Fireindc

iTrader: (13)

I actually love the custom GS, looks like a fun bike to beat up on the backroads with.

psyber_0ptix

iTrader: (4)

until you dig into a corner and remember it has no power!

Ryan_G

iTrader: (8)

Quick question for all of the Buell owners on here. I know that the earlier Buells were notorious for shaking themselves all over the place while idling and even loosening bolts. From what I understand this was an issue with the motor mounts. Is this fixable with the motor mounts from the new bikes or some other relatively easy solution?

turbofan

iTrader: (1)

How old are you talking? The earlier steel-frame bikes were pretty crude, a little low on power, and VERY low on sophistication. Still fun bikes but not outstanding in any particular way, and very very shaky. Cracked frames and loose bolts happened more often than it should have, though many love those bikes just as they are.

IMO, though, if you're going to buy a Buell, buy a 2003+, and '07+ if you can. '03-'05 bikes were susceptible to oil pump issues when ridden at high RPM for extended periods of time. This can be fixed with a different oil pump gear though, so it's not a huge deal, and they were fixed from the factory in '06.

In '07 they strengthened the cranks and changed some other stuff.

IMO you can't go wrong with any XB12 from '04-10. You should be able to find really nice examples for less than $5k, and often less than $4k, and sometimes less than $3k.

Edit to add: All air-cooled Buells will move themselves around on the kickstand though.

Fireindc

iTrader: (13)

It all depends on which bike you are talking about. The old tube frame buells that were made up until about 2001 all shake like a mother. I'm not sure if there is a real "fix" for this, they were basically sportster motors mounted in a trellis tube frame with a separate pivot for the suspension. These are still neat bikes imo, but they are much more "quirky" and unreliable. Typically when you hear someone blindly trashing Buell's as a whole, they are talking about these bikes (they vibrate themselves apart, unreliable, electrical issues, etc.)

The 03-09 "XB" series of buells are all the same for the most part, with various improvements over the years. The 03-05 bikes are known for being a little extra shakey, but a revised front isolator can be fitted on those with very little effort, it bolts right to the front of the motor and to the frame.


Left is the original 03-05 isolator, right is the upgraded later replacement.

Now, with the newer isolator i don't see vibration as a problem with mine. Once i'm moving and over about 1500 rpms, the whole bike smooths out and you can even see out of the mirrors clearly. it's when they idle and/or are lugged about that they vibrate.

Keep in mind also that the 03-05 bikes were the ones known for "idling right off the kickstand". This has to do with the lopey 90* diesel tractor motor (yes, i said it) that was somehow tweaked to make 105hp (cams, headwork, etc.). You can buy a 07+ kickstand and fit it on the early models to solve this problem. Most older bikes already have the upgraded kickstand due to a factory recall for it. Bolts loosening is not an issue on these bikes, unless you take them apart and put them back together without blue loctite, then you could have issues. i always use blue on my buell

Edit: Ed beat me to it! What he said, :P

Ryan_G

iTrader: (8)

I was discussing an 04' xb12r that I was looking at locally. 5k original miles and I might be able to snag it for 3k or just above with two helmets and a stand.

turbofan

iTrader: (1)

^good info on that isolator.

I think my '04 was stock isolator, and my '06 as well, and I do think my '06 was a little smoother. I always attributed it to the EBR ECU and loud exhaust on my '04.

Also, for the record... It's a 45* tractor motor :P

turbofan

iTrader: (1)

WHICH COLOR?

Post pics. Buy it. If it's clean and clean title that's a great price.



Damn I miss my bike.

Edit to add: PLUS.... the '04 still has the hole in the frame for running your charge piping for a turbo setup.

This is true, look it up.


Edit again to add: I lol'd at how our first two paragraphs are almost exactly the same.

Fireindc

iTrader: (13)

DERP, can't believe i mis-typed that one.

Mines an 04 frame with this hole too. Erik Buell deisgned these around the premise of using a turbo 900 mill, but when it came time to oursource the turbochargers harley said NO, so they went back to the NA thing. The ECU is even ready for boost, you can completely tune all fuel/timing maps with a simple "ecmspy" cable, and the ECU has unused outputs in which you can wire wbo2 and MAP sensors in for boosted glory.

I however am too much of a ***** for a turbo buell, my 1200 scoots along just fine The beauty of this machine is in the corners and on the backroads anyways, places where you don't really "need" more power.

Fireindc

iTrader: (13)

DO IT. These things are only going to increase in value, and even the 04 12r's have been known to go much more than 50k miles without needing a major overhaul. Of course it all depends on how you treat it. The motors are SO damn torquey that you don't need to rev the **** out of it everywhere. In fact, i find myself breaking the law way too easily even shifting at 4k.

Ryan_G

iTrader: (8)

There are other pictures but for some reason they keep coming out really small from the craigslist ad. As far as I know it has a clean title.

turbofan

iTrader: (1)

I love how simple these bikes are. You look at these japanese bikes and they have 5 million parts. the Buell has simple fairings, a big frame, and a few things bolted to it. I feel like they're a lot of fun to work on because of this.

Looks like a great bike for $3k.

Fireindc

iTrader: (13)

Looks pretty sweet to me. A few things i notice from the picture:

1) that is not an oem airbox, you should ask and see if he will include the oem one as well.
2) tail piece is not OEM either. The one he has on there is actually pretty neat, assuming you don't need to have a passanger.
3) with both the body covers replaced, make sure the bike wasn't dropped or whatever. Even if it was dropped, i'm sure it is still fine. Just use this for leverage on the price.
4) green accents on a blk/org bike? WTF
5) i spy a steering damper and tires look taken to the limit (hard to tell from the pics). This + the plastics = track bike at some point? I absolutely LOVE my buell, but there are 100 other bikes i'd use for dedicated track duty (unless i was racing in a twin class of some kind, if so, BUELL all the way!) Again, this wouldn't scare me out of buying it, but i would use it as leverage on the price.

At 3k dorrah for a 5k original mile bike, this can all be overlooked

Ryan_G

iTrader: (8)

He has it listed for $3.4k. I want to try to get him to 3k or as close as I can. The rear tire is pretty worn and I would want to replace that fixed rear with a passenger seat. What would be the best ways to haggle. I am not the greatest at haggling because I feel like I am ripping people off. Any suggestions?

EDIT: Didn't see Fireindc's post. Answered my question.

Ryan_G

iTrader: (8)

GOOD CALL! You hit the nail almost completely on the head. It was a track bike. He claims it was not dropped but he doesn't have the stock pieces. I am going to try and haggle him down.

EDIT: Due to your awesomeness I was able to easily haggle him down to $3,000 without feeling dirty. Props awarded.

Fireindc

iTrader: (13)

Glad to hear it man! If it really has 5k miles i would not be the least bit worried about it having seen track duty, for that price at least. Buy it, ride it, restore it, and keep it for a few years and you could probably resell it for 2x that down the road if you choose (like i said, buells are on the rise right now price wise).

Let us know if you end up pulling the trigger, i'm happy to point you in the right direction for mods/tuning!

sixshooter

iTrader: (12)

Can I have your Miata when you get killed on that thing?

Seriously, sell it and live a while longer.

Fireindc

iTrader: (13)

Why so negative? We have no room for that here, in the motorcycle thread.

Ryan_G

iTrader: (8)

My parents would appreciate your concern as do I. However, the call is too strong and this was going to happen no matter what. I decided to scour for a really good deal so that if I feel uncomfortable on the bike I can sell it for a gain or atleast get my money back which should make it an easy decision. I don't plan to daily the bike or really ride it in rush hour at all. I am not the type to show boat or split lanes on the road so I think I should be okay as long as I assume no one else can see me just like I was taught when I got my license.

18psi

iTrader: (76)

this is the same exact thing I thought before I laid down my kawi cause some douche spilled oil in the middle of the intersection.

stay safe