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2,213 Posts
Stopped by the local H-D Mega-store today, to test ride a Buell.
What a POS!
Salesman took it outside, and while it was warming up, he tried to put a dealer plate on it. The thing shook so bad, he kept dropping the wing nuts. I shut it off so he could finish.
Salesman is gonna ride with me. He climbs on a chopper, loafers, slacks, black H-D short-sleeve shirt, sunglasses. I'm in a jacket, boots, gloves, kevlar jeans, and full-face. We go for about a three-mile ride through this corporate park area - it was enough.
Bike handles well, nice brakes, decent chassis, strong transmission with good shift action.
Engine vibrates like hell, torquey from 2000 rpm all the way up to redline - 6500 rpm. Relatively smooth in the 4000-4500 range - rough above and below. Power feels about half what Speedy is, and not nearly as useable.
About $13K out-the-door.
When the manager asked what I thought of the bike, I told him. He told me that Buell owners expect that level of vibration, and that it was inherent in V-twins. I told him I'd been on Ducati, Moto Guzzi, and a V-strom, and that level of vibration is not the norm for a v-twin. "Ducati Monster is a great bike" was his answer. I told him he should probably ride a Speed Triple if he wanted to see the competition. He said that maybe he would, someday.
Also, there's an ad out in magazines on Buell, 'Test ride a Buell - get a messenger bag'. Dealer claimed to have no knowledge of the promotion.
What a POS!
Salesman took it outside, and while it was warming up, he tried to put a dealer plate on it. The thing shook so bad, he kept dropping the wing nuts. I shut it off so he could finish.
Salesman is gonna ride with me. He climbs on a chopper, loafers, slacks, black H-D short-sleeve shirt, sunglasses. I'm in a jacket, boots, gloves, kevlar jeans, and full-face. We go for about a three-mile ride through this corporate park area - it was enough.
Bike handles well, nice brakes, decent chassis, strong transmission with good shift action.
Engine vibrates like hell, torquey from 2000 rpm all the way up to redline - 6500 rpm. Relatively smooth in the 4000-4500 range - rough above and below. Power feels about half what Speedy is, and not nearly as useable.
About $13K out-the-door.
When the manager asked what I thought of the bike, I told him. He told me that Buell owners expect that level of vibration, and that it was inherent in V-twins. I told him I'd been on Ducati, Moto Guzzi, and a V-strom, and that level of vibration is not the norm for a v-twin. "Ducati Monster is a great bike" was his answer. I told him he should probably ride a Speed Triple if he wanted to see the competition. He said that maybe he would, someday.
Also, there's an ad out in magazines on Buell, 'Test ride a Buell - get a messenger bag'. Dealer claimed to have no knowledge of the promotion.
