Hey guys,
I just had some questions about the Buell XB12. I am considering a new bike and have had Honda, Suzuki, and Kawasaki's in the past. So I'm not new to sport bikes. But I am new to a v twin bike. I am considering this due to my taste changing as I have gotten older for a more naked bike and the Buell XB really gets me excited since its been some years from my last cycle. I am one to do major modification on aesthetics and some performance on motor etc.. So I had some questions before purchase. And yes I did do some searching on this site and others but couldn't quite find what I was looking for.
Do you know of anybody replacing the motor for an after market S & S or other v twin?
Does the exhaust on the Buell XB just increase HP or back pressure due to its baffling? If so how much? Why couldn't you run straight exhaust like those custom cruisers do with no muffler?
Are wide rear tire kits hard to get? How about like "Hillbilly motors Hellbender"?
Is there any extra room under the fake gas tank / cover? Whats in the tail section other than the rear light? Electronics? Battery? fluid reservoir?
Thanks for your time. I know these are probably some silly questions but like I said, I am a heavy modifier...
Don't do it they are problems waiting to happen. Read my post "BIG Mistake" Stay away from the BUELL. Unless you feel like devoting 80% of your time in the garage wrenching (or waiting for a dealership to fix it) and about 20% riding. Just guessing on percentages because since purchasing mine I have been unable to get it out of my garage yet due to problems with the bike.
I have an '03 XB9R, and the only problem I have encountered is that tires don't last forever. There are aftermarket motors available from S&S, but why would you want to replace it? You could run straight exhaust, but your power would suffer. The rear swing arm holds the oil, but I am not sure of any wide tire kits. There is a little extra room under the air cover, what are you wanting to put in there? There is a little "trunk" like on all sport bikes.
mrdozer2you, you don't like the Buells, then you don't have to be here. Don't be talking trash about them here. If you're not happy with yours, sell it and get a tampon bike like most other people out there. Just because you have one problem with yours, you immediately put it down and call it just. Just like azsnow said, its the dealer jerking you around, not Buells. I also have an '03 XB9R and have put 10,000 hard miles on it in less than a year and the most i did was tires and a belt.
Amen, Please quit bashing Buell bikes! It sounds like your problem was the dealer. Maybe not maybe the problem is you! I'm sorry your having problems, but most all of us are happy with are Buells. Have you called the dealer to give them a chance to make things right? You would probably get more bashing support on a different forum.
My Buell has been flawless. Would highly recommend.
As a 03 XB9S owner, I would not trade it for anything...
I am picking mine up in a couple weeks. 06 xb9. Before I even put money down a nice lady called from corporate harley to see how my dealer was treating me and asked general questions about my experience. Then said they would check back after purchase. Also said if I had problems with dealer I could feel free to call them. I owned a Suzuki a couple years ago and was treated like **** by the dealer. They diagnosed a bad tranny as starting in thrid gear. When tranny finally went dealer refused to admit it was their fault. Suzuki corporate would have nothing to do with it. Needless to say traded the piece for a snowmachine. When I decided to buy a new bike this year I looked at the usual stuff but there was only one bike for me BUELL! Besides no matter what you look a lot cooler pushing a Buell than riding a Honda.
Well at the moment i have a $7000 dollar paper weight. The dealer has it at their shop so we'll see what happens. I am supposed to get it back monday at the latest. I am trying to keep my composure but this past weekend was in the high 70's. Very rare in march especially in Michigan. I felt like the only one not riding and enjoying the weather(played with dogs instead, time better spent I guess) I mean wouldn't any of you be mad after spending a wad of cash and looking at a bike in your garage for 3 months, and on the first nice day you cant ride it cause it wont start? Of course you would. So what else am i supposed to say except SON OF A.....
Maybe the dealer will make it right bro. Give em a chance, never know how this will play out. I just got my XB12S, 1400 miles now in one month more or less. No problems so far, and prayerfully there will be none. I hit a snag in the negotiations when purchasing, so much so that I shut the deal down. But honestly, it was just miscommunication. I have never had anyone try so hard to work things out for me, never had so much follow up to see if I am happy, I am cautiously amazed! (cautiously because I am NOT the trusting type) I think spring fever/ride itch has magnified this maybe coupled with the plugs not being easy to access, but the interceptor I traded for my Buell (Honda was problem free, btw) was as difficult to change plugs on if not more so, and they had to be the high dollar platinum. And you'll love this: at 16000 miles you have to do a valve lash check/adj. The engine is a VTEC, so you have to open the bike up, take the head off, pull the camshafts out, pull the buckets off of the VTEC valves and remove the springs, put these parts called slider/stoppers (must be purchased) in, put buckets/camshafts/retainer back in, torque everything to spec, check the valve clearance, and if everything is fine, take it all back apart, put springs back in, put it all back together, torque it, reassemble, and if everything was done exactly right, 10 to 12 hours or 500.00 to 600.00 dollars later you have a bike. and if you find that the clearance needs to be adjusted you add like a couple of hours fitting, checking, and that's IF you happen to have the right size shim!! I know this isn't a Honda site, just wanted you to know the buell is not as hard to work with as you may think. Granted, the VTEC is a special bird engine with special needs, but you will find that any Asian sport bike requires valve lash adjustments every 10 to 16 grand, and you have to pull the head to get to the camshafts, and mistakes are not allowed, hence the high costs of valve lash adjustments. But this is not an issue with the Buell, bless her heart. No valve lash adjustments required dude! Give this all a little time to work itself out, and lets see what happens with the dealer. I am watching for your post, cause I want to see if they take care of this and if not how Buell handles it. Asian shops can be a nightmare too, don't kid yourself. I know a guy bought an Asian cruiser brand new, immediately developed alternator problems, couldn't get it resolved, took the bike back, told em to shove it, much legal hassle and now screwed up credit where he refused to pay for a bike he couldn't ride, and now hes a cagier. Sad to see, cause hes a good guy he loves to ride. Dealerships everywhere have one quality/flaw. the people in them. Lets wait and see which one your dealer has. Breathe man! It'll work out!!
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