| Author | Message | ||
     Sub65chris |
looking for some tips to make my 05 xb9sx lighter . in my job i have run across a few things that might help( carbon fiber cloth , aluminum, etc.) . just wondering what you all think will be the most bang for my buck in terms of weight loss for the bike? removing unneccesary parts ( the buells are pretty bare as they are) changing parts out? im at a loss so many posibilities , but i dont want to down the bike for too long, 2-3 days max because its my only ride.  | ||
| Glitch |
Carbon Fiber | ||
| Spiderman |
acid dip and drill holes in everything that doesn't hold fluid  | ||
| Xring |
Aren't some of the aftermarket mufflers quite a bit lighter than stock? Bill | ||
| Sub65chris |
Glitch --- i have spent many hours pouring over the parts on the wonderful sponsor sites and they are out of my price range .my wife recently informed my that money will not be spent on anything that that bike doesnt 'need' . I have the time and the materials to make the parts just wondering really if anyone has done something like this to their bike , while still keeping the functionallity of the motorcycle .) no super short stubby seats !  also how do you acid etch ? and would you be better off just polishing , or grinding? i dont know , just asking | ||
| Skully |
Aftermarket mufflers and removing the passenger foot peg brackets is a great place to start... | ||
| Sub65chris |
passenger pegs are gone so is most of my air box . the stock pegs are replaced with the billet kleeted ones from american sport bike along with the stock levers replaced with crg shorties . all the reflectors are gone and the tail piece is being worked on right now with the dremel. how much weight are we talking by replacing the stock muffler? | ||
| Bads1 |
Why do you want to make it lighter??? Track days?? | ||
| Angelwild327 |
cripes, it's a city cross..it's already NAKED, and the pretty parts are made of plastic....don't wear any gear or helmet...that should shed a few pounds...I mean, it's not like a full faring bike that you can dump stuff here and there... oh yeah, drop the big lunky v-twin..that ought to do it... sorry...you're just funny dude...i'm not trying to be a meanie....I think Erik made a concerted effort to lighten our bikes, I mean, that damn front brake...7 POUNDS off.. you want a MIRACLE dontcha... Hugs and please don't take offense.. Angela | ||
| Jaimec |
Probably shed more weight on a holistic diet... | ||
| Altima02 |
going on a diet would probably be the best bet. Theres not much to remove or lighten. Atleast affordibly | ||
| Cycleaddict |
the standard "drummer" is 5lbs. lighter than stock! | ||
| Homing_turtle |
The easiest way to lose 10 pounds from the "bike", is to eat more salads, and exercise more. 10 pounds off the highest weight on the bike (you) will feel like 30 off the actual bike, and its cheap. | ||
| Kdan |
How heavy are the tires? Do you really need tires in North Dakota? | ||
| Jaimec |
Filling the tires with helium oughtta go a long way to reducing unsprung weight... | ||
| Glitch |
With everything you've already done, and since you're working on a tight budget, IMHO the next thing for you to do is get a lighter muffler. Check out the sponsors, I *think* Odie's is the least expensive, and I know it sheds some pounds, you can give him a call, he a great guy to work with. Also if you're not worried about having to re-pack a muffler, I *think* the Jardine is one of the lightest, and least expensive. | ||
| Chasespeed |
In polishing the aluminium, you sand the hell outta it, starting with the lowest grade practicle(80 or 180 grit, if you need it), but, usually, most visible stuff only requires 320.. then you work it all the way up to a 1200... then wet sand with 1500, then aagin with 2k, THEN you hit the buffing wheel... Other than that, there isnt too much weight on an XB to remove, practically.. That will take some material off.. Buy a nice light-weight muffler... Other than that, sounds like you are on the right track... Chase | ||
| Sub65chris |
thanks guys , the holistic diet is a good idea!  thanks for the responses i will look into the jardine. you all keep me sane , later | ||
| Metalstorm |
I don't know about the holistic diet but I've been doing a realistic diet (as in find something you can live with & stick to it) & lots of exercising (in addition to slinging asphalt 5 days a week). I'm almost back in the shape I was in in my early 20's. I think I've dropped 21 lbs. & gained 3 horse power! Woohoo! Every time I get into the twisties, my bike lets me know just how much she appreciates my efforts.  | ||
| Diablobrian |
You could do the home version of the open airbox. That would shed a few ounces of plastic. You could enlarge the holes in your rear brake rotor if you don't use it much. That would be a few more ounces. You could remove the belt guards and front pulley cover if you wear good boots every time you ride (and are supremely confident in your belt) That would shave some moe weight. You could also drop the chin fairing, hand guards, headlight grill, turn signals, and mirrors if you are really serious about dropping weight and are less concerned about legality. | ||
| Black_sunshine |
Sub65chris...I replaced ALL my black Plastic with CF (see profile), Chopped the tail. and I shaved off 8lbs or so before I switched to the drummer. That lightened her another several pounds. You would be surprised how much the plastic bits weight. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Have you tried helium in the tires? | ||
| Spiderman |
if you polish and are using a wheel, you only need to go to 600 grit. The wheel will take out the rest. If you go all the way to 2000 grit you don't need a wheel you can just use Semichrome instead of the wheel... | ||
| Microchop |
get some XBRR Mag wheels. | ||
| Riclyd |
what about those aluminum big-bore cylinders, that should save some weight... | ||
| Panhead_dan |
Take the kickstand off and use your helmet. | ||
| Sub65chris |
damn the cost , can anyone get xbrr parts ? i would like the wheels like previously mentioned and i would also like to get the 8 piston calipers ( just for fun) . Next how much trouble would i get in if i ran the bike with out the air box cover? not so much with the law but with rain and water getting into the engine? does anyone run the bike open like that all the time and does the air cleaner keep water out? | ||
| Diablobrian |
We have at least 1 badwebber running a FAST system without the airbox covers on his firebolt. I don't know how much rain he rides in though. Hey, You could get rid of that heavy remote reservoir rear shock and install a steel strut (make it a hard tail), that would shave several pounds. If you go total loss and remove the lights you can also drop the battery, starter, starter gear ring on the clutch and extra wire in the harness, but you can only ride in the day time, can't long, and have to bump start it. However it will be lighter (Message edited by diablobrian on October 04, 2006) | ||
| Rasta_dog |
Have you tried riding on the moon? I think I've seen pictures on this forum of a yellow Ulysess in outer space. | ||
| Chasespeed |
if you polish and are using a wheel, you only need to go to 600 grit. The wheel will take out the rest. If you go all the way to 2000 grit you don't need a wheel you can just use Semichrome instead of the wheel... Yeah, but, can you shave in it like that? Alot of the frames and parts we are doing right now, are for people that show their bikes.. and its us doing in to better than perfection, OR, they have the stuff dipped in chrome... It seems like it gives it a bit of depth.. Besides, that's the way I learned to do it, with perferct results.... I have tried it the other way...even going up to 800, and using a wheel, and still wasnt happy... But, hey... it works for us, and everyone else is happy with it, which is what counts.. Anyway, sorry for the hijack... Back to you regularly scheduled thread... Chase} |
