| Author | Message | ||
     Fanged_rabbit |
I've been looking at XB9s and it seems that I like the lowered models best. I know they give you a lower seat height (which doesn't matter) and a lower center of gravity, but are there any real disadvantages? Will less suspension travel really matter? I really like the position the low seat puts me in, but it would be cheaper to just buy the lowered version than toss a low seat on the standard version. | ||
| Anonymous |
The bike wil still have 4" of suspension travel, which is enough for almost any situation. The biggest difference is that the spring preload is a little less forgiving on a CG model. By this I mean that when you switch weight on the bike (e.g. add a passenger), it will be a little less forgiving to not increasing the preload like you are supposed to. What do these bikes do better? Well, they are quicker 0-60 and in the quarter mile because you can accelerate harder in first gear. | ||
| Evaddave |
Disadvantage: Speed bumps. On the positive side, the muffler seems to handle the dent okay. | ||
| Dcmortalcoil |
I have a XB9S Low version, and I'm fairly light (140 lbs with the gear). It does not handle small bumps well at all. The settings are its lowest, and still my rear gets launched every time. Anyone know if there's any after market rear shock for my bike. I know Ohlins make BU202 for regular XB9/12S, but not for the low version. | ||
| M1combat |
What settings are the "lowest"? What makes you think that "lowest" would be best? | ||
| Dcmortalcoil |
Lowest (loosest) to reduce shock. Basic common sense tells me to set the rear preload to 1 and open up the compression and rebound setting. What would you suggest M1? | ||
| Buelluk |
I have an XB9S Low, I am 6'1 and weigh around 225, on the recommended settings I have bottomed the muffler once on a quick drop into a dip.. I don't think the low designation makes any difference to the overall handling | ||
| M1combat |
Well, I recommend the factory settings... They seem to work pretty well for me. Aside from that though... If you lower the compression and rebound settings you are effectively just running around on an under or non-damped spring. The wheel moves upwards, imparts energy to the frame, that moves upwards and about that time, the wheel starts traveling down... How exactly does it "launch"? Sideways (steps out) or upwards (hops)? Going straight or only in a corner? Both front and rear or just rear? By setting the rear preload to one you mean turned so the spring is at it's longest available length yes? Just making sure we are on the same page. By opening up the compression and rebound do you mean turned all the way in or all the way out? | ||
| M1combat |
Well, it will make a very slight difference to the overall handling because it's 1" lower. I don't think most people will be able to pick out the difference though. I wouldn't be able to. | ||
| Dcmortalcoil |
M1, I have issues with just the rear shock setting. Preload is at 1 (spring at longest length), rebound at 2 1/2, compression at 2 3/4 turns out (CCW). I've loosened (ccw) the rebound and compression further, but doesn't seem to be much different from what I have now. Launch - what I mean is throwing my rear up vertically off the seat. Standing on pegs helps, but get's mighty tiring after a while. | ||
| Bradyclt |
On my XB9SL given my weight (145-150 w/gear) I've found that using the recommended suspension setup for the front fork works well. On the rear shock I use the recommended rebound damping, but have set the spring preload and compression damping using the values for the next higher weight range (150-170lbs). Did this due to an incident where I was slightly cranked over and initiated a pass... didn't grab a fist full of throttle, but the front end lightened up enough where a moderate, high speed oscillation began in the bars. Not a full-blown tankslapper, but I wasn't interested in seeing where things would go unchecked... backing off the gas a touch cleared it immediately. So, I'm running with this rear setup in an effort to somewhat reduce suspension squat back there to keep the front end loaded more. In theory this also should've sharpened up the steering some, but the difference wasn't noticeable to me. | ||
| M1combat |
I think what Brady did sounds about right... You certainly don't want the front getting real light coming out of a corner... | ||
| Tpoppa |
Allright a suspension thread!! Brady, are you sure you made the right adjustment? The condition you describe sounds like you had the suspension set in a way that the steering was too sensitive. Any adjustment that DECREASES rake angle, will make the steering more sensitive (the reverse is also true). Too much sensitivity can result in a wobble at high speed or under acceleration. INCREASING rear preload or DECREASING front preload will effectively DECREASE rake angle and make your steering more sensitive (check your owners manual). If the rest of your suspension is setup correctly, 1 click or 1 line should make a noticeable difference. When I switched from the stock 207's to Metzeler Z6's, I had the same problem that Brady described. Under hard acceleration, the front end had a tendency to wobble. This was because the Z6's have a different profile then the 207's, and effectively REDUCED the rake angle. To fix it, I REDUCED the rear preload by 1 click, which INCREASED the rake angle and made the steering less sensitive and the wobble went away. INCREASING the front preload would have also fixed the wobble. The factory recommended setting are a good starting point, but your suspension is fully adjustable for a reason. Proper suspension setup has as much to do with road conditions & riding style as it does with the weight of rider w/gear. For me, the recommended settings were OK as long as the road was super smooth, but Ohio has bumpy roads and the rear tire felt like it was going to hop off the road for every bump. Now, my setup is nowhere close to the recommended settings, and the bike handles 100% better. Before making suspension changes, it's important to understand what each adjustment will do. Here is a great article: http://sportrider.com/tech/146_0006_susp/ | ||
| Tpoppa |
The names here are a little silly, but the advice is good: http://sportrider.com/tech/146_0006_susp_handle/ Brady, the T. Tankslapper sounds like it might be your situation. DcMortal, the Rough Riding R. section has some suggestions you may want to try. When making suspension changes I find it helpful to make 1 change at a time and track each change on a piece of paper. It may take a few tries to get it right & you might lose track of which changes were good and which were bad. Hope this helps (Message edited by tpoppa on September 08, 2004) (Message edited by tpoppa on September 08, 2004) | ||
| Hogs |
I don`t care who or what says WHAT...BUT a CG model or a L model IS worst for handling and be sure to WATCH out for POTHOLES or SPEED bumps because if not your going DOWNNNNNNNNNNnnn PERIOD.. and you can say what ya want about suspension travel the only advantage for a low model is for MIDGETS that can`t touch the ground SORRY.!!!! | ||
| Hogs |
I guess there are no disagreedments with me then??? One would think they wd. address a tall person fitting on a XB..say over 6`3'' or more and clearance wd. not be a plm. for the bike there, BUT to lower it like they did BAD move.... what a pity... | ||
| Darthane |
I find it interesting that of all the Low models out there, only you seem to have a problem with their handling and ground clearance. I don't know about you, but I make it a point to avoid potholes and speedbumps on my bikes, PERIOD. Hell, I do that in my truck, too, come to think of it. | ||
| Xb9er |
Hogs, give it up. You expect everyone to believe that the ground clearance on an sCG is 2.35 inches? That is ludicrous! It is 0.8 inches lower than the other XB's, not 2 inches. The next BRAG adventure: "Runnin the Potholes - Canada 2005" hosted by Hogs. If you want a pothole assault vehicle, you need to look into a supermoto bike. Buells were designed to make it easier for normal riders to avoid potholes! Mike. | ||
| Bradyclt |
Buell didn't address taller riders but instead focused on MIDGETS because we apparently have more money to spend on motorcycles. Someone in marketing thought so... | ||
| Hogs |
OH OH Did I hear MIDGETS :-)) Midgets are cool | ||
| Hogs |
12CG and LOWS too bad that one has to watch the road conditions so more when riding and well to mention SPEED BUMPS hahah forget it go over one of them more than 1 mile an hour and there goes your exhaust PITY OH erik or eric whatever ya call him Must have been smoking some BAD weed as you guys say...! | ||
| Anonymous |
HOGS is totally full of it. I have no idea what is wrong with him, other than he knows nothing of which he speaks, and he can't figure out how to spell or capitalize. Oh, I see stupid is as stupid does. Anyhow, a low has exactly the same ground clearance when the suspension is compressed as does the equivalent standard model. You may indeed hit a very high speed bump with your muffler if you go over it and bottom the suspension, but this can happen on either a low or a standard. In either case, all that happens is you dent the bottom of a muffler, not the frame rails or cast parts that might happen on other bikes. Then you should stop and re-set your suspension per the book, because you are riding with the suspension too soft for your weight and riding style. | ||
| Hogs |
ANonymous you and that erik fella must be buddies ....smoking that same wicked weed eh...??? watch out BUDDY if the potholes don`t get ya that KILLER weed will..!!! | ||
| Hogs |
Answer this for me , Could someone... take a 12s and a 12cg no one on board and walk the bike over a 3.5", 4" or there abouts SPEED bump like in walmart ,Canadaian Tire etc.etc roads are worst.. , the list goes on and see which one will HIT the BOTTOM of the exhaust can? PLEASE and come back and tell me ..Thanks but be sure NOT to ride it just walk the 12cg please for your sake...ThankYOU | ||
| Hogs |
I`m going to BED and maybe I can tell the local Buell Dealer don`t worry what you heard about the Cg`s not selling because of their lower clearances... and some racers I know don`t worry the CG`s are just as good what you said is all wrong just as safe as the standard 12`s on the open road... because I heard it on the thread here so .. Don`t worry be HAppy . GooD NIght all..! | ||
| Xb9er |
If what you claim is true and the ground clearance is 2.35" then on a 3.5" or 4" speed bump, if you walked the lowered Lightnings over either one, the bike would end up teetering on the middle of the speed bump with both wheels off the ground, right? When are you going to post pictures of that? No one to my knowledge is arguing your point that in certain situations the muffler can scrape on obstacles. The point is most normal riders, unlike you, try to avoid getting in those situations. It's something called common sense that comes into play. Personally, I steer around speed bumps and I certainly do not go out there planning to hit a pothole. If I hit something that I can't avoid and hit it hard, I expect something might break whether it's a bent rim, bent muffler, bent fork or whatever. Why don't you and your buddy start a class action lawsuit against Buell? By the tone of your posts one might come to the conclusion that you are trolling for support of a class action lawsuit against Buell for building excessively low ground clearance bikes. So you must have pictures of the damage done or maybe pictures of a low or cg being walked over speed bumps and potholes, so why not post them? Name one sportbike out there from a competing manufacturer that has higher ground clearance than the S-low or S-cg AND a belly mounted muffler? Mike. | ||
| Hogs |
HEy Xb9er thats my point exactly the belly exhaust can which part of that don```t you understand? And as far as all that crap about law suits thats something I guess you dreamed up . because its not on my end and for the rest of your post there I have nothing to say .. | ||
| Hogs |
btw there Xb9er IF you did walk the Cg over a 3.5-4"or there abouts speed bump yes you are right it would teeter (hang up )there and bang in your exhaust I hope you can see that...!and why do you mention my BUddy I meant to say a few racers and the LOCal dealer agree 110 percent.. YOU guys think I`m down on BUELLS your all WRONG man.. JUSt don`t see the safty issue here on lowering the damn clearance Safty is what this is all about.!! | ||
| Fanged_rabbit |
Actually the seat of the XB9SL is much more comfortable for me than any other motorcycle seat I've sat on. I'm 6' tall, but most of it is in my legs so most seats jab my thighs. There are 2 new '03 models available to me right now, one Low version that has already been dropped, and a standard version that is a ways away. As for speed bumps, just twist the throttle and ride a wheelie over them...at least that works on my mountain bike....  | ||
| Hogs |
hahah right on Fanged_rabbit ..But for the inexperince , NOT as Experince rider going into a turn etc. The low CG model WILL Bottom out before the standard model ill regardless of what or who ever says what..!BUell seems to have built it for lower leg ppl. However Being lower DOES cause a clearance plm. SO Just be carefull is the point only that I`m trying to get across.. | ||
| Hogs |
also the standard version would be a better one for you base on your all legs Right or wrong???? | ||
| Blake |
"However Being lower DOES cause a clearance plm." Nope. No problem whatsoever. I've don't recall seeing any speed bumps much taller than 3", which even with rider on the bike would leave over a half inch of clearance remaining. With the rider off the bike the clearance would be more like 1.25". Even if the muffler did momentarily scrape bottom going over a speed bump, it's no big deal. Sure as hell isn't going to cause a problem. Would you care to tell us why you are so pre-occupied with the issue? Do you own a lowered model Buell? Know someone who does? Why are you so concerned with an imaginary bottoming out over a speed bump problem? Conversely I could say that the standard models are so high that I could smack my head on a low overhanging tree branch. Stupid Buell! What the hell were they thinking! Get it. | ||
| Fanged_rabbit |
Actually, I fit the same on the standard as I do on the L version since all the hardware is still in the same place. The only thing that really makes a difference is the seat because it sits me more upright and the front is narrower. Because I have long legs, they aren't forced apart as far by the width of the motorcycle as most peoples would be. This creates a narrower angle between them. Because my legs are at a narrower angle, most sport bike seats are too wide in front and jab my thighs. I also hate feeling like I'm being leaned forward. I could easily put the lowered seat on the standard model and it would be perfect, but it's kinda nice being able to flat foot the bike with my knees bent at close to a 90 degree angle and keep my feet away from the exhaust. Just like riding a really fast easy chair! (Message edited by Fanged_Rabbit on September 10, 2004) | ||
| Tbs_stunta |
That's why most experienced riders wheelie over speed bumps. |
