Help me enjoy my XB12X

[fattyJr]

First of all, I will say that I ALWAYS wanted a buell for quite a few years. One problem has been being off work for 14 years following a motorcycle accident and money being tight.

Well that changed last year when I started back to work, got some money together and managed to bag a 07 xb12x with 20,000 miles on it for a good price.

I have rode the buell and it's a great bike to ride apart from a few little niggling problems. Bike didn't like to idle so I swapped out the intake seals for a some thicker Heavy duty ones and re-routed the breathers. This helped out a lot and then i reset the TPS with the help of the ecmspy. The bike pulls like a train, but it's just a little spot in the transition from idle to say 1500-2000 rpm where you tend to hit when going round a slow corner when I am not happy. When your slowing down to a stop in traffic, it feels like the engine would stall, but doesn't. Trying to feather the clutch a little more (different to my other bikes). Any ideas what I could do to help reduce or remove this niggling spot?

Other little problem is I hate how when you turn the ignition on, your headlight is on. Why can't they put a timer on the darn thing or a simple switch like other bikes to turn it off. I have considered fitting a RH switch off a xb9sx city X that has a switch for heated grips where the light switch should be.

I really want to keep the buell, I just put a new set of tyres on the bike and changed out the fork seals as one just began to weep, but it's little things that are spoiling it for me.

 

[Cooter]

You didn't mention if the exhaust or intake filter were changed, but you can get a program for your bike that matches them either by buying a new ECM from IDSpeed or EBR ($300), PM AZMidget here and he will install a program on your ECM for $100, or go to Buelltooth.com and see if theres a program there for you (it's free) to install yourself.

Yes, you can put a timer in the headlight circuit. Search "HID upgrade" and you will find lots of options.

 

[fattyJr]

Exhaust is stock with valve disabled and intake has a k&n filter.

 

[Cooter]

Ok then... you can get a program for your bike that matches them either by buying a new ECM from IDSpeed or EBR ($300), PM AZMidget here and he will install a program on your ECM for $100, or go to Buelltooth.com and see if theres a program there for you (it's free) to install yourself.

 

[d_adams]

Exhaust is stock with valve disabled and intake has a k&n filter.

Put a race ecm in it for stock exhaust, the transition point is about 3000-4000 rpm I think. If it's wired open, it would lose power on the bottom end, wired closed it should see a power loss on top end. Reconnect the cable, race ecm (better fueling, fan run times, etc.) and call it a day. Plug-n-play. www.idspd.com

 

[Tbone]

Hello fattyjr, Welcome to Ulying. I know exactly what you are talking about the 1500 to 2000 rpm thing. I have a stock 09 Uly X, and adding an extra ground wire to the motor had eliminated that hesitation and gave me a great increase in low end torque. I catch a lot of flack here, but it works and for just a few bucks the problem is gone and the bike runs great. I think it is called the ground wire mod on this site. I have a special ops exhaust, which is a stock gutted exhaust, as well as I have a stock exhaust. Switching them out had no impact on the 1500 rpm hesitation so I do not think hooking up the IAV is going to help. I run the special ops most of the time because it growls better. Also when I bought my Uly it used to be hard to start, especially after gassing up, popping in the air box, idling inconsistently, pinging like crazy, etc...I believe the motor accumulates a lot of carbon build up on the pistons, valves, also in the throttle body.... I am sure when you changed the intake seals you seen inside the throttle body, possibly the intake valves, how did it look? When I first got my Uly it looked like it was all pretty gunked up and it ran like crap. Same as you, I put new intake seals and cleaned it all out with TB cleaner and used gas additives, and still use them on a regular basis, as well as ride it like I stole it on weekends. Another side effect of the ground wire is my headlamp lasts longer than 10 months? I was also in a collision with a pickup truck on my Uly last November and walked away from it, the truck was totaled. The Uly hard sides saved my legs as well as the back end of the Uly, do not ride without them now and the Uly is still running great. Glad you are back riding and recovered! When you get these little things worked out the Uly is a lot easier to ride, less feathering of the clutch for U-Turns, low speed maneuvering, doing wheelies, riding 2 up etc.... the bike really can do anything. I am an average rider but seen others scratch on one pretty well.

 

[fattyJr]

I'm starting to get the feel of the buell more. Just ordered up a new Lithium battery for it. 400cca rating.

i have some thick hex wound audio sub cable I can use to make up a heavy duty engine ground and a crimper so will look into that. Also debating on the exhaust side of things, Do i gut the stock one, buy a already modified one or go the whole hog (haha) and make a new one myself.

 

[njloco]

New uly owner, with none of these problems as yet, 11K + miles, I'll be keeping an eye out for them.

 

[Jules]

It's so easy to change the maps it may be worth a little experimentation (carefully). Buelltooth and ECMDroid will be a very low cost option for this (around $50) and there are a few maps to pick from on the site (just be careful to pick the one most appropriate and to back your current map up).

I have to say i don't have the issue you do, my exhaust valve is programmed to stay open all the time (one of the options available in ECMDroid) but everything else is stock 08..

 

[fattyJr]

got my lithium battery. They delivered it sunday (which is a first) Fully charged and ready to do. Slipped it on the bike and bang. No worries on spinning the engine over now.

I managed to buy a gutted stock muffler but i am seriously thinking of making a reverse exhaust with a reverse cone silencer I have sat in the garage.

 

[fattyJr]

Well I got some 2" 304 stainless tube from work and order in some bends from a supplier and knocked this up.



Pics don't show the reverse cone i have got for it

 

[ToneTheMoan]

Hey thats like saying my wife has her tits out but the pics dont show them! ha ha ha do some new ones then! lol :black_eyed:

 

[njloco]

I would like to see how this works out.

 

[fattyJr]

here ya go,



Got to get the bike up on the lift and make the brackets to hang the unit. The old man wants me to run a slightly different set with two cones under the bike. So may be making another set to see what he likes

 

[njloco]

That is going to look great on the bike !

 

[ToneTheMoan]

Thanks fattyJr! thats a sexy looking cone, nice work! i always wondered how much more "audio" enjoyment the rider gets with this type of pipe exiting in front of your ears so to speak, i bet it will sound awesome which ever one you end up with and i hope you will be doing a video so we can all hear it!! :eagerness:

 

[fattyJr]

Gopro camera is on stand by ready. Will build the twin setup when I get chance. depends how much work we got on at work.

I had twin reverse cones (baffles removed) on my triumph 900 sprint (3 cylinder) and that used to sing on power, Neighbours wern't fans of my 5:30 am starts. Here's a soundtrack of it. I also have a single reverse cone on my triumph tiger 900 (3 cylinder) and that is baffled

 

[Lusiphur]

hey thats like saying my wife has her tits out but the pics dont show them! Ha ha ha do some new ones then! Lol :black_eyed:

lolololololololololololololol

 

[fattyJr]

I will be trying on the exhaust tomorrow as I have the day off work. But while I was in the mood, I decided to have a look at doing a 1 into 2 exhaust.

Wanted to keep as much ground clearance as possible and keep it tight up to the engine like the original.

Here's a sneak preview of part of the front connector.

 

[ToneTheMoan]

Fatty that audio was awesome! mate that had a good old crackle on it revving up at standstill and under power it just got better so i just subscribed you on youtube! cant wait for the end result!! :eagerness: