| Author | Message | ||
     T9r |
So I had a problem with my XB12R and the bearing fail late last year. Instead of tearing that motor out I opted to look for a XB12X to replace the bike. So I luckily found a 2007 XB12X from a fellow brother here on Badweb. The engine had that horrible knock, indicating bearing failure so I was on the search for a 2008 engine. Thanks to a helpful guy parting out an 08 locally I was able to get the newer engine. Thanks to so many of the folks on here I have used for question and answers. Here is the bike as it arrived at 3am on 5Oct2011... looks good but sounded terminal.  I thought it would be a fun Winter project. Removal of the old powertrain. (December 2011)  Setup for the new powertrain.  Mounting the frame onto the new powertrain. (March 2012) I had planned to fit the 1125R upper fairing to the bike but that will have to be a later project as it required more modification than I wanted to tackle this Winter.  Installation of insulation on the inside of the frame (didn't seem to change it much).  After hooking it all back together and getting it inspected it now has 100+ miles on it with the new configuration.   Final conclusion this bike is FUN to ride... One thing that I had difficulty with while test riding it the other weekend, keeping the FRONT wheel on the ground. The bike loves the corners too! I really do like where I live (among cows, corn fields and all the rolling country side). | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
nice work | ||
| Uly_dude |
Hey T9r, did you find you had to use an 08 or newer wiring harness to go along with your newer motor? I didn't think you could use the old 07 wiring harness with the 08 motor, unless you did something different with the crank pin..... thanks | ||
| T9r |
I used the 2008 wiring harness. Forgot to mention the gutting of the wiring harness from the frame. It all started to look rather naked in March while working on it. Many connectors on the 08 wiring harness were different, especially to the ECM. But some were the same. I did keep the 07 fuel pump and just made a jumper connector 07 to 08 style. Different connectors: VR, Fuel Pump, ECM, Crank pin, and some around the throttle body area. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Nice! Would you be willing to share the VIN and build date for the 07 that had the bad crank bearing, and the mileage on it when it failed? We are tracking failures. | ||
| Hughlysses |
T9R, welcome to the most exclusive club at Badweb (those who have swapped 08-up engines into 07 Ulys), which apparently consists of me and you!  Congratulations on your build. | ||
| Reepicheep |
If and when mine goes, I'm tempted to put in an XB9 motor and wiring harness. Less power, but more revs and lower gearing, and darn near bullet proof... | ||
| Hughlysses |
I'm waiting on someone to drop an XBRR plant in one.  | ||
| T9r |
Reepicheep, This vehicle is already on the bad bearing list, thanks. Hughlysses, Thanks for the assistance. Now you can add me as a reference for giving others advice. I would love to put an 08 motor in my 2004 XB12R if the price were right. (Message edited by t9r on May 08, 2012) | ||
| Froggy |
I know of a Firebolt that is running an authentic RR motor. | ||
| Hughlysses |
I know of a Firebolt that is running an authentic RR motor. Sweet! It would be very interesting to know what it would take to de-tune one to say, ~110-120 HP or so (for driveability and reliability) while still keeping the high redline and broad power curve. THAT would be the ultimate XB street engine. Froggy- Do you have any idea if further upgrades were planned for the XB engine when Buell was shut down, or was it pretty well perfected as far as they were concerned? | ||
| Reepicheep |
Thanks T9R! Hugh, the XB motor upgrade path was abandoned long before Buell was shut down. The snorkel hole in the early frames (abanondoned in, what, 2006?) wasn't for a snorkel, it was for a turbo, which was producing a solid and reliable 120 HP or so. Dang would that have been cool... I don't even want the extra power, but I would have bought it just for the awesome whooshing noises. | ||
| Florida_lime |
As the former owner of this bike, I just wanted to say congratulations on a job well done !  I wish I had your patience ! | ||
| Hughlysses |
Hugh, the XB motor upgrade path was abandoned long before Buell was shut down. Bill, I don't know if I believe that. They introduced the improved oiling system and crank in 2008, they introduced dual O2 sensors in 2010. Maybe they still had a few other tricks up their sleeve? I still think it would be cool if EBR could pull off a clean-sheet air cooled engine design at some point. V-twin, air cooled, and hydraulic lifters; all else open for discussion. | ||
| Ourdee |
I want to know about the new engine that was planned. I heard rumors but never the hard numbers. If my motor goes south, I was thinking of putting a fuel injected blast motor in it. |
