| Author | Message | ||
     Krabykarl |
Hi folks my first post so let me introduce myself. My name is Karl live in Baltimore, have been riding since 1980. Sold my last bike (92 Yamaha FJ1200abs) when my youngest was 4. Well, he's almost 20 and it's time for me to get out of the cage as they say. Just picked up a 08 X model with only 2300 miles on the clock. Got a lot to learn about newer bikes (fuel injection what's that?) and gear (kevlar and I don't have to sweat like a pig in a helmet?). Gave it a bath today washing off 4 years of garage dirt. The PO must of riden it 1 season and let it sit. Changed oil, primary oil and brake fluid. Anything else I should do for a bike that has been sitting? Tires look good no cracks or bald spots though the rear does have a plug. I have never plugged a motorcycle tire before. Plugged plenty of car tires and never had one fail. Comments? I hate to throw a perfectly good Pirelli away. Just signed up for a MSF returning rider course next Sunday. Also plan to send off the forks and shock to Race Tech in California to be lowered an inch. I'm a bit short of inseam and would be comfortable a bit lower. Not a necessity but I sure would be comfortable flat footed. Anyway thanks for listening and looking forward to a great riding season. https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-1UYwKJaZJOE/UWH SG3kxqPI/AAAAAAAAFqc/leaqDhqANjQ/s679/IMG_20130407 _160644_878.jpg https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-u082dKEdvHI/UWH SngQrS6I/AAAAAAAAFq0/DQkoJr11gVk/s679/IMG_20130407 _161008_951.jpg | ||
| Arry |
Kongratulations Karl. An 08X with that low of miles is a real find. I wouldn't worry too much about the tire plug, just keep an eye on the pressure. Tires wear out quickly and you'll be replacing it before long anyway. You'll probably want to get a repair (service) manual. Another popular upgrade is the "comfort kit", it improves air flow around the motor and helps direct hot air away from the under seat area. Also, search this forum for info on ECM relocate or a support to keep the seat from damaging it (ECM). Have Fun. | ||
| General_ulysses |
Hey Karl welcome to the Uly team. I used to own an '86 FJ1200 and also just bought an '06 Uly with 5600 miles. Quite a difference between the two bikes, they're definitely apples and oranges. I still miss my FJ, but the Uly is a new way to have fun. I'm really enjoying its abilities and the whole V-twin adventure riding thing. One thing they share to some extent is low end grunt. Roll on the throttle and away she goes. Only difference is a bit of Harley rattle and roll with the V-twin vs the electric motor smoothness of the FJ. And although I really liked the FJ's smoothness, the V-twin makes me feel like I'm riding an old school motorcycle that you can really feel and appreciate, which I like. Anyway, first thing you'll want to do is get a rider comfort kit. The kit has an air scoop that directs cooling air onto the back cylinder. I was out riding mine today and even when the bike is going down the highway on a cool day the fan will kick on trying to cool off the hind cylinder. Kinda aggravating, but apparently the comfort kit takes care of it. About $140 and maybe 2 hours to install it. So not too bad. Let us know how you like the bike once you start riding. I'm digging mine a lot and hope to get to know her real well this summer. | ||
| Brighton |
Welcome back to riding, Karl. As far as the tires: if they are the original tires they are about 5+ years old. Unused tires still dry out and lose their grip. And I'm not sure you can tell their condition by looking for cracks. Personally, I would replace them before I rode aggressively. Siphon or drain the old gas. It might be real nasty after all this time. | ||
| Ratbuell |
Welcome aboard, Karl! If you ever get out towards Frederick...let me know. We can log some miles, got great roads out this way  +100 on the manual - get The Book and you can do anything. And, I'd spend some time on/with the bike before lowering it. It has a nice low center of gravity and I've seen a lot of shorter riders do just fine one-footing it at lights. Hate to give up too much of the factory suspension character or travel if you don't have to... | ||
| Barkbuster |
ditto what general ulysses says. Happy farkeling! | ||
| Red450 |
Welcome! That's a sharp blue Uly! | ||
| Etennuly |
 This sounds so like everyone's approach and questions of six years ago here on BadWeB! Congrats on the new ride. You will grow to love it. Even the inability to flat foot it. We all found that that only happens when you stop.....so keep going.....it is all that you will want to do anyways!  | ||
| Griffmeister |
Nice bike, I see you got the "fast" blue.  I'm with some of the others here, don't mess with the suspension yet just to get a lower ride. Considering the cost of the mods, the effort to remove and replace everything, and the downtime while all this is going on I think it would be easier to either try and find a factory optional low seat or have your's recovered with a different seat pad, gel maybe. Besides, the more stuff you mess with the greater the chance that Murphy's Law will come in to play. Not sure about that tire either but that's up to you. I think I would stay close to home, not push it too hard and keep monitoring it for pressure and appearance while you get acquainted with the bike. If you're like most of the others here you will soon discover the meaning of "permagrin".Enjoy! | ||
| Ratman |
Like the guys here mentioned, try dropping the preload on both ends which should easily get you the same Racetech mods would and its free. BTY, nice lookin bike enjoy and ride safe. | ||
| Tootal |
The factory tire in 08 was the Pirelli sync. They had a really thin carcass and trying to plug them is a pain. If yours is holding then I wouldn't get too crazy. I blew a plug out at 75 mph and had to head for the ditch! The tire was almost worn out so it was even thinner but when time and money allow I would replace it with the new Pirelli trails or the Dunlop 616 if you're more off road oriented. If you're sticking to asphalt then the Michelin PR2's and PR3's are great street tires that last a while. Metzeler has a new tire out now but I don't have any experience with it...yet! | ||
| Krabykarl |
Thanks so much for the great welcome. Hope you all don't mind the newbie questions that have been answered a hundred times. I don't know why these forum programs don't have decent search functions. As for the comfort kit. It's not the air scoop on the left side seen in my second picture? I'm inclined to agree with the advice to hold off on the lowering. Weather just turned real nice and seeing the bike in the garage is giving me the itch to ride. I'm with you General on the V-twin thing. It's all new too me. A friend just stopped by and looked down on the bike and commented , "Oh that's the twin cam model." I'm like how can you tell the heads are up under the air box. Well, duhhh Karl it's a pushrod motor. Gonna take some adjustment. My issue with the FJ was it's weight, at 600+ pounds it was too much. I really like the idea of 500 pounds tons of low end torque and 106hp. Motor manual for sure. I do most of my own work and I hate the thought of taking it to a shop much less a Harley dealer. When taking off the chin spoiler I noticed one of the T27 bolts had been replaced with a allen bolt. So who had been in there before me? The before mentioned Harley dealer at its 1000 mile check up. Thanks again for the great welcome. Below is the list of my rides: 1980 Yamaha XS400 1976 Yamaha XS650 1984 Honda CB650 Nighthawk 1992 Yamaha FJ1200abs | ||
| Ratbuell |
...technically, it's a quad-cam engine. "Twin Cam" is a reference to the current HD "big twin" engines, one of which the XL-derived Buell motor is definitely not. The comfort kit is a right side scoop; an underseat tray to deflect hot air from the fan out over the rear hugger instead of up under the seat; a heat shield for the rear header pipe; and for your '08, a reflash for the ECM that includes different fan logic. | ||
| General_ulysses |
Karl here is the website of an online dealer kinda place that sells a lot of Buell parts. I bought my comfort kit from them... http://www.americansportbike.com/shoponline/ccp0-p rodshow/17327.html This is an air scoop that goes on the right side of the bike, which adds to the existing single scoop on the left. You can try riding your bike for a while and see how you like it without it. But my fan was running a lot even in cool weather at highway speed with minimal load. So I think it really needs this cooling kit from what I've seen so far. Yeah this bike is quite a bit lighter than the FJ. But the FJ, as heavy as it was, sat pretty low. So it had a low center of gravity that made the bike pretty manageable unless you let it tilt so far that you reached "the angle of no return." lol In contrast, the Uly sits up much higher. So although it's lighter, you gotta keep on your toes and get used to it. So far, I've sensed in a few situations I could potentially drop this thing. Especially if I got in a weird situation turning a 180 slowly on a hill and maybe with a passenger. It's a little tippy, so take your time getting used to it. Anyway have fun, these bikes are awesome. Oh yeah, a buddy of mine had an '84 Honda Nighthawk 700. That was a cool bike. .jpg) | ||
| Dmcutter |
Welcome, Karl. I am a returning rider myself. I had an 06 when they first came out, rode it for a couple of years, and swapped it out for a Kawi ZX10R. I sold that going on 4 years ago and have been bikeless since. I bought Buelldualsport's 08 in January but didn't have time to get it from him until this past Sunday. I have to say that I was pretty nervous as I set out on the 100 mile interstate drone home, especially with no tag-registered it in Jan but can't get the plate til it's inspected, which should be later this week. The difference between the V twin and an in line 4 is dramatic. I had forgotten how much these things shake at idle, but I appreciated how it was only turning 3500 rpm or so at highway speeds. I am really looking forward to falling in love with motorcycling all over again...I bought my first bike 30 years ago, right around this time of year. Springtime and motorcycles just sort of go together. And hey, that "PLUMCRZ" in your garage-that got a Hemi in it? | ||
| Uly_man |
First is that it is a 08 bike and NOT to be confused with the 06 bike. It has the steering circle of a "normal" bike with the newer front axle off set. So thats GOOD. It has the low Gel seat and the "part" comfort kit defectors. So thats GOOD as well. Its NOT even close to run in yet. 6000 miles it will be done. It has many of the better upgrades and also runs the DDFI-2 FI system and thats MUCH better. Leave the suspension mods for now. Remove the wheels, check the bearings and replace the rubber. Plugs are not a good idea on this bike. Check the bike runs as it should and service it end to end. And ALL fluids. This bike, like a sports bike, has fully adjustable suspension. This is rare, special and one of the things that makes the bike so good. As such getting it wrong will make the bike handle bad. Get it right and you will think you just won the Lotto. | ||
| Krabykarl |
I see what the comfort kit is all about. Let me ride a bit and if the fan drives me crazy or my leg cooks I'll get one. Going to the Harley dealer to get reflashed does not enthrall me though. I commuted that Honda in the city for 4 years. Poor thing was wheezing when I was done. Good bike real stiff suspension which is what I needed at the time. Yeah DM that's a 2010 Challenger with 6.1L Hemi. It's my wife's daily driver. On the right is my other "toy". A 63 Nova convertible with a 350 and an overdrive auto. 400hp, 3000lbs and lots of shakes compared this Harley motor will feel like a Toyota. Thanks for the quick primer Uly. I have to get a state inspection done. There is a Yamaha/Triumph dealer near me I'm going to take it too. I'm not sure if they even going to pass the plug. I might as well let them sell me some tires. What to look for in the wheel bearings? Excessive free play? Got a spec I can give to them? Yes, I plan on a motor manual. | ||
| Etennuly |
Make sure whom ever does your tires has the specific information on installing and torquing the axles. They can ruin the rear spacer if done incorrectly, but it might be weeks or months before you would know. JFYI the oil plug torque spec in the book is way too much. I doubt that would be warranty anymore. | ||
| Uly_man |
"I have to get a state inspection done." I would not. The reason being they will not know the bike or what to look for so it will be a waste of money. Get a list from here and do it yourself. Its easy enough. "Got a spec I can give to them?" There is none for this apart for the spacer. Un-like most bikes its alloy and not steel so will crush up a fraction from new. If you change the tires you will feel any play. This is something that you only find on the fronts with the wheel off the bike. I had to change the fronts at 12k and 5k on my bikes. If it was me I would buy a FULL set of spacers and bearings. They are cheap enough and if you need them you will not need to wait for delivery. This bike does not need much to work on and if you can do basic stuff you will be fine. It does, like anything else, have its own little "things" you need to know about but they can all be found here. | ||
| Dmcutter |
The state inspection is mandatory in order to get tags. But you are correct in that it is a waste of money. | ||
| Uly_man |
Ah I see. That must be the same as our MOT. In other words "fit/safe for road". Sorry my mistake. | ||
| Krabykarl |
No problem Uly fortunately it's a one time and done thing. It costs a little over $70. The shop is going to want to find something wrong. I might be predicting doom and gloom but that's the way it usually works. They pretty much know they will never see the bike again and I have to pass. If they tell me I need tires I'll let them put tires on, make whatever markup they can and so be it. Sounds like I need to get off my donkey and buy a motor manual. | ||
| Krabykarl |
Cool, I did not even have to get off my butt. Five bucks and a minute later (love my FIOS 25/25 internet) I have the service manual. Hmmmm, now to copy it to a micro SD card so I can have it on my phone. Who woulda thunk one could ride around with their service manual in their pocket? | ||
| General_ulysses |
Hey, carrying a digital copy of the manual on the phone is a great idea. I'll have to do that too, glad I thought of it.  | ||
| Tootal |
I have a dumb phone...but at least I can phone a friend!  |
