Buell to XL sporty EFI

[Internet Annoyance]

Hi, ive been researching this, and found very little info on this topic. I realize few people would want to do this, but any help appreciated.

So, i read an article on a XL forum of a 06 sporty owner with carb upgrading to 07 XL sporty EFI, and the all the parts he changed to make it work, a LOT of issues mixing carb and EFI parts and having it work correctly, but he did it, and apparently works well. The consensus on that forum would have been easier to sell the 06 and buy an 07, but he liked the project and challenge.

My issue is I want to use a 2004-5 XB12 motor (very hotted up, big bore kit, cams, ported heads, etc etc) so the motor in a alternate chassis, NOT A CHOPPER,, so if you are wondering, Google "Norton America" for images.
I have a prototype Norton bike with no motor and want to use the Buell engine in it. (YES it will fit except that vertical EFI stack)

So, can I marry the side mount style 07 and later XL EFI intake and related onto the XB? How hard will the ECM marriage be? Would I have to use a sportster XL ECM?

It is not feasible to modify the Norton frame and tank to work with the vertical EFI on the XB,, my other option is switch it over to a carb, But i would prefer to retain the EFI,

I found an incomplete thread for a chopper guy doing this,, but it fizzled out with no resolution.

What do the late model XL guys do for tuning,, ?? do they have their own version of ECMspy or Tuner pro?

thanks in advance

 

[BuellyBagger]

Now I'm simply stating my (I think it'll work) opinion. I would have to bet u can use the buell injectors in a sportster intake(if they're even different). The tps would be the other part that would be questionable about fitting a sportster throttle body. If those 2 parts will fit a sporty set up then u could just run the buell harness and ecm. If all of that ends up nearly impossible why not run a carb, like that giant mikuni race carb they make for sportsters and carberated buells?

The project sounds like it'll be freakin sweet if u can pull it off! Good luck

 

[EricZ]

Yes it will work. You will have to recalibrate the Buell ecm settings to work with the XL throttle position sensor and completely retune the fuel and ignition maps. It would be much easier to use the Buell ecm than to swap over to the XL ecm.

 

[Red93stang]

Why not use the X1 stuff?

 

[Internet Annoyance]

Can i run the X1 stuff? that didnt occur to me. thanks for that suggestion.

Theres a lot of good detall on that XL Forum about the differences between Carbed and EFI sportys and a lot of pictures on the differences in the Intakes and ports,. the intake manifolds are very much different, and some indications the Ports are slightly different,
In his case he swapped to EFI heads (needed the breather and sensor holes).

I LIKE carbs generally,, especially the Mikuni carbs, Im a vintage bike guy, so im learning all this hi-zoot EFI stuff anyway. I also have a mildy modded 2007 XB firebolt and 1998 S1 Lightning,

This project is I just bought a hot rodded 2003 XB with that motor and the stock motor, Im putting the stock motor back in it, and keeping the hot rod motor for the Custom Norton Prototype bike,. the hot rod motor has a 88ci Axtell big bore kit, NRHS Ported heads and EFI intake (the intake i probably wont be able to use) special valves, pushrods, and redshift cams plus the specially tuned ECM plus the tuning software, the Dyno charts that came with it are impressive,, but i have also heard the Dyno curve is overly optimistic,, might be the shop that built the motor for the DPO (Dreaded previous owner) made themselves look better than it really is, but im excited about the whole thing,

I have the Norton chassis and wheels, stock bodywork,,,I know the company founder, he lives nearby. I also have a number of vintage Nortons and really into vintage bikes, so this hybrid Norton-Buell is going to really freak people out, especially if you know anything about the last 10 years of Norton history.
I need to figure out how to post pix on here,,,,,,,, but in the interim, google Norton America for images, you wont be disappointed.

 

[Internet Annoyance]

So, researching the X1 intakes for this,. So i KNOW there are special adapter intakes made for EFI buells to run a carb, several companys make them, and each says the EFI heads have been shaved or cut back and require a longer and special Carb intake.

I also know, that Buell heads and fins are different than Sportsters,, (bigger air gap between the cylinders on a sportster)

So 2 questions please.

#1 is the X1 buell heads have the same intake spacing as a XB cylinder head for the intake? In other words, would a X1 intake bolt up to XB heads?

#2 on a late model EFI sportster, is the intake spacing the same as a XB Buell? In other words, if I bought an Sporty EFI intake, would it bolt up to the XB heads?

the reason i ask is,,,,,,, not a lot of X1 intakes show up for sale, and those that do are expensive, hate to buy something and not fit.

Im thinking a Late EFI sporty intake would be easier to source looking at current and past auctions on Feebay.

It would be VERY expensive and difficult to switch over to a carb and regular ignition on a XB motor. despite the hassles,, keeping the ECM and EFI seems the way forward.

thanks

 

[Internet Annoyance]

add question

number #3 I looked at some Sportster EFI manifolds themselves, it almost looks like i might be able to take the throttle body and injectors OFF the Buell XB intake and install them on the Sportster manifold.

but i wont know unless i had a manifold to try it on, that work work out great as i could reuse many of the parts, any idea if that would work?

I also found some aftermarket EFI manifolds made by Kuryakn for Harleys that are for performance applications, you reuse your stock HD parts onto this alleged superior manifold,. they come in several sizes, 54mm and 57mm maybe others.

My XB12 motor im using has been big bored with a 88ci kit and cams, so this might be the way to go. prices for that manifold were not too far out of line.