heading says it all. my 05 xb12r firebolt is just a plain turd. my buddy has a clapped out xb9 bone stock that pulls the wheels on power, my firebolt doesn't even think about it and its a 12. what gives??? also it occasionally spits back through the airbox after it has idled for a bit when I hit the throttle. it has a jardine pipe and airbox mod. mapping issue???? and if so how do I go about fixing it without spending 300 on an ecm?
y is my xb12r such a turd???
- Thread starter zxsevinr
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buellbradski
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You could by a spy cable if you can figure out ECM spy to remapp it. Sounds like this would be your issue . Running a airbox mod and pipe has you running to lean would be my guess . Simplest fix is ebr pre tuned plug n play ECM . But if you know what your doing ECM spy is everybit as effective.
Theycallmecrash
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Lean. Pop in the air box points that out. What kinda airfilter do you have?
/\ don't listen to him - he gets that way when he's not getting enough 
I have the same year and model as you, with D&D and airbox delete, and its awesome. My other bike is a big displacement modern super bike but for what my Firebolt is it rocks me.
I have the same year and model as you, with D&D and airbox delete, and its awesome. My other bike is a big displacement modern super bike but for what my Firebolt is it rocks me.
Theycallmecrash
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Amen brother!
Hahaha ... This bike ain't even fun to wheelie at all man so you ain't missing much there ... I agree with anrksm ... If you're in it to wheelie or for the power you've got the wrong damn bike.... My 954 has a whole 30cc's LESS than my XB9R but it will absolutely murder it on the street ... curves, straights, even in reverse (HA!) ...
However, (comma) .... if you're actually concerned about it being down on power because it's running a little lean and don't wanna shell out $300ish bucks for an EBR ECM or savvy up on ECMspy you're choices are a little limited man =\ ... to take away some of the leanness you could put an airbox cover back on it ... or let someone else tune if (if they live anywhere close enough and are willing) ... other than that idk what to tell ya man ...
However, (comma) .... if you're actually concerned about it being down on power because it's running a little lean and don't wanna shell out $300ish bucks for an EBR ECM or savvy up on ECMspy you're choices are a little limited man =\ ... to take away some of the leanness you could put an airbox cover back on it ... or let someone else tune if (if they live anywhere close enough and are willing) ... other than that idk what to tell ya man ...
Theycallmecrash
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What the **** are you smoking Negative!?! Am i missing something cause my xb12r power wheelies with easy, does it in second with a foot to the rear, and third with some effort but, this thing is all about fun as wheelies.
If all you want is raw power and acceleration and 160mph, then this bike is not for you. Another thing to consider, does your buddy have a firebolt as well or lightning. Ive ridden both and the lightning floats much much easier than a bolt.
...... Ha!!! ... I didn't say it COULDN'T wheelie crash!!! ... I said it's not fun to ... There's also the fact that I have a 9 and you have a 12, which would give you a bit more oomph to play with ... Can't say I'm not slightly jealous about that ...
My r6 is my go-to bike for that kind of fun and compared to this fatass of a bike it is so much easier to control and play with on one wheel ... the XB is heavy, doesn't have a very long winded motor (so in the case of you having to chase your balance point around you'll run out of steam kinda quickish), and tends to break belts if you clutch it up a lot from what I understand (haven't broken this one that came on it YET but I've already got a spare for when it does ... it's the 03 setup so it's the weak belt) ... it also feels as if it has a ridiculously high balance point from the few times I've pulled this one up ... But that's really not why I dug this thing out of a hole to fix it up and bring it back to life brah!!! ...
Well ... Not having ridden a Lightning personally but just looking at the two bikes side by side ... I'd just venture to say the front end of the lightning doesn't have quite as much weight on it as the firebolt does (the front fairing, fairing stay, gauges, and wiring doesn't seem like much but it's still there)... The rider sits more upright as well so that helps too ... you also have those MX style bars to yank on as well ... So I can believe that point without much of a debate ...
My r6 is my go-to bike for that kind of fun and compared to this fatass of a bike it is so much easier to control and play with on one wheel ... the XB is heavy, doesn't have a very long winded motor (so in the case of you having to chase your balance point around you'll run out of steam kinda quickish), and tends to break belts if you clutch it up a lot from what I understand (haven't broken this one that came on it YET but I've already got a spare for when it does ... it's the 03 setup so it's the weak belt) ... it also feels as if it has a ridiculously high balance point from the few times I've pulled this one up ... But that's really not why I dug this thing out of a hole to fix it up and bring it back to life brah!!! ...
Well ... Not having ridden a Lightning personally but just looking at the two bikes side by side ... I'd just venture to say the front end of the lightning doesn't have quite as much weight on it as the firebolt does (the front fairing, fairing stay, gauges, and wiring doesn't seem like much but it's still there)... The rider sits more upright as well so that helps too ... you also have those MX style bars to yank on as well ... So I can believe that point without much of a debate ...
zx, don't give up on it till you give it a proper tune. Even if you did end up having to put $300 into it, that might be worth it to then have what would essentially be like having a new bike to you. I would invest into tuning at some level.
It seems like this guy has no prob with 3rd gear wheelies on his bolt.
I think it's just something you have to get a feel for on these bikes. I struggle to wheelie my STT. I'm still somewhat of an amateur/sissy on it though. I don't like the thought of crashing.
I think it's just something you have to get a feel for on these bikes. I struggle to wheelie my STT. I'm still somewhat of an amateur/sissy on it though. I don't like the thought of crashing.
Yep. I see where your coming from. Really just posted it to show that Buells should have no problem pulling the front tire up. It seems like a lot of em just need some tuning, including mine. I made a post similar to the OP before concerning power and rideability of my 12. I'm finally starting to get somewhere with tuning and making the bike more enjoyable.
Theycallmecrash
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Third gear i can only sometimes get up with both feet back and a few pumps and rhe right road. Its not an every time with ease deal, second and first ive no issues. Lets not get carried away. These bikes only do so much, and its my opinion that these bikes are harder than most to ride well or to the same levels as others.
Gloomshadow
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Not really fair to compare an air-cooled twin to a I-4, last I checked the XB12R ran in "superstock C" and the I-4 supersports were running in "Superstock B and Superstock A".. Just saying. For me, I find the XB12R to be a much more radical ride on the streets without getting yourself killed or losing your liscense, just more fun and you can flick it right over. A lot of the I-4s I see on the streets have huge chicken strips on them. Don't get me wrong, in the right hands a I4 is a bad ************ but the average guy I run into sees my tires and goes "FUUUCK" because I barley have any chicken on my FRONT and none on my rear... and this was mostly done at legal street speeds. Im not sure if I could hold these lean angles at these low speeds on R6 or a R1.. maybe, but Im just not sure.. something about the size of a XB just does it for me. Ive been on faster bikes in the past but Im not sure they made me a better rider..XB made me BETTER.. I can see it and I can feel it.
As for the weight of the XB, I don't think its heavy..and if you got the money you can shave a lot of weight off of a XB still.. Race battery saves 9 lbs, and magnesium wheels save another 10 I think it was.. exhaust you can drop some too.. there is still room to play with in there.. rider weight could be a factor also,, Im only 5'5" and 150lbs.. XB is perfect size and weight for me.
I was running a drilled out airbox for a while, I went back to stock because the stock cover ran a lot stronger at street speeds with the race ecm..vs a drilled out one. Like others are saying, they run too lean.
As for the weight of the XB, I don't think its heavy..and if you got the money you can shave a lot of weight off of a XB still.. Race battery saves 9 lbs, and magnesium wheels save another 10 I think it was.. exhaust you can drop some too.. there is still room to play with in there.. rider weight could be a factor also,, Im only 5'5" and 150lbs.. XB is perfect size and weight for me.
I was running a drilled out airbox for a while, I went back to stock because the stock cover ran a lot stronger at street speeds with the race ecm..vs a drilled out one. Like others are saying, they run too lean.
