Abou to become part of the family! Questions..

[sdmatt]

I posted a few months ago with some questions as I was getting interested in getting on a Buell. Long story short I've been searching high and low and I think I've finally found the one to get. took one for a test ride today and I loved it. Engine is a lot different from what I'm used to. The riding position is super comfortable. I love the sound of the motor and I really like the gearbox, which is something I was nervous about. Of all the complaints I've read about with Buells the gearbox seems to be the biggest one. I like it. Feels solid and smooth.

I have some more questions I'm hoping you guys can help me out with before I pull the trigger. The model is the xb9sx. It's a 2005.

1) It's going to need fork seals done. I did my CBR forks with a (mechanic) friend a few months ago and it was pretty easy. I don't have the sleeve thing that you use to press/ knock the seals in to place so that may be an issue. Does anyone have any tips? Is the fork service hard to do on an XB?

2) With regards to using the exhaust to jack the bike up (I assume this is one way I could get the forks off?) - are there any special considerations? Do you just whack the jack under there and up it goes or is there a specific place to jack from, is it obvious? Do you need to brace the bike somehow so it doesn't tip over (with a rear stand for example)? This might be a really dumb question, sorry about that, just trying to prepare for what I need to do.

3) The bike has a Magura hydraulic clutch and it feels great, I've never used a wet clutch before. The lever is a little further out from the handlebar than I'm used to but it's super smooth and works great. Is there any adjustment on these with regards to the lever position? I noticed a little oil around the cable where it goes in to the lever and on the adjuster screw, not lots but there was definitely a little oil there. Could it just be from being topped up? Is it a fairly normal thing or something that might need attention quickly? Is it costly to maintain these?

4) Last one, bear with me! What rev range do you guys ride around in? While testing it today I wasn't really sure where to be. The bike feels good pretty much everywhere from 2k to about 5k, I don't think I took it past 5. Should I be pushing it more, or should I be shifting up more? I felt like I could do 90% of my off freeway riding in 1st and 2nd gear, that was shocking to me. I was expecting the bike to want to point to the sky every time I gave it the gas but it felt very planted. Are these things the wheelie monsters people claim them to be or do you have to work them to get the front up? Not that I'm interested in doing wheelies. I'm just trying to understand the powerplant a little better.

Thanks for any help! I truly appreciate any input.

 

[heagachongoose]

1. Never done a fork service on any of my buells. I couldn't see it being much different than any other bike. I suggest you get a manual or a digital copy at least. It will be very helpful in the long run.

2. There are certain jack points depending upon the exhaust the bike has it can be lifted by the exhaust. Although I have seen and done everything from lifting at the cases to suspending from the ceiling. Do what you gotta do I suppose.

3. Never dealt with a Madura clutch before so I will hold off until someone more knowledgeable than I can respond.

4. See this is the great thing about buells. Linear power. You have good uniform power throughout the whole rpm range. Its been a year or two since I have had my xb but I personally ran my xb at low rpms most of the time. The off idle torque of these bikes is very addicting. However I found myself keeping the engine pretty taught when riding aggressively. They are most responsive in the mid range rims. Or mine was anyways. As for the "wheelie monster" thing. It depends on what you're used to honestly. They are light bikes with short wheelbases with almost as much torque as hp. Take that as you will. My xb9 would stare at the sun in 3rd gear if I wanted it to. Realistically wheelies are all about weight disposition and leverage but the gobs of torque that the xb makes available instantly at nearly any rpm makes it that much easier. Like I said though. Just depends on what you're used to.










Disclaimer: Wheelies are bad. Don't do them. Or drugs. Don't do drugs either. They're bad.

 

[go cytocis]

Welcome & congrats!

1) Fork seals aren't especially tough. You can use a piece of PVC pipe as a seal driver, and a ratchet strap as a spring compressor, but the proper tools makes it easy.

2) You should see markings on the underside of the stock muffler to indicate where to jack. I never found it critical to be too precise though.

3) Can't really help you with aftermarket hydraulic clutch, but I'm wondering why it would have a cable? [confused]

4) Keep it up over 4k otherwise that heavy flywheel will take forever to spool-up when you need to open it up & you'll be stuck in a particularly poorly mapped part of the rev range.

 

[sdmatt]

Heagachongoose, thank you for the input!

Go cytocis, thank you for the help, too. By cable I just meant the tubing that carries the hydraulic fluid, not an actual internal cable.

 

[Cosworth]

I imagine hes talking about the section of tubing that goes into the slave cylinder that screws into the primary cover, the slave cylinder has a o-ring that seals the oil into the primary cover and its common for it to leak and need replacement.

 

[user_deleted]

your 2005 cityX has 43mm inverted showa cartridge forks. they are rebuilt/resealed in exactly the same manner as any other showa cartridge fork. do NOT disassemble them without at least having your "mechanic friend" there with you. google-showa cartridge fork rebuild- and you will find not only vids on how to but the specs for making a homemade pvc seal driver. in all likelihood you will also want to replace the upper and lower bushings along with the seals.

any moisture or dripping fluid on a hydraulic clutch application needs attention. it can be the reservoir cap seal, a crush washer at a banjo bolt, loose banjo bolt, or leaking line. whatever it is it needs repaired.

 

[sdmatt]

Thank you for the replies gentlemen. I'm fairly confident that I could do the fork service myself, I just have to weigh up the pros and cons of having to buy tools and take 5 times as long or just take it to a professional. Cost is going to be the ultimate deciding factor! Can anyone recommend a source for the parts?

Just to clarify, the fluid I noticed on the clutch is up by the lever, right where the line goes in to the master cylinder and around the little red adjustment screw. It's a light film, not gobs or drips. Theres no moisture/ fluid anywhere around the primary or the clutch inspection cover.

 

[Cosworth]

I just did my 1125 forks no special tools required, other than a 1-1/4 pvc tee.

 

[WIGGLE2]

Wind that bitch up!! Lol! Seriously....it all depends on HOW you WANT to ride. They will 'putt' around all day and "cruise" back roads at low rpm without a lot of complaints. You don't have to beat on it to enjoy it. But...if you're into some more aggressive stuff that day, keep it 4k and up....it will come out of corners nice at that. I do not really condone it, but I run mine pretty hard, quite often. The stock rev limiter settings seem effective. HOWEVER....if I get 'against' the limiter, it is just barely! I don't 'hold' it against the limiter. But I'm not scared to take it there on a regular basis.

Disclaimer: Wheelies are bad. Don't do them. Or drugs. Don't do drugs either. They're bad.

I do some 'mini' wheelies.....they're inevitable! But this IS great advise!!

 

[sdmatt]

Thanks again for the info guys.

So now I'm searching for the parts. I'm getting mixed results across different websites. One site will say that a particular fork seal kit fits the 05 xb9sx and another will say it doesn't (same part number). The part number I'm using is 56-133-1. Am I missing something?

Ps. I weigh 165lbs, what weight oil would you recommend?

 

[Cosworth]

I used type E / 10weight oil (stock)

Looks like 05-10 used 43mm seals. And by the all balls websight your 56-133-1 number is correct