| Author | Message | ||
     Evil_mechanic |
Ive made up my mind to get an XB12s and am currently looking at 3 different years. an 04, a 05 and an 07. The 07 is a little over $6k, has 3k miles on it but would have to be shipped from coast to coast. the 05 is a little over $5k and has 6k miles on it and i could pick it up semi locally. the 04 is $3500 and has 9k miles on it and is also semi local. All 3 bikes are advertised as needing nothing and having nothing cosmetically wrong with them. they all have tasteful mods that i like for the most part. my question is is one year better than the other? besides the obvious like less mileage.. is there anything that is always replaced on any of those years? is one year alot better than the other, and if one of those years are inferior is it something simple that can be swapped out with a newer better part? also do all of the plastics fit the same on each year? like could i take plastics from a 07 and put them on an 05? thanks in advance! | ||
| Badbueller |
I would personally go with the 04. That is a steal for a cherry 12s with that low of miles. The changes for the most part from what Ive learned on here are negligible and plastics fit all year model 12s and 9s. Also a local bike is much better as well so you can check it out personally. You can swap the upper airbox from an 07 12s which is better for $33 from buell. Not sure what else but I don't see anything that would be worth nearly double the price. Go with cheap and have the rest for mods! | ||
| Froggy |
04 was the first year of the 12S, 05 brought new 43mm front forks and various cosmetic changes. 06 brought a new swingarm, new airbox design, larger capacity fuel tank, smoother shifting transmission, more cosmetic changes. 07 brought another airbox revision, Pirelli wheels, upgraded oil gear, and more various cosmetics. Its a little more detailed than that, but those are the big things. | ||
| Hughlysses |
I think 06 actually included the upgraded oil pump drive gear; 07 added a slightly revised oil pump with increased scavenging capacity. | ||
| Xb9er |
No major changes in the 3 years. I would go for the 04 because A its a steel and B its the fastest year | ||
| Evil_mechanic |
Thanks for the info guys. Froggy- what was new about the swingarm in 06? I like the idea of having more fuel capacity, and a smoother shifting trans. maybe i should be looking for an 06 and up! I do agree that the 04 is a great deal, but im worried that i would be happier with newer technology. Is there an online list of TSBs for Buell? Im curious as to what common problems they have from year to year. Thanks for all of the info! Im really excited to get this bike, but i want to make sure i take my time and not have buyers remorse. | ||
| Bads1 |
I have a 04. These things Froggy speaks of aren't huge. The money saved on the 04 versus the other 2 out weighs in a big way. The swingarm on the 04 many like better just because its more rigid. The forks you won't know the diff. The airbox is a upgrade to a 04 in 10 minutes. The tranny. Change the clutch spring and use the 06 fluid requirements. Either tranny are still some what notchy. To be honest your saving good money on the 04. | ||
| Bigblockbruce |
I just picked up an '04 and, for whatever reason, it shifts better than the '06 Uly I used to have. $3500.00 is a smokin' deal for that '04. The one I just got I paid $3250.00 for with a salvage title. But that's OK; I have no plans to EVER sell THIS Buell.  |
