Hello! I've currently got a naked 97 Bandit 6; my first big bike and it's getting a bit long in the tooth, I do love it but I've felt a change of bike coming and it's costing too much with maintenance and expensive bits keep dying, brakes keeps binding and are costly to fix etc etc

I was thinking of getting a twin of some sort, maybe a SV650 but then spotted the price on the new XB9SX @ £5800 which seems pretty cheap, although it's still nearly SIX GRAND which is a lot of money to me... but tempting... especially if I could trade in my bike and get a little deal..

I'd have to wack the bike on a 0% creditcard though and pay it back over around 3 years probably so I was just wondering what sort of costs I would incur over these years running the buell? (there is a 2 year guarantee) I would be doing about 6k miles a year including a short (5mile each way) commute everyday + all through winter.

I guess replace the tyres once a year as I do on my bandit.. what other costs am I likely to see? would the 2 year guarantee cover me for stuff? Do the run in services come free or do I have to pay and how much are they and how regular? What do I need to do to keep it tip top condition?

sorry for the amount of questions!!! want to get some ideas off you guys rather than a salesman in a shop!!

Thanks in advance
Kev.

Have you considered a Cagiva Raptor? They're cheap but can be evolved into bloody good bikes. Check out the one that won the Thundersprint a couple of years ago.


altoperformance.com

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If your dreams don't scare you, they are not big enough.

Do It.
I did exactly the same. Stepped up from a 600 Bandit to an XB9SX.
I commute 10miles each way to work and play at weekends.
Not regretted it in the slightest.

Sad, but true.

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"It is often said that before you die your life passes before your eyes. It is in fact true. It's called living."
Terry Pratchett

I would say your first 2 years of ownership are cheap. You have a peace of mind warranty, you have roadside assist for the first year, and your first service is free. My bike has just had an excellent 5000 mile service and a breather mod done for just over £200 (not with a HD dealer). The 10,000 mile service is an expensive one though. Those in the know recommend an intermediate change of oil every couple of thousand miles.
Also I am pretty sure you will want to personalise the bike. The original exhaust will rot like buggery, and a nice blinging replacement is about £300, (you might be able to negotiate this in the price). A belt tensioner is about £100, and a tail tidy about £120. My original sticky tyres lasted 1500 miles, but the road pilot 2's that I have on now are still looking good having covered 4000 miles. My bike has been pretty much faultless, and to date it has been a happy union.

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In a purple fug

I think the City X is the best of the fueller bikes myself, but I'm not really qualified to pass judgement. I would think it would be a good bike as the first Vee twin you've owned. But please don't think that Buells = Simple = Low cost of ownership. It isn't really like that unless you want to learn about the bikes and do all your own maintenance. HTH.

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Try doing this to yer fueller...........

Hi SnailofSatan - I'm in a pretty similar boat to you. I've already traded in my gsxr and have been looking for the "right" bike for me now for over a month. I've test ridden 4 or 5 different nakeds and am testing the buell xb9 on Saturday. I had never even considered Buells until I stepped into a showroom last week and they actually quite impressed me to look at. This will be the first Buell I have ever ridden though and so will be a bit of an experience I think. I want to buy a bike I can really enjoy riding and be able to get to know the bike and tinker through the winter. The exhaust rotting away is a bit of a worry but not enough to put me off, I would be interested to know of any more problems owners have come across though?

Yes, the exhaust will need to be camcoated as a warranty claim as soon as corrosion starts to appear - I'd give it around 10 to 15 minutes, depending on humidity and wind direction on the day of handover. Alternatively, there's a veritable plethora of great aftermarket zorsts to choose from, everyone has their favourite - I'm chuffed to bits with my Remus.

Here is a picture of my blinging Stealth. Not only does it look good, but it makes the bike sound as it should.

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In a purple fug

Hmmm, are you sure you want to know this?

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Try doing this to yer fueller...........

The Remus may well be a good pipe when it's one piece. If you have a problem with it, they won't stand behind their product. Seems like their warranty is worthless
I'll never deal with them again. Dishonourable in the extreme imnsho

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If your dreams don't scare you, they are not big enough.

Hey Kev,and welcome..i seem to be in the similar boat..but slightly further forward...like your self,i've had my bandit 6 for last 5 years,and as much as i love it,i am ready for a change...and as there doesn't seem to be much competition out there,for me its the xb9sx......
I was supposed to be picking it up on sunday,but have decided to wait till the following day so i end up with a full years tax.....

I think so...I need to know what i might be getting myself into.

Lucky - the aftermarket pipe looks very nice btw. Any pictures of the whole bike?

As Mr Lucky is busy keeping the economy running sweetly, I'll oblige with the pic you need.