First Buell owner in the land of the Rising Sun

[rom_selecta]

Hi Guys!

Great forum you got going here! I am an Australian living in Tokyo, Japan and I recently picked up my first Buell - a low km 2003 XB9R. I had always wanted a 9S or 9R for quite some time but to many other bikes popped up 1st LOL.
Its been sitting since 2008 (not unusual here) and needs a new fuel pump (ordered a walbro pump that was recommended here - thanks guys!).
Next on the list - clean out the bad gas in the tank, clean the injectors, check air filter, oil change, new plugs, probably new rubber and a good clean up.

Any other suggestions? Its completely stock. I was thinking about fitting a K&N filter for starters. Are they much better than stock. Will I need to do any remapping?

Any pointer would be great - this is my 1st US made bike ever. Every thing else has been metric or Triumph (love the Speed Triples - I have a 955i at the mo).

Oh, and i also need a left handle bar. Mines a little bent. I can get a used set here for about $130 just for the bars and bar ends. Seems a bit prices to me tho.

 

[rom_selecta]

Damn - that title was meant to say First time Buell owner

 

[fireinxb]

That would be so badass to ride a buell in japan. I'm not going to lie though, if i lived in japan I'd pick up any number of japanese cars i've drooled over. What do you drive?

As for your question, K&N will work great with stock exhaust. If you get an exhaust as well, you'll need to start thinking about a remap or race ecu. I'd say just remap the stock ecu with the race map. All you need it a little cable.

Pics of your bike! I'd love to see your buell out there in the lights of tokyo.

Oh and another question, does anyone there actually know what a buell is? Here in the U.S., even though they are made here, nobody seems to know what it is.

 

[HangMan]

some kind of german bike right?

 

[fireinxb]

some kind of german bike right?

Ha! I always get "is that an aprilia or a ducati?"

 

[Abledcool1]

Welcome! I almost got a Triumph, it came down to that or a Buell. I've always wanted to visit Japan. Have you ridden any good mountain roads there?

 

[rom_selecta]

question, questions, question! LOL

Thanks for that tip fireinxb! Where can I get this cable you mentioned?

Surprisingly enough, most of the riders here do know Buell and they are quite a desirable bike, but a bit expensive for most. Luckily I can get bikes from the trade auctions at good prices sometimes(buying, fixing and selling them is my part time job/hobby). This one I picked up for about $3000. Normally you would expect to pay around $6000 min. for a clean one.

As for cars, you have to prove you have a car park (within 2km of your home address) for each car, and that costs about $250 a month in Tokyo just for one... and thats on the cheap side.
In the past I have had a Skyline R34, MR2 GTS, FTO GPX, MG F and a Mitsubishi GTO, (one at a time) when I was living in Yokohama where car parks are cheap ($60 P/M) plus my van for hauling bikes and the family.

But now I have a boring old Honda Stepwagon, which the Buell is currently camping in until my parts arrive.

Abledcool1, if you get a chance, get a speed triple too. The 955i is the best bang for your buck. Buell and Triples are quite different to ride and equally fun for different reasons.
I have toured from Tokyo down thru Kyoto then over to Shikoku (google it) and checked out a lot of the coastal and skyline roads in that island.
I have also done a bit of touring around Izu Peninsula - it has some great white beaches (and hot chicks in bikinis) and spectacular coastal roads and skylines. If you can hit them at night or week days, you can get the roads mostly to your self - and no cops

If ever any of you guys plan to visit, look me up and I can show you around!

 

[rom_selecta]

I was thinking about a Jardine alloy muffler. Are they any good?

 

[nikfleisch]

Jardines are nice, but after a while they may require repacking. Hmm with shilling overseas not sure if id reccomend a hawk, but of you can swing the shipping and your on a budget get a hawk, if there isn't a budget check out keda, awesome pipes handmade with proven performance and sound. He's on the right as a forum sponsor!

 

[rom_selecta]

I had a look at the other options. Nice but cost prohibitive. I can repack a muffler easily enough and new Jardines on eBay are cheaper than buying a used one here, even with shipping. I like the look too.

 

[user_deleted]

rom: seems there's more Buells in Japan than you might think. i'd consider a Hawk muffler if you want to retain your stock chin fairing but the shipping to randy hawkins in Georgia and his return freight to you might be cost-prohibitive. whatever you go i'd recommend it can accomodate your chin-fairing. invest in a ecmspy set-up. it comes with a CD full of maps and info plus the cable which links your bike's factory ecm plug to any computer. a good investment if you plan on keeping the bike as you can run diagnostics, fiddle with stock map settings, etc. i'd also fully service the bike including front and rear master cylinder fluid flush and refill. hope that helps.

 

[wolfo68]

Xoptii's cables

He also has bluetooth transmitters that you can sync with your phone or computer. as far as the programs and maps, let us know and some guys on the forum will hook you up.

 

[rom_selecta]

Thanks that info guys.

Started going over the bike yesterday... the muffler is toast. Full of small rust holes on the top, just out of sight.

I found this muffler on Yahoo Auctions Japan - its already been modded but it only says its for a XB9 or XB12. Can anyone here please confirm if it would fit my 2003 XB9R?

XB9/XB12 modded stock muffler