Assuming similar mechanical condition, keep an '06 or an '09?

[34nineteen]

I put an aftermarket steering stop on my R3 track bike. She needs a lot of room to turn when you can’t lean, like making a turning around in the paddock. CoOter rode my bike once at a trackday and was all “WTF!”

[motoguy]

Timely thread! I just got the '09 from the original post up and running last week. New exhaust gaskets, studs, nuts, intake seals, Time Sert rear spark plug hole, cleaned injectors, cleaned throttle body, new injector o-rings and filter baskets, new PVC grommets, front exhaust bushings, new trans breather tube, etc. Not a huge deal, but the first time I've ever dropped an engine on an XB. I learned a lot and I'm not nearly as intimidated for the next one. I still need to learn an easy way to lift the frame / front end / subframe up off the engine though. I'm making that process look like a comedy sketch.

Bike seems to run like a champ now. Prior owner stated it would stutter and wouldn't rev out past 4k. I think that may have been due to the exhaust leak and / or the boogered rear plug threads (and loose plug). Either way, I put about 15 miles on it after the repairs (loops on our semi-private road) and it feels great. That steering lock is a BIG issue on the '09! So much easier to whip it around in tight areas now! It's got a stock exhaust and actuator on it. Compared to my Drummer equipped '06 it feels like a stealth machine!

I've got the salvage 12R on the lift now. Going to pull the engine from it and swap in to the '09 XT (likely failed pinion shaft key...rear cylinder exhaust valve tapped the piston and no cam / timing movement in the engine now). Once I get the XT up and going I'll have to determine which I like best...the '06 X, the '09 X, or the '09 XT. Having wanted a Uly for so many years I'm thoroughly enjoying learning / working on them and having a few.

After the XT engine swap is done I'll pull the low mile engine from the '06 Lightning Long and swap it into the '07 Uly with the (suspected) rod knock. I'll probably just sell the '07 at that point. There's nothing it really has to offer that isn't covered by the other 3. Not sure if I'll rebuild the bad '07 engine and put it back in the LL or just part the LL (and bad engine) out at that point. I'd like to put the 12 R parts on the LL frame and make a long-framed 12R. I'd definitely want to put higher bars on it though. I love the ergos of the Uly and at 48 my VFRs feel the same way GSXRs USED to feel to me! Aside from the looks (I love the look of the R bikes) I don't really think it has anything to offer over a Ulysses.

I took my daughter out for a 140-ish mile ride on one of my old VFRs yesterday. The Uly has just spoiled me. I'd rather have been on the Buell. Not only the ergos, but the lack of having to rev the bike out, torque to pull out of the corners, and even they way I've come to love sitting "on" the Buell vs "in" the VFR.