G oog le BadWeB | Login/out | Topics | Search | Custodians | Register | Edit Profile


Buell Motorcycle Forum » XBoard » Buell XBoard Archives » Archive through July 30, 2005 » XBs in the rain... « Previous Next »

Author Message
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Natexlh1000
Posted on Wednesday, July 27, 2005 - 09:14 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I was just curious if the newfangled XBs are ok in the rain.
My friend complains that his XB12 sputters when it's raining hard.
My X1 is fine like nothing's happening.
Should we be looking for a problem?
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Ginzero
Posted on Wednesday, July 27, 2005 - 09:17 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I rode through a thunder storm on a curvy mountain highway this past Sunday. The bike performed superbly.. no complaints at all.

Highway 38, Big Bear CA
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Black_sunshine
Posted on Wednesday, July 27, 2005 - 09:21 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Never had a problem and just last week I got stuck in a Southern pop-up Thunderstorm that looked like a White Squall.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

T9r
Posted on Wednesday, July 27, 2005 - 09:26 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Just got home from riding in the rain, bike ran okay... maybe he needs his TPS reset on the bike.

Good luck
'03 XB9R
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

M1combat
Posted on Wednesday, July 27, 2005 - 09:36 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Mine seems to be fine...

Is his air filter sealed properly?
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Tomzweifel
Posted on Wednesday, July 27, 2005 - 09:36 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Between December and July I think I've put in about 10 hours or so in the rain, maybe 5 minutes in hail. It did have a problem similar to what you are describing:

http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/32777/123879.html

(Message edited by tomzweifel on July 27, 2005)
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Davefla
Posted on Wednesday, July 27, 2005 - 09:39 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Just a week ago, I rode through a downpour that had me gasping - 'cause I couldn't see through the visor and thus raised it - so much water was going straight into my nose & eyes. The bike never hiccupped through ten minutes of that, while never exceeding 30mph and mostly below 3000RPM.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Hogs
Posted on Wednesday, July 27, 2005 - 09:41 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Natexlh1000,
I Do Not Know For Sure :-), But my 12 has about 12000 miles on it and just last week I washed the Baby and when I went to go Hmmm Not Good, I let it warm up abit longer , After abit it came around and then drove it back to my shop,also noted a little miss it in before when it was wet out,
Later that night Pulled off the plug wires and In my case the front spark plug wire was Wore from rubbing on the frame, Got a new set right away washed bike again No Plms.. And none since tell ya buddy might not be in his case but worth the check anyways...!
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Typeone
Posted on Wednesday, July 27, 2005 - 10:22 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

i'm getting rained on every ride lately... 2hr downpour, 1hr insane downpour and a 30min downpour in past few weeks... XB marched right on through, even with a swiss cheesed airbox. tons of sand in there though (outside filter) when i checked it yesterday.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Wyckedflesh
Posted on Wednesday, July 27, 2005 - 10:23 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Neither rain nor snow has made my XB hiccup. I would say I probably have atleast 20 hours of rain duty on it, 3 of it in snow thanks to an unexpected snow storm in the mountains and the slower going. What should have taken an hour and a half well, doubled.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Canadianxb9sl
Posted on Wednesday, July 27, 2005 - 10:36 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Rain kills my XB9S. Heavy down pour just two weeks ago. Second time its done this. First starts to sputter, then I loose one cylinder, and have half power. Then if I keep on riding I loose the second cylinder and the bike dies. Let it sit for about 5 minutes and things dry out and it runs fine for just awhile and repeats. Its going in for service soon, and I'm getting it checked out...
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Buellj79
Posted on Wednesday, July 27, 2005 - 10:44 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I did the spars yesterday in the rain just didnt shift alot. Ran like a champ.
Later J
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Dbird29
Posted on Wednesday, July 27, 2005 - 11:00 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

My '03 front plug wire chafed because the boot was not seated on the plug. Vibrated a hole right thru the outer jecket. Dealer gave me a new one that looks like a better design.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Max
Posted on Wednesday, July 27, 2005 - 11:05 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I had same problem I had to pull over rev it up little.It was ok after I did that. Was little puzzle about it at first.It was ok not sure why it did that.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Truk
Posted on Wednesday, July 27, 2005 - 11:08 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Been in the rain, mine is fine
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Bbstacker
Posted on Wednesday, July 27, 2005 - 11:14 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Southern California got a prodigious amount of rain this past year and I rode my 9R in it everyday. I did note a drop in idle speed, but no stumble or miss. Made sure plug wires were on tight and well packed with dielectric grease and short of all the SoCal cagers that lose their freakin' minds as soon as the rain begins to fall...no problems at all.
BTW lose the dunlop tires in the wet...if you haven't already.
Mark
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Hanses25
Posted on Thursday, July 28, 2005 - 12:00 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

On our trip this year we followed a storm from Billings Montana to Mitchell South Dakota. XB9 never missed a beat.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Charlieboy6649
Posted on Thursday, July 28, 2005 - 12:16 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Like Mark said. Make sure the plug wires are on tight and elec. grease wouldn't hurt...

I rode from Camp Pen to the Sunrise Hwy in a complete deluge at 70-80 mph on the freeway. Then I hit snow at the casino... No probs with the Bolt!
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Izzinya
Posted on Thursday, July 28, 2005 - 12:19 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

i live in washington and my buell is my MOST day rider...

i am also a tech >>>MECHANIC (hate the term tech)

my bike does that when it rains HARD!!!!

i have pulled the airbox cover and found a puddle of water.

water in an intake = not good LOL

dont know what to do to correct this .but i have had the problem also

i have a desnorkeled(de-uterused)
race kit
so nothing out of the reg stuff

i think its the intake track (redesined in 06 wonder why???)

05 xb9sx

Izzinya
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Justice
Posted on Thursday, July 28, 2005 - 12:22 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Got caught about 20 mins away from home on my '03 XB9R when it started to rain tonight (hard).
No problems with the bike. My riding gear, on the other hand, is definatly not waterproof.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Nadz
Posted on Thursday, July 28, 2005 - 12:58 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

My XBR runs highways in the rain just fine due to the vertical intake path. In fact, it laughs at me, since I'm getting the worse deal.

I wonder how that new intake scheme will deal with water... gotta see how the airbox is cut, and if there's provision to shed water.

So who's gonna be the first to buy one from Dave and post a picture?
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Krassh
Posted on Thursday, July 28, 2005 - 01:12 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

My XB9S used to stumble in the rain or if heavy moisture in the air. Turned out the plug had rubbed through and was arcing.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Two_buells
Posted on Thursday, July 28, 2005 - 04:04 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Bad plug wires! been there, fixed that!
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Cyko_bob
Posted on Thursday, July 28, 2005 - 04:52 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

My bike (XB9S) runs fine in the rain, but riding in the rain can allow water into the primary.

Now how does that happen? Here's how...The short front fender throws water right onto the clutch cable cover (rubber boot directly behind the front fender)...collects water...waters leaks down clutch cable to primary. Imagine my surprise when I drained the primary and the oil was milky...where the heck did the water come from? When I pulled up the rubber boot, water poured out of it. Once I put a wire tie on the top and bottom of the boot, I have not had anymore problems with water in the primary.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Charlieboy6649
Posted on Thursday, July 28, 2005 - 09:58 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Cyko,

Thanks for bringing that up to the group, I'd forgot. Fill the boot with grease. That was a good fix suggested here.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

2hogs
Posted on Thursday, July 28, 2005 - 12:06 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

All,

Check unconventional electrical connections.
I'm not familar with the Buell setup, just Twin cam. If the above doesn't solve it, start checking things like the connection to the ignition (if it could get wet), connector to voltage regulator (not sure how Buell v. reg is, but Twin Cam (FL and softail) are on downtubes).

Cheers
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Rubberdown
Posted on Thursday, July 28, 2005 - 12:54 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

No problems in heavy rain with my 12S
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Gearhead998
Posted on Thursday, July 28, 2005 - 02:00 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

My '03 9S does that from time to time. THe stock plug wires are CRAP. moisture actually gets inside the boot and shorts it out. Throw some dielectric grease on the plug, in the boot and I also put some on the wire were the boot starts. That should take care of it. I am looking into getting new wires
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Buellin_ri
Posted on Thursday, July 28, 2005 - 06:07 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Lost a cyl (i think the rear one) once on a rainy day. Gas from the dead cyl ended up washing down my oil causing the oil light to come on. Come to find out there are new updated wires . Put em on with new plugs,a little dielectric grease, oil and filter no problems since.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Steve_a
Posted on Thursday, July 28, 2005 - 06:18 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

The new Dunlop D616s for the Ulysses should be spectacular rain tires, and will fit all XBs.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

M1combat
Posted on Thursday, July 28, 2005 - 07:27 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

"water in an intake = not good LOL"
"i think its the intake track (redesined in 06 wonder why???)"

Water in the intake can add a good deal of power if done right...

The new intake tract setup seems like it would allow MORE water into the area under the airbox cover. It's not the intake tract. It's something electrical. Probably the lack of dielectric grease in the spark plug boots or something to that effect.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Xring
Posted on Thursday, July 28, 2005 - 10:35 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I rode my '04 XB9S through a bad rainstorm last week for about an hour, in NC. It was one of those storms that had a lot of cars pulling off the road...dark as night at 6 PM. I continued on cautiously at first, gained speed as I went. No problems with the engine or the new Scorpion Syncs.

On the other hand, once I had just washed my bike and took it for a spin to dry it off...it missed for a couple of miles.

Good luck,
Bill
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Buellenator
Posted on Thursday, July 28, 2005 - 10:47 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

My 04 XB12R with K&N filter does not like hard rain or the spray of other vehicles - it will sputter and cough, once lost power completely and sounded like it was running on 1 cylinder. So I use a different bike on rainy days...
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Bbstacker
Posted on Friday, July 29, 2005 - 12:30 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I have a carbon fiber air scoop on mine. It is a little flatter on the bottom. I would think this allows water to drain out the rear without getting sucked into the intake.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Cataract2
Posted on Friday, July 29, 2005 - 06:50 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I've been in Florida torrential rain falls on my XB9SX with no problem whatsoever with it.
« Previous Next »

Add Your Message Here
Post:
Bold text Italics Underline Create a hyperlink Insert a clipart image

Username: Posting Information:
This is a private posting area. Only registered users and custodians may post messages here.
Password:
Options: Post as "Anonymous" (Valid reason required. Abusers will be exposed. If unsure, ask.)
Enable HTML code in message
Automatically activate URLs in message
Action:

Topics | Last Day | Tree View | Search | User List | Help/Instructions | Rules | Program Credits Administration