Pointers on purchasing a tube Buell

[fredmalito4]

Greetings, all;

My name is Fred, and I hope to be haunting your pages for a good long while. This is my first post.

Some years ago I bought a new XB12s, and loved it. Then came the day that I wanted to ride to the local bike night, but my very young son wanted to go for the first time. Not wanting him on the back of the Buell, he rode with his step dad, a close buddy of mine. Watching him ride with someone else was unacceptable, however, so the Buell was traded on my current '06 Street Glide the very next day. I punished myself by getting a plate for it that reads "Covet" to remind myself how expensive jealousy is, and it remains there 8 years later.

Fast forward to today, and I am in a position to have other bikes, and the kid will be riding his own soon. Remembering the regret of losing the XB, but also not missing the engine oiling problems that led to two warrantee motors, I have a quandary. I want a Buell, but I also know H-D will stop all dealer support this year, so I think a XB is no longer a viable choice for me, and I have no interest in the alternate motor bikes. Tube frame bikes were still Evo Sportster motors for the most part as far as I know, so aftermarket support should be plentiful.

The M2 and X1 are looking groovy, but I think I am leaning toward carbureted engines so that I can easily do modifications. Also, I want a two gauge dash for sure. No tach? Nuh uh. I plan on keeping this one for the long haul, so parts availability and rebuild-ability are a must. I will never race it, or travel much on it, but I do want something comparable to the grunt the XB12s had. That this was a riot!

So, I am looking for corrections to my way of thinking, suggestions on model years, what to look for or be wary of... you get the idea. All comments are welcome, and thank you for taking the time!

Fred

[d_adams]

but I also know H-D will stop all dealer support this year

And you got this info from where...?

Tube frame bikes were still Evo Sportster motors for the most part as far as I know, so aftermarket support should be plentiful

Of all the Buells produced, the XB variants had the highest number. The total overall number for everything was just under 137,000 bikes made, of those, the XB's account for 68,897 of them. There will be xb parts around longer than there will be for tubers. 1125's accounted for less than 10,000 of them. Blasts account for about 22,000 or so, so that leaves you with about 30,000 tuber bikes, give or take over a 15+ year span of different models. I don't know them all, but the M2 was probably the next highest number made, maybe 9-10k of them. Next would probably be the X1, then the S2/S3 variants. Then you get into the older models, there's a lot less of those still around and getting parts for them is getting MUCH harder to source.

[user_deleted]

I have a quandary. I want a Buell, but I also know H-D will stop all dealer support this year, so I think a XB is no longer a viable choice for me,

if your choice is merely based on parts availability for the XB models in particular, it is a non-issue. H-D still has tens of thousands of XB parts in their pipeline as does the aftermarket for all XB models. if and when the pipeline dries up the aftermarket will kick in and and reproduce what's needed. ask any Vincent or Kawasaki H1/H2 owner to confirm. and the perishables such as tires/pads/belts/cables/filters/gaskets/seals/bearings/brackets/grips and much more will always be available. bottom line is i wish you good health and a long life but you'll never out-live the parts supply chain.

[fredmalito4]

Alright, guys, thanks for the input. To answer the question about H-D stopping the production of parts, that came from the parts department of Ocala Harley-Davidson, a Buell dealer in Florida, via a memo that they received from their corporate offices. Manufacturers are required (at least in the US) to have parts available for any vehicle they produced for 5 years from the point that production ceased, and that time fast approaching. This I know from my experience in the automotive repair industry.

What that means to me is an end to dealer support in the foreseeable future. As the later model Buells are computer controlled fuelies, I am leery of them. That carbureted engines are easier to upgrade, though they of course have their own performance limitations, isn't really arguable.

So, no, my choice isn't solely based on parts and service availability, but that is high on my list. I like the look of the M2 and X1, and really like that they are an HD engine, whereas it looks like the XB got farther and father away from that; dedicated cases, jugs, heads, etc., especially in the later years. The oiling system problems really leave me cold. I guess I'd like an XB12s in black with gold wheels and gold emblems just like my old one, but with the reliability it never had, so perhaps that's a pipe dream.

BTW, I can't find a spot to receive email notifications on replies. Is that possible on this board?

Thanks again!

[Cosworth]

The tube buells are awesome I dont think anyone here would try to steer you away from one. But I would hardly call the XB's unreliable sure they have quirks and a couple issues to be ironed out but there are tons of high mile xb's still going strong my xb9sx is fast approaching 40k miles on all stock engine. Computer issues are few far and inbetween plus all the sensors are taken from typical market sensors (gm,ford,delphi etc) And the computers are still being made by EBR

The only oiling problem I can think of was the early oil pump gear drive but thats easy to remedy if caught before the gear goes bad.


Anyway welcome to the board, my favorite tubers in order are S-1, X-1, S-3

[d_adams]

Manufacturers are required (at least in the US) to have parts available for any vehicle they produced for 5 years from the point that production ceased

Got that in writing? I've questioned that before, Court Canfield asked that as well. There's nothing out there that "forces" them to supply parts for any period of time, not 3 years, 5 years or even the 7 year rumor that floated around at the time of Buell's closing. If the company closes it's doors, you're not getting **** out of them for parts.

[d_adams]

BTW, I can't find a spot to receive email notifications on replies. Is that possible on this board?

Not yet, but it's being discussed. Possible upgrades to the forum, just depends on several factors for importing this current one's database into a different one.


And btw, I'm not trying to steer you away from tubers, I have one myself, it's a 2000 M2.

[fredmalito4]

Nope, nothing in writing. I've been hearing it for 20-some years, and heard it again from the parts guy yesterday, so it must be true... right?

Well, then, if later model bikes aren't having oil issues like my '04's bottom end did, how easily upgradable are they? I.E., reprogramming the ECM for different pipes, air cleaners, etc. I saw a low mileage '09 Firebolt for a reasonable price, but I'm a big ol' boy, and ain't sure I could fit my hiney in that seat. I sure do like it, though...

That's another reason for looking at the older bikes; seating area. I'm 6ft, nearly 300lbs! Yeah, yeah, yeah, I don't wanna hear it. :)

[pur pony]

I own and ride an X1. Bought it in 08 with 3500 miles. Have had very few issues with it to date and love it to death ever time i get on it. S1's are sweet and I would like to own one as well, but the seat can be pretty rough. The X1 and 99+ M2 have a nice wider seat. With that said, the stock seats still are not the greatest. I had a buell pro seat which was great but have since had my factory seat reworked and its perfect now. X1 are fuel injected but i prefer that to carb and have not had any issues. M2 are carbed. The great thing about the X1 is the removable side plate for easy belt changed instead of having to spread the frame.

some things to look out for on the tubers are the isolators, both front and rear. There are new updated ones available. Also, the front engine mounts are known to crack on the tubers, billet ones are available. Also, check to see if the rear shock is leaking or not. Tubers have a 16.5" shock or a newer updated 14.5" shock. Also, known problems are the oil pump drive gear and the primary adjuster. I have upgraded all the known issues on my bike and hopefully it stays trouble free for a long time.

good luck on the hunt. Tubers are more raw around the edges then an XB so remember that, but they are blast to ride!!

[d_adams]

how easily upgradable are they?

Very easy. TunerPro RT for the software, Mike Cobb for assistance getting it done if you don't know how on your own.