Buell XB12R vs Kawi Z1000 Help me Decide

Message

emperorjordan · Fri Sep 07, 2007 5:45 am

why do you say the buell will age better?

when I posted this, I had basically decided on the Kawasaki... and wanted to make sure i made the right decision.

Since then, I have been sitting and thinking...and I REALLY like the buell.

I think its time to see who will give me more incentive at each dealer, and just go with whatever works out better.

atom · #12 Unread post by **atom** » Fri Sep 07, 2007 8:07 am

I mean Kawasaki changes their bikes much more often than Buell. Even new Buell model have the same body panels as the older models. This means that should you need parts, OEM parts will be widely available for the Buell. Also, Kawasaki will go through many more design iterations so whatever model you buy now will seem more dated down the road.

ALso Kawasaki will probably change up the engines in their big Z's in successive generations while the Thunderstorm engine is not going anywhere so, again parts availability will not be an issue, but also mechanics will have more experience in keeping the Thunderstorm engine running well.

jonnythan · Fri Sep 07, 2007 8:19 am

FWIW, in my personal opinion, the Buell looks and sounds way cooler than the Kawasaki.

BRUMBEAR · #14 Unread post by **BRUMBEAR** » Sat Nov 10, 2007 6:36 am

The Buell hands down you might however want to look at the lightning long instead of the bolt. the 08's have no tps reset issues and come with frame pucks

Johnj · #15 Unread post by **Johnj** » Sat Nov 10, 2007 7:30 am

atom wrote:The Buell will be cheap to run and maintain. The Buell will sound better and age better. The Buell is easy to work on, maintain, and modify. The Buell is made in the USA.

The Z is none of these.

I would get the Buell. In fact I do plan on buying one in a few years.

I'm betting the Z1000 is manufactured at Kawasaki's Lincoln Nebraska plant. Last time I checked Nebraska is still part of the USA.

I'd get the Buell for the cool factor.

Sev · #16 Unread post by **Sev** » Sat Nov 10, 2007 7:56 am

Z1000 for my money.

crazy5dave · Thu Dec 06, 2007 3:30 am

Slow? Smoked a guy on his Suzuki 600 yesturday. 0-to passed 100 from a light i was ahead of him the whole way, but just. my buell 12XBSs is bone stock, his suzuki wasnt. the buell has very little maintance, no valve ajustments. and the XBs are bulletproof. Saying that, the bike I had before, was a Kawasaki ZRX1100. i liked that bike too. you cant go wrong with either. but the power delivery is differerent and thats were the choise is to be made. I do wish the Buell has more Rpms. was thinking of getting a Buell 1125 next. but they arent coming to Japan for a while. it needs a new muffler to pass Japanese lower noise restrictions. maybe 2009 for me here.