Found the bike I want!

GG it sounds as if you have made your mind up already I dont know much about bikes but when I eventually pass I know that they key factor I want in my first bike is to feel comfortable and happy riding it.

You seem quite reluctant about the possibility of having the Thundercat..so if you dont end up getting the Buell, then that doesnt mean you have to stick with the Thundercat. Just look for something different

[gruntygiggles]

Originally Posted by dizzyblonde

thing is about regular Buell services is ...they are bloody expensive. Most things are main dealership done, bunch of a*holes that do it. If anything needs doing on our mates Buells that he doesn't do himself he sends them to another mad Bueller to do them, gets them serviced or 're-engineered' so that they are done propery. Any advice off any of these guys is pretty solid, they are pretty positive about their bikes, but won't hang about hiding anything if it needs to be said.

http://www.ukbeg.com/

pop across here, and see if you can find anything relevant in your quest

Popped on there and looks like a great Forum. I've registered so will introduce myself later and see what experience people have of the new model.

Ever thought of a nakid Raptor...tiny, light and very very manoueverable, not twitchy like a Buell and much cheaper and easier to maintain

I have sat on one and didn't really like it. I like the SV and I also like the ER6 when faired. No decisions will be made until after I pass and if I don;t go for the Buell, I'll stick with the cat and just suck it up and get used to it. I just fell in love with the Buell, so would be happy to put up with paying for damage or higher than average service costs to have a bike that makes me grin from ear to ear!

ER6-N for the win

[SoulKiss]

Does the Buell come with a coulour matched Plough and Muck-Spreader?

Friend had a 900cc Buell.

Good luck if you wish to do over 20 miles......

No chance of doing over 100mph, due to the wind blast.

Great little bike for city/town use. Great handling bike. But the bike itself is not a B road bike. Whilst it bends great, the actual bike as a whole isn't B road riding bike. Don't go travelling either, as 90 mile tank range, and no wind protection at all won't help.

He had it a few months, and sold it.

[Stu]

-1 to Fizz (yes Minus 1 )

If you can afford it get what you want. Less likely to drop something you are comfortable with AND like and therefore looking after.
you seem a sensible girl I'm sure you'll do the right thing whichever that is.

Originally Posted by Daimo

Whilst it bends great

You make that sound like a good thing

[gruntygiggles]

Thanks guys, been doing more research and here's what I have.

It is true that you can go through a tank of fuel in 90 miles, but you have to be really hooning it to manage that, something I will not be doing as I'll be a new biker and my emphasis is on enjoyment and safety over speed. Average range on B road use with average speed of 85mph is 130-150 miles....not that bad really.

Servicing is £250 every 5000 miles with a little more for the big services, but the technology in the new model means there is less to do, hence lower service costs.

As for B road use, not a problem unless you want to hoon it over 100mph all the time, which I don't. Just spoke to the dealer too and he said, the wind blast over about 90 mph is terrible (quite honest really) and so not good for that, but for be road fun around the twisties so long as you stay around or under the 80mph mark the buell is amazing and the wind blast is not uncomfortable (from an independant test rider).

So......the more I learn about the bike, the more I see that it is far improved from the 2008 model and was voted 4th in the top 100 handling bikes by Which magazine. The Buell R was voted first and the Buell xb12s was voted 8th, so there must be something good about the low COG.

I just love it and yes, I think my mind is made up. I will never be a hooner, I want to stay alive, have a family one day and enjoy my biking, so the windblast/low tank range won't be an issue for me.

Just talking to a woman that has one and she's also owned and SV 650S, ER6 - N, Gixxer 750 and bably blade. She said the Buell is the one she would reccommend as it's by far the easiest to control and smoothest to ride. She also said that she has had one for three years and is still not bored of it because it has the power and handling to excite anyone if you want it.

Hmmmmm, more thought will be put into this and thanks for the responses, has promted much more research, but I'm happy with what I've found out!

Cheers guys......so whose going to come play with me when I've passed???

Originally Posted by gruntygiggles

As for B road use, not a problem unless you want to hoon it over 100mph all the time, which I don't. Just spoke to the dealer too and he said, the wind blast over about 90 mph is terrible (quite honest really) and so not good for that, but for be road fun around the twisties so long as you stay around or under the 80mph mark the buell is amazing and the wind blast is not uncomfortable (from an independant test rider).?

my only thoughts are - what about motorways? if you wanted to go to the Ar for example, im guessing from bristol it'll be a few motorways/dual carriageways and stuff, and i know most people go the long twisty way, but sometimes you just wanna get to places quick. i'm going to scotland for the GM in two weeks, and following someone else to get there so i ahve no choice but to follow their route, which is gonna be straight up the motorway, and that would be VERY uncomfortable if the bike is meant to be rather unbearable at 90, cos im my experience, people dont usually stick at 70 all the time, it usually is about 80 ish when ive followed other bikers (on a private road of course blah blah) really not trying to put a downer on you

[yorkie_chris]

I'm quite comfortable holding an indicated 95-100 on a naked. It's easy enough to get used to.