2003 XB9r First bike, First Ride

[Rookie125]

So I recently bought a 03 Firebolt as my first bike. I have ridden dirtbikes on and off a couple years ago, but usually it was just messing around with a little 80cc or a 125cc. But I never rode a street bike. So anyways I went for the first ride a couple of days ago, and my question is how the heck do you turn one of these things, lol. I hopped on expecting it to be at least a little similar to a dirtbike and it was not what I was expecting. I just went through a sub-division and it seemed like every turn I took(even at very low speeds) the bike was fighting me the whole way through.

Anyways, my question. I have a 2003 xb9s owners manual instead of a xb9r manual. Is the suspesion setup guide for your weight the same on these two bikes? Because if it is the guy that I bought it from was a total idiot. He has 4 lines showing on the front forks which is for 230-400 lb load, and the rear is set on position #2 which is for 130-150 lb load. [confused] Also I made the mistake of not checking the tire pressure before I went out, so when I got back I was like wtf is with this thing, so I checked it and each tire was about 10 lbs low.

So let me know what you guys think!

 

[buellbee]

Push left, lean left, go left.
Push right, lean right, go right.

That's how I learned, it's called counter-steering. You should really get into a MSF or ABATE class.

 

[strmvt]

the front tire being low will make the front feel heavy in turns as in fall over I've found in my personal experience. And as we steer by counter steer a heavy feeling makes it "feel" harder to steer lol b/c you have to push harder to turn. Getting the right suspension setup and prpoer tire pressures is essential to proper handling

 

[garyphantom222]

Hi,I have a 2007 xb9r and so far the only thing I had to get used to was mine wanted to fall into turns at slow speed,I suggest you download the link for manuals at the top of this site for the xb9r,it will give the proper setup for suspension according to your weight,also be sure to check tire pressure before every ride.

 

[Rookie125]

I know the basic concept of counter steering, but I don't really think that I have the confidence yet to use it properly, and I'm going to be in the MSF at the start of June. Right now I am just taking it slow and trying to build my confidence. But man what a huge difference that anything else i've ridden before!

 

[wiznut]

I hit the same kind of thing when I first got my bike too. My background was downhill mountain biking, a honda trail 90 and a scooter. Compared to those the steering of the Buell feels slowwwww. I've since gotten used to it and can now flick the bike pretty well, but it definetly takes a lot more oophf than other more nimble rides. I suppose it has something to do with shifting 400lbs of bike, versus 40 for a downhill bike and 150 for the scooter and honda.

 

[Rookie125]

Hi,I have a 2007 xb9r and so far the only thing I had to get used to was mine wanted to fall into turns at slow speed,I suggest you download the link for manuals at the top of this site for the xb9r,it will give the proper setup for suspension according to your weight,also be sure to check tire pressure before every ride.

Ummm... Did you read my whole first post? I have the xb9s owners manual, and want to know if its the same suspesion guide as the xb9r.

 

[browland]

I think the settings guides are a little different the r being a bit more aggressive you can check the "buell service manual" link above (top of page under banner)I believe they are the R manuals

 

[Alfatango1]

Rear pre load set at factory is way too low for me. I crank it up 2-3 notches above recommended and it rides way better.

 

[07Bolt]

yeah its more aggressive riding style;

*Look at it this way- u can ride a 10-speed around in tight circles all day long; its not much different cept u have 1000cc's pushing you around.

start out slow and take corners as u would turning a circle, look with ur head in the direction ur going

 

[Stevenc150]

want to know if its the same suspesion guide as the xb9r.

Not sure if it's the same, but the recommended settings can be found in the '03 Firebolt Service manual you can download off this site (Found in Section 1.11 - pg. 1-31). Click the link at the top of this page to access the Buell Service manuals.

 

[hula Buell]

Congrats!!! Start by taking your time.Lots of people get hurt in the early stages of riding.Ride safe have fun

 

[qksltwo]

def. check tire psi. I did the same thing when i bought my 2003 xb9. I had to ride it home from this guys house and it was scary!

 

[kalifornia]

and you can always read some tutorials on sag measurements, and cross check the two. the dampers are a whole other matter. My advise is to ride by yourself for awhile, you could regret trying to stay with friends with more experience, course Im not speaking from experience[smirk]

 

[upthemaiden]

I've had brand new people come along for rides with experienced riders. We hit the very first turn and then spent about 4-5 hours waiting in a golf course snack bar for his friend to come pick him up.

Definitely ride by yourself, or even better would probably be finding a patient friend that'll actually go at a beginners pace with you. You definitely don't want to put yourself in any situation where you're trying to go faster than you're ready for.

 

[dorado29]

i had exactly the same problem coming from a background in <200cc super-nimble bikes. "how the fck does this thing turn??" went through my head as the bike started drifting down the slanted road. there was a couple walking a dog too and i almost panicked because i was heading right at them lol. i would have dumped it before hitting them but still, it was a bit frightening. it was my first time riding a street bike that i didn't even own so i was really gentle and thinking everything through (overthinking). don't even think about the turn and just do it. go to a big parking lot and make the bike into your bitch, really hang off the side and lean. try different stuff without cars or the risk of running off a road to worry about. it's amazing how much of a difference body position makes

 

[peelandwin]

When I got my first street bike my uncle gave me a book called Proficient Motorcycling. I read it and practiced the skills it explained. I think that reading that book and taking the MSF course helped me a lot as a beginner.

Here is the book on Amazon Proficient Motorcycling

 

[Rookie125]

I think that I'm just going to take it to a big empty parking lot and try to figure her out.

 

[jeff m]

The parking lot is probably a good idea. If you feel like you are muscling the thing around corners, then you really need to focus on learning to counter steer.

I had a big burly friend who rode smaller dirt bikes around his farm for years when he decided to buy a street bike. I followed him on my bike while he test rode a KZ750 and watched in horror as he high sided after hitting the curb while trying to turn around at walking speed in a cul de sac.

Even though he had to have been counter steering on his little dirt bikes in the past (heck you can't even ride a bicycle without doing that), there was something about the heavier bike that made him not want to do it.

The Buells steer so easily once you get the hang of it, that you could do it with your pinky fingers (not recommended).

A safety course would be good.