| Author | Message | ||
     Kedo |
I am looking for feedback about the reasons why someone would want one over the other. I know about the differences between bikes - i.e. riding position, body plastics, clip-ons, etc. I have a Lightning and am having strong impulses about switching over to a Firebolt. Please share your thoughts and experience. | ||
| Typeone |
i get those impulses too, have an 05 12S with higher pegs and dirt bars now, but i usually direct them to wanting to add the R clip-ons and fairing up front. its definitely a mod in my future. best of both, IMO, with sweet snub-tail out back, wind protection up front, and lower bars for position/comfort in the twisty stuffs. 2 coins.. . | ||
| Sneth |
i demo'd a firebolt the other week. I have to say it was fun to be in the crotch position again, but there is no way that is what i want to own anymore. The lightning is much more comfortable, especially when you add a real windscreen. After an hour on the firebolt, sitting on the lightning was so comfy. It's fun to play with, but i got it out of my system with my first bike. | ||
| Cereal |
I find the lightning tail more comfortable, but still like the lower handlebars. So I got an R and put an S tail on it. I go back and forth on the foot pegs depending on what kind of riding I'm doing. | ||
| Kedo |
More info to add to the discussion: My planned days riding are around 250 miles. I ride to a "favorite" section of road and go back and forth/up and down - sort of like a ski lift. I am definitely not touring. I am getting more and more into aggressive cornering. I bought a Harley Softail and as I got into "touring" I gradually turned the bike into a touring bike. When I realized that, I bought a Road King. So, now I'm into sport riding - still LOVE the Harley influence or I wouldn't be riding a Buell. Anyhow, the similarity is that I seem to be turning my Lightning onto a Firebolt - Crossroads bars, extended windscreen, etc. And, every time I see a Firebolt, I wish that was what I bought. But I didn't know that I was going to "get into" the kind of riding I am now. I plan on doing some track days, etc. What is involved in putting a Firebolt front-end on a lightning? That seems to be "the answer". So, knowing that, what else have the BWB’ers have to add? Here's a picture of my Lightning.  | ||
| Skully |
I know what you mean. Some days I am glad I have the Lightning but some days I wish I had the Firebolt. I race and tour with mine:   Keith | ||
| Goozyman |
thank you for making me ruin another LCD monitor... I just spit coffee on my monitor when i saw those sleeping bags/tent/kitchen sink on the back of that XB lol | ||
| Kedo |
No doubt - Beverly-Freakin'-Hillbillies! LOL. So tell me, Skully, what kind of belly pan are you running for your track days? Does it bolt onto the stock lower faring mounts? | ||
| Jaimec |
Judging from that photo, the belly pan must be filled with LEAD so the bike isn't in a permanent wheelie!! | ||
| Kedo |
Jaimec- Not the touring version - the track version. But, he probably has a scuba weightbelt in the tank bag when he has all the luggage with him. LOL | ||
| Diablobrian |
That looks like one of the race belly pans that you can get from Henry Duga at Buell. (262)642-2020 or (262)642-2986 ext 336 Henry is a really great guy, but he's also really busy so you may get his voice mail. | ||
| Kedo |
Thanks Diablobrian. I'll give him a holler | ||
| Cereal |
It's not hard to put a R front fairing on, but it can get a little pricey. You will need the fairing, fairing bracket, headlights (which suck), clutch cable, brake line, and maybe extend a few wires. Getting the crossroad bars would be the easiest solution because they don't require many mods and there is only about 1 inch of difference horizontally. Or you can put the R top triple tree on your S and keep your fairing. The only different will be wind sheer. It will take a little bit of fabrication, but there is a thread somewhere in here where this is detailed. | ||
| Typeone |
so could I just install the R fairing bracket, fairing and lights on my S keeping the stock S triple? has anyone done that? | ||
| Diablobrian |
there may be a problem with clearance between your stock lightning bars/controls and the firebolt fairing. | ||
| Kedo |
Diablobrian- Yep, Henry Duga is a really good guy. Helpful and friendly. The race-approved belly pan lists for $150 and they are in stock and available through your local H-D/Buell Dealership. It is made of fiberglass and mounts to stock muffler points - which means (correct me if I'm wrong) will work with a stock can, a race can, a Drummer, or D&D. Might need a little modification for the direction the exhaust is directed. Sweet. | ||
| Cereal |
Oops. My work computer blocks certain pics, so I didn't see that you already have the crossroads. Now that I see it, you pretty much already have a Firebolt. You even have pretty good wind protection with the taller number plate. Go test ride a bolt. I don't think you will notice all that much of a difference. Save your money and don't change a thing. Typeone, because the crossroads are further back than the R triple, I think it would work. Haven't heard of anyone that has tried that before. | ||
| Xbullet |
I've got the R triple on my lightning and left the S gauges, headlights, etc. on there. Wolfridgerider is putting my old S top triple on his Firebolt. may want to send him a PM and see how that's going. check these threads... http://www.badweatherbikers.com/cgibin/discus/show .cgi?tpc=37&post=383777#POST383777 http://www.badweatherbikers.com/cgibin/discus/show .cgi?tpc=32777&post=875168#POST875168 http://www.badweatherbikers.com/cgibin/discus/show .cgi?tpc=32777&post=875870#POST875870 Hope that helps. let us know how it turns out!! | ||
| Skully |
Yes, the belly pan I have on my bike for the track is the one supplied by Henry Duga. I've met him - a super nice guy. I too have the Crossroads bars to get the more aggressive riding position. This also helps reduce the tendency to wheelie when in touring mode.  | ||
| Skully |
PS The Buell race belly pan does not come with any mounting method. The XB trashed my first mounting method so I had to devise another one. Let me know if you get one and want to know what worked for me. Keith | ||
| Kedo |
Skully- Henry said it would mount the same as the stock chin fairing. That not true? Tell me what worked for you - please. | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
On the other hand....................... Another popular "Lightning Bolt" involves the R Tail on an S, with lower bars. Here is my variation on the theme with Tomaselli adjustable Clubman's bars, Ohlins rear shock and steering damper, and one or two other mods that make it more fun in the twisties.  LoneXB has a splendid variation on the theme, more or less your direction, but he did it by putting a streetfighter seat on a Firebolt.  In other words, the variations are simply endless, and all good. | ||
| Skully |
Hey Kedo, The belly pan is not supplied with any mounting method and you must do a lot of trimming and fitting to make it work. I thought that I had a photo of it with my revised mounting system but I can't seem to find it. Here is what the pan looks like from the inside (I added the aluminum tape):  If you decide to put one on your bike, let me know and I'll show you what I did. Keith | ||
| Kedo |
Skully- I am interested. Thanks. So, for those track that require full pans, what part of the engine has to be covered. If I have to do "some trimming" for the exhaust, what makes it "track legal"? | ||
| Hooligan620 |
So I visited my local HD Dealer and asked about buying a belly pan. They looked at me like I was from outer space. They said Buell does not have a race catalog and without a part number they were lost. They really tried to help but... There's also a number plate that goes over the headlight on the R, it's a Buell Racing Part Too! Any ideas? |
