Below is a list of mods I plan on doing to my '08 White/Blue Firebolt when I get back to Hawaii in a month or two. Of course, the biggest problem with doing any of them will be keeping the wife from killing me when she looks at the bank statement...but that's half the fun.
Also the bike is going to be my daily rider, since she'll be using our only car for school. That being said, goal is to have no more than a day or two of downtime while doing each mod, so some of the larger stuff will be reliant upon me buying extra parts to do the work in the meanwhile.
1) Remove Passenger Peg Mounts
--Found what I want to do with the space. Going to make this mount, most likely out of a lightweight aluminum plate (possibly anodized blue). Also do rubber coating around edges to protect anything from getting scratched on it. Also use mirror hole plugs to fill in opposite side holes.
Original Thread: http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/3842/19701.html?1048889557
Afternote: Double checked and this is NOT allowed for on-post decals. Stupid regulations. So instead, I may look into mounting LEDs inside the screw holes, not quite sure. Figure it will be easy and cheap, might even make them turn signal lights.
2) Polish or Wrap Headers.
--For the short term I think I'm going to go with polishing. I did it on my last set, but after getting the headers replaced when I wrecked it I was feeling lazy and didn't bother doing it again.
http://www.buellxb.com/Buell-XB-Forum/Buell-Firebolt-XB12-XB9/Header-looks-ugly.-What-can-I-do
Down the road if I've still have enough cash set aside I may buy another set and get them ceramic coated. I'm thinking in jet black, as I'd love to black out my engine.
3) License Plate
--I read somewhere turning around the mount works great. Will look into it more.
4) Axle/Frame Sliders
--Looking at American Sport Bike, seems like decent prices and haven't heard anything bad about them.
http://www.americansportbike.com/shoponline/ccp0-prodshow/A9158.html
http://www.americansportbike.com/shoponline/ccp0-prodshow/A9157.html
Still Looking for frame sliders.
5) Seat Heat Shield
--Ordering from SpecOps
Link: http://www.specialops-online.com/
6) Remove Passenger Seat, Retain Cowling, to Increase trunk space.
--This will most likely take some playing around on my behalf, may need to buy a 2nd seat and have to scavenge it to pieces to make it work. Hoping for enough space to keep a few extra tools, license/registration, and possibly rain gear.
7) Change out Clutch/Brake levers, for short/adjustable ones.
--A good point was made that paying $200 for new levers is a bit much. I did find these though, and think they look great. Plus they're on sale which makes it even better. On top of that, they're throwing in a free pair of grips with it. Can't so no, so I ordered earlier.
http://www.rideitmoto.com/products.php?id=9
8) Higher Visibility Turn Signals.
--So far I'm liking the Rizoma Zero-11s
http://www.pjsparts.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=59&products_id=642
I'm also really liking the Oberon ones, but they're a bit on the pricier side. If I have the cash leftover I may do it.
9) Helmet Mount/Clip with Lock
--Still looking for ideas on this one. Thinking of some sort of J-Hook where the right side passenger peg mount is. May end up fabricating it.
10) Change Out Pegs/Heel Plates
--May keep stock and anodize myself. Hopefully it will work out well.
http://www.buellxb.com/Buell-XB-Forum/Do-It-Yourself-Buell-Mods/How-to-Anodize-your-buell
11) Change Out Seat
--Saw mention of us9ing the stock seat and replacing the filling with memory foam. Pretty cheap, and supposed to make a great difference. On the to do list.
12) Right Side Scoop
--Came across these, if it's still within budget then I'll go for them. Otherwise wherever I can find the basic RS scoop will have to do.
http://www.trojan-horse.co.uk/prods/15.html
How well do these work for increasing airflow? I've seen them around a bit but haven't heard to much besides the aesthetics of them.
13) Oil Cooler
--Going to stay with the stock one, may polish the fins on it. Need to read up on it more.
14) Cable/Brake Lock
--
15) Engine LEDs
--Probably do one of those kits off ebay for $5.
16) A USB Plug
--Need to decide where I want to mount it, but this is the general idea of what I want to do. Will be for those days I forget to charge my phone the night before work.
http://cbrforum.com/forum/how-mechanical-40/how-install-charging-usb-port-your-bike-zomg-96467/
17) New Grips
--See 7
May also do new handlebars. Not sure yet.
18) Modify Headlights.
--
http://www.buellxb.com/Buell-XB-For...Mods/Headlight-Mod---Both-Lights-On-w-Hi-Beam
19) Going Synthetic
--Easy enough. Will have dealer do it when I get the bike serviced, just need to decide what brand oil/filter. Will buy what I need to do it myself in the future.
20) Ride Camera
--http://www.buellxb.com/Buell-XB-Forum/Do-It-Yourself-Buell-Mods/Buellet-cam-project...
21) Breather Mod
--Came across this, and it's fast/simple so i figured why not. Believe I saw the same mod on here somewhere, think it was Aussie who did it.
http://www.buellxb.com/Buell-XB-For...Mods/How-To-Crank-Case-Breather-Mod-with-pics
~~~~
I'd also like to open up the airbox a bit, and do the cutouts with mesh for the airbox cover like a few people have done on here, I think it looks great. Also may do something like it to the rear seat cowl. Cutting/screening it, though if I do I'd like to get some translucent plastic (maybe buy a scraped up blue lightning windscreen) and use the plastic from that to keep water from getting in. Would take quite a bit of cutting/melting/epoxy. But worth looking into I think.
Also I'm really thinking about ordering the SpecOps exhaust, Only thing holding me back is I don't want to go out of my way to piss off the neighbors in suburbia.
To top it all off, I need to learn how to do ECM spy as I know I'll have to get it remapped/dyno it with the airbox/exhaust mods especially. Not to mention it already seems to ride a bit on the lean side.
So any suggestions or tips for any of this? I've got awhile before I start ordering/starting most of this so I've got some time to play with ideas. Anything that's going to vastly improve my performance in a hot/humid environment would be great. Mostly towards reliability/maintenance, not looking for speed/track tuning.
Also the bike is going to be my daily rider, since she'll be using our only car for school. That being said, goal is to have no more than a day or two of downtime while doing each mod, so some of the larger stuff will be reliant upon me buying extra parts to do the work in the meanwhile.
1) Remove Passenger Peg Mounts
--Found what I want to do with the space. Going to make this mount, most likely out of a lightweight aluminum plate (possibly anodized blue). Also do rubber coating around edges to protect anything from getting scratched on it. Also use mirror hole plugs to fill in opposite side holes.
Original Thread: http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/3842/19701.html?1048889557
Afternote: Double checked and this is NOT allowed for on-post decals. Stupid regulations. So instead, I may look into mounting LEDs inside the screw holes, not quite sure. Figure it will be easy and cheap, might even make them turn signal lights.
2) Polish or Wrap Headers.
--For the short term I think I'm going to go with polishing. I did it on my last set, but after getting the headers replaced when I wrecked it I was feeling lazy and didn't bother doing it again.
http://www.buellxb.com/Buell-XB-Forum/Buell-Firebolt-XB12-XB9/Header-looks-ugly.-What-can-I-do
Down the road if I've still have enough cash set aside I may buy another set and get them ceramic coated. I'm thinking in jet black, as I'd love to black out my engine.
3) License Plate
--I read somewhere turning around the mount works great. Will look into it more.
4) Axle/Frame Sliders
--Looking at American Sport Bike, seems like decent prices and haven't heard anything bad about them.
http://www.americansportbike.com/shoponline/ccp0-prodshow/A9158.html
http://www.americansportbike.com/shoponline/ccp0-prodshow/A9157.html
Still Looking for frame sliders.
5) Seat Heat Shield
--Ordering from SpecOps
Link: http://www.specialops-online.com/
6) Remove Passenger Seat, Retain Cowling, to Increase trunk space.
--This will most likely take some playing around on my behalf, may need to buy a 2nd seat and have to scavenge it to pieces to make it work. Hoping for enough space to keep a few extra tools, license/registration, and possibly rain gear.
7) Change out Clutch/Brake levers, for short/adjustable ones.
--A good point was made that paying $200 for new levers is a bit much. I did find these though, and think they look great. Plus they're on sale which makes it even better. On top of that, they're throwing in a free pair of grips with it. Can't so no, so I ordered earlier.
http://www.rideitmoto.com/products.php?id=9
8) Higher Visibility Turn Signals.
--So far I'm liking the Rizoma Zero-11s
http://www.pjsparts.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=59&products_id=642
I'm also really liking the Oberon ones, but they're a bit on the pricier side. If I have the cash leftover I may do it.
9) Helmet Mount/Clip with Lock
--Still looking for ideas on this one. Thinking of some sort of J-Hook where the right side passenger peg mount is. May end up fabricating it.
10) Change Out Pegs/Heel Plates
--May keep stock and anodize myself. Hopefully it will work out well.
http://www.buellxb.com/Buell-XB-Forum/Do-It-Yourself-Buell-Mods/How-to-Anodize-your-buell
11) Change Out Seat
--Saw mention of us9ing the stock seat and replacing the filling with memory foam. Pretty cheap, and supposed to make a great difference. On the to do list.
12) Right Side Scoop
--Came across these, if it's still within budget then I'll go for them. Otherwise wherever I can find the basic RS scoop will have to do.
http://www.trojan-horse.co.uk/prods/15.html
How well do these work for increasing airflow? I've seen them around a bit but haven't heard to much besides the aesthetics of them.
13) Oil Cooler
--Going to stay with the stock one, may polish the fins on it. Need to read up on it more.
14) Cable/Brake Lock
--
15) Engine LEDs
--Probably do one of those kits off ebay for $5.
16) A USB Plug
--Need to decide where I want to mount it, but this is the general idea of what I want to do. Will be for those days I forget to charge my phone the night before work.
http://cbrforum.com/forum/how-mechanical-40/how-install-charging-usb-port-your-bike-zomg-96467/
17) New Grips
--See 7
May also do new handlebars. Not sure yet.
18) Modify Headlights.
--
http://www.buellxb.com/Buell-XB-For...Mods/Headlight-Mod---Both-Lights-On-w-Hi-Beam
19) Going Synthetic
--Easy enough. Will have dealer do it when I get the bike serviced, just need to decide what brand oil/filter. Will buy what I need to do it myself in the future.
20) Ride Camera
--http://www.buellxb.com/Buell-XB-Forum/Do-It-Yourself-Buell-Mods/Buellet-cam-project...
21) Breather Mod
--Came across this, and it's fast/simple so i figured why not. Believe I saw the same mod on here somewhere, think it was Aussie who did it.
http://www.buellxb.com/Buell-XB-For...Mods/How-To-Crank-Case-Breather-Mod-with-pics
~~~~
I'd also like to open up the airbox a bit, and do the cutouts with mesh for the airbox cover like a few people have done on here, I think it looks great. Also may do something like it to the rear seat cowl. Cutting/screening it, though if I do I'd like to get some translucent plastic (maybe buy a scraped up blue lightning windscreen) and use the plastic from that to keep water from getting in. Would take quite a bit of cutting/melting/epoxy. But worth looking into I think.
Also I'm really thinking about ordering the SpecOps exhaust, Only thing holding me back is I don't want to go out of my way to piss off the neighbors in suburbia.
To top it all off, I need to learn how to do ECM spy as I know I'll have to get it remapped/dyno it with the airbox/exhaust mods especially. Not to mention it already seems to ride a bit on the lean side.
So any suggestions or tips for any of this? I've got awhile before I start ordering/starting most of this so I've got some time to play with ideas. Anything that's going to vastly improve my performance in a hot/humid environment would be great. Mostly towards reliability/maintenance, not looking for speed/track tuning.
