| Author | Message | ||
     Gianni312 |
Hello all, Although I have owned a S1 for a number of years, I am thinking about adding a XB9s to my collection. I am going to look at one this weekend and am pretty sure barring any major issues, I will buy it. It is a 2003, xb9s with only 1300 miles on it. My question is what should I be looking for or what are the known failure points that I should inspect before I purchase? I already know that I will have to buy a lowering collar because of my inseam. Any information would be greatly appreciated! | ||
| Reepicheep |
The ECM wire routing under the seat needs to be done carefully so it doesn't ride on the sharp edge of the battery terminal. Drill out the belt tensioner mount holes if you want a little extra margin against tolerance stack up errors that may be making it too tight. The 03's still had the old material pinion gear for the oil pump. Very few XB's eat them (compared to tubers), but a few have. It's easy to inspect, harder to replace, and you probably don't even have to think about even looking at it until 15k to 20k miles. I think the XB9's were the most reliable bike to ever roll out of a Buell factory... they are just about bullet proof. | ||
| Gianni312 |
Thanks Bill! Greatly appreciated. I'm really excited about it! | ||
| Reepicheep |
The normal stuff will wear also, so throttle cables can fray, clutch cables can wear, headlights could use attention, etc. I'm working on a family members XB12SS right now, and remembering just how special my 9sx really was. I steer the ulysses. The XB9S was positioned on the road by just kind of picturing in my mind where I want it to be, and it just goes there. The Uly is better for commuting and touring, so I'm happy I switched. But I do miss the XB9 often, and 5 minutes after jumping on the S again I'm thinking I need to do another track day and wishing I had an XB9 to do it on (because it is such a fun track day bike, not because it's the fastest track machine). | ||
| Gianni312 |
Thanks Bill. I will let you know what I find and probably ask a few more questions. | ||
| Airbozo |
Not to derail the thread, but which is better, an XB9 or XB12? Why? | ||
| Gianni312 |
Its my understanding that if you can, you should get the 12; however, I already have an s1 so I want something a little smaller. | ||
| Airbozo |
Gotcha, thanks. I've been looking for just the right Firebolt to add to my collection is why I ask. I only seem to see the XB9's I like. Good luck! | ||
| Reepicheep |
Depends on what you want. I think the XB9 is a much more reliable motor, and the howl of that motor through the intake at 7000+ RPM is pure music. The 12 is a more powerful motor, and gets a little better fuel economy though. The difference, as observed on a track day of coming off a 15 MPH corner next to a 12 (I was on the 9) and pinning down the back straight (mid Ohio), is a normal walk. Both bikes pin the throttle, the XB12 will start gapping the XB9 at a normal walking pace. Clearly faster, not day and night. | ||
| Greg_e |
Injectors might need a cleaning since it has mostly sat still, that can be done for not much money. I might do the fuel pump for the same reason, another $150 worth of parts and most from Auto zone or another atuo ports place. Didn't the early S model also require relocating the ECM so that the connectors don't crack the board? Its a simple fix and I don't think it costs anything. | ||
| Gianni312 |
This is the bike, anyone know it? I'm going to take a look tomorrow... http://appleton.craigslist.org/mcy/4457290898.html | ||
| Greg_e |
Needs frame pucks. | ||
| Gianni312 |
If the bike is to tall for me, am I correct in understanding that they is a lower seat available and a rear shock from an scg that would lower it even further? Any info would help guys. | ||
| Greg_e |
You should get the lower fork too. | ||
| Gianni312 |
Well, I bought it! What a completely different experience than the tuber that I have. I Have a few questions... I opened the airbox before I bought it and there was sa trace amount of oil, is this normal? I know that in the tube frame Buell, some blow by is normal, just not sure on this bike... Also, I am going to change the oil, what does everyone recommend? I am in the market for a low seat, s g rear shock and or lowering collar....anyone selling? | ||
| Reepicheep |
That looks like a normal lightning. That would be the middle height one. So you can go about an inch taller with the XB9SX "skyline" seat, and an inch lower with the SCG setup. I think the seat alone will drop it close to an inch, and the suspension changes will go another inch down. I did a few laps at Mid Ohio on an XB12SCG, and hated the seat, but I'm 6'2" and it was just too small for m. | ||
| Gianni312 |
Yeah my inseam is a 27" and only 5'3". I need to drop it a little, | ||
| Greg_e |
I like Mobile1 V-Twin 20/50 in my 03 R And since the PCV breathes into the airbox, some oil is normal but should mostly go away with the oil above. I get almost no oil in my catch can when using that oil. | ||
| Gianni312 |
The bike came with a yellow rear shock, does this mean it already has the scg rear shock? | ||
| Gianni312 |
I just want to thank everyone for being so helpful. This purchase experience went smoothly thanks to everyone he's help. Now I just need to figure out how to lower the thing  | ||
| Axlakow |
yes, the SCG rear shock springs are yellow | ||
| Gianni312 |
Well, I just came back from a nice weekend trip in Miramac, WI and the xb was great. However, the bike seemed to hesitate sometimes and when I would let off the throttle the bike would backfire. The guys behind me said that it smelled like gas when they were behind me. Can any one suggest what to look for? The bike has a k&n filter, race ecm and jardine exhaust. | ||
| Hulagun |
The Buell race Ecm and race pipe on my Xb9s backfired occasionally on decel and crackled loudly on decel more than I liked. Adjusting the idle didn't help that but did help off idle response. I ended up getting a Drummer and selling the Buell pipe for a profit. The Drummer was better but still crackled noticeably on decel. I kept the race ecm and K&N. After a couple years the bike started backfiring again. I'm now replacing the intake seals hoping that will cure it. I love this bike except on bumpy road surfaces the short wheelbase really bucks you around. On good pavement it's great . | ||
| Gianni312 |
Yeah, I really enjoy the comfort over my S1 and the ability to throw it into the turns. For example, my s1 is ridable for 1 hr before my hands start numbing up and my rear starts hurting. I rode the xb for 4 hours without any of the aforementioned. They are both great bikes! I have to think about selling the jardine and my stock ecm and putting that towards a drummer. Unless there would be a reason To keep the stock ecm. I have read posts on how to tune the ecm for the jardine, but I'm afraid to mess something up. | ||
| Hulagun |
If the new Twin Motorcycles intake flanges are successful then I have to do another TPS reset. I bought a Bluetooth adapter off eBay that with some fiddling allows my Android phone to talk to the XB ecm using an app called ECMDroid. I believe ECMDroid is capable of loading new maps to the ECM. However I am unsure whether the Buell race ecm can be remapped. Luckily I kept the original ecm. I will ask the kind experts at Drummer to guide me when I am ready (once the intakes are sealed again). Oh yeah make sure your 03 has the orange seal wheel bearings and the updated 03 belt (or the 04+ belt conversion). |
