| Author | Message | ||
     Penders_xb12r |
I have received some messages about how I put the SS swingarm on my R. So here it. My bike is an '06 XB12R and the swingarm is off of an '06 XB12SS. It was pretty much a straight forward bolt-on. I took my old swingarm off and bolted the new one on that simple. All of the oil-lines even matched up. Once that was done I changed the belt tensioner pulley and installed the rear. Once that was done I realized the brake line was way to short so I had to get a longer one. The belt, belt tensioner pulley, and brake line are stock SS parts from buell. After that was done I installed the rear subframe and found that the rear shock hit the battery tray. So I removed the rear subframe and cut the battery box out and moved it up and back 1/2" then rewelded it in. The shock hit due to the different lower shock mounting position on the SS swingarm. Once the rear subframe was done I had to notch out the plastic rear undertray. After I did that it fit like a glove. I took a lot of pictures throughout the process so if anyone has any questions or wants to see pictures post what you would like more info on. I am willing to share all of my info to fellow Buell riders. As for the price of the conversion it was cheap. I bought the swingarm off of ebay it was on a bike that was layed down and the rear corner was really scraped up. So I had it rewelded and then smoothed it out with a 2" sander and polisher. I havent had it powder coated yet because I want to wait until my warranty is up and redo the whole bike(Which my warranty is probably voided now anyway)! So heres my price break down. Swingarm $75 Welding for Swingarm and subframe $80 Belt $178 Belt tensioner $90 Brake line $46 Total $469 But that is cheap for having a stretched Buell. My friends with RICE ROCKETS ask me what did you do it looks the same. That is the look I was going for a custom that looks like it's from the factory.   | ||
| Froggy |
Looks good! (thumbs up icon) May i ask, what is the advantage of having the longer swingarm? | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Looks great!!!! Glad you got rid of the grumpy bastard too.  | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
Very nicely done. I am sure the brothers would like to know exactly why you decided to make this mod, and if you were satisfied with the results. May I take the liberty of assuming that you wanted to duplicate the handling of the XB12SS? If so, you may want to also install the Free Spirits steering bearing kit sold by one of our sponsors, Trojan, which increases the steering angle to more like the one used on the Ss. Now that the swing arm is longer, you may want to increase the preload on the rear shock to compensate for the increased leverage of the longer swing arm. Please continue to give us your impressions, and I would like to see some photos of your under seat situation. Thanks for sharing. | ||
| Penders_xb12r |
The reason I put a longer swingarm on the bike is due to personal preference. I don't take corners like a moto GP racer but I do like curvy roads. I am a drag race guy who likes my bikes and cars low and long. I didn't want to radically alter the excellent design of the bike so I decided to use stock buell parts to do it. As to your comment on the increase in preload on the rear shock jon I am most likely going to go with a custom rear shock and spring. Maybe 1/4" longer and increase the spring rate by 60-80 lb/in more than the stock one, because I am 230 and the stock spring rate doesn't have enough force for my big butt. So far I am satisfied with the results, I haven't had to time to really get the bike out and ride it good and hard due to the build and weather. I will go take some pictures for you jon I don't have a close up of the underseat compartment. Thanks for the great input. | ||
| Isham |
Didn't trojan do the same to the race bike? I've been wanting to put the SS swing arm on my bike but keep the stock hight. Would it bolt up easy to an 03? (Message edited by isham on April 16, 2007) | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
I believe the Trojan race bike was a Ulysses frame and swing arm. | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
Austin, Thanks for your thinking on your project. Perhaps you should take a look at the Ohlins Buell shock, Model 46HRCLS . I have one on my bike, and I was able to accomplish both of your goals. Ohlins supplied a heavier than stock spring at no charge, and the unit has about an inch of ride height adjustment. I raised it about 1/2 " . The spring I used was #1092-34. I weight 235 in my riding gear. Penske, and Wilber, and others, also make excellent shocks. American Sport Bike, and Trojan, two sponsor have them.  PS. The Ohlins shock put pressure on the fan, and inspite of Ohlins instructions on how to space out the fan, I needed to relieve the fan mounting a litttle with a Dremel. (Message edited by gentleman_jon on April 16, 2007) | ||
| Penders_xb12r |
Gentleman jon thank you I really appreciate the information on the rear shock. Here are some pictures of the rear subframe under the seat.    | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
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| Jkhawaii |
does the longer swing arm make the rear suspension effectively softer due to having more leverage on the rear shock? | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
Austin - Thanks for the pix. Very nice install. I have an S to R conversion, so my tail is really packed tight. Too tight. JK - Yes, your assumption is correct. | ||
| Saintly |
my tail is really packed tight Jon, your worrying me! The sheep are nervous too. | ||
| Teeps |
Jkhawaii Posted on Tuesday, April 17, 2007 does the longer swing arm make the rear suspension effectively softer due to having more leverage on the rear shock? Yes. | ||
| Ericz |
Did you keep your stock rear shock or did you buy the SS shock? If you kept your stock shock did you measure your ride height or seat height difference before and after? Since the two swing arms have different shock mounts the change over should have altered the height of the bike. | ||
| Penders_xb12r |
I actually put a shorter rear shock on it. Its the shock from an '06 xb12cg. So the bike is considerably shorter the highest point of the seat is now at 29.5" I am not sure where they take the measurement from when buell gives the seat height but the bike even looks a lot lower. | ||
| 07xb12scg |
It looks like you took the time to do it right the first time. In the end that saves you time and money. Nice work. As I said before, I wish they'd still offer the low version of the Rs. | ||
| Penders_xb12r |
It would be awesome if Buell made a XB14.5RCG Long in my opinion. That is next winters project to make it a 1450 motor instead of a 1203. | ||
| Ericz |
I am putting the SS swing arm on my 2005 XB12Scg. We will see how it goes and I will post some pictures when it is finished. I thought it would be good to have the few extra inches to help keep the front end down. It will be nice to have with the chain drive that I have gone to. The newer style swing arms have more clearance for the final drive. It will also make my xb that much more unique. Here is what the bike looks like now:     I am also going to the R upper triple clamp/ handlebar set up with just the gauges and two flat lens headlights in the front and no fairing. We will see how it comes out. I tried the R frontend once already but I like the Pro Taper bars on the S frontend better. I think I just have to get comfortable with the different riding position. Here are a few pics as it was going together with the firebolt parts:   I am pretty sure that the new oil lines and parts will fit just fine on my 2005 and I will post what exactly I have to change to make it work. | ||
| 07xb12scg |
That turbo setup just looks so mean. I love the looks of it alone and I'm sure the performance makes it even better! Very nice ride. | ||
| Penders_xb12r |
Your bike looks great. Let me know how the swingarm conversion progresses. Where is your turbo kit from? | ||
| Cereal |
You should rig some kind of hinge setup on the airbox cover and make it a storage area. Is there anything in there now, or is it just hollow? | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
I found your old one! Na, na, na, na, na, na! http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Buell-2006-XB12R-Sw ingarm_W0QQitemZ130100941320QQihZ003QQcategoryZ355 76QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItemb |
