They are a type of ram air intake, the XBRR racebike also had them. See image.
If you have no idea about this bike, its a race version of the XB motor. "The Buell XBRR features a modified XB Thunderstorm 1339cc (103.6mm bore x 79.4mm stroke) air/oil-cooled V-Twin motor rated at 150-hp (measured at the crankshaft). The engine is fed by a dual-downdraft 62mm throttle-body electronic fuel injection system and a ram-air intake system integrated with a new wind-tunnel developed carbon fiber fairing."


As for the XB having a "big block" motor, its true. They just have SOOO much torque, the feeling of riding one compares to nothing. You can pull up the front wheel from 3k on with no problem. Keep in mind XB series buell come in around 390lbs. Here is a dyno with a few different exhaust on an xb12.

Bond: I said it earlier and ill say it again, I love the powerband on those bikes. Delicious, I <3 torque.

 

holy ****. 80tq at 2500. that's nuts

 

Yeah the massive amount of torque from way down low is the only reason the XB bikes "worked". 105whp and 90wtq works magic on long gears allowing the rev limit to be low, but the gearing still feels "normal". Although they do run out of gear at 140mph. Buell is one of those bikes that you really have to love to own one, if you dont love one at first sight it probably is not for you. Although they do make full fairing kits for both the xb and 1125r series bikes, so if thats all thats missing for you they do have a fix for it.

 

Random foreign video I came across that is pretty well done with some cool naked bikes.

AAANd this guys crazy. Seriously. Some random European dude with a Buell, in the middle he almost runs into a cow.

 

that guy IS nuts!! It looks like the road is wet partway up and he keeps on bookin it like it's sticky as can be. Wow. Thanks for posting that, I forgot the rider view from a buell

 

09+ r1 pulled up to me at a light today. Sounded so unusual to me.
So I googled it when I got home:

OHH MAI GAWDD





I didn't know they sounded like that. Almost like a twin. Do the two cans go to 2 seperate cylinders?

Its like a mix of 4cyl and twin sound. Absolutely ****.

 

That's due to their new fancy crossplane crank timing. Not 180deg like most all other inline 4's. It makes the firing out of phase and somehow makes it easier to ride quickly. Logic would say an even firing would be smoother and faster on the track but that isn't the case apparently. I heard peak HP and whatnot was down but the test riders were running faster times.

EDIT: Miata cranks don't look like this:

 

Supposedly the pulses between firings help the rear gain back traction in corners.

 

Ahh, so its kind of like a twin in that aspect. Too bad those bikes are way to powerful for the street. Or even for the track(for me). I'd be more at home on a 600, maybe they will take this technology to the next gen 600.

 

That is awesome.
But how is power down?
Those things make monstrous power and torque just about everywhere.

I mean this is SEX:

 

Hmm, so the GSXR is the same crank setup? I thought we were talking about the new R1 here.

 

omg HAHHAHAHA I fail.
linked the wrong graph.

gimme 1 sec I'll find the right one

 

LOL, its fine. Just making sure there is no confusion.

You are deff right about how good these things sound. I do like.

 

and just wtf ?!

 

So if you guys remember, about 2 years ago I bought a 74 CB360, it was my first bike. I sold it a month ago for a little more than I paid, and while I still have a special place in my heart for it, it wasn't a bike I could ride everyday. I decided to start looking for something a little more comfortable and with some *****.

Picked up this replace it.

1988 Vmax. 1200CC, complete kerker 4-1, Stage 7 Dynojet Kit, approx 120 wheel.



It was a pretty spur of the moment decision, but I basically had two criteria, cruiser and power. So far I like it. It doesn't like to lean like the CB but it makes up for that in other ways.

Video before carb sync. It was the first day I rode it after putting some work into it. Reason it was so cheap.


After carb sync:

 

Sweet VMaxxxxxxxxx

 

Seriously... YT linking isn't that hard

 

Great bike. I once had to pick one up off the ground though..its not that light. Girl took her dads out for the first time without her permission and dumped it pulling out of her side street. She was about 3 ft from getting run over by my friends dually. She was VERY VERY lucky. That bike has some power!

 

Stage 7?!?!

 

Im not kidding, thats exactly what the product is called. They offer stage 1, 3 and 7.

Edit: AWWWW, we have a motorcycle specific thread now. If a mods around, merge this thread into that one.