So it might appear that the Buell is quicker than a Pani R in a 1/4 mile drag race and quite a lot cheaper too in an MCN test.Does soul and passion not transfer to real performance ??
I'm guessing that the R is a bit of a handfull to launch.The R obviously lunched it everywhere else.I know what I'd rather have too.
They love drag racing in the states so it wouldn't surprise me at all if the buell was set up to be easier to launch
In the article they do state that the Buell is quicker than the Panigale because it's easier to launch. Apparently this makes it quicker 0-60 and 0-100 as well. It also blamed slippery conditions. Mind you, it's a completely pointless test as I wouldn't have thought people with £14k would be looking at £28k bikes or vice versa. Wasn't this test just so that MCN could have another go on a Panigale R, and isn't that recommendation enough? They even said the EBR looked worse but it was the yellow one which looks crap as so much of the bike is black. The completely black one at the NEC looked so much better.
The EBR is shockingly ugly in a way that only the Americans can manage. Every detail is ugly. I'm no fan of the Pani's looks but it makes the Buell look hideous by comparison. Why cant Eric design something pretty as well? He's obviously a very bright guy. In todays market when all bikes are basically within 10ths of each other, the bikes looks and design can be a deciding factor. Make it pretty and it will sell.
Tommy Johnson Jr., Dodge top NHRA Funny Car qualifying at Pomona on Friday | Autoweek The air is thick with Buells in NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycles
There was a good article in Performance bikes last month with Michael Rutter riding the 1199s and the Buell around Mallory. The 1199s came second to only the BMW HP4 in their leaderboard for all the bikes tested this year and was very highly praised, with the caveat of it also being very scary to ride fast and completely mental haha. The Buell was also praised but it was way down the leader board.
I disagree, I wallow in its 'ugliness' as much as I wallow in the pani's sleek lines, I find it appealing to look at But then what would I know look who I'm living with It looks like it's out to do a job, some of the best designs imo are those by engineers rather than designers, made for a purpose rather than to look good I think most on here of course would rate the pani higher but how many have ridden one? Or do they all believe in the press opinions?
Yep,loads of Buells at this meeting but what is incredible are the top fuel times these days,3.754 @ 326 MPH.What on earth does that feel like.Jeez.
It must feel like the world is bending around you, i love top fuel dragsters they are utterly utterly bonkers machines. Some of the facts about them are just as crazy too. Dirty Hero16 Mind-Bending Facts About Top Fuel Dragsters | Dirty Hero My favourite fact about them (not in that link) is that if you took a Mclaren F1 and launched it as fast as it will accelerate up a standing mile, then launched a top fueler at the instant it crossed the final 1/4 mile to go line, the top fuel car would cross the finish line first...
They did say is the MCN test that is was the ease of launching that saw the EBR go ahead in the 1/4 mile. But if you look at the figures the advantage was minute. The figure for me that is more telling is the 40-120 mph roll-on time. In that test the Pani trounced the EBR convincingly. Far play to EBR though. It would seem they have made a very decent bike. Looks more bland than ugly to my eyes but it doesn't appeal to me. But good on Mr Buell. It can only be a good thing to have another serious runner in the paddock. Competition and new ideas are the lifeblood of motorcycling. I hope they do well with it. It would look a hell of a lot better in red.
I've never riden a Pani, so I can't comment on them, but... I had a Buell Firebolt as courtesy bike from Riders a few years ago when the ST4 was in for a service - ended up riding it for a whole week. I was amazed by how much torque there was at (what seemed like) very low rpm. The steering was very quick/sharp and took a bit of getting used to - for me at least. Much as the appearance is definitely an "aquired taste" it definitely got attention - being orange and black helped. I'm glad I had to give it back though - it would almost certainly have lost me my licence if I'd had it for a second week ! Amazingly quick both on twisting roads and on motorways - especially considering that it had an American tractor engine in it... I still can't understand how HD managed to let Buell go T/U.
