| Author | Message | ||
     Rd3501 |
Ok was looking at the swing arm at the dealer and realized I like the look of the older swing arm better. More rounder and smoother. I know that the newer one is 1/2 pound lighter but it also has more plastic for the fender so I am thinking its close to the same weight as the older model. So why did they really change the style? | ||
| Paolo |
I agree. The "ugly" swing arm was the very first thing my eyes detected when I saw the -06 models for the first time... Original model looks much meaner. Is draining oil easier with new model? | ||
| Midknyte |
Drain plug moved. Is lighter. Is stiffer. But it ain't prettier...  | ||
| Deflaytedwayz2 |
i dont know abot stiffer. mine already broke | ||
| Blake |
Got photos? Strength and stiffness are two different things. You have already stated elsewhere on the board that your swingarm was leaking oil at a weld. Not quite the same as "broke" as most would imagine it in this thread. Please be careful with that.  | ||
| Dako |
They also moved the fender and belt guard mounts to make removal easier. Also routed one oil line higher away from exhaust. | ||
| Ozymandismotard |
Broke can mean 'out of working order',which just about describes it IMHO, Ozy from France | ||
| Aldaytona |
Hey, don't forget about that "snazzy" new domed oil cap. I'm thinking old original beautiful swing arm made in Italy, new ugly unfinished looking swing arm made by Ho Chi Mihn relatives and a Wal Mart part number crossover. | ||
| Fdl3 |
Ouch...!  | ||
| Jaimec |
According to the press release, the new swingarms are lighter and stiffer than the old swingarms. Plus, the oil filler is more easily accessible. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, I have no issues with the lengthened swingarm on my Lightning Long. | ||
| Kootenay |
I read somewhere that the new swingarm was introduced because it could be made lighter, stiffer, and cheaper. | ||
| Luvthemtorts |
Each to their own. One of the reasons I sold my 03' XB9R for an 06' was because I liked the look of the new swingarm. Gladly I can also say the dipstick is much easier to remove without getting oil everywhere and is also easier to check and reinsert. I am personally glad that they did away with the "bent weed eater cord" dipstick in favor of one a bit more sturdy. Lastly it is considerably more easy to refill after an oil change. Minor inconveniences for sure but glad I don't have to deal with them anymore. Edit: Forgot to add that the new hugger fender mounts differently and does not collect gravel and other road debris in the crevice where it connects to the swingarm. That always irritated me on the 03'. Had a friend go so far as to pull his rear wheel, clean all the funk out and then reinstall with a bead of silicone to prevent the crap from getting trapped in the first place. (Message edited by luvthemtorts on August 18, 2006) | ||
| Aldaytona |
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, no doubt. The last time I saw a swingarm like the new style one was on Fred Flintstone's car and he didn't seem to care either. It's like painting a mustache on the Mona Lisa, it' still a functional picture but..................................... Who said cheaper?  Although I must admit the new swingarm doesn't look bad on the Uly, the rest of the bike is so hideous that you don't even notice it. | ||
| Darkducati |
Form follows function. As far as beauty is concerned, sometimes one must understand the function to appreciate the form. | ||
| Aldaytona |
I and most of us here can appreciate cheap. | ||
| Court |
Am I the only one who is enjoying the "cheap" element of this thread (i.e. Buell is bad for making something cheaper) while, at the same time, reading the "give the dealer your best offer and threaten to walk" thread. Seems there is a small disconnect between what we expect and what get give? | ||
| Aldaytona |
Having worked at the dealership level most of my adult (my mother might beg to differ) life, I expect what most consumers expect, a quality product for a fair price. I have purchased items for more than what I considered fair because I just had to have them. To me, purchasing Harley-Davidson products was always as much an emotional decision as much as a financial one. I could have bought Japanese bikes instead of my Sportsters and FXRS for less money and most certainly for less than my 1st Buells. The new ugly swingarm/filler cap assembly wouldn't keep me from replacing my XB12R with a new Buell, I would prefer to spend the difference for the original swingarm. But hey, that's the only thing I can see to bitch about from the beginning of the XBR series bikes til now, I'll still swear that Buell sells the worlds BEST bikes (except maybe for the FXDLI35)  | ||
| Jaimec |
If you want form over function, your Buell dealer has a whole building full of motorcycles that fit that description (but they don't have Buell logos on 'em).  | ||
| Aldaytona |
I thought CHEAP was the FUNCTION that was being referred to................ they don't have a building full of that. | ||
| Kootenay |
When I commented on the new swingarm being "cheaper," what I meant was the contract for supplying them went to a manufacturer who could supply them at a lower cost than Brembo (the original supplier). Nothing wrong with that, makes good business sense to award contracts to lower-cost suppliers, as long as the quality is maintained. Personally, I prefer the original Brembo unit, but maybe that's because my bike has one. I do find it to be better looking, and I prefer the one-piece construction. Although, the easier access oil filler and drainplug on the new unit would be nice... | ||
| Ted |
i'm thrifty not cheap! .  | ||
| Court |
I'm parsimonious. | ||
| Buellerthanyou |
If it's not Scottish, it's crap!  HellBuelly J - "...thrifty, brave, clean and reverent" | ||
| Jaimec |
Just had a chance to compare the old swingarm to the new at Bellmore Buell. They had an '05 out front right next to an '06. I probably would never have noticed the difference until I read the postings here. Now, because I'm used to the '06 swingarm, and this is the first time I've seen the '05, I'd have to say I like the '06 better. It's a lot "cleaner" looking to my eye. It doesn't have that "Bayonne Bridge" curve the older unit has... | ||
| Diablobrian |
Court does WHAT with persimmons?!?!? | ||
| Xb12rdude |
I predict in 5 years all Buell parts will be made in China and also have Wal-Mart cross reference numbers. Why not, everything other than HD/Buell is made there. That's why I bought the XB in the first place....... I stop going to Wal-mart a year ago for the very reason they started all this 'Chinese' importing. Someone has to stand up to these peeps, might as well be me. I read somewhere that if you take away grocery type items, the rest of thier product make up is 80% china, that's unreal.  | ||
| Lost_in_ohio |
XBdude nice to meet another man of principles. I stand and spend as my beliefs follow. I stopped buying from walmart for the same reasons. So how many of you at the auto parts counter buy the cheap brake rotors instead of the more expensive raybestos or bendix. 20 bucks vs 50...... Its about principles and how far you will go to live up to what you feel and believe in. opps hi jacking the tread. | ||
| Court |
I bought a Ford, the same month Toyota surpassed them in sales for the first time, because I wanted to get one before they went under. I give'em less than 5 years. | ||
| Mikemax |
Am I hearing right, '06 Long has the new one? I bought my Buell partially 'cause i like the neat engineering gadgets but my swingarm a) has the drain plug right over the one exhaust tip (why isn't the tip on the other side?) and b) requires a long funnel to fill with oil w/o getting it all over (just a little forward and I could probably pour it in right out of the bottle OK). Seems like only performance engineering is prized at Buell?? Then again, I think the mounting on my new Buell tank bag is well though out... maybe it was just an oversight. | ||
| Slickster |
Mikemax You need to get the race can with dual exhaust exit tips so you will no longer question why they designed the oil drain plug above the one exhaust exit. "a) has the drain plug right over the one exhaust tip (why isn't the tip on the other side?) and b) requires a long funnel to fill with oil w/o getting it all over (just a little forward and I could probably pour it in right out of the bottle OK)" Plus the big bore v-twin exhaust sound will be even better | ||
| Mikemax |
LOL I was torn about getting the really nice sound of the Buell race exhaust (a guy at work has one and I loved listening to it while following him) until they discontinued it and made the choice for me. I ended up staying all stock. I leave early in the AM in a high end neighborhood so the other, really loud pipes might piss off some influential people and get me a fix it for an aftermarket exhaust (I am in a really liberal part of CA where everyone thinks their opinions/interests should be shared by everyone else...or else). Really, I have a long steep driveway with switchbacks and loose soil on the pavement(the toughest part of my ride) and I didn't want to lose low end for top end as it looks like the goal of most of the aftermarket exhausts is. I want/need torque more than horsepower, hence my purchasing the Buell. I have a really easy to ride, fun, and different bike. I've disconnected the battery on the 740il since I got the bike. I'm really not the grump I may seem from some of my posts... the bike just isn't perfect, yet. Until then I just use a lot of aluminum foil during oil changes. | ||
| Jaimec |
I also wonder why they exit the exhaust on the left, but it has nothing to do with the oil drain and everything to do with standing at a light. Like all MSF trained riders, I stop with my right foot on the brake, and my left foot on the ground. With the Buell, my left ankle gets "farted" on by the exhaust. It really wouldn't've taken much engineering to exit the exhaust on the right, would it? Unless there was a concern of the heated exhaust gasses on the belt... Never mind... I think I just answered my own question... |
