Hello everyone,
Thank you in advance for taking the time to read this and hopefully respond
I just sold my 2003 Z1000 and am looking to replace it. I am having a hard time choosing between a (2006-2010) Street Triple, (2013) Street Triple (standard vs R), (2005-2009) Speed Triple, another (2008) Z1000, and finally a Buell XB12S/R.
So I am looking for a light, great handling, torquey, great sounding, fun, great suspension, hooligan bike. I want to ride around the city, go on some fun and twisty roads, and take it on long rides. I am fairly familiar with bikes in general. I turned my 1973 TX650 into a custom build and feel as though I am familiar with maintaining a bike. I loved the torque on my Z1000 and everything it had to offer, but it was time to move on.
I am mainly intrigued with the (first one in the links below) XB12S and XB12STT. Besides the usual things when buying a bike, what should I look for, ask about, and inspect before making a purchase? Tomorrow, I am looking at (the first link) a 2004 XB12S. I don't know what is a reasonable price to pay for these bikes, but I always figure a bike is only worth what someone is willing to pay. Oh, and if it matters I am 5'10" with a muscular build at 195 lbs.
Also, I would greatly appreciate any input, feedback, experiences, opinions, and comparisons between the bikes listed (triples, Z1000, and Buells).
Here are the links:
https://minneapolis.craigslist.org/h...165259117.html (Viewing tomorrow)
https://www.cycletrader.com/dealers/...2STT-122438154
https://duluth.craigslist.org/mcy/d/...219116466.html
https://lacrosse.craigslist.org/mcy/...219283292.html
https://milwaukee.craigslist.org/mcy...216061926.html
https://milwaukee.craigslist.org/mcd...208216108.html
https://appleton.craigslist.org/mcy/...218128146.html
https://greenbay.craigslist.org/mcy/...195883125.html
https://siouxcity.craigslist.org/mcy...156339359.html
Thank you!
i think most would agree this one is the best bang for you buck, clean looking, low miles, and a blank slate to mod the way you want. might take a couple hundred more to buy, but i think it'd be worth it.
https://milwaukee.craigslist.org/mcy...216061926.html
Thanks! Is it a fair price? Nada as it listed between $2,180-$2,870 and KBB at $3,830. What would be a reasonable price for a XB12S or XB12STT, assuming good condition and clean with varying years. Are there years I should avoid? Besides the usual things when buying a bike, what should I look for, ask about, and inspect before making a purchase? Tomorrow, I am looking at (the first link) a 2004 XB12S.
That one in Milwaukee might be on original tires still. If you look at it, check the date codes to see. Anything older than five years is junk, so plan to budget for tires on almost any older low mileage bike like that.
From the riding you described, I'd steer away from a firebolt. The riding position isn't Ducati bad, but it's not super comfortable for long rides. Stick to the lightning or street triple. I like the one in st Luis park the best out of the list, and think the price seems reasonable. Good luck looking at it tomorrow!
I'm guessing you're from the cities? Me too!
Last edited by Fatty SS; 07-19-2017 at 01:48 PM.
Yes, Good deal !!!Originally Posted by BuellyBagger
FattySS, thank for the input! I am meeting the guy at the Sams Club parking lot in St. Louis (3745 Louisiana Ave) at 10AM. Feel free to drop by and help me take a look at the bike.
Thanks, Silver.
Maybe I am underestimating the value of these bikes, but I feel like a I cannot bring myself to spend more than $3,500 on a 10-15 year old Buell. For $4000? I could get a 2013 Triple for an extra grand.
Wish I could give you some advise, as I did own a speedy, but it was only for three days. A total idiot took it and me out so I never got a chance to really ride it or open it up. I can say I really like my buell SS, even though I haven't been able to really ride it either since the accident.
They're both great bikes but since you wrench your own bikes, I would go with the buell, if for nothing else but the overall cost factor's for original purchase and the general maintenance down the road.
Good luck.
Wish I could, I'm tied to my desk all day.
If it's super clean, up to $4k seems reasonable. Anything over that would have to be really special for me to bite.
Thanks, guys! Just got back from checking the bike out here is what I found and thought:
2004 Buell XB12S with about 20,000 miles (first link above)
It's was pretty clean for an '04 and what I have read about Buells. Anyway, the clutch pull was relatively tough to pull in (felt harder than my '73 TX650) and lever was pretty loose (I could shake it quite a bit) with the engine off, he sent and "upgraded" the exhaust from Randy Hawkins (I think no "Hawk" logo on stock muffler), there are light scratches on frame where pucks should go and a small dent on exhaust header, horn does not work, shifting was not smooth but rather clunky in all gears, slow speeds and from stop to go in first gear (less than 20mph) felt like starting in second or third gear (like it was lugging), no leaks (that I could find) but the oil filter had a good amount of black residue of some sort, shakes a lot at idle but negligible at speeds, the kickstand was not easy to put down as in I could not reach (not height wise) it felt like it was hidden under the shift lever peg (might have to bend the "extension" straight and out instead of currently up, shift lever seemed high and hard to reach with my toes and shifted hard like I had to slam it into gear (all gears), rear brake would not light the taillight up until fully pressed but front brake turned it on right away, had wear and tear seemed okay for its age, belt seemed okay from my knowledge (no scratches/tears and was "moist/lubed" but I would want it changed to be safe (he said its a lifetime belt though), had about 20K miles with only oil change (AMSOIL Synthetic V-Twin Motorcycle Oil SAE 20W-50 in engine and transmission), new tires and clutch cable, and has the Lightning Low Seat (also has stock parts).
Rode like a reliable bike and sounded like sex on wheels with a lot of torque and good suspension and handling. He set it for his weight of 160-170, I am 180-195.
Please let me know what you think about this bike. Thank you all!
Clunky shifting and major vibration are normal for XBs. The shift lever does take some effort to operate compared to smoother Japanese transmissions. Change out the primary oil with amsoil, it will shift noticeably smoother. My rear brake lever doesn't activate the light until it's pressed hard either, I assumed mine was wonky. I never use the back brake anyway, so it doesn't bother me. Your observation about the kickstand being hard to find is spot on as well. You'll get used to finding it. For the clutch lever, the factory service manual spells out how to adjust the cable tension, and there should be (if I remember correctly) 1/8" of play in the lever before it starts pulling on the cable. There's no cable adjuster at the lever, but there is one in front of the front cylinder. If there's more than 1/8" of lever play, you can adjust it yourself.
With that one, changing out all of the fluids would be wise just to be safe. Engine oil and filter is easy. Primary oil (this is what lubes the transmission and clutch) is not shared with the engine. Changing that will help the shifting feel. Inspect/adjust the primary chain tension and adjust the clutch cable while you're at it. Flush the brake fluid and change the spark plugs and you're done. Should take an afternoon of time and maybe $100 in quality fluids and filter/gaskets. See below for oil change filter/gasket kit.
Overall, it sounds like a pretty typical Buell. If this is the first one you've seen in person, I think you'll find most of the quirks you mentioned on any Buell you look at. They certainly have a lot of 'character'.
http://motoenthusiasts.bigcartel.com...oil-change-kit
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