| Author | Message | ||
     Thumper74 |
I've been catching myself looking at classifieds for XBs and I'm tempted. How hard are maintenance parts to get at this point? Belts? Filters? | ||
| Tootal |
Oil filters are easy. I just get an automotive one that fits. I checked the specs and they're the same. I just bought a belt, no problem. I put a K&N on it years ago so I just clean it when needed. I just got new throttle cables too. I think the rubber pucks on the frame are NLA. | ||
| Tpehak |
Not hard at all. But I would not buy an XB at this point. There is a bunch of another reasons not to buy a Buell. If you buy Buell you buy troubles. The only two happy days in a Buell owner’s life: the day you buy the Buell, and the day you sell the Buell. (Message edited by TPEHAK on February 10, 2021) | ||
| Shoggin |
Thats a pretty pathetic cry for attention. ^^^^^^ | ||
| Thumper74 |
I've had three XBs prior to the mothership closing and never had any issues I haven't had with other bikes. Reliability isn't a concern, getting parts would be. I'm also considering a Speed Triple or Duc Streetfighter | ||
| Tpehak |
Don't consider those two, those are even less reliable and less durable than Buell. If you really believe that you will need only oil and air filter for your Buell I wish you good luck. But I'm gonna tell you that there are still very successful businesses selling a bunch of crap for Buell other than oil and air filters. Guess why they are still exist? (Message edited by TPEHAK on February 11, 2021) | ||
| Greg_e |
I was sort of considering selling my XB9R, but if the market is that bad, then not worth my time. Would be nice if we could get the engineering drawings so that we could make our own parts, at least the ones that don't take special casting machines (think frames). | ||
| Ratbuell |
Guess why they are still exist? Um....to support vehicles that people still ride and enjoy nearly a dozen years after the last one was built? Maybe if you learn how to care for your machinery, you can enjoy them more. My Buells take fuel, oil, tires, brakes, and occasionally a fork service, and they run and ride great. I've had to replace 2 belts and one voltage regulator on my Ulysses in more than 30,000 miles of use, and that's all. Wow. You're right. Absolute shit machines. To the OP - if you're craving one, pick one up. They can be enjoyed quite easily. Mechanical parts are easy to get; specific parts (frames, wheels, body parts) can be had relatively easily through used-parts sources if needed, but those are typically only accident-related needs. | ||
| Zane |
My XB eats O2 sensors like crazy. I can still get them from HD. The aftermarket has plenty so I've never had a problem getting the part. | ||
| Ourdee |
Zane, have you checked the rear spark plug to see if oil is getting in the rear combustion chamber? | ||
| Pwnzor |
No more used vehicles for me. | ||
| Ourdee |
You dropping the KLR off next time through? It's too tall for me any how. | ||
| Tpehak |
No more American or European vehicles for me, used or new. Only Japanese. Hell, even on my German designed E-Bike with Japanese Yamaha motor the crappy part was the simple part of the German designed frame I had to replace while the most complicated Yamaha parts worked flawlessly. (Message edited by TPEHAK on February 11, 2021) | ||
| Xbpete |
James, most parts can be had, even beyond the regular parts for maintenance. There is an active replacement supply line from St. Paul HD and for even the hard to find parts over in Europe, Custom Buell Service in Italy made and sells the shifters after HD dropped them, Twin MC in the Netherlands carries tons of parts and Jens and Julia at NCCR in Sweden also are actively creating great parts both replacement and custom for our water cooled Buells. Still great bikes once sorted or buying one from another Bueller who respected his bike. I'm all in on Erik's designs and is needed, would buy another in a heartbeat. | ||
| Zane |
Good thought Ourdee. Yes, I have checked the back plug for signs of excessive oil. There doesn't seem to be any problem like that. My XB never uses a drop oil. I've written most my miles in high heat areas like Arizona and Florida. Plus the O2 sensor itself gets crazy hot so I'm wondering it just overheats and cooks itself. | ||
| Zane |
I guess I never answered Thumper74's implied question. Yes, if you can get a used XB, jump on it. They cost much less than what they're worth. You won't regret it for a second. | ||
| Ourdee |
An XB is truly an under-priced value today. | ||
| Tpehak |
Not on my standards. | ||
| Ratbuell |
Then leave the forum and don't buy one. | ||
| Pwnzor |
You dropping the KLR off next time through? It was free. I will not be very likely to purchase any used vehicles at this point in my life. I don't have time to do my own wrenching anymore. I had entertained the idea of fixing it up, but honestly I'm a lot closer to just buying the 2022 KLR than I am to fixing up the old one. | ||
| Ourdee |
What is wrong with the old one? | ||
| Aesquire |
One valve cover gasket replaced, leaked. Fine now. Had to rebuild carb after a 3 year sit while I was delaying installation of replacement parts on Me. ( New Titanium & plastic knees ) The Sta-bil and booze gas mutated to that stuff in bubble tea. ( I assume, I haven't tasted either ) Plastic foam dripping out. Didn't even need new gaskets, just disassembling and cleaning. That's on a 2001 Cyclone Low, so the carb isn't a problem with the XBs. 20 years with near zero issues... 4 batteries? Synthetic oil, that's the secret! I've taken my Suzuki GS1100E apart more to do valve lash shims. Twice. I admit the GS750B was torn down more, but I did port the heads, it wasn't a maintenance thing. And my Yamaha 750 triple never needed a thing, until the guy I sold it to broke the trans. My GT380 did get dingle-ball honed multiple times, a half dozen new pistons, porting, ( The jugs were off, again, so why not? ) points by the handful, and condensers by the double handful. Three sets of points on that little smoker. The Kawasaki 500 triple just needed an ignition module... I like Japanese machines in general, but they're not perfection. And you need tiny hands to synchronize carbs! | ||
| Ratbuell |
Yeah, I need to sync the carbs on a buddy's '73 Honda CB350/4. Son "rebuilt" them, total butcher job, ended up doing the job again since they all leaked like a screen door from both the bowl gaskets (all 4), and from the tubes that connect the fuel bowls between carbs, but now I need to find that gauge set so I can sync them and get the damn thing running again, and get it out of my way. Anybody know, is there a baseline like on the idle mix screw on a CV? Like the "bottom it, turn it out 1.5 turns"? | ||
| Thumper74 |
No dice on the bike I was looking at... $5200 for a 2004 XB12S with 12k on it. Dealer won't budge since it's a 'rare' bike and a piece of history | ||
| Ourdee |
Tell them congrats on the start to their new museum. They think they have gold. | ||
| Ducbsa |
Only 24k on my 2007 bought new XB12S, but it still is a thrilling ride! | ||
| Etennuly |
Ya well I have a slightly used 06 Uly for sale. It would never be up for sale but for the fact it has outlasted my physical abilities. Sadly I've only ridden it about 68,000 miles. Just a couple thousand of that over the past five years. I so wanted to put over 100,000 miles on it. I do still love it, but I have not got the physical control of my legs, from an old back injury, to feel comfortable enough to continue. I will still ride blastulys though ! I'm posting an add in classifieds here. Yeah. This a testament to the great machine my Ulysses has been. It has required maintenance and occasional repairs. But MAN ! What an amazing ride it has been. | ||
| 86129squids |
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| Ourdee |
I ride an 08 XB12Scg. So, I don't need to buy one. | ||
| Glitch |
Would you buy an XB at this point? My heart says "absolutely" My arthritic back and shoulders say "oh hell no. My left arm says "sure, go ahead, I'll do what I want tho" I loved my bike and would ride as much as I used to if I could. The 03 XB9 was the best bike for me hands down. |
