| Author | Message | ||
     Dpoole |
...with a newly acquired 04 XB12S with 150 miles. The plan is to put it on a trickle charger, dial in the suspension per the owners manual when the weather warms up, and ride to work as much as possible along the Lake Erie shoreline. Does anybody have anything else smart to say about owning, maintaining, and riding a Buell? BTW - I used to work on J bikes a long time ago, and they're not bad, but they don't handle like a Buell and have ZERO personality. I'm looking forward to this. Thanks. | ||
| Cataract2 |
What would you like to know? | ||
| Truk |
How do you all do that? Buy a new bike and not be able to ride it for months. That would drive me nuts! Only able to look, sit and pretend.... Heck I would have 3,000 miles on just the seat, pegs and grips before I got to actually ride it in the spring.  Welcome....Congratulations and hope you have a mild and short winter... | ||
| Cataract2 |
Truk, I would end up sitting in the garage starting at it or sitting on it making vroom vroom sounds. | ||
| Daves |
Welcome back! | ||
| Surveyor |
Dan, welcome back, My advice.....get some training, get some decent tyres (Pirellis), get to a track, and get some physio for your grinning muscles. | ||
| Rarebird |
Just got a 12R that I've managed only 850 miles the snow (after about 6k this Summer on my 9S before trading up)- so I know the feeling! I did ride for an hour yesterday (I'm in Painesville Twp)though- 'bout froze my nards off! Now it's packed away in the corner of the garage with fresh fluids and a battery tender, awaiting one of those surprise warm Winter days! | ||
| Pwnzor |
Move to Sunny Southern California! (its about to rain right now but it will be dry by the time you get here)  (Message edited by pwnzor on December 02, 2005) | ||
| Dpoole |
The fun parts, the big grins, I can handle. When I posted I was thinking about the owning and maintaining part... | ||
| Bugman |
I have the same bike. What needs to be said? Ride the •••• out of it and enjoy it! Mine is all stock and I like it just the way it is. All the info you need is in the archives of this site. | ||
| Xring |
I did the same last spring. Left WV for Chicago in a bad snowstorm; the next evening, arrived with my 2004 XB9S. I put it on the battery tender and just looked at it for a couple of weeks. I got the workshop manual and changed the engine oil and primary oil; marveling at the engineering, fit and finish the whole time. The only mods I did were chopping the back fender and installing bar end mirrors; K&N air filter and XB12 airbox cover. Also checked and adjusted the steering head bearings (mine had about 3000 miles on it when I got it). Later in the summer adjusted the primary chain. Other than that, I've done what you plan to do. Most of my riding is back and forth to work every day (until lately, that is. Snow.), as well as the occasional overnight trip or full Sunday ride. My only advice would be to get some modern riding gear if you don't have it already. (The armored mesh stuff is great in the summer), and maybe some way to carry/store things. I got a tank bag for cheap off ebay; and later an Axio backpack for carrying my laptop to work. I've put about 6000 miles on it this year; the only thing that needed fixing was a little oil leak around one of the external lines on the filter side. The only parts I've bought were tires when the stock rear got a roofing nail in it and wouldn't hold a plug. Replaced the Dunlops with Pirelli Scorpions like on the CityX, and like them better. Gets great gas mileage, too. Have fun with yours, and take your time getting your reflexes back. I had a 7 year layoff since I sold my last bike, and it took me a couple of months to feel comfortable, and another couple to start to appreciate the cornering capability. Bill | ||
| Dpoole |
I'm surprised the primary chain would need adjustment. Is that common? Already have the new helmet. The rest of the gear I'll figure out as I go along. | ||
| Dbird29 |
No automatic tensioner on the primary chain. Pretty easy bike to work on, really not much maintenance at all. | ||
| Xring |
Not sure what the maintenance interval is on the primary, but it does require checking occasionally. Don't have my manuals here or I'd look it up. That and the steering head bearing adjustment are fairly common. I forgot to mention the new seat. I got the Buell Streetfighter seat from DaveS (A BadWeb sponsor : http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/17143/67339.html?1133650663) and highly recommend it. Much more comfortable than the stock seat. Good luck, Bill | ||
| Truk |
Dpoole - If you are having your Buell dealer service the bike at the intervals mentioned in your handbook, they should do the primary adjustment. If you like doing some of your own "wrenching" I would suggest getting the Service Manual and Parts Manual. Worth their weight in gold. I got mine from Daves, he is one of the sponsors on this board. There are a number of great sponsors on this board that can help with things like this. These are "low maintenance" bikes, but not "no maintenance". And so much of it is pretty simple, especially with the SM and the help you get on this board. There are some procedures that are unique to these bikes, not difficult, but unique. Unless a person knows them or is using the SM, a person can mess up just changing a tire. Just ask the guys that didn't use AntiSeize on the rear axle as directed in the SM. Boy did some of them wish they had known that the next time they needed a tire and struggled to get the rear axle off. Oh and compared to inline water cooled rice rockets which require valve inspections /adjustments, the XB primary adjustment is nothing. I would gladly exchange a valve inspection/ adjustment on my R1 for the primary adjustment on my XB. I did the primary adjustment myself on my Buell. I pay someone to do the valve inspection on my R1 I haven't done any engine modifications on mine. I too have left it stock. I have the "R" model and things done on my bike were done for comfort. I enjoy high corner speed and lean angles. These things rock in the twisties just as they are... Have fun PS - I also agree with getting good safety equipment from head to toe | ||
| Bindy |
Welcome Depoole, I have a XB12S and your right, she has Personality Plus!!! My advice for what it is worth, get your manual out and read it. If you do not have one get one!!! You will soon see you can do most of the maintenance yourself. Get your tool kit organised, and have a tinker and get to know your bike, hopefully this will help pass the time Have Fun, Be Safe and Stay Upright, Bindy  | ||
| Dpoole |
Thanks to all! I'll take all of this to heart. I'm an old wrench, but one reason for picking the Buell is because the wrench chapter in my life is closed. Now it's time to have fun and let someone else do the work, while I worry about the important questions - like "rocks or straight up?" Keep the rubber side down and thanks again. |
