prepping a buell xb12r or xb9r

[Al_Soran]

Well.... last I checked I was still racing CCS Lightweight classes against a bunch of SV's. So I think the stock set up and some suspension mods work quite well on the club racing scene. I'm just out to have a good time and ride against a great group of people with out breaking the bank. BTW, my XB has over 6000 miles of high speed highway travel, trackdays, and CCS events with out even a hiccup. I just change the oil after race weekends and tires as needed. So if you are serious about Formula USA or AMA type competition, by all means drop some cash at Hal's, they deliver great service and awesome motors... but at the club level, $5000. can be better spent elsewhere.

Cheers,

[Baltobuell]

Dam*, In 2 posts there are a reason to not miss racing, and a reason I do.

[Al_Soran]

Balto- funny you should say that.

After spending time in the mid 80's riding for a very competitive endurance team in CRRC/WERA, I burned out on trying to meet the expectation of others, the hectic schedules, etc and hung up my leathers for what I thought was for good. Having a child to raise made the decision even easier. But you know what? I found out last year just how much I missed racing...funny what a trackday can do to you. So after 16 years I decided to buy an old EX500 for trackdays so I wouldn't wad my Buell, and started riding trackdays on it. Unfortunately, most racers around here frequent the trackdays and hanging out with them further enforced what I suspected...it wasn't just the racing I missed, but the people. This time, I'm not losing sight of why I came back, and won't get caught up in the hoopla of wanting to be the next Hayden, Rossi or Edwards (in my day it was Polen, Schwantz, James, etc) and just concentrate on having fun. With that said, I don't chase the latest, greatest bikes, I ride in the lowly Lightweight classes, and most importantly- I have fun! I encourage most to do the same, and to not worry about being the next MotoGP star. Once it becomes a business it loses a little of its luster and starts feeling like a job. Don't get me wrong- the next superstars are amoungst us, and they'll rise to the top as they always do, but for the rest of us it's a time to ride fast, swap racing stories, and escape the Monday-Friday 9 to 5 grind. I don't care who you are in the pits, as I've met nothing but good people- and that's what draws me to the sport.

If you're not back yet...you will be, and if you think about it, this will be why. Do it on your terms and your speed- but have fun doing it!

[Baltobuell]

  Ed, that sounds awfully familiar. I ran dirt track in the 70's and quit when I got married. Went through the raising a kid and the whole responsible thing. A BRAG track day sucked me back in. The whole, hey I'm not really dead yet, awareness hit hard. HD of Baltimore(shameless plug) Offered to help me out, so I gave it an honest effort when I could. It was a great time I'll never forget. My son is a Marine now and this would really be a better time to fool around with racing,(The house is quiet and relaxed, it's kinda neat) but I figure a year or two seeing what else is out there might be in order. Obviously I miss the people, that's why I still check in to see what's happening.  In my original post I thought I was helping a kid not waste his money. Thanks for putting a buffer there.
 Now back to how to set up an XB! I'm outa the loop so keep me up to date.

[Al_Soran]

Hey Balto,

I would agree with trying to help one not waste a lot of money trying to set one of these XB's up and your point is well taken. The biggest drawback of this bike is the lack of relatively inexpensive suspension/driveline parts, so yes, it's expensive. But I gotta tell ya'- it's fun being the only Buell on the grid in a sea of SV's. If I were addressing someone just starting out I'd definately recommend an SV due to the amount of free flowing setup information and tons of tuning and go-fast parts fairly cheap. With that said, your efforts are definately on target!
Take care and hope to see ya' back on the track sometime!

[Rhun]

what is needed to make these bikes competive and how much is the cost
 
Few times over the years Honda Factory has spent $2 million on a bike. Now you know the extreme. If you stay in the superstock class, I expect you can learn how to ride well. Although I haven't raced in 25 years I expect that the adage that the racer is the best part of the bike/racer package. That said, stock XB12 has tons more go than the XB9 and fits in the same stock class. Spend first money on protection for you. If you're broke, bike/racer team is done. Then spend under $400 for Perilli super corsa SC2 green as these seem to be the most recommended by Buell riders and they pay contengency money. You can quit here for now. Next spend Under $1000 for the pro race kit or Hal's muffler, computer, air cleaner. Next a fairing from Racing Motorcyles, again under $1000. I hear good things about Buell's racing springs kit. $80. Since you are running in a stock class, your motor should last well, the more you increase performance; the more you increase expense and decrease reliablility. The Buell is not a 14,000 RPM v4 don't ride it like one, shift it before red lines and limiter cutout. Avoid tire smoking rear tire downshifts.  Learn to be smooth and your motor and trophy case will thank you. Once you are at this level of spending you have the potential to be competive. If you are finishing in second or third consistantly, spring for the chain setup for that edge, otherwise enjoy the benifits your wide torque band. Once you understand the bike and your style you can start working on what other set up and engine mods, within the class rules, will help. If you ride well, someone will notice and provide you with suport so you can move up to more exptreme classes. As it has been for a hundred years, sponsers love people both fast AND nice on equipment! Riding an unteched out bike leaves little doubt in a sponsers mind that it is you and not the bike that is hot.
Hope to see you next year as I reenter the racing game

[PJ]

The Nissin race kit pads are marked #5201.