upgrading an xb9 to an xb12 questions

[upthemaiden]

I have always loved the strong low end on my bike, and have been dissapointed with the top end since the very first time I went full throttle on an open road. I've always planned on eventually upgrading to an XB12, but I was curious what you guys thought was the best option.

The obvious choice is just selling my bike and finding an xb12. I picked up my bike with 3400 miles without a scratch on it, still had all the warning stickers, and there's definitely piece of mind to knowing your bike is in good shape. I would hate to sell my bike and end up with one that had a few issues with it. Plus I love the silver frame on the early xb9s.

Second choice is to try to find a xb12 motor, header, ecm, and throttle bodies, and swap them all in. I could even get lucky and find a whole trashed bike for like $1000-1500, take the parts I need, and just sell the rest.

Last is just picking up an xb12 crankshaft, pistons, headers, ecm, throttle bodies, and then just rebuilding my motor. My xb9 motor runs perfect and only has 6800 miles now so I'd hate to pull it apart. I've done minor engine work before, but not enough to feel 100% comfortable pulling apart a perfectly good engine.

I know most people will just say to sell it and pick up a different bike. My main questions though is what kind of factors am I not thinking of? If I stuffed an xb12 motor in my bike is there any other parts that also need swapped outside of the throttle bodies, headers and ECM? does the ECM have to match up to the exact year of the motor, or is that something you have the ability to mix and match if you do it properly? I thought I heard somewhere that you need the xb12 wiring harness too, any truth to that or is it exactly the same? I know the newer motors look slightly different than the old ones, do they still bolt up the same??

I know I could also get that 1043(I think)cc kit for my xb9, but that's gonna end up costing me more than just switching to an xb12 so that's pointless.

 

[nativeXb12Rbuell]

since your not comfortable rebuilding it then go with your other thought and buy a second bike a xb12 (crashed or salvage or repo) and build it backup, that way you have both bikes. this is what i was thinking about doing with an 1125r or cr
(if i cant find a really cheap one that i could afford)
before or after i get a X1. this way i keep my original xb12r buell too.

 

[xtremelow]

your best bet would be to buy a motor and the noted parts, Buellsterparts.com has them and a simple email to them will tell you all you need without question. in the ecm you will need a year match since minor adjustments were made between each.

in buying a wrecked bike for that cheap you are looking into possible motor issues (but if you could find one with a crushed frame and no other real damage to the drive-train you might be fine), as far as bolting up year by year they are all the same no differences. they look different due to the timing covers, but the rest is the same.

 

[kyle_dewald]

I talked with Erik about that when I thought about doing it, but he has an xb9. He has a bored case and and ported heads and a big bore kit, he said it cost about 3k but he has 115rwhp. He told me that with the 9 you benefit from the short stroke over the long stroke of the 12

 

[crxtasy169]

Pull your motor sell it then use the money to buy a 12.

 

[Builtdesign]

+1 for what Kyle said. Makes sense, plus it came straight from the man [up]

 

[upthemaiden]

before or after i get a X1. this way i keep my original xb12r buell too.

Don't think I'd keep both. I know the 9 is supposed to be smoother around town and people like that it revs easier, but I like to keep my rpms low anyway so I don't mind the heavier crankshaft. Having the smoother engine around town would be nice, but I don't usually stick in town all that much, and I'm gonna try to pick up a 2nd bike eventually, and whatever it is will probably be more friendly around town.

I think rebuilding my engine is off the list, unless I find someone selling a busted xb12 motor for too cheap to pass up. I'm sure I could handle the rebuild, but I'd be paranoid about how I did, and about every noise for weeks/months, always checking for oil leaks and wondering if I'm dripping or if I just happened to park over an oil spot.

I checked out buellster, which is definitely an option, but it looks like all of his motors start at $1400, not to mention shipping. Fair enough, but I think I could pick up a whole crashed bike, already get the ecm and all the parts I need, plus most of the parts to swap in the bigger drive belt, and then sell whatever is left and still come out ahead of just parting it together. Only down side is that there aren't enough kids crashing xb12s around here like they are with gsxrs. I'm not in a huge rush though.

I also remembered I would need a new speedometer due to the different redline.

 

[freak2180]

Found a compleat 08 xb12 engine on ebay with less than 2000 miles on it.....

item # 110632862855

 

[nativeXb12Rbuell]

but I think I could pick up a whole crashed bike, already get the ecm and all the parts I need

if thats the route ,
then keep checking cycle trader, & have a few of your local salvage yards look for xb12 for you, or have one like pinwall cycle(they have ebay store and phone number you could call to see if the can find you one or the engine & parts) or another salvage shop help you find one,(there are several motorcycle salvage shops on ebay store that specialize in crashed / salvage bikes and parts) & keep an eye on ebay.

 

[upthemaiden]

Thanks for the advice! I don't know much about tracking down salvaged bikes, I usually just browse craigslist, and sometimes local ebay if I'm bored.

 

[upthemaiden]

Oh, one other question. Is there any difference between the mounting between the short and long frame xbs? I know the Ss, X, XT all have a slightly longer frame, the subframe mounts are a little different, but are the motors still exactly the same, with no reason that the motor out of a ULY wouldn't fit into a 9s frame? Didn't assume there was, but I figured I should check.

 

[kyle_dewald]

Motors all all the same, the only difference between them are the suspension, rearsets, seats, tails, all the compacts you would need are the same