Buell Dirt Bike reviews

This thing is the best purchase I have ever made in my 26 years of existence. I am absolutely, without any hesitation, in love with this bike. The throttle response is great and it pulls cleanly and hard, at least hard enough, from down low. Today, I picked it up (bought it used with a 1000 miles on it) and took it for a spin around town. I jumped on the freeway and I had it to 80mph before I even realized it. This thing has plenty of get up and go, despite other reviews I have read on it. People are in awe of it everywhere I rode it. As for support, the people at the dealership have done an excellent job catering to all of my needs, I needed the mirror spacers, as I'm too tall for stock, and they got them on in short notice. One thing about the size of the bike. It is small, but my frame fits fine on it. It is actually a very comfortable bike, at least to me. Oh, and everything that is said about the turn-on-a-dime handling and superior front brakes, they're absolutely true. Do yourself a favor and test ride one of these bikes, you will enjoy it. Show less

I am a 280 plus pound man who rides a 2003 Buell Firebolt XB9R. There aren't many people who know about Buell American Motorcycles, let alone ride them. That is a shame because it is an excellent motorcycle that has provided miles of trouble free riding for me. It provides the sort of exclusivity that exotic car owners enjoy for less than a fraction of the money. It sounds like a small block chevy at low speeds. Everyone asks me what kind of bike it is at traffic lights or while I'm posted up at the mall. My only complaints are that the bike leaves you smelling like you've been working on a car all day after short rides. And although the bike is virtually trouble free, routine maintenance is rather costly and frequent. Again it is the perfect choice if you choose to be unlike others who crave liter bike performance; however, if you want a bike that you won't lose in a parking lot, the Buell Firebolt XB9R is the only choice. Show less

Buell had the guts to design something that does not look Japaneese and that has the torque that a Mustang or Camaro owner could appreciate. The braking is awesome. The bike is a lady picker- upper. The sound of the bike gets the attention of any teenager and you are suddenly cool. The bike is so reliable most guys think it's a Japanese bike. Even my Japanese friends are buying Buells now. Show less

This 2003 Blast is my first bike . It has been a blast riding with my father. I bought it in March 2004 and have had no problems riding with my dad's 1100 vstar custom and his friend's Harleys. I was suprised it ran so well on the expressway!! Not as quick as the big guys but cruises fine at 70mph. I love it. No negatives here!! Show less

THIS IS A REALLY FUN BIKE TO RIDE. NO, IT MAY NOT BE THE FASTEST, BUT IT HAS GOT PLENTY OF POWER AND A LOT OR TORQUE. YOU CAN EASILY GET THE FRONT WHEEL UP IN FIRST OR SECOND GEAR. I BOUGHT MINE THIS PAST SEPTEMBER AND HAVE HAD A BALL WITH IT SO FAR. I HAVE NOT ADDED THE RACE KIT YET, BUT PLAN TO DO SO SOON. I LOVE THE FACT THAT YOU don't SEE THEM EVERYWHERE. Show less

First off this bike was not intended to compete with the inline four top end screamers. I had an XL lightning in which had a good amount more power, but lost it in a wreck. So I test rode a XB12r and XB9r, I bought the 9r cause it was a little less and didn't seem much slower as it would pull up in first gear pretty easy and the other 9r they had would not. I'm no motorcycle expert, but I have owned different bikes and have been able to ride many a bike. The XB9r fits me the best, good torque, good brakes, good gas mileage, comfortable at least for me, and as the add says different in every sense, isn't that what riding is about, finding a motorcycle that fits you the best and just riding it. It's not the best at anything but it does everything very well. And the 9r will do better than 120 mph. Just a little note the X1 I had would pull up into a wheelie at 2600 rpm with just throttle, how many inline fours will do that. Show less

Walked past the bike in the dealership as I thought it was a 250cc. Decided to spoil myself and had organized to ride the race kitted version of the XB9R straight up. I now believe there is such a thing as one finger brakes as coming down a grade to a stop sign I managed a fifty meter endo. My face was still hurting three days later from grinning whilst riding possibly the most fun bike ever created. If you can get over the spec sheet bulls**t and put away the egos about who has the most HP you will actually enjoy the bike for what it was designed. Show less

Ok like most of the others on here I'll be the first to admit its not gonna brake any top speed records. But thats not what this bike is all about, its light, short and flickable, the looks alone are what sold this bike to me, I ordered it from 300 miles away without even riding it or any other Buell. Got it on my door step and just drooled over its looks, wanted one ever since I saw it at the NEC bike show in the UK. Its a fantastic bike to ride, handles really good, will keep up with most things up to about 120mph, which is quick enough for most. Who wants to be doing 160mph+ all the time I mean when's the last time YOU did over 140mph?? So why do you need a Fire blade that does 175mph??? It makes me laugh when these people buy a bike because its got 160bhp, there is that old saying BHP sells bikes, Torque Wins Races enough said, this bike has plenty of that, in fact this bike has similar torque as the following: (bare in mind the Buell is a V-Twin and V-Twin's have more torque than BHP) First the Fireblade CBR1000RR 2004,163 hp, 178 kg and 80 ft*lbs. Second the R1,172 hp, 172 kg, and 76.6 ft*lbs. Third the ZX10R, 170 hp, 165 kg and 75 ft*lbs. For the XB9R, 92hp @ 7200 (REMEMBER IT'S A V-TWIN), 92Nm-68 ft-lb @ 5500 rpm and Weight is 175kgs. So when you start to look at the details and the fact that it drops into corners like nothing else you have ever ridden, and the fact that the wheelbase is shorter than an R6, you start to see the potential. Torque is where its at on this bike, its got LOTS of it, I got The Race Kit fitted and the XB12S air box cover (add's more grunt due to its internal design), plenty of over run, popping and rumbling like those monster V8's sounds fantastic, its just so different from any other bike out there, when its parked up at the pub with the other Japanese bikes, its always draws the attention away from the more tricked up bikes. I had a Honda Hornet before, and was worried about build quality of the Buell's, but I've not had it long but I also have not had any problems with it at all, runs fine, goes great, looks fantastic, its so very different from the other stuff out there, they all look the same. Its a bike for the individual, if you want to be different and your not shy......get yourself one of these things!! Show less

Have a "03 XB9R. Almost 6000 miles. Not one problem. Not the fastest bike out there, but as quick as anything. Lot's of get-up-and-go and quick handling. Will outhandle ANYTHING comparable and carry more speed through the turns than any other street bike. Show less

This is a great around town and back road ride that handles great. They look much better in person and do get a lot of attention. Rejet the carb and change the exhaust and you'd be amazed at the difference! Show less