It’s been a long time since a v twin motorcycle has been on my radar. I suppose you could blame that on my other hobbies.

I am seriously considering purchasing a local Buell X1 Lightning with 20k miles on the clock.

From what I have gathered it’s a modded/hot rodded sportster 1200 engine in a light, tubular steel frame. IMO it’s a damn good looking bike. I’ve been watching its price drop over the past 6 months and it has reached VERY TEMPTING deal status recently. Very tempting.

Two owner bike, last owner had it for the past 15 years.

I wonder how it stacks up against my SV650 & SV1000? Maybe I’m getting old considering something like this but it looks like a lot of fun.

Should I get it?






It’s a hell of a base for a sweet cafe racer build….

I'm not sure I'd want to buy a bike that's 24 years old, there might be a good reason why the price of that bike has been dropping. Test ride it and maybe have a qualified mechanic inspect it before handing over your cash. Looks like a nice bike from the pictures.

The plates expired in 2020 and the owner claims to have lost interest in this type of bike. Judging by his other bikes in his garage (all dirtbikes and dual sports) I’m inclined to believe him.

It runs and rides pretty darn good.

how much is it?

Stick,

I can’t speak to riding the original Buell’s but I did have an ‘04 XB12S for a few years after my first SV650. So I’m at least in the ballpark. I really enjoyed the XB for what it was. A pure hooligan machine. I always refer to it as a little bike with a big motor. Its short wheelbase, light weight and monstrous torque kept me on my toes. That said, I went back to an SV650. I say get it!

Todd

Stick, this may not be of any use. I raced sv650's for many, many years. And in that class they let these bikes in the same class. On the track well ridden (at my level of skill) its a wash. The buell was much faster in a straight line but not in the corners so at my local track I normally won most of the battles, at other longer tracks the Buell did. Now to the actual point of posting that. SV650 racing maintenance change the oil and brake pads really often. Buell racing maintenance change the motor really often like every couple of weekends. All FWIW> If its cheap and its fun why not...

It’s still a Sporster.

Ex Harley dealership parts guy here, 1999-2022.

It’s not really a Sportster, while there are many shared parts there are a lot of unique Buell parts. And to add to the mess, shared parts may or may not have the same part numbers between H-D and Buell, first suggestion is to get a parts book for it as I can’t remember positively but I’m pretty sure that the dealer Electronic Parts Catalog doesn’t cover Buells any longer. You’re going to need to get on the good side of a local H-D staff because they’re going to have a lot of investigative work for you. Been there, done that A LOT!

Second, I’m pretty sure that all exclusive Buell part numbers have been purged from H-D factory and dealer stock by now. Dealer I was last at while we were dualed with Buell for the lack of customers by 2020 we sold off all the Exclusive parts to a guy that sells obsolete parts, pennies on the dollar.

Remember that it’s still a twenty-plus year old bike and like auto companies they don’t care about product support for past models. When I started in 1999 I could get a lot of parts for bikes of the 60’s through the factory. By 2017 a lot of parts, mainly electronic FI for my 2002 bagger were going away. My 1982 FLH, well I’m thankful for the aftermarket. Factory customer service, zero assistance, again discontinued brand, kind of like calling GM on Saturn parts today.

Dealerships, well most of them won’t touch a bike older than ten years for in shop service, between techs with no training on the early models, no parts or special shop tools again you’re on your own. Most of today’s parts people are the “here today, gone to tomorrow” and have no desire to problem solve, just get the customer in and out. Some independents will work on Buells despite their uniqueness, it may take some hunting. Last independent shop that I knew who really knew Buells is no longer with us, know one dealer tech today that actually owns one and knows his stuff.

There is a FB Buell group or two, I suggest joining them.I still know of a few “old guys” in both parts and service that might be able to answer some questions.

If it's cheap and runs good, why not? They are quick, fun to ride and unique. I say go for it.

It’s not a Sportster. Looking back, I remember Eric Buell getting shafted pretty hard by HD.

IIRC, the bikes were plagued with electrical issues. There were quite a few semi custom parts that Buell had to make to get that engine and transmission into that frame. I can see parts support being pretty sketchy.

But it was still a crotch rocket with an HD engine.
I wanted one pretty bad when they were still in production. But I have grown out of my tinkering stage. I just want to play with my toys these days, not wrench on them.
My opinion, and worth exactly what you’ve paid for it, is pass unless it was just absolutely dirt cheap. At its age and considering what it was originally (almost a custom bike) …I’d end up working on it WAY more than I’d want to. Again, my opinion.

I rode a coworkers Buell a few decades ago, it was slow and uncomfortable, but I'm not used to sportbike position. It put so much weight on my hands I couldn't get off of it quick enough. The obsolete problem would make me stay away from one unless it was priced as a used motor.

I owned a 1999 Buell Cyclone, which was an ergonomically more relaxed Lightning with carburetor rather than FI. With the factory race exhaust it was an awesome sounding motorcycle. It ran and handled wonderfully as well. It had a number of recalls I had to have done and I had to replace the leaking the rocker box gaskets but that's about all I had to do to it. As mentioned I'd be concerned about parts availability on one now but with the internet you may be able to find used parts.
A friend bought it for his wife but it was just too big for her so they sold it to me after a year with 500 miles on it. Here it is when I brought it home.

Buell motorcycles is back, they make some pretty amazing machines, not sure if they have any of the old like parts for that bike.

They had a booth at Daytona and got up close to the bikes, they look really good.

https://www.buellmotorcycle.com/

Rode one of those for a bit, couldn't keep the front wheel on the ground, massive tq, lots of fun, short wheelbase.

If the price is right it will be a lot of fun to ride, parts if you need anything would be something you'd have to chase, but no different than any other 20+ year old bike.

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:
Buell motorcycles is back, they make some pretty amazing machines, not sure if they have any of the old like parts for that bike.

They had a booth at Daytona and got up close to the bikes, they look really good.

https://www.buellmotorcycle.com/

Rode one of those for a bit, couldn't keep the front wheel on the ground, massive tq, lots of fun, short wheelbase.

If the price is right it will be a lot of fun to ride, parts if you need anything would be something you'd have to chase, but no different than any other 20+ year old bike.

Last week a guy came by the bike shop where I work to borrow a tool. He was riding a naked EBR (Erik Buell Racing) that was hands down one of the loudest bikes I’ve ever heard. Just down right nasty sounding (in a good way)! His face lit up when I told him I was considering buying an X1 Lightning.

I already own a fleet of old bikes some of which probably suffer from equally bad parts support due to being rare machines or bikes only sold in the US for a short time.

I have always wanted a 1200 HD engine but in something more sporty than the sportster. The tubular steel frame of this Buell combined with the sport bike aesthetic and big HD twin looks like a fun ride.

Yeah it won’t smoke the Japanese twins I own but it is a lot different and I find that alluring.

The Buell seems to have a very strong following and I've spoken with some who use them for the occasional track day. The only complaint I've ever heard regarding the Buell is the brakes are not equal to the torque. I imagine with more modern pads, the brakes are fine.

I owned a Buell S2 Thunderbolt. It was a blast to ride and I hope you like to do power wheelies. Wick the throttle and shift weight back, front end hangs at about 8" through first two gears. Through and through fun bike. Mine spent a lot of time in the shop at first sorting out electrical issues. Once past that phase few troubles.

quote:

Originally posted by creslin:
how much is it?

It was $5,000 and is now listed for $4k but I am pretty confident I can get it for $3,000-3,500. Which seems to be on par with blue book value for a low mile clean X1 in very good condition.

quote:

Originally posted by stickman428:
I already own a fleet of old bikes some of which probably suffer from equally bad parts support due to being rare machines or bikes only sold in the US for a short time.

Your OP didn't share the most important info, viz. that you know what you're getting into.

If you've got the cash and the room and the time to actually ride the bike, buy it.

quote:

Originally posted by stickman428:

quote:

Originally posted by creslin:
how much is it?

It was $5,000 and is now listed for $4k but I am pretty confident I can get it for $3,000-3,500. Which seems to be on par with blue book value for a low mile clean X1 in very good condition.

That would be a steal for a cool motorcycle that you won't see at bike night or any rest stop.

Are you still in CA? Will the San Gabriel Canyon Road be your first "test"

HRK, she is MINE! This is my first American made motorcycle so I am SUPER STOKED. I contacted my moto guru to provide some advice on this acquisition and all be damned if he didn’t come close to talking me into a 1970’s 500cc parallel twin Yamaha UJM. . I bought a bike from him years ago that he wants back badly so this Buell may very well become a most excellent combo deal in the moto acquisition dept. Hahaha.

I’ve always wanted a sportster 1200 with a bit more “sport” injected into it. I found my unicorn and I am loving it so far!