Total Motorcycle Community Forums

I have always loved triumphs but I have had nothing but problems with my speedmaster and I am going to buy a new bike I need some input from you fellow riders
Buell xb12 ss
I rode it I really like it anyone know any major problems with them?
Triumph speedtriple
I really like it as well but I don't trust triumph that much anymore
which one would you pick of the 2?

why not get somehing that has had a reputation for reliability for 40 years like--Honda--Suzuki--Kawasaki--Yamaha??

well in my opinion the 919 technology is to old but the bike is definetly in there, the ducati bmw and aprilla are to much $$$$ the z1000 kawa is to ugly I relly don't like suzukis or yamahas enough to buy one so speed triple or xb12ss I love the naked bikes I can't stand the feal of clip on grips I am to porky they just are not comfy

I'll insert my token plug for Ducatis Monster right here :

I cannot speak for the 919 specifically, but I can say that the 599 is an amazingly fun bike (for me) at any rate. Being the younger brother of the 919 I think it speaks well for the family.

Feels a lot like a v-twin without all the vibration God I miss riding it!

My vote is for the Buell. If you rode it and loved it....and your second guessing the Triumph, I think its a no brainer to go with the Buell.

I have ridden a few different Buell Bikes and I personally love them. The type riding I do though, just doesn't justify me buying one over my cruiser....Someday I'll have that second bike though, and it will more than likely be a Buell.

Sorry to hear about your experience with the Speedmaster. Too bad really, they are such a nice looking bike.

Last summer I test rode a number of different bikes from various brands, including Buell. To summarize quickly, the Buell would be low on my want list. The machine that I rode didn't even make it halfway through the day before it was rolled into the dealer's garage and left for dead. I know, it was probably just that one bike, could happen to any bike, that is true. But it was also the bike that impressed me the least of the various rides I undertook last summer. The best feature of the bike was its raucous nature, it felt menacing and was a good city type point and shoot machine. Clutch lever effort was too much, though Buell claims a lighter lever effort for 2006. Once we hit city limits the machine sounded like it was working hard and propelling you to the fun side of life, but its all fluff. Sure, its vibrating and making a nasty snarl, but a quick check of the speedo reveals the truth, it wasn't really going all that fast for all the fuss it made.

In this vein, you must simply try the Suzuki SV1000S. This is a bike that truly delivers, it is just an amazing package. Everything about it is first class and the low and midrange power is addictive. The 90 degree L-twin is real smooth torquemeister...you will love this bike.

Also rode the 919. For my old 51 year old back this bike has the best ergos. Could ride it all day. Again, power is dialed in for low and mid-range punch, it feels so good coming out of a turn. I was amazed at how good it felt in the guts for an inline four when accelerating. I'm 5'10" with a 30 inch inseam and this bike felt like it was custom built just for me. Over all quality is right up there with the Suzuki.

Consider importing one of these babies...only in Canada you say?
I'll deliver it for you.


Or, consider a used Valkyrie. The motorcycling press didn't declare it the "cruiser of the decade" for nothing. Still the best power cruiser on the planet IMHO.

Since when was the 919 old in the tech dept? I has fuel injection and an adjustable suspension.

On the same vein as the buell or speed triple you might want to check out the new FZ1, none of the magazine have had anything bad to say about it yet, and there wont be any "fluff" in the power dept with its 150hp

I would get the Buell for the same reasons that I bought a 9s. It has hydralic lifters so you dont need to adjust the valves every 5000 mi, Its nimble and comfortable. The insurance is going to be cheaper then the japanese and euro bikes and its fun to ride. Theres plenty of torqe when you need it and it will hang with any 600 till 90 mph. After that they leave you in the dust, but the way I look at it is it help you not to get tickets.

As for reliability, I know several riders in my area that have buell XB's, and one guy has 40k on the odometer and the only major work I know he has done is replace the stator.