Buell FIREBOLT XB12R reviews

This bike was not comfortable as a sport bikes in the hands of an amateur, until you learn how to deal with the steep fork angle and short wheel base. Then it was a blast. It has interesting engineering and decent quality. The sound and function of the engine was inspiring. I think it is a classic of late Americana. Show less

Bought an 07 Firebolt XB9R love the bike. Bike rides and handles really well. Hard to find parts when needed but over all bike performs really well. I'm older so it's hard to ride long distances but being on the bike I forget about distance when I roll on the throttle. Bike cruises at 75 miles an hour. Drop it back in third on the highway rolling up to about 120 mph with ease and no hesitation. Have to replace fork seals and cooling fan on the '07 but bike still outperforms some of these little 600s that are brand new. My son-in-law has a brand new CBR600RR and still can't keep up even though his bike has more horsepower I guess it's just a rider. The torque on this thing is a lot better than most and I can leave my son-in-law sitting for the first quarter a mile easily. Had offers on the bike for around 3500 but not going to sell still having fun with it. Show less

After riding two years on a Buell Blast, I finally upgraded to a Buell Firebolt XB12R in 2006. It needed some getting used to, but I have to say it is easier to turn the Firebolt into the corner than the Baby Buell. Six years later I am still riding the Buell, I am looking at other bikes, but for some reason they just don't seem right, none of them has the clean look of the Buell. It is too sad that Buell was disolved. I am commuting on the bike, so I probably use only 20% of the bike's potential, but it handles fantastic, I absolutely love it. 50 miles to the gallon is not a bad thing these days neither. Just hope I can get 50,000 miles more out of the bike. Show less

I bought my 03 XB9R used with 6,000 miles on it from the original owner. It has fantastic handling, is comfortable (even 2 up), has great sound & looks, with fun while having usable power (especially on winding hills we have here in Colorado). I love the bike and, thanks to Erik Buell's unique design, I have gotten nothing but compliments on it for its looks, sound, and even its performance from the friends I've let ride it. The only troubling issues I've encountered have been high and premature (I think) maintenance costs (Intake manifold seals, injectors, and fork seals required replacement at 7,500 miles) but otherwise it runs flawessly. This probably wouldn't be half as bad if someone other than HD could provide service and parts for the bike. It seems that these cycles are not universally understood by the HD mechanics tasked with providing OEM services to them and parts, controlled completely by HD, may become an issue as present inventories lessen. But, like any piece of art, it's beautiful to behold, fun to experience, and I think someday will be considered a classic. If you have one, take care of it. Show less

This bike looks great and rides and sounds perfectly. It has a very sporty look. Hands down it is the greatest handling bike out there and has the awesome sound of an American V-twin. It also gets excellent gas mileage. I will be riding Buells for a very long time. I highly recommend Buell to everyone! Show less

Everything about this bike is phenomenal. Handling is superior and the brakes could stop a semi truck in a second! But most of all, if you want a flashy bike that gets a lot of attention, get a Firebolt. I have had so many compliments on how the bike looks and sounds (with a jardine rt1 exhaust) it makes me feel like im on top of the world! Flash, style, speed, handling, this bike has it all! Show less

I bought my XB12R May of 2004 and have no plans of getting rid of it. It's a great overall bike. It has great power, a comfortable seating position, and unbelievable handling. I've had several bikes including 3 different types of V-twin sport bikes and the XB12R tops them all. This bike may not be as fast in a straight line as some superbikes, but it will give them a run for their money in the twisties. The engine has great power from 3G's all the way up to redline. If you like v-twin torque, and inline-4 agility this is your bike. Show less

I purchased the bike yesterday and let me tell you it's an awesome bike....it's very comfortable and provides great performance in the handling category. haven't been able to open it up because it's far from being broken in but I'll write back once I have more miles on it for an update....its a real eye catcher too. Show less

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