Lighting and Air

Added two upgrades yesterday: an upgraded headlight bulb and and a replacement air filter that is supposed to help flow more air.

First the lighting. The single headlight on the XR is OK, but just OK. I don't ride a lot at night, so haven't really worried about it. On Saturday, by happenstance, I met the east coast rep for PIAA during an open house at Bob's BMW in Laurel, MD. He suggested a replacement H4 bulb. This isn't just an OEM replacement. From the PIAA website, the Extreme White Plus is "rated at 4000K and providing 110watts of light from only 55watts." (PIAA part number 70456). The bulb is a drop-in replacement for the stock bulb.

The job wasn't hard, but it's not like reaching in and pulling the bulb out. I had to take my windscreen off (easy since I bought the quick disconnect one from HD). Then the headlight trim ring comes off (phillips screw driver). The headlight comes out easy enough and disconnects from the wiring. The bulb is retained with a funky clip under a rubber cover that prevents water from getting in. The bulb comes out easily and the new one goes in the same. Just have to be careful to get the clip back right. Total time about 20 minutes.

Glad I had the shop manual (which by the way is the standard Sportster shop manual with XR specific sections).

The second was replacing the factory air filter with the Pipercross Air Filter. I had ordered the replacement filter months ago from Cal-Superbike, the US distributor for the Pipercross filter. This was a very common modification referenced on the XR forum, so I figured I'd give it a try. I have heard that K&N might come out with one that flows more air, so I might be doing this again.

The job was a little more involved than the headlight. Again, glad that I had the shop manual. The gas tank has to be removed to replace the filter. The seat comes off, then the cover for the gas tank (four of the hex screws on the gas filler cap hold the cover on). This exposes the two screws that hold the air cleaner to the gas tank (but you can't pull the air cleaner off since it fits up into the gas tank from underneath. Lastly, the two bolts holding on the tank at the front and rear come out. The tank lifts off pretty easily (replacing it's more trouble since you have to make sure the tabs that hold some other commonents which share that front bolt to the gas tank are properly lined up).

Once the gas tank is off, the filter cover comes off easily. The filter has a rubber lip (stock and replacement) that bends to fit the contours of the filter housing. Easy to fit it in.

Put everything back together. Fingers-crossed that it'll start ...and it does. Don't notice much difference...maybe a slightly crisper response to the throttle, but that could by me projecting. After spending $87 for the new filter, including shipping, you have to hope it makes some difference, right? (From what I read from the XR Forum, the actual performance benefit may be negligible. If you're considering this, you might wait until the K&N model is out.)

Brake pads

Probably one of the cheapest upgrades available. The stock brake pads are fine for basic street bike use. For more aggressive riding, better pads provide both improved stopping power and feel. I've found that the stock pads on the XR provide good power, but not like the brakes I'm used to on my sport bikes. To see how different pads will change the braking, I ordered EBC HH Superbike sintered pads to try out (Front part number FA296HH, 2 sets). At the same time, I plan to replace the brake fluid with high temperature racing fluid and bleed them carefully. More on the results when I've installed them.

Comfort for the seat of my pants

"Feel" on your motorcycle is translated through three points of contact - hands, feet and your butt. Seat selection is important and I've always replaced the OEM seat with something more suitable to my riding, not to mention my posterior.

The stock seat on the XR1200 isn't bad. I did the 10 day trip through New England - maybe 1200 miles total - on the stock seat and never once thought about the seat. Thehighest compliment you can pay to the motorcycle seat is that you don't notice it even after the longest day.

Still, not to be deterred, I switched the stock seat out for the Saddleman Seat Pad ($225) from Storz Performance (purveyor of many tasty items for the XR1200 and the company from which HD had to acquire the name rights).

The Saddleman Seat Pad is a direct replacement for the stock seat. My initial motivation was about 1" more height. At 6'4" my legs can use the extra space. The added benefit was a more rounded edge on the seat and a little more room to slide back.

After six months of use, I'm hooked. I love the seat and how it feels. This summer will provide a good test of benefits in endurance conditions when we head to Colorado for a week long trip. More on that in a subsequent blog.