The Buell XB9SX is an oddity. What you get is an old-school v-twin in a high-tech chassis, all captivated up in a mad-max appearance burghal scrambler. On cardboard it makes actual little faculty – a avant-garde naked middleweight out-performs it in every applied way. But it looks great, sounds beggarly and the administration is sublime. It would be a adamantine acquirement to justify, but everybody should try one.
Engine
Unfortunately this is the Buell’s weak point. It’s charming 984cc V-twin motor has character, makes a reasonable 84bhp and pulls hard from very low revs (handy in town). But the XB9SX has very little in the way of top end. It also vibrates heavily (see our video) and the gearbox occasionally rewards undetermined changes with false neutrals. It’s great for squirting out of hairpins on B-roads, not so good on lengthy straights.
Ride and Handling
This is what the Buell XB9SX Lightning is all about. Make no mistake, it’s razor sharp and will fall on its ear like its name suggests. Erik Buell is obsessed with mass centralisation – to keep everything tight and low the exhaust is under the engine, fuel is in the frame and oil is in the swingarm. The rim mounted disc brake has a lot of initial bite and the wide motocross bars make weaving through traffic easy. Oddly though the XB9SX comes fitted with dual-purpose Pirelli Scorpion Sync tyres – probably mostly to fit the urban scrambler styling. They grip well enough and will come in handy if you happen to find yourself on a dirt road, but for most riders some standard sports or sports touring rubber would make more sense.
Equipment
The Buell XB9SX is as simple and uncluttered as its styling and the pillion seat is for ornamental use only. On the plus side the clocks are clear and easy to read and the mirrors are better than you would think. This is the City-X (pronounced ‘city cross’) version of the XB9 so you do get hand-guards, a grill over the dual-headlights and pucks on the frame to protect it in a spill. The overall effect is a stylish-looking urban scrambler. Available in 3 colours: ‘Villain black’, ‘Kick Ash Translucent’ or ‘Cherry Bomb Red Translucent’, but the translucent options are £370 more
Specifications
Engine
Unfortunately this is the Buell’s weak point. It’s charming 984cc V-twin motor has character, makes a reasonable 84bhp and pulls hard from very low revs (handy in town). But the XB9SX has very little in the way of top end. It also vibrates heavily (see our video) and the gearbox occasionally rewards undetermined changes with false neutrals. It’s great for squirting out of hairpins on B-roads, not so good on lengthy straights.
Ride and Handling
This is what the Buell XB9SX Lightning is all about. Make no mistake, it’s razor sharp and will fall on its ear like its name suggests. Erik Buell is obsessed with mass centralisation – to keep everything tight and low the exhaust is under the engine, fuel is in the frame and oil is in the swingarm. The rim mounted disc brake has a lot of initial bite and the wide motocross bars make weaving through traffic easy. Oddly though the XB9SX comes fitted with dual-purpose Pirelli Scorpion Sync tyres – probably mostly to fit the urban scrambler styling. They grip well enough and will come in handy if you happen to find yourself on a dirt road, but for most riders some standard sports or sports touring rubber would make more sense.
Equipment
The Buell XB9SX is as simple and uncluttered as its styling and the pillion seat is for ornamental use only. On the plus side the clocks are clear and easy to read and the mirrors are better than you would think. This is the City-X (pronounced ‘city cross’) version of the XB9 so you do get hand-guards, a grill over the dual-headlights and pucks on the frame to protect it in a spill. The overall effect is a stylish-looking urban scrambler. Available in 3 colours: ‘Villain black’, ‘Kick Ash Translucent’ or ‘Cherry Bomb Red Translucent’, but the translucent options are £370 more
Specifications
| Top speed | 120mph |
|---|---|
| 1/4-mile acceleration | secs |
| Power | 84bhp |
| Torque | 60ftlb |
| Weight | 177kg |
| Seat height | 765mm |
| Fuel capacity | 14.5 litres |
| Average fuel consumption | mpg |
| Tank range | miles |
| Insurance group |
| Engine size | 984cc |
|---|---|
| Engine specification | Thunderstorm air/oil/fan-cooled, 4-stroke, 45° V-Twin, 5 gears |
| Frame | Black aluminium frame with Uniplana powertrain vibration isolation system, fuel in frame |
| Front suspension adjustment | Fully-adjustable |
| Rear suspension adjustment | Fully-adjustable |
| Front brakes | 6-piston fixed calliper with single 375 inside-out floating disc |
| Rear brake | Single piston, floating caliper; stainless steel, fixed 240mm disc |
| Front tyre size | 120/70 ZR-17 |
| Rear tyre size | 180/55 ZR-17 |
| Top speed | 120mph |
|---|---|
| 1/4-mile acceleration | secs |
| Power | 84bhp |
| Torque | 60ftlb |
| Weight | 177kg |
| Seat height | 765mm |
| Fuel capacity | 14.5 litres |
| Average fuel consumption | mpg |
| Tank range | miles |
| Insurance group |
| Engine size | 984cc |
|---|---|
| Engine specification | Thunderstorm air/oil/fan-cooled, 4-stroke, 45° V-Twin, 5 gears |
| Frame | Black aluminium frame with Uniplana powertrain vibration isolation system, fuel in frame |
| Front suspension adjustment | Fully-adjustable |
| Rear suspension adjustment | Fully-adjustable |
| Front brakes | 6-piston fixed calliper with single 375 inside-out floating disc |
| Rear brake | Single piston, floating caliper; stainless steel, fixed 240mm disc |
| Front tyre size | 120/70 ZR-17 |
| Rear tyre size | 180/55 ZR-17 |
