As someone who hasn't ridden a Buell but wants one eventually, what the heck is the difference between the Firebolt and the Lightening (besides to obvious cosmetic differences) that allows the Firebolt to lean so much more?

The Buell website says the Firebolt will do 47 degrees before soft contact, but the Lightening will only do 40. For someone who thinks they're really hanging it out at 30 degrees of lean, I can't really figure out from just the pictures why there's a difference. To me, they look like they have the same frame and geometry.

Does anyone out there with some real experience know?

The firebolt have clip on handlebars that put the wieght of the body closer to the bike and I think the rearsets are tighter in also. The suspension on the rear might be different and the front forks might be a different length also.

These are my guess's but I could be way off

The pegs are mounted an 1 1/2" higher on the FB. Go to a dealer and look at them side by side and you'll see. Also the pegs can be changed from either one of those bikes to the other.

DC.

The chassis of the bikes are identical - all suspension, frame, etc. is all the same. The Firebolt has lower bars...not quite clipons, but the same idea - the're a 1-peice cast aluminum peice vs. the Lightnings standard bars which are a bit higher.

The lean angle has to do with the pegs. A Firebolt has the same pegs, but they're set 1" higher.

I have ridden both bikes and both are a hoot to ride. My advice is if you want to have a chance at riding all day, I'd get the Lightning.