| Author | Message | ||
     Asphalt_tramp |
So I'm contemplating riding my 2006 xb12x to Newfoundland and Labrador. I have had the bike for about a year and have rode it about 4,000 miles. I'm tweeking it to fit me and plan on riding it to the homecoming in May as a trial run. Other than taking a spare belt with me, what do I need to do. I have changed the back wheel to a 3 bearing version. I've installed a new fan, added a comfort kit and wrapped the exhaust and changed the plugs. What else? | ||
| Hughlysses |
I'd suggest carrying an assortment of fuses. Check the clutch and throttle cables; if they're at all questionable, at least pack a set of spares. Also make sure you have a tire plugger kit ("sticky string" type is fine) and a small air compressor. | ||
| Turf_moor |
I'll bet nothing goes wrong at all. Enjoy the trip. | ||
| Rayycc1 |
has the throttle body shaft been replaced? If not I wouldn't consider a trip without doing so...mine broke as i was pulling in my driveway from a 1500 mile trip...if it breaks...your not moving another ten feet without rotating the motor...Not a job for the side of a road somewhere. | ||
| Motorfish |
Check the grounds at the steering head and under the seat. Remove the wires from the grounding screw, then sand or file off the powder coating, and coat with electrical anti-corrosion compound or dielectric grease. Also pull the fuel pump and check for abraded wires. Check the New Ulysses Owners list. (Message edited by motorfish on December 21, 2014) | ||
| Bienhoabob |
When I had my '06, I rode across country, the perimeter of Texas and entered Buttlite rally. (7,000 miles in 7days). That being said, pull the air cover and check for wiring clearances. Zip tie spark plug wire, (mine was touching cylinder), wires coming off the harness were resting on rear cylinder. Zip tie those. As mentioned pull/replace fuel pump. On an '06 the internal wires are not bound by anything. They just flop around until the coating on the wires wears off. Mine at 50,000 mile. Buell corrected this problem on later models. Do everything you can, then enjoy the ride. | ||
| Dtaylor |
Sorting out a wet ignition is no fun on a trip. Be sure those spark plug boots and/or spark plug porcelain towers were nicely coated with dielectric grease. Give it a couple of rainy day test runs while you're still close to home. In addition to cleaning up those ground points mentioned earlier, I'd also check the condition of the headstock ground wires where the eyelets crimp on. They are prone to breaking from vibration and flexing. The advice to use dielectric grease or other anti-corrosion compound on those points is sound, but I suggest gooping it it up only after cleaning and securing those points, so the grease will keep the moisture out but not interfere with the contact points. I've misused and over-used dielectric grease in the past, and have learned the hard way.  There is lots of good info on proper use dielectric grease on the Internet. | ||
| Brother_in_buells |
What the others mentioned already ,but don't worry to much! There can always something that breaks and most of the time its that thing you do not carry in your tool bag. A couple years back i did a nice 6500km trip to Finland on the xb 12s and the week after coming home the clutch edge broke ,so you never know! The one i always remember is one of my first trips to belgium on my Dad's old Moto Guzzi V7 850 GT California had only a couple of fuses ,a tire inflate kit and a bicycle brake wire with me ,i was happy to have that wire ,because one throttle wire broke on a early sunday morning somewhere in the Ardennes. | ||
| Tootal |
I've made the trip to Newfoundland twice now. Both times I was on a Harley. The last time my starter gear failed in Nova Scotia and the dealer there tore it down and found the problem. I needed a new clutch basket since the gear mounted on it was shot. After some phone calls they found the part in St. John's Newfie. We asked them to hold it for us and we push started the bike the rest of the trip. In a campground I had to have my buddy on his Goldwing trike pull me! That got some laughs! We made it though and the boys in St. John's were awesome. So anything can happen anytime. Now we laugh about it but at the time it was a pain but all worked out in the end. So have fun and enjoy it. The folks in Newfoundland are the friendliest folks I've ever met. Here's a view of the harbor in St. John's:  Off to the right is down town. Look for George Street. Five blocks of bars and restaurants. Great time to be had there. Look for Trapper John's Museum and Pub, one of my favorites! | ||
| Jetranger_2000 |
send me a PM when your on your way. Im in Nova Scotia (Halifax) and can offer a garage and tools if you need it. Might even ride half way with ya (If you let me!) |
