Just picked up a used 06 Buell XB9R

[rrxcrunner]

The bike had several mods, many of which the owner didn't really explain including an "adjustable performance chip." I was hoping someone could help clarify what this is and if I should be doing something with it?

Also, the shifter is in reverse order (pressing down causes the bike to go up a gear). It doesn't really bother me, but is there an advantage to leaving this way or switching it back to normal?

Finally, my bike clearly had a small drop on the right side and there is a little bit of scratch on the black "Harley" engine casing. Is this something I should be particularly worried about?

Thanks so much for any help which can be provided! So far, I am loving the bike!

[Enemy Zero]

Welcome to the forum.

I'm not sure about the "chip" he could be talking about a race ecm or one of those fuel tuner boxes that I've seen before.

A lot of people call that shifting patter "gp" style or race shifting. It's how most race bikes are set up to make it easier for race riders to upshift in full lean. Some people love it and some people don't. It's up to you. It won't do any harm.

Do you have any pics of the damage in question? I'm not sure of the location that you're speaking of.

Congrats on the new bike. If you haven't owned a Buell before, it's different from anything else out there and if you learn to maintain it and ride it right, you'll have many years of great riding ahead of you.

[UMDterp13]

+1 everything enemy said

[rrxcrunner]

Thanks for the advice! I have been looking into replacing a couple of things, and was wondering if you guys have any recommendations? My knowledge of bikes is pretty basic/non-existent so all help is appreciated!

There is a small dent and scuff on my air box cover which bothers me, and I was thinking about purchasing this airbox cover:

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/mcy/4756853672.html

But I realized it does not have the air vent with mesh that mine does near the gas cap. Is there any other alternatives in the stock yellow paint?

Also, I seemed to have stripped the bolt that held my mirror on while trying to tighten it so it didn't move when the wind hit it. I think I have these currently (left one is broken now):

http://www.ebay.com/itm/LED-TURN-SIG...bbd0f4&vxp=mtr

I wouldn't mind buying them again if I thought I could hook up the turn signals. Is it possible for the signals to work on the mirrors and side signals or are there any other good mirror recommendations?

Thanks again for the help!

[Hobes]

With Race pattern shifts I noticed when you are racing. Head down shift down, head up shift up, but on the road you kind of go to your instinct which has people shift down when should be up, amusing but dangerous at times, all I can suggest is if you have mostly used street pattern on road is to keep street pattern.02c

[rrxcrunner]

That makes sense. Any ideas about parts?

[Enemy Zero]

I want to say that the the mesh above the gas cap didn't. Come about until around 2006. . Up until then the frames had a hole in them where the left air scoop is that fed into the airbox. You can always break out the plastic. Piece from yours and melt the plastics tabs with a soldering iron to hold the new mesh piece into place.

Paint isn't really a thing on xb models. They were injection molded and the color is all the way through the plastic, kind of like a golf ball.

As far as firebolt mirrors go, there's a few options out there. I believe the mirrors off a J model (2000-2002) kawasaki zx6r are a direct fit so if you can't find anything on eBay for Buell, that's another option.

[theMelvster6]

Before anyone really started messing with the ecm programming and tuning, companies like dobeck came up with an inline tuner that allowed you to adjust low, mid, and high range fuel to richen it up. It worked, but very basic...and wasn't a real tune. Once ecmspy and tunerpro came along with the ability to direct tune the ecm to precise fuel and ignition maps...those inline fuel management thingymabobs were basically made obsolete. But every now and again they pop up on someone's bike and they don't really know what they are. Or someone actually buys one!! LOL

[rrxcrunner]

I'm guessing that is what it is so I guess I just won't mess with it.

I may try to switch out the mesh area around the gas cap since the little ding does bother me. Not great at projects, but we'll see what happens.

[Enemy Zero]

Owning a Buell will force you to become good at projects and sooner or later it will whip you into a fine mechanic. Just give it time. :D

Melvster! Great info.