| Author | Message | ||
     Edmsportster |
Ok so the air intake has been altered for 2006. Does this make a big difference? Will upgrading the intake on an '04 be worthwhile? For just street use will there even be a noticeable difference? | ||
| Reepicheep |
Yes. But not for engine performance. I have a plan, and I am sure I am not the only person who has thought of it... | ||
| Edmsportster |
would there be a big cost / time to making the change? I want to switch the plastics on an '04 black XB12S to the Orange on the '06 model. do I need to make the intake upgrade? | ||
| Indy_bueller |
Well Reepi, whats your plan buddy? Do tell! | ||
| Reepicheep |
Get some cool 1/4 20 quick disconnect hardware. I will have to see what I can scare up, clevis hitch, thumbscrews, D-rings through bolt heads, whatever looks cool and won't chew up my airbox outer cover. Modify my airbox to the new setup, so it breathes through the tank by the fuel cap. Make some minor cuts to my current scoop so it directs all the air to cooling the engine. Then build up a long "tool pack" holder that goes down into the snorkel and gets secured up on the airbox baseplate somehow in a way that it won't chew up the frame. Maybe something L shaped, so it extends back into the airbox and can be held in place with velcro ties anchored to the airbox baseplate. Maybe something that goes all the way back to where the airbox is close to the seat, there is a decent amount of unused space in there. I think I might be able to get enough space in there to store basic tools and ditch my tail bag... | ||
| Lovematt |
Not that I would do it but perhaps a nitros bottle would fit in there.... | ||
| Paulson |
I am digging the tool kit idea very much! | ||
| Buelluk |
According to the Reg Kittrelle article elsewhere on BadWeb, the extra fuel capacity on the Ulysses has been achieved by removing the snorkel hole and just taking in air through the new grille in the tank cover... so the snorkel hole would not be available for a toolkit on this model at least | ||
| Whodom |
Buelluk: All the 2006 Buells removed the snorkel hole. The regular XB's picked up ~0.12 gallons fuel capacity from this change. The XB12X and XB12Ss also have wider forward frame sections to get up to ~4.4 gallons fuel capacity. | ||
| Edmsportster |
Sorry guys, but no one really answered my question..... | ||
| Telewoodski |
What would be involved with cutting out the snorkel tube in the frame and welding the extra fuel space closed? I'm thinking of some mods on the '04 XB this winter, including a full dissasembly. If I have the bike that far apart, it might be worthwhile pulling that tube out and welding it shut. I'm not a welder and would have a pro do it, but is it feasable? What is the frame made of? | ||
| Whodom |
Edmsportster: Lots of XB riders have "de-snorkeled" their XB's and cut holes in the airbox cover which basically accomplishes the same thing as the 06 cover. The 06 cover gives you a "factory built" option for accomplishing the same thing. I believe they claim slightly better throttle response and it sounds cooler. Telewoodski: The Buell Formula Xtreme bikes had this frame mod done (search the archives here, there are photos), so it must be possible. Welding on fuel containers is tricky; they have to be steam cleaned to get all the residual fuel out to preclude the possibility of an explosion while welding. The frame's aluminum, but I have no idea what alloy. This would probably be good info for the welder to have. | ||
| Edmsportster |
Thanks Whodom....I know it was a dumb question, but I am still learning about Buells and i am trying to soak up the entire knowledge board, but at my age when I learn one thing, it kicks out something else lol | ||
| Reepicheep |
That was my first thought Tele, then I did the math and realized we are talking about approximately an extra 4 miles fuel range. Hardly worth the trouble for a retrofit. And you would not even need to weld, just drill and add a couple fittings (top and bottom) and find a fuel safe container that fits in the current hole. Thats what got me thinking about the toolkit. I would love to get the tail bag of my 9sx, and keep the lines of the bike perfect. Edmsporster, sorry to hijack your thread... Yes, the 05 (and probably 06) inner airbox upgrade is probably the cheapest performance improvement you can make to your bike. The nipple in the top will give you like 1 or 1.5 horsepower. Not a day and night difference, but I double dog dare anyone else to show a $35 dollar mod that will net one honest horsepower. The 06 unit is probably about the same as the 05 unit. (Message edited by reepicheep on August 02, 2005) | ||
| Whodom |
Reepicheep, I think he was asking about the outer airbox (with the air intake located behind the gas fill) and if that would help HP any on a pre-06 bike. | ||
| Telewoodski |
Wow, I thought the fuel tank mod would yeild more than 4 miles. I'm getting 55 mpg on a easy day. The snorkel itself is about the size of a quart, which would add about 14 miles. That might be worth it, with the addition of the top feed air system, and the left side airscoop for better cooling. With the snorkel tube out it would force all that air somewhere, hopefully to the hottest spot on that side of the bike. | ||
| Edmsportster |
Reep: no problem on th hi-jack, I am glad my post brought up other topics.... Whodom is mostly correct I was asking about the new outer cover with the venting, however I did not realize there were 2 upgrades (1 inner and 1 outer) So then if I were to order let's say the clear orange '06 outer cover with vent, would I also need to order the inner airbox upgrade. Also would I then need to change the intake of the 2004 XB12S? | ||
| Monorad |
I already did the tool box stash, with pretty complete set of tools rolled up in a cloth pouch. Works good. That way, all you need to keep under the seat is a torx to get the top airbox cover off. I cut two vent holes in the existing cover, and secured wire mesh on the inside. Looks pretty cool and works well with the American Sport Bike air box conversion kit. I'm worried about riding in a torrential downpour with it modded in in this way, but that hasn't happened yet ... | ||
| Whodom |
Edmsportster, I think the following is correct: (1) all XB12's have the improved inner cover. This cover has an "inverted cone" located above the venturi stack which improves the airflow into it. (2) All 05 XB's (09 & 12) have the improved inner cover. (3) Therefore, all you'd need to do is add the outer cover to a 2004 XB12S. | ||
| Reepicheep |
The inner upgrade is the performance perk. The outer upgrade is at best cosmetic, and may actually cost you a tiny imperceptable bit of performance. I don't think the outer upgrade would require the inner upgrade. But everyone here that upgraded the inner has been very happy with the results relative to the cost. Going to the full 06 system inner and outer will likely make the intake noise a lot louder though, so if you care about that one way or the other, that might be a factor as well. Also, since you are talking clear, the new 06 inner will show off the airfilter through the outer cover, it is a subtle but very cool effect. You could do the same thing with the 05 inner cover, but you would have to do some cutting. Many here have done it in a lot of different ways, generally with good results. | ||
| Reepicheep |
True Whodom, for some reason I was thinking he had a 9. If it is a 12, he already has the good inner airbox. If he has the 9, he can get better performance by upgrading. | ||
| Edmsportster |
Thanks guys just the answers I was looking for!! | ||
| Reepicheep |
Excellent Monorad, thanks for the datapoint. Did you just wedge the tools in there, or did you block off the bottom of the frame somehow? | ||
| Dana P. |
Whodom is close.Hals does not steam clean the inside of the frames though.They fill them with Argon to avoid explosion.In order for this to be done on your bike it would have to be completely dismantled. | ||
| Xbolt12 |
An Engineer from Buell confirmed that the frames have a coating to prevent fuel from corroding the aluminum. He was under the impression that Hal's recoats the frame after welding. If that is truly the case then it is probably best to send frames to them for any welding. xbolt12 | ||
| U4euh |
Monorad, down pours will not hurt the performance of your bike w/this mod, just standing still for long periods of time! Then at that, the bike runs great under throttle, but there maybe a slight adjustment from the ECM at idle. Believe me I have been caught in a few downpours with my mods, and never been left (standing) in the rain, and mine are right up top where the rain CAN make its way in there. |
