Buy S3 - leave the buell to someone else - I had both - and just sold the buell last weekend - the buell is a nice bike - but it can't hang with the S3

 

Ridden many XB Buells - owned one, currently have a 05 Speed 3.
Wouldn't ever consider a pre-XB Buell - too much like a glorified Sportster. The XBs are so much more advanced. In a nutshell: the 12s are very torquey and can be pretty fast but are crude in comparison to a triple. Also, where the triple lacks a little of the brute torque it more than makes up for it with the extra ponies on top. Buell front brake -awesome. Handling - fantastic. Speed 3 front brake - pretty awesome (but maybe not quite as good) with handling being close to the Buell. All the Buells I have ridden seem a little "twitchy" at higher speeds where the S3 is pure confidence inspiring (to say the least). 100mph+ on a S3 feels like nothing - the Buell feels like you are going 100. The XB9s feel much more refined (like the S3) but are way down on power.

 

I test rode a new 2004 XB12S from my local Buell dealer. I decided to drive 150 miles to my closest Triumph dealer and test ride an S3 as well.

I drove back to the Triumph dealer and bought the S3 two weeks later.

The XB12S is not a bad bike if you want something that sounds like a Harley, shakes like a Harley, and performs like a Harley.

I wasn't impressed with the get up and go of the Buell. The wheelbase is even shorter, so it was hard to really gas it and keep the front end down, whereas the S3 seems to put more power to the ground before you start lifting the front end. Although it is quite easy to lift both, the S3 felt quite a bit faster. Not that it should matter to us street-legal riders (wink), but the S3's stock quarter mile time is 10.8 seconds. The Buell's is 12.02 seconds. Those numbers are from Motorcycle Consumer News, Feb 2006 issue. You can find it online at: http://www.mcnews.com/mcn/model_eval.asp Its a 7 page review (PDF). Very good writeup.

The riding posisition of the Buell was slightly more comfortable than the S3, but they are both very similar.

The Buell's mirrors are useless. They shake so much, its impossible to see what is behind you.

The other thing I didn't like about the Buell is its motor. Its an awesome chassis, with a crappy motor that redlines at 6500rpm. Its so light, its very quick to get it to 6500rpm, and then you're against the revlimiter. It really limits the quick factor, at least for me. I'd rather run it out a little bit more before I need to shift.

The S3's biggest complaint: The passenger footpegs. My girlfriend agreed that the Buell was more comfortable for the passenger, as she was with me at the Buell showroom and sat on the bike with me. It wasn't until I brought the S3 home that she got a chance to feel how it felt. But, it still puts a big grin on her face when she gets to ride it with me, so I don't think I chose poorly. :-D

Those things said, I'm very glad I got my Triumph. Its unique, has a cool sound, and cool looks. If I had never seen the S3, I don't think I would have been unhappy if I had bought the Buell. Ignorance is bliss they say. The Buell was fun during its test ride, had the wow factor that I was looking for, and made the girlfriend happy too. But as soon as I rode the S3, there was no going back to the Buell.

H.

 

race

I rode with a guy on a Buell (XB9s) a couple of weekends ago. The handling and braking are similar, but the power of the s3 owns the Buell.

I test rode a new XB9R when they came out (I had an aprilia at the time).The Buell has a fantastic chassis, great brakes, and the signature v-twin sound, but it is no comparison to the S3.

The transmission is not even comparable to any modern sportbike, and the engine left a lot to be desired. It redlines at like 6,500 Rpm. The engine is unlike anything I have ridden. It kind of winds out slowly, then winds down slowly. Like it has a very heavy flywheel. I actually hit the rev limiter a couple times, after letting off at 5,500 rpm.

I like the buells, but until they stuff the V-Rod engine in it i'm not interested.

[ This message was edited by: speedydave on 2007-04-30 19:53 ]

 

Thanks very much for the replies. It's nice to hear from some folks that have ridden both. I figured the S3 would be a better bike but wasn't sure if it was a huge difference. I know if I had an XB9S it'd leave much to be desired in the engine department. If both bikes were the same price, I'd definitely choose the S3 but with the Buell X1 at $1,200 less, I'm considering it but will most likely go with the S3. I can also then keep my Triumph jackets

[ This message was edited by: OldSkoolFool on 2007-04-30 20:16 ]

 

I can also then keep my Triumph jackets

Then it's settled--get the S3. Wouldn't be proper to wear Triumph on anything HD. Step up for them; down for us.

 

One word Wheelies. New to this world but awsome machines!!! :-D

 

i have a buddy who is a sales manager at a Harley/buell dealer. i have ridden every buell they have made from the old s1 lightning to the new xb series. and i warn you stay away from the pre xb bikes. i had money down to buy a carbon xtreme x1 until i took it for a test ride and had the rear brake line come loose and leak onto the tire. deposit back went and got the speed 3. i own a 2000 and they are better then the buells are. i ride his xb12r some and it is a lot better then the old x1. they do have some other pros no one else mentioned. no valve adjustments on the buell, also no chain to mess with the belts last for a long time. i know buell riders with over 40k miles on a belt. ease of maintenance goes a long way for me. if the newer xb line came out a few years earlier i might just be on a xb12s? i like them alot. and am seriously looking to keep my triple and buy a new Ulysses(sp?) the adventure bike they have for long rides and commutes.

 

Simple......

Buell SUX
S3 ROCKS

 

i bought the S3 for a couple reasons over the Buell reason number one was i got a brand new S3 for $1,000 cheaper than an XB12SS. 2 the people at my local buell dealer were all asshats, no one would even bat an eye at me because i am young (23) must be to young to be in a Harley dealership. 3 the look of the S3 just keeps growing on me.....everyday. finally the power difference; there is just no compairsion on power between the two.

 

I love my S3, but will say that Beull's can move right along with a good rider aboard. I know a guy that had a 1200 and on a trip to VT was hustling through the turns- until his front motor mount broke in the middle of nowhere. Errr- weekend over! Plus the redline is like 5,000. No fun. :hammer:

 

ummmm...yeah. why would you stuff a 50 y/o powerplant into a technologically very advanced frame? blech.

 

I own an 06 S3 and an 07 Ulysses. For me, the S3 it too hard not to ride fast, even with the broad torque it loves to rev. The Buell gets more around town time and it's set up with bags for travelling. The Triumph gets more track and adrenaline time, they don't call it a hooligan bike for nothing. The Ulysses is a little lightly sprung for hard charging, the other Buells are set up better for that. After upgrading the Triumph suspension it really rails, no cornering clerance problems with the current setup. Personally, I really like the character of the v-twin but if you're looking for kick butt naked bike performance the S3 definitely gets the nod. Don't get too many tickets.

 

I test rode an XB12S last week, straight from my S3. The difference was scary. Nice chassis, brakes, ergos. The engine is a POS on the Buell, however.

Even warmed up, the bike shakes like paint mixer. The salesman tried three times to put the license plate on the bike while it was warming up - he kept dropping the little wing nut until I shut the bike off.

XB12S - $10,495 Speed Triple - $9995 Difference - priceless

Yes, the S3 is tempting to ride fast, but if you are 'mature' about it, it is very happy tooling around town. I have at least a half dozen 300-400 mile days on Speedy, with no ill effects, and have over 8000 miles (bought in October, '06), with no issues.

 

True, my wife has the same maturity comments. My Triumph is setup with low bars and rear sets so it's not as good as stock for comfort. Basically, I just can't keep out of the throttle.

 

I test rode a brand new XB12 Lightning, and I really wanted to like it. I really like the design and looks of it. In fact, I liked everything about it until I started it!! The vibration was horrible, the mirrors were useless because all I saw was blurry lights in them. They said it would smooth out at speed, but I don't know what speed they mean because it never smoothed out the entire ride. It didn't seem to have any more power than my SV650, and it wasn't nearly as smooth and polished. Overall, I was not impressed. My S3 runs circles around it, I couldn't be happier with my purchase! :-D

 

On 2007-05-01 07:10, littlefield wrote:
I own an 06 S3 and an 07 Ulysses. For me, the S3 it too hard not to ride fast, even with the broad torque it loves to rev.

Anything with a HD engine in it is easy to ride slow. I had the same experience with vibes on the Buell mentioned by others. I think International Harvester could make a smoother running engine. Doesn't the 1300 Buell race in the 600 class of WSB or something and still get pounded? :2guns:

 

Speedy says, uh... nah.

 

Look at how big the trannies are. Seriously? You would think they have 18 gears to choose from in those things.

 

IMHO, the current crop of Buell XB models are pretty darn good except for the motor performance. The 1200 shakes too much at idle for me to tolerate, and the 984, while being much smoother, performs about par with an SV650 (albeit with a better chassis and suspension). What they need to make is a big-bore, short-stroke 1200 with lighter reciprocating parts.

 

It's been settled... I am now an owner of a 2001 Speed Triple in nuclear red with only 3,500 miles with no mods. I got a great deal on the bike. My uncle will be bringing it down from Minneapolis to me this weekend, then I'll post some pictures. I'm not sure how I feel about the paint color though, it could grow on me, otherwise I can get a show quality paint job for very cheap through my dad but it'd be difficult to choose a color.

 

On 2007-05-01 15:02, scratch wrote:
IMHO, the current crop of Buell XB models are pretty darn good except for the motor performance. The 1200 shakes too much at idle for me to tolerate, and the 984, while being much smoother, performs about par with an SV650 (albeit with a better chassis and suspension). What they need to make is a big-bore, short-stroke 1200 with lighter reciprocating parts.

I suspect the next major buell revision will take the vrod engine, which would be nice.

Geof

 

I agree with Scratch - big bore short stroke based on the XB9 would be a big improvement for the Buell line - would make for a nice package.

 

I've test ridden Buells twice but cannot bring myself to buying one. It's a cool bike but...

To me, owning a Buell would be like trying to have a stripper as a girlfriend. It sounds like an interesting proposition and it certainly could be fun at times, but in the long run I just don't think it would work out.

But it's still something you think about.

 

On 2007-05-02 05:43, BrentCross wrote:
I agree with Scratch - big bore short stroke based on the XB9 would be a big improvement for the Buell line - would make for a nice package.

That's what Buell did with the race only XBRR, 1350 cc with the stroke of the XB9. It's legal for Formula Extreme and competes in some of the Thunderbike and twin cylinder series. There is only one legitimate privateer effort in AMA for 2007. He finished the Daytona race, don't remember where and was not able to make the race at Barber. Larry Pegram on a Ducati 749 finished 3rd or 4th, makes Formula Extreme interesting.