| Author | Message | ||
     Dtrain  |
Holy crap! I recently did a bunch of performance mods to my new (to me) XB9 Lightning. I bought the bike used totally stock with 4250 miles on it. I added the Jardine exhaust, Stage 1 ECM and K&N filter and had the dealer reset the TPS for me. All of these mods had a mild performance boost. But the day after that I got my XB12 airbox cover and installed that as well. HOLY CRAP BATMAN! This is a new bike!!  That simple $35 mod is worth more to me than all of the other stuff combined (though I'm sure it's the sum of the parts that make my bike the fire breathing dragon it is now), but it didn't really wake up until I changed airbox covers. If you guys haven't done this incredibly cheap and simple mod yet DO IT!!! For those of you with XB12's, ummm, I'll sell you my XB9 airbox cover if you want to see the difference.  | ||
| Klink  |
try cutting holes in your airbox, and de-snorkel that thing if you haven't already. You'll notice even more of a difference. | ||
| Dtrain |
De-snorkel? That sounds painful!  I would need a bit more detail on performing these tasks (I know, do a search, right?) but I think it's running excellent right now so I think I'm gonna leave well enough alone. Heck I love this bike so much I'm seriously thinking of selling my beloved VTX 1800 that I've had for almost 4 years, it's not going to get ridden much. I'll also hang on to my new BMW K1200RS for longer trips and for carrying stuff. I just put the amber wheels and tank badges on it as well so it's looking as good as it performs as well. (yeah I got it bad) Keep your knees in the breeze!  | ||
| Shawn_9r  |
Dtrain, If you take off your air box and air box cover, you should see a rubber linning the goes around the air intake. You can remove that and it allows more air to enter. From that you get that little extra umpf. Shawn | ||
| M1combat  |
Just to clarify... It's the rubber snorkel that runs through the frame near the front left. NOT the velocity stack in the center. | ||
| Shawn_9r |
Thanks, M1combat After reading what I wrote I am glad you clarified. I knew what I was looking at but... hard for others to see through my eyes. Shawn (Message edited by shawn_9r on February 11, 2005) | ||
| Dtrain |
Hmmm, how will the air find its way to the airbox without the air scoop? (and it's plastic, not rubber). I was thinking about replacing the snorkel with a Carbon Fiber one. I think the scoop looks pretty neat on the side like that. So anyway, what's the secret to doing a wheelie on this bike? he road tests I read said "just grab a handful of throttle in 2nd gear and the front end comes up without hesitation", well I've done this and I'm here to tell you it just ain't so. Do you need to dump the clutch or am I doing something wrong?  | ||
| Tucsonxb9s  |
No the external scoop...inside the frame where the scoop feeds the airbox is a rubber insert. You access it by removing your airbox covers. On the left side of the frame you'll see where the air comes in from the scoop. If there is a rubber insert still in that passage....yank it out! It was put in there for EPA noise standards and restricts some of the airflow. You will get more intake noise when you remove it, but it helps with the other mods you've done. | ||
| Klink |
you don't want to remove the plastic air scoop leave that there. The snorkel refers to the rubber liner that goes up through the hole in the frame, yank that out. As far as doing a wheelie the secret is don't loop it, the bike has plenty of torque to make or break your day. | ||
| Unibear12r |
Not the air scoop on the side of the bike but the snorkle that runs between said scoop and the airbox. If you remove that new airbox cover and sit on the bike look at where the air enters in the upper left corner of the floor of the airbox outside the filter. It goes straight down through the frame/gas tank.  OOOOOPS I lost that race!( as usual!) (Message edited by unibear12r on February 11, 2005) | ||
| Buelltroll  |
When he had the race ecm installed the techs probly yanked it for him, I know they do when they install the full kit.There is a picture floating around here somewere showing the snorkel and the stack to clarify for ppl. | ||
| Blake |
Not the air scoop. The rubber thingy lining the big hole in the frame. Yank it out. ![: ]](http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/clipart/proud.gif) I can't believe no one said anything.  We're all looking out for you Dtrain!  Great post by the way. And excellent advise to all those who have not yet swapped their old covers for the new ones. | ||
| Shawn_9r |
maybe this will help  pull out #5 | ||
| Dtrain |
Got it! Thanks guys, I'll leave the plastic air scoop there and remove the rubber snorkel that connects it to the airbox. Thanks for the advice! Now, about that wheelie.... What does "don't loop it" mean? Maybe I just dont have the guts and am only making a half assed attempt at it. I think if the front wheel really did come way up (and I wasn't trying to make it come up) I'd probably freak out.  | ||
| Buelltroll |
Smack the throttle Let the forks compress and rebound Smack the throttle again Comes right up and can ride it till the rev limit | ||
| Dilysi73 |
I just bought a lightning xb9s. where can i get the 12s air box cheap? | ||
| New12r  |
I just fan the clutch when shifting into second from first at about 3500 rpm, Try a little higher rpm on your 9. It took me a while to get second but when you find it it is over, you wont want to keep the front wheel down. | ||
| Firebolt020283  |
dilsi there not that expencive, like dtrain said they are like 35 bucks though im not sure on the exact price. U can get one through daveS on here and he give a 10% discount to all badweb members. | ||
| Norrie |
Do you need the whole airbox or just the top cover? Norrie. | ||
| Daves  |
Just the top. 31.46 Badweb price I have them in stock! 1-866-757-1651 ask for Dave in the sales dept | ||
| Firebolt020283 |
see dave to the rescue again. | ||
| Lovematt  |
Just keep in mind if you cut any holes in the air filter cover that the intake noise will come through LOUD AND CLEAR. This can be a bit loud because it is basically right under your head. I have two 12 airboxes at the moment...one is left alone and the other has just the top portion that contacts the filter which is held down by foam. It was a noticable difference when I did this just with a K&N filter (itself a worthy mod) and stock muffler. I am interested to see what the different is between the two when I install the Drummer due to arrive today! | ||
| Dtrain |
Norrie, How ya doing mate?  You just need the top cover. The difference is really unbelievable! You want me to send you one of those too?  | ||
| Tucsonxb9s |
Don't forget to cover your rear brake when you attempt your wheelie! To "loop it" means the front tire ends up where the rear was...like a circle...hence loop. You'll end up on your back if your not careful. Rest your foot on the rear brake so that if it starts to get away from you, you can tap the brake and bring the front end back down. I'm still too much of a wimp to pull a big wheelie...I like the 1st-2nd power wheelie when I'm goosing it.  | ||
| Cowtown |
I cut one BIG hole in mine.  | ||
| Midknyte |
That things gotta be loud & proud | ||
| Dtrain |
Wow, that's like...the UN-airbox! | ||
| Tank_bueller  |
Paul, Did you drill the hole for the fuel breather thru the airbox bottom??? Very clean looking! tank | ||
| Cowtown |
Frank, Yes I did. I have a City-X aibox cover, or unairbox cover, and thought it would look much better.  | ||
| Reepicheep  |
If you are slightly less aggressive in what you cut off, you can get just as much air in there and still have the hose routing slots intact. It also gives you a nice cup (where the 12 exhaust servo would go) for a techlusion adapter, extra tools, whatever. You can anchor it down with o-rings and velcro cable ties also if you want a completely noninvasive install. |
