| Author | Message | ||
     California69gs |
Ok so my 03 xb lightning needs a new battery and tread. I live in Wisconsin so it does spend time in storage and driving is 95% city. Do I stop at the buell dealer in New Berlin to pick up oem or do you guys have better suggestions. My brother suggest going to the local battery store and picking up glass pack battery due to storage time. Thanks! | ||
| Bcool83 |
Yuasa batteries are good, but I have no experience with them in a Buell. | ||
| Halffast |
Aftermarket! Only go to the dealership if you like paying too much. | ||
| Not_purple_s2 |
The previous owner put an brand new cheap aftermarket battery in my bike when he sold it to me. If it didn't start the first time you hit it then you had to start looking for a jump. I actually carried jumper cables in a bag strapped to the seat for the first few months. I checked the connections, the charging system, everything, assuming that the brand new battery couldn't be the problem. I finally replaced it with an OEM Buell battery and haven't had a problem since. If you go aftermarket just be careful what you get. | ||
| Midknyte |
I got 5 years out of the OEM battery. For me, that's reason enough to get another. Install it yourself though - they'll want to charge as much or more for the labor as for the battery itself. Charge it first. You should not hit it with a a heavy load before its' first good charge. Spend another $20 on a Battery Tender Junior if you don't have one already. Your battery will last longer and your bike will run better (the ECM gets funky on low voltage...). | ||
| Bcool83 |
I got 5 years out of the OEM battery. For me, that's reason enough to get another. This is a worthwhile statement. My stock battery is nearly 6 years and 9000 miles old and works like a charm. | ||
| White |
You can buy two after market battery's for the price of one OEM. That being said I bought an OEM one. | ||
| Not_purple_s2 |
As far as tires go I really like my Conti Sport & Road Attacks. | ||
| Teeps |
Bcool83 Posted on Tuesday, June 16, 2009 Yuasa batteries are good, but I have no experience with them in a Buell. The OEM battery in my Uly crapped out at about 9 months. That was July or August '06. I replaced the OEM battery with a Yuasa, bought through work for $43, it's still in the bike and working fine... | ||
| California69gs |
I've got a factory hd right now. Came out to my bike after a long nights work. Just plain dead. Walked the 10 miles home as I was the last to leave. I pulled the battery yesterday after work and it's been charging for nearly eight hours without moving so I think it's dead. It's dated march 06 and the bike has 15K on it. As for tires it's been slipping a lot and I bought new rims so I think it's time to break down and do it. Should I buy tires online and have a tire place mount them or go into the dealer and just take whatever they offer to put on them? Thanks | ||
| Drkside79 |
the HD battery is actually pretty good it is also sealed so there is no mixing and no spilling remember that your battery sits on an angle | ||
| Froggy |
The HD battery is also made in the USA. I personally use a more expensive but smaller and lighter battery, but that is for another thread. | ||
| 1_mike |
Pilot Power for tires. They made my XB turn like a mini bike....think it...and it goes there. I hope they do the same for my 1125CR...! The easiest turning combination of bikes and tires I've owned in 25+ years of trying different combinations. Mike | ||
| Wardamneagle |
I like the Pirelli Diablo Corsa IIIs better than the pilot powers (just switched about a month and a half ago). I think that is what comes stock on the 1225's. I wouldn't buy them from the dealer though | ||
| Zatco81 |
War-what advantages do you see of the Corsa III's over the Pilot Powers? I'm also in the market for new tires. | ||
| Vito |
All of my bikes still have original batteries-those Battery Tender Juniors are great and worth every penny. | ||
| Sfinton |
I've always checked out everyone tire threads and all I hear about is Pirellis Corsas and Michelin Pilots. What about Metzelers (M1 or M3)? Cheaper and seem to have good reviews on the online stores. | ||
| California69gs |
Yeah I've got a tender but forgot to put it on this last winter.  | ||
| Froggy |
I have to keep the car on a battery tender, I went to go use it after it sat for a few months over the winter, dead! Then the brakes were all rusted. | ||
| Not_purple_s2 |
Call around to some local places for tire mounting. Most independent shops will do it for less than half what the dealer will charge. HD, like most big brand dealers, has a pretty high labor rate. There's a place in my town that mounts and balances for free when you buy from them. You spend a little more than buying them online but you more than make up for it when they mount them. WAIT! Since you have a 2003; if it has the original belt you might want to have the dealer mount the rear. The '03 belts are susceptible to breakage if not handled correctly when you're removing the rear tire. Make sure, even if you take it to a Buell dealer, that whoever does the work knows this and will do the job right. The best bet is to get a rear stand and remove the rear yourself and take it to a independent shop for tire mounting. just make sure they know its right-side drive. | ||
| Froggy |
Some chalk making an arrow pointing forward should fix that issue. | ||
| Kaveman |
6 years from an OEM (with a tender). I bought another. Same one is used in the V-Rod. About a Benjamin. | ||
| California69gs |
Picked up an oem replacement today. Started right up so at least I don't have to cage everywhere. | ||
| 1_mike |
The Pirelli Diablo's on my 1125 are "not" a fun tire in my humble opinion. The Pirelli's are too slow in reaction times...takes too much effort, compared to the Pilots to get into and stay nicely in a turn. If the Pilots change my 1125 like they did my XB...I'll be very happy. Mike | ||
| Sfinton |
What about Metzelers (M1 or M3)? | ||
| Redbuelljunkie |
Metzeler makes an outstanding tire, and is a subsidiary of the Pirelli Group. What I like about both Pirelli and Metzeler tire performance is that they "communicate" very well- giving the rider fair warning when reaching the limits of adhesion. After many track days on both Pirelli and Metzeler tires, and based upon the advice of many riders and racers- you will be very pleased with both M1 and M3 performance. Interestingly, I have spoken with several riders who have been "bitten" by Michelin Pilots (single and multiple compound). From their experience, the Pilots have excellent grip right up to the limit- but you get no warning they're about to let go. I have visited two friends in the hospital after this exact situation with their Pilots... neither use Michelin anymore. I have also heard that the Michelin multi-compound rear tires can slip right on the edge where the rubber compound changes. I have no personal experience with this, however, because my track tires are Metzeler and Pirelli. | ||
| Miko_k |
I bought the bike with some crap battery, it would reset the clock every time I started the bike, then I got some other crap battery from eBay, turns out the XB12 needs it's CCA's, especially if you are somewhere north and it gets cold(Iwas in Maine at the time), the batteries I had turned out to have 150CCA, when the XB12 needs 180CCA. I bought a kicka$$ one from Scorpion batteries, it's a whole pound heavier than the rest(so I know it has some lead in it  ) and it's rated @ 260CCA. It cranks the pi$$ out of that motor  | ||
| Pkforbes87 |
"Yuasa batteries are good, but I have no experience with them in a Buell." Both my X1's came with Yuasa batteries when I bought them. I assume that Yuasa is what tubers came with from the factory. I've got no complaints with the batteries either. Don't know when/if they were replaced before I bought the bikes, but if they're original then one is 10 yrs old, the other one 8 yrs old and I've had no problems with either. BTW I do keep them on a battery tender every time I get home. I think that extends battery life, and decreases wear on the bike's charging system. | ||
| Cyclonedon |
this last winter when I was at the Chicago IMS, I stopped by the Yuasa booth and they didn't list a battery for the Buell. I asked the sales rep and he said I would have to call the factory to find the Yausa part number that would fit my Buell. I still haven't changed out my three year old battery yet but would like to know the replacement needed. I'm like Froggy, I need a battery tender for my car in the summer when it sits so long. | ||
| Steve_mackay |
whoever does the work knows this and will do the job right. California69gs, I'd seriously suggest, if you don't have the means, or experience taking the wheels off you XB, take the bike over to Hals for tires. They have two of the best Buell techs there. On an off topic note... I'd guess your nickname is from owning a '69 Buick GS/California? | ||
| Jakecheez |
+ 1 on the tendor 1. If you do get an aftermarket battery, make sure it is a gel compound. My roomate got an aftermarket that wasn't and it was dead in 2 weeks. The Buels shake too much for any other battery. 2. I just got Pilot Road 2's. I live in Minneapolis, so our riding is very similar. They warm up fast, stick amazingly and I've heard they last 7-10k. I researched tires forever before I decided on these. I am very happy with them. Any tire you choose Check: motorcycle-superstore.com They have good reveiws and the best prices anywhere on the web. I couldn't find any shop or online store that would come close to matching the prices. | ||
| Clutchless |
my battery is from the factory, and I just turned 13,000 miles. +1 for battery tender on a REGULAR basis +1 for dont just ride around the corner, take longer trips to cycle the battery better (5+ miles at speed) They still cost an arm and a leg (oem batteries that is) aftermarket ones will perform just as well as long as you baby them. |
