| Author | Message | ||
     Kaikoura |
Just purchased a 2008 XB12X to park and use next to my 1999 X1..I still am grateful the forum is still alive and well..Pictures and details will be forth coming once I get the Uly home..its going below zero this week where I live.. Thanks.. | ||
| Fltwistygirl |
Welcome to BB and D and congrats! The Uly will be a fine stablemate for that X1. What color is your Uly? | ||
| Kaikoura |
Well the bike is originally Thrust Blue,(plastics included)but the seller bought Barricade orange plastic and the matching seat,,I prefer this as well..it also comes with original seat and low seat in black.. | ||
| Kaikoura |
Now I decide to read ALL the problems that ULY and XB bikes have or had have..should I be scared that I made a mistake on this purchase..there are so many folks that love the bike which made me decide to buy one..Yikes.. I still have not mailed the check yet..Thanks | ||
| Reepicheep |
No worries... compared to a tuber, you just bought the paradigm of reliability. Seriously. | ||
| Kaikoura |
Thanks for the encouragement Reepicheep..Ill keep a positive and fun attitude going forward.. | ||
| Zane |
Kailoura, I've got a 09 XT and I love it. This summer I had some issues with the ECM but overall it's been a reliable and fun bike to ride. I love mine and don't ever plan on selling it. Get with the program now and send some pictures!!!! | ||
| Kaikoura |
I will Zane..once the purchase is official..and she's in my shed  | ||
| Froggy |
Thats quite funny coming from a X1 owner!  That said, 08+ bikes are the better of the XBs, the older ones were more problematic. | ||
| Kaikoura |
Froggy,,thats true..I actually have had pretty good luck with the X1..did the rocker cover gasket thing,,new engine isolators,,belt and not much else..the rotate the engine thing seems a bit difficult on the ULY but probably not much worse than the X1… By the way the ULY i just sent the money to,,has only 5000 miles..I probably paid a bit of a premium (private) sale..but the seller is a bike collector,,(has some of his original bikes,,such as a Norton,Indian,and Knucklehead),,all of which run like they just came off the showroom,,,Im happy camper this morning..Its minus 2 degrees F..had to buy something  | ||
| Reepicheep |
One thing probably worth doing sooner rather than later is to make the holes for the tensioner to bolt to the case just a drill size or two bigger. At worst, this makes the belt marginally less reliable and makes it easier to do tire changes. At best, it eliminates a tolerance error stack up problem on a limited number of long travel suspension bikes and saves you from splitting your cases to deal with the 5th gear drive assembly or it's outer bearing. Its an easy job. | ||
| Uly_man |
Nice one and welcome. Reliability and problems? I would not worry on them much. All the problems that I have had have been electrical and due to bad parts and/ or build from the factory. The mechanics are very good as is the build quality. I have no problem with wheel bearings either but then again I do not expect them to last 30k miles either. Cheap enough to change out anyway so no big deal. | ||
| Kaikoura |
Reepicheap..was your latest post intend for me? If so lead me to that thread if you can..THX | ||
| Kaikoura |
Can you elaborate on the tensioner improvement..THX | ||
| Reepicheep |
Lots of different threads, mostly end up being arguments about the free spirits chain tensioner (which this thread will now become as well.  ). It's an easy mod. The tensioner assembly bolts to the engine cases with a couple nuts on studs. Remove the assembly, find a drill bit "a little bit bigger", and drill out the holes in the tensioner the studs go through. Then just reinstall the tensioner. You will probably have to loosen the axle to get the tensioner off this time, but after this mode you might not have to in the future. Read your service manual for the rear axle loosening and follow the torque specs and procedures carefully. | ||
| Kaikoura |
I see..just reuse the old tensioner is what your saying..but drill out the holes a wee bit…I can handle that! THX  | ||
| General_ulysses |
I've read a lot of posts on this forum stating/suggesting that "tubers" are much less reliable than the XB's. I can definitely believe that the later tubers (X1/first generation FI) are less reliable than the later model XBs. But what about the earlier tubers (S1s etc)? Most of the serious reliability issues I see over and over on this forum relate to one problem or another with the first generation FI system. The earlier tubers had carbs - no fuel pump, no pressure regulator, no injectors, fewer sensors and none of the wiring/complexity that goes with it. Although I know the S1s (and their larger counterparts) had their own issues with shocks, oil pump gears etc, I would think once those well known and mostly mechanical issues are sorted, the overall reliability of an earlier carbureted Buell would be superior to not only the first gen FI but also to an XB of any vintage. Is that right? | ||
| Mhevezi |
General, I owned a 1999 M2 from day1 and put 30,000+ miles on it. Yes, they were much less complex than the same year X1's and S3's that had the DDFI. By no means was the bike problem-free (rocker box leak, gas cap vent failure, intake seal failure, crankshaft seal failure) and a few others along the way, but it rarely let me down and was a wonderful bike, up until the time I sold her to get me a Uly. | ||
| Kaikoura |
Reepicheep..that mod eliminates a tolerance error..can you explain.. | ||
| Motorbike |
Kaikoura, does your new bike have the 2010 rear wheel and axle? My 08 XT had a bearing failure at 7300 miles and I went ahead and upgraded to the new wheel/ bearing/axle setup. Regarding Reepicheep's tensioner fix, that's up to you. I bought my bike brand new and the original belt (AKE suffix) was tighter than a drum. I replaced it a short time ago just as preventive maintenance with a new (AKF suffix) belt. The new belt was easy to install (loosened tension by unscrewing rear axle far enough) without even loosening the tensioner. I could even spin the tensioner wheel by hand after I installed the new belt and retorqued everything. I could not do that with the original belt, even before I replaced it. Personally, I wouldn't want to loosen the tension on the belt any more than it is now. Keep in mind though, the next new belt I install may be as tight as the original was, all depends on mfg tolerances of the belt. Hope you like your 08 as much as I do mine! | ||
| Reepicheep |
Same here... 2000 M2. Wish I still had it, but I would never call it reliable. I did more primary cover removals in 10,000 miles on the M2 than I have done oil changes in 50,000 miles on the XB's I have owned. The XB9 in particular seems to be a staggeringly reliable bike since the start. | ||
| Kaikoura |
Motorbike..still original 08 bearings and spacer..again only 5000 miles on the bike..and its not home yet..its only 1 degree here anyways..I will pay attention to that issue for sure.. | ||
| Kaikoura |
What the heck,,let me try and upload some pics of the new ride..I sent the check today so technically it is mine.. Ill do one at a time? Here goes..arrgh! file size is too big.. | ||
| Kaikoura |
Now I have to figure out how too reduce the resolution so I can post..  | ||
| Mnrider |
Congrats on the new bike. I remember when mine had 5k and was getting the first new tire. | ||
| Kaikoura |
I found a jpeg reducer program but will have to wait..I tried to post one too many times on the forum…its beer OCLOCK  | ||
| Skifastbadly |
I'm surprised nobody has suggested the single most important advice for an 08 Uly....relocate the ECM. There's a ton of information on that here. Why? The seat can rub on the ECM and cause invisible cracks which allow demons into your electrical system. This is specifically a problem on hot (90F+) days when the heat causes the plastic seat pan to soften. How? Glad you asked: http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/142 838/629631.html?1303991777 | ||
| Kaikoura |
Skifastbadly..THX..thats a great tip.. | ||
| Sagehawk |
I believe studs for tensioner are 10 mm. I drilled my tensioner with a 13/32 drill in drill press after squaring and aligning tensioner. Holes measured .407 or so. Wasnt enough I felt, so back in mill, lined up to rear hole then moved up .030 then plunged a .400 endmill thru tensioner creating a slot. If a different belt seems to loose in the future, then put a jack under tensioner, raise the tensioner what you think, and torque bolts up. See how it rides n runs. I can spin wheel against belt as well but 1500 miles or so and I like it. I have run belts on wifes sporster and my roadking slightly looser than called for. Both belts are 17 years old this year. Something must be good with this thought process as its worked for me. Enjoy the buell dude! | ||
| Kag |
Wheel Bearing change is fairly cheap and easy to do on the Uly. I did mine at 12 or 13k when putting new rubber on |
