| Author | Message | ||
     Fasteddieb |
I got the race kit muffler up to the N GA house last week. Prior to the install, went for a nice ride up GA 60/TN 68, rode some back roads, (Candy Mountain Rd, for one) up to Tellico Plains, then meandered home. The 'bolt is GREAT for this! I swapped with my riding partner (BMW K1200RS) and that ain't bad, either. Anyway, that evening I got around to the muffler install (I had already installed the air filter). No problems with the muffler install, though I wonder why they specify loosening the front muffler mount (mine was REALLY tight and I skipped that step).  The bike started right up without any problem (stock ECM) and I rode the bike for a mile or so and it felt and sounded great! I can't imagine wanting it any LOUDER - without earlugs it was waaay loud. Bike felt subjectively faster, even with the stock ECM. Next day I installed the race kit ECM. Again, no problems with the install - though I can't get the center 2 windshield screws to "catch". Again, bike started right up, and I went for a 5 mile ride. The bike feels a tad "soft" between 3,000 and 4,000 rpm, but at 5,000 rpm and 30 to 40 mph whacking the throttle causes the front wheel to rise a bit, and I don't recall that happening before. A bit of "popping" on deceleration - my K1200RS with Staintune does the same thing. All of this is without the TPS re-set. The next day (Thurs) I trailered the bike to Thunder Creek Harley/Buell in Chattanooga. I'm having them do the TPS re-set (apparently their first - a mechanic there said they hadn't seen the race kit installed yet). I'm also having them replace the front rotor (still clicking loudly with almost 2,000 miles), do the sidestand recall and take a look at my non-functional turn signals. Once it's ready, I may fly up to get it - I'll let you guys know when I'm headed that way in case any of you would like to get together for a ride. BTW, the turn signal flasher appears to be a standard mechanical type - I had assumed it was electronic. As such, it should be inexpensive - it appears to be a standard "automotive" type. | ||
| Bykergeek |
FasteddieB: That pic helps lots. It also looks better than I had remembered seeing in some other pics. Does anyone have a sound clip of the Fetal Pig in action ? So far, it looks like the only option excepting maybe the Latus conversion. | ||
| Xb9 |
A pic of the Latus muffler on the bike  | ||
| Xb9 |
and another  | ||
| Peter |
Cool pic! PPiA | ||
| Captainplanet |
Ok, here is a new XB9R exhaust by HSA. There are also some other cool XB9R things on this site. Use the Google search engine and translate from French to English. http://furaxjoe.ifrance.com/furaxjoe/Firebolt-bordure.htm | ||
| Bykergeek |
I ordered my Latus today. Josh, the guy I spoke with said they had sold about 15 so far and more are being made now. I'll post some pics, feedback and hopefully a sound clip after I install. | ||
| Deadmeat |
to Captain Planet don't translate just guess it's a raw looking bolt....... | ||
| Bykergeek |
Got Latus ? Yep!  | ||
| Bykergeek |
Packaged well, good finish and welds. | ||
| Bykergeek |
 | ||
| Bykergeek |
And it is LOUD!  | ||
| Xb9 |
Looks good. How's the fit, finish, and quality? Are the welds and brackets sturdy? | ||
| Bykergeek |
Very Sturdy. It stainless steel and it is heavy but not as heavy as the stock muffler. The Latus is built from an Edelbrock car muffler.  It is also a little louder than I thought but I don't have any other XB9's around to compare against yet. | ||
| Bykergeek |
One more - side by side  | ||
| Ezblast |
Where do you think that thing puts your torque curve? Just blasting on the dark side! EZ | ||
| Blake |
Yes, please get a race ECM and a dyno run, please?  | ||
| Timbo |
Ditto Blake, I'm very interested.  Timbo | ||
| Ebear |
Me TOO! Im on the verge of buying the RaceKit for my XB9S and would rather check out this COOL looking Unit!!   | ||
| Bykergeek |
I rode it about 50 miles today and it is LOUD, maybe too loud for me. The H-D inside my Buell became very evident. It isn't as sharp of an attack as straight pipes on a sportster but it is nearly that loud. On the Plus side: The hesitation between 2000 and 3000 rpm seems to be gone and low end torque actually seems to be UP. I have a sound clip (mp3) if anyone wants to hear it. Just email me. | ||
| Paroyboy |
Got the sound clip from Bykergeek....SOUNDS GREAT! (at least to an ex-Harley rider)! Wish I could hear one in person before dropping $400 but I think I'll be ordering one! | ||
| Bykergeek |
Wow. I just put another 100 miles on the Firebolt and I have realized that this is just too loud for me. It looks great and It is coming off this afternoon  If anyone wants it, I'll send it to you for $300 (shipped). I still have the box and all the bubble wrap so it will be given 110% TLC. I put up some more pics. http://www.bikergeek.com/don/latus.html Any Takers ? | ||
| Bykergeek |
Looks like it sold now. | ||
| Fasteddieb |
Thunder Creek HD/Buell was recommended by someone on this site. On the basis of that, I left my Firebolt there over 2 weeks ago for the TPS reset, sidestand recall, front rotor replacement and turn signal fix. I live in S FL and have a vacation home in N. GA, a couple of hours from there. I just called today. At first the service writer said everything had been accomplished except the sidestand recall - that my bike didn't "come up" for the recall. Mine was an early delivery, so it really should have. They said it might have something to do with my original dealer applying for the recall (I don't think so) but I put them in touch with that dealer to coordinate things. I verified the TPS reset went OK. "Oh, that's the other thing..." He explained that it hadn't been done, since they didn't have the necessary computer yet. If I had known that, I wouldn't have left it there (numerous Atlanta dealers were equally close, if not closer). It would have also been nice if they had called me ref: the delay. I had hoped to fly up next week - picking up the bike was high on my list of priorities. I know some dealers frequent this site, so... 1) is it reasonable for them not to have the required computer? 2) is there anyway one could be expedited to them (customer bike out-of-service/priority) 3) is there another dealer in that area who does have one? The plan would be to tow the bike there and hopefully have that accomplished while I waited. I'm going to attempt to "cc" this to Buell and see if that gets things moving. As a reminder, I came over from the BMW world. This first service experience is NOT confidence-inspiring! | ||
| Bykergeek |
Triumph has their own proprietary scanalyzer, commonly known as a game-boy due to it's resemblance to the handheld video game. Someone in the UK has come up with a software clone app and interface cable called Tune Boy that you can run on a laptop. It would be nice if we had an option like this on our Buells. | ||
| Mikep |
Aluminum XB muffler = 4.1 lbs. Here are two pictures of an aluminum muffler that I fabricated. The internals are similar to the Buell 'Race Kit' muffler, so it should perform nearly the same. The differences are this muffler has greater volume and no brackets for mounting the chin spoiler. The larger volume should make it a bit quieter. The lack of brackets makes it lighter, plus I did not have to do all that welding. I plan to install it this weekend.   mikep | ||
| Fasteddieb |
Just spoke with Dan at Thunder Creek. They got in the device needed to reset the TPS and did so. He says they've now done a total of 3 Firebolt TPS resets. The retro-fit sidestand is back-ordered, but he says when it comes in they can fit it while I wait. He further says modified front wheel bushings are the fix for the front rotor clicking and they are also on order. Long story short - I plan on flying up to my N GA house next Sunday or Monday and picking up the bike on Tuesday. If the weather is nice, I might be up for a ride on Wed, if anyone's in the area. | ||
| X1glider |
Mike, keep us informed and get it on the dyno too. | ||
| Mikep |
X1Glider, I will keep you posted. The thing only weighs 4.1 lbs. That is nearly a 10 lb. savings! mikep | ||
| Daves |
Fasteddie, That is totally wrong for a dealer to not have the equipment to do this. I'm sorry I helped send you there. It would've been faster for you to bring it to Iowa! Had no idea they were this unprofessional. Good luck and if there's anything I can do to help, call me. This kind of poor customer service really gets me going and blood boiling! Please contact Buell directly about this as they need to know about it. Ride to the edge! Dave HD/Buell Cycle Center 4022 Sergeant Rd Waterloo Ia 50701 1-800-342-7539 ext 14 |
