2004 Buell XB12S Lightning

Pros: Gutsy, growling, hungry fun to ride, responsive powerful bike
Cons: more colors - but that's what paint shops are for

Imagine what the Hulk would ride if it was a motorcycle……and you have the Buell Lightning XB12S. The Buell – Harley masterminds have taken the lessons and attitude from their racing heritage and applied it to their newest ...

Pros: Superb handling, awesome design, 100% fun and answers all concerns from XB9R
Cons: Still not a liter-bike in terms of performance- but this one's alotttta fun!

When Buell released the first XB9R firerbolt pic's to the press it left the world slack-jawed and drooling. A frame that doubled as a fuel tank? A swing-arm that become the oil tank? ALUMINUM no less... a short-stack wheelbase clearly intended for ...

Pros: Help me find one? Okay here's one. It's unique. That's the one and only pro.
Cons: Ummm, everything about it? Suffice to say, this bike is horrible.

Once again at this years Americade I decided to ride a Buell. The XB12S was an all new sport bike (Kinda) that intrigued me. I shouldn't have bothered. The standard style seating was decent and comfortable. But once I keyed the motor to life, I once ...

Pros: Loud, Fast, Nimble, Light, Innovative, Smooth, Cool looking, Cheap compared to Harleys.
Cons: Perfect for a true motorcycle riders. But no 155 rear wheel hp.

I have always been a HD fan. I love V-twins. I know the specs of all the new litre bikes. I also know how I ride, I ride through cities, on country roads, and I try to keep it under a hundred. The Buell is perfect, I can smoke most litre bikes from stoplight to stoplight. Of coarse if they get up to the high rpm range i'm smoked but it's still more practical. The Design of a Buell is from out of this world. Complete innovation wrapped around good old American muscle. A great fuel injection system, w/ O2 sensor.

Pros: Street-fighter looks, quality components, great build-quality, ergonomics, torque, American-made
Cons: Seemingly useless rear-view mirrors

I've been looking at Buells for a few years now (probably since the X1s), but have always been a Yamaha guy and have always leaned toward the sportbikes. My last was an '02 YZF-R1 that I loved, or so I thought. Three years and only 5400 miles made me wonder. I just test rode and bought an '05 XB12S and love it!! I don't want to get off of it! Talk about "Owning the corners"... I've never cornered with such confidence! The perfect machine for the way I ride... commuting to and from work, zipping around town, and constantly looking for the "long way" home!

Pros: Looks, handling, aftermarket parts availability, "different in every way"
Cons: Heavy clutch, clunky gearbox (both fixed in 2006)

I liked the style, engineering, and unique qualities of the Buell XB series from the beginning. I waited for the 1203cc motor, and I'm glad I did. I'm older (47) and bigger (6'3", 250#) than most, but it handles so well and is comfortable for all the riding I do (commute 80%, sport riding 20%). I've had it for about 16 months and 9000 miles as of now, and I've modified it extensively. I rode the new Lightning Long XB12Ss and I like the new gearbox and clutch, but I still like the "flickability" of the shorter '12S.

Pros: quick, cool looking, attention getter, American. Not a belly button bike.
Cons: sound of stock pipe. Tires went bad quickly.

After owning a CBR F3 and having tons of Harley friends, I didn't want a cruiser and didn't want a crotch rocket. I chose the Buell over the triple speed because I got a better deal, ($1,000.00 less). The only thing I have to say on the negative part that it quickly runs out of revs. You have to quick shift, very different from the hi rev crotch rockets. Very stable at high speeds, handles great, very reliable, extremely cool. The best thing about the bike is nobody has one. I get offers from people to buy it on the spot (3 times). Its not a Ninja, so don't let people try to tell you they out run crotch rockets. Quick off the line, quick to 100 mph, I have had it 135 mph but with no fairing the wind makes you feel like your testing to be an pilot for Navy. If I had to buy it all over again I would buy the firebolt and put handle bars on it and add lightning pegs.