I have had an 09 XB12Ss for a week now and love it to bits by the way. It's an 8 month old ex-demonstrator from Riders of Bristol warrantied until end of April 2011. Awesome sound and 'hand of God' acceleration. My KTM 950 was more explosive acceleration, the Buell feel like being strapped naked to a spitfire

I just have a few questions someone may be able to help me with.

1) I was told by Newcastle HD 'buell expert' - very friendly and helpful guy, that I didn't need a Free Spirits Tensioner as I had an 09 model and the belt was uprated since 06 (?) You guys keep banging about this, do I need one? I care about my bearings and stone damage not just the belt plus the FST looks cool.

2) After the 30-60 second warmup on start when the tickover drops from 2,000rpm down to 1,300ish (drops to 1,000 when fully warm) it blows moderate smoke from the exhaust for about 30 seconds. Is this normal? It has been cold this last week. Is it just oil burning off?

3) Anti-corrosion: I plan to give it a good clean this weekend (not really dirty just want to) and I usually use ACF-50. I plan to remove chin-guard and get the exhaust well protected. Is ACF-50 ok? worked great on my KTM. The can already had a small amount of surface rust at the end of the black oval near the outlet.

4) How do I stop the clutch side of the black engine cover from getting marked by my boots - bit fussy really but I had carbon protectors on my last bike.

Sorry to group these all together,

TIA

1 . You are really protecting your wheel bearings and gearbox output shaft bearings, so yes, you still need to fit one..

2. Is it not water vapour?

3. ACF50 rocks, but it wont save your exhaust...

4. Ride barefoot, ride with your toes on the pegs, ride with your toes pointing outwards...

I think I had a go on your bike once, when mine was being warrantied...

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08 Specialized Langster

Pash............Wasn't that the one you said you had thrashed mercillesly from cold with only about 150 miles on the clock?

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2001 X1 2009 1125CR 2006 Uly X3 2010 Uly a fully Maz'd S1 and a 1991 RS1200 Westwind.

Sounds like you got one of the special, carbeurated xb's, with the automatic choke.

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2006 XB12Ss..... 1998 S1W..... 1996 S2T
We do not need the help of our friends so much as confidence that they will help us when we need it. –Epicurus

Cheers Pash,

appreciate the advice.

If I can't save exhaust do you reckon best to leave till just before warranty expires then get HD to pay for it?

does the Free spirits not effect warranty?

TIA

BTW Riders said all test rides where accompanied

I don't rag other people's bikes. If they are demos that are loaned, there is no escort...

FST wont invalidate your warranty. I would just get your exhaust pimped up under warranty and put a stainless one (Remus or similar) on it...

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08 Specialized Langster

No, get it done now and then maybe again before the end of the warranty.

Get on their case about exhaust now. Edinburgh HD took 4 or 5 months to get one off of Buell for me. Of course they 'forgot about it a few times too....

With the exhausts, they can send yours away to be ceramic coated. This will stop it rusting for a while (year, 2 years?) but it will eventually rust. You may be without the bike while this is happening.
or
Get a new one.

I would recommend getting a new one under warranty but not put it on the bike.
Get a welded (not riveted) stainless aftermarket can on there instead.
Keep the Buell one in its box in case you need it for an MOT or trackday or something, or sell it to fund the new exhaust.

You may also wish to consider fitting headers from a pre-2008 bike at the same time as getting the new exhaust. They are wider and will give an approx 10hp gain (a fair bit on a 100hp bike) and will allow you a wider choice of second hand end cans.

Glad its not only me with the an exhaust made of cheese. 750 miles on a 3 month old 12Ss and it looks bad around the outlet. Not sure if its the Cat in this pipe that burns the coating as the 03 12s I had a few years back started to look iffy at 2500 and I went for a Jardine ( put the std one in a box). This looks like it gets real hot around the exit. I will have a chat when I take it in for the first service as I was looking at a Remus but not til next autumn when the money might be around. Was just going to cut the spare tail I got cheap and change to Renthals etc but may have to do something earlier. Let me know how you get on.