xb 12 Ss cam and high comp. pistons or?

thumpinhard · Dec 21, 2011

i have an 06 xb12 Ss lightening with a number of mods..but looking for more power.
i was talking to randy hawkins and he suggested i go with xb 9 pistons and cam..maybe even doing xb 9 primary drive.
but..i am not sure if i want to brave modding this engine and risk reliability or whether i should just get an 1125r..maybe an 08?
i really like how reliable this bike has been..i love it..but i am used to more power.. am i just greedy?

ich · Dec 21, 2011

get a hayabusa.

thumpinhard · Dec 21, 2011

ooh come on..been there done that.
whats wrong with wantin to get a little extra adrenaline?

unionthug · Dec 21, 2011

What ich said...

I love my xb but the little evo is at it's limit and ultimately contributed to its demise. If you want to go fast get a go fast machine, an 1125, 1190 or yes, even a busa.

Red93stang · Dec 22, 2011

9 pistons are good for about 108 hp, which is not a huge gain. Their is a guy on badweb that just got done doing this conversion. Like stated above, get a 1125R/CR you will be happy with that for at least one season before U start wanting more out of that powerplant. Good luck.

thumpinhard · Dec 22, 2011

thanks red3stang...that was what i was wondering..if it was worth it do do the mods..i still love the bike..but just want some more power on the straights and of course more wheelie power would be nice too.
i dont really like the look of the 1125 vs. my bike though... i love the cowling on mine and the naked look.
if i had the money and time i would love to put an 1125r powerplant in this bike..but in reality i probably will get an 1125r..gotta get some specs. and see i guess.

Red93stang · Dec 22, 2011

Come on over you can ride one of each

thumpinhard · Dec 22, 2011

lol! sweet.
nice stable.
i have only the xb12Ss..i had seven bikes but the economy forced me to make some changes.
here is my beast.

Red93stang · Dec 22, 2011

Looks good! I wouldn't mind having a Ss someday.

thumpinhard · Dec 22, 2011

thanks..it turns heads..as most buells do.
i saw an xb-9 at the local harley dealership a couple of years ago that had the tail chop mod but was almost stock..i was hooked on the xb look and have to get one..i was going to get an aprilia.
someday i just might indulge myself and get one..but i would not give up my buell.
the cowling on the seat is by frank parts in Germany..just a rattle can paint job on it and i did a tail chop and added the sticker on the frame..quite happy for less than 6 grand..including the race map and getting rid of the jardine pipe and getting a stock one and having randy hawkins do his magic on it.
the jardine was obnoxious..sounded like a harley with a straight pipe..barf.

GOduc · Dec 22, 2011

IMO, the increase in power for the $$$ is pretty good. If you do it correctly. Most important if you do it correctly. Call over to nrhs performance. This is only what I've been told, but is pretty much the standard with engine people. Tell him what it is exactly you're looking for, horsepower wise. Let him take it from there. He's got combinations from mild to wild. Literally, not enough power yet? OK then tell him. Theres always ways to get more power. I have also been told he makes combinations around 160 rwhp.

But just to get an idea. His stage two package, you can expect around 125 horse or so, at the rear wheel. If tuned correctly, etc.

And if you want to step it up from there with his stage 3 package, even bigger valves/porting, variable timing cams, etc. Expect around 140 at the rear wheel.

Both combinations still very reliable.

And just me, Modding my bike, or building another engine (with more power) would be way funner than just trading from something else.

Just me, and I like the whole "built not bought principle "

thumpinhard · Dec 22, 2011

GOduc...i think i just wet myself! lol.
my last bike had about 125hp. and was a bit heavier..if i could get 140 and be reliable..ooh yeah..that would be about right. i dont need massive h.p.
i have a friend with the kawaski monster that does 200 mph.too much..i would use it all and likely kill myself. lol.
and i am with you...i prefer a modded bike to a cookie cutter that is fast.
i ride with lots of litre bikes that i can keep up with because i have been riding for over thirty five years and have a racing background..but i would love to be able to stay up with them on the straights as well..at this point i am a bit shy on power and have to make up for it with skill..which is kind of fun i must admit. lol.

GOduc · Dec 22, 2011

NRHS Performance

Just a heads up though. Going above about 10.5 compression becomes difficult with regards to streetability. Makes it difficult with pump gas. If modifying cams you should always match that with proper head work. Bigger valves, etc. That's where all the real power comes from. I know his stage two kit keeps the compression right around 10.5-1. Maybe the stage three as well. Not for sure though. His stage 3 heads though are pretty spectacular - and pretty much race ready with good streetability.

nrhs stage 2

Blaylock1988 · Dec 22, 2011

^ Bookmarked for when I have a large pile of cash that I don't feel like burning.

winnetka · Dec 22, 2011

And for the heck of it, here's a totally different approach to getting a Buell/Harley motor to run fast with huge torque. http://www.cycledoctor.com/Articles/JET.htm

A guy who had it done, wrote about it here (at the bottom of the page, search for "Buell" ). He said

And now the BIG QUESTION: how does my motor work???? At 10.1:1 compression, Red shift 567 cams, 44CV carb, modified intake manifold (to straighten the runners out), the puppy makes (rear wheel) 108 h.p, @ 6800, 100 ft./lbs. of torque @ 4500. 86% of max torque is available between 3,000 and 6800; the acceleration curve of the motor is nearly vertical, oil temp never exceeds 150 degrees, it runs on pump gas. Not a single mechanical failure. The bike pulls like Jack-The-Bear, blowing off Ducati's, Hondas, Suzuki's, everything in the class. We have so much torque available (and THAT'S what moves the bike, not h.p.), we're considering replacing the 5 spd. Trans with a 4 spd. I really only need 3 race gears and a low for the pits/start line. The bike is much easier to ride fast because the torque is available everywhere and is smoothly predictable, unlike the typical H-D race motor which is tuned to produce h.p. waaay up in the corner of the power curve.

Bob calculates there's another 10 rear-wheel h.p. in the motor by going to even smaller ports (I presently am running 1203 'Thunderstorm' heads modified by Bob to shrink the ports) with 883 heads and more cam, but the power delivery would be more radical and would probably require a slipper-type clutch to be rideable (due to deceleration compression). I haven't gone that extra step simply because I don't need any more power!! (Imagine that!).

I'm just providing some alternate information to what you usually hear. Not saying other approaches are wrong. Don't kill the messenger.

GOduc · Dec 22, 2011

Not sure I've ever heard of anything like that. But honestly, 100 ft lbs and 108 horse isn't a big heap over stock. Barely anything over stock honestly

Blaylock1988 · Dec 22, 2011

After what I learned in my Automotive Powerplants class I have to say that that article on cycledoctor is correct. However, I believe it was written about normal harley engines, NOT the Buell modified 10.5:1 engines that we have in our bikes. But I could be wrong, do our bikes have normal harley intakes and valves?

Agate · Dec 22, 2011

If your thinking 1125 go with the CR its geared lower so then you can do all the power wheeleis you want ,also it will do 165mph.If your looking for crazy power buy some jap bike put a turbo on and take it to the strip.

but just want some more power on the straights and of course more wheelie power would be nice too.

thumpinhard · Dec 23, 2011

thanks for the info on the c.r. AGATE... i am going to look into the cost of doing the motor and consider all this,
the cycle doc sounds interesting..from what little i know it makes sense regarding the harley engines..i know of people who have put bigger valves etc and not had the rpm range seem smooth to me..dropping off too early.
i e mailed the cycle doc..i will see what he says as to pricing etc.

i will post his comments here.

i

jetlee · Dec 23, 2011

What cam is in the XB12??

I was under the instruction that the 12 and 9 ran the same cam profile; a re-indexed SE551 cam set.

There's also Revolution Performance and Hammer Performance for XB engine modifications.

-Edit-
WTF is with my url's? I tried manually entering the code, and using the buttons in the "Edit Post" screen.

xb 12 Ss cam and high comp. pistons or?

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