Cycle News

2015 EBR 1190SX FIRST RIDE P64 This American hotrod has all the traditional reserves of bottom- end grunt and mid-range torque that you expect from a twin-cyl- inder streetfighter, with the com- bination of its muscular torque peaking with 137.8Nm/101.6ft-lb available at 8200 rpm, that flaw- less mapping, and the exhaust system's quarter-wave resona- tor system, which considerably enhances bottom end and mid- range torque, and thus rideability. EBR's software engineers who were responsible for dial- ing in the settings for the Syn- ergec ECU have got the throttle response dead right, especially the pickup out of an apex from a closed throttle. There's a pre- cise, controllable response when you twist the wrist. However, once again, I found the new EBR to be grossly over- geared, as was its RX predeces- sor. The overall gearing at 16/41T is just way too long, and it should carry at least an extra 3T on the rear sprocket. It's hard to figure out why this should be, if not for passing the EPA's ride-by noise test – but the result is you have to use first and second gear more often than you should, especially riding through towns. However, the gearshift is crisp and sharp, and the hydraulic FCC oil-bath vacuum-operated slipper clutch has a far lighter action than the RX's much stiffer pull, thanks to EBR engineers having fitted lighter-rate springs and revalved the slave cylinder. Now there's no longer any risk of cramping up your left hand when riding in city traffic, espe- cially with such rangy gearing, as on the RX. And the degree of slip has been dialed in just right, with some residual engine brak- ing to help take advantage of the V-twin motor in slowing without chattering the rear wheel on the overrun, while still remaining sta- ble on the brakes. Kudos to EBR's R&D team for creating the 1190SX, which - like its fully faired sister - is a cleverly developed motorcycle incorpo- rating heaps of innovation, while delivering the traditional values of twin-cylinder Superbike engi- neering, in a modern context. It is in every way a modern rein- terpretation of the original Ducati Monster with which Miguel Gal- luzzi invented the streetfighter category a little over 20 years ago, by stripping off the body- work from a desmoquattro Su- perbike, and hanging lights and a horn on it. That's exactly what Buell and his boys have done in creating the 1190SX, a mod- ern update 10 years later of the pushrod air-cooled Buell Firebolt XB12R. The result is a damn fine traditional V-twin streetfighter – but with added performance. The best of both worlds. CN (Clockwise) Dems the brakes: The 1190SX uses Buell's trademark perimeter front disc that uses an eight-piston Nissin caliper. The bib-bore 1191 Rotax-designed, 72-degree V-twin makes 185 horsepower at 10,600 rpm. Rider's eye view of the newest EBR. The face of the 1190SX.

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