| Author | Message | ||
     Steve_A |
I'm doing a story for an annual magazine, "Big Twin's Harley-Davidson Power & Performance" on the XB9R race kit. I should have dyno runs and get a chance to ride the bike in the next day or two. In the meanwhile, I'd welcome feedback from anyone who has either installed or had the kit installed on their own bike. How did the installation go? How much did you have to pay to have it installed? Were you satisfied with the exhaust note and level? The power? The powerband? What did you like least? The most? Any problems? Thanks, Steve Anderson | ||
| Reepicheep |
Steve... I stumbled across that magazine last year at a newstand. Picked it up for a laugh, and found the information inside fantastic. Let us know when the next one is out, I will make a special trip for it. | ||
| Steve_A |
It's one of those best kept secrets things. Engine builder Bruce Fischer helps out a lot, and Kevin Cameron and I are usually cornered into writing some stories for it, as we're both gearheads and available. It's put out from the Road and Track and Cycle World offices, edited by Paul Dean. Keep an eye for a book this fall as well: "A Harley Century". It's an unoffical and unlicensed 100th anniversary history published by Motorbooks, and they grabbed the most knowledgable people on a number of issues. I wrote a chapter on the Twin Cam development from extensive interviews I did with the engineering team (for a book that Harley licensing ended up not approving), another chapter on the Revolution and V-Rod development, and a chapter on Buell history. There are also chapters by Alan Girdler (Sportster and racing history), Kevin Cameron, Brock Yates (the social scene), Hunter S. Thompson, and others. (end advertisement). | ||
| Darthane |
Regarding the race kit: I purchased one as soon as I could get my grubby little hands on the damned thing, took it home and proceeded to install it myself that night. Installation notes: The ECM was the first thing to go in. I had to remove the front fairing, which basically just means the turn signals and mirrors plus two more screws. The ECM itself is located just above the headlights and was a cinch to get out and pop the new one in. Replace the front fairing and bang, step one done. Probably took me about a half hour all told, looking things up and talking to my friends while doing it. The air filter was next. Piece of cake. Pop off the seat (2 screws) and airbox cover (4 screws), undo the plastic snaps and remove the old one. Reverse to put it all back. Maybe five minutes. Finally the muffler. My only real beef with the muffler itself was that someone apparently manhandled the box mine was in and it curled the ends of the pipes in. I haven't gotten around to bending them back out because I haven't figured out a good way to do it without marring the finish. Personally I like the dual-out look and it matches the engine color perfectly, 'fetal pig' or not. As for the installation, what a nightmare. Remove the chin fairing (easy), remove the sprocket cover (easy), loosen the rear axle 15 turns to relieve belt tension (easy) and remove the idler pulley. Hmm...idler pully. Two nuts and you just slide the thing off, right? Holy crap. Mine (hopefully it's just mine, I wouldn't wish this on anyone) is machined wrong, causing the pulley to pinch the two studs holding it in. Took three of us working in shifts over a half hour to get it off. After that, the three clamps supporting the muffler and the clamp where the header connects were a snap. I think it is possible to turn the rear two clamps opposite, and thus negate the need to pull the idler pulley off to drop the muffler (has anyone tried this?). I just put mine back together the way it came. All told, this probably took me two and a half hours, but without the idler pulley nightmare it would have been suitably shortened. Last but very important, have the TPS reset. Not a problem if the dealer installs it. A bit more of a problem for do-it-yourselfers, since the bike will not run long enough to get you to a dealer on its own. :-) Sound and powerband notes: I love the way this bike sounds. Much deeper than stock, a real growl when you twist the throttle. Sure it's not as loud as some of the aftermarkets for the tubers, but I think it's a cleaner note. There is such a thing, I think, as being too loud. One of my buddies has a V&H on his X1 with most of the packing blown and it's just obnoxious. Oh, and my girlfriend says it's 'sexier' than my buddies bikes (S3, M2's, and X1s). Can you ask for a better remark than that? As for the powerband, I wish it had more midrange grunt (the torque really kicks in at 5000RPMs), but make no mistake, the bike is QUICK. The HP numbers are still going up when the rev limiter kicks in and I've no doubt that the bike could run closer to 8000RPMs without much risk. I'd like to say that the race kit made a big improvement in my 1/4 mile times (pre-race kit best was 12.775, post 12.221) but I think most of that was just me getting better at launching the bike. Also unfortunate - I was unable to get a baseline dyno run before putting the kit on, so I'm not sure what it really gained (SOTP says enough, though). Once kitted, mine ran at 82.7HP and 66.2FT/LBS. On the flipside, I'm probably happier not knowing what it was stock. :-) Hope this gives you something to work with. I know quite a few people have put the race kit on that post here, so I expect you'll get some more feedback from them. Bryan | ||
| Blake |
Steve, You gotta use the "fetal pig" descriptor in your article, too funny.  You saw that pic of the race muffler right? | ||
| Ar15ls1 |
Darthane, what were your mph differences at the track before and after the race kit? This will give some indication of your hp differences. And I want to know myself!!! | ||
| Steve_A |
Thanks, Bryan. I've run some simulations using Quarter Pro (a highly recommended drag strip simulation program), and probably about 0.3 second of your quarter mile time is the kit, based on dyno curves that've been posted on this board. It also shows about a 3 mph increase in terminal speed. I, too, would be interested in what you actually got for termninal speed. In general, times for the Firebolt that have appeared in print have been slightly disappointing -- I think it may be difficult to launch. And thanks for the information. | ||
| Court |
Quoting a famed journalist. . . Quoting a less eloquent journalist. . . Historical Perspective: (circa 1990) Dateline - Heartland Park Topeka: I arrive at the "run what you brung" drags on a just hopped up 1990 Buell RS-1200 (55" wheelbase) to watch. After some friendly coaxing I am drawn into entering my first ever drag race. Hoping to augment my lackluster knowledge of technique I ask the first beard on a Softail I see. . . "how do you start one of these?" The reply, "just wind'er up to about 9,000 and dump the clutch" In retrospect, I thank my parents and the public school system physics teachers for equiping me with a, albeit short of Blake Rudy, but nonetheless rudimentary, command of intuituve physics. Two things, about the suggested procedure, bothered me. First, a Buell wrapped to "9 Grand" is a prime candidate for terminating it's loving communion with it's whirily-parts and planting them, as if spewed from a John Deere 9107 Commercial Planter, in an orfice I've grown fond of over the years. Second, kinda like knowing the trajectory of a baseball 'fore ya toss it, I could "visualize" the immediate group loop. Steve: You launch and report back to us. Got it? Look bud, you are not above being fined a TEAM ELVES patch for luring one of us sub-SAT fools into being an unwitting victim  Court | ||
| Djkaplan |
Someone once asked me who my favorite author was and I said, "Kevin Cameron". I got a smile and a nod in reply but I realized this academic had no earthly idea who Kevin Cameron was. I'll buy anything with Kevin Cameron articles in it. | ||
| Steve_A |
Hi Court, Getting a bike out of the hole isn't just about wheelbase and center of gravity height -- it has a lot to do with the controllability of the clutch (perhaps the most important), the amount of flywheel, and the torque curve. S2's with their big flywheels and torque were very easy to get off the line hard; I suspect that the Firebolt is more difficult. You normally see this in the 0-30 mph time if you're measuring it with a third wheel or a Stalker radar gun. A really great launching bike will cover 0-30 in 1.15 seconds or less, while one that has problems might take 1.35 -- and that's 0.2 seconds you'll never get back. This has almost nothing to do with absolute power to weight, as almost any motorcycle launched with clutch slipping will accelerate hard enough at low speeds to bang up against either the wheelie or traction limit -- which one depends on the bike's wheelbase and weight distribution. | ||
| S2no1 |
Steve_A; For us mere mortals it's maintaing a balance between the two wheelie and traction that is hard. Most of us just don't have enough finesse. Arvel Now where is that 12lb sledge, XP Pro is misbehavin again. | ||
| Darthane |
Before the race kit I believe my best top speed at 1/4 miles was ~108.5mph. After my best so far was 112.49mph. And yes, this thing is difficult to launch. First time I tried I thought the whole thing was going over backwards on me I revved it to about five grand and just dumped it. I have not since repeated this launch technique). This was also my very first drag launch EVER, though, so I'm sure that had something to do with it. BUT, and a very big one - the 'bolt was never meant to be a drag bike. Therefore I found the arguments in another topic over the V-Rod beating out the 'bolt in 1/4 miles time to be an extremely good joke. Bryan | ||
| Steve_A |
Some tips on drag strip technique: Hold rpm constant, at a level that'll depend on the power of the particular bike and its gearing. For 600 fours, it may be 12,000 rpm, for an open class bike it might be 3500-4500 rpm, for a tube-frame Buell, maybe 4000 rpm. Let the clutch out partially and smoothly, with just a slight increase in throttle. Let the clutch out more, and as the rpms begin to drop, dial in more throttle. Now if you're really, really good, you'll compensate for a wheelie by pulling the clutch back in a smidgeon. Jay Gleason can do that without hardly costing himself any time; I can't. Basic rule: clutch before throttle. Let clutch engagement begin to pull the rpm down before whacking the throttle. In general, I find drag strip launches difficult, and there are people out there at about the same weight who are consistently a tenth or two quicker than I am. | ||
| Archer |
I installed the race kit much as Darthane did. Mine actually ran the 2 miles to the dealership though before having the TPS done. I did not have any trouble getting my idler pulley off either. My installation took a little over an hour and a half. I was not real impressed with the horse power or torque gains. Without starting a national debate....every dyno is calibrated differently and my bike with the race kit only pushed 77 CORRECTED! horse power. not real good numbers in my book. but coming off of a Nallinized M2 it's not really a fair comparison.I love the sound. It could be a little bit louder but I'm happy with it. Big bore kit and heads are next. I'd like to see what Force comes out with exhaust wise. Overall it's nice, they could have done better. Would have been nice to have a programmable computer! Thanks Ross Republic H-D/ Buell rsmith@republichd.com 281-295-1000 ext. 109 Ride Hard! | ||
| Ferris |
S2's with their big flywheels and torque were very easy to get off the line hard... call me sentimental (sigh, heavy on the mental...), but my S2 still wears the holed tail-light lens, from where said lens drug on the ground during my second-ever attempt at drag racing this "very easy to get off the line" motorcycle. yes, you must have an S2 wayyyyyy over on it's back to do this. and yes, this attempt resulted in a DNF -- Dumb Nuts Ferris  FB | ||
| Fasteddieb |
I'm glad curiosity got the better of me and I opened the package my race kit was in. Looks like it should have been packed better.  Someone else at Deal's Gap had the same issue. I'll have to contact the dealer I bought it from (he may see it here first, hint, hint) and see what my options are. | ||
| Noface |
Just bought the race kit from the local (50 miles from me) dealer. Kudos to Bumpus HD/Buell in Murfreesboro, TN. for being patient with me calling every other day "got a racekit yet?", plus 10% off to boot. Got it home and installed the muffler in one hour, and then another 45 minutes to do the ECM and air filter. Mine runs, but it doesn't run right. Coughs and sputters and feels kinda lifeless. The sound is good, though I'd like it a little louder. It is very distinctive over the Sportsters I'm used to hanging around with, though I'll admit that I haven't really gotten to listen to it yet. I called the dealer where I bought the bike and the kit to schedule an appointment to get the ECM/TPS calibrated. They can't get to it until Thursday. Kinda erps me that it's required that you take the bike to the dealer to get the ECM flashed. Seems like they could come up with a better scenario than that. Here are some digital pics I took as the work progressed. I didn't get any of the ECM replacement. I was pressed for time. Jody S. \image | ||
| Noface |
I've tried inerting pictures here before but have been unsuccessful. And to think I used to work on PC/LAN's for a living.  | ||
| Noface |
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| Noface |
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| Bykergeek |
Great Pics ! Thanks! I am a little confused as to why you have to remove the belt idler? It does not look like anything would be in the way that would require its removal. | ||
| Darthane |
Bykergeek, It's in the way of the rear muffler clamp nuts. You MIGHT be able to get them off without removing the idler pulley, but it's probably easier (unless yours is machined wrong like mine) to just yank it. Fasteddie - My muffler was bent like that as well. I think I had the only kitted Firebolt at the Gap. Bryan | ||
| Noface |
The fasteners for the rear "hose clamps" that hold the muffler to that half moon piece of extruded aluminum are directly behind the idler pulley, which is why it's removal is required. I thought about switching them to see if they would work the other way, but I didn't feel like mucking with it. The second picture illustrates this the best. I wish I'd have taken more time to get some better pics. The last three of the completed muffler install were taken just as it was getting dark, so I had to use the nightvision mode on the camera. I suppose I could take another one, it's nice outside and the bike is clean as I figured I'd give it a bath before it goes to the dealership tomorrow to recalibrate the TPS/ECM. Jody S. | ||
| Noface |
For those guys that have the boogered up exit pipes. You could take a piece of wood and a hammer and coax it back into shape. I think that's what I'd do rather than wait another eternity to get a replacement muffler from Buell. I suppose you could leave it alone as it looks like it doesn't effect anything, and you could chalk it up to some character points... Jody | ||
| Ferris |
Just bought the race kit from the local (50 miles from me) dealer. Kudos to Bumpus HD/Buell in Murfreesboro, TN. for being patient with me calling every other day "got a racekit yet?", plus 10% off to boot. hey, ask the boys at Bumpus if they remember some flake by the name of Ferris Bueller limping in one September day several years ago on a red X1 that was literally falling apart at the seams! the folks at Bumpus are some of the finest i've met in all my years of riding -- when it became apparent that the bike was gonna have to stay overnight for repairs, they even tossed me the keys to their shop truck so's me and Fireman Jim could go hit the local bars in style. please tell 'em Ferris says howdy FB | ||
| Noface |
I can do that! The service mgr there is a Buell rider, so that's kewl. I'm hoping they won't have to keep mine overnite... the speedo's broke, hopefully it's just the sensor rather than the speedo itself. We'll see. Jody | ||
| Fasteddieb |
Noface, I considered trying to straighten it. The damage was cosmetic, but there's something about having just spent a bunch of money for a "new" system that had me hesitant to install already damaged parts. If I had damaged it, either in installation or handling, I agree that it would be no big deal. In any event, my muffler is on the way back to the dealer, who's sending me a replacement. I asked him to please check it for damage before sending it, and to pack it a little better to avoid a repeat performance. Since the earliest I'll be back in Georgia for the install and TPS reset would be mid-October anyway, it's not that big a deal. | ||
| Noface |
There ya go Eddie. I thought you already had installed it. It looks like I shoulda waited until October to install mine. I took it to the dealer this am. They said hang out, maybe get some breakfast and coffee, they'll get the TPS done and check out the speedo. Depending on which component is broke on speedo, they'll pull a part off a showroom bike to get me going. Well, 2 hours later the Service Mgr. says their computer is broken, and they can't get the TPS reset. I say "hey! I used to fix PC's for a living, I haven't run into one yet I couldn't fix! Let me have a go at it." But that didn't work either. According to him, Buell "dials in" to the PC and they are the only ones that can fix it. (no wonder this software/interface is so secret) I'll consider myself lucky to get it back next week... I can't really blame the dealer, as I know shit happens... but damn! All the way home I was wondering if the tech had the ignition turned on, or maybe the run/stop switch was off or if it was something silly like that... ( you know... like REBOOT the computer maybe... Win9x sux!) Sorry for the rambling. Jody <--dayzedandconfusedXB9RwithunuseableRaceKit | ||
| Darthane |
Eh? All they need is a Scanalyzer (trust me on this - my TPS zero was done in my garage), what's this about a PC? And one of these days I'll get one of my dyno runs scanned. The torque curve on this thing is wild. LOL Bryan | ||
| Noface |
I don't know dude... they won't let me go into the shop or the "mysterious great beyond". That's what they tole' me, so that's all I got to go by. Jody |
