| Author | Message | ||
     Fireboltguy |
Hi, I am new to the forum and new to Buells. I just bought a 2003 Firebolt XB9R. I picked it up a couple weeks ago, and pretty much just got to ride it home and then park it in the garage for the winter. So I am really excited to get going on it come spring. So in the meantime, I was just wondering what sorts of simple mods most people do to this bike, or Buells in general. The guy I bought it off of mentioned a bunch of things I might want to do, and I wanted to get at least a second opinion, or a third. So here is what it has: - lowered foot pegs for less aggressive riding position - Jardine pipe - Frame pucks Here are some additions I was thinking of doing. (Let me know what you think of these): - K&N air filter? - Wrap the pipes to take heat away from the engine, and maybe my pants too? - I have heard something about modifying the emissions stuff around the air box? Something about a snorkel? Any other things that are common or recommended? As I mentioned, I am new to Buells, and relatively new to motorcycles, so any advice you could offer would be much appreciated. Thanks! | ||
| Alfatango1 |
Not sure I'd go with a Jardine pipe. From the dyno tests I've seen they seem to have a mid range hole but a nice top end. Also the longevity is questionable. Some of the modified stock pipes have a great reputation like Special O.P.S. and Drummer. D&D makes a nice one but is really loud, I heard a Rhemus when I was in Europe recently and liked it but it's like $800 so not for the average wallet. Well not mine anyway. | ||
| Nightstalker |
Don't park it the garage yet still some nice riding days left.  | ||
| Sparky |
Regarding the snorkel, that's the hollow rubber insert inside the left frame air duct. Remove the left air scoop and the snorkel can be found inside the frame air duct. Grab the snorkel and pull it out from the bottom. With the snorkel out, there is a potential for flowing more air, thus making more horsepower. Other performance mods that are easy bolt-ons are the Race ECM and Race air filter (K&N) and Race Muffler, although most any aftermarket muffler may provide some kind of performance benefit (other than noise). | ||
| Billyo |
My wife's SCG has the Jardine and it sounds really tough. The bike is new so I couldn't tell you how long it lasts between repackings. I have the Drummer on my 1200 Firebolt and it sound really good- a nice deep rumble. I'm thinking about a Special Ops for my XT but I'll probably ride it for a while with the stock exhaust; the quieter ride is kind of nice on the more relaxed bike. The snorkel removal, open airbox and the race computer will give you a good intake rush. As far as performance gains I'm not really sure. Everything that I've done was done incrementally and the mapping should probably be modified at this point. It took me ten minutes to type this so I don't trust myself with the ecm spy. I hear other people talk about how the front wheel comes right off the ground on them and my bike has never been like that (an 1125cr does!). I weigh 235 so maybe if I lost about 35 I'd notice what others do. | ||
| Ghostrider |
I have an '03 XB9R that I bought in July of '03. It has the factory race kit installed (pipe, air filter, race ECM). I haven't done one other thing to it and it's been a wonderful bike. You could do frame pucks, but I wouldn't go crazy modifying it. I'm one of those that thinks the Elves did it right with that bike and it needs no modification. |
