| Author | Message | |||
     Smoker |
Hey guys... I'm new here. I've been riding since I was a kid, street bikes since I was 16. I've always wanted a Buell and recently stumbled across one that I couldn't pass up. It's a 2001 X1. It starts and runs but needs some work, a serious cleaning, and plenty of preventative maintenance I'm sure. I'll get pics and some more details up soon, but I just wanted to introduce myself. I've been part of many car/bike forums over the years, but you guys seem cooler than the average crowd... which is what I should expect, I guess, because of the rarity and character of these bikes.  | |||
| Desertfox |
Oh yeah, totally cool... Unless you have a thing for bikes with radiators! Gah! Fricken liquid cooled POS bikes! Just kidding. Post up some pics! | |||
| Akbuell |
1. Get a factory service manual. Check with the sponsors here. 2. Did I mention getting the service manual? 3. The Badweb. No matter the situation, someone here has either done the mod or solved the problem. And Welcome, and enjoy the bike. | |||
| Oldog |
welcome to the madness | |||
| Gowindward |
Kyle, Welcome to the club. Even a good 12 step program cannot get you out of this new addiction. Loren | |||
| Fahren |
A great bike. Welcome. (Message edited by fahren on July 13, 2011) | |||
| Two_seasons |
Kyle: Got one of them '00 X1 Lightning's. Last week was riding through your area. Make sure you get down to US50 that runs through Maryland and into WV. All the way over to Parkersburg, WV is really awesome riding. Lots of twisties! Yeah, welcome to another world  | |||
| Smoker |
Thanks for the welcome, guys. I just spent the last hour taking pics and trying to post them up, only to find out that they were too big. I'm not techie enough to modify them, so I'm headed out to the driveway with the iPhone. I'll be right back... | |||
| Fahren |
Just FYI, you can use MS "paint" program or Picture viewer to "resize" the photos to be badweb/online suitable size. Just open the original photo in a program like that, go to the right menu that says re-size, and choose a standard size like web-small, or email-large. Save the changes. | |||
| Smoker |
OK, the phone pics didn't work either... let's try this:
| |||
| Mtjm2 |
Nice bike Smoker ! I to am Tech challenged . WELCOME !! | |||
| Smoker |
ugh... I'll figure it out eventually. In the meantime, here's the rest of the details. I found the bike on craigslist. According to the previous owner's mechanic, it needs new injectors and fuel rail. The bike seemed like a screaming deal and he said he had a list of ten people that wanted to check it out, so I just told him over the phone that I'd take it. When I got there, I found it to be in rougher shape than I'd hoped, but figured for $1600 I can't go too wrong, so I handed over the cash and loaded up the bike. I did get to talk to the mechanic because the bike was still at his shop. Me: "So you're thinking it needs injectors and a rail?" Him: "I KNOW it needs injectors and a rail." Me: "Why do you say that?" Him: "It won't stay running, and the rail is bent from the last owner messing around with it." Me: "Ok." Now, he seemed like a decent guy, and based on the number of bikes being worked on, he must have a good reputation... but I didn't see any other Buells or H-D's for that matter, and most of the stuff appeared to be early 90's or older. My limited research so far has led me to believe that he's probably wrong. He's thinking that because of the bent bracketry on the rail and/or bad injector o-rings, that it's sucking in air around the injectors and leaning out to the point that it stalls. From what I've been reading, I'm thinking it's more likely to be an ecm/mapping problem, or maybe just the fact that the airbox/filter and exhaust are falling apart. Also, I'm not too familiar with FI on bikes, but from working on cars, I know that if an injector isn't seated properly, it won't suck air in, it will leak fuel out. The stock exhaust has been cracked and re-welded multiple times (and is currently leaking), the air filter is just flopping around in the airbox (and I'm not sure what's supposed to hold it in place), and it's been out of inspection for over two years, so who knows how old the gas is... As far as I'm concerned, the order of priorities will be 1. replace exhaust with something that isn't falling apart (anybody have a full stock system available for cheap?) 2. figure out how to secure air filter 3. change oil and put fresh gas in then reassess the situation. Any input from the experts? | |||
| Smoker |
And I'm not sure if you guys can see my attachment or not, but it's nuclear blue and arctic white, and it has PM wheels that need some SERIOUS elbow grease and 10k miles on the clock. | |||
| Kilroy |
Your plan sounds as good as any to start. Make sure you have a fresh, fully charged battery B4 you start fussing with the ECM/maps. Chg the primary fluid while you are changing fluids. GET A SERVICE MANUAL. Kilroy | |||
| Smoker |
I will definitely get a service manual... forgot to list that in the order of priorities.  | |||
| Msr203 |
Don't forget ECM spy | |||
| Buellistic |
Do not forget the "PARTS BOOK" for your YEAR/MODEL because when you have to deal with a HARLEY-DAVIDSON parts person you will understand why ... | |||
| Jamhamm |
i made it as big as i could - unfortunately the original image is a bit too small   | |||
| Two_seasons |
I assume you have a Helmholz air filter. To secure the air filter, peel off the old foam gasket on both sides. Clean air filter surfaces that you will apply new foam to. Go to your local home improvement store and buy foam approximately as wide as what you took off. You'll want to buy the foam that has the tape on the one side of it. Re-foam both sides, then hold the air filter in place using duct tape from the inside where the air flows into the air filter (lightly) to hold the air filter in place when you replace your outer air box. Of course, remove duct tape when you have the outer air box secured. Or, you can simply buy one from American Sport Bike . com. (Message edited by two_seasons on July 13, 2011) | |||
| Jdodd |
congrats on your new ride, I'm lovin mine big time. easily the most entertaining bike I've ever owned. | |||
| Eagleman |
I had texted a friend about that bike. Looked like a good deal on craigslist. Good luck hopefully something stupid wrong with it. | |||
| Nwrider |
Sounds like you are on the right track. Nice buy. Your issues can't be that bad. I am sure you will be ridin soon! | |||
| Smoker |
Thanks for the replies, guys. I think I'll try the air filter foam trick, secure the exhaust a little better (it's basically falling off), double check breather hoses, etc, and see how it runs, then go from there. | |||
| Ratbuell |
If you need a hand, I'm not too far. Down in Frederick MD, just south of Gettysburg. Nice Buell. You'll get 'er running soon enough! If you do get it running well enough to idle for a bit, spray carb cleaner or brake cleaner at the gaskets on the intake manifold (throttle body to intake; injector seats; manifolds to heads) while its running. If the idle changes or it kills the motor...you got a leaking gasket. | |||
| Smoker |
I keep going out to the garage just to stare at it. I'm sure you all understand. Ratbuell, if nothing else, we'll have to meet up for a ride sometime. I'd love to get to know some Buell riders in the area. The first day I saw the bike on craigslist, I saw an S1 at the gas station right by my house. What are the odds... it had been years since I saw a tuber Buell around these parts. | |||
| Hellraged |
lol sounds like me  bought my 98 s1 wasnt running when i got her and just had her in my front yard so i could look at her and sit on it for a month or so before i got it on the road | |||
| Smoker |
I was bored after work so I pulled the intake. The gaskets look beat. | |||
| Smoker |
Ok, I think I'm almost ready to take a ride, but I have a few questions... 1. I have a broken breather stud from the front head to the airbox. It's on order from my local dealership, but am I going to hurt anything if I run it for a few days without it being hooked up? The only other thing I can think to do is make my own. I have a grade 5 bolt that's the right size and thread, I'm thinking I could just use a drill press to hollow it out and grind the threads off the outer part so the hose can slip over and seal. I just don't want to go through that hassle if it isn't a big deal to have it open for a few days. 2. My exhaust. I've seen youtube videos of guys running open headers. My can is beat, and I don't have a rear mount. I don't have the spare coin right now to get another can, and I'd rather just wait till I can get a full exhaust. Will I hurt anything by running open headers? Will it run too lean? I will still have the stock airbox intact. Yes, I know it will be obnoxiously loud. Thanks in advance, you guys have been awesome. | |||
| Desertfox |
Open headers can hurt the valves from what I understand. I've also heard it can cause the bike to run extra lean. Now that's just what I've HEARD. Never tested it before. If I were you, I would at least strap on a straight piece of pipe to lengthen the exhaust. Maybe throw a baffle on it for a little back pressure... Definitely wait for some more experienced advice. | |||
| Smoker |
I've heard that before too, but I've never heard of any specific cases to back it up... I'm all ears. |
