My motorcycle is a 2008 Buell XB12R Firebolt 25th Anniversary edition. Arctic white body work with Hero blue color wheels.
It really is a great motorcycle to ride. If you don’t know much about Buell’s, or never heard of them. Here is a little info on my own bike. It has fuel in the frame; the rear swing arm is also the oil tank. Unslung exhaust pipe, air/ fan and oil cooled 1203cc V-Twin motor. It makes 103 Hp; I currently have Dunlop Sportmax Q2 tires on the machine. Some specs are below:
| Buell’s profilation of this bike | |
| Powered by a 1203 cc Thunderstorm® air/oil/fan-cooled, fuel-injected 45° V-Twin, this is the motorcycle for riders who demand a premium-styled sportfighter with the perfect balance of horsepower and torque. | |
| Engine and transmission | |
| Displacement: | 1202.88 ccm (73.40 cubic inches) |
| Engine type: | V2, four-stroke |
| Power: | 103.00 HP (75.2 kW)) @ 6800 RPM |
| Torque: | 113.90 Nm (11.6 kgf-m or 84.0 ft.lbs) @ 6000 RPM |
| Compression: | 10.0:1 |
| Valves per cylinder: | 2 |
| Fuel system: | Injection. 49 mm down draft DDFI III fuel injection |
| Fuel control: | OHV |
| Lubrication system: | Dry-sump |
| Cooling system: | Oil & air |
| Gearbox: | 5-speed |
| Transmission type, final drive: |
Belt |
| Clutch: | Wet, multi-plate, compensated, reduced lever effort |
| Exhaust system: | Tuned, tri-pass resonance chamber with InterActive valve and mass-centralized mounting |
| Chassis, suspension, brakes and wheels | |
| Frame type: | Aluminum frame with Uniplanar™ powertrain vibration isolation system, fuel in frame |
| Rake (fork angle): | 21.0° |
| Front suspension: | 43 mm Showa inverted forks with adjustable compression damping, rebound damping and spring preload |
| Front suspension travel: | 120 mm (4.7 inches) |
| Rear suspension: | Showa coil-over monoshock with adjustable compression damping, rebound damping and spring preload |
| Rear suspension travel: | 127 mm (5.0 inches) |
| Front tire dimensions: | 120/70-ZR17 |
| Rear tire dimensions: | 180/55-ZR17 |
| Front brakes: | Single disc. 8-piston calipers |
| Rear brakes: | Single disc. 2-piston calipers |
| Rear brakes diameter: | 240 mm (9.4 inches) |
| Physical measures and capacities | |
| Dry weight: | 179.2 kg (395.0 pounds) |
| Power/weight ratio: | 0.5749 HP/kg |
| Overall length: | 1,935 mm (76.2 inches) |
| Overall width: | 716 mm (28.2 inches) |
| Ground clearance: | 110 mm (4.4 inches) |
| Wheelbase: | 1,321 mm (52.0 inches) |
| Fuel capacity: | 14.45 liters (3.82 gallons) |
I have had the great pleasure of even meeting Erik Buell himself. I had my motorcycle signed by him as well. How many people can say the bought a Honda CBR 1000, or a Yamaha R1, and had their Sport Bike signed by the designer/ builder himself. I can and that’s pretty dang cool I might say! Erik is a great guy to talk to and he is also thinking of new great designs and technology for his American sport bike brand.
Buell motorcycles where being produced and funded under the Harley-Davidson brand. In Oct 2009 Harley Davidson decided to shut down the Buell factory. A few 2010 Buell bikes did escape the factory during the last few days of operation. Harley- Davidson will still continue to supply parts and service at select dealers. So don’t be freaked out if you have not heard the news. As well as don’t be freaked out if you wanted to buy a Buell.
Another great reason for a Buell is in fact during the 2009 AMA Pro Road Racing season. Danny Eslick #9 won the Daytona Sport Bike Championship riding a Buell 1125r race bike for the Richie Morris Racing team with Bruce Rossmeyer’s Daytona and Geico Powersports Insurance as major sponsors to support their racing effort. It was a great year in racing for enthutheists such as myself.
Erik Buell is back with his own company now. Erik Buell Racing is taking shape in the AMA racing world. A new super awesome street bike is in the works as well by the name of Erik Buell Racing 1190RS. It is a very pretty sport bike I might say.
