| Author | Message | ||
     Johnnylunchbox |
I'm the proud new owner of a slightly used 2004 Firebolt XB12R. My wife rides a Blast and I figured it needed a big brother. I currently ride among other bikes, my one true love a Kawi Concours, but I wanted something a bit more radical. So I bought the firebolt. I enjoy the thumper forum and hope that this side is just as cool. See you around. | ||
| Daves |
Congrats! | ||
| Ingemar  |
Yeah, congrats man! And welcome to this side of the board.  | ||
| Aldaytona  |
You're REALLY gonna like it! | ||
| Johnnylunchbox |
I'll be picking her up on Saturday. Hope the weather here in the northeast holds out for a few days. I can't wait. | ||
| Signguyxb12  |
johnny were are you at Central mass is were we are at | ||
| Johnnylunchbox |
I'm in SE New York about 60 miles north of NYC. Actually I will be traveling to MA to get the bike. Coincidentally I have a childhood friend who lives in the same area that the bike is in, so I'll have two reasons to venture up there. The rest of this week is going to drag in anticipation. | ||
| Signguyxb12 |
This is the tread for the NorthEast Buell Owners http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/37/70269.html?1101388610 ....and the site http://bvsigns.com/NEBO/BRAGNEBO.htm ...and sponsoring dealership http://www.sheldons.com Email me with your email address and i can keep you up to date on stuff...the June 17-19 is going to be kick $ss..Western Mass/NY  | ||
| Johnnylunchbox |
How big of a loop is that ride. The map is a bit blurry so i can't get a good idea. | ||
| Signguyxb12 |
it was bait...... click on rides and then click on rte 2 & 8a loop http://bvsigns.com/NEBO/BRAGNEBO.htm My avatar is from that route | ||
| Johnnylunchbox |
Ok brought her home...prior to that inspection showed no leaks, no scratches, no signs of abuse, or accidents, and odometer reads approx 1400 as stated in ad. She started up and idled fine, no funny noises. The only problem is that there is a little head/steering bearing "knock" when you apply the front brake and push forward. Looks like it may need to be adjusted. If I remember correctly someone mentioned in another post that this is something to keep an eye on. Is this an easy fix on this bike? Also the two screw adjuster on the top of the fork tubes are not set at the same setting (in other words they don't line up or mirror each other) I'm no suspension expert but I think that they should right? Overall she looks real nice and hopefully the weather will hold out for a few days. I'll have to search some prior threads on the forum. | ||
| Aldaytona |
Do yourself a HUGE favor and get a service manual before you put a tool to your new XB. Did you get the owners manual from the previous owner? It contains some useful information as well. You probably should take your XB to the local dealer to have the "knock" fixed, it's under warranty. If you feel you must fix it yourself please read the thread "ok I have been holding something in and now I have to let it out" before you do it. | ||
| M1combat  |
The front end could be steering head bearings or torque setting on the cap. Probably just torque on the cap. This area is somewhat fragile (It's designed to be that way), so exercise caution. The adjusters on the top of the font suspension should be "set the same" but not mirror each other as such. You'll notice the dot punched in the blue part? That's where the adjustment starts. If the two dots arent in the same location to each other that's fine, as long as each adjustment screw is turned out the same number of turns. Basically, if the two screws are facing the same direction in relation to the two dots (not the bike), then it's right. I would imagine it's pretty rare for the dots to be in the same direction in realation to the bike. The owners or service manual will tell you how to adjust the suspension and I recommend setting it to the factory settings for your weight range asap. Also, keep a very close eye on tire pressure as the XB is fairly sensitive to it. Metzeler Sportec's or Pirelli Diablo's seem to be the tire of choice. Be careful in the wet on the stock tires. He he he . Welcome to the cure. | ||
| M1combat |
Be sure to check that the preload is set evenly as well. This is indicated by the number of lines showing on the upper portion of each fork. | ||
| Johnnylunchbox |
I will definitely invest in a service service manual, and the PO did give me a owner's manual. The dealer is first on my list for working on the knock in the front end. I will certainly have to readjust the suspension for my weight. Thanks for the advice. | ||
| Court |
JLB: Buy the service manual. At the same time, spend the $15 (or something on that order of magnitude) for an owners manual. Read it. They are in stock and easily available. If you have any problem or need one to borrow in the interim let me know. Court | ||
| Johnnylunchbox |
Thanks Court. I do have the owner's manual and since we have what appears to be a mid autumn hurricane here in SE NY, I will be doing the suspension settings today. I will get the service manual without a doubt. I'm going to look at the front end with a more critical eye today and see if in fact it appears to be the head bearing and not something else. BTW Court I think I quoted an older post of yours, in the Concours.org forum. You were talking about Deals Gap and Mt. Palomar. | ||
| Court |
Roger that on the weather....I live in New York City, in fact, the highest point in NYC. Great view but oh my the wind is blowing today and driving the rain. Kinda pretty in a way. I am sitting here looking at the BMW, with it's heated grips and thinking....hmmmm. You may well have quoted me if the post concerned "old men" riding Kawasaki Concours. I have no idea why and guessing is a waste of time, but on each occasion, both at Palomar and at Deal's Gap, that I have come upon a "old man" on a Concours, I was treated to a riding exhibition. I was on a yellow S-1 the first time, and that was at Palomar just days after the S-1 was introduced to the public. I was riding with a group of my riding buddies in San Diego and several locals, whom I had not met before, arrived at our early morning meeting place. As we were headed North and I don't recall where we broke off of I-15 that day, but perhaps just south of Escondido. As the roads began to show a few twists, I was behind this guy already thinking of the lesson I was going to show him about American Motorcycles. I watched him closely, the twistier the road became the smoother he became. I think we were on S-6 when we came upon the local Ferrari Club on an outing. Some of the group, determined to reteach the old lesson about what a $10,000 motorcycle can do to a $250,000 car, they pulled out alongside and began their passes in blind curves. I watched as the Concours pilot rode "SMART"...not followign anybody else, no need to impress and waiting until the right time. The entire day this guy was scaldingly fast and smooth as glass...I admire that. Anyway...over the years and in widely varying venues from the Ozarks to the both coasts, I've noted a pattern among Concours riders. Go figure.... Winds here are no 40 with gusts to 50. Court | ||
| Johnnylunchbox |
Great story, Court. Gusts to about 50 here with torrential rains.Beautiful day. A buddy and I were going to do some dual sporting today, but he doesn't have the tires for the real slippery stuff, and I don't know how well my brand new knobbies will do on wet pavement. It's funny that you mention "old man". My wife good-naturedly razzes me about my Kawi being an old man's bike. I think I'll start calling her Blast a chick bike (even though it isn't really). I ride a Concours but am relatively new to streetbikes, so I won't be teaching anybody lessons on either my new Buell or my trusty Concours. At this point I am the student in most things motorcycling. Check out the thread where I posted your statements: http://www.concours.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=8863 It might explain something. Additionally it is a great all around forum, much like Badweb. | ||
| Court |
JLB: I took a look, cool place. Let me know when you are going dual-sporting someday, I have a little secret (can you say 290# DRZ400) here I'd be happy to ride up and see the Hudson Valley on. Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh | ||
| Johnnylunchbox |
Court, my friend rides a drz400 as well. I ride a slightly fatter 93 DR650, which I outfitted with DOT legal knobbies and geared it down a bit. However, it still feels like a motocrosser after riding my 600# Concours. I'll give you a heads up if we go out exploring in the near future. |
