| Author | Message | ||
     Japbikeboy |
Ok, so I tried this in the Knowledge Vault but with no luck. I am wondering about the differences in the Long swingarm and a 2004 12R model swingarm. Mainly does it fit directly across? I don't want to modify anything but oil lines if I can get away with it. Thanks guys. | ||
| M1combat |
I've asked this before and Matt from Trojan said he'd get back to me... Maybe the thread fell into the void of archives before he got back to me  . | ||
| Beachbuell |
Not gonna work. It is not a direct swap, 'easy", bolt on kinda thing. | ||
| Lonexb |
buell changed the swing arm design in 06. this is the year the longs first came out. the newer swing arm will not fit on any of the earlier models (03-05). but i am not sure if the long swing arm would just swap out between the 06 and newer models. hope this helps. brian | ||
| Ronlv |
i THINK it will work, but i havent done it yet the swingarm attachs to the engine not the frame and i dont think those mounts were changed here is a 12s with a long swingarm http://www.r-r-customizing.de/seiten/index2.html click on galerie, upper center photo let us know how it goes later, ron | ||
| M1combat |
So... They changed the engine cases back where the swingarm mounts? Why would they do that? Seems to me that with some modification of some oil lines (maybe just buying the oil lines from the newer models) that the swingarm would be "mostly" a bolt on. | ||
| Beachbuell |
Don't forget about the brake line (needs to be longer), maybe the belt, alignment. I don't think its as easy as you might think. | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
There is another alternative. The Hal's long wheelbase swing arm chain conversion.  I have never been a big fan of the 52" wheelbase. I believe it detracts from stability, especially when the bike is been ridden by a larger rider, ( such as myself - 6'-2" 235# in gear). Many racers, including the Buell factory, use longer wheelbase chain conversions for two reasons: they handle better, and they allow for gearing changes. I have lowered the overall gearing on my bike, and it accelerates better. I lose a bit of theoretical top speed, but I suspect that the bike is over geared for a large rider with an S nose anyway. The down side: this conversion cost $2500. Someone posted a similar item at a substantially lower cost, but I don't recall the details just now. Perhaps someone else has the facts. | ||
| M1combat |
I would rather use the SS swing arm and keep a belt. I just can't imagine why Buell would modify the area that the swingarm mounts to the engine. If they did I'd like to know why. I don't think they did. If that's the case it should be a pretty direct swap (as in, no dremel, saws all, duct tape required). | ||
| Blake |
Lengthening the swingarm would increase the bending moment at the swingarm block to tranny bolted joint. That would be one reason why that joint might need revised. | ||
| Lonexb |
i looked into doing this to my bike when the 06 model line came out. looking at an 06 compared to my 04, it does look different. i also asked my dealer to look into this for me. they said they could do it. but i would need to buy the newer engine cases. in addition to the longer swing arm. i could be wrong. i am no expert mechanic. brian | ||
| Josh_cox |
IMO, Buell racers don't use the extended/chain swingarm b/c it handles better. They use it b/c you can easily change gearing appropriately for different tracks. The extended/chain swingarm setup actually is weaker and introduces chassis flex. Luckily the XB has an extremely rigid chassis. So this isn't a big issue. The crankcases did change in 06. Exactly what the changes were, I'm not sure. I don't believe the width of the mounting points changed though. In the worst case scenario, you might have to use shims or custom bearings. Those items are nothing new to any of us anyway. | ||
| No_rice |
i cant tell for sure. i just went and measured an 04 and it is roughly 5 3/8 from one edge of the swingarm to the other(i just hooked it on the opposite side of the swingarm and measured to the edge of the closest side to get an idea). we sold our ss a bit ago, so if someone has an ss and could check that might help everyone out. | ||
| Ceejay |
If you just want to change out the swingarm I don't think it would get you much. most of the changes occurred because the ss uses longer frame spars, so they had to make a longer engine/swingarm mounting block, not the actual swingarm...Thus you wouldn't gain anything by changing swingarms, and you probably wouldn't be able to change mounting blocks...I would check on this first as it is all just a picture in my head because I don't own one nor have I really looked at an XB mounting. | ||
| Japbikeboy |
Well, I guess it was worth a shot. I really don't want to do the Hal's conversion because I want the belt for easy maintenance. That's what I get for trying to be lazy. Thanks for the input everyone. | ||
| Wyckedflesh |
The easy way to know if the swingarm is longer, ask to see if the part numbers for the SS belt and the standard S belt match...And no, the swingarm swap is not an easy one, the shaft diameter is different, IIRC the newer swingarms use a larger diameter shaft as well as a slightly narrower/shorter length. I am not 100% positive on that, but I vaguley recall it being that way when seeing the two units side by side on a bench. | ||
| M1combat |
So it may be possible with a sleeve and custom bearings then... I wonder how it would affect the handling... I believe the '04-05 belts are shorter than the '06-07 belts. | ||
| Wyckedflesh |
Anything i$ po$$ible | ||
| Pillsburyroll |
sorry to interup alot of your guys' discusions. But i'm 21 and in the Mrines, and when i get out, i would love to by myself a Buell XB12. Its my favorit bike. But i dont know much about then vs the crap Jap bikes. Would you say they handel better, quicker, or ever woth the money to by over a cheap-o jap? (because i like the Kawasaki Z1000). I'm sorry i dont know much about them and still call myself a fan, but i love the styling and i'm the American made type of person. I drive a Jeep, In the Marines, and i cant think of a better badass bike then a Buell to own. |
