I wasn't expecting to be doing this but I've had a turn of events that has meant a few luxuries are going to have to go, starting with the Buell stuff.
Right, where do I start.
2003 Buell XB9S. Converted to Firebolt rear end. The original XB "short" rear will go with it.
Purchased in Jan 2013 I stripped this bike down to it's crank and completely renewed everything.
A fully no-expense spared quality build with many many invoices from Black Bear HD. I have receipts for £1000's, every bearing, seal, gasket and consumable has been changed/renewed. I've even saved all the bags!
Rolling chassis:
Unmarked frame and swinger powder coated by LSN in a metallic graphite, new taper head bearings, LSL fat bar billet adaptors. Renthal Fat bars powder coated satin black.
Wheels in same colour, new quality bearings
All brackets, yokes, hangers powder coated
New front and rear isolators fitted
Forks stripped and fully rebuilt with new sliders, bushes, seals and PJ1 fork oil
Wiring loom stripped, repairs effected (XB's suffer from wires breaking around the headstock)
ZXR radial front master cylinder, HRC MotoGP resevoir tube, new EBC pads, perfect unmarked CRG adjustable lever, HEL black braided line with stainless fittings
ZXR clutch lever & bracket with unmarked CRG adjustable lever and new genuine clutch cable
Hidden rear caliper mod with billet bracket and KTM Brembo master cylinder, HRC MotoGP resevoir tube, HEL black braided line
New Maxxis tyres, done 850 miles, very grippy yet show no signs of wear!
Stainless bolts throughout.
Belt in great condition.
Quite a few parts changed for low-mileage parts: front caliper, rear shock. The sale comes with a big box of old bits, including a couple of chin fairings (one altered to clear the front-exit exhaust) I didn't fit it as the pipe looks too nice to cover.
Buell LED rear tail light and clear indicators.
XB tail-tidy, powdercoated satin black.
LED instrument lights, specially sourced and shipped in.
Engine:
Totally stripped and checked. Crank checked for run-out, perfect. new pinion bearing to correct tolerance (even though it wasn't needed)
Engine cases vapour blasted, barrels and heads shot blasted. New everything, powder coated outer cases and rocker covers. New gearbox bearings.
LUCKY HANDS oil pump mod done
Maz's gearbox nipple mod done, and adjustable idler so belt doesn't run too tight wrecking the gearbox bearings.
New piston rings, barrels glaze busted, new cylinder head bolts
All genuine HD gaskets and seals used throughout the motor and the bike
Ports and throttle body ported and cleaned up, no base gaskets used.
K&N filter & drilled air box
Seperate engine breathers. The engine doesn't smoke or breathe
Run on HD oil and genuine filter.
New Magnecor 8.5mm competition HT leads.
One-off stainless front-exit exhaust (sounds fantastic. Also BS-stamped...)
TPS reset carried out.
Is there anything wrong with it?
Yes. Neutral switch is playing up (as they do) Firebolt seat colour is close but not spot-on. I also painted it so its not a professional job.
The original seat unit plastics are in very good condition, undamaged and unmarked so a good base for a "proper" paint job if you wanted. The tail even has the tool tray. The rear end was purchased at great cost as the other half didn't like the very small pillion seat on the original XB unit.
The tank and front mudguard are also very good, one of the mounting holes on the mudguard is stressed but is still serviceable. I have a black front mudguard going with the sale but it needs a paint.
In conclusion:
Fully sorted, desireable 1st model Buell. All the usual problems addressed.
Its a lot of money, but you are essentially getting a refreshed, fully serviced and adjusted bike. Even low-mileage bikes are up to 10 years old, things have sat for 10 years, materials go hard and brittle with age. This has had all its consumeables changed this year. I have a full, photographic strip-down and rebuild including a fully warts-and-all write-up on my blog.
I've nothing to hide with this bike whatsoever.
It rides, sounds and performs as good as new. I even managed to do a 12.25@110 mph at York Raceway drag strip a month or so ago. As fast as a new 1200! That's with a 14.5 stone lanky sod and the front wheel skywards in 1st and 2nd gear and only 6 runs all day so no time to get accustomed.
The clutch is heavy but smooth (as usual), with no slipping or dragging. The gearbox is a dream (for a Harley) it's not like a Jap box but it never jumps out or gives false neutrals. Engine pick-up is good, was dyno'd at 77bhp with 65 ft/lbs torque. This is without altering the fuelling for the different pipe. There's more to come with fine tuning.
Includes the bikes original owners manual, Buell toolkit and proper Buell XB service manual. All high-res pics are available to the new owner as well
Only a small point but it was only used on sunny days, I only got caught out once in showers (going to Em'sl day at East Kirkby). The bike is as showroom new, even in the bits you can't see. Cleaned after every ride and kept in a heated garage in a vac bag.
I wasn't intending selling this, hence the time and money I spent on it, and we've enjoyed the 800-or-so miles over the great Summer we've just had but regrettably its time to say bye bye to the baby. I'm not after swapsys or gallant offers. Cash money is the name of the game.
Viewing more than welcome, full payment in hand and non-adverse weather and you test ride. T&T, will put a years MoT if necessary for piece of mind as I have no doubts it will go straight through again without advisory.
Thanks for reading this epic, but the amount of time, money and emotion this bike has evoked I wasn't just going to put "2003 Buell XB9 £4200" was I?
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