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OldGeezer
06-09-2012, 12:46 AM
Just wanted to share some of the recent mods I made to the bike:
GPR Stabilizer
CRG bi;;et aluminium bar end mirrors
Stainless buckle guard
LSL footpegs
XB Tail light (it hurts the eyes it is so bright!)
XB billet aluminium shift pedal and brake pedal

For the observant and curious among you, the blue clothes pin, which I didn't notice in the first couple of pics, holds the small solar panel which trickle charges my battery and keeps it nicely at full charge. I attached the wires to my battery and have a plug that sits just inside the plastics above the brake master cylinder. The wire from the panel plugs in there and runs out under the cover I put over the bike, up to the windshield and gets held in place by the clothes pin, the panel just hangs from the clothes pin.

Next up are the Kellerman Micro 1000 LED turn signals, and XB Dashboard and the Brembo rear hidden caliper and a hydraulic clutch conversion.

http://www.buellxb.com/buell_images/11513_20120608175437_L.jpg
http://www.buellxb.com/buell_images/11513_20120608175732_L.jpg
http://www.buellxb.com/buell_images/11513_20120608180128_L.jpg
http://www.buellxb.com/buell_images/11513_20120608180613_L.jpghttp://www.buellxb.com/buell_images/11513_20120608181222_L.jpghttp://www.buellxb.com/buell_images/11513_20120608180904_L.jpghttp://www.buellxb.com/buell_images/11513_20120608180751_L.jpg

oh9bolt
06-09-2012, 12:49 AM
Your gas cap is up side down. :p

Nice bike and mods other than that.

snrusnak
06-09-2012, 01:06 AM
Damn oh9bolt, you're like the gas cap nazi. I honestly double check mine every time because of you lol.

Nice looking bike and mods [up]

GAXB9R
06-09-2012, 02:15 AM
mine stays upside down just for you oh9bolt:p

Abledcool1
06-09-2012, 02:21 AM
How do you like that stabilizer?

onelogue
06-09-2012, 03:43 AM
Bikes looks great!

holds the small solar panel which trickle charges my battery and keeps it nicely at full charge.
You leave your bike out in the sun? No cover or anything?

oh9bolt
06-09-2012, 03:48 AM
Sorry guys its is the first thing I look at if its upside down, dont ask me why I am weird. :D

I just dont see how when you can look down when riding and see lleub. [confused]

OldGeezer
06-09-2012, 12:07 PM
Thanks guys.

lleub - reminds me to change the oils? LOL Actually oh9bolt I never look at my tank when I'm riding :) but I do have a reason, perhaps lame, but a reason and that is I hope that with the flap oriented that way it helps to keep rain from driving into the lock. However, knowing how it disturbs you I'll switch it around LOL

Onelogue, yes my bike sits outside during the riding season, but I always have a cover over it when it is parked. The clothes pin holds the wire to the cover and the small panel hangs down resting on the windshield. I'll upload a picture later. Canadian Tire had these panels on sale for $12 and I just thought I'd experiment with it. So far I am really pleased, the battery always stays fully charged, which is good for lead acid batteries.

Ablecool1 I like it a lot so far. I just installed it day before yesterday so I haven't had much riding with it yet. It will take a little experimenting to find the optimum setting for various kinds of ridiing, but so far I think it is great. The install was dead simple and really easy and the easily adjustable damping is a nice feature and it definitely works.

OldGeezer
06-09-2012, 12:11 PM
Oh yeah, forgot to mention one upcoming mod which is oh9bolt's fault :) I'm going to wrap my headers with the DEI Titanium wrap he has on his, I think it looks sharp and it will be nice to get some of the heat off my leg as well as the frame and rear cylinder, though I do have a RRS

Xb12armyguy
06-10-2012, 01:14 AM
I like the xb tail but too much cost for me a just did the buell 2010 led tail it was like 78 , love the shift and brake how much were those?

OldGeezer
06-10-2012, 01:43 AM
Hey armyguy, I agree the XB tail light is not cheap, but after I got it installed I asked my buddyto stand behind the bike and tell me if it worked and how bright it was. When I put the brake on he literally took a step back, put a hand over his eyes and said "whoa" So when I have a car on my tail that is what I want, definitely get his attention and make him want to apply the binders :D

The shift pedal is here http://www.americansportbike.com/shoponline/ccp0-prodshow/16207.html and the brake pedal is here http://www.americansportbike.com/shoponline/ccp0-prodshow/16208.html They are not cheap either. The shift lever comes with a single wall black heat shrink tubing as the knurling on the knob is very aggressive and will mark up a boot. I chose to use heavy duty double wall heat shrink tubing for durability and because I thought the red might look good, but I am not convinced and may go to black when it wears out. The levers are silky smooth in their movement, they are a very nice piece of work and worth the $$ IMO

snrusnak
06-10-2012, 01:58 AM
I think the cap oriented that way is easier to get the key in and get it off. I don't get off my bike though at the pump, I guess it wouldn't matter which way it was oriented if you got off the bike. Anyway that's why I keep mine like that...

I want to get an xb tail but damn they are not cheap. They are bright though, I just got to save up lol.

OldGeezer
06-10-2012, 12:22 PM
snrusnak I agree with you about it being easier to get off with it oriented that way.

Yes I had to think about it for some time before I bought the tail light, but I am really glad I did and it is beautifully made, he does a realy nice job.

Oldgit
06-10-2012, 12:38 PM
Glad you posted this thread OldGeezer. I want to get bar end mirrors and was wondering just yesterday what to do with the stubs of the OEM mirrors. What are those you have mounted on the stubs? (looking at pic 4 it looks like some blinker or reflector?)

Whats your rear visibility like with those mirrors? With OEM I just see some peripheral vision plus my elbows, so they are bloody useless. In order to see if someone is behind me I need to lean one way and look the other, if you know what I mean.

OldGeezer
06-10-2012, 01:21 PM
Hi Oldgit, glad you found it interesting/useful. The plates you see on the fairing are mirror block off plates and you can buy them from american sport bike (asb), either in carbon fibre of polished aluminium. Other places sell them as well. I vaguely remember seeing a thread on this forum about a guy that was selling these plates shaped like the buell emblem, the pegasus. Lots of choice out there. You need soething to hold the fairing to the fairing mount once you remove the mirrors in any case. I bought my mirrors from asb, you'll also have to get the bar end adapters as they don't come with the mirrors. They are extremely well made and solid with no vibration, even between 1800 & 2500 rpm. Well OK there has to be some, but it is not noticeable. I find visibility in them is very good and I can see the lanes to either side of me very well. Yes, I can still see a little bit of myself and the bike, but that is the way I have them adjusted at present. Also if you did break the glass it can be replaced, so you are not looking at replacing the whole mirror.

Mark XB12r
06-10-2012, 11:38 PM
Your gas cap is up side down.

Its ok He's Canadien :)

oh9bolt
06-11-2012, 01:07 AM
Its ok He's Canadien

LOL

For the record I sit on my bike while filling fuel and im pretty sure most bikes open the fuel cap the "correct" way not upside down. ;)

Thanks for all the love. :D

OldGeezer
06-11-2012, 12:14 PM
Hey Mark you forgot the Eh? :)

OldGeezer
06-14-2012, 09:10 PM
Hey onelogue, here's the picture I promised
http://www.buellxb.com/buell_images/11513_20120614150114_L.jpg

OldGeezer
06-14-2012, 09:29 PM
Hey oh9bolt, just to set your mind art ease :)
http://www.buellxb.com/buell_images/11513_20120614150227_L.jpg

netty2424
06-14-2012, 10:58 PM
^he hasn't slept a wink in days until you posted that pic OlGeezer!

Rest easy Oh9bolt, rest easy! :D

oh9bolt
06-14-2012, 11:17 PM
:) My wife has been asking me what has been wrong lately, I told her im tired from working.... Finally now I can be in a better mood around her. [up]

OldGeezer
06-14-2012, 11:22 PM
LOL Nice, glad I could help restore domestic bliss :)

Tomorrow I'm going to put the DEI Titanium wrap on my headers, if it doesn't rain.

Any tips or tricks Oh9bolt?

oh9bolt
06-14-2012, 11:30 PM
Take your time, wrap it tight, for getting the wrap up to the the 02 sensor I made a couple over lapping tight but not too tight wraps and put on the hose clamp then slid that up to the 02 sensor take off the seat and there is a spot where you can get a wrench down to the hose clamp, I tightened the clamp with a socket. Where the pipes meet I just wrapped them as far as I could then wrapped both pipes together.

The rest is pretty sell explanitory just take your time you will be happy you did.

Before

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s103/jacogan/BUELL/73907b93-1.jpg

After

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s103/jacogan/BUELL/904f2ab5.jpg

OldGeezer
06-14-2012, 11:38 PM
Thanks, good advice.

I decided to use the DEI Titanium because your pipes look so good.

How is the wrap standing up so far?

oh9bolt
06-14-2012, 11:57 PM
It is holding up good other than the headers are bent...sigh. The rss rear mount is digging into the wrap. I am in the process of getting a brand new header from Hardley.

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s103/jacogan/BUELL/c90f9330.jpg

And here is a pic of where you can get the socket down to tighten the hose clamp.

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s103/jacogan/BUELL/9f39225d.jpg

oh9bolt
06-15-2012, 12:05 AM
Thanks BTW!

My new pipes I have decided are going to be ceramic coated black. If I dont like it I will wrap them again.

OldGeezer
06-15-2012, 12:16 AM
Thanks for the pictures, very helpful! Sorry to hear about the header problem, that sucks.

I was going to get some new headers and have them ceramic coated (the p.o. low-sided the bike and ground a bit of a flat spot on the existing headers) but decided I would wait till I had made up my mind about whether to go with stock headers or get some equal length ones. I was going to go with silver ceramic coating as it supposedly is best at cutting the heat though it doesn't look as sexy as black.

In the meantime the wrap is definitely a nice looking option and practical too.

oh9bolt
06-15-2012, 12:26 AM
The wrap is a good option and look imo. I just feel if I have the pipes off I might as well have them ceramic coated.

[up] GL wrapping them post up some pics so I can pick them apart, you better do a good job or else. :D :p Just messing with you!

OldGeezer
06-15-2012, 12:34 AM
[up] I agree 100% on coating them if you have them off . I am a big fan of ceramic coating. A guy I know had his pipes ceramic coated inside and out and you could put your hand on them within a minute or two of shutting down the engine, it was amazing.

Thanks, I will take some pics and do the best job possible knowing a perfectionist (which is not a bad thing) will be reviewing them :)

oh9bolt
06-15-2012, 12:39 AM
Dont worry I pick my bike apart myself, I am never satisfied. I was born with a curse. My wrap job could have been better imo, that is just the way I am.

OldGeezer
06-15-2012, 12:47 AM
Constructive criticism is the best way to learn and attention to detail a very useful trait.

I used to be far more of a perfectionist than I am now, I've mellowed some in my old age :D either that or senility is creeping up LOL

Oldgit
06-17-2012, 12:44 PM
Again, glad you brought up the header wrapping. I'm getting some DEI Titanium wraps next month, exactly the same colour (tho was tossing up between black or gold) :D Good tips there oh9bolt [up]

OldGeezer
06-20-2012, 02:54 PM
OK oh9bolt, here is the new DEI Titanium wrap I put on as well as the new XB Dashboard and the new Kellerman turn signals.

I came darn close to removing the rear shock and fan so I could get the wrap all the way up to the head, past the O2 sensor, but sanity prevailed :D

Your trick for getting it started up by the O2 sensor works great, it was just the idea of an unwrapped (small) section of header seemed kind of incomplete, like I wasn't doing the job quite right.

Anyway it is done and looks not too bad. I put a new billet oil filter and did the rivet eliminator while I was at it.

I like my new dashboard, thought the pictures don't really do it justice and the new turn signals look pretty good as well I think. I also replaced all my dash bulbs with LEDs while I had it apart. Looks pretty good though I stayed with white LEDs.

I am going to do the hidden caliper next, but need some input from you guys. I not only want to improve the looks with the mod, but also performance. I find the Buell rear brake pretty wooden and anemic.

There have been a number of threads about moding the rear MC, with different MCs recommnded and ways of mounting. Which is the best MC to choose and what is the best way to mount it?

Thanks for the help

http://www.buellxb.com/buell_images/11513_20120620083648_L.jpg
http://www.buellxb.com/buell_images/11513_20120620083740_L.jpg
http://www.buellxb.com/buell_images/11513_20120620083316_L.jpg
http://www.buellxb.com/buell_images/11513_20120620083232_L.jpg
http://www.buellxb.com/buell_images/11513_20120620083533_L.jpg
http://www.buellxb.com/buell_images/11513_20120620083433_L.jpg

lvlark
06-20-2012, 03:20 PM
Where did you get the oil filter??
And here is where I got the caliper with mounting bracket
Twin Motorcycles (http://www.twinmotorcycles.nl/webshop/artikel.asp?guid=YXHFSC&aid=299&cid=196&s=&a=&aname=Buell_XB_UPGRADE_to_2_piston_rear_brake_cali per)

OldGeezer
06-20-2012, 04:28 PM
Hi ivlark, thanks for the link! I bought my filter here http://www.americansportbike.com/shoponline/ccp0-prodshow/9034.html

it is not cheap, but on the other hand it is a much better filter, is re-usable and looks good. I change my oils a lot and I always change the filter as well, so I figure I should break even in a couple of years.

In any case, we spend a lot of money on our bikes for looks alone, so 3 times better performance and perhaps a long term savings to go along with the looks was enough to convince me :D
Cheers

OldGeezer
06-20-2012, 04:38 PM
One thing I meant to add, the lens on my dashboard had some pretty visible scratches and a big whitish rub mark (1/4" wide x 2-1/2" long) from something the p.o. did. He was good at keeping the bike mechanically well maintained, but cosmetically not so much…

Anyway it has always bugged me and while I had the dash apart I used some Mothers lens polish on it. It is a kit which is intended to restore oxydized & scratched headlight lenses. I just applied it with a lintfree cloth and rubed it in nicely and was blown away by how fantastic a job it did. You would never know that lens wasn't brand new out of the box.

Just an FYI if any of you have similar scratches or swirl marks on your dash lens. I am going to try it on a hidden piece of body plastic to see how it does on that & will let you all know how it works.

lvlark
06-20-2012, 04:51 PM
so you say the filter is reusable. but can you then change the filter inside or do you clean the filter itself?

OldGeezer
06-20-2012, 04:55 PM
A quick review on the Kellermans:

I think they look really nice and are definitely very well made. Two improvements I would sugest and which some of you might find to be cons against them.

1) They do not come with connectors already attached so you have to buy and install bullet connectors and heat shrink tubing in order to plug them in. They do come with crimp marrets (you twist the correcponding bike wire and turnsignal wires together, insert them in a cap which you then crimp) and no heat shrink tubing. Considering how expensive these are I think it is a pretty cheap & cheezy arrangement. Also not removeable so if you ever want to take your fairing off again you'll have to cut the wires and buy the bullet connectors and heat shrink anyway… so pretty bad marketing IMO

2) They don't have a locating tang on them the way the stock ones do, so it requires a bit of fiddling and adjusting to get them to line up properly, especially as the turn signal wants to rotate as you tighten the nut which holds it in place - and they don't provide a couple of flats you can get a wrench on them to hold them with.

Not really big problems, but again details which could definitely be improved and would leave picky ass***** like me with a better opinion of their design philosophy.

To be fair, these LEDs are made to mount on any bike, not just Buells, so the connector issue could simply be that they would have had to include a whole bunch of different connectors to make tem work with any bike. I still think they should have at least provided a male & female bullet conector for each wire along with some heat shrink tubing. I mean these sell for a lot, so what is a couple of extra pennies for the connectors and tubing?

OK that is my rant for the day LOL :D

oh9bolt
06-20-2012, 04:57 PM
[up] looks good, you made a nice job!

Wait your gas is facing the right way, yes I am making a difference...

OldGeezer
06-20-2012, 05:07 PM
Hey Ivkark, the filter has an internal screen assembly which you remove and clean using kerosene, brake cleaner or some other mild solvent, even soap & hot water. You clean the housing inside & outside too, re-insert the screen assembly add some oil (it take a while for the oil to seep through the screen, so if you add the oil to the housing and just push the filter screen in it will overflow (my brain engaged just before I pushed) so what I did was insert the screen and let it settle/wet out while I finished changing the oil. There is at least one magnet pressed into the frame of the screen, at the top of the filter on the inlet side.

Once you have the screen assembly inserted, you push down and give it 1/3 of a turn and this rotates its tangs (which are machined into the billet top of the frame that holds the screen so that they engage in recesses machined into the lip of the casing. The screen assembly sits on a spring which exerts a little pressure and which holds it in place until you screw it on.

I'm sorry I didn't think to take pictures of it when I installed it, it is well made and appears to be a pretty foolproof design. I'll take some pics next time I chage the oil & post them

OldGeezer
06-20-2012, 05:14 PM
Thanks oh9bolt! Yes, thanks to you I saw the light and fixed my gas cap :D LOL just teasing and thanks for the pointers, they made the job a snap.

Given the taper on the collector I think it would make sense to wrap from the muffler up, except of course that the laps would be facing the "wrong" way. I doubt the wind would catch them and cause a problem and doing it that way would allow a better/tighter/neater wrap on the collecter, however it would make it way more difficult to finish up the wrap at the heads, especially on the rear one - damned near impossible on the rear actually.

Like I said, your method makes it a piece of cake.