BUELL Lightning® XB12Scg

Engine

Powering this streetfighter is a Thunderstorm® 1203 cc, 45-degree V-Twin. A stump-pulling, gut-wrenching, air-cooled torque machine.

For 2008, Buell advances the performance of its air/oil/fan-cooled Thunderstorm® V-Twin engine series with a larger crank pin, an improved oiling system, and a new electronic timing system and ECM that controls an all new DDFI 3 fuel injection system. Combined, these changes improve drivability and performance, and reduce service maintenance costs. Also new for 2008, the Thunderstorm® 1203 redline is increased to 7100 rpm from 6800 rpm, giving this engine an even broader powerband, and riders the ability to accelerate longer and downshift at a higher rpm.

Dimensions U.S. Units Metric Units
Overall Length (2) 75.7 in. 1923 mm
Overall Width (3) 29.7 in. 755 mm
Seat Height:
Standard (4) 28.6 in. 726 mm
Low Profile N/A N/A
Ground Clearance (2) 3.55 in. 90 mm
Rake (at Steering Head) (4) 21.0° 21.0°
Fork Angle (4) 21.0° 21.0°

Lean Angle:
Soft Contact, Right (5) 42° 42°
Soft Contact, Left (5) 42° 42°
Hard Contact, Right (5) 50° 50°
Hard Contact, Left (5) 48° 48°
Trail (4) 3.3 in. 83 mm
Wheelbase (2) 51.8 in. 1320 mm

Tires:
Type (6) Pirelli® Pirelli®
Front (6) Diablo T (model) Diablo T (model)
120/70 ZR-17 (specifications) 120/70 ZR-17 (specifications)
Rear (6) Diablo T (model) Diablo T (model)
180/55 ZR-17 (specifications) 180/55 ZR-17 (specifications)
Fuel Capacity 3.82 gal. 14.5 L
Reserve Fuel Capacity 0.75 gal. 2.8 L
MPG (EPA urban/highway test) (7):
Urban 48 MPG 4.9 L/100 km
Highway 65 MPG 3.6 L/100 km

Weight:
Dry Weight 395 lbs. 179 kg
Gross Rating 850 lbs. 386 kg
Load Capacity 391 lbs. 177 kg
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Engine U.S. Units Metric Units
Engine Air/oil/fan-cooled 1203cc Thunderstorm® V-Twin Air/oil/fan-cooled 1203cc Thunderstorm® V-Twin
Valve Train OHV, two valves per cylinder, self-adjusting OHV, two valves per cylinder, self-adjusting

Bore x Stroke:
Bore 3.500 in. 88.90 mm
Stroke 3.812 in. 96.82 mm
Displacement 73.4 cu. in. 1203 cc
Compression Ratio 10.0:1 10.0:1
Fuel Delivery 49 mm down draft DDFI III fuel injection 49 mm down draft DDFI III fuel injection
Intake Zero-resistance airbox Zero-resistance airbox
Exhaust Tuned, tri-pass resonance chamber with InterActive valve and mass-centralized mounting Tuned, tri-pass resonance chamber with InterActive valve and mass-centralized mounting
Torque (North America per SAE J607) 84 ft. lbs. @ 6000 RPM 114 NM @ 6000 RPM
Horsepower (North America per SAE J607) 103 HP @ 6800 RPM 103 HP @ 6800 RPM
Lubrication Dry-sump Dry-sump
Oil Capacity 2.5 qts. 2.4 L
Oil Filtration Screw-on disposable element Screw-on disposable element
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Drivetrain U.S. Units Metric Units
Primary Drive Chain, 1.500:1 (57/38) ratio Chain, 1.500:1 (57/38) ratio
Final Drive (8) Constant path, 14 mm pitch aramid-reinforced Goodyear® Hibrex® belt with Flexten® Plus technology, 2.407:1 (65/27) ratio Constant path, 14 mm pitch aramid-reinforced Goodyear® Hibrex® belt with Flexten® Plus technology, 2.407:1 (65/27) ratio
Clutch Wet, multi-plate, compensated Wet, multi-plate, compensated
Transmission 5-speed, helical gear 5-speed, helical gear

Overall Ratio:
1st 2.648 2.648
2nd 1.892 1.892
3rd 1.407 1.407
4th 1.166 1.166
5th 1.000 1.000
6th n/a n/a
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Chassis U.S. Units Metric Units
Frame (6) Aluminum frame with Uniplanar™ powertrain vibration isolation system, fuel in frame Aluminum frame with Uniplanar™ powertrain vibration isolation system, fuel in frame
Front Fork (6) 41 mm Showa® inverted forks with adjustable compression damping, rebound damping and spring preload 41 mm Showa® inverted forks with adjustable compression damping, rebound damping and spring preload
Rear Shock Showa® coil-over monoshock with adjustable compression damping, rebound damping and spring preload Showa® coil-over monoshock with adjustable compression damping, rebound damping and spring preload

Wheels:
Color Cherry Bomb Translucent or Designer Black Powdercoat Cherry Bomb Translucent or Designer Black Powdercoat
Front 6-spoke, ZTL™ cast aluminum (type) 6-spoke, ZTL™ cast aluminum (type)
17 in. (diameter) 432 mm (diameter)
3.5 in. (width) 89 mm (width)
Rear 6-spoke, cast aluminum (type) 6-spoke, cast aluminum (type)
17 in. (diameter) 432 mm (diameter)
5.5 in. (width) 140 mm (width)

Brakes:
Front ZTL™-type brake, 6-piston, fixed caliper, 375 mm, single-sided, inside-out, stainless steel, floating rotor ZTL™-type brake, 6-piston, fixed caliper, 375 mm, single-sided, inside-out, stainless steel, floating rotor
Rear Single piston, floating caliper; 240 mm stainless steel, fixed rotor Single piston, floating caliper; 240 mm stainless steel, fixed rotor

Suspension Travel:
Front 3.12 in. 79 mm
Rear 5.00 in. 128 mm


Electric U.S. Units Metric Units
Battery Sealed lead acid, maintenance-free, 12V, 12 amp/hour, 200 cca (per Battery Council International Rating) Sealed lead acid, maintenance-free, 12V, 12 amp/hour, 200 cca (per Battery Council International Rating)
Charging 30-amp, permanent magnet, single-phase alternator with solid-state regulator (405W @3000 rpm, 405W peak) 30-amp, permanent magnet, single-phase alternator with solid-state regulator (405W @3000 rpm, 405W peak)
Starting 1.2 kW electric with solenoid shift starter motor engagement 1.2 kW electric with solenoid shift starter motor engagement
Lights: (as per country regulation)
Headlamps Type Twin Quartz Halogen [H7] Twin Quartz Halogen [H7]
Headlamps Description 55-watt low beam, 55-watt high beam 55-watt low beam, 55-watt high beam
Tail/Stop Lights 5W/21W 5W/21W
Turn Signal Lights 10W manual canceling 10W manual canceling
License Plate Light 5W 5W
 
Styling/Convenience U.S. Units Metric Units
Instruments Electronic speedometer, tachometer, odometer; dual resettable tripmeter; high beam, neutral, oil, low fuel (plus, odometer shows miles traveled on reserve), turn signal and engine diagnostic indicator lamps; clock Electronic speedometer, tachometer, odometer; dual resettable tripmeter; high beam, neutral, oil, low fuel (plus, odometer shows miles traveled on reserve), turn signal and engine diagnostic indicator lamps; clock
 
Colors U.S. Units Metric Units
Available Colors (9) Cherry Bomb Translucid, Valencia Orange Translucid, Midnight Black Cherry Bomb Translucid, Valencia Orange Translucid, Midnight Black
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Warranty U.S. Units Metric Units
Warranty 24 months (unlimited mileage) 24 months (unlimited mileage)
 
Footnotes
Specifications for non-U.S. markets might differ. Buell reserves the right to discontinue models or change specifications at any time without incurring any obligations. Vehicle specifications may vary from country to country depending on local laws. Some models are not available in certain countries.