Buell XB12S

[Decter8425]

Hello all,

New to the forum hoping you can help me make a more educated decision.

I am considering buying a Buell XB12S as a cafe style that I can enjoy carving some corners with.

I currently ride a Gen 1 Vmax, though I may be upgrading that as well to a Ducati Diavel. I have previously owned a Triumph Thunderbird Sport (failed attempt to cafe it, TOO SLOW), and a Buell 1125R. I considered the CR for awhile, but they seem a bit on the rarer side.

I am looking for a faster cafe styled bike, that is also unique.

So, with an understanding that Harley outsourced the 1125 R/CR motor because they couldn't get more than 100 ish base HP out of there 1200 engine, does anyone know if I do buy an XB12S what a reasonable amount of rwhp I can expect to get from it with modifications?

Thanks,
Nick

 

[terrible]

Horse power=$$ It all depends on how deep your pockets are.

 

[Decter8425]

True, but there is still a cap to how high you can go. Has anyone seen one in the 110-120s rwhp?

 

[mrlogix]

http://advrider.com/index.php?threads/xb-buells-were-intended-to-be-turbod.535155/

google 150 rwhp buell

 

[Gloomshadow]

No, what Terrible is saying is accurate.. "depends on how deep your pockets are" EricZ's Turbo XB12S must be getting about 190 to the wheel... BUT that's not on stock engine internals. You could maybe get 110-120 to the wheel with head work and a lot of good tuning but that would be like 130ish at that crank.. a stock crank may not be able to take that power for long and not all XB cranks are the same, the later model cranks were stronger. The XB isn't something that you can just jump into and make a extra 30 horsepower "like talking about it" .. it came from the factory almost maxed out for what it was... you can make more, but youll have to buy new internals and you would have to really know what you were doing. Its not as easy as just throwing a big bore kit on it and its done.. some guys here have done all that and not really seen the big gains they were expecting on the dyno.

 

[Decter8425]

So, I may simply be better of getting my hands on a CR then...

 

[Theycallmecrash]

Why does it have to be about horse power? The XB has grunt, and it will keep up with the i4 liters in tighter back roads cause of that low end. HP is for those 100mph plus situations, torque is great for ease and coming out of turns

 

[Gloomshadow]

yeah torque has a quality all of its own.. and the XB can be made to be very light.. its a good combo

 

[mriulvr]

The torque, not the HP, is what I love about my XB12S. Last time I replaced the tires I took it to the local Yamaha dealer to install them. Same guys who tried to convince me how problematic Buells are and how much better off I would be with an R1, yeah right. The tech who installed the tires came back after giving it a test ride and the first words out of his mouth were, "damn, that Buell's got some torque. Never rode one before and it kind of surprised me." Yep!