My first EBR

[9RX]

Hi all,

I am new here. I found my first Buell just a couple of days ago, an EBR 1190RX.

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As a teenager (almost 20 years ago), I was already very inspired from the design and engineering innovations of Buell.
Being born and raised in France, I dreamed about these bikes and had posters all over my bedroom. But I never actually thought that one day I would live in California and ride an EBR. It is quite amazing where life takes you and I am humbled and grateful.

The reason Buell is so special to me is because I always looked up to people that challenged the status quo and found unique and innovative ways to make better products. This later pointed me in the direction of an industrial design career. The knowledge of design and engineering that I now have only amplify how much respect I have towards Eric Buell and the EBR team. I hope to meet these people one day and have some deep design-engineering discussions with them. In the meantime I am loving this 1190RX.


On another note, my EBR has a Dean Adams exhaust that is loud AF. it's cool but as of 2019 the sounds emission laws have changed in California and riders are getting heavy tickets right and left in the Bay Area. If anyone has a stock exhaust for the 1190RX I'm interested. please hit me up. (or just a quieter exhaust, cause I probably wouldn't want to add 20lbs to the bike).

Hope to meet up some fellow EBR owners in my area soon.

Cheers

[Cooter]

Congrats on the sweet ride! It looks super clean. I'm sure you'll love it. IME they love to be beaten, more so than babied. Lugging it at 4k RPM will cost you chains and swingarm guards. Here's an early pic of mine with my buddies at the base of Angeles Crest Hwy (2). He's a Frenchie to LA transplant too, lol.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48059044168_3341e2d55b_c.jpg

You'll find it very quiet around here:( but there is a TON of useful info to read. Theres the Facebook thing of course, but I don't imbibe the scare tactics from armchair engineers (no your EBR isn't going to blow-up:beat:).

If you want to throw some personalization at it my list of cheap, best mod/have-too's is short.
43 tooth rear sprocket
An Oberon clutch slave with reduce the clutch pull by HALF (thread on here)
Quickshifter (also a thread on here)

The Dean pipe is crazy loud. I ran a similar APH Race for a long time and settled for the stock muffler/tips for the best sound and reasonable volume. Keep checking e-Bay, prices vary wildly. I have a TON of EBR parts, but no extra muffler, sorry.

[9RX]

Hi Cooter,

Thanks for your message.

Nice SX! They must be a ton of fun too. The ergos are actually similar to my other bike, 2016 GSX-S 1000.

Your suggestions come on time, it looks like my bike could use a chain kit, sprockets look eaten away a bit.
It seems like NCCR makes an affordable plug and play quick shifter for the EBR.
What brand do you recommend?

____

About upgrades:
Has any brand made longer front fender or an extension?

Some roads were wet on my last ride, I noticed the front fender is so short that dirt gets kicked up all the way to the bars, EVEN THE DASH (pics below). am I the only one here? I know, it's not like we're going out intentionally riding in the wet, but the small rocks are kicked up the same way. That stuff gets kicked up into the rads etc. The bike was spotless before the ride, I'm surprised to see dirt that high.



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Also ordered radiator guards. Seems like the rads eat SH** on this bike.

___

For the exhaust, NCCR sells a nice slip on kit with APH pipe and SC Project can. It actually has a removable baffle and sounds nice without being a cop magnet and making parked cars scream back. I might just go with that. At almost $1k it's an expensive slip on but there aren't many choices out there.
video of sound here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHz30AxSsQQ

https://ebutik.nccr.se/ebr-erik-buell-racing-1/ebr-exhaust/aph-alanhawkes-by-nccr-slip-on-exhaust-ebr-1190-rx-sweep-up-sc-p

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[Cooter]

NCCR makes really good stuff and I'd recommend them for anything:) Possibly Chaz at Aagard Moto Foundry has some of their stuff in stock in the US. He's awesome too.

Odd about that mud? The RX is supposed to have a shield there between the forks.
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#2 in the pic

I found out when I converted mine:lol:
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48659863753_6216898fe4_c.jpg

[9RX]

Thanks for sharing,

I have the shield in there. In comparison to other sportbikes the front fender is ridiculously small.
I made a fender extension that I 3D printed and sticked in there with 3M VHB. That will work for now. I'll work on a nicer design later. Or maybe make a complete CF fender. Idk I'm quite busy these days. haha

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Oh! where did you get your windshield? Looks like much better aero.

Now about the sprockets. I got the rear from Aagard, but how do I get my hands on the front sprocket?

[Cooter]

I've ridden in rain, mud, snow, and never had mud on my dash? Weird that the guard is there and still...

https://live.staticflickr.com/4744/25752541957_bd7cb985a8_c.jpg

I got Rad guards from R&G (I have a new-in-the-box frame slider kit from them I never used if you need it).
My double bubble RX windshield is from PowerBronze. MRA makes one too (NCCR sells them).
The front fender is the same piece that Buell used from 2003! On every XB, Firebolt, 1125R 1125CR, LOL. So you can get a CF fender in colors, or Matte from Motocomposits.com. Not sure if they offer a longer version?
Rear sprockets are easy (Vortex), and the front one is a bespoke piece. I don't see a reason to change the size of the front one for the street anyway, but with the cush drive... IMO, I'd get an extra OE. Same goes for the swing arm guard, bad chain alignment or lugging the engine will wear through one and into your swingarm pretty fast.

This was a good idea through Supersprox, to deal with the odd EBR front cush sprocket.... that died...
http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/713493/815204.html?1510968543

[9RX]

thanks for sharing about your riding experience. I’ll keep an eye out. I’ll admit I hit 3 digit speeds in some wet areas. So I thought it was just that. I’ll keep an eye.

I ordered the same radiator guards too. Thanks for confirming it’s a good choice.


That sprocket thread is funny, I actually had the same thought about front sprocket assembly last night, trying machining a new hub part that could receive a regular size sprocket if possible. Like an R1, GSX-R or one super common bike.

So where do you get the front oem ones? I can’t find it anywhere. Seems like I’d have to contact Buell directly.

[Cooter]

You could try EBR in Wisconsin? LAP (the "New Buell") in Michigan has all the leftover parts and shill them on e-Bay, contact them direct and they'll have it. Not sure what happened but a year ago they skyrocketed all their pricing and so the Moto-recyclers followed suit.

Like WTF is this ****??
https://www.ebay.com/itm/403678370303?hash=item5dfd1b19ff:g:dsAAAOSww01ii~U e&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAA4GJzlMif6NYKq9trd1YOZQkvrLfXQ 5A5SvHo7QI6wmkWIaIR25vnpg7CN5yTsdraiyuH5%2BDmSccGr UHkouauRf9V%2FyPWbCttdaZbUKJuiOcq68HGW7Yh1au1M3XAK uC09hYl68z9yzfvNFrcSVSe0mOi3AdpFWdC%2FFdePqnSrrkTT qm3W0EUaTi3C33z3ox4ajW7tuGc1AZ2SPY1GTI1f7ZV%2FMLP3 c0VLSQ5wI%2BIueqdnkWu7AMH6ZCPNNT5gDx82OOJaphbn%2F6 mSFIle%2BwOuRds1uU%2F1dKhVxLUK3Y26iat%7Ctkp%3ABFBM 4urf37Vh

A COMPLETELY hashed and totally unusable part for $230??? :lame:


EDIT:
I looked and NCCR has one $30 less than LAP. Chaz may have one in the US.
https://ebutik.nccr.se/ebr-erik-buell-racing-1/ebr-oem-original-parts/ebr-wheels-and-drivetrain/sprocket-component-transmission-output-sprocket-16-tooth-w-needl

[9RX]

Ha. Interesting, we’re now getting parts out of Sweden for American Made Motorcycles thanks for sharing though. I saw that ebay listing too.
worse comes to worse I’ll find a way to make that part if nobody sells it. I thought “New Buell” was making them for the current bikes. I imagine it wouldn’t be too difficult to set a shop and sell part direct to customer.

[Cooter]

I don't believe the "New Buell" is making anything. Since they (as LAP) bought all the parts stock, they have been assembling EBR's with those parts since, and selling them as brand new Buells.
I'm sure they have a relationship with the Mfg's that do make the parts, but to what extent I do not know. Especially considering the very high likelyhood that debts weren't settled 100% after Hero pulled the plug on EBR.

Love your attitude:bannana:. Seems like you are just the right person to appreciate and enjoy an EBR:burnout:.

Can't be worried about the 'what if I can't get...!"'s, and they aren't ready for the museum yet!
Except Barber:smoke:
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52626428212_011d6cd635_c.jpg

[ACM]

That dirt splatter up into the cockpit is very odd; I have over 18k on my RX (also Red) with thousands of those in wet weather - never had anything like that at all, worst it's ever been is rain spots on the dash screen, and I've ridden in some pretty torrential downpours (a New England specialty).

Be careful going to an OEM exhaust if you intend to continue riding in the rain. The rear of the converter box immediately in front of the rear wheel on mine is very badly corroded, I don't expect mine to make it to the end of 2023, there is rust flaking off all over that area.

NCCR has a "less loud" exhaust option - https://ebutik.nccr.se/ebr-erik-buell-racing-1/ebr-exhaust/aph-alanhawkes-by-nccr-slip-on-exhaust-ebr-1190-rx-sweep-up-sc-p - that will clear most noise regs with the dB insert fitted. This does not fit with the standard passenger footpeg brackets nor the EBR/NCCR luggage rack, I asked Jens for a modified up-pipe to work with the stock layout, hopefully I will be able to switch to this exhaust before my OEM dies.

The radiators do take a beating, definitely. The SX comes with radiator guards from the factory, but for some reason the RX doesn't. I got R&G as well, the coolant guards fitted perfectly, the oil cooler guard needed a fair amount of persuasion to fit, though it could have been damaged in transit.

I fitted the R&G tail tidy to mine, much preferred the tidy look - not as ridiculous as the RSV4, but too ugly imho. Proton 500 flush-fit indicators for the front and...still looking for rears that are aesthetically appealing (to me) and can actually be seen in daylight.

[Cooter]

...looking for rears that are aesthetically appealing (to me) and can actually be seen in daylight.

Thats the trick, ain't it! I consider turn signals, handles bars, pegs, and mirrors to be disposable items. So forever looking for some that are bright enough but not the same $20 e-bay ones in a fancy-pants $180 package.

[9RX]

Haha, have you seen Barber is apparently getting 3 more! ;)

>>>> https://www.bringthebikeshome.com/


Any input on tuning the bike?
I am most likely getting the stock silencer, and would likely need to re-tune the bike. Is there any way to flash this bike or a legit place I could bring it to? send the ECU to?

[Cooter]

They tried selling them for awhile, but this seems better than languishing in some collectors living room:pimp:. It would be awesome to go and meet them face to face!

IMO, no need to tune it going with a stock can. I'm currently running the APH/Dean tune and a stock can/resonator delete with no adverse effects. The ECM does have some closed loop adjustability.

Tuned ECM's are found at IDS. https://idspd.com/xcart/products-ebr .

[9RX]

Hey @ACM,
sorry I missed your message, didn't see the page 2 and was answering old messages from page 1.
Thanks for all the recommendations, I got the R&G radiator guards too. Will install them soon.

Also YES, Proton 500 for the win. I installed these on an FZ1 I used to have. they are amazing and built well.

For the fender eliminator I think I will try to make something with a New Rage Cycles set. they don't make it for our bikes but it looks great and shouldn't be difficult to adapt to the EBR.
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The SC project exhaust from NCCR is what I was thinking about too. I actually saw in one of their videos where they talk about the stock silencer box rusting, thanks for confirming, I'll avoid that then.
I would prefer to keep the exhaust below the bike for keeping mass low to the ground and avoiding bits and peaces to the sides, I kind of like the bike clean without a can on the side.

Right now I'm working on fabricating a baffle for the Dean Adams, we'll see how that goes. Yeah I know, back pressure is bad, and such. I'm working on something not too restrictive, just a more tortuous path towards the end of the exhaust line as to dissipate sound into the packing better. work in progress...




@Cooter
I'd love to go to that weekend at Barber, I've actually never been.

What do you mean by closed loop adjustability? I'm not familiar with ECU mods. I have actually never dynoed, flashed, or even installed Power Commanders on any bike.
I am only starting to mess with the ECU on my GSX-S 1000, I bought a Flash Tune ecu kit so I can flash it myself. I haven't got to do it yet though. So I don't have much knowledge on this.
If going with IDS, does this mean you just buy a whole new ECM just for the tune? And then buy another ECM with a different tune if you changed something on the bike?

[Cooter]

RG makes a small tail tidy that bolts in the same location as stock. I love the different one I got off E-bay that moves it way forward and has a block off plate for the removed OE stuff. it's REALLY bright! The whole thing is running lights, top is brake, the lower of each side is turn. Basically a plate frame with LED's that attaches to the seat bolt and plugs it to the stock harness in the tail.
https://live.staticflickr.com/4503/37485817770_43e7e88efa_c.jpg
https://live.staticflickr.com/4530/38267624662_ebfb49a38a_c.jpg

Dude, Barber is worth the trip. Mecca:loveface:

Don't worry about 'backpressue losing torque' lol. Your grampa was wrong, lol. And besides.. have you SEEN that torque curve!!
https://live.staticflickr.com/855/29924623838_c4f6f44c10_c.jpg
Your specific Dean A one:
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Adding a dB killer (within reason) won't change a damn thing, but can lower the volume pretty well. I forget the exact size you need but try this style, it worked pretty well on my homemade XB can:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/385335755336?hash=item59b7cd0248:g:WY4AAOSwBRBjt8H T&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAAoC2GTblNK6hxWfR%2B%2Ft02Xn%2B %2FojBM5mtG39eMBNU2AYzrAuBkR1gHfZyGDBJSYOuKqInLISK A4kEPQsUz5SqKkqUs9K%2F3yIspDWSj%2FG6Cl73CrVM5%2FIr 9XKcghJ6fXOrunwE0cTCT%2BkVJnnuYmL6ntXX64IwafHM9SFn 4PRAk%2FncTyROPgq8BM7E45uCET9RiAjbGGVYn9F1k0rCLmn6 2LiQ%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR4qm76e9YQ

ALL OE fuel injection ECM's run in 2 modes*, Closed Loop for part-throttle cruising and Open Loop for 'dramatic throttle inputs' if you know what I mean:astrosmiley:.

Closed Loop is where the ECM reads whats coming out of the engine (the O2 sensor), self-adjusts whats going in (injectors), reads the sensor, again, adjusts, injects, reads, many times a second, like a loop... a closed loop, so it's always injecting the perfect amount of gas to be stoic (14.7:1). Best emissions, best economy, no fouled plugs, not lean. These no need more fuel at part throttle, it would just be wasted black smoke out the back, no 'The EPA makes them run lean on the highway' bull**** old wives tales.

Any modifications to the ECM, like a flash tune, should NOT affect this Closed Loop. It's already injecting the perfect amount of gas because it can read it (O2). More gas would just be wasted out the pipe. Thats why it doesn't need a (baro) sensor for elevation either, its reading whats coming out of the engine so it will automatically adjust for any thinner air going in, many times a second.

Open Loop is where the 'tunes' mess around. When you slam WOT there isn't enough time for the Closed Loop ECM to read the output, adjust, and then put in what you're asking for, so it switches to Open Loop where there is a fueling map built in that has RPM (Tach) on one axis and engine load (MAP/TPS sensor) on the other. This is pre-programmed into the ECM so when you whack open the throttle the ECM knows exactly what to do, right away. Oh! I'm a happy little ECM! The TPS just said he cranked the throttle open! Where am I? Oh this RPM and this load so BAM look at the Open Loop map and I immediately know I need exactly this much fuel for max power without looking at the O2 sensor.

The Open Loop is where the factory spends a LOT of time on the dyno to keep drivability, power, throttle response, and yes EPA emissions in check. What aftermarket tunes do, is allow more fuel/timing, faster without the EPA mandated emission limits. There is some auto-adjustability built in to the OEM Open Loop as well, but still with those restrictions.

ECM's or tune flashes do the same thing, replace the Open Loop map with one made by someone that ran a bike like yours on the dyno and adjusted it to what they like.
Piggy back ECM's are lame (IMO) and pretty limited to what they can do. Limited to tricking the ECM into just giving more fuel all around. Typically using the temp sensor input to make the ECM think its cold (just more gas, all the time, lame), or slightly better, intercepting the O2 sensor signal and lowering the voltage to... just add more gas all the time. They might even have a dial for more or less fuel, but its still trying to paint with a sledgehammer.

Yes, buy an ECM from a reputable source (like IDS), swap it out and you're done. If you change exhaust, sure get another one if you want (they're cheap) but not necessary IMO. OE ECM with OE exhaust, or aftermarket ECM with any aftermarket exhaust. Aftermarket exhaust are all so similar that the little bit of Open Loop adjustability I mentioned is enough to keep the engine at max efficiency.
IDS also sells a 'tunable' ECM for racers, but it runs Open Loop ONLY and needs a qualified engine tuner and a dyno to effectively be utilized.

*Oversimplification warning!

TL:DR IMO, your Dean A tuned ECM is fine, even if you put a dB killer in or put the SC pipe on. YMMV, and they're cheap if you'll feel better buying one.

[9RX]

Cool, that's great info on the ECU. thanks a lot. The access to features other than "adding fuel" is what I was after on my GSX, such as the "deceleration fuel cut off" which can cause jerky throttle onset. Still haven't set everything up yet though.

I'm not too worried about back pressure from the baffle influencing torque. My concern is more about detonation, scavenging, as well as heat extraction. Example, in theory, I was wondering if too much restriction could keep heat in the headers and cook the exhaust valves. things like that. Overall my concern is more about motorcycle health than chasing performance, particularly with the EBR since getting parts (let alone an engine) is a pita. Priority 1 is for the bike to keep running well, performance is added bonus but not much a concern. Like you showed above it makes in the 180hp... the bike - is fine... Haha!
I think you're right though, it will be fine with a baffle. Thanks for your suggestion.

I like that rear light. I'm trying to adapt something similar, just not too far in like yours (trying to keep legal or just not give them any reasons to add-up more lines to the ticket). I saw the R&G tail tidy but I don't like that rear light, it's just some standard oval shape that doesn't fit the form anywhere on the EBR.
I'll try building something custom.

I'll let you guys know if I go to Barber, we should try some EBR owners gathering with the forum members.

[Cooter]

It would have to be one heck of a restriction, bordering on fully plugged exhaust, and then run for a long time to cause engine issues like that. V-twins do put out a large volume of air/cyl and the header pipes will glow normally so just don't go crazy and you should be fine:burnout:

APH exhaust is re-packable and very similar to the Dean pipe, but theres no amount of packing that has made it a comfortable volume for the street. Well, comfortable for the neighbors anyway:azzangel:

The tail tidy is kinda one or the other, it has to clear the tire:/ The tail is high enough that under the seat is actually pretty well visible from the rear and left/right, and I haven't even had any police-type issues (for that). I like the RG but agree with you on the universal café bike looking lens not matching up. I can't imagine it would be hard to get the RG for the bracket and signals, then adapt a taillight shaped the way you like? Custom is always better than bolt-on anyway. I'd love to see pics with what you end up with

[ACM]

That's what I did Cooter, I swapped out the terminally naff R&G tail light for a Koso unit :
https://kosonorthamerica.com/product/infinity-led-taillight-red/

There's a smoke lens version as well, I just felt the red one would look better on a red bike.

[Cooter]

That lens shape looks really good! Any pics on the bike?

[ACM]

This is the best I could find, my brother took it while he was over here
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Standing room only in the garage right now so I can't get behind the bike to get a better shot

[ACM]

Hopefully this is better ?
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[Cooter]

That looks good! Very tidy:)

[ACM]

Here's another image, looking down from above the passenger seat :
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This sold me on this setup, very compact but still bright