| Author | Message | ||
     Norrie |
Who has the Buell Race Kit and can you recommend it? Does it sound good without being to loud? Does it make a difference to the performance? How much did it cost to fit? I could fit it myself but I understand you have to have the electronics reset is this true? Thanks. Norrie. | ||
| Deuceman  |
I liked the sound when I first got it, but now I want something a little louder. It is definitely an improvement over the stock as far as sound goes. When I bought the bike it already had the kit installed, so I am not sure what all goes into it. From what I understand, the throttle position sensor has to be reset. I also cannot make a comparison to stock performance. When I took my bike in for some service once, my dealer gave me a 12R loaner that was completely stock. It's not really a fair comparison since the stock 12 makes more power, but I feel mine runs fairly close. It could be just because of the sound though. | ||
| Cyko_bob |
Hi Norrie I want to add a question to yours. I am thinking about the Jardine slip-on. I don't have access to a Buell dealer to reset the TSP (I am in Korea), and I am wondering if the slip on will be okay without my bike running too lean. In other words, I want it to sound throaty, but I don't want to do a lot of electronic modifications since I don't have access to the computers to do it...no Buell dealership. Also, the Jardin slip-on has a little baffle that fits with a simple screw, so I am thinking this could compensate for some of the leaness if that is a possibility. Has anyone out there used the Jardine slip-on? Suggestions or comments? Like Norrie, I have the race kit (bought it before I went overseas, but did not have time to install and get it on a H-D computer technician to reset the ECM for the TSP). So, I am looking for alternatives until I am back in the States, and this goes along with Norrie's concerns. Mainly just want the Harley sound now...can outrun all the Harleys over here anyway with my XB9S  It is like being the fastest gunfighter. Everyone wants to try you. | ||
| Odie  |
Cyko, the HD dealer in Seoul doesn't have the capability to reset your TPS?? It seemed like a pretty good shop when I was there.........Odie | ||
| Cyko_bob |
Hi Odie Well, it is more like I don't trust them  I doubt they have worked on a Buell either, since they don't sell them. I really don't want to get into that Seoul traffic either. The Jardine muffler looks pretty good. Although I have the K&N filter and all the stuff for the race kit, I am okay with it close to stock for now...since I am here. It is hard to find a place here to run 130 MPH, although I have had it up to about 120 on a couple of short stretches that seemed safe. Which base were you at...I am at Osan? | ||
| Cyko_bob |
Odie...another comment/question. I have looked at the board off and on, but just registered yesterday, so I have not been reading all the posts. This may be an old subject, but what is the Techlusion? Thanks... | ||
| Odie |
Cyko, I was a UH-60 Instructor Pilot (retired now) up at Camp Stanley by Uijongbou (sp)from 2001-2002. How did they say---12 Km's south of the DMZ and North of the No Smile Line! I hear ya on the trust deal though. Good luck and watch out for those crazy @55 taxi drivers!!!! Odie | ||
| Odie |
Cyko, it is a plug and play electronic box that adds (cannot take away) fuel thru out the rpm range. It is adjustable in various points throughout the range. I use one and it works great. I highly recommend it as will others on the BadWeb. Go to Dobeckengineering.com and it should answer most of your questions or just do a search on the BadWeb and you'll find enough to keep you busy for awhile!! Take care....Odie | ||
| Cyko_bob |
Sounds like just what I need, answers my concerns on having a lean condition if I put the race kit muffler and air cleaner on without adjusting the ECM for the TSP. I even e-mailed Dyna/Power Commander about anything coming out in the future for the Buells, but they said they did not plan on marketing a module for the XB Buells. Thanks bunches...I will look into this....Cyko Bob | ||
| Norrie |
So getting back to the race kit. Should I buy one? Norrie. | ||
| Niels |
buy the hd kit. i have a 9sc with hdrace kit. exellent sound. it has a deep low sound and is just perfect and more power at low trq.  | ||
| Ingemar  |
Unless you're concerned with warranty, I'd say get a good aftermarket pipe that suits your noise & performance expectations (d&d, Drummer, Jardine), a techlusion instead of race ecm and k&n filter. Open up the airbox, remove the snorkel. No need to reset the tps. | ||
| Trenchtractor  |
I'm with Ingemar here... You can tune the TFi, you can't tune the Pro Series ECM. The Jardine weighs heaps less than the Pro Series pipe, too. | ||
| Gentleman_jon  |
Norrie-The race kit works well, and everything works well together. You do need the TPS reset, as the new ecm will not work properly without it, and it many cases, won't work at all. I had my local Harley dealer do it, they charged me for a half hour. While you are at it, they might check the timing and AFS. The sound is much better, and mid range torque is improved. I live in a little village, couldn't really get away with a louder pipe: too many people know me:-). I think it sounds great, and is a real help to let where you are rpm wise when riding in a sporting manner. As far as fitting, a friend and I did it in about two hours, I imagine it would take and experienced mechanic about half that time. Nothing very complicated about it. Cyko Bob -- What Ingemar said sounds good. One thing to note, you can reset the TPS yourself with a laptop and software from Technoresearch: our own Daves, often on this board, can supply the unit. Some people like the idea of the race ecm, to advance the timing, AND the TFI to increase the amount of fuel. I think I might go that route when the snow melts:-) | ||
| Aldaytona  |
Norrie, If you want set it and forget it, buy the Buell Race Kit. It may not be the loudest or make the most peak HP or make the best low end power, but who do you think has the most dyno time and the best R&D? From every thing I have read or seen in the last couple of years it seems to perform better OVERALL than any of the other combinations. Still not sure? Go to the Vault and read the questions/problems/frustrations of those trying to get that last elusive HP and come to your own conclusion. | ||
| Brucelee |
The Buell race kits works very nicely. Sound is subjective, but I think it is just right. Since my install (6000 miles ago) not one hiccup. Bike runs great and is faster and sounds better than stock. I had HD install and it was a snap. | ||
| Cyko_bob |
I see Trenchtractor has a chain on his Buell. Will Sportster sprockets fit? I have a chain on my ZRX1200...and chains have come a long way since I first started riding (1958). Only adjusted once in 10,000 miles on my Kawa. The 11mm belt on the XB9S has to go at some point. I was thinking the 14mm belt as a replacement, but if the Sportster sprockets (or another aftermarket) are available, I may go that way. Feedback please! I realize there are probably other chats on this subject somewhere... Gentleman Jon...I notice there several of us older "gents" on the Buells. Although I have owned touring bikes (also currently own a Valkyrie for two-up riding) and cruisers, I am a sport bike person. Love the little Buell. Mine seems to be so reliable, although I read about others having leaks, head bearings loose, etc. You mentioned covering the oil line in your bio...will check mine to see where it might be rubbing also. Good feedback guys...Cyko Bob | ||
| Cataract2 |
Race kit + TFI unit = big smiles. (Still waiting on the TFI but I will let everyone know how well it works when it gets here) | ||
| Fullpower  |
the sportster front sprocket will fit the XB. www.vortexracing.com (800)440-3559can supply a rear sprocket. the stock XB belt is 28mm wide, and works well as long as you dont encounter a lot of sand,gravel or ride a lot in the rain. | ||
| Cyko_bob |
Fullpower...thanks for the website. I will check it out. I really think the belt is great, but I encounter a lot of sand, pea gravel, etc due to my location. I am just thinking a chain might be better due to the circumstances. Two questions: How do you adjust on the XB...or how are you handling that...ride it until it falls off  ? Second...do you notice any handling/performance gain? | ||
| Trenchtractor |
Well, Cyko... I'm in very sunny north Queensland, Australia... Where the weather is great all year 'round. Roads here are usually scattered with loose stones, mostly around intersections. Quite often when the tyre is hot I get little tinkering sounds on my helmet as I ride down my street (40kph for the kiddies)... The tinkering sound it the loose stones flicking up and hitting my helmet!!! This was really bad when I had the 'S' tail fitted. I had to say that, or the belt deffenders would flame me, again...  My belt snapped at 6,200k's. Buell replaced it under warrantee, but I figured it'd only hapen again, so I did the chain conversion before it had the chance... Both FP and I are running a very similar set up with some little design tweaks my way... The Idler becomes the chain adjuster, elongate the top hole in the idler so the idler can pivot, set the tension you want and do it up tight with some locktite. You'll need to replace the stock idler wheel with something else. Nylon wheels are quiet but will wear out, steel sprocket will loast forever, but are noisy. I used a sportsper front sprocket. You'll need a spacer due to the spline depth on the sportster is shallower than the Buell. This won't be a problem, have you ever seen the spline on the litre Jap bikes that make $150+hp?? The Sportster sprocket is a whopping 21 tooth. My rear sprocket is a custom one made for me out of high carbon steel, recommendation from the manufacturer is that the steel sprocket will last over 50,000k's, as should the GXW 530 chain I'm running. They heat treated the front sproket, too, so they claim will also last 50,000k's. In a couple of years i'll report back on how it's going... There are other issues that you should also address, like how not to let the chain hit the swing arm, and how much to adjust out the tension. The chain will ned to be rather slack as it will tighten a lot as the suspension compresses, so the issue of keeping the chain off the swingarm becomes important. As for performance, I feel the chain is a more efficient drive system, so there is less loss. But I used a 48 tooth rear, which makes the final drive ratio 5% taller than the stock final drive. Having said that, i've noticed no loss of acceleration you'd expect of a taller gearing, in fact even though it's taller geared, it pulls wheelies slightly better. One other benifit I've noticed is that the gears are now a little taller, so I have more legs in higher gears for better acceleration, too. A plus is it's tough as nails, I never had a chain fail on the way to work and make me late, or get me in the poo with my boss... | ||
| Ptrumble1 |
Some of us ride, some of us tinker, let the factory and the dealer do what they do best, get the race kit and leave it up to the professionals. | ||
| Gonen60  |
i like the factory kit... | ||
| Trenchtractor |
Well, I did have the factory kit. I din't like it. That's cos I do ride, and for less money there are better performance options available. Oh and Buell's support of the Pro Series kit left something to be desired. But they did let me return it under warantee when after 3 months it still didn't work... The dealer did everythign in their power to fix the problem... Thanks go out to ORM Snell Townsville for the use of loan bikes while mine was in the shop constantly for the first 3 months I owned it. Not trying to 'rubbish' Buell here, but jeez... It's a bit hard to 'ride' your bike when it's pinging it's head off. | ||
| Ben_jamminvfcc  |
Trenchtractor....you don't get a lot of lash with your chain a little slack as you were saying? I've never heard of sprockets and chains that lasted that long...how much did they cost you? I hear 20K's doing pretty well for sprockets and chains! I got 6K on mine and it's doing fine though... | ||
| Trenchtractor |
'Trenchtractor....you don't get a lot of lash with your chain a little slack as you were saying?' Not really, I'm surprised at how little lash there is... I have an upper idler (if you like) and it's attached to the inside of the peg hanger, so I can feel when it if it does lash. I tested it on a dyno to observe it's behavior. I was also surprised at how well it works, I expected at least 3 prototypes to get it right. 'I've never heard of sprockets and chains that lasted that long...how much did they cost you? I hear 20K's doing pretty well for sprockets and chains! I got 6K on mine and it's doing fine though...' We are using high carbon steel sprockets and a GXW chain. The back sprocket would sell for around $150AUD I guess and the front about $90... The chain is to of the line 530 W ring, at about $260AUD. The heat treatment and carbon content was developed in conjunction with BHP, just to drop a big name. So about $500AUD plus some fabrication and messing around on my part. To put that in perspective the Buell belt is $430AUD plus fitting and lasted 6,200k's. The chain will last about the same as two belts, although that's unproven until about 2006-2007... So I reckon I'll be in front in the long run... The numbers you are talking are for alloy sprockets... Plus the sprockets are 21 tooth and 48 tooth, so they are in effect BL00DY HUGE MATE... So they should wear less than your average sprockets. | ||
| Trenchtractor |
Oh, and there is a thing called maintenance... | ||
| Norrie |
Well I've gone and bought the factory kit. I got it for a good price so we will wait and see how I like it. To be honest I might end up buying a full system. There seems to be new parts coming out for these bikes all the time so I will see what the future brings. I am one of these people who are constantly tinkering with there bikes but I had hassle with a bike in the past where it didn't run right after being dynojetted and it has put me off ever since. To be honest I am quite happy with the extra noise for now. Once it is out of warranty I might start tuning it more. Thanks for all the advice guys. Norrie. |
