| Author | Message | ||
     Quincyskewes |
I have a 2003 XB9R that I really enjoy. I have no arguments with its ability to turn or stop but my concern is (as many others) horsepower. I am a college student and don't have a huge supply of cash so I am trying to make my spending decisions wisely. What are my first moves for improving horsepower numbers and what really works? | ||
| 147db |
Re-routing of the breather hoses. | ||
| Cereal |
First of all, what is done to it? Is it stock? Here are the quick and cheap ones: Re-route the breather hoses to a catch can. These can be homemade for cheap. $20 XB12 airbox (you can tell if you have it or not by the inverted nipple). Then cut it if it is not the newer model that comes pre-cut. $35 De-snorkel. $0 Race or K&N Air Filter (much argument on this one) $50 Not so cheap, but reasonable: Race ECM. $150 to $200 Exhaust. $200 to $1200 (wait until you have the money and get a good one. I went cheap and got the Jardine and have been hating myself ever since.) Should do race ecm, exhaust, and air filter at the same time. | ||
| Cereal |
Oh yeah, and give up trying to compete on the straights with the ricers. It will never happen. I think it is Slaughter that always tells new guys to forget the big performance stuff, and spend all your money on suspension. | ||
| Jaimec |
The money spent on performance mods is better spent taking a track school such as Keith Code, Kevin Schwantz, Reg Pridmore or Penguin Racing... | ||
| Slaughter |
Don't get me wrong, the stock suspension is very usable as issued. You can change to springs more appropriately matched to your weight and riding "style." Then you still have to spend the time dialling it in. Problem is that it takes homework, a good notebook, running many times over the same courses/turns and making small changes to get suspension working well for you. When you get engine work done, it's well... done. You will STILL have to work on the suspension. What Cereal posted above is kind of a good shopping list for engine stuff that can be done "on the cheap." And yeah, our bikes were NEVER intended to be only fast in a straight line. | ||
| Trojan |
Generally speaking, the more power you extract then the less reliability you will have (although there will always be someone who will be the exception to the rule). More power = more heat + more mechanical stress, and if you are on a tight budget you will have to consider regular rebuild & running costs etc as part of the tuning programme. Personally I would leave the motor stock internally and just do a few mods as outlined above for road use. A decent exhaust & airbox mods will pay dividends, particularly on the XB9 models. If you have any money left over spend it on suspension, brakes or training. | ||
| Surveyor |
Man....! so much good advice on such a short thread. +1 Trojan, Slaughter and Cereal. Not a single mention of Techlusion boxes, Power Commanders etc etc....I'm impressed. Consider good tyres XBs like 'em. What the guys said, get your bike to handle well then learn to ride it well. (Message edited by surveyor on October 11, 2007) | ||
| Glitch |
Problem is that it takes homework, a good notebook, running many times over the same courses/turns and making small changes to get suspension working well for you.  The little nine had no problems with regards to power while playing in the hills last weekend. I think I may have even surprised a few while riding two up. I only have the Buell Race Kit engine wise. I have hours, and hours tweaking the suspension. | ||
| Mesafirebolt |
Umm, I would suggest a new pipe! use Odies or some one elses stock "garage" design You may not get a lot of power out of it but the looks you get cruising down the street are worth about 75 ponies! The breather mod is also a fine way to spend 25 bucks. it does s few things for you... | ||
| Evil_twin |
M'kay. Call me stupid. How does re-routing the breather hoses translate to more ponies? It has probably been explained to death, but I just don't get it. Rich  | ||
| 147db |
Uh... Water vapor and oil aren't combustible, the warm air is an enemy of the good carburetion and keeping the throttle body (and air filter) clean is always recommendable. | ||
| Hisxb |
Does any one out there have any BIG Bore Bikes they are not ashamed to post numbers for. What does that money really Buy? O WELL - Sure sucks the folks at buell thought we all wanted a water cooled SOUL-LESS something instead of the 1350 4-in bore White Lightning we deserved for our 25th. I was so excited to see the side covers at Home coming just to have all the life let out of my hopes when they said the Potato-Potato was dead. All the bike magazines make it sound like the 1125 is the only satisfactory bike Buell has ever made. Owell thanks to them turning their backs on us old "Harley People" I guess it is up to us to STOMP the water out that 1125's ass......If anyones up to it...  Don't get me wrong, I still love Erik, I just wished he loved us back. Anyone else out there feel left out in the cold? | ||
| Glitch |
Anyone else out there feel left out in the cold? Why would anyone? The XB isn't dead. And I've never cared what the magazines say anyhow. | ||
| Diablobrian |
Come to homecoming. You'll see and feel the love that there is for these bikes that are supposedly orphans. Not to mention getting to meet and hang out with some of the greatest people in all of motorcycling. I can't wait for Homecoming 08! | ||
| Bads1 |
You got that right Brian. | ||
| Rsh |
Hold the throttle on longer, brake deeper. You will be surprised how quick a XB9 is when you twist the throttle to the stop. And best of all it won't cost anything. | ||
| Josh_ |
Be faster on a XB9R in two easy steps #1 #2  | ||
| Halsracing |
Justin give me a call I would love to talk about all the options that we have. 1-262-860-2060 (main) 1-262-814-7282 (speedshop) Terry G | ||
| Diablobrian |
With my bike as an example I'd say Terry G (halsracing) can coax more performance out of an XB9  Granted my bike isn't a 9 any longer, it's a 1250, but 99rwhp and 87ftlbs kind of speaks for itself.  http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/384 2/148752.html?1137447326 | ||
| Strato9r |
Gotta agree with Josh; 1: learning good technique will make you a better, faster rider on any bike. 2: Less ballast, less for any engine to do. I've also been experimenting with suspension setups, and it really makes a big difference in how the bike feels. When the tires stay planted, the bike will hold a line better, and let you build momentum earlier out of corners. (just ask the Gixxer guys I rode with earlier today!) One other thing that I find really helps, is to spend as much time on a bicycle as you can. You use the same muscles as you would on your motorcycle, and it really helps your focus, especially after riding for hours. | ||
| Isham |
how does a catch can increase performance? Dyno results? | ||
| Treadmarks |
Reroute the breather hoses and use a catch can or drip hose. K&N air filter. Use ECM Spy to optimize your fuel map. Then save up for a can, or system. | ||
| Mesafirebolt |
If you have ever seen the gunk that drips out of a catch can you would know! All the oil, hot air and water vapor displaces the fresh air volume available for the engine to make power. the gains may be minimal (DYNO?) but anything is better than letting that crud BACK into my engine after it worked SO HARD to get rid of it! | ||
| Zac4mac |
Hey hisxb- Look at the bright side. Now you guys with lump XBs are that much closer kin to the tubers. My brother has my ExB9 now and I'm impatiently waiting for my new 1125R. Evolution is a good thing unless you're a dinosaur. And don't take any of this wrong, I still love that Firebolt and brother is instructed that he doesn't EVER sell it to anyone but ME. Not even his son... Z | ||
| 147db |
Hmmm... K&N? I'm back to the stock filter and the power delivery is the same. With a lot more safety! http://theoildrop.server101.com/forums/showflat.ph p?Cat=0&Number=805876&an=0&page=0#Post805876 | ||
| Treadmarks |
Hmmm... K&N? I'm back to the stock filter and the power delivery is the same. With a lot more safety! http://theoildrop.server101.com/forums/showflat.ph p?Cat=0&Number=805876&an=0&page=0#Post805876 I have seen this before. This is what happens when the filter is not properly oiled, or after washing it someone dries it with an air hose. I have over 150k miles on my 99 f150 and the K&N has been on it the whole time (second one actually, I killed the first one with an air hose).  | ||
| Jaimec |
Probably the cheapest way to improve the power-to-weight ratio is to go on a diet... | ||
| Treadmarks |
Yeah Bro...  | ||
| Jaimec |
DANG!!  |
