| Author | Message | ||
     Csg_Inc |
Headlight bulb takes two H-3 55w part number 68918-98 | ||
| Sparky |
Ran the XB on a dyno yesterday. Peaks out 76 hp at 7500 in 4th and 79 in 5th. 6 passes were made in 4th & 3 were in 5th. All runs were tightly consistent. Just wondering why 3 more hp in 5th. Less gear losses in 5th or perhaps running slightly richer? Bike's completely stock with 2100 miles. Also noted that dynojet mph at redline is 128 whereas speedo indicated approx 135. Sorta what I suspected. This makes it iffy getting into the 130 club, stock that is.  Sparky 96S1, 98S3, 03XB | ||
| Blake |
Sparky, Yes, 5th gear is a straight shot through the main shaft, so there are two less gear-to-gear and loaded bearing parasitic loss points. Also the higher gear constrains the engine from spinning up as quickly as in 4th gear, so there is less power used in overcoming engine/flywheel inertia. If you have any means to do so, please post your run on the dyno chart page in the KV. | ||
| Noface |
Blake Wrote: "Did you consider the Buell race muffler?" Sure have, until I Plus, if Buell follows the Harley trend with the SE Performance accesory line, sound output is not on par with what I'd like. I came off of a Sportster prior to the XB9R, I had SEII's on the bike when I first got it. I thought they sounded good until I heard some Vance & Hines, Hooker's, Thunderheaders, etc. The sound just doesn't compare. At least to me. Don't get me wrong, I'm not looking for drag pipe loud (drag pipes suck!), but I'd like it to sound like a Harley or a mean ass Buell. I guess I really need to hear one first. But that will probably prove harder to do than actually getting one. The race kit that is... Sorry to be so long winded. Jody S. | ||
| Xgecko |
I'm With Jody, the Race can is B.F. ugly. At this point if I were a FB owner I'd be looking at a Supertrap or WB can. Good sound and the ability to tune it. | ||
| Blake |
The French can looks about as big and clunky as the Buell race can; it just has a single tailpipe and is polished is all I can tell. If the XB9 race muffler follows suit with prior Buell race mufflers, it will be plenty loud. | ||
| X1glider |
Blake, you had to go stirring it up on the cmra m-board din't you? hehe I'm surprised the whole organization didn't dogpile you right away. They're pretty biased when it comes to bikes. Gotta admit, it would be cool to have an XB out there showing 'em how to carve a turn. But topping out at just over 120 won't cut it at TWS or Motorsport ranch. Those ricers are pushing 150 at Motorsport and 160-170 at TWS. OHR, maybe, I don't know what speeds they're getting there. Mac's crack about the TL probably wouldn't be much of a threat. Even if the wight came down below 400, it's still a physically bigger and longer bike. The XB should out corner it. The XB needs more gear and a race header, not that lousy slip on muffler. I'm guessing a header with longer primaries and a race can will be next to show up. Perhaps the torque curve will smooth out considerably and maybe rise a few notches. | ||
| Archer |
 Just took delivery of my brand spanking new FIREBOLT!!!! | ||
| José_Quiñones |
No matter who makes an aftermarket muffler for the XB's if they want to use the stock mounts and also be able to mount the chin spoiler, it will end up looking similar to the Buell Race Muffler and the French HSA muffler. If Buell sold the Race Belly pan to people without an AMA/FUSA racing license (that is, their regular customers), what the muffler looked like would not really matter.  Here's a Firebolt that was raced at the FUSA races in Canada, who makes that muffler?  These pictures are from www.formulausapics.com | ||
| José_Quiñones |
Buell FINALLY put the race kit in the accesories section at www.buell.com...... | ||
| Spiderman |
Last time i talked to Henry Duga at BMC he was selling the belly pans no questions asked. | ||
| Paroyboy |
Just a quick update on my Bolt. Just passed 1400 miles and the front brake "clicking" stopped. It might have stopped awhile ago but I just noticed it was gone today! No oil leaks, no melted plastic. Engine still sounds like a tractor though! Does anyone know exactly why the mechanical racket is so loud? I've had H-D twin cams and my other half has a Sportster. Neither sounds like the Bolt. I want a louder muffler so people dont notice the engine noise! Thats my only gripe with the bike so far. Has anyone heard the Buell race muffler yet? | ||
| Sparky |
Paroyboy, My XB has always made an unusual noise but mostly when letting off the throttle. But while on gas the noise goes quiet. My service guy said it's probably due to tolerance stack up in the cam gears. It seems that the Buell demo fleet had some noisy Firebolts with this same symptom and, when investigated, the noise went away with new cam gears. So it's nothing to worry about and hey, more tolerance means less friction, right? Another thing contributing to hearing mechanical noise is that there is not the mass of a normal fuel tank absorbing noise between your ear and the engine. Sparky 96S1, 98S3, 03XB | ||
| Blake |
JQ, Didn't Costa fabricate his own set of headers and muffler for his Canadian Thunder Series XB9R? X1G, Heyeah! Dude, they are called sprockets. Makes changing gear ratios easy. And are you forgetting about the effects of a Nallinized XB9R with 1050 kit and headwork. The UJM SS's wouldn't know what hit them. | ||
| José_Quiñones |
Blake Well, he made his own header, but gutted the Stock muffler.   Here's what he wrote about the header and muffler
| ||
| Darthane |
Well, guys, Race Kits are apparently hitting the dealers. Thanks to Spiderman for the heads up. I'll be calling a local dealer today to see if they have them in yet, and if not, I'll be taking a trip to Ann Arbor. Guess I know what I'm doing tonight! Bryan | ||
| Chainsaw |
Archer: Congrats on the new Firebolt! Don't forget to update your profile picture. (my favorite feature) | ||
| José_Quiñones |
Spiderman, What's the part number for the Belly Pan so I can order it at my local dealer? | ||
| Darthane |
Archer, Congratulations! Take the day off and break it in all at once. Not going above 3000RPMS is absolute MURDER on this bike. Stock doesn't start to pull realy hard until 3500+ (the race kit looks to greatly increase low-end pull). Have fun! Bryan -- needs to put a profile picture up...forgot all about it! | ||
| Mikep |
Folks, My XB only(?) gets ~45 miles per gallon, I am reading that others get ~55-60 mpg. Any ideas why mine is so low? I do ride in the city most of the time. I did have a tail light bulb burn out, replaced it with an automotive 1125 (I believe), works fine. I now have 1100 miles, and things are quite fine. I am fabricating my own all aluminum muffler and am looking for an alumimum tubing supplier and/or ability to bend aluminum tube. Any ideas? mikep | ||
| Spiderman |
Jose you have to call up Henry at BMC to order that. Also he has a Race faring for the XB with the headlights smoothed over. They are also working on a swing arm that is specific to chain drive. | ||
| Fasteddieb |
Has anyone considered modifying the Firebolt so the fan doesn't run-on after you shut the bike off? As soon as the engine stops running it stops generating heat (natch). Heat may be flowing from one area to another, but overall the engine should start cooling down overall as soon as you turn it off. Right now, the run-on is just annoying (how many MORE times will I have to explain it?) Later on, with a marginal battery, it could get VERY annoying. | ||
| Anonymous |
Yes it does start cooling as soon as you stop, BUT... the rear cylinder is almost completly covered. It just helps in the cooling process. As for the marginal Battery a little preventative matinence should cure that. I have had the same battery in my bike for three years no problem (knock on wood) | ||
| Mikej |
"Right now, the run-on is just annoying (how many MORE times will I have to explain it?) " Just tell them that noise is the rubber band rewinding.  Or say it's the bike having a little case of indigestion from devouring a squid on the last set of twisties. | ||
| Spiderman |
Or that you are making Margaritas and they'll be done in a few. | ||
| Mikej |
Now that would be funny. Park a Firebolt at an event someplace. Pull out a cup and stand there until the fan stops. Reach down and open a petcock under the airbox cover and fill the cup with ice tea or something frothy. Be real funny if you put a Starbucks sticker on the side of the cover and poured out a steeming cup of coffee from a hidden Thermos strapped up under there. Dang, now you've got me thinking of gags.  Look out Seattle, MikeJ is on the way. Might just have to get me one of those XB9Espresso's. | ||
| Archer |
Ya'll are not kidding. Keeping this bike under 55 is absolute torture! I don't care what the F***ing numbers say this bike is super fast. I love it. I thought i loved my M2 but this bike has stole my heart. I have to break it in right but it's hard. I went corner carving last night, i thought i was going to give it a lashing.....the bike laughed at me, as if to say "that's all you got?" Got the race kit ordered! and a new seat. Almost went over the handle bars doing a stoppie!!! That front brake is tough. Anyway I'll quit rambling ......just so damn happy with it. | ||
| Anonymous |
Fasteddie, PLEASE don't disconnect the fan! There is a tremendous amount of heat soak that can damage an engine when you stop after riding hard. Running it after the bike is off cools down the motor, and greatly adds to the life of the oil, thereby the motor. The fan is triggered by temperature, not just because the engine is shut off, so if it is running, it means it needs to be. Water-cooled bikes can't make use of this because their coolant stops circulating after the engine stops running. The hot water just sits there and steeps the engine in 200 degree temperatures. The Firebolt fan is absolutely an advantage, so tell your friends why it is better than their water-cooled bikes, and enjoy! The battery won't go dead from this (unless it is already trash), because the draw from the fan is quite low. | ||
| Rd350 |
Hey everyone, Just thought I would give you the heads up on the new Firebolt race kit. I had a friend put his on yesterday. It was supposed to be delivered on the Aug. 25th but came in early. It sounds sweet. It sounds like the old Buell race muffler. Even though when you look at the dyno chart from BUell and it looks like it doesn't do much. Trust me on this...The bike is fast. To give you an idea it is faster than the race bike that the shop has which is a x-1 with a 98 inch motor. The race bike is putting 95 HP at the rear wheel. The Firebolt with the race kit is faster... And the pipe looks good. The pipe is about 4 inches shorter than the stock pipe. Should have some dyno runs in a couple of days.. So far after riding it I would recommend buy it for the price... |
