| Author | Message | ||
     Jeremy_02_x1 |
I have a colleague here at work with a 28" inseam. He is very interested in joining us on a Buell. I told him I would post a question or two to you BadWebbers here to see just how feasible it would be to get him on a new Buell that would be safe for him to ride. Is it possible to put the suspension from the XB12cg on the XB9SX? Would putting the seat from the XB12cg on the XB9SX also bring the seat height down? Any help or input would be hugely appreciated. Thanks in advance. | ||
| 99buellx1 |
Yes, but you also need to change the lower triple tree because of the difference in the fork diameter.
Yes, quite a bit actually, that would be the best first step, then if it is still too tall, look into the suspension swap. | ||
| Race_pirate |
I am 5'6" with 30" inseam - I sat on a XB9S at Liberty Buell and could flat foot the bike with room to spare, Im not sure but the seat seamed thinner. It may have been the low model. | ||
| Jeremy_02_x1 |
This guy is 5' 2". So we gotta get that bike low but the geometry can't be sacrificed too far so that it is still safe. Taller heeled boots are definitely in order. | ||
| Race_pirate |
I ride a 01' YZ250, with my tail centered on the seat I have 1" between my feet and the ground, I know the "being vertically challanged" dilemma. I owned a XL600 Dual purpose bike back in 98' and I would have to slide halfway off the bike to get one foot on the ground at a stop light. I would need boots like Gene Simmons from the "Make up" KISS days to touch the ground.... I sold that bike cause if it stalled when it was hot it took over 1 hr to get it running again. POS that made mad power. | ||
| Midknyte |
I am 5'4" with about a 28" inseam. A slight shift in the seat allows me to flat my left foot at a stop. You get used to it... | ||
| Johnb |
Jeremy_02_x1/colleague, you should contact Dave Stueve at (920)757-1651 (Appleton HD/Buell), I recall him saying he has people that can modify the EXISTING SX forks (instead of changing to the smaller diameter SCG forks). There was a discussion about this on badweb somewhere. You'll need to switch to the SCG rear shock (or other) and go for a Buell low seat or custom low-shaved Corbin (or other) too. Doing all this will bring the stock SX 30.60" seat height down to about 28.60". Safe stable bike geometry will remain intact. You'll loose some suspension travel; probably, from stock SX front/rear 4.72/5.06" down to probably 2.91/3.56" and ground clearance 4.35" to 3.55" - haven't heard about there being a problem bottoming out from SCG riders - might be a slightly stiffer ride, not sure. I don't know of a way to safely go lower than 28.6" other than slamming the suspension even more.. Give DaveS a ring. | ||
| Tpoppa |
Look for a used 2003 or 2004 XB9SL. It has the Low seat and Low suspension. | ||
| Bake |
Same as Race_pirate, ride an XB9R and have 2 motocrosers that are way tall for me. Not a good choice for a new rider but if he has miles under his belt he can get do it. Almost a shame what we are sacrificing for suspension travel with our dirtbikes but thats progress. Keep you feet on the pegs! | ||
| Daves |
Kandie is 5'2" and has a XB9SL,same seat height as a XB12SCG I have a slightly used SCG for sale! 7995.00 Only 2500 miles,Thrust Blue,warranty thru 8/6/06 | ||
| Jeremy_02_x1 |
Do they make the XB9SL brand new anymore? If not what are the years that it was made? | ||
| Jeremy_02_x1 |
Ooops, disregard the last post, I missed Tpoppa's response. Thanks guys, this gives us a lot of info to work with. I really appreciate it. | ||
| Alexfiggy |
im 5'7 with about a 28-29 inseam i have a low seat on my sx and thats all i need | ||
| Kandie |
Like Dave said I am 5'2". I can only touch with my toes on my XB9SL and my FXR2. It's not a problem. I just have to be careful how I park. | ||
| Ginzero |
I'm 5'3" with a >28" inseam, I ride an XB9SX with the low (cg) seat with no problems. It is totally doable, I think with the exception of the Uly any XB can be handled by a shortie... You really don't need to do a suspension swap.. Just need to get used to stoping with one ••• cheek hanging off to the side that you put your foot down. | ||
| Midwayav8r |
My first Buell was a XB9SL, which was modified with a lowered seat, wish I had kept it cuz I could flat foot all the time. I have a 28 inch inseam!! I now have an XB12Scg, which is supposed to be as low at the 9SL, but I don't agree. I am never flat footed, but I've got some foot meat on the ground. However, once I am in motion it doesn't really matter. One guy here in Savannah bought a Ullyses and he has about a 27 inch inseam, and just one legs the bike until it gets going. Gotta sacrifice for the Buell experience!!!! I look so cool on the Blue Buell with my matching Buell boots and Buell Razorback jacket that I don't care if I have to shift from one foot to the next. | ||
| Ginzero |
I also wanted to add that I got my XB9SX brand new in May and since then the suspension has seemed to "settle" down a tad. It might just be my imagination or experience now but it does seem it got a little bit lower to the ground over time. | ||
| Angelwild327 |
Do your friend a favor, depending on his riding abilities. I have done massive amounts of research on this, as I have a 9sx.. we actually have one of the tallest AND widest bikes of all the XB series, including the firebolts. Have him get a 12scg, DaveS has a couple used for sale, there is an absolutely gorgeous one on ebay with the voltage paint kit. The best way to lower the 9 is to swap out the front forks, rear spring and shock assembly and sidestand with an SCG..BUT, our 9 is still wider than the 12scg... My solution was to get the boots that I wrote about before, it gives me what I need to be able to competently stop, but truthfully, it's not enough for unexpected situations, and being a new rider, the whole experience has been a massive challenge for me. I suspect your friend will not want boots like mine, 3.5 inch heels are usually scary to a man. I am still looking into getting an SCG, or lowering the 9. If I had done better research from the start and actually knew I wouldn't fit well on my 9, there would have been no question, I would have bought the scg. Oh, and I have a 27in inseam..oy here are the stats on the 06's 9sx: seat height (stock)- 31.375in width - 32.3in ground clearance - 4.35in 12scg: Seat height - 28.6in width - 29.7 ground clearance - 3.55in Firebolts 12/9 seat height - 30.5 width - 28.2 ground clearance - 4.35 (Message edited by angelwild327 on December 30, 2005) | ||
| Fresnobuell |
"I am 5'6" with 30" inseam - I sat on a XB9S at Liberty Buell and could flat foot the bike with room to spare, Im not sure but the seat seamed thinner. It may have been the low model." I have the same inseam,same bike and you must have had a low seat as there is no way you could flat foot with both feet on the stocker with a 30" inseam--esp, with room to spare. Sorry, but I don't want any misinfo for the potential buyer. | ||
| Metalstorm |
I'm some where between 5'7 & 5'8 bare foot. I have a 30" inseam. With my boots on I can flat foot my 12Scg with the Select seat on it & actually have a little bit of bend in the knees. I could accomplish the same thing with a standard S & the low seat but the low seat stops being comfortable for me after 100 miles or so. The .8" of ground clearance you lose with the low suspension isn't that bad. | ||
| Johnb |
About seats, fyi, stock Corbin seats for the Lightning typically have a wider 'dished' shape; unlike, Buell stock seats which are kinda 'crowned' in the middle. I think Al Lighton at American Sport Bike has and can order custom lowered Corbin seats with the edges of the seat cup softened (narrowed) for shorter riders to reach ground. Send Al an email, he's a great person to ask/order Corbins. Just replacing the stock Buell SX 'Skyline' seat (31.37") with a stock Buell 'LowSeat' will yield about 29.10" seat height. A STOCK (unmodified) Corbin Streetfighter seat is usually about 29.50" which can be customized/lowered/narrowed further to your specs. How low can you go.., I don't know. Maybe they/someone can modify the seat pan somehow..? On another note, check these guys out: http://www.buttbuffer.com/roadblock.asp (Message edited by johnb on December 31, 2005) | ||
| Fulgur |
Sorry I can't help much. I am 5'4 - 28 seem. I ride a XB12R stock and get on fine with it except pushing it backwards from the saddle and its a bit un-nerving when it is really slippppy, coz if it goes from under me it's hard to save (snow and wet underground car parks). | ||
| Kootenay |
Like Midknyte and Fulgur, I stand 5'4" and have a 28" inseam, approximately. I own an XB9R Firebolt, and I'm totally fine with it. I've never ridden (or even seen, for that matter) the Uly, but I have ridden some tall bikes (like the V-Strom) with no problems (although they aren't all that comfortable for me when stopped). I did ride the XB9SL during a demo, and personally I preferred the regular XB9S. In all the years I've been riding, I can't recall ever owning a bike I could "flatfoot." There is absolutely no reason a rider has to be able to flatfoot a bike--indeed, proper riding technique (as taught by the MSF and most other riding schools) involves keeping the right foot on the footpeg and rear brake when stopped, so only the left goes down. Yeah, it's tough to back it up etc. while straddling it, but how often do you do that? For more info on this subject, check out this site. | ||
| Bindy |
I ride a XB12S and have no problems with feeling stable. Like to make out I am 5'2 but alas 5' neat, wear standard bike boots and use the low seat. As far as I know Opto has not changed anything else because he just changes seats when he wants to ride her. I just have to take it nice and slow when backing in, but as Kootenay said it's not very often I have to do that. Of all the bikes I have ridden my Buell seems to have the best weight distribution. So when I do have to stop I have no troubles taking the weight on one foot, as most of her weight sits comfortable between my thighs. Her quick and stable response when I take off means my feet are up on the pegs quickly, so balancing is not something that is a huge issue for me. I guess I know I just have to be a bit more aware of situations and compensate. | ||
| Dana P. |
My wife is 5'4 and she rides her XB9S with the standard seat just fine.She also has the low seat that she rides with more.Sometimes I forget to take the standard seat off when I'm done. | ||
| Buell |
Oooh this is a good issue for "tallness impaired" women too. I ride an XB9R (5'4") and just like Midknyte said "you get used to it". Almost every sport bike I've ridden I have been on tippy toe, but its learning how to balance. I didn't want to lower the suspension, because it really has an effect on how the bike handles, and what the bike was made to do. The only bike I was ever close to being flat-footed on was my old '94 Honda CBR that had really old, soft suspension. Also, most new sport bikes out there are going to be very tall because they tend to be geared more towards taller men. The XB is by nature a smaller bike, and I'm sure that you would find it a lot more comfortable to ride the XB than most bikes on the market. PLUS because the bike has a low center of gravity, it is so much easier to handle on and off the bike - both sides are equally weighted (no heavy muffler on one side and no gas tank sloshing around) so its already very well balanced for stopping and slow manuevering. The only times I have a problem is when I need to back up, but what I've learned to do is to avoid parking where I will have to back out uphill, or recruit someone to help me push it backwards (which can be quite comical!) Other than on a slope, I can tippy toe it backwards - the bike is so damn light! | ||
| Elff |
Im 5'5" tall with a 29" inseam and own an XB9SX. I could touch with both toes or flat foot my left foot with a slight body shift. I have to be off the bike to push it backwards, but that's no biggy. I traded my stock seat for an XB9S seat and that helped alot. Also, The corbeau seat is lower and was easier to manage. My best setup, now that I know I wont have a passenger, was to get the Trojan Eurofighter seat. It is about the same height as the XB9S seat but it is narrower. I can flat foot my left foot with no body shift and just a slight lean of the bike. It also looks darn cool on the CityX. | ||
| Midknyte |
To add to my "You'll get used to it"... I agree that it's not the best proposition for a new rider, but there are worse transgressions that one can make... An issue for me (part of getting used to it), until I understood what was going on, was right turns from a stop were not as comfortable as lefts, until I understood (remembered) that with my butt shifted to the left on the seat to put my foot down causes you to left-weight the bike. You, with your body language and weight, will be telling the bike you want to turn left. That'll make right turns feel odd until you realize and compensate. | ||
| Jsquared |
I'm 5'5" with a 32" inseam. I am waiting for my XB9SX to be born in March and I was a bit concerned about the seat height at first. I've ridden a lowered 883 and a V-Rod. The V-Rod c of g was so nice and low! Having the fuel in the frame of the CityX and the availability of the lower seat attracted me to the CityX ... along with it's ultra-cool looks! What a beautiful bike! With my boots on, I'll gain another couple of inches. By the sounds of these posts, I'm less nervous now than I was before. Thanks all! | ||
| Bcordb3 |
I have the street fighter seat on my XB9S and it lowered the seating position to where it was more comfortable and the ground was just a bit closer to my arse. I thought I had read that the guys at Appleton did a nice job on an XB9R for a woman where they lowered the forks and I don't remember if anything was done on the back end of the bike. Maybe Dave S. can elaborate on that one. (Message edited by BCordb3 on January 05, 2006) | ||
| Johnb |
yeah, i think DaveS called that firebolt lowering creation the 'XB9RRL' (really really low) 28.75" seat height (approx 1.75" lower than stock). |
