| Author | Message | ||
     Towjam |
quick sanity check... Any other >200lb Firebolt riders out there? Are you running the stock suspension? | ||
| Ceejay |
Mine's stock and seems pretty good. I have it set via the manual for 240 and above. I have't found it's limits yet. I'm 6'2", 230lbs... | ||
| Barker |
im happy with stock 260 w/ gear. | ||
| Hdbobwithabuell |
I'm 240#. Stock suspension is great once you set it up per the manual. | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
Properly setting the suspension with the stock springs and damping for riders over 200 lb.s can definitely help. However, one must realize that this is at the very limits of the stock suspension system, and the bike will handle rather better with heavier springs and re-valved shock absorbers. I believe that Buell still supplies heavier springs for the 43 mm front forks, and the stock shock. I recommend that the heavier rider send his suspension units to a specialist when it is time to change the oil, 10,000 miles, and have the springs changed and the shocks revalved at the same time: won't cost a lot more than a simple service. Grandstand Designs, a Buell specialist, does an upgrade, exchange so you have zero down time, and includes new spring, revalve, new oil and seals. Best money you can spend on your bike if you like to ride aggressively in the twisties. | ||
| Towjam |
Best money you can spend on your bike if you like to ride aggressively in the twisties. I live in Dallas. The only twisty I have is the left turn out of my driveway.  | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
With all the gear I tip the scales at 255 lbs. 235lbs of gear and 20lbs of me  I am looking at the race spring set up but so far the bike handles great with stock. I have 2 track days on the stock set up and it has worked fine. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
235 plus gear. Stock suspension. I am swapping out the front springs for the 07's. So far the suspension has been just fine. I'm sure that a heavier main rear spring would allow for a little more "nuanced" settings. Gentleman Jon has completely reworked his suspension and is in the "plus sized" category like the rest of us. He can give some great advice on what to do and why. | ||
| Towjam |
I am swapping out the front springs for the 07's. Were the 12R springs upgraded in '07 - or just the springs for the Uly? | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Sorry. I have a Uly. | ||
| Socalbuell |
I have the xb12r and am 6'2'' 245 and the bike fits like a glove | ||
| Surveyor |
6'1" and 100kilos. My front end is struggling to cope on the track with the forks very close fully compressed under braking but I have a little bit of compression damping left, also the exhaust tail pipes are grounding in corners. Probably could do with higher rear ride height (any ideas?)and heavier oil in the forks. | ||
| Firebolteric_ma |
yup 220 here and got the upgrades, HUGE Difference in ridding the twisties! | ||
| Mikexlr650 |
pm livinlo, he 320 and draggin knee! obviously had his suspension redone, not sure by who. pm him. | ||
| Mikexlr650 |
i'm 200 plus gear. once properly set up the stock suspension can take you pretty far. we push pretty hard and the stock showa's are really not a limitation. | ||
| Fullpower |
saw a fat woman on a honda ruckus t'other day..... still chuckling about that | ||
| M_singer |
I am 215 w/o gear. I found the stock suspension a little mushy when running at a modest sporting pace in the twisties. I installed the pro series springs front and back and changes the fork oil to Bel-Ray 15w. Huge improvement. | ||
| Cruisin |
Just under 300lbs (at 6'1") and using the stock setup on the 2004 firebolt. Haven't noticed any issues but then again I haven't ridden with redone suspension parts. No dealers in my state to do the 10k mile service so it's not getting done yet (it's overdue by about 3k). Debating about having the local jap shop do it for me...but they don't know anything about Buells, so I'm a little hesitant. Might have to check out grandstand designs - swap out would be nice, although I'd have to get a new inspection sticker for the fork. | ||
| Towjam |
but they don't know anything about Buells... That's ok. Neither do a lot of Harley dealers. oops... that wasn't my "inside" voice | ||
| Steve_mackay |
Crusin, I've been in VT 2 weeks, and 3 days. Haven't Seen a SINGLE Buell here this year. | ||
| Gomez85 |
I'm with most of you, 250# and undertall ("but dear, round IS a shape") and with the stock suspension set at near max rear, max front, it handle California Speedway beautifully...now if I could just pass in the corners I could maybe get away from my buddies R1  | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
Cruising - You might try putting your inspection sticker BELOW the bottom triple clamp if allowed. Don't ask how I figured that one out!  | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
I just ordered the Pro-Series Suspension Kit for my Bolt. I will let you know how it changes the ride. Losing a few pounds is A LOT harder than ordering new springs but I have dropped 13 lbs since returning from Homecoming. My goal is to see the south side of 200. Just 35 lbs to go!!.........THAT SUCKS!!! | ||
| Towjam |
Just 35 lbs to go!!.........THAT SUCKS!!! Congrats and hang in there! I too suffer from a rather "pear shaped" physique. In fact, it was just over 4 years ago that my wife challenged me to lose 30 lbs - offering to to buy me a bike if I was successful as she was concerned about my health. Long story short, I lost the weight, she funded my first bike (an '04 Firebolt) and as they say, the rest is history. So is my weight loss unfortunately, I've gained over half of it back and and now looking at around 205-210 lbs. I'm going to get back on a weight loss program. Sometime after my '08 Bolt gets in.  | ||
| Diablobrian |
I'm in this club too....it sucks trying to keep your weight down when there are so many exercises I can't do for suspension though... I put the SCG suspension on my firebolt for utility reasons, it makes the bike easier for me to deal with at stops. However the SCG suspension is quite a bit harsher due to the shorter suspension travel and accompanying damping rates. The reason I bring this up is this: A bike that handles perfectly on the track isn't always what you want to be riding for multi-hundred mile day trips. It is always about compromises so be sure that the trade-offs are worth it for you and how you ride the majority of the time before you turn your favorite street bike into an uncomfortable race bike. Everyone wants a race car or care bike for the street. It seems like such a great idea...until the day to day reality of it begins to wear them down with each pot hole and expansion joint in the road. I know I did once upon a time. (in my best Forrest Gump voice) And that's all I have to say about that | ||
| Towjam |
However the SCG suspension is quite a bit harsher due to the shorter suspension travel and accompanying damping rates. Yep - I had a Dyna Low Rider which fit me like a glove height-wise. But the slammed suspension was not forgiving on anything other than the smallest of bumps. In my perfect world, I'd own a sport bike with low seat height and full suspension travel. But I've yet to find that holy grail... | ||
| Livnlo |
on my best day im 320 w/o gear and had abused the stock suspension to the point i had to unweight the bike to put my kickstand down. I sent my rear suspension to Ed at Trackside engineering....night and day difference. was at full load on stock set up very stiff unforgiving, now i think i am only about half way after spring break in. an i ride two up on occasions...did not do my front yet due to funds but for sure they will be going out this winter to have them done. i wanna say the rear spring and revalve was around 230 including shipping...and trackside i think is a sponser | ||
| Etennuly |
Losing a few pounds is A LOT harder than ordering new springs but I have dropped 13 lbs since returning from Homecoming. My goal is to see the south side of 200. Does that still count if you ground off the first five or six pounds while still at Homecoming??? | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Yeah as long as you don't keep the meat in a baggie in your pocket! | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
I have damn near quit leaking!!  How are those ribs? Just in case they are feeling better........ A guy sits down next to a woman in a bar. He makes a point of looking at his watch. She notices and asks if he’s meeting someone. “No,” he replies. “I am just testing my new high-tech watch.” “What does it do?” she asks. “It uses alpha waves to telepathically communicate with me.” “What is it telling you now?” she asks. “It says you’re not wearing a bra or panties.” “Ha! Well I don’t think your watch works, because I am wearing both.” “Hmmm,” says the man. “The damn thing must be an hour fast.” (Message edited by wolfridgerider on July 26, 2007) |
