Firebolt Touring Tips

FYI

Touring tip: The Firebolt's stock seat is good for about 200-250 miles. I rode 360 miles this past Sunday, wishing for death during the last 100. Has anyone tried the custom touring seat yet? Does Corbin have one in the works?

Touring tip: get the tankbag and fill it mostly full. It gives you something soft to lean in to and takes a lot of weight off of your wrists. This was the only thing that saved me this Sunday.

The bike performed great though. It was 95 degrees and the bike never felt like it was overheating. Saw the sweet side of 100 and the bike was rock steady. THe rest of the day was spent at 65mph+ on windy country roads (for Kansas anyway) and she ran like a champ. Had one down shift to second that chirrped the rear tire, throwing it about 6in sideways during a left hand turn. Dumb move on my part I guess, but it got my attention back on what I was doing.

Touring tip: I also have to recommend the Joe Rocket Phoenix padded mesh jacket and gloves. It was a really hot day, and they kept me mostly comfortable while I was moving. No way I could have worn leather in that heat.

By the way BYKERGEEK, get ready for that 1000 mile service. Mine cost $218. Seems steep.

40 days and 1700 miles, I am still falling in love with this bike!

I performed my own 1000 mile service. It was primarily an oil/filter change and primary case lube change. It took me about 30-45 minutes and cost:

$14 - 3qts Mobil 1 Synthetic Oil
$11 Buell Oil Filter
$8 - 1qt H-D Sport Trans fluid

All receipts kept. /images/icons/smile.gif They will get to do my 2500 mi service though.

As for the seat, I picked up the "Custom" seat today. Nice improvement! I also did abt 250 miles on Saturday in 90 degree heat. No problems. I thought it would have more torqu below 4K rpm but it isn't bad at all.

Shut up and Ride!
http://www.bikergeek.com/images/BG_esportbike.jpg

hey folks as a matter of engine safety I wouldn't switch to synthetic until 2500 at least. It will take that long for the engine to really settle in. I know this sounds weird but Buell engines and transmissions esspecially don't really break in until the other side of 5000 miles. folks that I have talked to say that Synthetic oil will actually prevent/slow down the engine's breaking. That said when you really decide that you want to pull away from HD for you consumeables Mobil 1 75w90 gear oil will replace the "HD sportster tranny oil" and improve the shifting. The only thing I let the dealer do is warrenty and things that are beyond my skills (standard service does not fall in this catagory). Part of the reason I bought the Buell in the first place is because it is sooo simple to work on.

Suck, Squeeze, Bang, Blow...
...that's what makes my thumper go

I'm gonna have to respectfully differ on this topic. I know it has been debated ad nauseum in many arenas already. Everything I have read from independent sources indicates that synthetic lubes are no more "slippery" than conventional petroleum based oils. As such, they should in no way impede the process of piston ring seating. What they offer is increased resistance to thermal breakdown (esp. important in an air cooled engine) as well as reduced impurity levels (all the molecules in the oil are the same (homogeneous) plus whatever antiwear additives are used). I have broken-in several bikes in (4 so far) including 1 other H-D w/ no ill effects. I won't endorse anyone else doing this but my research and experience doing it have thusfar been excellent. Thanks for the info on the gear lube.

Shut up and Ride!
http://www.bikergeek.com/images/BG_esportbike.jpg

Let me know how that seat works out. I am really interested. Have either of you used a chatterbox? DO they work pretty well?

I'm not really refering to piston rings as much as the Tranny. It needs to be banged around a bit before it settles in. Your Tranny is very similar to the one I have in my Blast and I can tell you that it's character and smoothness is very different now than it was before 7-8k. The added torque that you motor has may speed up this process a bit. Many motor builders that I have talked to have said that the first few thousand miles should be done with fossil oil then most definatly switch to synthetic. My last tranny oil change I couldn't find Mobil 1 (the only other oil that HD "approves" of BTW) gear oil so I switched back to Sportser oil...yuck I hate the way it feels...very stiff. I switching back in 800 miles or so when I do my next service.

Suck, Squeeze, Bang, Blow...
...that's what makes my thumper go