| Author | Message | ||
     Xbenign |
Hi All, This is my 1st new thread so I hope it’s in the right place. I’m thinking of picking up a Lightning. The following reviews say when it rains the spray from the rear tire will drench your back. Buell CityX – Motorbikes Today BUELL XB9SX CITY X – MotorsTV Inner city hooligan - telegraph.co.uk Now, I don’t plan on riding in the rain but I’m not going to let a 30% chance of rain stop me from riding either. I have rain gear but I’d still like to know from those of you who’ve been caught in the rain, how bad is it? Also, has anyone installed either of these parts from American Sport Bike and did it help? 9159 - 03-05 XB Series Carbon Fiber Extended rear hugger fender 9044 - Carbon Fiber Tail Insert for XB-S Models Thanks in advance (Message edited by xbenign on August 05, 2006) (Message edited by xbenign on August 05, 2006) | ||
| Sparky |
Good questions. I can't comment on those from my experience. But I have a '96 Lightning with an abbreviated hugger and the way I solved the rear spray problem was by installing a Ventura luggage rack (from American Sport Bike) on which I wedge a flat piece of plastic through its cross-bars whenever it threatens to rain. The end of the rack extends beyond the rear edge of the tire thus ensuring no spray-back. Plus, the Ventura rack is sooo practical, especially if you like camping two-up with gear. Sparky | ||
| Sped214 |
I've been caught in the rain on my '03 lightning more than a few times, and I get a little spray (not a "drenching"). I suppose that this would be dependent on the amount of rain you get, and the depth of the water you're riding through. | ||
| Mortarmanmike120 |
Yes, I've gotten a soaked back on a stock 03 XB9s. Thought about putting a CF insert into the pasta strainer. Haven't gotten around to it yet. Yeah, your backs wet, but the bike keeps me grinning anyway. I like my bikes like I like my women...naked. | ||
| Captainxb |
In Australia the bikes are delivered with an extra plastic guard under the tail-piece. While it doesn't extend all the way under to cover over the perforated centre section, (the 'cheese-grater' part), it does add a bit more to the tail for spray and 'rooster-tail' protection.  | ||
| Xbenign |
Captainxb, I've never seen that extra plastic guard under the tail-piece before. Is it a genuine Buell part? Do you know the part number? | ||
| Captainxb |
Yes it is a genuine Buell part. Listed as: Part # M0549.1AD International only Fender, outer (Australia) | ||
| Tx05xb12s |
I've never ridden in a downright sodden downpour, but in light rain my back stays dry as a bone. I usually get wet more on the front side from driving through the rain. I've even got the back fender removed...no problems. | ||
| Tx05xb12s |
I take my last post back. Since I posted this, I rode in a good downpour and my backpack was covered in road grime and soaked all the way through. Evidently I was throwing a pretty good rooster tail. Considering putting my hugger back on to see if it helps any. Good thing my phone was in a plastic bag inside my pack that day. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
Dirty bike? Fabulous. Riding the CityX in the rain and down dirty roads. I wear an over vest in orange, it is washable. Adds visibility and keeps the rest of the riding gear rooster tail free. The bike gets washed once a month. Pacific NW, if you are not riding in the rain, you dont ride at all. Looking at putting the Uly tail fender section on my bike to move the turn signals back so I can clear the bags. I will post pics when it is done. | ||
| Xbtpr27 |
Ive been caught in the rain once or twice and im usually soaked from the rain and dont notice the rooster tail wetting my back. I did get some muck on my back from the road. But I wear a jacket when I ride at all times and have even given it a quick coat of silicone water repellant so the water rolls off. But if you get caught in the right down poor with out rain gear you get wet from neck to toe anyway. | ||
| Silenc3r |
I agree with Xbtpr27... Every time I've ridden in the rain, I've been soaked in about the first 60 seconds. Basically, the thing that's going to be different about the roost than the rest of the rain 'might' be the grime. that is, unless you are riding behind a truck or some other vehicle that kicks up a fog behind it. One thing I keep in my gear is a folded up garbage bag with a few holes torn in it ahead of time for the neck and arms to go through. It's dirt cheap, folds up small enough to store in my gear, or between my seat and the plastic, and it does a fair job of keeping the wind chill out. I also keep a few ziplock bags around for things like cell phone, ipod, gps, or other small objects I'd rather not have soaked. Unfortunately, I learned the lesson the hard way. I was on a ride to see a friend (maybe an hour or so ride), and about 10 minutes into the ride it got dark and the temp dropped, then it started to pour... and I mean POUR. I was drenched in seconds. In all my wisdom, my cell phone was tucked into my mesh jacket pocket. ..well, to make a long story short, the phone took days to dry out, and I wound up with a wicked cold a few days later  Anyway, the bag isn't the most hi-tech solution, but it's easy. Hope this helps someone. |
