Buell XB-9S X LIGHTNING City Cross 2007 — Specifications

Naming a motorcycle "City Cross" when it struggles to filter through traffic is a bit like calling a bulldog "Gazelle." Erik Buell had a genius for bold technical solutions, not necessarily for marketing. The 2007 XB-9SX is a variant of the standard Lightning dressed up with accessories that give it the look of an urban adventurer: headlight protection grille, raised cross-style handlebars, hand guards, and that translucent blue plastic airbox cover that genuinely recalls the Apple aesthetic of the era. Black wheels, a new seat, the belt and pulley from the XB-12S as a technical dowry, and the beast is presented as purpose-built for the city.

The problem is that the city doesn't quite care. Aboard this machine at €9,750, the urban commuter quickly discovers the limits of the concept. The 984cc 45-degree V-twin, derived from the Harley block, produces 92 horsepower at 7,200 rpm and 85.3 Nm at 5,600 rpm, but those figures live in the upper registers. Down low, the engine only half-responds, the five-speed gearbox engages its notches with approximate precision, and the cooling fan makes itself loudly known in traffic jams. The 850mm seat height positions the rider as if on a supermoto, offering a fine view over car rooftops — provided you have the legs to reach the ground. And when a U-turn is required, best to locate a parking lot in advance, given the generous turning radius.

Leaving urban areas, however, radically changes the conversation. The XB-9SX weighs 175 kg dry and 204 kg fully fueled, a compact package that translates into genuine agility once the road starts twisting. The aluminum perimeter frame, which doubles as a 14-liter fuel tank, lowers the center of gravity and contributes to handling that many European roadsters could envy. At mid-range, the twin wakes up properly, the belt smooths out the power pulses, and the machine finds its natural rhythm through fast-flowing corners. The claimed top speed of 210 km/h is not a target on public roads, but it speaks to a potential that winding country roads know how to unlock.

Against a KTM Duke or a Ducati Monster of the same era, the Buell plays a different tune. It has neither the mechanical refinement of the Italian nor the surgical lightness of the Austrian. What it offers instead is a personality marked to excess, engineering choices that provoke thought, and a riding experience that cuts against the European consensus. That is precisely why its fans forgive it everything else. If you're looking for a versatile and sensible tool, look elsewhere. If you want a motorcycle that tells a story on every ride, the XB-9SX still has things to say.