| Author | Message | ||
     Mtnmason |
Just picked up my first Buell this past Sun. A while back I rode a buddy's 05 R6 and fell in love (my first and only bike - '77 Yamaha xs400 - cafe racer setup). I always thought I'd bleed yamaha blue for life. I had known about the Buell brand being into bikes and all, and thought the concept of a big fat American V-twin stuffed into a sportbike frame was pretty cool but maybe not my thing. The XB12R I ran across online was tough looking, American (like my pop's bike), and best of all - in my price range. I rode down to Raleigh and took it for a test spin, signed some papers, and the next thing I knew I was blasting up.... er... rather 'bolting' up I85 back to central Va. I researched the model only somewhat prior to purchasing and after stumbling upon this forum I think I'm only beginning to realize what I've gotten myself into. It appears that there is quite a love affair b/t these bikes and their owners. The only prob Ive encountered is a slight pop sometimes when I blip the throttle after idling for a few seconds. Apparently its coming through the intake as I removed the cover to find my air filter doused with oil. Please please tell me this isnt a major issue. I love this bike already and intend to add a LOT more to the 11,000 miles already on the clock. Thanks for reading my novella, and any advice for a Buell noob would be much appreciated. | ||
| Blaylock1988 |
Congrats on joining the Buell family! It might have something to do with the ECM needing some tuning. Does it have an aftermarket exhaust? (Message edited by Blaylock1988 on May 25, 2011) | ||
| Boltrider |
Welcome! The oil on the filter is most likely from the crankcase breathers. Take a closer look and you'll see the ends of two black rubber hoses sticking out through the base plate in the area of the air filter. That's the source of your soggy filter, and the problem is made worse if the motor has too much oil in it. One thing you could do is reroute your breather hoses to a catch can. You can go the homemade route or buy a kit from one of the sponsors on here. The breather reroute is a very popular mod with the Buells. As for the throttle blipping, my bike doesn't complain when I blip the throttle but I've read from others that their bikes don't like it. It might be a tuning issue, but I'm not sure. The bikes are tuned from the factory to run on the lean side. | ||
| Boltrider |
You will also notice some decel popping through the exhaust. That is normal. | ||
| Brumbear |
The dreaded blip pop no worries it's normal the sportster engine has a long stroke and if ya blip it sometimes that happens. The catch can will cure the oily filter and decel gurgle is normal I changed my gap from 038 to 036 and it helped a bit Welcome!!!!!! | ||
| Andymnelson |
1) welcome! 2) pics or it didn't happen. 3) don't blip. 4) reroute your breathers into a catch can, as other have suggested. 5) ride hard, but ride safe! | ||
| Wildman4x4nut |
COngrats on the new 'R' and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do mine. I have a 09 'R' that I was able to buy new when Buell was closed down. I have only got 800 miles on mine so far due to a rather long winter. I had foot surgery a few weeks ago and have 2 more before I can ride again. I am really JONESN to get back out and ride. Good luck with your bike and sorry I can't help with your engine issues but there are plenty on here who can and will. Welcome to the family. | ||
| Panhead_dan |
Mtnmason, Your R is not just a bike. There is a lot to it. An education, if you will, is ahead of you. First, don't mod the heck out of it. Ride it, service it and get to know it first. Check the oil when the engine is hot a few minutes after shutdown. Don't fill it to the "full" mark on the dipstick. Halfway down or so is the happy spot. This will keep your air filter cleaner. Change your spark plugs and stop blipping the throttle. Don't even start the bike unless you ride it. When you do change the plugs you will need to know a few tricks or it's a bitch. The front plug is done using an end wrench after the scoop is removed. The rear plug will require a spark plug socket with the rubber gizmo inside of it, an extension and a wobbler. (U joint). Thread both plugs in by hand to insure you don't cross thread them. The rear plug needs to be hand threaded in using a piece of hose because you can't reach it. Luckilly the Elves installed one right there behind the frame for you to use disguised as a vent hose from the fuel tank. A dab of anti seize is good on spark plug threads but you probly already knew that. If you don't have it yet, get the shop manual and do not use the torque spec listed for the oil drain plug. Your new pride and joy is made of aluminum mostly. Use your head when tightening stuff (and blue locktite). Just about everything you could ever need to know about your bike is here on this site so make friends and learn. It IS worth it! Most of all- WELCOME! You are in for the ride of your life. Dan | ||
| Mtnmason |
Thanks to all. The '07 R is bone stock. All I plan to do to it is a new can and ecm at some point in the future. For now I think my first steps will be black header wraps and some heat reflecting material pasted on the underside of the seat (man these things get hot!) and apparently a breather re-route. I received no owners manual and I guess the Buell site no longer hosts it - might make my first oil change a bit of a learning experience  | ||
| Turboschwinn |
Welcome. You can get a manual from American Sport Bike(American Sport Bike) http://www.americansportbike.com/ for about $60...worth it if you're going to do maintenance on your own, if only for the torque value table. You can also get an under seat heat shield from Special O.P.S. http://www.specialops-online.com/ Those two links should get you going on a few places to get parts and advice...and there are a lot more. Have fun! Where are in Central VA? I'm in Waynesboro, VA across the mountain from Charlottesville... | ||
| Fast1075 |
The oil change is a piece of cake....just be sure the engine is completely warmed up first... The hardest part is removing the air dam to get to the filter...if you have the factory tool kit, the torx wrench works well for the front screws. Drain the oil from the swingarm..a piece of cardboard or sheetmetal formed into a "trough" will keep the oil off the muffler... Get a graduated measuring device...pour (SLOWLY) 4 oz oil into the new filter...take your time, the oil is absorbed slowly...pour two quarts in the oil fill in the swing arm...using the measuring device add another 12 ounces...crank it up, check for leaks or drips, clean it up, reinstall the air dam and go riding. The transmission lube is separate from the engine lube...you need a different procedure to change it, but that isn't hard either...just a bit messy if you are not careful... Welcome to the madness!!! You have bought one of the best handling motorcycles ever built. | ||
| Artic_12_r |
Welcome, I also am in Central VA, Lynchburg to be exact. Email me if you ever make it over this way. | ||
| Arctic9r |
I have the hook up on manuals electronically, PM me if you are interested..... | ||
| Canucklovingbrit |
You have the exact same bike as me ('07 XB12R, Midnight Black & Cherry Bomb Red!) and if you get half the joy out of it as I have, you're in for a hoot! This was my return to two wheels after more than 20 years, and I'm so glad I opted for the XB12R, and all the innovations that come with it. I'm sure you will be too. I love bikes of all makes & styles, but there really is something distinctive & original about these machines. Have fun, be safe and above all else - keep your visor down, because that shit eating grin you'll be wearing means lots of bugs in your mouth!!! | ||
| Blaylock1988 |
Man, sounds like I got pretty lucky with my bike, it came with the factory tool kit, an owners manual, a shop manual, and tank and seat bags.... | ||
| Mtnmason |
again, thanks to all. I'm off to change the oil so I can ride this weekend in remembrance of American heroes. for you Va. guys that posted - i'm in the capital city. the bike has been awesome so far. I'm really happy that I didnt waste my money on some soul-less lump of aluminum otherwise known as a GSXR! Moreover, if you'd asked me a month ago I would have said I was more or less indifferent to Buell having gone out of business, but the more I ride this thing the more I wish that the marque would one day be revived kinda like Indian (albeit sooner than later). One other small issue I noticed was that the little metal thingamajiggy that holds the clutch cable away from the header broke and is rattling around. 'spose I could fabricate something for that myself. | ||
| Brumbear |
they should have broke em at the factory I don't think I ever seen one not broke  | ||
| Xbgeorge |
There is an upgraded part for the clutch cable. It is an actual metal bracket, instead of that wire thing. | ||
| Mesafirebolt |
I've been on here since just before I purchased My 05 R12 new back in 05. I've learned a lot and help as much as I can. Read Read and when you think youve read it all go back and re-read! They are Great bikes, dont take much maintenance and love to be ridden. Your biggest expense is going to be tires, then gas (I average 55-57mpg) then oil. |
