While the 06-07 choices do allow you more flexability from the ECM standpoint, there are other issues to consider. I would only get an 08+ for these reasons!
Larger crank pins and bearings - allow more robust design, and higher redline
larger capacity oil pump
can run throttle calibration on your own (no computer needed)
has spark plug anti-fouling protocall than can also be run (although I have never needed it)
better ECM with more processing power.
If you are only going to do simple intake/exhaust mods...go with the 08+ bikes and just buy the Buell race ECM. I have only new airfilter, and exaust and race ECM...the thing runs night and day different than before...its just a dream.
I bought an 07 and felt ripped off for having bought too early. I don't think that way now.
The 08+ has some significant improvments
- The entire crank is better on the 08+. The crank is a larger diameter - not just the pins. And the conrods are stronger.
- The biggest advantage with all this is that the front pulley is held on with a bolt and not a nut.
This little thing addresses a common mid-life failure.
- The 08+ has an "almost forged" piston. The pistons are the reason the rev limit could be extended.
- The 08+ was supposed to have a shorter travel throttle which I wanted - when I measured them the travel was the same.
- The 08+ foul plugs more easily because they run richer and (and use more fuel). The anti-fouling protocol rarely works
- The 08+ ECM samples more that 10x faster.
With this the tune will run a wider range of mufflers without the same problems of the early models.
- Crank Position sensor that never needs static adjustment
- TPS reset protocol using throttle movements
- Redesigned oil pump that is effectively the Cam cover
- Automatic idle adjustment - a bit of a pain because the idle is high
My comments are
- I know only one person who has bent a rod on a pre-08 and no one who has done a crank.
The friend who did the rod had the front wheel against another bike and was trying to do a burnout force-em-back.
- The 08+ pistons retrofit to the earlier models and you could then increase the rev limit on the pre 08
- The increased rev limit is not a big advantage with stock and Buell Race mufflers. These produce peak power at 6500 RPM
There are aftermarket mufflers that will keep producing more power well beyond this
- The crank nut has a revised torque and it is now a very rare failure. (The pulley bolt is still the best mod on the 08+)
- The advice with the 08+ was never to warm the bike longer than fitting the helmet and gloves.
The early models rarely foul plugs if they are tuned to the muffler
- 08+ will run mufflers like Jardines or Drummers OK off the stock ECM.
They still have running issues and I'd recommend the EBR ECMs for them
- Mufflers like the TorqueHammer and systems like the Micron don't run well at all on them.
You need to tune an 08+ to an exhaust same as the pre-08
- Tuning for a pre-08 is often easier and cheaper.
- With a Micron, tune and taller gearing on my Firebolt I could get 300+ km (over 200 miles) on a 14 litre tank.
A short wheel base 08+ model won't get near that no matter what you do.
- The charging systems seem to fail a little more oftem on the 08+. That is my observation and not proven.
We had some club drags recently and my 07 with a TorqueHammer got away quicker than any of the other XBs. (08+ or not) One friend with a Micron on his 07 wasn't there and I'd expect him to be quicker. I'm running gearing that is 11% higher than stock so it was a surprise.
A friend bought a TorqueHammer off me a few weeks ago. It comes with a free tune for 04-07 models. He lives in a cold area and he found it wasn't running well when it was cold. I told him that I'd bumped up my cold start enrichment in the bottom cell and got him to do the same. Perfect. He has control of his ECM and so he owns his bike.
You can get ECMSpy for the later models (and I'd recommend it) but the early one is simple.
I am really happy with my 07
