xb12r bogging out at 3500 rpm and.....starting/charging problems.

[RyanPeter]

I work out of town, Monday thru Thursday, so I dont have much time to research online how to troubleshoot my problems with my new bike. I appreciate any help that can be offered here.
I just purchased an xb12r with 26,000 miles on it and put a new battery in it. The one in it was not starting the bike after I bought it. I rode the bike 5 miles, and went to start it again....click, click, click. Found that I was losing 5 volts of ground from touching my voltmeter to one of the little pegs/bolts on the starter, to the negative on the battery. I read 5 volts on the meter when trying to start bike. So I cleaned the upper motor mounts/frame/sub-frame bolts and that seemed to solve the issue. Bike started great and no more loss of ground on the starter.
I rode the bike yesterday, and when I started out the bike would dogg out accelerating up thru the gears. Thought to myself, maybe it is just because of the cold weather and kept riding. It was hard to shift into the next higher gear and just didn't seem right. Stopped after 10 miles, called my brother, went to start bike and nothing...put a voltmeter across the battery. 10.24 volts.
Charged the battery for 15 minutes at my friends house and tried to make it home, just hoping the reality of the situation wasn't true. I made it about 8 miles, before the bike started acting like it was suffering for fuel and it had absolutely no power and/or throttle response.
I am aware that I might be looking at multiple problems, and I do not have a service manual yet. I have Fridays off of work, and I just might be bringing the bike into a shop.
Any advice would be great.
-Ryan

[RyanPeter]

I just downloaded the service manual for my bike. ;-)

[uly luigi]

My bet is the voltage regulator took a dump, jump it off from a good battery( if you use a car to jump it, don't crank the car up) check the charging voltage should be 12-14 at idle, no more than 16, let us know how it goes, and good luck that it aint the stator

[nemesis_buell]

there is a nice diagram/troubleshoot process in the service manual. got one for 50 bucks on e-bay. you can also download them for free I think. its how I figured mine out. it also shows where the regulator is located. (front of engine just above the chin fairing and has cooling grates built into it)
hopefully its not your stator, those can be a pricey fix. theres also some threads on here about some connections for the stator that tend to melt. not sure where those threads are though. hope this helps. (btw my bike was doing pretty much the same thing, after about fifteen minutes I would start to lose power and my check engine light would come on. when the regulator ****s out its only letting your bike run on 6 volts so it messes with everything including fuel sensors and the ecm.

[Bullxb12r]

Sounds like either a voltage regulator or stator issue. That's where I'd start checking. A multi meter on the battery should tell you quickly while she's at an idle.

[RyanPeter]

Guys. Thank you. Where is the best place to buy parts?

[Stevenc150]

Here's this if you need it: Voltage Reg. / Stator Check (http://www.buellxb.com/Buell-XB-Forum/Buell-Firebolt-XB12-XB9/Troubleshooting/Help-Voltage-Regulator-Stator-Check). As far as parts, some HD stealerships still get them, search online as well if need be. Buellparts.net and Americansportbike.com carry quite a few of the general maintenance items. Buellsterparts.com has some used at cheaper prices.

[nemesis_buell]

the regulator I got from my local h.d. dealer was around $83. in case you want to compare prices. is it true that buell owners are supposed to get a discount on parts?

[jimijeans]

You Will need a Multi meter( Digital) will be easier to use.If Tight on Money Harbor freight OR {Sears} if want to pick up something nice. Make sure to charge the Battery Perferably on an 2amp charger if you have one OR automatic will work,(Fast Charging) does not hold up.While the Battery is Charging, UnPLUG the regulator.Inspect the plug.I would REMOVE the Pos.+ terminal,and secure. What year is your Bike? The 08+ bikes have the up graded regulator & plug assembly.Bikes 07/06/05 and so on,etc.had some problems with the regulator plug.SO start there before you buy parts.The NEW Regulator Will(please Check)come with the upgrade kit.At idle the Volts is around 12.6 and as the Rpms go up so does the volts TILL 14.5 or so.IF you have a good Harley Dealer you can get it there,If not American Sport bike. And others listed in these Posts.Welcome to the Forum.~Jimi

[RyanPeter]

Thanks Jimi and others. Yea, that was the first thing I checked, was the voltage regulator plug. Other than that, I havn't done much since as I work out of town. I ordered the voltage regulator from HD and is being delivered to my house on Monday. I am just assuming that, that is the problem. If that doesn't fix my issues, then I will go from there. $106 dollars delivered to my door.