2007 Buell Lightning XB12STT SuperTT

Buell keeps refining its range of exciting motorcycles and the Super TT is the most exciting of them all so far. Tweak the suspension a bit, add a mixture of adventure and streetfighter styling and you have the Buell Super TT.

No one makes a 1203cc motorcycle look as compact as Buell. Every mass and fluid needed to create a naked street fighting motorcycle is squeezed into every little space and corner available to the engineers. The result is a package that is still as innovative as ever. The Super TT is an iron fist where the chassis widens around the fuel tank dummy like knuckles widens your hand. The XB12STT is Buell’s addition to the growing trend of super sized supermoto styled streetfighters. TT in the name reflects on the old TT races in America, the Ascot TT etc. In Buell’s mind the supermoto is just as much a niche created in America as in Europe.

The 1203cc Thunderstorm motor is at the centre of the attention. Even though any Buell looks like you could wrap both your hands around it and lift it with ease that air-cooled V-twin looks smaller than it is. At a compact 45 degree angle it takes less space than a 90 degree L twin but vibrates a whole lot more. Standing still on idle the physically small motorcycle almost jumps up and down if you rev it a bit. It’s because it’s eager to ride you see, but certainly adds to the character.

First gear is tall, too tall for my liking and the power band kicks in with a slight delay when clutching it up on one wheel in second gear. The air-cooled engine definitely carries punch and a good portion of torque for a meaty midrange. But the Super TT does not feel like the hooligan it could be. With such a short wheelbase (1372mm) the Buell STT should be trying to wring itself into knots at every touch of the throttle. But it doesn’t and it is because it handles so damn well. Launching it from first gear at the lights is like launching a tamed beast. The STT is more of a sports bike in the handling and power delivery departments. The acceleration is not as smooth as on an air-cooled L-twin, but much is disguised by exquisite handling. Better handling than most 90 degree L-twins I have ever ridden!

So really what I am doing here is complaining that the STT does not feel wild enough to ride. But that is because it is so composed, deceivingly composed and the STT will do whatever the rider wants at the end of the day. The whole package is so manageable and going fast in the corners is the easiest thing in the world.

For a big supermoto the Super TT features firmer standard suspension set up and less travel than for instance KTM 950 SM. I played a bit on the beach with the TT and the 17 inch front wheel carries too much weight over it to be fun in softer sand. It just digs in and there’s not enough grip from the Pirelli Scorpion Sync rear tyre on the soft stuff to get me out of trouble. But on the hard sand both the Pirelli Scorpion Sync and suspension works much better. The Super TT is too wide around the front of the fuel tank dummy cover and I can’t stretch my leg out next to the front wheel properly supermoto style. Even though the STT features a narrow single seat supermoto style seat I can’t get far enough forward to make use of it as intended on a SM. What I could do was changing riding position from left to right on the hard tarmac very fast. And this is where the STT belongs, on the tight B-roads and in town. It is not a bike to ride supermoto style though, so both feet are on the pegs at all times.

The Super TT is a mixture between the City-X and the Ulysses but very much road orientated. As mentioned earlier the suspension (Showa) is firm enough for fast cornering but softer than on a sportsbike. I caught myself over steering the STT in certain corners making them tighter. So I carried more and more corner speed whilst still being able to change direction if needed. STT is brilliant at cornering and can carry a lot of corner speed without upsetting the chassis the slightest. When the brakes are needed it’s the same story again, I am unable to upset the chassis whatever I try to do. Hard braking, hard acceleration, you name it and the STT handles it with ease. The rim mounted and lightweight front brake has got all the power that you will ever need delivered through a six-piston calliper.

When I first sat on the new STT I was surprised to find a very low seat height for this type of motorcycle-Only 798mm above the ground on a narrow seat. This is an American thing for US riders that seem to enjoy riding as close as possible to the tarmac. The Super TT works well anyway and the wide handlebars with hand protectors at each end let me steer with ease. I would have wanted some more suspension travel to tackle city centre curbs and obstacles with more confidence.

Apart from small issues like the deviation from the ‘real’ supermoto and engine vibrations the Buell XB12STT Super TT is one really entertaining motorcycle to ride. The STT is involving, special due to its size, solutions and unconventional 45 degree air-cooled V-twin. STT handles like no other motorcycle and due to the rugged muscular looks, middle of the tree seat height and extreme mass centralisation the Buell can be recommended to almost any type and shape rider.

Pfeil is an Austrian custom painter and has since 1992 painted everything from small scooters to big custom motorcycles in the US, and everything in between including helmets. Buell hired Pfeil to do his magic on the new Super TT. I was lucky enough to see Pfeil in action and to ride one of the custom painted STT's in Spain (white/blue STT). Buell wants every new STT owner to customise the white panels on the motorcycle. Erik Buell advised to just leave the STT out in town at night to allow it to be graphitised, but if you are slightly more demanding by nature you could give the job to someone like Marcus Pfeil.

22/03/2007

Woke up in sunny Spain early with a bleeding cold from the flight last night. I do admit that everything is moving at turbo pace now and I might have been tough on my body with little sleep and mucho workie lately. So when a fully booked Easyjet flight is on my agenda I was bound to pick up all the bugs in the air. But it's all good and the end result from these last two weeks will be a good one! Had some breakfast at our 5 star Sotogrande resort hotel and got ready to go another round with the Buell XB12STT Super TT. But this time in Spain where there is no lacking in corners! And some really decent corners too up the mountains. A bit chilly in the morning, but temperatures picked up after lunch. The Super TT that had been set up for my weight felt better and more aggressive than the one I rode in Daytona Beach. The gas was more responsive and directly linked to my right hand. This was great on the twisty roads in Andalucia. Got all the shots that I needed with ease and Jürgen Mainx once again did a great and efficient job. During the day the bolt that holds the gear linkage together loosened and fell off. Suddenly I had nothing between the footpeg and my foot. So I was stuck in second gear until we stopped for another photo location down the mountain. Secong gear was ok everywhere on this road and the massive torque curve easily allows you to get going in second. However it stopped me from cornering properly so I jumped on another TT whilst waiting for the spare part to be collected from the improvised garage at the hotel. This one was a bit of a beast running on high idle. The fuel injection felt snatchy and mid corner I got the bike surging forward when I didn't want it too. So advised the Buell staff and was told that this is how all Buells are when they are new. All that is needed is an adjustment to the ECU. No manual adjustment of the idle speed then. finally got back on my fixed bike and was happy again. Also rode one of the customised Super TT's with artwork from German artist Marcus for the cameras. After doing tracking shots and a change of clothing we did a few static shots at some sort of Orange plantage or something before the landowner chased us away. But not before taking our license plate numbers and calling the local police. We then went and had a long Siesta that consisted of squids, kalimare and more squids... When I felt I had ridden the Super TT enough and got all the shots I swapped over to the 2007 Buell XB12X Ulysses. It's quite a lot differemnt to ride than the Super TT, but I am iundecided which is more fun! That is definately a good thing for the Ulysses. There is nothing the Uly can't do that the TT can and it's more practical, but heavier. Hmmm... Headed back to the hotel before the sun went down to film German paintbrush artist Marcus in action customising one of the Super TT's number plate boards. Great to see how someone can do a long pinstripe freehand. I then did a group shot and walk around videos of all the bikes Buell brought. Tomorrow I ride the Lightning range and the Ulysses adventure version fully kitted with panniers and GI-Joe paint job. Some offroad on the programme too and I really look forward to that. Good night from Spain! TS