Please Put V-Rod Motor in a Buell

[AvidSV650Rider]

I think Buells are pretty cool sport bikes - tons of innovative features.

However, the old-tech air-cooled engine just doesn't go along with the rest of the technology on the bike. Because of this, I'd really like to see Harley let Buell build a bike around the V-Rod's motor.

Anyone else agree with me on this?

[HD1200R]

I 10000000000% agree! I think the Buells would become VERY popular if they woke up and installed that in their bikes. Even if they keep the XB12 and XB9 as one style and then create a full fairing VRSC twin to compete with the Honda RC51 and Ducati's.

What would be really cool is if they built a stroker motor for the vrod and install the current revolution motor in the Buell. They could then have one built for drag racing while the other is for corner carving.

[xxxflhrci]

Not me. The best thing that the Buell has going for it is ton's of low end torque. Sure, it gets smoked on the top end by the japs, but it is fun as hell in the short runs. Stick a V-Rod motor in it and you lose the bottom end grunt and still get smoked. Sounds like a lose/lose proposition to me.

[KBOlsen]

They'd need to put the 'Rod motor on a serious diet before it could go into a Buell chassis.

If they did, I'd buy one.

[AvidSV650Rider]

Originally Posted by xxxflhrci

Not me. The best thing that the Buell has going for it is ton's of low end torque. Sure, it gets smoked on the top end by the japs, but it is fun as hell in the short runs. Stick a V-Rod motor in it and you lose the bottom end grunt and still get smoked. Sounds like a lose/lose proposition to me.

I disagree.


The best thing the Buell has going for it is it's innovative chassis and sharp handling. It needs a motor that can keep up with the chassis. Right now it's too underpowered. Torque will pull you out of the turns, but you gotta have the horsepower to build up speed.

Originally Posted by KBOlsen

They'd need to put the 'Rod motor on a serious diet before it could go into a Buell chassis.

If they did, I'd buy one.

Not only would the engine need to undergo the serious diet, but the Harley transmission currently used is also big and heavy.

[sfarson]

Naaaa, I don't care if the engine is "low tech". I ride a V-Rod but wouldn't want the engine in my Cyclone. I don't care how tech the engine is if it gets me from A to B without any problems, and delivers a delicious pulse that gives me the grins everytime. There's something to be said about the air cooled twin's simplicity, and my M2 has been utterly reliable.

Maybe if I went to the track and wanted to win. Maybe if I wanted to go over 130 mph on public roads with traffic. Maybe if I want to street race and win... then a super duper high tech powerplant for the Buell... maybe. But I can get that kind of bike now... Aprilia has a V-Rod like 60 degree V; there are scads of v-twin sportbikes, and they don't have the overtly aggressive rake and odd geometrics of the XB's.

I'm too far from a track (and most don't take their bikes anyway); I don't street race and I live below 100mph on the roads (like most do), so I'm content with the one of a kind (and cool) beefy 1200cc thing between my knees .

I will concede this --- the preceding is me. Knowing many like having capacity they never use (read Suzuki GSXR1000) and are suckers for marketing and foaming magazine reviews, a Buell combined with the favorably viewed Revolution engine would sell well.

[AvidSV650Rider]

I agree, GSX-R1000 is a rediculous bike for the street. A 600 I4 is plenty for me, but I don't like inline-4's anyways.

I agree with you about your point on the Buell's motor. Although, rumors are that Buell will be introducing a liquid cooled motor in it's line soon, as well as Harley introducing more liquid cooled motors in it's line up as well. Stringent emissions requirements coming in 2007 could mark the end of the line for air-cooled powerplants.

By the way, that's an awesome looking bike. I've never ridden a Buell, but I would love to ride one soon.

[sfarson]

Originally Posted by AvidSV650Rider

I agree, GSX-R1000 is a rediculous bike for the street. A 600 I4 is plenty for me, but I don't like inline-4's anyways.

I agree with you about your point on the Buell's motor. Although, rumors are that Buell will be introducing a liquid cooled motor in it's line soon, as well as Harley introducing more liquid cooled motors in it's line up as well. Stringent emissions requirements coming in 2007 could mark the end of the line for air-cooled powerplants.

By the way, that's an awesome looking bike. I've never ridden a Buell, but I would love to ride one soon.

The liquid cooled Revolution engine will show in other H-D models the coming years, but the air cooled big twin won't fade away. In a recent HOG article, the H-D VP of Engineering noted the upcoming EPA guidelines, and that H-D was a part of the process/input. He mentions H-D will be able to meet the 2006 guidelines/restrictions and still offer air cooled big twin engines "with all the characteristics, sound, performance millions have come to enjoy".

Erik Buell seemed more committed in a recent BRAG article to air cooled powerplants saying the compactness, performance, etc. was more than enough, and that the air cooled Buell engines are on the verge of complying now with the future EPA guidlelines... and it would not be difficult to offer compliant air cooled v-twin Buells in '06.

FWIW. I take it you ride an SV650? Great bike.