| Author | Message | ||
     Reepicheep |
Can you make some windows wallpaper available? In particular, there is a view of the XB9sx from straight behind against a white background that I would make a great windows wallpaper. Just give us high resolution versions of the jpegs. | ||
| Reepicheep |
What is the second threaded hole in the front fork brace on the XB9sx for? It looks like it would be a mounting point to pin down a second brake line, but the 9s needs another rotor like I need another 20 pounds  (Message edited by reepicheep on August 13, 2004) | ||
| Steve_mackay |
Rustyx1w I agree, the billet motor mount at $200+ is out of line. I'm thinking of making one myself for my '98 S3T. Are all the tube Buell front mounts the same? If so, I could make a dozen or so quite easily. So what would be a "fair" price for a billet mount?  | ||
| Mikej |
To the maintainer of www.buell.com : I think you forgot something:  Thank you. ps, I borrowed the image from the Harley-davidson.com web site, maybe you can do likewise.  | ||
| Crusty |
Just in case the people in product planning don't know what direction to go in: I WANT AN XB12T! | ||
| Steve_mackay |
They need a sport tourer that's good for "normal people" 2 up riding. Just slappin' a better fairing and hard bags on an XB wouldn't do the trick for me. Just resurect the S3T, with the XB motor, and some other updates | ||
| Bcmike |
> Unlikely that tube frames will ever be resurected... but I'm sure HD would tell you they build a two up bike for normal people. It's called an Electraglide...lol Mike 02 M2 (sold) > Posted by Steve_mackay on Friday, August 27, 2004 - 11:48 am: > > They need a sport tourer that's good for "normal people" 2 up riding. > Just slappin' a better fairing and hard bags on an XB wouldn't do the > trick for me. Just resurect the S3T, with the XB motor, and some other > updates > | ||
| Steve_mackay |
I said a Sport Tourer, NOT a luxo-barge | ||
| Bcmike |
> Haha..Yeah, I know...I know. In that case how about the FXD Dyna Tour Sport. Wait a minute...that was discontinued too! Seriously though I agree an XB with a fairing and bags would not work for most of us. | ||
| Steve_mackay |
See, if BMW & Ducati can continue to produce those types of bikes, why can't Buell? | ||
| Crusty |
They could; they just don't want to.Or maybe the Mothership doesn't want them to | ||
| Bill00 |
I think a easy way to do it is make a frame for the Revo engine. Then put XB suspension on it(that would be the fast sportbike everyone wants). Then extend the swingarm a couple inches, add a longer seat, bags, and fairing(the sport tourer everyone else wants).  | ||
| Newfie_buell |
Just shift the engine sideways and you got a Honda ST1300!!!! | ||
| Nedwreck |
Or a Guzzi. Bob | ||
| Nedwreck |
As I remember, right before the big Harley buy out, there was talk about Buell going with that Suzuki twin they put in everything from the TL to the SV to the DL. That would have been nice, too. A water cooled , six speed, 4 valve over head cam heads motor. Yes, sir. I'd have bought one. Bob | ||
| Mark_from_newfoundland |
How about producing a XB12S CityX bike with a chain final drive? (chain optional but I would like to see it) If you don't like the chain comment look at my profile. Cheers. | ||
| Lightning_strikes_now |
Erik: The XB9 and XB12 model Buells are really good motorcycles. But other than the performance kit from the Harley/Buell dealer, there are no really good performance products from Buell. We as riders would like to enhance the performance of our bikes once we purchase them. Harley-Davidson makes many performance products for their bikes, so we feel that its about time that Buell step up to the plate and produce some really good performance products for the Buells. We are looking for the following: Big bore kits and cylinder heads, a high performance exhuast muffler using the interactive valve technology already used on the XB12's to maximize the hp and torque across the entire rpm range, computer modules that are setup to change the spark timing and injection timing for maximum hp and torque for both the stock engine and higher performance applications - not low exhaust emissions and also programable computer modules that we can setup ourselves if we feel that the we could do better, etc. etc. | ||
| Lightning_strikes_now |
Erik: The XB9 and XB12 model Buells are really good motorcycles. But other than the performance kit from the Harley/Buell dealer, there are no really good performance products from Buell. We as riders would like to enhance the performance of our bikes once we purchase them. Harley-Davidson makes many performance products for their bikes, so we feel that its about time that Buell step up to the plate and produce some really good performance products for the Buells. We are looking for the following: Big bore kits and cylinder heads, a high performance exhuast muffler using the interactive valve technology already used on the XB12's to maximize the hp and torque across the entire rpm range, computer modules that are setup to change the spark timing and injection timing for maximum hp and torque for both the stock engine and higher performance applications - not low exhaust emissions and also programable computer modules that we can setup ourselves if we feel that the we could do better, etc. etc. | ||
| Mark_from_newfoundland |
Alright this is just a general shout-out to the factory that I'm sure all Buell riders will enjoy. Yesterday I was doing a few exercises on a closed course as I haven't been riding much recently, mainly practicing push steering and threshold braking. Admittedly I was playing around using our Suzuki trainers waiting for the sun to warm the Blast enough to start (cold start problem long story) when I finally got it going I started warming up the tires. Dear God in Heaven I think I got it up to 70 Km/h (or fairly close) through the 10 meter slalom, way to go Eric for making bikes that snap from side to side so quick. Once the tires were nice and gummy I moved to the braking, I think 50% of my stops were on the front tire only, these bikes truly are a hoot to ride (and I was just on the Blast). Kudos to the entire Buell team. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Any anonys care to share the resulting overall "crank to street" drive ratio's for the different bikes, now that the CityX has gone messing with things? Seems like there are now three different XB ratios: classic 9's 9sx 12's Don't make me go out there and start counting teeth! | ||
| Mikej |
To the Buell web site maintainers: Thank you for updating the Buell.com web site to allow at least partial viewing for us flash-limited folks out here. | ||
| Rick_a |
There are no big bore kits for Buells or Sportsters because any significant increase in bore requires major disassembly and machine work, where TC88 big bores are a bolt-on proposition. | ||
| Josh_ |
How about updating the parts database to reflect the recall of the 2000 Blasts (when they all got the '01 rear sprocket and belt). If you go to order a belt for an '00 you'll get one that doesn't fit. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Factory, please consider including frame sliders on the XB's by default. You costs are low, and people that don't like 'em can peel 'em off easily. I worry about too many bikes being "totalled" by the insurance companies due to frame / tank dents, and eventually driving our rates way up. With the addition of frame sliders (and maybe some strategic swingarm slide points) the XB's could have great statistics in terms of repair costs, they are otherwise darn tough bikes. For your new expanding demographic, I suspect insurance costs are even more important then purchase price, so you do us all a big favor if you make the insurance company numbers look better. Thanks! | ||
| Mikej |
How about leaving off the rubber-X and putting on the sliders instead. Keep factory costs similar, still leaves an optional accessory item in the parts book for dealers to sell later. Or just weld a true slider mount to the frame like the race bikes use and slide the costs over to the frame level and try to make the manufacturer eat the cost of the added part (like what happens all too often in the automotive industry). | ||
| Captainkirk |
OK, Buell; listen up! I'm giving you my idea, and it's FREE. (But don't try to say it was all your idea)  It's a FACT that the majority of Buell riders do most, if not all of their work. Part of this is due to the high prices at the dealerships, part of it is due to the "three-second factor", which is my term for the amount of time you have between a gremlin rearing his ugly little head, and making ground contact while riding...which is why I don't like "other people", trained or not, working on my Buell. So, this is where my idea comes in. Given the above factors, why not hold FACTORY SPONSORED training for us Buell owners who do their own work? (We have similar Type-specific training in the aircraft industry; Type/model specific training for a particular make or model of aircraft.) The course could run one week or two,depending on the depth of material covered and the model(s) of bikes covered, have, say, 10 people to a class learning HANDS ON from the people who designed and built them how to basically disassemble and reassemble an entire bike (or pieces thereof) and then go through tuning, suspension setup, dyno runs, basically everything a dealership knows how to do (or so we'd hope, in some cases). (or in other words; a hands-on tutorial of the entire service manual) You'd wind up with some very loyal, happy and knowlegable owners, and better customers, too. And the type of people who'd go for a course like this don't take their work to the dealers anyway. So it's no loss to them, in fact, it probably takes parts sales and work away from the indies. Quite frankly, some aircraft owners who have been through this type of training know more about their particular "pet" than I do...and isn't that the way it SHOULD be? Not only that, but if I went through a class like that and learned all about the XB's as well as the tubers, wouldn't I be more likely to buy an XB down the line somewhere? (as opposed to brand "x" Not to mention all the income you would gain on tuition. You could charge like $500.00 a head and still make it affordable for the average joe. That would be 5 grand for a full class of 10...for a week's worth of time. What'ya say? DO IT, MAN! | ||
| Captainkirk |
PS- And I get free tuition for my idea. | ||
| Mikej |
Capt'n, Check out ParkTool and their ToolSchool. Along the lines of what you're talking about. Perhaps the company that supplies all the specialty tools could offer a mechanics course for the general public. I don't see Buell doing this, might see BRAG doing it, but can see a tool company doing it. If you make it too technical though you'll start getting complaints from those MotorcycleMechanic's schools that dealerships like to hire certificated students from. http://www.parktool.com/park_tool_school/index.shtml ParkTool is starting to offer motorcycle tools as well. | ||
| Captainkirk |
Mike; Yeah, checked out that website. Pretty cool, although what I was thinking about would/could/should be a lot more in-depth. You say Buell won't do something like that. While I agree, they probably won't, I'd like to ask "Why not?" They could make money on a venture like this; Check out FlightSafety's website www.flightsafety.com . Pilot and maintenance training is all these guys do! And they do quite well, believe me! I'll bet three out of ten Badwebers would attend a class like that if they knew in advance where it was going to be and if it was "Coming To A Location Near You!"...say, a local BUELL FRIENDLY dealership (hint, hint). They could have, like 3 lifts with 3 bikes and say, three students to a bike. They could cover Buell history, model differences and highlights and then delve into engine, frame and chassis, suspension, electrical, fuel, Fuel injection mapping and set-up, oil system and all that. There could be mock-ups and hands-on application of theory. Hell, they could even do track riding with an instructor to apply what you've learned for a little extra coin. (Places like BlackHawk Farms are already cashing in on that.) How much would you pay for that? You could do hop-up mods and dyno runs to see what effect you've had. And all the time it's making Buell "definitely different" from all the other bike companies, and building LIFETIME loyalties with PAYING CUSTOMERS...who are PAYING CASH DOLLARS to be taught how to work on and set up the motorcycles they've already spent CASH DOLLARS on. Dumb? Yeah...like a fox. What guy who's been through the "Riders on the Storm" course is gonna be caught dead on a Honda? You tell me! Sign me up, Erik! You can hold the first course at East Troy; I'm only an hour away or so. | ||
| Mikej |
I had something different to say, but instead I'll offer this: At the BRAG club that I used to be a member of they had occasional bike tech days. I had class those nights but was told they were going to look over one of the members bikes and do some basic maintenance on it, or something like that. Point being that this could be something done at the local BRAG club level with dealership sponsorship. Get the service department to pony up one of their certified mechanics for the evening and teach a class on some aspect of maintenance. Could be an after hours thing if the employee is willing to put in the time and if the dealership is willing to pay the wage, which they should be willing to do since they probably/hopefully already have staff at the meetings who are still on the clock. This, at the dealership level, should foster better association between the BRAG club members and the shop personnel. It's real easy to rag on some anonymous jerk in the back who overfilled your oil tank, but it's a different story if the bike owner and the tech in the back are on a somewhat first name basis, the tech will hopefully take a more personal interest in working on the bike, the customer will hopefully be more understanding of the tech. And with the bike owners more knowledgable on maintenance issues there "should" be less kludged up bikes coming in for service, or at the very least the customers will be more able to say more precisely what their bike is coming in to be serviced for. It's one thing to say "the bike is making noise", it's another to say "it sounds like the primary chain is out of adjustment so please adjust and verify that's what it is and that it's not something else going on in there like a cracked tensioner shoe or loose main shaft nut or something". Thoughts? |
