Posts by 30874
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Re: Excellent stuff
Thanks for the comments.
Yes, a good pilot on any of the current 600's can wring up some RPM and beat me off the line. However, time and again, if they aren't winding the p i s s out of it on take off I take them. If we are just trolling along at say 50 mph or so and suddenly both stomp it I usually am a little faster every time and thats even against the new Kawasaki 636 Ninja.
I'm under no illusions however about the liter bikes. They can stomp me like I said in the article just about anywhere.
I did buy the Buell however for something different and cheaper to run (45 to 47 mpg), and easier to maintain. I don't want to be cleaning and lubing a chain every other Sat.
Thanks for the comments.
Yes, a good pilot on any of the current 600's can wring up some RPM and beat me off the line. However, time and again, if they aren't winding the p i s s out of it on take off I take them. If we are just trolling along at say 50 mph or so and suddenly both stomp it I usually am a little faster every time and thats even against the new Kawasaki 636 Ninja.
I'm under no illusions however about the liter bikes. They can stomp me like I said in the article just about anywhere.
I did buy the Buell however for something different and cheaper to run (45 to 47 mpg), and easier to maintain. I don't want to be cleaning and lubing a chain every other Sat.
Re: Excellent stuff
I do have the race kit, adds as much as extra 10 horsepower between 4,000 and 7,000 rpm. Don't know if it makes a lot of diff but could. Did the two Buells you beat have a race kit. We have found it makes a lot of difference if you have the kit or not in roll-ons etc.
I do have the race kit, adds as much as extra 10 horsepower between 4,000 and 7,000 rpm. Don't know if it makes a lot of diff but could. Did the two Buells you beat have a race kit. We have found it makes a lot of difference if you have the kit or not in roll-ons etc.
I would love to see a one year report on a ZRX
ZRX Rider
I agree with Sean, I would love to see a one-year report on your bike and all the current liter bikes. I'm thinking of adding another sport bike to my stable along with my new Gold Wing and would love to hear any and all comments, problems etc with these bikes from real world riders/owners.
ZRX Rider
I agree with Sean, I would love to see a one-year report on your bike and all the current liter bikes. I'm thinking of adding another sport bike to my stable along with my new Gold Wing and would love to hear any and all comments, problems etc with these bikes from real world riders/owners.
Multi-Line Pump
I ran into that problem when I filled up a couple of times on the single hose pumps. So it must be that you get a lot of the other choice when you fill up.
So I have started filling up at the multi-hose pumps where you have one hose per selection.
Want to find a station that sells higher octane say 100 or higher around here. Heard that some Mobiles do.
I ran into that problem when I filled up a couple of times on the single hose pumps. So it must be that you get a lot of the other choice when you fill up.
So I have started filling up at the multi-hose pumps where you have one hose per selection.
Want to find a station that sells higher octane say 100 or higher around here. Heard that some Mobiles do.
Suspension Adjustments
Someone here at work told me I forgot to include my suspension adjustments for my XB12s so here goes...
I always loved the front as set from the factory so I never adjusted it. Maybe I should experiment?
The rear suspension after many changes this way and that ended up with only one change. I ended up with the compression backed off half a turn so I had a softer ride.
The factory settings are pretty stiff and I'm sure other people that buy this bike who weigh less (most people) may want to back off even more.
Someone here at work told me I forgot to include my suspension adjustments for my XB12s so here goes...
I always loved the front as set from the factory so I never adjusted it. Maybe I should experiment?
The rear suspension after many changes this way and that ended up with only one change. I ended up with the compression backed off half a turn so I had a softer ride.
The factory settings are pretty stiff and I'm sure other people that buy this bike who weigh less (most people) may want to back off even more.
Average 600 Squids
What we are talking about here are average riders out on the street from light to light, not at the drag strip where the story would be very different. The Buells are sold as street bikes not strip or race bikes, and on the street torque is a very powerful weapon.
seruzawa is right, most of the 600 sport bikes you see out there have Squids on them that don't know how to launch their bike off the line. What the magazines don't tell them is you have to have everything just right, the right revs, the right clutch release all in balance to get that 0-60 in 3 seconds flat. Most of them sit there with the bike at idle or they are reving the bike up and down through the rev range and who knows what RPM the bike will launch at when the light turns green.
Also, they don't hear the Buell revving up and probably assume I am going to do a slow take off since they assume it must have to be revved up for a hard take off.
What it all adds up to and I've run up against more then just two at a light is the fact the average 600 Squid is NOT going to launch his 600 sport bike anywhere near as hard as it could be.
Like I said in my log earlier when I ran up against that old 750 Ninja it was very close. The guy revved the bike up to the right RPM and held it there. Then launched nice and hard. He's the only guy I have run up against with a 750 or smaller bike that did it right. And Im sure the story would have been different had he been on a new GSX-R 750 instead of his old worn out Kawasaki 750. Im also sure sooner or later I will run up against a rider on a new 600 sport bike that will do everything right.
What we are talking about here are average riders out on the street from light to light, not at the drag strip where the story would be very different. The Buells are sold as street bikes not strip or race bikes, and on the street torque is a very powerful weapon.
seruzawa is right, most of the 600 sport bikes you see out there have Squids on them that don't know how to launch their bike off the line. What the magazines don't tell them is you have to have everything just right, the right revs, the right clutch release all in balance to get that 0-60 in 3 seconds flat. Most of them sit there with the bike at idle or they are reving the bike up and down through the rev range and who knows what RPM the bike will launch at when the light turns green.
Also, they don't hear the Buell revving up and probably assume I am going to do a slow take off since they assume it must have to be revved up for a hard take off.
What it all adds up to and I've run up against more then just two at a light is the fact the average 600 Squid is NOT going to launch his 600 sport bike anywhere near as hard as it could be.
Like I said in my log earlier when I ran up against that old 750 Ninja it was very close. The guy revved the bike up to the right RPM and held it there. Then launched nice and hard. He's the only guy I have run up against with a 750 or smaller bike that did it right. And Im sure the story would have been different had he been on a new GSX-R 750 instead of his old worn out Kawasaki 750. Im also sure sooner or later I will run up against a rider on a new 600 sport bike that will do everything right.
Mileage
Thanks for the input, you are so right, why else would anyone buy a new rare Ducati that's $29,000 when a ZX10 will out run it for almost a third less?
Because it's cool and has soul that's why!
My lower mileage probally results from my two heavies.
Heavy butt, heavy throttle hand.
Thanks for the input, you are so right, why else would anyone buy a new rare Ducati that's $29,000 when a ZX10 will out run it for almost a third less?
Because it's cool and has soul that's why!
My lower mileage probally results from my two heavies.
Heavy butt, heavy throttle hand.
I know I did
Just so you know, I didn't think I beat that guy, I know I beat him.
I don't think you are getting the picture here. We aren't trying to say that the Buell XB12S even with a race kit is faster 0-60 then a stock Kawasaki 636. If Sean took both bikes to the drag strip Im sure his times would be faster at the strip on the 636, 0-60.
What we are trying to say is the Buell is easier to consistently launch hard and fast off the line.
My friend here at work with a stock XB12R has found the same thing I have. He can leave the line harder then his co-riders new Honda CBR-600 RR and has to back off to keep from running into him. In fact he looks forward to finding unwary 600 riders at lights.
Another thing not mentioned about the numbers. The Buells are geared so that they have to shift to 2nd gear just before 60 mph. I find I run into my limiter at about 56 mph. The shifter flat out sucks, you have to use the clutch and shifts are slow. I would be willing to bet that the 0-50 times at a drag strip with a Race kit equipped XB12S would be very close to the times of a 636 if not slightly better. So the magazines publish a 0-60 of 2.9 for the Kawasaki and 3.6 for the Buell because the Kawasaki never shifts before 60 and has a perfect launch and you think that every rider out there should beat my Buell to 60.
All this is so much hoopla anyway, as was said many times, it all comes down to the rider. I still remember reading in here how Sean left everyone behind riding a stock H-D 1200 Sportster down a twisty road even though they were on much more sporting equipment.
Just so you know, I didn't think I beat that guy, I know I beat him.
I don't think you are getting the picture here. We aren't trying to say that the Buell XB12S even with a race kit is faster 0-60 then a stock Kawasaki 636. If Sean took both bikes to the drag strip Im sure his times would be faster at the strip on the 636, 0-60.
What we are trying to say is the Buell is easier to consistently launch hard and fast off the line.
My friend here at work with a stock XB12R has found the same thing I have. He can leave the line harder then his co-riders new Honda CBR-600 RR and has to back off to keep from running into him. In fact he looks forward to finding unwary 600 riders at lights.
Another thing not mentioned about the numbers. The Buells are geared so that they have to shift to 2nd gear just before 60 mph. I find I run into my limiter at about 56 mph. The shifter flat out sucks, you have to use the clutch and shifts are slow. I would be willing to bet that the 0-50 times at a drag strip with a Race kit equipped XB12S would be very close to the times of a 636 if not slightly better. So the magazines publish a 0-60 of 2.9 for the Kawasaki and 3.6 for the Buell because the Kawasaki never shifts before 60 and has a perfect launch and you think that every rider out there should beat my Buell to 60.
All this is so much hoopla anyway, as was said many times, it all comes down to the rider. I still remember reading in here how Sean left everyone behind riding a stock H-D 1200 Sportster down a twisty road even though they were on much more sporting equipment.
Sean, now I know a little bit about how you feel
Blake_1
Sorry to burst your bubble, but Im just your normal overly enthusiastic motorcyclist and not a paid moto-journalist, who just happened to take the time to write down my experiences and submit it.
Thank you for pointing out my mistakes, next time I will be sure to forward my submissions to you for editing first.
What is your e-mail address???
Blake_1
Sorry to burst your bubble, but Im just your normal overly enthusiastic motorcyclist and not a paid moto-journalist, who just happened to take the time to write down my experiences and submit it.
Thank you for pointing out my mistakes, next time I will be sure to forward my submissions to you for editing first.
What is your e-mail address???
My Buell friends and I are laughing at you.
Did you or did you not listen when I said if the 600 is not winding the pee out of the bike he will lose? What do you think that meant?
I challenge you to pull to a stop beside any Buell XB12 waiting at a light and try to beat them to 60 mph starting out with your bike at idle when the light changes.
You will get your butt smoked.
Did you or did you not listen when I said if the 600 is not winding the pee out of the bike he will lose? What do you think that meant?
I challenge you to pull to a stop beside any Buell XB12 waiting at a light and try to beat them to 60 mph starting out with your bike at idle when the light changes.
You will get your butt smoked.
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