| Author | Message | ||
     Gotbuell |
Blake: I sure didn't say anything about racing! Maybe you were just thinking that when you saw SuperMotard. Over the last few months I have ridden a VOR that has been licensed here in Cali. 540cc, 270lbs. great suspension and brakes and wheelies as long as the road allows. I also got a chance to ride a Husqvarna SuperMotard set up for the street and the same s**t eatin' grin comes over my face when I twist the throttle. This one has been tweaked to 640cc(I think) and goes like stink. I just can't see the humble little Blast being made to compete on the street with these big dogs. Lets face it, the Blast was designed for entry level riding and we shouldn;t be trying to make a silk purse out of a cow's ear, even if it is a Wisconsin cow.  | ||
| Blake |
Nothing about racing?...
And again in your post above you use the word "compete." Whatever. I've never heard of a VOR and I don't believe you can purchase a 640 Husky supermotard anywhere around where I live. However, for a Blast owner looking to upgrade, it might be very worthwhile to slap some clipons, rearsets and a 70RWHP engine onto a P3. That I can do, at least fairly soon, and the bike is suported by a vast dealer network and parts suppliers I know and trust. The possibilities are pretty much limitless...  | ||
| S320002 |
Jasonl, I got a chance to work as a pit crew member on a Top Fuel Nostalgia dragster (front motor) last year. It was fuel injected as are all Top Fuel cars. That thing was a Hoot! It holds the Top Speed record in its class and went 240+ mph at Vegas on 11" slicks even after smoking the tires off the line! Xgecko, Aaah...normally aspirated means non-pressurized ie. no turbo or supercharger. Greg | ||
| Rick_A |
Got buell...You can turn any vehicle into about anything desired...just as people are turning dirtbikes into streetbikes, don't you think? It's all a matter of passion, and $$. Problem with the dirtbike based scoots is when subjected to high cornering loads (on paved surfaces) they're fairly flexy. The Blast is not. It's frame is a great platform, I believe. Improve the ergonomics, suspension, wheels, brakes, and hop up the motor and I think it'd make a fine steed. This Crossroads machine is a good example:  | ||
| Rick_A |
Ahhh...ya beat me Blake. Blast you! | ||
| Xgecko |
yeah Greg I caught that myself but it was too late to change it. I'd been in and out of the office all day trying to arrange hotel and plane ticket to southern Japan only to have them (the Navy) change my work location to central Japan. I hit Post and when I reread it oopps I used the wrong word. Still substitute carborated for normally aspirated and the state ment make more sense. BTW that Crossroads Buell is a straight line bike not a turning bike it has a 58" wheelbase. | ||
| Gotbuell |
Blake - Not looking for an argument over semantics, but smoking a Blast has nothing to do with racing. Don't you try to smoke your buddies when you ride your Buell? Isn't that half the fun of riding one??? As for the word "compete" I used it in a context of street riding, once again competeing with your buddies on the local racer road or wherever you like to haul ass. As for the bike from Crossroads it obviously wasn't designed to turn corners, not with that wheelbase, but it is gorgeous. As for a VOR they are a small Italian enthusiast company building bikes that dare to be different. (Hmmm, sounds familiar)Origianlly started by the Vermacchi brothers modifying another companies motors (Husky in this case)in their own frames (and sold under the Vermacchi name) they have made quite a reputation for themsleves as specialized 4 stroke thumper builders. The current 540 wil delight the hell out of you! They also built a quad with their 540 motor that may run Pikes Peak this year, but that's another story. No Husky dealers in your area? That's a bummer, like trying to find a Harley dealer that really cares about Buells in many areas. LOL Rick A - You would be suprized at how well many of these "Dirt Bike" chassis actualy handle with sticky tires. Ask Don Canet if you don't believe me. I hope that the aftermarket does find ways to make the Blast into fun thumpers that can compete (damn there's that word again) in the real world at an affordable price. Enough money thrown at anything makes dreams possible, but a $10,000 Blast isn't realistic. Enough of this for now, I gotta go wheelie the S1W to work. CHEERS and thanks for the lievely conversation | ||
| Rick_A |
On the Crossroads site it states that the Blast only requires a 1" extension for the 17" conversion. A 56" wheelbase ain't bad at all. A hell of a lot better than what most dirtbikes are, that's for sure! Gotbuell...I've seen those bikes in action...they ride them a bit differently than a "real" sportbike. I'm sure they handle well, but I'd rather have a stiffer street oriented chassis. I'm a poor man, and I've invested about 10 G's in my S1. It's all about passion. In a couple years I'll be ready to do it again! and it just may be a Blast | ||
| Blake |
GotBuell: On the racetrack, yes, on the street, no. Not for me. If it were, I'd be riding an RC51 or Duc 998, or Aprilia RSV Mille. I strongly suggest you take up track days and/or club racing. "Competing" on public roads is like gambling with your life. Sooner or later the odds will catch up to you in the form of a suicidal critter, or debris in the road, or an unexpected wet and/or oily spot, or a derelict cager, or the pretty roadside trees, ... Of course, I do like to ride a "spirited" pace.  Anyway, my original point which you called "unrealistic" was that the Blast is a solid platform for significant hot rodding. I think you should agree before I have to whip out my flounder and...    | ||
| Xgecko |
OK Rick, you are correct in what they said you can essentially weld the adjuster onto the end of the swingarm but the one they did has a 3" stretch. 56" is a SV650, 56" is a 6R, with the power a Blast has (even hopped up a bit) the shorter wheelbase (Gixxer6 is 55"  is a help. Not so sure I want to give up that nimbleness for a TIRE GOTBUELL, why own a Buell if you are not gonna tweak it???? I've owned mine 2 years in that time I've changed the bars ($25) added a fairing ($45) replaced the headlight ($35), gone through 2 mufflers ($200 each), though one is now a paperweight, 6 tires ($300+) Crossroads rearsets ($550) Forkbrace ($125) Pointscover ($20) Pulleycover ($100) I've almost finished a new intake ($80) Corbin seat ($300) and I am preparing to Nallinize it with the 515cc kit ($1300) All totalled that is roughly $3180 on top of paying off the bike in a year and 2 months. Now of this insurance paid for the rearsets, 2 tires, the bars and the headlight. the rest has come out of my travel slushfund (unused travel money from starving myself when I work over seas...not really starving just saving it) still I don't consider a single cent of that money wasted sure the blast aint it's big brother but then I couldn't stuff a M2 inside an R6 on the switchbacks of Mt Tantalus (O'ahu's Dragon only shorter (3 miles) and much tighter). The Blast is itself a good bike it is a platform for a really fun little hooligan bike. There are places where HP doesn't help. Anyway I still beleive that if you own a Buell you own a tweakable bike and it is a requirement to do so. just because it's a bargin bike to start with should (at least fo me) make no difference. Yes I lust after the XB but I would trade my Blast for one. It (the XB) won't do the things I like to do on my blast because it is a bigger bike (nice looking though it is) As to compaling the Motards to a Blast I've ridden a Duke and it is a fun bike but way to tall and the front end makes the Blast's seem downright rigid. I have no desire to commute on such a bike. | ||
| Gotbuell |
I agree that Buell's are prime candidates for tweeking. That is why my S-2 had lots of tweeks and was good enough to be featured in Performance Machine's catalog a couple of years ago. The S1W that I now have is also going through some mods (power, suspension and a gel Seat so I can stand to stay on it). I believe all motorcycles need some "mon tweeks", none are perfect from the factory plus its half the fun of owning bikes. I also agree that the Blast is perfect for modifying but this lively conversation stems from all the discussion of huge motors, modified frames, big wheels etc. My point was at that stage the Blast probably isn't the best starting place. If you want an ultimate thumper there are better choices. Real world riding isn't about race bikes and that's why some of the Euro Thumpers make the ultimate single cylinder hoolgan bike. Blake - Having fun "Smokin" the riding buddies doesn't mean riding at ten tenths or more on the street. Common sense warns the ones of us that have been riding 30+ years like I have that all those things you mentioned can and do happen. I own a Ducati 996S that has been furhter modified and Yes it will kill my S1W, on a race track. But on the street it is way too serious of a race bike to allow spirited riding with any margin for error, it's abilities require race speeds for the bike to work and be comfortable. In fact the reason the Buell is so much fun is you can ride "racer road" at a fast pace and still have manuverability for the unexpected. Plus the Buell can do wheelies at moderate speeds while the Duc pulls up the front wheel effortlessly at 100+. Even in first gear when the front tire leaves the tarmac, you are hitting 70+ before you know it. Way toooooo much bike for the street. I guess we are really agreeing on the same end result with a slightly different way of seeing it. | ||
| Blake |
Blake GotBuell | ||
| Anonymous |
Blake - I think you need   | ||
| Gotbuell |
I agree - So if you are in So Cal, lets go for ride and see who we can "SMOKE". Remeber "It's not racing, just putting a wheel better that your buddy's and laughing about it later". | ||
| Blake |
Hmmm, two posts within three minutes of each other... I think the guy talking to himself on a public discussion board is the one that needs serious . | ||
| Ezblast |
Hey Blake - would a 4-valve head add anything to this setup(w/usual p&p,&3angle v-job)and using math posted elsewhere - would'nt a 2&1/4" exhaust be needed as well? Keep Blasting!;0) | ||
| Blake |
I'm not expert. I suppose it depends on the quality of the head. | ||
| Rick_A |
Yeah...good head is hard to come by  | ||
| Blake |
| ||
| Anonymous |
The WORST head I ever had was still FAN-GOLFIN-TASTIC!!!  | ||
| Twisty_Sister |
Anonymous. What was his name? | ||
| Anonymous |
I didn't get her name, but here is a link to what she spit out after. | ||
| Twisty_Sister |
Shame on you anonymous. Did he spit that in your face? I bet you just loved it. Me? I like to swallow, especially naughty little boys like you. | ||
| Rick_A |
Damn...this forum got shot to hell with a .44 and I remember Twisty's profile being a little more colorful | ||
| Ezblast |
Not kidding - there is a company out there making 4 valve heads(Max T Engines)for Buells inc. the Blast. Anybody try their product - are the results they claim true? The potential - ahhh the potential! Keep Blasting! | ||
| Blake |
Do they have a web page? | ||
| Ezblast |
yes - http://www.maxtengines.com/ - -I was told about this site at the other Blast! site. - Have fun and keep Blasting! | ||
| Rick_A |
Theoretically, don't more valves only have a real advantage at high revs? Those heads look massive, too. I likes it simple. | ||
| Blake |
Take another look at the head on your bike. They blend so well with the cylinders, it's sometimes surprising how tall they really are. | ||
| Rick_A |
Well, wouldn't it also be a lot of additional valvetrain weight for a motor already known for high RPM valve float? |
