beansbaxter
Needs a life
Posts: 5911
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posted January 23, 2006 10:58 PM
New Racebike From Buell
New Racebike From Buell
1/23/2006
By Kevin Duke
With the demand for the new Harley-Davidson Destroyer dragbike exceeding expectations, Buell Motorcycles is getting in on the race-only program with its new XBRR.
"The XBRR combines the current culmination of Buell's leading edge chassis technology and Harley-Davidson's air-cooled V-Twin powertrain development in a platform designed by and developed for dedicated racers," said Erik Buell, Chairman and Chief Technical Officer, Buell Motorcycle Company.
The limited-edition XBRR marks a return to building racebikes for the former racer. The RR is described as "a spiritual successor" to Buell's first motorcycle, the 1983 RW750. Buell had built the demonic two-stroke 750cc RW for the AMA's then-premier Formula 1 class, but the AMA discontinued the class after 1985 when Buell had built just two.
This 2007 XBRR isn't just an XB12R production bike stripped of its street equipment; it is a radically modified and purpose-built racer. The production bike's 1203cc V-Twin mill has been hogged out to 1339cc by a huge bore increase from the streetbike's 88.9mm to a gaping 103.6mm hole. The motor's stroke has been drastically decreased from 96.8mm to just 79.4mm, making an undersquare engine (in which the stroke is greater than its bore) into a very oversquare one.
A new ram-air system feeds the new 62mm throttle bodies, up significantly from the stocker's 49mm mixers. The compression ratio is boosted from 10.0:1 to 12.5:1, so your supermarket-grade fuel isn't going to cut it. A racing exhaust system cuts weight and boosts power.
The result is a claim of 150 crankshaft horsepower at 8000 rpm, which should equate to nearly 130 ponies at the back wheel, virtually unheard of power from the Harley-sourced air-cooled motor. Torque peaks at 6500 rpm at a claimed 100 lb-ft, translating to about 85 lb-ft at the wheel. For comparison, our XB12R test bike cranked out 92 rear-wheel hp at 6700 rpm and 74 lb-ft of torque at 6000 rpm.
Because not all race organizations allow this size of engine in their classes, Buell will also provide an engine modification kit to suit different class regs, though details about the kit at this point are scarce.
The XBRR chassis mimics the street XB design with fuel-in-the-frame and oil-in-the-swingarm, though its belt drive is replaced by a chain for greater strength and easier gearing changes, made possible by a new billet axle adjustment system. The RR's wheelbase can range from 51.8-53.8 inches, compared to the streetbike's fixed 52.0 inches. Rake angle remains at 21.0 degrees, while trail is bumped slightly from 83mm to 86mm.
Visually, the XBRR is unique with the addition of a new wind-tunnel developed carbon fiber fairing, making this the first production Buell since the 1988-89 RR1200 to feature a full fairing. The RR's suspension replaces Showa components with fully adjustable Ohlins units, a 43mm front fork and a remote-reservoir rear shock. Wheels get the expected racer upgrades, with new six-spoke magnesium wheels weighing 33% less than standard XB's cast aluminum wheels. The instrument cluster is stripped down, now including a shift light in addition to a tachometer and a low oil pressure lamp.
Buell's XB streetbikes are unique in that they use just a single front disc brake; Buell trades the additional stopping power of a second rotor for the single huge 375mm perimeter disc. The RR uses the stock front rotor but is gripped by a new ZTL2 (Zero Torsional Load) eight-piston front caliper that replaces the stocker's six-piston caliper.
Just 50 XBRRs will be produced at a suggested retail price of $30,995. A short initial production run begins in late February, with the balance to be completed in April.
The Buell Motorcycle Company has also announced an expanded racing support program for 2006, with more than $700,000 posted in cash contingencies for Buell racers competing in a variety of national and regional race series events and classes aboard XB models and the XBRR production racing motorcycle.
"I remember the days of scraping and scrounging and working crazy hours as a privateer racer," said Erik Buell. "We're committed to supporting our dealer and privateer teams through this contingency program and trackside support at select events."
   
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ninerrider01
Novice Class
Posts: 70
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posted January 24, 2006 06:35 AM
Wow, that sounds like a fun motor! Maybe what they should've offered for the XB12R streetbike in the first place.
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