New to Buells

I'm going to look at a 2004 XB9S Sunday. Looks clean and tidy in the Craigslist but you know how that is. Has 23k miles on it. Has a D&D exhaust. Don't know if ECM was changed to match pipe. I've read about Buells over the years so I'm sort of familiar with their design. I just don't about their problems areas. What should I be on the look out for? Thanks for any insights you have.

Post up the ad or pics would help tremendously. My crystal ball is a little foggy

A Buell XB series bike is pretty rock solid and 23K ain't nothing but barley over 1200 miles a year. Just check normal signs of condition of abuse or sitting too long, smell the tank, check the date code on the tires and the battery etc. No real problem areas specific to them other than it being 19 years old now.

I'm a happy new owner. Bike checked out great. Had the crankcase mod done, no trouble codes. Fresh fluids and a brand new battery. Tires are near new. Brake pads are fat front and rear. Really all I have to do is gas up and start riding. Gave me a parts book with all the part numbers and diagrams. The seller had a Uly that fit him better so that was why he was selling his XB9S. Sounds great. Tried going the cruiser bike route but just couldn't adapt to the feet forward seating position. Back on 2 wheels after a long hiatus of 20 years.

That sounds great! Congrats and post up some pics of the new girl

just discovered that the bike is actually a XB12S. I was looking the smog sticker to see if it was a Federal or Calif model. The sticker had the displacement at 1203cc. Got out the title to check the vin. Sure enough it says it's a 1203 motor. Surprise Surprise. The sticker on the front and on the engine cam cover said it was aXB9. Wonder what the story is there.

Engine swapped ? Does it have small header pipes .

20 years of swapping plastics and maybe a fall over that needed a new cam cover? Who knows. The engine number should match the VIN.

What is the diameter on the small headers? I'll have to check the engine number. There is a dent in the header plus some scrapes on the cam cover at the bottom.

miatamarty said:

just discovered that the bike is actually a XB12S. I was looking the smog sticker to see if it was a Federal or Calif model. The sticker had the displacement at 1203cc. Got out the title to check the vin. Sure enough it says it's a 1203 motor. Surprise Surprise. The sticker on the front and on the engine cam cover said it was aXB9. Wonder what the story is there.

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What "the story is there" is that you've likely been defrauded, and I alone specifically warned you about this when you commenced this post.

BUELL ALL XB MODELS CRITICAL IDENTIFIERS BELOW:

1-FACTORY ISSUED VIN STAMPED ONTO FRAME--ONE IS VISIBLE AND ONE IS HIDDEN
2-FACTORY ISSUED ENGINE NUMBER STAMPED ONTO ENGINE CASE--IT DOES NOT ALWAYS PRECISELY MATCH VIN-WHOEVER SAID IT DOES IS WRONG-ONLY THE LAST 6 NUMBERS ALWAYS MATCH VIN LAST 6 NUMBERS
3-SMOG STICKER? NO SUCH THING. HEAD-STOCK STICKER HAS PERTINENT PRODUCTION INFO INCLUDING BUILD DATE-THAT DATE IS NOT THE MODEL YEAR DATE
4-XB9 FACTORY HEADER SAME OD AT EXHAUST PORT AND MUFFLER OUTLET AS XB12 HEADER FOR ALL US SPEC VERSIONS---HEADER DOWN-TUBE OD IS 1.5 INCHES ON ALL XB9-----1.8 INCHES ON ALL XB12
5-USE FACTORY LINK BELOW TO DECODE THE ACTUAL FRAME VIN--THIS WILL TELL YOU EXACTLY WHAT YOU PURCHASED

INSTALLED ENGINE CONFIRMATION RELYING ON FACTORY CRANK STILL BEING FITTED:
Simply remove front spark plug and measure piston stroke. ROUNDED OUT.....XB9 is 3.1 inches----XB12 is 3.8 inches.

https://serviceinfo.harley-davidson...e=375655&highlight=Buell%20Owner%27s%20Manual

I bought it as a XB9. I don't feel I was misled. Looked at engine number. Appears to be the smaller engine. The header pipe is 1.8. I'm thinking engine swap at some point in the past. Sticker on left side of headstock is definitely talking about Federal EPA standards. Worked as an auto tech for 35 years so I know what I'm looking at. Not trying to be snarky. Anyhow, I'm super stoked to have the bike. Hope to have a lot of fun times. Looked up VIN code on website Buellmod. Downloaded manual on pdf which was a little clearer than the one you suggested. Really, thanks for your input. I appreciate it.

Barrett said:

2-FACTORY ISSUED ENGINE NUMBER STAMPED ONTO ENGINE CASE--IT DOES NOT ALWAYS PRECISELY MATCH VIN-WHOEVER SAID IT DOES IS WRONG-ONLY THE LAST 6 NUMBERS ALWAYS MATCH VIN LAST 6 NUMBERS

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Yes, that is what I meant, of course. Apologies if you assumed otherwise.

miatamarty said:

I bought it as a XB9. I don't feel I was misled. Looked at engine number. Appears to be the smaller engine. The header pipe is 1.8. I'm thinking engine swap at some point in the past. Sticker on left side of headstock is definitely talking about Federal EPA standards. Worked as an auto tech for 35 years so I know what I'm looking at. Not trying to be snarky. Anyhow, I'm super stoked to have the bike. Hope to have a lot of fun times. Looked up VIN code on website Buellmod. Downloaded manual on pdf which was a little clearer than the one you suggested. Really, thanks for your input. I appreciate it.

Click to expand...

The engines are identical in physical size if thats what you mean? The crank, header primary tubes (1 3/4' vs 1 1/2" approx, throttle body (2" vs 1 3/4" approx), and the primary gearing are the simplest ways to see, but all are interchangeable too! so theres some Frankensteins out there to be sure, haha. Check the engine number (left side) against the VIN on the smog sticker and on the steering neck thats next to it.. and I'd trust that info.

That said, your probably right and the most common by far is that it was swapped with XB-12 header at some point, either for 'performance' or necessity.

Have fun riding! These really are fun

Cooter said:

The engines are identical in physical size if thats what you mean? The crank, header primary tubes (1 3/4' vs 1 1/2" approx, throttle body (2" vs 1 3/4" approx), and the primary gearing are the simplest ways to see, but all are interchangeable too! so theres some Frankensteins out there to be sure, haha. Check the engine number (left side) against the VIN on the smog sticker and on the steering neck thats next to it.. and I'd trust that info.

That said, your probably right and the most common by far is that it was swapped with XB-12 header at some point, either for 'performance' or necessity.

Have fun riding! These really are fun

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Did I read this correctly that an XB9 crank is interchangeable with an XB12 crank? Or, say, my 07 Ulysses with a bad crank?

The XB9 crank has a smaller stroke but since the 12-9 cases are the same go for it. Not sure why you'd want too, you'll end up with very low compression.

In case you don't know the '08-up engines are different than the '07-under.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3BcMKN-2Nk

Cooter said:

The XB9 crank has a smaller stroke but since the 12-9 cases are the same go for it. Not sure why you'd want too, you'll end up with very low compression.

In case you don't know the '08-up engines are different than the '07-under.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3BcMKN-2Nk

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HA! Ok, thanks. That type of clarification is what I'm looking for.

Along those lines, if I'm looking to replace the engine in my '07, will prior year XB engines serve the purpose? I've learned that 08+ require intake, oil lines, etc etc differences. What about engines from an earlier XB?

'03-'07 are bolt-in easy replacements. The '03 and some early '04 will have a different final drive pulley for the small belt, but yours will swap on.

A '08-up will physically bolt-in, but you will have lots of plumbing changes, and will need ALL the later ancillary stuff, wiring, ECM, voltage regulator, larger oil cooler, etc.

Cooter said:

'03-'07 are bolt-in easy replacements. The '03 and some early '04 will have a different final drive pulley for the small belt, but yours will swap on.

A '08-up will physically bolt-in, but you will have lots of plumbing changes, and will need ALL the later ancillary stuff, wiring, ECM, voltage regulator, larger oil cooler, etc.

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Great news! That really helps with my search for a replacement engine. I noticed my Ulys have a different "Thunderstorm" logo on them (and a slightly different shaped timing cover) than the older XB's I was seeing. I didn't know if that translated to other differences that may hinder a swap.