| Author | Message | ||
     Nickwarne |
I'm selling my Buell XB12SS because I can't get the suspension sorted. I'm not a freak: I weigh 100kg (220lb). I ride pretty hard on bumpy roads, and the standard suspension is just not up to the task. Some of you guys will have seen my posts over the last year, in which I try and find parts - fork springs, rear shocks; with which to improve the suspension of my 2006 XB12SS. Long story short: there is NOTHING out there that fits! When I first bought my bike in March 2006, the model was only six months old, so I wasn't surprised that there was nothing available. But now, 18 months after the model first went on sale, I still can't find parts, hell I can't even find the specs for the XB12SS suspension! More crucially, neither can any of the suspension vendors I have contacted. These include: American Sportsbike, Wilbers and Trojan. This is not a reflection on them (particularly Al who has been fantastic), but a solid "F" for fail for Buell. I love my bike, but its suspension shortfalls (for my use) have grated on me for too long. It's for sale. | ||
| Old_man |
I'm sorry to hear you can't get your bike set up. What are the problems you're having. I weigh 245lbs. with gear. The roads where I ride are pretty rough. I set my suspension on my XB9S softer than the manual suggests, especially the compression damping. I am happy with the set-up I have with standard components. | ||
| Fpresky |
Buell has a set of race springs that could help they run about $80. | ||
| Nickwarne |
Old Man: The suspension cannot cope with dips and heaves. After tracking through one while cranked over, it wallows and remains unstable before the suspension can bring it under control. Other bikes do not have this problem. My settings started out as those on the chart in the Owners' Manual. Fpresky: The catalogue I have says the Buell springs do NOT fit the XB12SS. The SS runs the Ulysses frame with shorter suspension that is unique to the bike. | ||
| Old_man |
It took me many different adjustments to the preload and the damping adjustments until I was happy with mine. | ||
| M1combat |
And where did you go with the damping? What's the setup in the manual and where is yours? I'm sure there's a solution. Stiffer springs aren't that expensive. | ||
| Old_man |
The suspension components are very good. Spring preload and damping, both ways, are adjustable. As I said, on rough pavement too stiff a setup will not work. It would cause the bike to bound. The so called aggressive settings work on a smooth surface, as a race track, but the suspension needs to be flexible on a bumpy or rough surface, less preload and damping to match seem to work better. | ||
| Plag |
Just a question Nickwarne, did you change the tires to something different? I have an 06 SS and I have been told they are very sensitive to tire choice. I am still on the OE Dunlops ... not really a fan. I weigh the same as you (220) and use the factory recommended settings and find them quite good. I'm an ex-roadracer and have gone for a few rips on really bumpy secondary roads going way fast and it sucks up all I through at it. One in particular, the 1a hwy between Calgary and Canmore. It runs through an Indian reserve and is littered with potholes and loose asphalt, but the twisties are worth it. | ||
| Tpoppa |
XB's are very sensitive to suspension setup . It took me 4 tries and almost 1000 miles to get suspension just how I like it. When I did the bike came alive. The suspension settings in the manual were OK for smooth roads, but I ride on the bumpy, pot-holed roads of Ohio. I softened the rear compression. I found the balance where the steering is quick (not too quick), it's stable at high speeds, and can hold a line when leaned into a corner. | ||
| Sneth |
maybe you should have bought an enduro... this is a street bike.... | ||
| Old_man |
Plag makes a very good point about the tires. If you have the OEM Dunlops still on the bike, get rid of them. They are an evil handling tire. Changing to Pirelli Scorpion Sync tires was the most important change that I made, to attain good handling, to my bike. Make this change, and you'll fall in love with your Buell. | ||
| Trojan |
Nick, We have AST shocks available to fit your model, and these are built, sprung and valved specifically to suit each individual customer's weight and riding style. They feature adjustable high/low speed compression damping, rebound damping, stepless preload and adjustable ride height, so you should be able to set it up perfectly for what you want. We have been using these shocks all last year on our XB12X based race bike, and will also be fitted to the bike that is going to race at the Isle of Man this year  You can find these shocks here: http://www.britnett-carver.co.uk/trojanhorse/prods/192.html You can also specify these shocks with remote hydraulic preload adjustment.  As far as the front forks go, there are lots of options available from the Buell race spring set right up to Traxxion Dynamics AK-20 cartridges (expensive but absolutely superb and well worth the money!). | ||
| Chadhargis |
Wilbers, Penske, and a few other manufacturers will custom make you a shock with a custom spring for a lot less money than you'll loose by selling the bike. Don't give up...get you a new suspension. I got the Wilbers for my Ulysses. It's wonderful!! | ||
| Macbuell |
Take the bike to a track day and have a suspension set-up specialist look at it. There's no reason you can't get a fully adjustable suspension set up the way you want it. Of course, for us bigger guys, a rear shock with ride height adjustment would be helpful. | ||
| Nickwarne |
Plag: Yep, I'm using Metzeler M3s now. I find them very good. OldMan: I don't consider myself a suspension guru by any means. But when I had an expert friend ride the bike he thought there was something faulty with the front forks. We have adjusted it to the max, but I'm still hitting the bump stops on the front. Sneth: Thanks for your constructive post. Trojan: Last time I enquired at Adrenalin Moto you asked me to measure my rear shock length. Rightly or wrongly, this made me doubt your experience with the XB12SS. Your post suggests using the Buell race fork spring. This contradicts my Buell catalog which says the race spring kit does NOT fit the 2006 XB12SS. I don't know which is right: Buell or you. Also your website does not state explicitly that your fork cartridges fit the XB12SS. Have you fitted any to an XB12SS? All: Thanks for the positive feedback. I really appreciate the forum's efforts to solve this problem. | ||
| Old_man |
If you have the preload at max and you hit the bump stop there is something wrong with the forks. On my XB9S I have five lines showing on the preload, I weigh 245lbs. and don't think I ever hit the bump stop. | ||
| Schmitty |
I would definitely give Traxxion Dynamics or Racetech a look. I'm not sure what you are looking to spend to rectify the problem, but I know that one of these two is bound to have the solution for you. Schmitty | ||
| Trojan |
Trojan: Last time I enquired at Adrenalin Moto you asked me to measure my rear shock length. Rightly or wrongly, this made me doubt your experience with the XB12SS. Your post suggests using the Buell race fork spring. This contradicts my Buell catalog which says the race spring kit does NOT fit the 2006 XB12SS. I don't know which is right: Buell or you. Also your website does not state explicitly that your fork cartridges fit the XB12SS. Have you fitted any to an XB12SS? Hi Nick, We can get shocks built in any length you want, so the reason I asked you to measure the stock item was just so you would know you were getting one the same length as stock. We use a stock length XBR shock (with +/- 10mm ride height adjustability) on our race bike, and that has the XB12X/SS swingarm/frame. This has worked really well throughout 2006. As far as the Buell fork spring kit is concerned, maybe I am wrong on that one, as I have never used them or checked into them too much. Just changing spring rates without changing damping is often not a great idea so I don't use them. I just thought it would be an option available from Buell for the SS model. Traxxion Dynamics cartridges can be supplied to fit just about any modern fork setup so the extra 2mm diameter of the XB12SS shouldn't present a problem. Reading your post it appears that you may well have problems with your front forks. However, sometimes turning everything up to max is not the answer and subtle changes can have a greater effect. Have you tried putting a zip tie around the fork leg to see just how much movement you are getting when you go for a ride? This will tell you if the forks are actually bottoming or if you have just adjusted everything too hard. Take a look on this very useful site for step by step setup instructions and guides: http://www.gostar-racing.com/information/motorcycl e_suspension_set-up.htm | ||
| Steve_mackay |
I ride pretty hard on bumpy roads, and the standard suspension is just not up to the task Also, I'd suggest, if all else fails, you may want to look at replacing the suspension with that from the new Super-TT(XB12STT). That extra 1" of suspension travel makes a HUGE difference on the bumpy stuff. | ||
| M1combat |
You have very little pre-load left and you still hit the bottom... Maybe the forks don't have enough fork oil in them? As I recall it's easy to check. Also... While on the brakes... Do you hold yourself back with your knees, by riding up the airbox cover, or by holding yourself back with the handlebars? You haven't mentioned what your settings are... Maybe too much rebound compared to bump damping and it's jacking the suspension down? I weigh a bit over 200 with gear and I've never hit the bump stops coming into bumpy corners on a racetrack from 125MPH with the rear just skimming across the tops of the bumps. I'm not talking a billiard table smooth racetrack here ... My local track is pretty bumpy (the west one is anyhow...). | ||
| Nickwarne |
Guys, I am so impressed by the quality of response here. This is an excellent forum. Trojan: Yes, I've used the cable tie thing. It's bottoming out. It's good to know that the shock length for a "normal" XB is the same (or very similar) to an XBSS. That's new information for me. Is your R1 front end the same OAL as a standard XBSS front end, or did you have to modify the length? Picking up an R1 front end from a breakers would be a cost-effective solution. If it wasn't perfect there are a ton of bits for R1s out there. Where'd you get the triple clamps? Steve: Nice idea, but I'm not about to buy XBSTT suspension at spare parts prices! M1: Yep, I'm starting to think there's a fault with my forks. | ||
| Rubberdown |
Man, that sucks. I wonder if they forgot to put the fork oil in at the factory? | ||
| Old_man |
It should be under warranty, take it back and have them fix it. It's not as is should be. | ||
| Raymondt |
Mine is so good, I truly believe one of the best handling bikes out there, that I am suprised that you are having such issues. My XB12S is sensitive to adjustment and different viscosity fork oil for sure, but it should not be that difficult to sort out. Have you tried another bike to see if yours is just wacked, or if they all feel the same to you? If you ride another and it is just as bad then you may need something different possibly a naked K1200R BMW with ESA. | ||
| Plag |
There has to be something not as it should be. Sounds like the boys are on to something with the fork oil. Like I said I'm 220 and I think the only time I've bottomed the forks is doing a stoppie. | ||
| Aussie_xb12ss |
G'day Nick, I also have the XB12Ss but the suspension is perfect (never bottomed out) as was the cyclone I used to own. I am a little lighter than you at 85kg and have the suspension set up by the book & it works fine. If my wife is going to be on the back of the bike with me then I just spend 5 minutes adjusting the suspension and all is well. Admittedly it is a casual ride 2 up though otherwise I’d get a smack in the ears. | ||
| Metalstorm |
I third the idea of checking the fork oil level. I don't know if filling the forks is part of the set up when a bike gets uncrated or if they come filled from the factory. If it's a part of the set up at the shop, I can unfortunately see how it could have been overlooked. Anyway.. it's probably a good starting point for finding the problem and ultimately the solution. | ||
| Trojan |
Trojan: Yes, I've used the cable tie thing. It's bottoming out. It's good to know that the shock length for a "normal" XB is the same (or very similar) to an XBSS. That's new information for me. Is your R1 front end the same OAL as a standard XBSS front end, or did you have to modify the length? Picking up an R1 front end from a breakers would be a cost-effective solution. If it wasn't perfect there are a ton of bits for R1s out there. Where'd you get the triple clamps? The R1 front end is pretty much the same length as stock XBR forks, and any difference can be made up by adjusting the forks in the yokes. I didn't have a set of stock forks to measure against when I started our project, as it started with Uly forks which are obviuosly much longer. Our triple trees were made locally by a company that makes full size steam engines! I just took a set of Buell yokes and a set of Yamaha Yokes and told tham to make the offset etc of the Buell ones but with the width of the Yamaha ones. They are not the most aesthetically pleasing, but are massively strong. My reasoning for using the R1 front end was pretty much the same as yours. There are millions of parts available and race setup knowledge on these forks is pretty comprehensive in the UK. You can also pick up parts at the track, whereas the buell forks mean a trip to the dealer and a long wait fr parts if you need them. Biggest reason for us changing though was to get the brakes from the R1, but that is a different story altogether, and one which will open another can of worms if we go into it here | ||
| Brumbear |
I have an 06 ss and I am 280 and live in nj the roads don't get much bumpier than that, I do not road race on the suspension but I do ride aggressive and I do not have any problems I have set the adjustment a little on the light side but I still have more control on this than any other bike I have owned before, sorry to hear you can't get it set up to what you like | ||
| Terribletim |
Trojan - Wow! Great article on that link you posted! Tons of good information! I just wish I understood it all! I think my settings are wrong for me, but I really don't know which way to go on any of it! But thanks for posting that link, I'm gonna try to read it enough times to digest it all. May take several trips to the restroom with a printed copy!  I know these things can handle, problem is they handle better than I do. I think I may not be confident enough to really put it through it's paces where I can figure out what it needs. I do know it does not really turn in like I would like. My bike seems hard to get to lean over and hold it there through the turn, plus it wants to stand up coming out under acceleration. I will say, the turn in could be me just not being brave enough to get after it. The mind says that whole physics thing works at those lean angles, the 34 year old body says "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!?!?!?!" |
