in all, loadsa fun, loadsa (fabulous) noise and something I'd definitely have on a bike shortlist.

Oh...the gearbox was excellent - smooth, light shift action and not in the slightest bit notchy. Harley/Buell gearboxes live or die by how well the primary chain is adjusted - this one was sweet as.

Richard, i've always liked the idea behind Buells but reckoned they were too small. Could I ask what was so bad about the ulysses?
viewtopic.php?t=2445&highlight=ulysses
I'm a bit behind with the comics and only saw one recently
Nigel B

[Gromit]

Nigel - firstly you can blame Malc for my interest (and perhaps even underlying obsession) with Buells since a few years ago when he suggested I take a test ride on one. I did, and found it enormous fun.

As to your question about the Ulysses...

I was staying with a friend up near Chester who'd booked a demo on Chapel Ash HD's Ulysses. I tagged along and had a few mins riding the demo bike - it was terribly disappointing to the extent I reckoned something was wrong with it. It vibrated badly, had what seemed like no real power, its suspension was bouncy and, as a result, steering very vague. It's not often I can say that I actually 'hated' a bike but this was one such instance.

Anyway fast forward a month or 3 to my Harley's 1st service down at Thames Valley HD. They lent me a Ulysses as a loan bike. Oh joy. Only this time I had the use of the bike for a whole day and therefore had plenty of time to make my mind up proper. This bike had done approx 1500 miles and had much more urgency, smoother too and someone had obviously taken time to set up (or rather not fiddle with) the suspension as it handled rather well, especially at lower speeds. When the Hog went in for some engine work a while later, I actually asked for the Ully as a loaner and again had a few hours out playing on it. This time it was great fun - the motor now had 3500+ miles up and was even stronger, freer revving and a great deal more eager in the go dept.

Dare say parallels can be drawn between this and folk who get short spins on a BM. As Chris once said, ride a VFR and an S back to back for a few mins and 99% of riders will choose the Honda. Ride them for a day and a few more people may plump for the BM as its strengths become more obvious.

As to whether I'd actually own a Ulysses or even the new Lightning, I really wouldn't like to say. They're not cheap and even though they appear (apart from the exhaust!) much better built & finished these days I still wouldn't think their resale is much to write home about.

Sorry nearly forgot - as to their size, the Ully is VERY tall and has bags of room. Met a guy who owns one recently who made me feel very short - he loves it, for now at least (he used to own an R1150R apparently). The Lightning Long is small, despite its slightly larger ergos over the cooking XB12S, but does feel reasonably comfy - how it'd fare over a 400 mile day, that may well be a very different matter!

hth.

[winger]

Harleys, Buells,you can stick e'm were the sun don't shine their bloody rubbish!

One of these days some bright spark is going to put the V Rod motor with or with the shaft drive into a decent frame,and there all going to be jumping up and down about what a great idea it was!!!

There was a Harley/Buell stand at the ally pally well i think there was!!!! do a Queen Victoria and draw the curtains when i'm going past!!!

Sorry Rich!!!!

[Gromit]

Sorry Rich!!!!

Chris - it's no problem, no need to apologise as you're entitled to your opinion. Many, many folk have the same opinion of BMW's but those who own/have owned one would say differently.

[Lightrunner]

I took a few of the Lightning's out from DockGate20 when I was looking to replace my bike after the off in November.
I particularly liked the CityX and if I had the money I'd deffinitely have been trying to park two bikes in the garage.
In the end I decided that the BMW was just that little bit more practical for the kind of usage I give it and I'm a bit more familiar with them.... going Buell would have been a real giggle but I missed the S too much

[winger]

Richard knows that the Harley thing just doesn't float my boat,to me it's more about image than bikes,what makes things worse,Harley must have the best V twin motor bar non with that V rod and here they are, still peddling stone age junk when there's absolutely no need, when they do get round it,the'll be a right song and dance about it,as if oh e'r it's somthing we've just thought about.

[Gromit]

Richard knows that the Harley thing just doesn't float my boat,to me it's more about image than bikes,what makes things worse,Harley must have the best V twin motor bar non with that V rod and here they are, still peddling stone age junk when there's absolutely no need, when they do get round it,the'll be a right song and dance about it,as if oh e'r it's somthing we've just thought about.

It's a fair point Chris, and in many ways I agree with you. Thing is, the 'old' motored bikes sell, and do so in vast numbers. Having said that, the Twin Cam 88 motor, despite its old-style layout, has as many modern design features built into it as other up to date engines. They're also extremely reliable these days (I know of a few guys on the US HD forums with well in excess of 100k on their motors who've had no real problems). Problem with the Revolution motor is that it's just to darn big to stick in a short wheelbase chassis - I'd love to see HD have another stab (via the Buell brand) at a road-going VR1000-type bike but while they're making millions with the current line-up I can't really envisage that happening.

I'd also agree re the image thing, and for the most part I reckon it stinks, although I try to not let the jibes directed at me get me down too much! No better nor worse than the guy who dresses up in his freshly-pressed Dainese leathers and wobbles round on his sundays-only Gixxer thou etc.

Bottom line, for me, the Dyna Sport's great fun - it handles surprisingly well and goes well enough now to be a very usable bike. I also like to think if I'm riding quickly on it (that being relative of course!) that I've got something to do with it, not the bike doing everything on its own for me. That is somewhat satisfying.