| Author | Message | ||
     Playhard |
This season, I elected to ditch my Suzuki effort and give the only American made sportbike a try. Although I’m only racing at the club level, the expense of doing so can be quite cumbersome and the competition is no less. With this said, I purchased a 2009 Buell XB12R this past November and began transforming it into a worthy racing machine. Since doing so, I have raced at three events, Daytona, Jennings GP, and this past weekend at Carolina Motorsports Park. Following the Saturday round of racing at Carolina, I became so frustrated with my new Buell’s inability to hold a line around tight corners, I declared to my teammate, who is also riding a 2009 Buell XB12R, that it would be for sale come Monday. Shortly thereafter, a guy came up to me, obviously just seeing how frustrated I was, and offered to help me with my motorcycle. He told me that he was sure he could make it a whole lot better. I was a bit skeptical at first, but at that point, I was sure whatever he would do sure wouldn’t make the bike any worse. So shortly after accepting his assistance, he returned to my pit with a tape measure and I began handing him tools. Thirty minutes late he was done. I took the bike for a quick spin and could not believe how different the bike felt. The change was so drastic, it didn’t even feel like the same bike. So who was this nice gentlemen who just so happened to be pitted across from me? It was Kevin, owner and operator of KD Fabrications (http://www.kdfab.com/) and of course designer of Drummer Exhausts. Kevin and his crew just so happened to be at Carolina Motorsports Park testing an 1125R. I have come to find out that Kevin has an extreme passion for Buell motorcycles and thus his knowledge for such far surpasses that of the ordinary wrench turner. He was spouting off numbers for settings and talking about all the different dynamics of setting up the XB12 so that the bike would do what the rider expected it to do. All of his talk was fascinating and intriguing, however what impressed me most was his willingness to not only freely share this information, but actually get his hands dirty to help out a complete stranger simply because I was sharing his passion. How special is that? Kevin my friend, it was a pleasure to meet you, your family, and your crew and I thank you so very much for all your help and support. Its people like you that make motorcycle road racing what it is. Because of your help, the Buell is not for sale. “Smoke”, Jay Smith, Ray Hofman, it was great to see all you guys at CMP waiving the Buell flag. Ray was the “Iron Man” of the weekend riding Jay Smith’s XB12R solo for Sunday’s Team Challenge finishing second. “Smoke” looked good all weekend on his 1125r. My weekend started out a little disappointing but thanks to the above mentioned help and mentoring, I finished strong with three 3rd. place finishes, a 5th, an 8th, and a 9th. and am now looking forward to the next Southeast round at VIR. | ||
| Sparky |
Great story. It's cool seeing knowledgeable Buellers sharing expertise to benefit the everyday enthusiast. | ||
| Hughlysses |
+1 Playhard. I almost rode up from Charleston to watch you guys on Sunday; you're making me wish I had made the ~260 mile round trip! | ||
| Kds1 |
Thanks for the good review, makes it nice to be "Buell" loyal, sure makes my workdays alot easier...you and your family and crew are at the top of the list so hang in there and win some races....anytime you need my help its a call away and I think we will be at VIR when you go, I hope..... Kevin www.kdfab.com | ||
| Cyclonecharlie |
Playhard, a great story. This is why I love being involved in racing and racing people. It's the passion for their sport and their willingness to help. | ||
| Paint_shaker |
Al, I am glad to hear you will continue with the Buell. When you decided to race a Buell you joined the best privateer effort going, the Buell team!! As you found, the settings can be finicky. But you also found as a Buell racer, you have tremendous support from your fellow Buell racers!!! Kevin knows a thing or 12 about Buells!! Kudos to my fellow Buell racers!! | ||
| Xoptimizedrsx |
plus 1 to kd fab for the rescue!!! I know exactly what he checked for and possibly set.  Kevin And I have worked through a few issues before on his xb9 race bike last year. the fuel map was made on a donor bike built to exact spec's as his (my xb9 is a identical copy)but at a different location and different elevation, ect, ect. He was ready to park the bike or push it in the ditch for the weekend, I refused to let him. We got it going and going very well once we re did the whole ecm to that bike on that bike. This was first hand results maps made on other bikes else where doesn't always work well on the bike intended. Even though they are perfect on one bike they may be awful on another identical. Kevin can verify that first hand. As a buell racer you will see anywhere you go, if there is another buell guy near, we will do what we can to keep you going. Thats something you dont see everywhere. Glad to see the sag was reset and tube height in the tree. We know the frustration ask paintshaker. He will tell you we chased the issues quite a few times. | ||
| Smoke |
Al, it was good to see a smile on your face Sunday after our brief talk Saturday evening on my way to the shower. congratulations on the multiple podium finishes!!! tim | ||
| Playhard |
Mike, Now I need to get you the information you requested so we can get the other matter squared away. I'll have some time before VIR to get that done. It's been a frustrating road but I'm starting to believe it will come together. All you Buellers are a GREAT Help. It was a frustrating weekend for sure, not being able to go as fast as I know I can, but the big crash the weekend before at Jennings GP didn't help matters either. Kevin calmed me down, made my bike better, and I was able to re-focus on my riding instead of worrying about what the bike was doing or not doing. |
