Buy 2011 Bonneville SE and keep the R1200R

[angellr]

Wonderful STABLE!! I have also been looking at the Buell as a second bike. As soon as the wallet stabilizes a bit, this is what I might just pick up. Neighbor has a mint HD that I also would not mind owning (she has not registered it for a few years now) right now either.

This was the stable as it existed last fall. The ZRX for a modernized taste of retro, the Z1000 for strafeing high speed stuff, The FLH for driving Miss Daisy, the R12R for just plain awesome self indulgence.




Just brought this one home a couple weeks ago. never thought a whole lot about Buells but the fire got lit over the winter. It's like a BMX bike with a turbocharged tractor motor, very much fun for what it is.




Obviously I suffer from MBS in a moderate way. I usually have 3, 5 is my high mark to date. Since I bought the R in '07 I've bought and sold 6 and I'm not entirely sure how many I've owned, mid teens to low twenty's anyway. I do know this with relative certainty, I'm not selling the R. For me, it's as close to perfect as I've found since I bought a Yamaha 750 Seca in '82. Never should have sold that one either

[BigEasy]

Wonderful STABLE!! I have also been looking at the Buell as a second bike. As soon as the wallet stabilizes a bit, this is what I might just pick up. Neighbor has a mint HD that I also would not mind owning (she has not registered it for a few years now) right now either.

Thanks for the kind words. I never really considered a Buell even though I infrequently ride with a guy that has one. I saw an older M2 on the net and started wondering about them then Motorcyclist magazine did a XB12Ss build and gave it the STT look and I was sunk. I test rode this one and it was almost as fatal as the mythical R1200R test ride, I bought it when I took it back

I always discounted the glowing reports from Buell owners for a couple of reasons. But, I must tell you this one is FUN. As the Motorcyclist article said it promotes a level of jacka$$ery equaled only by a BMX bicycle. If I had had one of these about 30 years ago I would have been in more trouble than I already was.

There are deals to be had on them. Nice older examples in the $2-3k range. This one is an '07 and I see them in the $5-6k range frequently, FWIW

[teachnsurf]

If you haven't yet, test ride a Thruxton. I have a 19" front wheel Bonnie, and the 17" front makes a huge difference in handling, so much so, dropped bars a la Thruxton make so much sense.

I have a Bonnie, and I hope to pull the trigger on a new R1200R sometime soon.

[Tarmac]

I had a Thruxton... loved that bike. Im beginning to think that crashing it was a mistake.

You're just beginning to think that crashing it was a mistake? That's funny. So for some period of time you thought it was something other than a mistake?

I shouldn't make fun. Intentionally doing a wheelie caused me to crash my R1200R so I can't even claim it was a mistake. The only mistake was the one the bike made when it foolishly allowed me to swing my leg over her.

I almost got a Thruxton and then I saw one the other day that had a polished metal gas tank and some real rat/retro add-ons. That's a great looking bike.

I endod my Thruxton on a shipping pallet that some.... person... dropped in the middle of the road. But yes, im leaning towards the idea that it was a mistake.

I actually almost bought another one, but went with a DRZ-400SM instead. My thinking being "I can wheelie over random objects that fall out of trucks in front of me". Unfortunatly, the SM is pretty much worthless on the highway, which brings me to Helga (my R12R).

All that said, the Thruxton is a very nice looking bike, with a low seat, that will make every grey haired old dude you meet in the parking lot walk over and say "I used to have one of those".

[Tarmac]

Oh, and chicks dig it

[Motorcycle_Girl]

I am lucky as the boyfriend has a 2008 Bonnie T100...my second bike is a 1982 Yamaha RD350LC...rebuilt the engine over the winter...hope to get it on the road a bit this summer if funds allow.

We have 4 bikes in the garage 3 of which I can ride. The 4th is an 09 Harley Ultra Classic...way too big for me. I could ride it but I cannot touch the ground. One or two toes touching work with the R12 but can't balance that beast on just one toe...can't get it off the kick stand.

still like the R1200R the best....new tires got installed last week ready for another season of riding!

Celeste

[AncientMariner]

Hey Celeste,

What did last fall's starting problem turn out to be?

Bruce

[SDMAX]

So that's where I was at the end of April; no on the Triumphs; no on the Italians, no on the UJM's; even looked at Wings....no on HD's////

Then came home with killer deal on a 2011 Victory Kingpin 8 Ball, 278 miles on it; as new; with all the 2011 good stuff like big engine, upgraded transmission and all blacked out...private party.

So different from the R12.. but I love both....made me happy to re-read this thread to find out it's ok to like a couple of flavors of the MC Kool Aide. Can't wait to get some miles on the Victory this weekend.