Uly / XB12 Durability

[2DFlyer]

I know this has probably been beaten to death more than once but a cursory search didn't find what I'm looking for so I'm gonna be lazy and ask for educated opinions regarding XB12 durability.  I've got a couple of long by my standards/experience trips brewing over the coming years so am considering a long term Uly but will probably have to consider something with maybe 20K on the clock so durability becomes a concern.  All things being equal how long should a well maintained and treated XB12 motor run before it's first life is done?

[Tpoppa]

I had 2 XB9s.  Not exactly the same as the XB12, but pretty close.

XBs require the least amount of scheduled maintenance of any sporty motorcycle that I am aware of.  No valve checks, no throttle body syncs, maintenance free belt drive, etc.  The maintenance that is needed is simple DIY.

I put 34k trouble free miles on my first XB9.  I had the second XB for only 7k before I traded it in on the 1125.

One of my riding buddies had a crankshaft bearing fail on an XB12R around 30k.  I don't believe that is a common issue, but it did some damage to his motor.

BWB is a good place to get this type of info.

[whodom]

Most XB12's have been pretty bulletproof, but there does seem to be an issue with some of them, all 2007's from what I've seen.  I have a 2007 XB12X with just under 30,000 miles and it suffered a rod/crank bearing failure about 800 miles ago.  It gradually developed a bad knock over the course of an hour or so; when I tore down the engine the front rod was loose on the crank and it had apparently spewed metal shavings up into the cylinders which badly scored the cylinders and pistons.  I considered rebuilding it, but I would have basically had to replace everything except the cases, transmission and heads.

At least 3 other 2007 XB12X riders on Badweb have apparently suffered the same failure.  I purchased my Uly new in late 2006 and had taken good care of it, so I was completely clueless as to what have caused such a catastrophic failure.  One of the engineers at Erik Buell Racing responded to an e-mail that there was a bad batch of crankshafts in 2007 and apparently that was our problem.
,
Tpoppa- was your friend's XB12R a 2007 model?  I'd be very interested to know.

I liked my Uly so much that I kept it and upgraded it with a used 2009 engine.  The 2009 has several major updates, the main one being a larger crankpin (1.5 inches vs. 1.25 inches) and a greatly improved oiling system.  I also had to change out the wiring harness and ECM to work with the updated 2009 fuel injection and ignition arrangement.  Hopefully this one will last a lot longer than 29,000 miles.  So far it's running very strong and I'm very pleased with the upgrade.

So I would highly recommend a Uly to you, but I'd shop for a 2008 or newer model so you get the benefit of the updated engine.  Buell continually refined all their bikes and the 2008 engine pretty much is as good as the air-cooled engines ever got.

[2DFlyer]

Thanks.  I poked around BWB and found some stuff.  I love the XBs but other than hearing the occasional comment didn't have a good feel if the Thunderstorm is a 30K motor or a 100K motor.  I'm getting the idea it's probably somewhere in between and maybe at the higher end for an X or XT if they're not routinely thrashed like a R bike might.

[Tpoppa]

Tpoppa- was your friend's XB12R a 2007 model?  I'd be very interested to know.

No.  It was an '04.

[FirstVtwin]

Here is a pretty sweet article about beating the piss out of an XB12 for 50,000K's and tearing down for an evaluation.  This is also the older design (pre-2008).  I agree about looking for a 2008+ though...it was a requirement for me when I was searching for mine.  Larger crank pin, bigger/better oil pump, plus better ECU.  
http://froggypwns.com/buellpdfs/Motorrad_article_en.pdf

[Squidbuzz]

I don't think the motor is so much the problem with a Uly.

I have over 30K on my 09 and just recently had a belt break and 2 weeks later a rear bearing failure.  But no motor issues.  Those 2 things seem to happen from time to time.  My motto from here out is to change the belt and bearings every other tire change.

[Brad1445]

I had a 2006 model I put 20,000 miles one.  Only trouble was oil filter leak and a rim that dented on a rocky road and lost all air.

[Kootenanny]

No significant problems with my 2003 XB9R, with 50,000 km on it so far (and not necessarily easy km, either).  One comment I'll make...I'm still running the original belt (the "weak" early 03 one), with zero problems, and little visible wear--I have a replacement hanging in the garage, but so far, more than twice the recommended mileage on the original, and I'm kinda scared to change it...

[Rogue]

I put 30k+ on my 2006 XB12R Firebolt.

The motor itself had zero issues.  The only issue that developed was caused by inept Orange County H-D dealer, which I had to fix myself.  Idiots!  

No issues with belt either.

I believe if the belts are kept clean, they will last.  They just won't tolerate rocks and other hard/sharp objects in between belt and cogs.

[Bueller]

Halo has now done 155,000 km in 5.5 years.  The bike pulls like a train - just run in; has had only normal service issues - belts, 2 regulators, stator, wheel bearings, front isolator, fork seals and that's about it, apart from the throttle body repair I posted.  Denise runs full synth oil and that's about the only secret.  The bike is ridden on desert roads and back roads a lot which contributed to the fork seal, isolator and the regulators (the original connector from the stator to the regulator didn't seal well - there is now a service kit to replace it).



XBs are cheap and simple to repair.  I've done 55,000 km with the most failures being a split fuel line and a broken ignition switch wire.  I get 23-24,000 km from a belt on the Firebolt.  I don't think there is anything disposable about an XB.

[Nodaclu]

Absolutely beautiful!!   Wait.....whaddya mean there's a Buell in that photo?!?  

[Bueller]

I'm sure Denise thinks her bike is an XB12XR

[JTM]

the only issue have had was when all of the threads for the oil resevoir were still attached to the drain plug after I had removed the plug to change the oil.  

[Rincewind]

Halo has now done 155,000 km in 5.5 years.  The bike pulls like a train - just run in; has had only normal service issues - belts, 2 regulators, stator, wheel bearings, front isolator, fork seals and that's about it, apart from the throttle body repair I posted.  Denise runs full synth oil and that's about the only secret.  The bike is ridden on desert roads and back roads a lot which contributed to the fork seal, isolator and the regulators (the original connector from the stator to the regulator didn't seal well - there is now a service kit to replace it).



XBs are cheap and simple to repair.  I've done 55,000 km with the most failures being a split fuel line and a broken ignition switch wire.  I get 23-24,000 km from a belt on the Firebolt.  I don't think there is anything disposable about an XB.

Awesome.  That's nearly 100,000 miles.  

But she spelled Erik wrong.  

[Bueller]

She didn't spell it that way.  She bought her XB9R in 2002 I think, anyway been riding them long enough to spell Erik when she needs to.  

She bought the Tshirt at an OP shop and figured it was close enough for a Rat Buell award ceremony.  I think she said Team Eric was some sort of group.  She was pretty sure she was going to win the category.

She put the Pegasus sequins on.  Needed for a sense of occasion.

[Brad1445]

It covers her pods.

The 1200 Firebolt with a race kit the funnest Bike around!

[Zixxerpilot]

04 XB12R, 95k miles when sold. Lead-fisted wheelie prone rider half the time, synth oil, beaten like a bad dog.

Aside from normal maintenance, which is minimal, I replaced a coil pack and a fuel pump.

I miss that one. We're looking for an XB9SX for the wife. We've had a few Buells, but that one stuck around.

Btw, did I mention I bought it totalled? Laid down at 4500 miles, damaged forks, bodywork, and front wheel. Also wasn't shut off right away. Ran for about a minute or so before it was shut off. Not sure why tipover didnt kick in, but it didnt. I never had to touch the engine.