Buell custom buell xb need help!!!

[cafe racerXL]

Hey guys I'm building a café style Buell and really like the triple trees on sportys with the visor. I want to swap the forks out from Buell's inverted 44mm forks to Harleys 39mm.
I need to know what is the front axle size on a 2007 Buell xb12. So I know what year forks from a sportster I need to get.

[Headbarcode]

Just the opinion from a fellow Buell fanatic, but the xb model was nearly perfected by 2007. The bike is one of the, if not THE lightest weight production motorcycles. The next being the ducati monster 696 which is about 60 lbs heavier. The Buell also has, i believe, a 22ish degree raked front end compared to the 30 degree on the sportster. To put a lack-luster XL fork assembly on a very well dialed in XB chassis would be an act of cruelty. I'm truly not trying to be insulting in any way. I just don't see anything coming out of a swap like that but a considerable loss of the bikes abilities and a possible major accident waiting to happen. Why not cafe out your sportster or maybe a buell lightning type of change on the firebolt, which has more of a cafe look about it.

Good luck with the 2 sweet bikes you got there!

[Rico 05R]

Just my humble opinion, but swapping out the inverted 44mm Buell forks for the 39mm Sportster tubes...is a substantial step backwards.

[norseXL]

I swap you my 35mm fork, that one is even worse than the 39mm, deal?




.

[DonChicago48]

I recently spent a tidy sum to replace my 39 mm 2003 XL1200 forks with XR1200 Inverted forks fit with Ohlins cartridges. I would not entertain going in the opposite direction on ride, handling, and safety grounds.

[EricZ]

How do you plan on mounting the XB brake caliper to the XL forks? Sounds to me like modifying XB triple clamps to have what you want would be a easier choice.

[cafe racerXL]

I forgot to say I building every thing my self I have my frame with a 31degree rake the bike currently is lighter then when I got it from previous owner. I like both the sportster and Buell forks but I have been looking at a set of xlhs forks very similar to the Buell's just built for 39mm trees. I at first have thought about modifying the xb top just seeing others opinion not sarcastic remarks. anyways I decide to keep the Buell's and try to machine a top plate to go over the original triple tree as if a cover but have it able to bolt the headlight on.

[PuddlePirate]

Going from memory, the ID of the bearing is about 30mm or 35mm (don't quote me on it). You will likely need to get a custom bearing. Also, you will need a fabbed brake caliper mount to mount the ZTL caliper to the fork legs.

I don't have the XL with me now to measure, but you may have an issue fitting the XB wheel inside of the XL forks, unless you space them out.

Going with older M2 forks might be an easier task to fit the XB wheel to. Some guys on one of the Buell forums have fit XB wheels to M2 forks.