| Author | Message | ||
     Scottorious |
are all x1 heads the same? or did a newer model come out after 1999 but before the xb heads. | ||
| Pkforbes87 |
all '99-'02 tubers had the same style heads. ('98 S1W's also had this t-storm style of heads) However during the '00 model year the cylinder temp sensor moved from next to the rear spark plug to the center of the head. I had access to either style during my rebuild, and asked a few knowledgeable Buell people what the differences are. They told me that the newer style will provide slightly more instantly accurate temp readings since the sensor is mounted in a more central location. | ||
| Scottorious |
cool thanks. Considering whether to keep the thunderstorm heads or go for the xb heads. | ||
| Pkforbes87 |
from the research I've done, I believe it's better to stick with T-storm heads if you're planning on headwork. Stock XB head porting offers more potential than stock T-storm porting. However the T-storms utilize a 15 degree squish band cut into the combustion chamber and matched on the piston. That squish band can be good for fuel atomization and some other stuff that I don't claim to understand at all, but basically offers more performance options if you're going to doing headwork. Short version - if you already have T-storm heads then take what you would spend on XB heads, and spend it on headwork instead. | ||
| Phelan |
OR you can get the XB heads with porting and have them cut a 15* squish band in them (which is free with stage II or III headwork by at least one shop I know) and sell the Tstorms to offset the costs. Porting the tstorms is still cheaper because you don't have to get a new motor mount, but you can utilize larger valves with XB heads, plus the XB's larger fins dicipate heat better. | ||
| Buellistic |
1998 to end of TUBE FRAME Model end of production in 2002 were THUNDRERSTORM HEADS ... 1997 back to ???? had LIGHTING HEADS ... The XB(THUNDERSTORN HEADS)flow better because they have SMALL STEM VALVES ... | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
The XB heads also have those funky beehive springs. I think that I read that they only work with the lighter XB valves. I think it's just a lot more simple if you stuck with the stock heads and put XB rocker boxes on there. | ||
| Preybird1 |
Also the HD xl heads have the same porting as the xb heads, I like these heads because they offer a little more support for the throttle body by using the breather holes as support mounts | ||
| Guell |
preybird is right, the screaming eagle heads are the same as xb heads and have the carb mounts already drilled into them. | ||
| Buellistic |
These HEADS are OEM on the XL1200R ... They have the SMALL STEM valves ... | ||
| Phelan |
the '04-up XL1200 heads are the same as the XB heads except they are drilled for the head breathing. The Screamin' Eagle heads are simply the same head decked .050" for more compression. The XB/late XL1200 heads do not have the same porting as the Tstorm heads. | ||
| Brinnutz |
Ross, they are drilled for the intake mount, not breathers...All heads have those...  | ||
| Phelan |
well, I mean they have the holes for the intake mounts that happen to have holes in them for the breather setup rather than the breathers running out of the rockerboxes. If I could find a good price on a Mikuni 42 with the intake mount I would convert to an '86/'87 manifold so that I wouldn't need holes in the heads with the XB rockers installed. Actually my next set of heads are a pair of '86 Alpha 883 heads that have hemi combustion chambers. I'm going to port/polish them myself and send them to NRHS for new valve seats and valves/springs. They should perform similar to stock XB heads since their 55cc chamber on my stock S2 pistons will bump up compression between 10.5:1and 11:1. Now I just need to find a set of X1 cams... | ||
| Guell |
Yep, stock xb heads have no breather holes in the heads themselves since its routed out of the top of the rockerbox. You could retain your old stock rockerboxes with the sporty heads. | ||
| Phelan |
Or certain shops can drill and tap the XB heads for breathers... | ||
| Buellsrule |
XB heads are the better heads. For any given configuration they will make 3-5 HP more power than the T-storms. Also, bee hive springs are not required in an XB head. You can run an assortment of springs. Bee hives work well and are light weight but they do have to be replaced more frequently than a heavier spring depending on usage. | ||
| Sportyeric |
But they need a pricey billet mount. So bang for the buck would be to spend that money on headwork or something. If money isn't an issue, the XBs are better. |
