| Author | Message | ||
     Sweatmark |
Hi all, New to the BWB board, long time rider, new to Buells, facing some suspension modifications. Bought a new old stock 2003 XB9SL for my wife last autumn, but she's decided the bike's handling and torque are a bit much for her New Rider status. We're buying her something different, which means I get the XB as my play bike. The "Low" suspension and seat configuration don't exactly fit my 6', 240ish lb. self, so I need to swap forks and rear shock/spring with a regular height XB, or source similar parts elsewhere. Questions for those who might know: What parts would be required to convert "Low" factory-equipped bike to regular height? From what I've found in the archives (here and elsewhere), I'll need fork tubes and internals, at least the lower fork bridge (triple tree) for change to 43mm, and combined rear suspension unit. The little XB's obviously sensitive to suspension setup, so what have "larger" riders done to address King Size spring rates and damping? Any other suspension Must Do advice? Thanks, Mark Oregon | ||
| M1combat |
You wouldn't necessarily need the 43mm lower triple clamp if you bought 03/04 parts. Also, The "low" suspension should offer the same amount of travel, so the only imperative thing is to change the seat. As I recall, most tall riders prefer the low pegs and the standard seat. I think that in keeping the low suspension, you will only be sacrificing one inch of peg height and however many degrees of lean angle that works out to. As far as springs, Hyper-Pro makes replacement springs for the front and rear. I would imagine that they could make whatever you want. As I recall, when you buy a Penske shock they will sell you one already matched to your weight. I would think the Penske shock and a heavier set of front springs (I'm sure one of the sponsors has a source) would be the ticket. I suppose Ohlin's makes a set of forks for the XB as well... Racing Performance Services has a good deal of experience with the XB's Showa forks... I don't know if all of that is must do advice, but certainly couldn't be bad  . | ||
| Pcmodeler |
Wish I lived closer to you Sweatmark. I would have been willing to swap my XBR suspension for your low. |
