1250? What was the cc before? Also, is that the actual gas tank or is the gas on the frame like the other Buell?Did a couple of small things last Friday.
Finalized the routing of the new oil lines:
Made sure the final drive bearing was lubricated after being parked at an angle for 9 years:
Opened up the carburetor a second time to change a few more o-rings and gaskets:
This is what we could replace:
And removed the bubbled logo from the tank with a dull knife:
After an hour or two:
Now it's just a matter of figuring out how to remove that thick layer of glue to get the new letters on there.
All that's left now is a minor tear down of the front brake caliper in terms of dirty jobs. The rest is just putting it back together again. Hopefully it's not too much of a hassle to tune the thing properly now that it has a 1250 kit.
Nice. I was genuinely curious. Hoping to see the bike once completed!It was 1200 before, which certainly isn't nothing, but the stock cilinders turned out to be shot when we tore down the bike, which was just around the time when Hammer Performance was having a clearance sale on its 1250 kits. At 500 bucks, it was a no brainer.
And yes, that's the gas tank. Holds the fuel. There's two kinds of Buells basically, the tube frames and the XB series. The XB Buells (like Stevey's Firebolt and my Uly) have big aluminum frames that hold the fuel (as well as the oil in the swingarm), while the older, tube frame models (recognizable by their steel trellis frames, like the Ducati Monsters still have), have a traditional fuel tank.
Both kinds of Buells aim for a lower centre of gravity. The old steel frames achieve that by having the suspension and exhaust mounted low. The XB has a more normal suspension placement, but has a lighter frame that holds the oil and the fuel, eliminating two components and lowering the storage of oil/fuel. And it totally works, the XB models have astonishing handling.
Nice. I was genuinely curious. Hoping to see the bike once completed!
In other related news, went out for a ride today. It was cold but worth it. I'm not a great photographer but here's a pic of my cousin and the SV650.
Just passed and got my license. Finally going to ride my Vitpilen for the first time this afternoon :)
Belle Haven Marina off of George Washington Memorial Parkway! Just on the other side of the river there is a nice casino.
This are nice too. Just a little pricey. Do you find the Goldwing uncomfortable or do you just simply want the highway pegs?Yeah those are the Rivco highway pegs, they make em for the Goldwing too. I'm not getting those for mine though, I'll be getting the Goldstrike ones instead, with pegs instead of mini floorboards:
https://www.ciro3d.com/goldstrikeproducts/3-way-adjustable-highway-peg-mounts
Do you find the Goldwing uncomfortable or do you just simply want the highway pegs?
Nice. Your last sentence gave me a good chuckle.No, I find the Goldwing extremely comfortable. In fact it's the reason why I haven't bothered to order any highway pegs yet. Truthfully I'm not sure I need them for long rides on this bike, but I'd rather have the option to move my legs around just in case I'd like to.
Did my first oil change on the Wing today, it went pretty easy. On a Harley there are three holes with three different fluids: engine, tranny, and primary. The Goldwing has three drain plugs too but they all just drain different reservoirs of the engine, so just one fluid to drain and add back in. The oil filter was easy to access and change out as well. The Wing has a second filter for the DCT, but that was easy to change out too so no big deal really.
Now I'm good for another 8000 miles. I could ride from coast to coast and back again on the same oil, lol!!!!
Beautiful. Your third pic isn't loading btw.Palomar Mountain on my FZ-07:
Current rides FZ-07 and Lil Ducati:
On a Harley there are three holes with three different fluids: engine, tranny, and primary.
I really need a new helmet + comms now. I think I'll probably end up with another GT-Air...
In other related news, went out for a ride today. It was cold but worth it. I'm not a great photographer but here's a pic of my cousin and the SV650.
Something wrong with the helmet? Just a new set of padding will freshen it up nicely (though if you look at what those cost...).
Fallout, when you commit to a full rebuild like that are you basically deciding you'll never be able/want to sell that bike? Was just thinking about how all the custom work affects a buyer's interest, or even the ability to have any old mechanic work on it. Either way, still incredibly impressive, good luck finishing it.
Pic's not loading right now, but that thing looked cool. What's the story there? Was it a Grom? Did I see an actual trellis frame?
Yes! I would never say this to his face but he is learning wonderfully and is gifted as he is learning quick.Whether it's fitting the intake manifold, the carburetor or the exhaust - every square inch of the bike's fighting us before yielding that inch of territory. Almost everything requires some kind of customization or ample amounts of cursing - or both before it's as it should be. So it's not finished yet, but stuff's really happening now:
Carb, air filter backing plate and headers on:
Headers do look nice:
Exhaust (ended up going with the Supertrapp, I'll see if I can quiet it down some) with newly made bracket on:
Oil filter on:
Oil in:
Primary oil is also in (not pictured).
Handlebar and clocks on:
The original set of bars turned out to be bent during one its mishaps. Luckily we had one extra from an XB12S. Had to drill a new hole for the switchgear though.
New grips (helluvajob):
Kind of where we're at. Tank isn't on permanently yet, still need to figure out some of the wiring loom up there. But it looks nice like this:
Nice, is he taking to it?
Blew the cobwebs off the Ducati yesterday, unfortunately I'm spending Easter Sunday at the pub so I won't be riding today.
I really need a new helmet + comms now. I think I'll probably end up with another GT-Air...
I'll see if I can get something sorted and post it up.I bet.
There's no denying my love for that oddball old school, but surprisingly sporty Buell thing, but I would love to have a go on a modern, out-of-this-world weapon like that new R1 sometime. Not sure how much use I would have for a license plate however :P.
/edit: brief sound check videos so that we may live vicariously through you would be very welcome btw, haha.
Oh man... gorgeous bike.
My dad used to work for Yamaha back in the day. Always had a soft spot for them. But this one is especially cool. Suppose one of the upsides of the shrinking superbike market is that the ones that do still get made are absolutely insane.
The Yamaha's have to be the best looking Japanese superbikes out there. That blue looks fantastic with the titanium exhaust.
The Ducati has been getting some good running in the last few weeks. However my insurance is due next month and the new bike itch is in full swing. Typical really because I just paid out for new belts
I've made the same mistake so many times. One thing that does teach you is not to do that (except maybe if you really want to out of love for the machine). It doesn't add a dime of value when you sell.
Been looking at green energy locomotion as an option to get around and see things, and I wish electric motorbikes were far more available out there. Zero are the only company available in my country, and their bikes look like absolute dreams for my objectives, but they're quite pricey in comparison to ICE stuff.
The dream will have to wait another while, I guess.
Hmmm...Well, my man Erik Buell is developing what looks to be a very affordable electric motorcycle. And odds are 'affordable' doesn't even have to be a relative term in this case. The brand is called 'Fuell'.
As I'm sure you can all guess, its an R1200RS, because I've only been banging on about it for like 4 years at this point. 2018, one-owner last of its kind (now the 1250 is a thing) and fully loaded. Got a good enough trade-in on the Ducati to make it work.
Picking it up next week after it's been serviced etc and they've fitted some panniers.