I do not like the huge bulges in the front of the fairing. Personally, the 2003 Firebolts were the best looking new generation Buell sportbikes imo. They don't look so over the top.
I owned an orange'99 Cyclone M2 with the still all Harley 1203cc powerplant with Buell Thunderstorm heads. Those bikes including the Lightning and X1 are still my favorite Buells. I'm sure the new ones are better, but the 883 sportster engine hot rodded with the huge jugs and Thunderstorm heads would rev like a 125cc MXer and had torque like a V8.

 

2003+ are definately nice - i'm still iffy on the firebolt front fairing - but i love the lightning naked streetfighter look.

 

Hey kohburn not true on the xb. The 1200 is a sportser motor and the 900 is actually a de-rated 1200 with smaller pistons and differant jugs. Same motor just smaller.

 

he said jugs.....

 

.....Jugs.....HuHuhuhhuuuu
No thanks......I'm gonna stay hard and wait for my F800GS from BMW............My KLX is a perfect commuter bike....But I need the big dog to satisfy my touring needs.!!!!It's not overkill it's necessity!!!!!

 

hmm? where did you get that info? the info on the buell forums said otherwise.

 

none of the newer Buells use sportster engines anymore. I think it was like 2002 they created an exclusive Buell engine that was balanced. The old Buells ran like scalded apes and vibrated like a funny car. It would put your hand to sleep just cruising down the road for miles and miles.
Not to throw this into a tangent, but the new 1200 sportsters are very quick and powerful for what they are. They're making around 80 rwhp stock I believe and they'renow allfuel-injected.