Race Buell Improvement Thread

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outthere said:
I also don't get along with Dunlops. Completely different set-up as compared to Pirelli or Bridgestones. Sidewalls to stiff, no feedback.

Hell of an experiment. I would punt unless you have lots of spares.
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Talking with some of my local race friends that have had to tackle Dunlops, they're saying similar. The tires just don't move until you're at 95%. They feel the Dunlops have more absolute grip, but you won't get them to squawk until you're REALLY pushing. Unfortunately, they're what I have to use, so plan is going to be some local track time where I know the course and just see how hard I can lean into them. Despite the frustrations, this whole MA exercise has pushed me WAY outside my normal comfort zones and I think it's doing me good to be forced to adapt.
 
I'm not that particular about tires, but still 100% concur with that assessment of Dunlops vs Pirelli. Recently have had some supplier issues causing me to swap back and forth on the last couple rounds, NOT recommended:down:

If your a slidy-slide sort of rider then Pirellis speak loudly to what they are doing. Dunlops strain a bit more, but silently... until they don't:upset:

But really, if doubling down on dumb (my forté:)) will that even get you to a competitive level with 150hp 'stock' Pan-Americas running around? I'd be looking for that EBR SX:love_heart: You will buy it, crank the throttle ONE time in anger, and either scare you enough to swear off it forever, or fall in love completely.

Either way, it will cost MUCH less to be competitive in race trim, and WAY more dependable with 185 stock hp vs 130-140-ish steroid injected horses. The XB-RR was 150 maxed out and didn't have the most reliable rep.
 
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None of the liquid cooled EBRs are legal sadly, and no, these changes wouldn’t put me on the pointy end of the grid, but they’ll help a small amount. Hopefully I can improve my own skill in the meantime as well. (My primary weak point.) Daytona is a HP track, Mid-O not so much, I’ll also be watching the west coast rounds to see if the other aircooled machines come out of the woodwork now that Daytona is past. I’ve got time to test, and if it doesn’t look good in August I can always skip registering. In the mean time, the current list of mods aren’t a big expense and most can stay on the bike if I put it back into street mode.
 
Ah, I misunderstood the class. Explains why I don't have any, lol.

You're definitely playing with the big dogs, and whats a better way to improve than that! I find Buells are well received in the paddock:cool:
 
Ok, this never happened when I was chasing pitbike parts, FZR bits, etc, people have been putting 'extras' in the boxes when I'm sourcing parts. I just got a full 2003 launch multipage flyer for the XB lineup in a box of rear wheel parts. It's mint and super cool.
 
I think its a Buell thing? There always a box of extras:black_eyed: I came up on a sweet Buell branded watch in its original box! Even looked un-worn to me. Pretty sweet:)
 
Kurlon said:
**** it, we ball!

I'm working with a Bueller on dropping weight from the driveline. I can't touch the clutch basket unfortunately due to my slipper crutch, but the rest including the rotor is getting a shave. That plus the XBRR rear wheel should unlock an HP or two. I'm waiting to hear back from another Bueller on a 'kit' to setup the XBRR wheel. No idea how I'm going to mount the instrument cluster yet, but will figure that out, I've got time before Mid Ohio.

If you don't double down on stupid, was it really a bad decision in the first place?
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I'm working with a Bueller on dropping weight from the driveline.


What's a Bueller?
 
They're like Buellists, Buellsters, Buellorama, Buel... I'll stop now. Fellow Buell enthusiasts. Who keep pointing out other goodies I wasn't aware of making my wallet more and more angry with me. In any case, the XBRR rear wheel is going to be about as light as I can reasonably set it up to be thanks to their pointers. Meanwhile, still trying to figure out a path on the gauge cluster bracket replacement, I'm not much of a fabricator so time to decide if I'm going to become one or farm this task out.
 
You'll probably get an error 36. It's a 'short to ground' code which technically you aren't doing but it's not the most advanced system.

But whatever, having a stored code won't affect how it runs. I don't think I've met a racebike without a CEL on :tongue-new:
 
I'm happy to say none of my fleet have thrown codes in race trim up to this point, going to try and keep it that way. :D

Meanwhile, 1190 right hand switch cluster, same connector and pinout as the XB? Also, anyone got a busted ignition switch I can harvest the pigtail off of?
 
The 4XE cap is WORSE than prior Jeeps. I've never had a vehicle that required EFFORT to get the cap in and actually threaded. It likes to come loose on it's own, and having the tank pressurized on purpose doesn't help seal life any.
 
Hah, that carcass again. It keeps popping up on eBay, for over a year now, but they never lower their price. The value proposition as it sits is pretty low, a Penske shock and modified swingarm are about it for interesting bits, and only useful if basing around a standard frame rather than a 'long' setup like I have. The rest of the chain drive conversion goodies are gone, no engine save for cases, I don't know if that race tail will convert to long chassis frames either? Stock wheels and first gen ZTL brake setup though it's got a Brembo radial master, problem with that master is it's likely due for a rebuild from age and Brembo won't sell you the parts to do so which means it gets tossed.

At that price you're buying it for the story and history. Now that I have a machine up and running, other than a nearly ready to roll racebike for a dirt low price I'm mainly keeping my eyes out for bits and pieces that will direct fit what I've got.

Edit: If an XBRR turns up, I will crowdfund and sell the **** out of myself to try and make that happen.
 
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I got to this pic and literally said "awww, come ON':crushed:

Screen Shot 2024-04-17 at 11.01.20 PM.jpg

Without any stellar race providence, its just old used parts:(
 
I had a feeling it wasn't all that. I know less than zero about racing, but I did look at the XBRR pictures and it didn't seem to match up totally.
 

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