| Author | Message | ||
     Gbr |
Hello to all the Buell nuts out there. I've been reading the board for about 2 months now. I was able to pick up a brand new 04 XB12S from a local dealer back in November, but due to finishing a masters degree, haven't really got around to posting here until now. This is a great bike, and I can't wait till the snow goes away so I can really get out and ride it. In my time reading the board, I've already got a list of things I "need" (boy, is my wife not happy) to call DaveS about. Next paycheck, frame pucks and a service manual. After that, who knows. One question I have for you XB Lighting owners, I picked up some Silverstar headlights for my bike after reading a few threads about them. Apparently, in my pursuit of higher education, some of my mechanical skills have, uhh, dulled. Is it me, or is there very little clearance between the forks and the back of the headlight assembly? How the hell do you get the old lamps out and the new ones in? What (probably) simple step have I missed? Thanks for the help. gbr | ||
| Xb9srider |
It's not you. I cussed a lot and that helped. I don't recommend that method though. Patience may work better. What's your master's in?  Never Give Up! PS. Oh, welcome and you'll love the bike. It has more soul than all of the Jap and Italian stuff I've owned before. Great bike. | ||
| Gbr |
Thanks for the tip, I haven't put my vocabulary to work on it yet.  I finished a MA in Career and Technical Education. Had to move up the pay scale somehow, and at least its a degree in my field. I really can't wait to get past break in. I rode a CBR for about 7 years, then got stupid and sold it to buy a cruiser. That thing only lasted a year. If I rode it much longer, I wouldn't have any footpegs left. This bike is going to be much more fun than either one. gbr | ||
| Cygnus_x1 |
I changed the bulbs and seems like I to remove the torx screw under the lights, and one on each side. Can I ask how much they got ya fer? I have two dealers with new 04's that I doubt they'll ever sell, they just sit in the corner and collect dust, or the mechanics might take 'em home and race 'em around. They want $8700 for their 12S. Plus t&l. | ||
| Sgthigg |
Welcome Gbr. Congrats on the bike. Watch out you might get addicted to this sight though if you come here often. Cygnus get a hold of Daves. You cant beat his deals or his support afterwards. I I bought my 05 xb12scg form him andI got a D--n good deal on it. Good luck | ||
| Vito |
Welcome also GBR! Dave does have the Mecca of all things Buell. I was there last spring when visiting my folks, and hadn't bought my Buell yet. Suffice to say, I was impressed. Didn't get a chance to meet Dave, but I hope to this summer. Enjoy the ride-the Buell is by far the most fun machine I have-and I also have a souped up Wide Glide and an 883 Sportster in the garage. Number 1 choice-3 out of 5 times is the Buell! Enjoy | ||
| Gbr |
Thanks for the welcome. I'll check those torx bolts and see if that will improve my clearance. I was able to pick up the bike for 8K. They had it with a sticker price of 96 something, marked down from 10 something. The dealership is about 130 mi away, so most of the deal was over the phone. I wasn't impressed with their customer service, so I won't be going back for anything. The only reason I bought the bike from them was it was a good deal (I thought at least). gbr | ||
| Truk |
Welcome GBR. Congratulations on the bike and the good deal you got. Hope things thaw out soon for you. Good decision on the frame pucks and service manual. Mine is worth it's weight in gold. Make sure people who are not familiar with working on the XB follows the procedures in the SM, even things like changing tires. Everything is real straight forward and pretty simple, but things are different. Also, as it appears you have already found, this board is real helpful. I check it out (Knowledge Vault & XB) and ask for advice before every new procedure I do on my bike May I be so bold as to suggest one more small item of purchase to consider along the lines of the Frame Pucks - Axle Sliders front and rear | ||
| Gbr |
Thanks for the suggestions Truk. I've thought about the sliders, but I really like the look of the hollow axles. Don't know for sure what I'll do there. My local HD dealership doesn't deal Buell, but they do have a tech who worked at a different dealership that did. I've talked to him, and he is familiar with XB's. If I need things done that are outside of my abilities, I'll probably take it there. Warranty stuff will have to go elsewhere though, so I'm hoping to avoid anything like that. Another question for anyone (maybe Daves)-- I saw on the Buell site all 05 and 06 models purchased from Nov. 05 to March 06 get a free extended warranty. Would this apply to my bike as well, since it was brand new?? gbr | ||
| Klink |
I've thought about the sliders, but I really like the look of the hollow axles. Scratched up sliders look better than hollow axles surrounded by scraps.Plus they're cheaper than replacing fork legs and swingarm | ||
| Kandie |
Gbr, I will tell Dave you have a warranty question. He's out deer hunting and won't be home until after dark. Congrats on the bike! | ||
| Gbr |
Thanks Kandie. Hope Dave is successful. Klink, yeah I know what your saying. My wife said the same thing. I'll probably end up doing them. gbr | ||
| U4euh |
Did you find the torx bolt's? There are two small holes,1 each, on the sides of the aluminum housing that your front plastic bolts to. Stick the torx wrench from your tool kit in the holes and remove. One left on the bottom, dead center. Remove it and you can remove the whole assembly for doing just about anything you want. Might even be easier if you removed the bikini fairing the first time around, that way you can see what all is involved. JIM | ||
| Vanvideo |
Welcome, Gbr. I also went from sportbikes to cruisers and back to sportbikes. Cruisers are too boring. I thought I had lost my love of riding for awhile until I rode a sportbike again. Get the frame pucks. I learned the hard way how useful they are. | ||
| Gbr |
Jim, I found them. Haven't had a chance to tear into it yet, hopefully this week. If not I'll have to wait til the weekend. No hurry, just got another couple of inches of the white wet stuff. Just when it was looking like I might be able to sneak in a Jan. ride. Oh well. gbr | ||
| Daves |
I'm back from hunting, nothing today and it's the last day of bow season for me  Anyway, the warranty isn't really an extended warranty is the usual sense. It is more of a warranty extension. Your 2 year warranty would normally expire 2 years to the date from when you bought the bike. If you bought it during the program dates your warranty will be "extended" thru Mar of 08 instead of Nov 07. I do not recall off the top of my head what the dates were on the program to tell if your bike qualifies or not. I can look it up if you like but I have a Taco Pizza coming any minute and I am hungry! PS, Just so no one feels bad for me not getting a deer today I have had a great season so far 3 with a muzzle loader and 3 with my bow. I will be back in the woods for one last weekend with my ML next weekend. | ||
| Gbr |
Dave, I'd appreciate it if you would look. Don't spend much time on it though. If it only extends me to March, that won't do me much good. I usually can't get the bike out from Nov to early April anyway. Congrats on the hunting success. Next fall I'm going to spend about 4 days in eastern MT antelope hunting. They are lots of fun to hunt as long as you don't mind having to put a sneak on them for a while. Thanks again, gbr | ||
| Perry |
Pull off the flyscreen (four little allen-bolts) and then you can see the torx bolts on the sides they are talking about. You take out the two torx bolts (one each side) and the one on the bracket connecting to the headlight assembly and the whole thing will come down and rest on the front fender. (put a towel under so you don't scratch the fender!). Then you can easily remove the rubber boots on the back of the headlights and swap the bulbs. I did this exact thing two weeks ago - it took like 15 minutes for the whole operation. Remember not to get finger prints on the bulb! |
