Engine Longevity?

[Mantoe]

I've been doing some "spirited" riding with some buds. Although I can't keep up in the straights, cornering have been a blast.

Yesterday,we did about 300 miles with an average of 90mph but never went over 110mph. Is keeping that motor at those kind of rpms bad for the motor or has the motor been beefed up for this kind of riding?

I have an XB12r BTW.

Thanks

 

[user_deleted]

piston speed calculated by feet of distance travelled per mile is the limiting factor for most all motors including the buell/sportster lump. your 12R can handle those kinds of speeds all day long with no ill-effects but can't guarantee the same for your driver's license. this dates back to multiple H-D service bulletins from 1986 forward but the hardest thing on one of these motors is high rpms and heavy throttle loads before the motor is up to proper operating temp.....and excessive heat as in high air temp city type stop and go nonsense. those conditions wreak havoc on these engines.

 

[Mantoe]

Maybe I should have used RPM's instead of speed.

Do you think I can sustain 5-6k rpms with no ill-effects?

 

[Theycallmecrash]

Id say yes, a 450mile ride through the desert had it topped out multiple times and held high speeds high rpms for long periods. Not that anyone should do that but the engine holds up just fine

 

[nemoxb]

I ride very aggressive. I go 100mph+ every time I ride, Clutch less up shifts, Run it to red line, The saying ride it like you stole it yeah that's me...But I take care of my bike. I keep it in peak running condition. I have never had any problems at all, Im putting in a 12 crank and every thing inside of the motor look like it was just normal wear.

 

[user_deleted]

mantoe: below is simplest formula i know of to determine piston speed which in actuality is "piston distance in feet travelled per minute." it is how far the piston has travelled in precisely 1 minute. for a sportster/buell engine anything below 4000 fpm is quite acceptable. you take the stroke of your 12R motor X the rpm it is turning divided by 6. this gives you the piston speed.

Piston Speedfpm = stroke x rpm ÷ 6

 

[Mantoe]

Thanks guys.

This is my first Harley motor and I didn't know how hard I can bang on it till it decides to go boom.

 

[g3stripes]

if thats the way you ride dont worry bout it. lol. been banging current buell bout 24k now, but all three were very willing without a complaint however my xb9 was rumored to have blown shortly after sale. but not confirmed. if you want to hang with japs you got too thrash em,

 

[mattleg]

Harley model year tech info claims 08+ 1203cc has 6800 rpm sustainable, 984cc 7100 rpm sustainable. 2007 and prior 1203cc has 6400 rpm sustainable, 984cc has 7000 rpm sustainable. The 2008 rpm increases was due to piston updates.

 

[firefighter1c57]

there is no 08+ 984cc that I'm aware of?? I believe the 9 series was stopped after the 07 year...

 

[mirkvid]

they made 09' and 10' XB9s with 984s. I got one

 

[firefighter1c57]

I stand corrected, the 9SX was made all the way to 10. Only the 9R was ended in 07. So... did the later model XB9SX have the larger bearings like the 12's and the cam driven oil pump?? Anyone?

 

[Cooter]

They last longer with oil in them

 

[Mantoe]

Lol!

I've got to hear this story cooter.

 

[thrstrmech]

63k+...replacing shifter forks on my '03 9s that I owned for 7 yrs, first time the engine has been cracked open since manufacture date known, bought it with 2500k on her, 3rd owner and still have a bigon my face

 

[deathandtexas]

I ride very aggressive. I go 100mph+ every time I ride, Clutch less up shifts, Run it to red line, The saying ride it like you stole it yeah that's me...But I take care of my bike.

lol

 

[Fourtrax450R]

I have an '03 XB9R with 31k miles on it. Went down hard a week ago (I took most of the hit, it landed on me). Although the front end snapped off, The motor fired right up! These Buells can take a beating, but I learned my lesson.

Is there anything I should look out for past 30k miles? It seems to have a lot of knock in it, nothing thats too alarming. I'm just used to Jap bikes, not used to the Harley knock so I've been told.


I never thought I'd ride a Buell until I took one for a test drive.

BTW I'm looking for an '09 XB9SX. I love the look of them. and I'm in the process of rebuilding the '03.

 

[Mantoe]

I'm not used to the knock and various vibrations yet either.

 

[thrstrmech]

Is there anything I should look out for past 30k miles?

just follow the scheduled maintenance outlined in the manual and you'll be fine, you should look her over everytime before you ride, but a thorough inspection...well that's your call to make when to do it...look mine over once a week top to bottom, front to rear, that's just me