Should You Buy A Buell? 

Nice rev matching. Here in South Africa we have a strong Buell community. With all the advise, most parts available or alternative parts being available, im so glad i went with a Buell. Cost of running is also significantly less than a 4 banger.

Worst thing H-D ever did offloading Buell...I still secretly love em because they were so different👍

Buell guy here, love my various Buells and have for a long time. They work for me!

Xb12 is up there in the best 5 bikes of all time category

I had to sell my Ulysses during the pandemic and it was one of the biggest regrets of my life. These bikes are easy to love.

I myself own an 03 XB9R Firebolt. It has ohlins rear shock, vortec valving in yhe front forks, The later designed ZTL2 front brake setup, EBR race kit muffler, and a modified rear swing arm with adjustable chain drive conversion setup. Engine was fully refreshed, the Heads Ports where cleaned up but not really ported. I got the factory buell accessorie airbox bag, beetle bags and thicker memory foam. I just love how the buell handles and the low RPM torque of the vtwin. Just a fun back road bike and a great city bike with its light feeling and quick handling.

awesome bikes, very reliable, my 03 XB9R has 80k miles on the OD. Also crap loads of parts cross reference to other stuff. They need basic maintenance and not much else

I used to own a XB9 SX. I put about 17,000 mi on it and it had about 35,000 mi or more when I got rid of it. I do miss it dearly and I would Love to have another. They are getting older now. You're right about finding a competent mechanic. I had the Harley dealer work on mine, I also worked at a Harley dealer lol But they were saying at the time that they might stop working on buells and this was 5 years ago or so. But if I ever got another one I would definitely find a good mechanic even though I did some light stuff myself. My bike was butter smooth on the low end I was actually amazed how smooth the bike is compared to even new bikes at the time. There might be something up with your tuning or you may need a TPS reset. Also pretty much every time I rode my bike the fan would kick in as soon as It was shut off unless I was an extremely cold day. I noticed your bike didn't do that. They're great bikes to own though and ride. The bike was way ahead of its time and even new bikes are to compare.

Love my XB9R. Picked it up for 3k too. Has 8,800 miles. Spotless.

Should you buy a Buell? Um... Yes.

Great points for folks considering picking up an XB, especially agree to the point you made for considering the incalculably valuable benefit of living in an area with a friendly and experienced Buell mechanic nearby. I’ve been an 09XB9SX owner in L.A for a little over a year now and I’ve had the fortune of having found a really down to earth Buell enthusiast/mechanic out here locally. Granted, I have mostly self taught myself basic maintenance and intentionally keep my bike in tip top condition so I haven’t had any major problems I couldn’t take on myself but I’ve received suggestions, pointers, tips and tricks worth their weight in gold from my mechanic. It’s just comforting to know I already have someone I can trust if I ever need to bring my bike to them for something beyond my skills or time limits. As for parts, I personally haven’t encountered much difficulty with finding what I needed to replace but yes it’s true prices are starting to climb. Aftermarket support is also somewhat spotty but it’s there for body and mechanical components. Bottom line, these are incredibly fun machines with a very attractive and unique they-don’t-make-‘em-like-they-used-to appeal for a lot of people the world over so admiration and support for them on forums, Reddit, RU-vid and such remains surprisingly vibrant. And that’s likely to remain that way for decades to come. I wouldn’t recommend an XB for the mechanically challenged or to have as a use and abuse machine - quickest way to spend lots of money. It’s best for the motorcycle hobbyist and enthusiast willing to impeccably maintain theirs and occasionally turn a wrench.

I love my buells. I aim to collect them. My first bike was an 05 XB12R, I just picked up an 08 1125R, and Im hoping to add more before they all find their death.

My xb9sx is the best bike I’ve owned out of many. So many things Buell got right. Only issue now is parts.

Had an 09 Buell XB12scg, and man I miss that bike, super fun to ride, tones of caracter with lots of torque......... but not a good bike for someone who wants simplicity and reliability with the ease of maintenance of a Japanese bike, you gotta be really into these bikes for them to be worth it.......... just sayin I now own a z1000

I just bought a new to me 08 xb9sx with 32,000 miles. First ride, I made it 1/4 mile before it went into a speed wobble. It dropped me off in the ditch and flipped 3 times. Not sure what went wrong, but thankfully I just ended up with a bone bruise. It’s going to be ok though. I’m getting better everyday and I’ve already got all the parts to fix her back up good as new.

I have had Buell's since 2008, The bike I have had the least problem with is my XB12 Scg. It can be problematic to change the spark plugs but with a small rubber tube over the plug will ease the process getting a new one in place. I do ALL the maintenance myself on very bike I have.

I know someone who’s got 75k on their 2008 xb12xt …0 issues…crossed the country several times on that bad boy…the later models had most of the kinks worked out of them especially with the oil pump drive gear …it’s like most bikes I guess…if you do the basic maintenance shit tends to last …I’ve got almost 80k on my Yamaha FZ09 the only issue I’ve had is the turn signal switch starting acting up about a month ago 🤷🏼‍♂️

That Hero Blue has always been an eye-catcher! AWESOME!

Man! I miss my Buell! May not be the fastest bikes around, but I loved the sound (Jardine can) and the character! They handle well too.

Should you buy a Buell? By all means yes, I own a 1125, Ulyssess and an EBR 1190. They're cheap and if you need parts, just buy a parts bike

Your intuition is so wrong on the economics of Buell parts. The parts are expensive because supply is limited. And the bikes are also cheap _precisely_ because the supply of parts is limited. Consumers who may want a Buell know going in that parts are expensive, therefore in order to get consumers to buy Buells, sellers must offer them at a lower price point in order to attract buyers away from alternative bikes. So it all makes perfect sense.

I had a couple 1996 Buells and to me that is the best year. I was the Buell specialist at the HD dealership I worked at. Was in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Man, you guys have No Traffic. Must be nice. Everybody's trying to run over each other down here all the time. Crazy. Always did like Buells. Was a Buell/Harley dealership 50 miles from my house. But when I inquired about the Buells, was immediately directed to the H.D. line up. After I further inquired about them, the sales guy just left. That's why they didn't do well. Why would dealerships have a product to sell if they feared it? Motorcycles are a different deal. Was getting lots better, then the bottom fell out again. Plus, now, all we got is gov. mandated BS & high pricing.

Love from Norway, i own a 03 XB9s and a 09 XB9SX had an 04 XB12S erlier and i find that these bikes don't like city riding. enjoy your bikes and have fun, ride it like you stole it...

Soon or later, Chinese will make a good copy of these bikes, you can already find an SWM which is a copy-paste of the Sportster 1200. Usually their engines run smoother. In the meantime…I need one (original)!

that motor is rock solid I got 2 of them... dont worry sounds fine

You got me wondering which road you're mentioning. I ride my Cyclone between Oshkosh and Fond du Lac regularly and I agree that those frost heaves on hwy 45 will jar your fillings loose. I got my bike at a good price, but the maintenance was neglected, and bringing it up to date has required a lot of scrounging for parts and haunting eBay. The degree to which this is a PITA over time should not be overlooked if considering a tube framed bike. Still, it's a thrilling bike to ride and I've had to up my game to ride it properly.

Been riding Buells since 1998-cyclone then lightning12ss Most fun bikes to ride I have ever had-still have the XB Erik was ahead of his time

I owned an 01 X1 and an 06 Firebolt. Fun! Lots of mods, lots of smiles.

Simple answer: No. Buells are relatively easy to do basic oil and filter and primary lube servicing. But working on the rest of the bike is both tedious and one hell of a vertical learning curve.

I have a 05 that my friend built as a track bike. He decided that it would be easier to test drive if it were registered. The registration lists the make as assembled from parts. Asm-pts. The title lists it as home made. It's a really fun bike but I would be afraid to ride in in any other states. It seems to be immune from law enforcement in this state but it probably would be impounded in many others. It has no signal lights, no speedometer or instruments of any kind. It had no mirrors until i put on little bar end mirrors. I have had better motorcycles, faster motorcycles, more refined motorcycles, but it is in my top two for fun.

I still miss my XB9SX...Sold it for more than what I payed new, and body parts where rare....Thanks for the video

I have a white xb12r on my channel. I miss the hell out of that bike. Super fun

I sort of miss my Ulysses. It was a great bike living in the mountains but damn, if you don't have at least a 34 inch inseam it was a reach to the ground. The torque and handling characteristics were great for a twisty road enthusiast though.

I wouldn't worry too much about owning an XB model Buell. Any experienced motorcycle mechanic will have no trouble working on one...they're not complicated by any means, and the service manuals are all online these days, anyway. As for consumables like oil filters...even if you can't find old stock...they're a generic size that multiple companies made. Buell's have become enough of a cult motorcycle that Twin Motorcycles in The Netherlands makes and sells improved versions of the bits that wear out.

When these bikes were still in production I found Buell was a good brand if you were lucky enough to own it as a second or third bike. But it was lacking in performance as a main bike. I always liked the way the XB9 / XB12S lightning looked.

Clicks video, pauses video before watching... the answer: YES. Don't think, just do.

My favorite thing to do after a long work week is hopping on th R1 and have conversations with myself 😂

OMG, I have the same issue with my front brake. I'll have to check that contact point. Great video!

That things sounds so good

Almost got one back when they were new. Janesville dealership has a nice black one with red trim.

I’ve got an 05 XB9SX. It’s been a great bike!

Engine isn't gonna blow up. They are Harley 45 degree twins. They make valvetrain noise. I've had 2 Harleys and a Buell. They all made that clicking and rattling. 30k miles total between them and never opened the motor cases. That sounds like a healthy motor. Ride safe

IF you buy a BUELL , you will get no support from H-D. Back in early 2000's I went to look at a BUELL ADV. at my local dealer. I liked the bike. However, I was told they had no parts for the bike & would not service it. I left. Back in 2014 I went back to same dealer to see a V-rod that was used, but on their floor. I was ignored by sales staff until I went to find the manager. Maybe they did not like the fact that I rode my V-Max to the dealer & didn't drive their in a Cadillac. I have not been back, nor will I. Harley has lost their way in last 30 yrs. but so has much of USA.

Curious about where you’d find information on how to do your own repairs on Buell bikes. I’m fairly mechanically inclined, but I’ve noticed it’s harder to find “how to” videos featuring this bike. Any help?

That's just like mine a 09 buell 1203 3000 miles I love it

Ever go through the Appleton Area?? I swear I’ve seen you before lol sweet bike! I’m going from a street glide to a buell next season I’m 20 years old still like to go fast the cruiser route ain’t for me😂

I own that same bike in that same color

Harley did buell wrong ,I wish someone like Polaris would have backed him up

Wow what is that paint job or paint? On your bike I love it! Could you please share much gratitude!

theres a bigger support for parts then most realize. all maintenance are available to get, so theres no worry there. theres some body parts and odd parts that may be hard to find if you dont know where to look. working on them is a different story. id say best to learn how to fix it on your own plus its satisfying. the new buells will be sick. i seen the new styles in person and all the pieces are carbon fiber with just the lettering different color options. plus there will be a dirt bike/supermoto type too. also a new ulysses like bike. theres no need for the fan lol. if its hot the fan will kick on until its cooled down.

Once a bike is shut off it is impossible for it to get any hotter.

Yes definitely

If you're not floggin it, 100K miles. Easy.

Buell’s are addicting

You prob just need to do a TPS reset for the in town driveability issue

Okay. Here’s my question do I offload my DRZ400SM for a buell??? I really want a buell. But I’m curious if I should get rid of my DRZ for it.

short answer, yes.

Was your bike fan not working ?

Bonjour Toi et ta Buell vous n'avez pas de chance, il faut réclamer des routes avec des virages au gouvernement ! Ou venir en Normandie, ici il peut y avoir des routes avec plusieurs virages😁

Love My xb12ss -07, one Guy offered 8500€ , told him that , Mine love IS not going anywhere😁

Looking at a 2009 xb9xb with 16k miles. Is that too many?

What backpack is that?

2:07 Where the concrete meets the what???

I can save you 15 mins. YES!

It is hwy 45

I found an 04 for $700. Should I get it

Nice

None the wiser from the incoherent 'content'.

ABSOLUTELY YESSSSSS....... CAUSE WITH HARLEYS ARE THE BEST 😉💪👍

junkeroo