| Author | Message | ||
     Retrittion |
I really like my Firebolt -- just to get that out of the way. However, I have been looking at putting a Scg tail on my R for a couple reasons: 1:I like to monkey with stuff -- I just can't leave well enough alone. Seems there might be others with this affliction here on BadWeb. 2:I like the look of the Scg seat with a R front end (especially with a SpecOps pipe). 3:I would like a bit lower ride height on my R -- I am 5'6" and an extra inch or two lower would be great, especially around town parking and such. Anyone know what the ride height change would be with the change of seat from R to Scg (without the full suspension change-out -- that is more work/$$$ than I want right now)? Anyone know of any issues as far as moving wiring or such? I don't mind work, but I like to know what I am getting into. A pic of my R http://retrittion.googlepages.com/m14ebroncsi%3Ami ami24 Looking to get this done by end of winter so I can enjoy my new ride this spring, hope you all can help. Cheers and have a great new year! -Ret (Message edited by retrittion on January 09, 2008) | ||
| Metalstorm |
Any S tail would work. The 12S and 12Scg tail sections are the one and same. It's the seat that makes the difference. The S tail section and cg(low) seat will probably put you an 1" closer to the ground. Maybe closer to 1&1/2" since the R is almost a half an inch taller than a standard S and the standard S seat is about an inch taller than the low(cg) seat. I'm guessing a 29"-29.5" seat height. (Message edited by metalstorm on January 09, 2008) | ||
| Metalstorm |
I can't help in regard to the wiring. I'm hoping some one who has done this mod will chime in (so I'm bumping this to the top  ) Since your fuse box and ecm are located in the fairing and are fine there, I am going to go out on a limb and ass-u-me (eek) that putting an S tail on an R will be a lot easier than putting an R tail on an S. | ||
| Glitch |
Putting an S tail on an R is very easy since all the electronics are in the fairing. Putting an R tail on an S is difficult since all the electronics are under the seat, the R hasn't much room under there, and there is some mods that need to be done to the wiring harness. Since you're doing R to S, it'll probably take you less than an hour. | ||
| Ronlv |
r to s rear is easy but a complete r to s front and rear like i did, is alittle more complicated my bike was a r and now its a scg (sort of) if you do a scg rear, you need to do the forks also, or your rear will be lower than the front see my profile for pic later, ron | ||
| Metalstorm |
He's talking about just an S rear and low seat. Not the suspension swap. And may I say yet again, and I apologize for my repetitiveness, that you have the coolest XB on God's green earth. Your bike knocks my socks off every time | ||
| Midknyte |
If the main goal is to reduce height, you can just swap out the suspension & forks with an SCG | ||
| Buellerandy |
he can't swap out the forks with the scg forks unless he does the triple clamps cuz the scg forks are still 41 mm, not the 43mm on the 2007 | ||
| Metalstorm |
Anyone know what the ride height change would be with the change of seat from R to Scg (without the full suspension change-out -- that is more work/$$$ than I want right now)? | ||
| Josh_ |
Looking at the R and S bikes, it looks like the suspension is the same (similar description, same ground clearance). I also believe the frames are identical. So putting a stock S rear on a stock R, you should get a seat height of 30.1, which is .4" lower than the stock R. The Low seat in the accessories catalog says it gets you ~1" lower seat height. So putting that seat on a S tail on a R bike, you should be at a seat height of ~29.1", or ~1.4" lower than the R. | ||
| Josh_ |
Incidentally, the Scg suspension drops the bike .8" judging by the ground clearance. if the seat drops by 1" why is the seat height of the Scg only 1.5" lower than the standard S? | ||
| Retrittion |
Thanks for the info -- much appreciated. Yeah, at some point I think changing the suspension to a Scg one would be great but with the fork size issues it would be more difficult and more $$$ -- I talked to my dealership about it when I was getting my 12R and they said it would be "difficult" because there isn't a "kit" for it. I figure I'll do it once I know more about the bike and maybe when I have person or two with me who knows Buells and lives in my area to help. My main issue is that my current ride height is just a slight bit to high for comfort w/ the suspension dialed in perfect so an inch or so lower would be perfect for now. Plus I like the way the S tail looks w/ a R front. I think converting to a Scg tail would be a fun project, except the brake part -- haven't messed with my motorcycle's brakes yet and I have a healthy respect for the importance of brakes. Would be kinda funny to change the back-end over at my friend's place down the street from my dealer and then just pop over for my 7.5K and tell them the rear brake is "acting wierd"...but I rather figure out how to do it myself. What's that big blue book for anyways? Thanks again for the input, and keep it coming -- love to hear if anyone has done this mod and if there are any issues with it.  Cheers, Ret EDIT: Hey, forgot to ask -- when I change my tail/seat to a Scg type will I then have to also change out my airbox lid? Wouldn't be a bad thing since I have had my eye on a Kickash or Red S type airbox cover for a while but the parts guys said they wouldn't fit my R. 'course, they don't seem to know much about Buells...and that's why I read these boards! (Message edited by retrittion on January 10, 2008) | ||
| Buellerandy |
you would not have to change your airbox lid. | ||
| Retrittion |
Really -- man, time to put a red airbox lid on my 12R then! | ||
| Ronlv |
you should be able to find someone to do a complete suspension swap thats what i did swap was free, only shipping costs | ||
| Retrittion |
sounds good, not quite ready to swap my suspension right yet -- need some knowledgeable help for that. Cheers! | ||
| Diablobrian |
The suspension swap took me a grand total of less than an hour about half an hour to suspend the bike from the rafters and drop the wheels, forks, shock and kickstand and another half hour to reassemble and lower the bike down again after I got back from trading parts with another badwebber. My bike's seat was just over an inch lower 1.1 IIRC after the swap and it feels like more than that from the saddle. The cost? free. I traded straight across all I had to do was drive over and trade parts. You can find badwebbers willing to do a straight swap if you ask around a bit. Just be sure to include the lower triple clamp in the swap if you have 43mm forks. The SCG forks are 41mm like the 03-04 bikes and be sure that you don't forget the kickstand. I would not be surprised if the suspension swap was cheaper, easier and quicker than the tail swap since you have to re-located components and swap wiring harnesses etc. Food for thought. I do like the Lightning-bolt hybrids though, in either direction it's cool! I love the fact that even at Homecoming every Buell there is different in some way, of course some are more different than others...take mine for example  The next change I want to make is converting to 90mm Hella headlights. | ||
| Odie |
Just swapping out the seat for a Low seat will help some. I traded my stock 12S seat for a Low seat and it made it a little more comfortable at stops. I'm 5'9". Last year I swapped in some Scg suspension and really like it now. Although sometimes I swap out the seat with my Gunfighter seat for a little more cushion and it puts me up a tad higher which feels better on the handlebar reach/angle depending on the type of riding I'm doing. I still have my stock suspension if I ever tire of the being lower though (or crash). | ||
| Retrittion |
Here is another Q I just thought of -- how do you setup the lowered suspension when it's retrofitted to a R bike? Go by the factory suggestions or....? anyone with experience with this chime in. If I decide to attempt a swap (tail and/or suspension) where do I post for that? Cheers all and thanks for the helpful info -- now I think I want to look for a trade to retrofit my '07 12R. That Scg tail just looks so friggen sweet with the R front! Now I just need to find out how badly doing any of this will violate my warranty...LOL! Thanks again! Ret (Message edited by retrittion on January 17, 2008) | ||
| Metalstorm |
The suspension settings differ quite a bit between the R & S due to riding position. What I would do if I were in your shoes would be to compare the standard 12S settings to the 12Scg settings for my weight. I would than apply that difference to the R settings. i.e. If the standard S called for 4.5 fork lines and the cg 5 that's a .5 difference. If the R called for say, 4 lines I would then give it 4.5 lines based on that difference. I reckon this would get you in the ball park. |
