| Author | Message | ||
     Kaydo |
Ok, so call me a rookie or newbie or whatever, but I'm not taking any chances as I'm preparing for a very long trip... I have an 03 XB9S, lately I feel like it's felt a little hotter than usual right where my legs tuck in. Anyway, while I was changing the oil, I popped the seat off and felt around. There's this part right behind and underneath the airbox that feels really hot. The engine had been off at least an hour and I think I still could have cooked an egg on this thing. Forgive me for not knowing what it's called, but that's why they make cameras, I uploaded a picture where I'm touching the hot part. I just need to know if I'm being paranoid and this is normal or if I need to address this before my trip and if so, how? Thanks for all your help.  | ||
| Rah7777777 |
that would be your heads valve cover! it will stay hot for a while. relax, plus its getting hot out, so the heat is magnified! | ||
| Luxor |
+1 We literally straddle our engines. The Valve cover is no more than a couple inches from your junk. I have a Q for ya, whats with the blue spring on an 03 9S? | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
No need to apologize Kevin. Getting to know how one's motorcycle works is part of the fun. Pretty soon you'll be changing your own oil and spark plugs.  Purchasing the Buell Shop Manual and Part Book will greatly facilitate understanding how your bike works, and how to fix it, if you decide to do that. As to your present dilemma, remember that your engine in air cooled. When the weather is warm, the air is warm, and things cool down slowly. Not to worry. If you want to learn how hot things should be, a pocket infrared thermometer will let you know exactly what is going on. You can really drive yourself crazy with this little baby.  It only cost $16.30 on eBay, and it has a millions of uses as you can measure temperatures of anything without touching it, (you can give yourself a nasty burn on the exhaust pipes). Here is the eBay listing: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=320140861066&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=011 Robert: the blue spring is the stock spring on that model, if I recall mine correctly. (Message edited by gentleman_jon on August 14, 2007) | ||
| Kaydo |
thanks everyone, just trying to be cautious. Luxor - the frame was rebuilt after a 50 mph drop (owner before me), so it could be stock or replacement. Jon - thanks for the comment, haha. well so far i have changed the oil, transmission fluid and a tire, i just haven't dug any deeper into the frame than checking for a clean air filter so i need to get my feet...or i guess my hands wet and get to some of that. I definitely need the manuals and will be picking those up. I might check out that gauge once i'm back as well. thanks again guys. | ||
| Buellsruell |
Thanks for the tip on the eBay thermometer! I emailed the seller to see if he's gonna list more... Man- my Select seat on my XB9S-X has been getting SO hot lately that it's been stopping me from riding sometimes.  Seems this seat is hotter than the stock City-X seat....eh?? Maybe the gel retains heat more... Was about to buy the heat blanket from Special Ops, but decided to give it a try myself and bought 40sq ft of it on eBay (I'm sure it's not as high quality, nor will the edges be sewn like the Special ops one). http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ewItem&ih=019&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWN%3AIT&viewitem =&item=290147417705&rd=1 I figure for less than $1 per sq ft to my door, it can't be THAT bad. I might try and double it up, as well... | ||
| Old_man |
The Special Ops heat blankets are a bargain, for whats involved. They fit with no hassles. I have both the under seat and the under airbox on mine. Money well spent. | ||
| Skully |
My 03 XB9S has a blue spring as part of the rear suspension as well. With the Direct-Link software, I have recorded rear cylinder head temperatures of 390dF when ambient temperatures were around 85dF. I race my XB9 here in Texas in the summer with ambient temps approaching the century mark and the bike has never gone into skip spark mode. That is the true indication that your bike is over-heating (or not). Keith | ||
| Kaydo |
wow, it gets so hot you can't ride? the longest i've been out is 8 hours so far that was with stock seat. other than a sore back, no problem. i have a corbin gunfighter on now ready to start a trip from East Coast to West and back. hopefully the heat doesn't get to me (at least from the seat). if so, i may be gone longer than planned. | ||
| Luxor |
OT a little: DUH on me. I have an XB9S"L", so my spring is yellow. again, DUH on me.  Back OT: Kaydo, I did forget to mention that there is no such thing as a dumb question, just dumb answers. So, ask away. If there is something on your bike that concerns you then it concerns us too. Part of the fun is in learning about new things, and the Buell can definatley be called a new thing. Anyway, ride her like you stole her. | ||
| Tom60 |
Kaydo: I want to buy a Corbin Gunfighter for my SS, my only concern is how much LOWER does the seat really get me compared to stock? I dont like to have the knees bent any more, but as the corbins dont sag like stock seats do, maybe the difference is in fact negligible ? (Once you get used to leather seats, you cant stand the vinyl, IMHO ..  | ||
| Glitch |
I have a Q for ya, whats with the blue spring on an 03 9S? Mine's blue. | ||
| Kaydo |
Tom: don't know if you're ebaying it or not, but if you order it directly from corbin they ask your height, weight and inseam to custom-make the seat for you. I was worried about the height too, because of that dip in the bucket, but it turned out being a little higher than stock because the corbin was made really thick. the stock seat just doesn't have much material whereas the corbin is stocked with it. my only qualm with it, which is probably just because i'm not past the break-in period, is that I feel like it leans me forward a little bit to where i'm almost sliding over my junk as i ride. plus, the latch didn't quite make it all the way in, so i had to add a couple thick washers to the latch on the corbin seat to make it fit. there's these rubber bumpers around the edges that jam up against the frame. corbin says once it's broken in a little it should fit better. all in all it feels great though, my back got sore really quick with stock and it's been alot better already. | ||
| Xb9ser |
blue is standerd yellow is low | ||
| Tom60 |
Thanks, Kaydo - that´s what I hoped for, I´ve had 2 of their seat on my bikes, the material is really dense and keeps the shape. At the beginning there was some fighting with the rubber bumpers too, but later as they gave way it was OK. I think I can not order directly (overseas) though.. I bought those seats here from some bike shop importing them. | ||
| Rah7777777 |
Also make sure your oil level is good! since the little beast does not have any water to help cool the engine, that leaves only air (which is getting hotter by the day) and the oil to cool it all down. so if your oil is low, you'll notice it getting a great deal warmer, as well as probably jacking up some of your internals! just a heads up! | ||
| Buellsruell |
http://www.zr2usa.com/BuellPics/My2006LightningXB9 SXHotSeatFix.jpg Tested it out tonight (pretty damn hot one, today). Works great...and CHEAP!!  http://www.low-e.com/products/products_view.php?Pr oduct=Low-E I only have about 38sq ft left...what to do...what to do... | ||
| Jfoster |
We use the same stuff to insulate auto roofs before putting in new headliners. I glued some to the bottom of my seat and it made a big difference. You should be able to get a small piece for next to nothin at your local upholstery shop. |
