Moto Buell XB9SX City-X

You will never skated on the processor or asphalt? Speed zero, but the emotions - full trousers, while public attention is assured. The last MOTOBIKE in Munich gave a chance to realize the dream of blue - to ride the American streetfighter super design and with a huge V-Twin air, and even in extreme performance - Buell XB9SX City-X. Perhaps the degree of emotion and a sort of rollicking bravado with the Yankees may struggle not only asphalt, but also the most-the most complex and expensive models of  hot Italians.

It used to be like this: wake me up at any time, ask for what I wanted to ride, answered without hesitation – to moto Buell. Why am I so want to meet one on one with the hot native of East Troy (though she is no Troy in Asia Minor), and in Wisconsin, a state in the U.S.)?
The reasons are two: because the former Soviet Union is one of the rare brands, and established technique Buell typical American-style - can not let go speeding, but quickly (and then usually only in a straight line), violating all the laws of the Earth attractive, fashion, technology, and feasibility. Well, like the Americans this way, come up with various technical. Baubles, and this also earn money by making smart face and these technical things squeaking with delight the fans.

Mark Buell has some five years ago, marketed as an exotic sort of confusion in the camp of Harley-Davidson: sportbike with a V-shaped air vent on the Harley - nonsense! But standing next to a celebrity, like a Harley, and enjoying his patronage, can not offer the trash, does not have rights. As a consequence: the quality of the product Buell, as well as its equipment, improved from year to year. Now motorcycles are sporting a layer of sirloin Harley, while retaining all kinds of HD-gadgets, such as V-belt transmission and Twin.

Today the technique Buell is so transparent and refined, that for each component model can be viewed simply as a work of art. Air filter box driver Buell City-X can contemplate, without looking inside the engine, because the fake gas tank is made of blue transparent plastic. The very same delicate frame (aluminum profile) actually is the most fuel tank. At that miracles do not end - with the whole mind of the pendulum arm rear suspension and a hollow inside - it is like the frame, and also serves as an oil reservoir and the original oil cooler (oil cooler, as such, no). The drive to the drive wheel by a belt - a fairly reliable technical solution does not require a long period of no control at all. The muffler is also frills - it is not heated ass biker, as it is now fashionable among European and Japanese manufacturers, and is directly under the engine as low to the ground. And the size of his soon to come some model Chevy or a Pontiac with a huge V8.

Such a dense arrangement allowed us to make liter bike is very compact. The distance between the axes of the wheels of 1320 mm, weight distribution close to the ideal bike (all massive parts as close to the engine), and the unsprung and rotating mass - at least, the angle of the front fork 21 degrees - as a consequence, the machine became an incredible manageability. Not for nothing are installed on the bike almost racing (fully customizable) inverted front fork type (41mm) and rear monoshock Showa. And also ... drumroll ... 6-piston front brake machine controls the huge diameter (375 mm) disk without the slightest hint of new-fangled electronics (mleyte fans tremble Gentiles). The disc itself is attached directly to the inner rim, which in itself makes an indelible impression. Behind - "a self-contained" 240 mm disc, floating caliper with one. Needless to say, that with such brakes must be handled very carefully. The efforts of one finger is sometimes better than ... something which, while still in the design of ABS is not available, but sorry, this system would be here is not redundant. When the value off the front forks, and 83.8 mm during the 120 mm front suspension to stand on stop very easy (not for nothing that this model enjoys increased attention from professional stunt riders.)

The product is Lightning XB9S Dunlop D207 tires are often scared to death of the driver and those around her willfulness on the steep high-speed cornering and under braking, because in an extreme version of the tale of the city changed to Pirelli Scorpion Sync the same dimension: 120/70ZR17 front and 180/55ZR17 rear - excellent tires for the implementation of the outstanding features running. With excellent chassis urban aggressor, with all this boisterousness in the style of Hi-Tech, does not fit just one part - the motor.

V-Twin from the HD, with its inception at the Buell in 1997, became the cornerstone for the creation of numerous disputes the test riders. At the City-X put it forced up to 92 hp modification. To begin with, it is the first of the antique motor Harley-Davidson Sportster family with such a short stroke (79.4 mm), causing the engine turned extremely temperamental (reservation: Harley-Davidson of standards). X 92-ft of torque, "scrolled" through the 5-step gearbox and belt drive ordinary biker is not enough. The bike will be sure to overclocking, but nothing more. The thing is belt drive. The driven pulley, with a reduced diameter as compared with the standard model Lightning XB9S, still has a small ratio, insufficient to start the bike, like a bullet. The firm has made other changes in the structure: in particular, has established a larger area of ​​the air intakes, an electronic valve in the muffler (reduces the path of the exhaust gas by half), has increased, according to the increased capacity of the clutch mechanism.

Let us try? Start the engine. Boo-boo-boo ... you can be stunned, feeling - as if saddled from the tractor. At idle, just talking from side to side, and with increasing speed vibration becomes smoother, but still quite noticeable. At the same time as the bike comes to life, creating an overall impression, as if beneath you is a huge beating heart, the beat frequency is responsive to the throttle. By the organizer of the test get the latest instructions - do not just unscrew the handle, the machine is very powerful and capricious, the front brake super, always with his head rather the efforts of one finger.

Let's try. Indeed, a tractor ... to 4000 rpm, accelerate slowly, with a noticeable delay on the handle of the gas, but the craving - like a locomotive, or even two. Transfers included some cotton, until the Japanese definition here still is not reached. Brakes - no words, this deceleration I have not experienced much with the bike trying to "bully ass" Surprisingly, with all its inherent defects, it very clear, allowing the driver moto. Bribes incredible agility, just curious! Buell is precipitated before the turn of 90 degrees and with increasing speed try to lay the machine in turn. Fantastic! Characteristics of the chassis are practically inexhaustible reserve of strength, but rather hand over the nerves of the driver. The compact size car driver provoke laid out in full at each attack on the throttle. With this device you want to experiment. The maximum speed of just above 200 km / h Not? Not at all, this vibrating substance on wheels, almost devoid of fairing, it will seem that the "bring down" you are no less than 250.

Sensation in the saddle two-fold: on one hand - compact size, athletic fit, short and low wheel very tightly fix the driver, creating a feeling of complete control over the machine. On the other - boo-boo uterine boo-liter engine rather big and crazy brake constantly keep on their toes. How to say Carlson (who lives on the roof): Wild, but with a motor best cast.

This bike is not for physical recreation at the wheel. Rather, it's sports equipment for riding alone, which should be a fair amount of strength and will, it is more likely to relax the soul and the cajoling of his self-centeredness. I would not call it Street Fighter, a power bike. It seems that the idea of ​​the creator of the bike Erik Buell endless. And if he gets more and to new materials (carbon fiber, titanium, etc.) and the latest engine V-Rod, then the Italians will have very bad. Ah, Eric, ah yes ... a son, he still made a cult bike! Albeit with a wayward character, which is 100% percent have to get used to any driver, but it has incredible positive force charisma on which bike you love, like an old friend, with all its quirks and shortcomings. Needless to say that now, wake me up at night and ask, what I want to ride ... the answer is certainly unique: the Buell!