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| Username: | Reepicheep |
| Full Name: | Bill Kilgallon |
| E-mail Address: | (Hidden) |
| Last Logged In: | August 24, 2018 |
| Registered: | April 25, 2003 |
| Total Posts: | 22086 |
| Status: | ECM |
| Home Page URL: | http://www.kilgallonfamily.com |
| Birthday (Year) & Occupation: | 40ish application security enterprise architect / CISO |
| City: | Lebanon |
| State/Province: | Ohio |
| Country: | USA |
| Personal Quote: | "The object of opening the mind, as of opening the mouth, is to eventually close it again on something solid" (G.K. Chesterton) |
| Bike Model (Ex - M2, XB12Rr, S1W, P3): | XB12X |
| Model Year (Please enter full 4-digit year): | 2007 |
| Color: | Barricade Orange |
| V.I.N. (To aid in problem resolution. Will not be displayed or shared otherwise.) : | (Hidden) |
| Servicing Dealership: | My garage. |
| Performance Mods!: | The Uly: Left it as stock as possible, works great Heated grips with custom closed loop controller Rox 2 inch risers GPS ECM location tweak Breather reroute Operator Tube install HID (would go with LED if I did it again today) Previous Owner did rear fender chop. The XB9SX: - Cut inner airbox cover so only cap remains, attached with velcro tie downs and o rings. - Trimmed snorkel down (had pulled it completely, but got rattle, will eventually build a gasket and pull it again). - Race ECM - Race air filter - Custom built exhaust (drummeresque) The Cyclone (now sold  ): 2500 Left side "drop kit" 2800 installed used forcewinder. 3500 Ground out forcewinder bowl 4300 45 slow jet |
| Problems/Miles (Please be specific): | XB12X: Totaled by Corolla, rebuilt salvage. Rebuilt top end at 30k (pitted valve seats and carboned chambers, I blame Ohio Ethanol gas) Chafed wires around steering neck Replaced exhaust servo XB9SX: 12k Replaced frayed clutch cable. 15k gave exhaust can fresh coat of black BBQ paint. 21k miles... lost a front exhaust hanger bolt (no doubt my fault), which resulted in breaking an exhaust stud. Drilled out and replaced. 21k Replaced spark plugs, because I felt guilty, not because of any runnability problems. 21k Replaced frayed throttle cables. Cyclone: 2500 miles: Previous owner, and parking on an incline (see "performance mods"  );. 2500 sheared off torx bolt removing clutch cover. Sheared off easy-out in sheared off bolt. Didn't learn lesson. 2500 SRP original shock leaking oil... recall approved... dealer messes up order for replacement for over 6 months. Buell customer service clears up problem in 15 minutes. 2500 speedometer sensor. 2650 speedometer sensor <IMG SRC="http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/clipart/sad.gif" ALT=":-(" BORDER=0> . 2700 Rear rocker box gasket. 3000 Rear jug exhaust stud sheared off, probably due to loose header bolts, in turn probably due to lousy original front exhaust bracket and isolator, that should have been replaced when above dealer did shock recall. They had the kit in stock, but somehow had no idea it was goodwilled. I paid cash for it and left just to be rid of them. Sheared off easyout in sheared off bolt. Wept profusely. Finally got it out burning up three diamond tipped dremel bits, and just drilled out the stupid bolt and retapped it. 5500 miles, punctured rear tire (which was more or less shot anyway). 7000 Blew front rocker box gasket (right on schedule). 7500 Split primary chain tensioner. 10000 2nd gear dogs getting worn and needing replacement during first snow. 12000 Pulled cam cover to replace badly worn oil pump drive gear, and found badly damaged #4 (front exhaust) cam. Replaced both. 16000 Pulled transmission to check worn dogs and found rusted mud and metal pieces where the needle bearings in the 5th gear drive assembly are supposed to sit. Probably the result of about two rides on an overtightened belt, probably been there since about 7000 miles. Mainshaft pitted as a result, replaced three gears (would have been four, but dealer gave me wrong part in opened package with the right part number) and replaced mainshaft, and main pully bearings (that get ruined pulling 5th gear assembly when going by the book). 16000 Crank seal replaced to eliminate spray coming out tranny breather (easy job, did while tranny was out and I was waiting for parts). 18000 Lost the stator, and possibly voltage regulator. Replaced battery at the same time. 22000 Sender wire from oil pressure guage popped off (my own fault based on my routing of breather lines under engine). |
| Other Mods/Misc/Customization.: | XB9SX: - 3rd eye bar end mirrors (easy mount even with handguards). - Played with various lighting approaches for inside airbox, not happy with anything yet. -Shortened rear turn signal stalks. -Removed various stickers and reflectors. Cyclone: 4100 Replaced front exhaust mount with updated part. 4200 Added bar end mirrors... huge improvement in visibility. 4300 Replaced slow jet with a 45 (fast jet was already a 200) and turned air mix screw out 2.5 turns. Huge improvement in runnability and seems to run cooler... I view this as a reliability upgrade, not a performance upgrade. 4300 Updated shifter to '01 improved model (rev 2). 6500 Added Banke "itty bitty backsets" pulled from a S2 race bike. 12000 Added a supertrapp (stock headers). Wish I had done it sooner. |
| Favorite Rides (Roads and Routes): | Anywhere around Ceasers Creek, the little miami river, or the Cherahola Skyway. |
| Why I do/don't ride a Buell: | XB12X: More room, more distance, more cargo. XB9SX: My Cyclone gave me such a satisfying experience that I wanted more. In hindsight, I realized should have paid more for an S1 sooner and gotten more satisfaction. So when I saw the XB9SX, and realized that it totally pushes my buttons, and that I knew I would have one eventually, I figured I might as well just go get it and get on with things. The Cyclone was a great bike, but I have 3 kids (one more on the way) and just can't afford extra garage time addressing broken bits. I need I bike I could ride then park. I actually look forward to getting a trashed tuber someday and completely restoring it, once my kids need less of my time (or more likely, are old enough to participate in and enjoy the project). Once I actually switched from the M2 to the 9sx, I was astounded at how much better a bike it was. The M2 was an exceptionally well engineered all around motorcycle, aside from reliablity, I just did not think there was that much room for improvement. The engineering improvements on the XB platform (and particularly the refinement level on the 9sx) are simply one home run after another. I have an engineering background, and everywhere I look on this thing I see the handywork of visionaries and masters of the art. You seldom see both of these qualities together in a machine. When you do... buy it NOW. Cyclone: I wanted a decent standard bike that fit my tallish frame, and liked the outstanding real world design and engineering philosophies of the Buell team. I wanted a bike that I can still own 10 years and 50,000 miles from now and still feel is worth repairing when it breaks. My Cyclone is a perfect bike besides reliability, and frankly, given the other incredible positives of the bike, I'm fine with that (in hindsight). |
| How can Buell improve their motorcycles?: | Cyclone: - Make a more reliable bike... would it kill you to put in the James gaskets? (Update! They did, and it didn't, both the rocker box and primary gaskets are now outstanding from the factory, and every bike is better for it). - Also have a better web presence for parts selection and ordering to give those of us with idiot dealers a little relief... If the dealers dismiss us, give us a web based version of their parts and ordering system and let us vote with our feet. (Update: Looks like they are taking another approach, and it is working. Bad dealers are going away, DaveS offers better service then a web site, and I found a good local dealer that works better then a web site anyway. That, and with the XB I don't seem to *need* all those new parts  ).
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| Life History/Philosophy: | Christian (but not the annoying kind) father, and husband (sometimes the annoying kind). Pathological geek, and computer co-dependent (this old '486 just needs a little more love and it can be just fine... I just have to try harder)... |
| Top speed on 2 wheels (mph): | Frankly, I could care less what my bike does above 90 or so MPH. Between 154 and 178 MPH on the back straight at Mid Ohio, as verified by GPS... on a Buell Demo 1125R. |
| Preferred engine oil (brand/grade): | Mobile 1 15-50, Amsoil 20w50, or Valvoline full synthetic 20w50. Correct viscosity, half the price of Mobil One VTwin. I change oil at 3500, so any full synthetic should be fine, and I want any full synthetic with the right viscosity at a reasonable price. |
| Next Bike to add to the Stable: | Rebuilding 1978 KZ-400. Eventually a trashed M2 to restore, or a KLR-650. |
| Previous Bike Information: | 2000 Black M2 |
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