| Author | Message | ||
     Dust_Storm |
Blake I meant rearsets..  darn it, let me have my delusions. And yes, I am very aware that wonderful roads in the US: Deals, PCH, and your wonderous TX hill country. I just wish I could figure out a way to transplant those highways into my everyday commute. If nothing else, it'd make the city look a LOT more interesting (and give those civil engineer guys 'n gals something to really work out). I love to get out to wonderful roads and the track as much as i can! However, I still log almost 3500+ Miles traveling on a straight highway to and from work everyday. The chickenstripe ain't going away anytime soon.  167 Days of continous sun was broken last night by a freak shower that lasted 2 minutes. Back to sun and 100Deg temps.  [Ds] | ||
| Rd350 |
Age old question about tires.. What is a better tire Avon's or Pirelli's for the Blast? Where is the best place to buy them... | ||
| Xgecko |
Here is what I have observed about those two tires. Pireli: I have used these tires almost from the begining and I think I have a pretty good working knowledge of them. Good tire lasts about 4K in the rear and 8-9K in the front. It heats up well in about 10 minutes of riding, good and sticky and is a bit larger than advertised. They square off a bit to soon if they are used for lots of commuting and get really squirrelly towards the end of their life Avon: I've only hade them for 300 miles or so but here are my Impressions...big fat center section on the rear tire. If you are commuting a lot this is probably the tire you want. It takes a bit to warm up I've had the rear slide a bit under straight line braking long after I though the tire would be warmed up (note I have not had this happen whil turning and I trail brake a bunch). As far as tire patterns go Avon has a diferent one front and rear Pireli has matching paterns the Avon's seem to do better in the rain that the Pireli's. However rain for me still means temps in the 80's so YMMV. Avon's will cost a bit more ($10-$20) but are still cheaper than the stock Dunlops. I won't know much more until I get some real miles on them. Sorry I have no info on where tires are the cheapest as I have my dealer do my tires (no mounting fee and usually good prices) | ||
| Prof_Stack |
Warm weather in W Washington state today - 185 miles (a new high for me) - 73.4 mpg. The other thumper rider had a Honda Ascot FT500 - 60 mpg. Back country roads, curvy highways, and some interstate. This bike is such a pleasure to ride in these conditions. But I'm pretty sore right now and might be too tired to watch the US take on Korea tonight! The horn bracket fractured and left me with a dangling horn when I got home and noticed it. Any one else out there have this break yet? I probably can fashion one myself but it shouldn't cost much to buy. I noticed that the tranny didn't shift as well towards the end of the ride. Too hot in there? Would Mobil 1 75/90 tranny oil be better? Xgecko - thanks for the tire update. My Pirelli's have 3400 miles and will be good for about 1500 miles more (back end). I'll replace that tire before the summer is out. | ||
| Xgecko |
A tire wear qualification...the roads here in Hawaii are either textured (rough) concrete or asphalt made with volcanic rock. it otherwords these roads do tend eat tires. My tranny has not shifted well since I last changed the fluid I'm definatly leaning towards Mobil 1 (I'm going looking for it this week as I will hit 15000 shortly. Horn...mine broke about 13000 miles ago I switched to a truck horn and mounted it where one of the turnsignals used to be. The problem with where Buell mounts it is that you need to disconnect a motor mount to replace it. | ||
| Prof_Stack |
Horn fix: I removed the bolt and nut and the TWO brackets that fractured. I drilled another hole through the now shorter pieces. Then I put a rubber washer (from a Grolsch beer bottle top) in the mix and reattached everything. 14 mm heads on the bolt and nut. It'll stay put for a few thousand miles or so. | ||
| Blake |
XG, Trail braking with the rear brake? Are you related to Ben Bostrom, Kenny Roberts? | ||
| Ezblast |
I used 9/16 short wrench in the rear and a long 9/16 for the front of the bolt - redrilled hole and forgot about it. When it breaks again will go to heavier dual strips and mount accordingly. Blasting on the dark side(PS _ I'm really getting into these wine-country back roads - so many curvses so little time!) | ||
| Xgecko |
No Blake, I am not related to any of the Greats. I only do it because it works. What I have found it that many of the really tight coners on my favorite mountain road are downhill. Using the front brake in a downhill turn feels like suicide to me. The only way I can get through these turns fast is to ride the rear brake though part of the turn as I'm rolling on the throttle. Does this make sense? I read what little Keith Code had to say about trail braking as well as what Gary McCoy had to say about it (that man scares me BTW) then I spent a couple hours discussing it with my retired fighterpilot and ex motorcyle riding father. We discused the physics behind it and came to the conclusion that if it works it works who cares the whys and where fores. Some things I have notice about it though. if there is sand or some other traction sucking substance in the turn letting go of the brake help re-establish traction more often than not (I haven't been pitched). The more I ride the blast and the more I play with the Ergo's and such the more I realize that I really like this bike...in it's present set up I can really push the bike to it's limits and still feel safe. I'm riding faster and smoother than I did with the Wide upright bars. It really does go where I point it now...the switch to clipons will only give me a bit more bar swing and won't change the ergo's much. I'm starting to feel the limits of the suspension so that is likely gonna be the next change (or so I think at this point in time) | ||
| Kyuss |
 Last Friday I was scheduled for my 2500 service and new Pirelli's... and then a 320 mile round trip to the Americade (50,000+ bikers) for the weekend! All was great... beautiful June weekend, new tires and a freshly tuned and serviced bike. Then the shit hit the fan!!! arriving into the village and cruising (actually idling in bike traffic for 2 miles) down the main street I noticed people staring at my bike... with the clubmans, no graphics and race stripes I thought that was normal but then I found myself choking on smoke coming up from under the tank and bars! This did not stop all weekend and I had to fill up the oil several times...Can't tell where or why its coming from?! I decided, no wait, my anger decided to pull into the buell tent with my smoking bike and show prospective buyers how cool they were. Buell did not like that very much. Anyway now for the worst part... I lost my speedometer the morning I left and the trip is looking epileptic the way it is flickering and to top it off the bike won't go without stuttering and spit choke and puking!!! Is this a coincidence or does my dealer (closest one is 140 miles of inconvenience away) owe me big for this one??!!! P'd off in Placid | ||
| Mikej |
Kyuss, Did the guys in the Buell tent look at your bike at all to try and figure out where the oil was coming from? It might just be a rocker gasket leak, dripping down onto your exhaust. Speedo sensor is a regular occurance. Haven't heard too much about the newest versions of sensors as far as longevity goes. If all you need are the rocker gasket and speedo sensor, then it should take less than an hour or three for someone who's done them before with the proper tools handy. | ||
| Kyuss |
Mike - No the buell people did not look at my bike... I think they were just salesmen. It may be the rocker gasket for the oil, but why is it sputtering when the lights and tripometer go out and not going above 50? And I mean sputtering! It looks like I'm hitting the gas, letting off the gas, etc... over and over and over. | ||
| Mikej |
Kind of hard to diagnose over the net. Pull your spark plug and see what it looks like. You might also have an intermittant electrical short/open circuit someplace. If you have a service manual, sometimes the books diagnostics/troubleshooting section will lead you in the right direction. How many miles are on your bike? If lots, then how is the air filter looking? I've seen one demo-Blast with a busted valve guide, but that was an anomoly. | ||
| Kyuss |
I have a little over 3K miles on my bike. They installed a new battery on the bike because of a stripped bolt. That may be the cause of my troubles... at least the performance problem, I'll check it out at lunch. thanks, still P'd off in Placid | ||
| Blake |
Kyuss, Life is too short to let a little problem get you all t'd off and upset. Take your bike to the dealer and get it fixed. What you did at the Buell tent is unfortunate. | ||
| Sarodude |
Kyuss- Take it from a guy who had some of the worst luck with a Blast and a dealership. Either commit to doing ALL your own repairs and maintenance yourself and accept that you will make the occasional mistake or commit to the dealer doing all your reapir and maintenance and accept that they will make the occasional mistake. My experience is that, in general, HD dealer mechanics don't like Buells and they like Blasts even less. Given those observations, I don't let anyone else work on my Blast. My recent rocker gasket leak - though eligible for a warranty fix - was fixed by me. Lost a few hours of time, a few days of riding, and a couple of bucks for the parts. However, I know EXACTLY what was done. On the other had, the FXD just came back from a warranty fix for a shorted stator. Loli and I (it's HER bike - I just ride it...) decided that I'll do the maintenance on that bike but the dealership will do warranty things. I really don't enjoy railing on people but I invariably lose my patience when people keep screwing up relatively simple things. Taking on the entire task of keeping my bike well keeps me from being able to get upset at other people. Pick a servicing philosophy and stick with it and its consequences. Also, keep in mind that getting POd at the factory for something a dealer mechanic did may not be the most constructive focus of your energies. Good luck getting it straightened out. Keep us posted on the progress... -Saro | ||
| Kyuss |
 Yes the factory was wrongly accused, it was terribly hot, it was muggy, I may have had a TINY buzz on, my bike was smoking, I was the only blast out of 48,000 bikes and the firebolt demo rides were booked in advance, so I will now apologize and recant my actions. As for the dealer, understanding no one is perfect and mistakes happen, I'm not sure on this one. I blame myself as well for what you are about to read... ... I went home to see if the battery, which I paid for, was connected correctly and everything was tight. To my complete surprise the old battery with the stripped bolts was still in the bike and after 360 miles the screws were practically falling out. I called and they apologized and called it an "oversite ". My problem is the 2 1/2 hours it takes to get there with a leaky rocker gasket. I do not have the time or know-how to replace it myself. Anyway, I'm fine now and will continue to enjoy life and my Hyundai  ! thanks for the support and I will keep all posted if it isn't the rocker gasket. | ||
| Kyuss |
I'm having the dealer send me the battery and am using the dealer in Albany 2:45 minutes away from now on. They sell and service the V-twin Buells unlike my current dealer which only sells and services the blast, which seems like a chore for these guys. That might make service a bit more friendly and a bit more attentive to my bike. | ||
| Blake |
Potential problem. Cannot ship acid via normal mail. | ||
| Strat81 |
HEADLIGHT MODS Anyone have any info on headlight mods for the Blast? I want to change the standard bulb to a super-white bulb, mimicking the look of luxury cars. Or, if they make a dual headlight setup similar to the Firebolt, I'd dig that even more. And while I'm on the Firebolt subject, what about a sporty front fairing like that on the XB9R? Thanks! | ||
| Xgecko |
So many questions Candlepower makes a replacement lens that you can install a standard H4 bulb into ( I did this and then got a set of cool 135Wbulbs (one for my wife's bike) they look blue white to the rider but are a yellow to any aproaching driver. This BTW is the simplest and it is a direct swap. While I was in Japan I saw numerous 7" lenses for cars so I will likely pick up a set if I decide to stay with the current look while I'm stationed there LSL Lights are the closest thing to the Firebolt's projector lights that I have seen but no fairing there are also these light/fairing combo's but no projectors these guys sell some cool stuff too | ||
| Ezblast |
Wild Hare has a nice selection - I'm running the Alien w/fairing combo! Blasting on the Dark side! | ||
| M2cyclone00 |
Strat81, Try http://www.motolight.com/. We have them on our Blast and my M2. They are excellent & the bulbs have an unusually long life. Some riders who do more than 100,000 miles a year are finding that they last more than 5000 hours. They are extremely bright & they offer a lifetime replacement on the bulbs. They are available in powder coated black to match the Blast's lower fork. The 35 watt bulbs are much brighter than the Blast's high beam. Dave | ||
| Kyuss |
would I be highly advised not to attempt a slow 125 mile ride stopping periodically, to my dealer to fix what is thought to be a rocker gasket leak? If so I'll have to pay a hefty tow fee as my north country backwood friends don't drive pick'em up trucks. go figure! also I'm pretty lucky I didn't fry my rear on the bike this past weekend. The lose battery bolt melted straight through the bottom of my seat darn near exiting the leather.  | ||
| Xgecko |
If you payy attention to the Oil level a ride of that length shouldn't be a problem. I'd be working on taking a piece of your service departments a$$ for the Battery SNAFU. Get them to replace the seat. What is the deal with service departments? I read on another list about one that installed a tire backwards and didn't even mount the tire correctly neccessitating over a foot of lead on the rim | ||
| Blake |
Kyus, That depends on how severe the leak is. If not too severe, then go for it. | ||
| Kyuss |
Is there any such thing as a Buell Shop? not afilliated with Harley as far as salesmen and service dept. staff. | ||
| Spooky |
Hey gang, it has been awhile since I stuck my head in here. Had bad accident at work a few months ago that left my right hand useless for awhile. Things are better for the most part now. My doctor gave me the "OK" to start riding the Blast again. Now the fun really starts, my battery died on me last week. Had it replaced and rode all weekend, well its dead again. The dealership won't be able to get to it untill next week. I've got it on the charger right now and plan to keep on riding up untill I take in next week. One last thing, is there anybody in here with a 2000 Blast that has had the recall done. I'm sraping the rear spocket in some turns, and yes the recall was done when my brother owned the bike. | ||
| Buelliedan |
Well, I just became the owner of my fourth Buell. A 2001 Blast with only 280 miles on it. Its actually for my wife. Its yellow cause thats the only color she wanted. I guess thats a girl thing!! She doesn't know about it yet. I have to go to IA to pick it up at the end of the month and will be surprising her with it. | ||
| Mavinwy |
Hey... Mine's yellow.....  Congrats on getting the blast. Jim |
