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xb12 factory race engine

Buellxb Forum

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Banshee77

Well-known member
Joined
May 19, 2013
Messages
126
Location
Ontario
I have the opportunity to buy a so called "factory race engine". Does anyone know if this actually exists and if so how would you know for sure that's what it is? I've had xb's for years and have never heard of such a monster....
 
It may not have a VIN number if its for real. At least thats my take . Its not made to pass any EPA/FED regulations so no VIN so it can't be registered. But at my age I maybe wrong.
 
That's terrible! But he's right, hee hee get it? No EIN = no street riding.

I don't know of any "Factory" XB racing teams? Should be easy enough to web search for the team(s). I'm sure someone on here knows more than I do.
 
keep in mind that the XB engine case assemblies were sourced and manufactured by H-D powertrain. in 5 decades now i have seen motorcycle factory "race engines"....replacement "crate engines"....XR750 grand national supplied engines....replacement cases....warranty issued engines....to name a few. not a single one fitting these descriptions ever had a VIN stamped/machined into the VIN pad. ever. if this motor has one....it isn't one. IMO
 
Yes, Buell had "3.6" factory race motors. They were made for the Formula Xtreme class. I have an unfinished 3.6 engine case. They used a crankshaft with a slightly shorter stroke (3.6") than the XB12 and had a few other neat differences compared to the stock XB engines. The engines did not come with numbers stamped into them but the builder could have easily marked it however they wanted to.
 
Yep, I remember the 3.6" race motors as well. But Eric's far smarter and got there first. Did they have a tranny trap door or was that only the XBRR builds?
 
Here in AZ. they don't use the engine #'s for registration, just the frame VIN. Buy it and move here.

I'm from Ontario, engine numbers don't mean anything here for registration either so you can bet it will be mounted in a street legal frame if that's what it ends up being. Going to check it out this weekend, will update with my findings.
 
Where I live(Wisconsin) the frame number and the engine number have to match. If no match you no have motorcycle.
 
Here in nyc noone will check your bike about the vin or engine number wich is awesome u only bring the title to DMV and u done,so its pretty much like u get a road legal frame and u put a whatever engine u want and nobody is gonna bother you
 
Yep, AZ all you need is a title, no inspection, no emissions(in my county), no safe vehicles on the road lol
 
Well get pull over on the highway and try to explain to LEO why you have no engine number. Back when I was a kid the frames didn't have any numbers. The engine number was the VIN, then later they started putting the engine number on the frame. It made it easier for the law to check for stolen bike,motors or both. I'm not trying to be a dick just would hate to see someone spend good money on a motor and then be pull over for some small thing and have it go tits up.I've seen it happen. As for replacing an engine the easiest way would be go though the dealer of the bike brand. An after market motor can be used but it gets complicated. I know we have some LEOs on the board hopefully the can chime in.
 
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It's not really that complicated. Here's how it works in my experience. I've done it in OR,CA, AZ, NV, NM, and , FL with cars, trucks, sand rails, 'special construction' motorcycles, boats, and off-road trucks.
All you need to do is take the finished bike to the Highway patrol for an inspection. Unless you live in a state like Commiefornia that is obsessed with emissions, because there are some strict rules there about that.

You'll need your receipt for the engine of course. If it has an EIN on it they will correct it on your reg and title. If it doesn't have a EIN, they will stamp one on it and put that number on your reg and title.

ANY vehicle that has had the engine block replaced should have had this done.
 
Well get pull over on the highway and try to explain to LEO why you have no engine number. Back when I was a kid the frames didn't have any numbers. The engine number was the VIN, then later they started putting the engine number on the frame. It made it easier for the law to check for stolen bike,motors or both. I'm not trying to be a dick just would hate to see someone spend good money on a motor and then be pull over for some small thing and have it go tits up.I've seen it happen. As for replacing an engine the easiest way would be go though the dealer of the bike brand. An after market motor can be used but it gets complicated. I know we have some LEOs on the board hopefully the can chime in.

Again....I'm from Ontario, all this above sounds really complicated. "Here" you could buy a Harley frame, register it and then dump a small block chevy into it if that makes you happy...insurance company is the only one that cares about the engine size, police/ministry of transportation could care less what number is on the engine unless they are looking for stolen parts.
 
errible- I've never been pulled over and had my engine number checked! Then again nobody ever knows what my bike is in the first place! And yes I have been pulled over for suspicion of a stolen motorcycle! My bike was new with NC dealer plates and I was visiting GA during a bike rally that had multiple stolen motorcycles, so my bike looked suspicious with out of state temp tags.
 
I now have the motor, it's stamped "RACE USE ONLY" were the vin should be, anyone know how to tell if it's a 3.6" or anything special other than tearing it apart? I took off the rocker covers and it's super clean inside and looks stock up top (no roller parts) and the outside is super clean as well so I don't believe it has many miles. It's definitely not a "RR motor (it doesn't have the trap door trans plate). I checked the part numbers on the cylinders and they are the same as my other Buells.
 
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