Hello, from a new Lightning owner - Motorcycle-Journal Forums

LDJ · 10-09-2008, 03:28 PM

I traded in my beloved '98 1200 Bandit on a '07 XB 12s that had never been titled. I like the look of the newer Lightning and heard the reliability issues of the past were pretty much resolved.The Buell is a flat out grin making gas. Great in the corners, the low end torgue is phenomenal and the sound, oh baby, the sound. It has a Drummer exhaust and if "loud pipes save lives," I figure I'm a super-hero. Never really was a fan of 'potato - potato' but this sounds like a Chevy 357 on nitrous. The front brakes are excellent and though it doesn't have the straight ahead oompah of the Bandit it'll do 100mph no sweat and ready for more. Going 100 or more is a bit challenging tho because the bike is definitely naked. The miniscule fairing is there only to shield the instruments. Fine by me, feeling the wind is one of the best things about riding and I can count on both hands the number of times I've cracked 100mph. I enjoyed long trips on the Bandit, it held a set of saddlebags with no problem, and was comfortable for hours on end. I don't think the Buell will be as good a long haul seat. But I hope to find that out next summer.
Well, just wanted to introduce myself and say 'hi'. I'd like to hear from other Lightning owners, what mods you've done, what you like and don't like, etc. By the way, mine is cherry bomb red - very cool.