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Buell Motorcycle Forum » XBoard » Buell XBoard Archives » Archive through November 04, 2006 » First Impressions Race Kit XB12Ss « Previous Next »

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Jpfive
Posted on Thursday, October 26, 2006 - 07:19 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I have a couple hundred miles on my Long since installing The Race muffler and air kit with the Race ECM. I also put on a set of coated headers. My impressions: Sound - louder than I expected, and on the sharp side - i.e., nothing mellow about this can. Dogs chase me now, and I have hit a cat... : ( ... Not sure I like the sound, but if you like a Harley with attitude, that is what it's like. Performance - no problems with the ECM change. The bike idled and ran well right from the start. After a few miles of running through the AFV learning cycle I can really notice the extra power coming in as a surge from about 4300 RPM to redline. I floated the front wheel powering out of a favorite turn in third gear - never had that happen before. Throttle response is much quicker than before, especially off idle - and when blipping for downshifts. There is no lag whatsoever when doing roll-ons now - had a little lag at times before. I was most worried that there would be teething problems with the new ECM. There have been absolutely no issues - very happy with the results!

Jack
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Pwnzor
Posted on Thursday, October 26, 2006 - 09:28 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Welcome aboard your new, improved Buell.
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Ft_bstrd
Posted on Thursday, October 26, 2006 - 09:36 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Get used to griping in the tire threads about now no one makes a good high mileage tire anymore.
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Thespive
Posted on Friday, October 27, 2006 - 12:15 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I agree, the Race can has a sharp bark to it, but it is quieter (which is why I got it). The Drummer has a better sound to it, but is louder. Although I think it sounds good, I have to wear ear plugs at highway speed and already caught the attention of Johnny law in my town, so I may have to go back to the stock pipe.

--Sean
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Jpfive
Posted on Friday, October 27, 2006 - 09:49 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Ditto on the ear plugs, and I am crawling past my neighbors now. I think Al Lighton referred to it as a 'shredding' sound in his exhaust comparison - all according to taste, I guess, but I am considering a Drummer - even if it is louder - as the sound is less obnoxious.

I had a Harley pull into my lane next to me at a stop light (one of my pet peeves) to let me hear his straight pipe. I blipped him back to let him know we were kin, which was a mistake as he took it for a challenge. He roared past me as we turned left through the intersection, stalled the bike and dribbled off into the shoulder. He blasted past me after I passed him - didn't bother to give chase, as I know he was embarrassed. Just one more way this hooligan can can get you into trouble... : )

Jack
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Pwnzor
Posted on Friday, October 27, 2006 - 11:39 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

no one makes a good high mileage tire anymore.

I disagree. I get between 6500-7500 on my rear tire, Metzeler Roadtec Z6, 2004 XB12R with race kit. Even more miles on the front.
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Shinobi13
Posted on Friday, October 27, 2006 - 04:37 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

"I have hit a cat... ... Not sure I like the sound"....

You didn't like the sound of the pipe or the cat you hit...

I couldn't let it go....

Lee
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Jpfive
Posted on Friday, October 27, 2006 - 06:47 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Good one, Lee! I sure didn't like the sound the cat made either - but he didn't suffer. I saw him just as he sprinted out from the brush on the right shoulder of the road - right into my front tire... I never like it when I hit an animal - not often, thank God. But, better for me when they're small...

Jack
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Sleez
Posted on Friday, October 27, 2006 - 07:06 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

i had a cat make it between my wheels once, never stopped running!
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Jpfive
Posted on Sunday, October 29, 2006 - 08:27 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

OK - continuing impressions... I am getting more used to the sound - at least it's not setting off car alarms and such. The crispness of the throttle response now is the thing I most appreciate - and the bike starts easier - firing off on the first punch of the starter, even when cold. With 3000 miles on the original ECM, I was having to crank the engine more than I liked, and working the throttle to get it to catch on cold mornings. Some of the improvement may be due to the platinum plugs that I installed with the exhaust. The plugs that came out of the bike showed the front cylinder running rich on the stock ECM - but the rear cylinder was spot on. It appears to me that the fueling maps on the race ECM are better sorted for street riding in general, as well as for performance. The power of the bike felt much softer before - more so than the difference in dyno curves would suggest. I would like the torque curve to be stronger in the mid range - more like the Drummer - but I don't want to give up the high end power either. All in all - the race exhaust probably works best for me.

Jack
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Cochise
Posted on Sunday, October 29, 2006 - 09:15 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

also, once you start running the bike for less and the plugs don't have time to heat up, or you don't warm it up enough before you crack that throttle wide open, your plugs start to carbon up, then when you have to turn the throttle to get the bike to start, that's where your plugs REALLY start to fail...just like my old bike did. This bike I have, the warm ups take longer, I don't touch the throttle till the bike has started and warmed up, and it has worked wonders.
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Isham
Posted on Sunday, October 29, 2006 - 10:51 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Pilot Roads will give you mileage like you've never seen.
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Buellerthanyou
Posted on Sunday, October 29, 2006 - 01:01 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Jack,
Have somebody (that you trust!) ride your bike past you sometime. I've found that the Race Can sounds louder to me on the bike than it does to people off the bike. I was at a track day with a bunch of Duc guys and I thought I was really wailing on it, wound out with some popping on decel, but when I asked the guys back in the pits what they thought of the sound, they said they hadn't really noticed it. Also, the intake noise is noticeably louder to me with the Race Kit. Gotta admit, I LIKE it! Not as deep or thumping as a Drummer or D&D, but a good, well-rounded horsepower/sound package.
HellBuelly J

"Riding a motorcycle on today's highways, you have to ride in a very defensive manner. You have to be a good rider and you have to have both hands and both feet on the controls at all times."
--Evel Buellnievel
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Thespive
Posted on Sunday, October 29, 2006 - 09:41 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Mine sets off car alarms. When I am in the mood for mischief, it makes me giggle.

--Sean
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Kowpow225
Posted on Thursday, November 02, 2006 - 08:32 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I think Al Lighton referred to it as a 'shredding' sound in his exhaust comparison

Al compared the micron to a 'shredding' sound and the race pipe as 'tinny'. I think each aftermarket pipe has a better tone than stock....but some of us DO like the quiet.
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