| Author | Message | ||
     Volk |
hey guys, i've been watching this site for a while now just picking up bits of info along the way learning about buells. well i finally just bought my new bike. a 2008 XB9SX, pic in profile. it is also my first bike and i am a fairly new rider. i just have a couple questions. where do you guys store things like insurance paper work? what are some of the first accessories i should get and when should i even start to think about extra stuff like exhaust? thanks for your input. | ||
| Etennuly |
I put the reg and ins stuff in a zip lock bag under the seat. Get good riding gear first. Quality riding pants will help with the seat heat for summer. | ||
| Citified |
I always had that little plastic folder the insurance person gives me tucked under the battery tie down strap against the battery. | ||
| Henry_the_8th |
Nice bike and welcome to the family! For now I've got my papers in the tool bag. +1 on the getting good gear and if you havn't taken an MSF course that it also a very good idea. Nice helmet by the way, I have one in black. | ||
| Vicfirebolt |
I keep my stuff in the tool bag as well. I would get good and used too the power and handling of it in it's stock form before adding any after market performance enhancers. I personally would get an alarm first or some kind of security device. | ||
| Chopperdave |
Gear, first for your body...(after all where you gonna live) then axle sliders and frame pucks. MSF for low speed skill building and street survival then track days to sharpen the razor | ||
| Nik |
Park it and get a beat up old <500cc jap bike to learn on. The CityX is too much, and you don't want to break it or you. I carry all the insurance/reg stuff in my jacket. | ||
| Volk |
thanks guys thats where i thought to put it but i wasn't sure, didn't really look like a place to put extra stuff. i have taken the msf course, the military makes you before you can even get on a bike. i've got some riding gear like full face helmet, leather jacket, riding gloves. i didn't think about pants so i'll look into that. i feel pretty comfortable on this bike i've already gone on some rides, and i did ride my friends jap bikes around before i got this bike. thanks again. | ||
| Corporatemonkey |
I put my a copy of my insurance/registration in a ziplock bag duct taped to the bottom of my seat. I put a second copy in my tank bag. I keep the originals at home. As for accessories, after all the personal safety gear, get yourself a set of swingarm/fork sliders. A lot of us use Darkhorse products, very well made. | ||
| Bad_karma |
Brian Welcome aboard. The first two items to up grade your Buell are; riding gear and riding course. This bike will require a safety course and a track day course. Then you will be able to enjoy the most your bike has to offer. Joe | ||
| Comeauzee |
Park it and get a beat up old <500cc jap bike to learn on. The CityX is too much I have a 06 XB9SX and it was my first bike. It is not too much of a bike,(for me, because I can't speak for everyone, it might be too much for guys like NIK). I drove a few dirt bikes before, but this was my first big bike. As long as you take it easy for the first 2 or 3 thousand KM and get use to how your bike reacts, you will have no problems. But if you act a fool and try to do wheelies your first couple of times out, yes you will most likely get yourself into trouble. Safe riding, and enjoy that bike, I love mine. | ||
| Nik |
http://www.beginnerbikers.org/forum/showthread.php ?t=13483 Form follows function. The CityX was not designed as a first bike, it was designed as a high performance urban bike for the experienced rider. It doesn't matter how you handle it when everything is going well, its how you handle it when the shit hits the fan and instincts take over. You have to train your muscle memory to counter steer when you need to swerve, apply the brakes smoothly and not jam on them in a panic (emphasis on this as the Buell's brakes are very very grabby,) how to react when you lose traction, and how to trust the bike and not target fixate. These are not intuitive things and the have to be learned, and its best to learn them on a bike that will let you mess up a few times without killing you. And it wasn't my first bike, I admit it would have been far to much of a first bike for me, that was a 70cc Honda Passport when I was a 115lb 16 year old. I probably wouldn't have even been able to push the thing around in my garage! The Buell is number 5. I made my car the weekend toy three years ago and have ridden rain or shine since to get where I need to go and am not dead yet, so I must be doing something right. | ||
| Swordsman |
Meh, I don't buy it. XB12Ss was my 1st bike. Piddled on a 225cc dual sport for 3 months prior. Took the MSF a YEAR after I got the Buell. Big bikes aren't dangerous. Big egos are. The 1200 scared me to death, so I was extra, extra careful. A 250cc can kill you just as fast... hell, tripping over a curb can kill you. He's already taken the MSF, so I don't see what the big deal is. His attitude toward riding is much more important than what he rides. "It doesn't matter how you handle it when everything is going well, its how you handle it when the shit hits the fan and instincts take over. You have to train your muscle memory to counter steer when you need to swerve, apply the brakes smoothly and not jam on them in a panic (emphasis on this as the Buell's brakes are very very grabby,) how to react when you lose traction, and how to trust the bike and not target fixate. These are not intuitive things and the have to be learned, and its best to learn them on a bike that will let you mess up a few times without killing you. " None of these problems you've listed have anything to do with the size/style of the bike... it's all experience related, which completely independent of the bike itself. ~SM (Message edited by Swordsman on April 04, 2008) | ||
| Coyote5797 |
Congrats on the bike. I love my 2006 CityX. It's only me second bike. Good riding gear is a MUST! I took the MSF course and had an old Jap bike to ride and still dumped at 60 mph last summer. Keep your head about you ride as much as you can and remember to have fun while being safe. Other than that read BadWeb listen to the old timers and everything else will come in time. | ||
| Nik |
Yes they do. A bike like a little ninja 250, or the purpose designed blast won't endo if you panic and grab a fistfull of front brakes like an XB will. With their lighter weight, docile handling, and lower power you can get away with a lot more. It's never a good thing to fear the bike you're on. A healthy respect is warranted but fear is irrational and can get you in trouble. (Message edited by nik on April 04, 2008) | ||
| Borrowedbike |
Brian, Ignore the argument above about "if this is the right bike"... Too late, it's yours, decision made by you and for you. Obviously only YOU know and can control the decisions you will make on this bike. That said, learn to ride it responsibly. The XB9 is a LOT of motorcycle, and in the hands of an skilled and mature rider it'll out perform the "Jap Bike" your buddy has. It will never be the fastest bike in a straight line, but that isn't what you bought if for was it? You're getting great advice on gear, get some good pants to go with that jacket. Get a back protector, shoulder and elbow amour for that jacket. If the one you have doesn't accept it check out Bohn armor and wear it under the jacket, or buy a real motorcycle jacket, not just a leather one. Get some boots too, look for something that will keep your ankle form flopping over in a get off. After you are covered head to toe, invest in learning how to ride. Buy, or check out at a library Keith Codes twist of the wrist II. Memorize the survival reactions until you recognize them as you commit them, and understand what negative impact it has on the motorcycles performance. I would not recommend riding hard until you have completed this. NOW you can upgrade the bike... Frame pucks and swing arm sliders. Simply put, drop this bike at 10 MPH without them and you could total it, It'll still ride 100%, but it'll look like crap and cost thousands to fix. After that, look at your ergos. Are the bars in the right place for you? Are the pegs and controls in the right places? How is seat height? a 1/2 inch difference in each of these can make a huge change in the bike and the way it feels. Good ergo's = fast in the twisties, and will make a much greater change than the few HP from a $400 pipe or ECM. Then if you want, let it breathe (Pipe) and get the fuel delivery maximized (ECM) The sponsors on this board can help with that end of things, and by then you'll have a few hundred hours on this board and know exactly what you want and why! Just my $.02  Ohhh... CONGRATS! Great looking bike, welcome to the tribe! | ||
| New12r |
The best way to make your bike faster is to be a better rider. Get good gear and take classes. Welcome by the way. | ||
| Swordsman |
"A bike like a little ninja 250, or the purpose designed blast won't endo if you panic and grab a fistfull of front brakes like an XB will." If you're running at speed and lock up the front end, I find that difficult to believe. Saw some hairy stuff during the MSF course with totally new riders, and that was low speed lock ups. And again, speed goes back to riding attitude.... ... but I'm just being argumentative for some reason! Sorry 'bout that. For ME, the 1200 was fine as a learning tool. Knowing that the beast would run out from under me if I got on the throttle actually kept me off the throttle for a long time. What was this thread about again...? Oh! Paperwork! Yeah, plastic baggie in the tool bag.  ~SM | ||
| Cityxslicker |
You could always find yourself some nice empty dirt roads and practice on.... they usually have less traffic, will get you very familiar with the friction zone of your bike and of course the power/traction curve. and best of all there is MUD. Everyday on the bike is a learning experience, keep your skills sharp and your gear on all the time. Welcome to the Buell family.  | ||
| Sam_07 |
Welcome! I store my reg/insurance in my tool kit. Check out our sponsor page for great deals on parts and accessories! +1 on pucks and frame sliders! | ||
| Azxb9r |
I keep my papers in a waterproof box under the seat. The xb is a fine first bike as long as you treat it with the proper respect. Find an empty parking lot where you can work on emergency stops and evasive maneuvers from time to time. In a panic situation, your body does what it is familiar with, if you practice panic stops regularly, that is what you will do in an emergency. I would also recommend a book by Lee Parks called Total Control. A lot of good info there. | ||
| Skinstains |
I didn't see where you live, but, around here things seem to grow legs and walk off when you're not keeping an eye on them. Therefore I never leave paperwork on the bike. A theif could get pulled over for anything, if he has no paper he is getting busted and you are getting your bike back. As far as gear goes,leather with hard armour from head to toe is probably best. Buy something you will wear all the time. If you think you will get sick of putting on those heavy hot armoured garments and will ride without them, then perhaps some decent textile garments (technology has come a long way in this area)will suit you better. Better to have decent protection "on" than great protection at home. Frame pucks immediatly ! Swingarm sliders next. Fork sliders, maybe not so much. I have three Buells and thanks to my son they have all been down at least once. Some have been down more times than I can remember. The forks never got screwed up. Maybe I'm just lucky, we know they can't hurt. Everyone hear may not agree with this, but, you NEED a pipe! NOW ! As far as too much bike...no such thing in my eyes. There's nothing wrong with a baptism by fire. You also could have gotten a much "worse"(?) starter bike. Just the fact that you bought a Buell says quite a bit about you. I'm sure you'll be fine. By the way, I'm new here too, only been on for a week or two. Welcome to the island of the misfit bikers and enjoy. | ||
| Tx05xb12s |
I agree about not leaving paperwork on the bike itself. I have a little leather business card holder I stuff my ID and medical and vehicle insurance into along with an emergency contact and put it between my leathers and chest protector when I ride. Also, I don't think you've got too much bike to be your first either. Just ride within your experience level and you'll be fine. My first was the 1200 I'm on now and 15,000 miles later I'm just now getting around to becoming more aggressive in my riding. I took my time and made it through the close calls. I also took both the basic and experienced Rider's Edge courses. They helped a lot. First purchases? Safety gear Secondary purchases? Protective gear for the bike After you get geared up? Performance mods! | ||
| Towjam |
Brian, Welcome to the BadWeb and congrats on the new SX. (And thanks for your service as well!)  | ||
| Volk |
thanks again guys. lots of good info, made me realize and think about some things more then i had before. sorry didn't mean to start an argument, im not a brand new rider, just new to street bikes, but i think im doing alright. had a little scare today though. some little girl in a suv pulled out in front of me and two of my friends. i was in the back and kinda saw it coming so i had a little more time to slow down and swerve into the other lane but my friends had to quickly swerve away, luckily no one was next to us and we all rode away just fine. just a little more proof that people dont see us and/or dont look for us. | ||
| Mr2shim |
Does the XBS have a little compartment like the XBR? That's where I store my paperwork. | ||
| Glitch |
just a little more proof that people dont see us and/or dont look for us. It's not that they don't see us, or don't look for us. It's that they can't see us. We're invisible. Once you've figured that out, and ride with that knowledge, you'll be better off. Welcome to BadWeB! |
