FireBolt 12R test ride............

[Totenkopf]

Just for the hell of it, I took a FireBolt out today for a good 40 minute thrashing. I have to say that the bike has very nice manners. Lots of torque all through the powerband and no need to be shifting all the time like other sportbikes. The chassis and handling is marverlous and the bike felt like it was effortless to cruise on down any country 2 lane highway at 80-90mph. It carved through twisties like they were nothing. It was a weird sensation to be totally comfortable with the bike and riding through the turns and then glance down and notice the speedo was at 88mph. The sensation of speed did not match what the speedo was saying.

I did a few roll-on power tests, the motor revs quick and the gearing seems right, I bounced off of the rev limiter 3 times during the test ride today. I did one roll-on in first gear and was waiting for the front wheel to lift but it never did, at least not from what I could tell.

That is a lot of fun riding machine for $10,495. If you have the opportunity, go take one out for a spin and be sure to find the twistiest road you can find!

[BigSwede]

Nice review. I have been looking for some good Buell reviews. All I find in the mags are on import sport bikes. I would test ride one, but none of the places around me have any to test.

Ride safe

[FATBOY79]

I've gone on a few test drives over the past couple of years, and those bikes are quite impressive! No suprises in the powerband like some metric bikes. I would have one if I had the extra cash!

[Barbsnewrider]

Anybody can feel free to come test ride a Buell at Barb's in South Jersey. We've got a few to take out, FINALLY including a 12R. Its not much of a ride, but there's one good chicayne(sp?) and a couple long sweeping turns. I'll be happy to take ya out. Just come on over.

My opinion of the 12R is that there's nothing else I'd like to ride ever again in my life, if only I could shake the Anything-with-two-wheels-and-a-motor mentality. Plus I cant afford one anyway...

[dynarider96]

Originally Posted by Totenkopf

no need to be shifting all the time like other sportbikes.

That's a complete myth, try comparing it to a modern litre bike. I can do track days at Blackhawk or Autobahn & never need to shift, stick it in 3rd gear & simply leave it there. The Buell guys I do track days with are rowing their shift levers like crazy due to the low rpm limit. A litre bike can rev to over 13,000 rpms, do 100 mph in 1st gear alone & has plenty of roll on torque no matter what gear you are in. Compare the top gear roll on times for the XB to the litre bikes & you will see the truth.

The XB's are fun bikes to ride, but they aren't the ultimate at everything...no bike is. But the myth about having to constantly shift an IL4 is just that, a myth. To be fair though, the 600 cc sportbikes do require a lot more shifting when compared to the litre bikes, but why do Buell owners always try to compare their bikes to the 600's when their bikes have more cc's than the litre bikes?

[Totenkopf]

Originally Posted by dynarider96

That's a complete myth, try comparing it to a modern litre bike. I can do track days at Blackhawk or Autobahn & never need to shift, stick it in 3rd gear & simply leave it there. The Buell guys I do track days with are rowing their shift levers like crazy due to the low rpm limit. A litre bike can rev to over 13,000 rpms, do 100 mph in 1st gear alone & has plenty of roll on torque no matter what gear you are in. Compare the top gear roll on times for the XB to the litre bikes & you will see the truth.

The XB's are fun bikes to ride, but they aren't the ultimate at everything...no bike is. But the myth about having to constantly shift an IL4 is just that, a myth. To be fair though, the 600 cc sportbikes do require a lot more shifting when compared to the litre bikes, but why do Buell owners always try to compare their bikes to the 600's when their bikes have more cc's than the litre bikes?

Thanks for your thoughts!

Forgetting about cc's for a minute, compare them on near equivalent power. That's why. and yes, with the XB you are shifting less than the 600cc sportbikes. The XB has a more friendly torque curve for the street, imho. It's also not a fair comparison with a liter(or larger) I4 bike. When I said, "other" sportbikes, the 600's are exactly what I was referring to. The XB12R was fun but I wasn't trying to compare it to bikes outside of it's power class. The XB12R handling manners were superb.

[Lou]

I sold my 04 XB12R and bought a 06 GSXR 600. Comparing the two, the GSXR is not as fun on the street as the Buell was. The torque was a kick. BUT....I also do track time and that's why I sold it. It did fine on the track but to me it didn't have enough RPM's. A lot of shifting. The GSXR is easier to ride on the track due to less shifting and it turns in quicker. It just "feels" better than the Buell. I don't have a bad thing to say about the Buell though. The new I-4's are hard to beat from a performance and technology standpoint. The Buell's just seem dated, but that's why they are fun to own.

Lou

[Totenkopf]

Lou,
Thanks for your perspective in owning one of each.

I was just reading the June issue of MotorCyclist magazine and the 600cc roundup. Interestingly they note in the Dyno Chat section of the article that the Yamaha R6 took an amazing amount of work to keep it above 10,000 rpm. I take that comment as an amazing amount of shifting on the track. When looking at it's power band, you can see why. The GSX-R600 looked better in it's power delivery vs. rpm. Of the 600 midweights, they picked the Triumph Daytona 675 as the overall winner.

Your experience aside, my riding the XB12R moderately aggressively through twisty country roads was easy on the clutch and shift toe.

I do agree though that I wish it had a bit more upper rev limit. As I said, I hit the limiter 3 times.

Take care!

[Fredda]

Lifting this thread a bit, beacuse this is kind of an interesting discussion.

The 600cc inline-fours are actually quicker in top gear than the XB12. Here are some numbers from german magazines:

XB12S -05:
60 - 140 km/h 10,2 s

XB12R -05:
60 - 140 km/h 9,7 s

GSX-R 600 -06:
60 - 140 km/h 8,9 s

R6 -06:
60 - 140 km/h 9,1 s

The 600s are stronger because they can use lower gearing. Then of course a 600 needs to be revved higher than a XB12R but that doesn't mean that you have to shift it more frequently.

It's a myth that 600s have to be shifted often. Many people is of the opinion that a Harley big-twin is very strong in "passing situations" and that you don't have to downshift to get good pull. Compare the following numbers to the 600s above:

Dyna Super Glide Sport -05:
60 - 140 km/h 15,1 s

[Totenkopf]

Originally Posted by Fredda

Lifting this thread a bit, beacuse this is kind of an interesting discussion.

The 600cc inline-fours are actually quicker in top gear than the XB12. Here are some numbers from german magazines:

XB12S -05:
60 - 140 km/h 10,2 s

XB12R -05:
60 - 140 km/h 9,7 s

GSX-R 600 -06:
60 - 140 km/h 8,9 s

R6 -06:
60 - 140 km/h 9,1 s

The 600s are stronger because they can use lower gearing. Then of course a 600 needs to be revved higher than a XB12R but that doesn't mean that you have to shift it more frequently.

It's a myth that 600s have to be shifted often. Many people is of the opinion that a Harley big-twin is very strong in "passing situations" and that you don't have to downshift to get good pull. Compare the following numbers to the 600s above:

Dyna Super Glide Sport -05:
60 - 140 km/h 15,1 s

Thanks for those stats. I think a lot has to do with the rider and the style they ride with and how they choose to manage a closed course.

Interestingly, it's funny you mention the '06 R6, my fat old Heritage recently embarrassed an R6 rider, stoplight to the next. 0-100mph. Told me he's riden with other Harleys, mine was the first to beat him and I do mean handily, he in fact gave up and coasted to the next light, we chatted briefly. I mentioned to beware of Harleys, mines a little one.

When I test rode the XB12R, I remember thinking my FLSTC/i pulled a lot harder through the gears.