| Author | Message | ||
     Hughlysses |
I noticed this one last night- the rear axle is now powder coated or anodized black:  Perhaps this is to prevent the corrosion we find if we don't coat our axles with anti seize when they're removed? It'll be interesting to see if there were any other changes to the bearings or seals. | ||
| Anonymous |
There are new, larger wheel bearings and new, separate from the bearing seals in the rear wheel of all 2010 XB and 1125 model Buells. | ||
| Hughlysses |
Woah! Thanks for the info. | ||
| Bosh |
There are new, larger wheel bearings and new, separate from the bearing seals in the rear wheel of all 2010 XB and 1125 model Buells. Thats a significant improvement! Good job Buell dudes  I'm lovin the evolution of the 12X and can't wait for some ride reports with the new O2 sensor and "rider comfort" stuff. | ||
| Rwven |
Different hub, or can these bearings and seals be retrofit? | ||
| Froggy |
There is a kit listed on the website, from the look of it, it retrofits the old stuff to be like the 2010. | ||
| Rwven |
Froggy, Would that be this: Bearing, Spacer & Axle Kit - XB Models G1321.02A8 Rear $108.35 Bearing, Spacer & Axle Kit - XB Models Fits '03-'09 XB models (except XB12X). Not much info.... | ||
| Portero72 |
Rwven- I suspect that kit is to supply the hardware for someone purchasing new wheels and is not the 'retrokit' we want it to be. Check the info on a set of wheels, I think it mentions coming without this hardware. | ||
| Pso |
Good show Buell. As Rwven asked can these new bearings be retorfitted? I was getting ready to swap out my red seal bearingss for the black ones on Wed. If they can retrofit, I will hold off, it was preventive maint. no indication to change yet other than every major issue with the 06, I have encountered except the fuel pump wire and the clutch cable. | ||
| Hughlysses |
For some of us it might be worth the ~$300 for a new wheel and ~$110 (or whatever it turns out to be) for a bearing/seal/axle/spacer kit for the 2010 Uly arrangement. This may be the best Uly yet. So far, it looks like EVERY complaint raised about the bike has been addressed in the last couple of years. | ||
| Jlnance |
I'd love some more info, particularly if the new bearings will fit in the old wheels. I would be surprised if they do, but I'd love that surprise. So far, it looks like EVERY complaint raised about the bike has been addressed in the last couple of years. Holding out for muffler rust.  Then it will be the perfect bike. | ||
| Hughlysses |
Holding out for muffler rust.  Then it will be the perfect bike. Good point. Now maybe Anony will chime it and tell us it has a new all-stainless muffler, or at least a better finish! | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Each 2010 ULY comes with a can of black barbecue paint, no extra charge. | ||
| Etennuly |
Personally, I hope they put the wire harness in some kind of protective sleeves. If it weren't for wire harness problems, I would have a great bike with few problems. I truly hope the permagrin is still packed under the seat!  | ||
| Anonymous |
New bearings are 62mm OD, the old ones are 57mm, so you can't put the new bearings in the old wheel. You need the axle and spacer kit to run the '010 wheel in older bikes. | ||
| Pso |
Thanks Anonymous-I guess I will be pulling the wheel this wed and replacing original with black seals. Then if in a few years I feel the need, new bearings, wheel, axle,etc. | ||
| Portero72 |
I'm with Hugh-I think it ROCKS that Buell has addressed almost every issue that Uly owners have discovered, and cooler still that the vast majority of remedies retrofit. | ||
| Glenn |
I like the retrofit part! | ||
| Hughlysses |
I had actually been thinking about fitting XB12XT suspension to my X to lower it for the last year or so. Then the "rider comfort kit" came out and I figure I'll get that. Now I'm considering a 2010 rear wheel/axle assembly. It does occur to me that maybe I should just save up and buy a 2010 XT, OTOH I could have 95% of the updates on a 2010 for an investment of about $1500, less whatever I could get for my takeoff parts. It's cool to have the option. BTW- I cross-posted the new wheel info in the "New Owner FAQ" subforum under the rear wheel bearings thread. (Message edited by Hughlysses on July 27, 2009) | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
62mm bearings. Sound like Sportster bearings. | ||
| Buellhusker |
Is there enough material in the 2009 wheels to have them bored out to accomidate the larger bearings? | ||
| Methed |
I like your thinking, Husker! | ||
| Cpilot |
Since my 08 bearings headed South yesterday, I really would like to find out if something can be worked out via the warranty process for the 2010 upgrade. I must admit that my confidence is a little shaky thinking of some of the places I have been lately, and if the bearing had gone out there, it would be a very difficult process to get the bike down to where you could catch a tow. | ||
| Motorfish |
Two years ago I took a solo trip down Skyline Drive, the Blue Ridge Parkway, Deals Gap, and back. I had one solid day of rain, and no problems. It kind of scares me to do that again on my '06 with 13K miles on it, after I recently had to U-hual it home 275 miles because my bearings failed, and were full of water. It would be nice if Buell gave us earlier owners a break on a '10 wheel or something. Nice to see they listen to their customers, though. | ||
| Mattwhite |
Anony, does the kit for new wheels provide a more durable bearing? My '06 Uly rear wheel bearing died at about 15k miles, would it make a good reliability upgrade? | ||
| Hughlysses |
I strongly doubt there'll be enough material to fit the bearings in the 2006-2009 wheels. At least a couple of people had already looked into this and determined there's no excess material. Froggy posted a bunch of new 2010 part numbers in this BB&D thread: http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/142 838/482357.html?1248771621 The rear axle is described as ""G0321.5AK AXLE, REAR, 3-BEARING Retail Price:$55.50" Note the "3-BEARING" part. I'll bet not only did they increase the bearing size, they added a third bearing. Tube-framed Buells used three bearings, with dual bearings on the pulley side, so this is probably a similar setup. | ||
| Debueller |
My lowly 1994 Honda XR650L uses a three bearing rear hub and sees regular bearing failures due to high weight, water/mud, tourquey engine, big knobbie, rough trails, and my fat ass over the top of the tire. I'm not at all suprised that my Uly has seen three bearing rear wheel failures due to the wimpy design of a two bearing rear hub. Kudos to Buell for adressing another of the Uly's weaknesses!! | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
How would I ever be able to add grease to the inner bearing? Not sure I like that upgrade. It sure would be nice if BMC would take the time to post up close and personnel photo's of these upgrades for the Buell faithful. I find it annoying that anonymous chimes in once in awhile but leaves the other 99% of our questions left unanswered. It just wouldn't be that difficult to give us the information up front. For crying out loud, the question of what is included in the comfort kit has to wait for someone to order, receive, and then post a photo of the contents. We know that BMC follows this site so what gives???? Also, how hard would it be for BMC to tell us the skinny on ECM updates that are recommended with this comfort kit. Does that update include 06' and 07' model years??? If it doesn't then why doesn't the Buell website make that absolutely clear? Lastly, I sure hate to get an ECM reflash and find out, after the fact, my mpg tanks because of it. The more info we are given the better we feel spending the moola or not spending it. | ||
| Hughlysses |
EG- you are a hard man to please. How many other manufacturers bother to provide their riders with ANY information like we get from Anonys here? Sure it would be nice to know more but cut the guys a little slack. I'm sure info will come out over the next week or so. On the new bearing arrangement- remember that the factory does not intend for you to ever add grease to the bearings. You've had good success doing that but they are sealed bearings by design. If the bearings are amply sized and sealed properly re-greasing will not be required. | ||
| Jphish |
Debueller - Jerry, Did you have the new black (KBCs) fail already ?? Crap! I hope not - many of us were hoping that fixed the problem. j |
