New buell w/ a couple few questions

[Hydrophilic]

What up guys. College student in Missouri, just picked up my first bike/buell. An '07 xb12r firebolt, red and black. I have a couple of questions but I figured I'd just try to condense it into one thread for convenience. I have done a bit of research and thread surfing but just have a few clarifications of my own. First off, the front brake lever broke off when we were putting it on the trailer (of course after I had given the money over) so I order a set of black ones with red adjuster from Hong Kong. Those are installed and we'll see how long they hold up for.

First question, do you guys prefer the clear or yellow/amber lens turn signals? Mine only had the rear turn signals on it when I got it and I had to take them off to get it to pass inspection. So now I'm looking for some turn signals and thinking LED: http://www.ebay.com/itm/160922219316?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2648 and some load resistors to slow the flashing down.

Second, exhaust wrapping. What brand of wrap do you guys prefer or will just any exhaust heat wrap do (did some on my jet ski)? Also, do you have to remove the header to apply the wrap or can you do it while still on the bike?

Third, thinking about taking off the stock mirrors and putting some bar ends on but those block off plates are expensive for such a tiny piece. Does anyone have any pics of theirs with just 10mm bolts in the holes? http://www.ebay.com/itm/110926242394?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

Fourth, I had to take the rear body section off to get to the rear turn signals and am having an absolute bitch of a time getting to body back on correctly. I can get one side to slide under the bottom panel but not the other? Any tips/something I missed on putting it back on?

Sorry for the long first post, good to be on the road and so far love by buell.

 

[jamason_2000]

Don't have a clue as to how long your levers will last. As far as your rear body section, if you lay the rearon over the lower half and spred the front on as you drop it into place it should go on just fine. Did my integrated this past weekend and had similar issues. good luck on the bar end mirrors, I havent done it yet, gonna do some more research before i do it.

 

[Gloomshadow]

bar ends dont survive wrecks, I went down at 50 and my stock mirrors survived with no visible damage. Never thought bar ends looked right on an R anyway. They look good on S models though in my opinion. Im running those aluminium tear drop LEDs with clear lenses from china.. they look great and are quite a deal.

 

[buellbradski]

Levers are two years old and look new.
Not a fan of the bolt fix , but not a fan of $100 block off plates either.
Not realy concerned about bar end in the event of a crash. If that's all that breaks ill learn to cope.

 

[jamason_2000]

I know this is gonna be a dumb question, but how did you remove your front reflectors?

 

[anrkizm95]

^set it in the sun and pull them off.use a little wd-40 to get the glue off.

 

[buellbradski]

Heat gun they come off with very little glue stuck to fork.then paint thinner.

 

[Hydrophilic]

Jamason, I thought I tried that but I didn't want to bend the piece too much and break it. I'll give it another shot when I get back home. It also probably didn't help flexibility that it was like 30 degrees in the garage.

I think bar ends look good, but not too sure how they function. If they don't work out I can just put the OEM ones back on. Bradski, that looks fine to me. I hadn't seen it without a plate but I can roll with that, thanks for the pic.

I guess I'll go with those turn signals I have in the first post. That just leaves exhaust wrapping as my last question, for now.....

 

[buellbradski]

I beleive everyone just uses wrap from auto zone

 

[kabuell]

nice ride buellbradski

 

[xbtiger]

hi.................looking at your bike.............the most important thing that is missing for crash protection is the framepuc.......

pleas allow me a question............can you guys educate me why you need to wrap the headers?...................in my opinion this does nothing to improove the performance of the bike.

Chris

 

[buellbradski]

You don't ,it helps keep a little heat off your legs . Thanks Kabuell

 

[jamason_2000]

I have heard too many horror stories about wrapping the headers. I will just wear some extra padding on my right leg. That being said, if someone would do a double walled header that could be a great possibility for a purchase.

 

[jamason_2000]

considering it was 85 degrees when i did mine may have helped het the rear section on for me. Currently stationed in Hawaii

 

[xbtiger]

well..................I always wear full leathers...........we only have a few day with high temps..............