| Author | Message | ||
     Buellatp |
I am buying my first Buell. Which year is the best. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I am new to this brotherhood and I can not believe how tight everyone seems to be. AWESOME!! Thanks | ||
| 07xb12ss |
08 has gas mileage problems for now and doesnt seem to be compatible with ECMSPY - thats all i have heard - i have an 07 Ss | ||
| Buellatp |
Any issues with your 12ss at speeds above 100mph? I rode an xb9 city and it got pretty wobblie on the front end. | ||
| 07xb12ss |
nope, been up to 130 multiple times with just wind as the only issue | ||
| Bombardier |
08 still has issues. Most of the issues have been explored and fixed on the 07. 08 has different injection setup with larger diameter crank pins and different oil pump setup. The later 08 cannot have the ecm/fuel maps altered with ecmspy whereas the 07 can. | ||
| Buellatp |
Thanks, any additional info helps. I think the XB12Ss is the bike for me. I would like to ride one before I buy one. | ||
| Lost_in_ohio |
with the ability to do a tps reset on the 08 built in it makes ecm spy un-necessary. I use ecm spy to merely reset my tps. I would buy an 08 for the improved ecm, tps resets built in and oiling. I own and 06 ss a great bike. | ||
| Froggy |
There was alot of changes from 2007 to 2008. As others have said, the changes came with new headaches that have been mostly ironed out. Here is a quick summary of the changes for 2008. EAST TROY, Wis. (July 8, 2007) – Buell continues to develop its Thunderstorm V-Twin powertrain in 2008, with significant enhancements that boost engine performance and reduce required maintenance. The Buell Thunderstorm is a modern air/oil/fan-cooled V-Twin powertrain utilized in the Buell XB motorcycle platform that includes the Firebolt, Lightning and Ulysses model families. Two versions of the engine are offered. The Thunderstorm 1203 displaces 1203cc and produces 103 horsepower at 6800 rpm and 84 ft. lbs. of torque at 6000 rpm. The Thunderstorm 984 displaces 984cc and produces 92 horsepower at 7500 rpm and 70 ft. lbs. of torque at 6000 rpm. Both are tuned to deliver a broad, flat torque curve that makes abundant power available to the rider at almost any speed, reducing the need for downshifting and providing strong acceleration in any situation. Both engines feature electronic fuel injection and dry-sump oiling. The Thunderstorm 1203 is equipped with the Buell InterActive Exhaust system, which utilizes a valve in the dual-chamber muffler that is controlled by the ECM and adjusts exhaust flow according to riding conditions to smooth torque delivery and optimize engine power. For 2008 the Thunderstorm 1203 redline is increased to 7100 rpm from 6800 rpm, giving this engine an even broader powerband, and riders the ability to accelerate longer and downshift at a higher rpm. The sustained rpm redline of the Thunderstorm 984 remains 7500 rpm. For 2008, the following changes have been made to both the Thunderstorm 1203 and the Thunderstorm 984: New Timing System The timer cover is eliminated, as the engine is now crank timed from a new crank position sensor, which eliminates the need for manual timing, reducing maintenance costs. The ECM actively monitors and adjusts timing based on driving environment. The new sensor makes 30 reads per revolution, compared to the previous two reads per revolution, for more precise control of fuel mapping and timing to conditions. More Robust Crankpins The size of the crankpins is increased to 1.50 inches from 1.25 inches. Oiling System Upgraded A higher-output oil pump supports oiling to the new crankpin area. The new pump is driven off of the crank, a design based on the Buell XBRR production racing motorcycle. A new eight-row oil cooler offers enhanced cooling performance. All oil line ends are now equipped with Jiffy-tite fittings. New DDFI 3 ECM (Engine Control Module) A new ECM with increased computing capacity. DDFI 3 actively controls and monitors the TPS (throttle position sensor), IAC (idle air control), and timing. DDFI 3 automatically zeros the TPS and adjusts fuel metering for smoother idle, eliminating service intervals and reducing the cost of ownership. A new progressive throttle cam and new throttle cables provide smoother throttle input from stops, and less rotation to full throttle | ||
| Werewulf |
08 efi, not ready for prime time! | ||
| Spacewolf |
Mate, I have an 08, and it's up there with the best bikes I've owned. No real dramas, cept for when the dealer fitted my micron, they haven't quite refitted an oil line properly, and there is the smallest weep. Other than that, absolutely fuggen awesome. And, the 25th anniversary badge creates a little attention... | ||
| Hr_puffinstuff |
i LOVE my 08 Ss. mpg is improving as the miles pile up. comfortable, quick, and stable as a table when leaned over. no high-speed wobble (120+ mph so far) ZERO problems w/ the efi, BTW. | ||
| Buellatp |
Thanks everyone!! Anything else please feel free to chime in......jeff  | ||
| Akbuell |
An '08 here, and love mine. No problems, gas mileage getting into the 46-48mpg range in the city. | ||
| Ebuella_virus |
have an '05 12R. Consistently have gotten 50 to 55 mpg with some common mods. No problems. A buddy has an '07 and he loves it with no problems. | ||
| Spacewolf |
I should point out that mine has a build date of May 08, so it's up there with the last of em, and may have most of the bugs sorted already straight from the factory | ||
| Buellnick |
The '08 is a better all around package in stock form. However, right now you can do more to the pre-08 models. ALSO, beware of the oil system issues. The oil system is better at moving oil to critical parts but some bikes are having issues with oil running back into the crankcase. Buell is trying to figure this out. See other posts regarding oil level issues. |
