Bought my first Buell! Here it is - 2003 XB9S

[kn0ckturnal]

I have finally acquired my first Buell! 2003 XB9S low with 6,600 miles!

I wanted an XB12S, but I really couldn't find anything local, and when I found this XB9S, I went for it. I'm pretty pleased with it so far.

What I can tell it has so far:

-Race ECM
-Custom exhaust (no idea what kind)
-Pazzo adjustable clutch and brake levers

Without any software or a computer, is there any way to tell if the bike has been tuned with the racing ECM? I don't think the guy I bought it from even knew it had it. And, as far as the exhaust, all he said was it is a "custom race exhaust" (it sounds bad ass).

I plan on doing work to it, mostly aesthetics as I'm pretty happy with the power right now. I'm going to change the color of the plastics. Not 100% sure on what color yet, but I was thinking flat black, and painting the wheels gloss black.

Anyway....here it is:

 

[thrstrmech]

congrats, it's an SL (low) nice find, looks great...remove your seat and see if the ecm has "for race use only" stamped on it or look for the bar code tag. the bar code tag number can be googled to see if it a race ecm if it's not stamped with the before mentioned.

 

[kn0ckturnal]

Yeah. It has the race ECM. I stated that in my first post. I just don't know how I'd go about knowing if it was tuned or not. I'm still very new to these bikes and bikes in general.

 

[Enemy Zero]

Looks great. I really like the white. [up]

Congrats on the new bike.

 

[Internet Annoyance]

Congratulations,,,,,,,, Start reading forum posts, you can spend a while learning,.,. theres a website with all the FAQs and must reads link, im not sure how to post a link here, but i have it on my favorites, its called
New Buell users links, Links to mods. its a collection of stuff you should start reading.

Also, i cant stress this enough, you can download them from some places, but not all the manuals are availible,
But you can search ebay and Amazon and you NEED to buy or download

#1) factory workshop manual
#2) factory parts manual

none of this Haynes or chiltons crap,,, no substitute for the above, a MUST HAVE,

Also,, do google searches for common questions such as "Breather mod,. Buell" or "Catch can mod, Buell" or
"ECM tuning, Buell" Before asking the same questions. No harm in asking a question, but on many forums people dont look to see if its already been covered,

I have a white 2003 XB9 firebolt,,, I bought it as a project to resell, (saved it from being parted out) I wont go into all the details here,, but i do body and paint on the side, and nothing sells a bike like a good paint job,.

So,, in my experience White motorcycles are not such a great idea from the resale value standpoint, And i have as well a silver frame and wheels, not wanting to invest huge sums of money on a bike i plan to sell, I decided to paint it a dark Blue, with White rally stripes, (House of Kolors, Kandy Kobalt Blue) Its been a successful color for me before on bikes (Dont ask about the K thing, its a house of Kolors thing),
My thoughts are it would work well with the silver frame and wheels,,,

But I have been told, not to paint it, Im told by people more Buell Knowledgeable than me that some people really like the white. I dont know,. we shall see.

Its your bike and do it the way you want, you gotta live with it and be happy. Im a painter and its cheap for me to paint as i have a large amount of body shop supplys on the shelf, But you gotta know what you are doing painting plastics. You might think about TRADING someone your body work,,, or just buy another set of plastics.
or go crazy and get a different color for each day of the week, confuse your coworkers who think you ride a different bike each day.

Theres another option too,,,,,,, theres Vehicle wraps,, a friend did a bike with some pretty stylish wraps, He has one set of sheetmetal thats wrapped with what looks like a British Union jack, he has another set thats Tartan plaid, Theres people on several forums who have visited our town and talked about the lunatic on the Tartan plaid Norton who rides like hell while smoking those funny smelling cigarettes...

 

[50dro]

Welcome to your new addiction! Nice bike! [up]

Im told by people more Buell Knowledgeable than me that some people really like the white. 

This is true...I'd prefer to see you trade or buy whatever color you want or paint a less desirable set of plastics. I'd like to own them myself (then I would have a red, white, & blue set! ) That being said, it's your bike...do as you see fit.

Have a look at our site (and other forum sponsors'...right margin of page below ours or bottom if on smart phone) site for some tasty add-ons to your new ride! Any questions...just ask. Lots of knowledgeable folks here to help you out.

5-0dro
www.5-0dro.com

 

[kn0ckturnal]

Thanks for the input Internet Annoyance and 5-0dro.

I did get an owners manual with the bike. 2003 Buell Owner's Manual - Lightning Models - Part No. 99474-03YA. Hopefully that's the right one Annoyance was referring to. It does have some hand-written notes on a piece of paper stapled inside of it about what services were done and at how many miles.

Also, the white is not original. I'm not sure if these came in white in 2003, but it has been painted. It's like an off-white. It's hard to tell in the pics, because it looks like a regular white in them, but it was painted to match the owners wife's Mini Cooper. That's why I'm considering painting them. Either back to a real white, flat black, or gloss black. I'm still undecided, though.

Also - My front brakes are buzzing. I don't get it. Its high pitched and a little sporadic while I'm riding, but as soon as I touch the brake lever, it gets louder and stays steady until I release the lever. It has not stopped since I got it. Any ideas? I know the brake pads were changed last year at a shop by the previous owner.

 

[Internet Annoyance]

An OWNERS manual is also a GOOD thing to have, as it has important details in there about service and fluids, and a general info about the bike, its a GOOD thing to have, but NOT as important as the
factory WORKSHOP manual, and the PARTS manual.

the workshop manual covers every procedure. theres a few where they recomend tools or equipment you wont have and dont need, and this forum will help you with that. but you MUST have that manual, keep in mind a bad repair or service job can be YOUR life,,, I dont mean to scare you or be overly dramatic. but i know of many scenarios where a catastrophic failure can cause a wreck that will get you hurt or killed.

The parts book is a must have resource, when you see one you will understand why. it shows every little part, where it goes, and how it fits together plus the correct part numbers,

Not sure about your brakes,, mine on my daily rider Sportster make a whirring and clicking noise under braking,,I have seen Tuber Buells where the pucks on the floating rotors get super loose and make a big clacking noise,
XBs have a floating rotor to some degree... check the rotor mounts. (HINT the parts book and manual would be helpfull here) and maybe the calipes, might need a brake bleed and service

 

[50dro]

If your plastics are already painted , paint away! I don't think they came in white in 03 but I could be wrong. I want to say the original colors in that model year were yellow and black. Maybe white on the R models?

I hear a humming noise when I brake as well but I think it's normal (or at least I hope it is )

 

[firebolt830]

I have the same noise when I brake as well and have never had any noticeable problems with braking. At first I thought it was due to the bike potentially needing new brakes but I put those on and no difference with the noise. I think that is just one of the natural sounds of the beast. Enjoy the new bike.

 

[kn0ckturnal]

Holy crap! My dad rode it today (please, don't ask why I let him, he just kinda sat on it and went). As he was coming back, he effing rode up his neighbors curb!!! Dented the bottom of the exhaust and broke the filament in my high beam. I'm pissed, but at least you cant see the damage unless you look underneath the bike.

 

[Alger]

Good and very informative discussion.Is this white color is genuine or you do it. firebolt830 i also had the same problem with my bike but it was due to tire alignment when i make tire perfect then no noise my bike gave

 

[Alger]

Good and very informative discussion.Is this white color is genuine or you do it. firebolt830 i also had the same problem with my bike but it was due to tire alignment when i make tire perfect then no noise my bike gave"
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