| Author | Message | ||
     Joey |
I am working on plans for a digital tachometer. I'll be using some sort of a microcontroller that would allow the owner to select the number of cylinders, from 1 to whatever. If I was to market such a thing, who would be interested? How accurate would I need it to be? 100, 10, or 1 RPM? The method I'll be using to calculate RPM would make it more accurate with fewer cylinders. I figure that, as far as assembling the unit, I can keep the cost down lower than that of commercially available tachs that aren't as accurate or flexible (Should I make 13 cylinders a choice?). Any thoughts or suggestions? | ||
| Sarodude |
Joey- Keep the tach VISUAL. An RPM readout LCD isn't much use when you're working on more intense issues. A bar graph style with selectable / setable low / high / redline / shift would be cool. My ideal: A digital readout plus a bar graph. Digital readout would have a .1 second or so update interval. The bar graph would only work in the RPM range selected by the rider - the real meat of the powerband. When it really counts, there'd be the visual indicator. 2 or 3 color LEDs present some intriguing possibilities in that regard - not that I've ever thought about anything like this... Just an opinion. -Saro | ||
| Lilbuellrider |
Sorry to hear about your run in with the truck Dan, and "OUCH" the broken rib, SO glad it wasn't worse, we do our best to keep it shiny side up, sometimes poop happens, darnit!! Smile, "Life Is Great!" Linda | ||
| Bill00 |
Has anyone heard any news on the 44 magnum kit? Are they still going to make it? Also, does anyone have a picture of the frame on the Crossroads Blast. I'm thinking about Blasting on the Dark side too. ;') | ||
| Xgecko |
I assume by the "frame on the Crossroads Blast" you are refering to the orange Cafe looking blast...If so the only part of the frame that was actually changed on that blast was the rear subframe...they also stretched the swingarm a bit. | ||
| Bill00 |
Yep, thats the one. I'm just wondering how they cut out the large sections on the sides, where the foot peg "y" section is attached. I'd like to see how the subframe was built. I'd leave the stock swingarm unless I use a chain. If I do this I'd probably keep the 16 inch wheels. | ||
| Ezblast |
Bill - the 'y' section unbolts - but only do so if you got your rear sets ready to bolt on. Banke has a nice set for a little less than Crossroads, but the Crossroads custom set is a little lighter - weight wise - so its a personal choice. I've seen some nice ones made custom - in the style of the Banke rearsets for the S-1. Sounds like your ready to have some fun! Welcome! Just Blasting on the Dark side! EZ | ||
| Xgecko |
Crossroads cut the rear subframe off and welded a small seatpan and battery holder in its place. I had photos of their subframe that they sent to me but alas my laptop crashed and took those with it. I had plans to do the same thing until I ended up with my Corbin seat...now you can't pry my A$$ of that seat. As it is now I have a few year to contemplate what I'm gonna do to the Blast...I know a Nallin 515cc kit is gonna happen, since I don't want to wait/pay or deal with cases being bored. and I also have to install a new fairing/headlight since the 7" circle light doesn't agree with my Telefix bars but I think that's about it... The Banke rearsets don't have as much clearance as the Crossroads ones...the flipside of that is that you aren't as cramped on the Banke rearsets (adjusting to the Crossroads Customs took a while). | ||
| Ezblast |
Xgecko - you must have yours all the way foward - mine fit fine - probably at a less radical setting - their adjustability is great! You'll be in Japan soon - checking out the latest they have - I'm sure you'll find some toys for your bike while your there;0) Just Blasting on the Dark side! EZ | ||
| Joey |
So, just a little while ago, I'm thinking to myself that it's just a short ride. Just around the corner. I don't need to wear my boots, or my cold-weather gear, etc. I was just getting lunch. I put them on anyway. Coming back, I take a right turn, find some dirt, and, by reflex, put my foot down.  My foot (covered by that boot that I ALMOST didn't wear) got squashed just a little before I found traction again. I look at where my boot made contact with the ground, and wonder if my sneakers would have held. Even if they did, I probably would have felt a lot more than I did. I decided my right foot is a prized posession, worthy of the time I took to put on and lace up those tedious boots.  | ||
| Bill00 |
I may look into the Banke rearsets. I actually thought about making my own but I don't know if I want to get into the hole shift linkage mess. Figuring out the length of the arms and rod. I wonder if Crossroads would send me a pic of that rear subframe. I'd like to see how they put the battery in there. I'm thinking about the 600cc kit and maybe that four valve head, of course thats big $$$. It wouldn't be to hard for me to bore the cases. I have access to some pretty nice machinery. The hardest part would be putting everything back together right.  This is just stuff I'm thinking about doing next winter. This winter I'm rebuilding the engine and suspension on my XR400. Joey, Practicing your dirt tracking moves? | ||
| Ralphthe3rd |
Bill, I was just looking at your profile and photo of your bike. I've seen that Bike Pic before- Photo Shopped !!! That was the bike that had the long stretched out forks ! I thought that it couldn't be real. Shame on you for even playing with the photo in that direction ;-) You coulda at least went in the other direction and stretched the swingarm and made a hill-climber out of it. (with chains on the Rear tire ~LOL~) | ||
| Joey |
That's probably a good idea. I'll go put on some old jeans and an old jacket, and go tear up some dirt near my house this spring. Although the frictional coefficient of dirt is different from that of asphalt, it would probably be a good idea for me to practice bringing my Blast! back into control.  Here's one for you! I have a significant exhaust leak that occurred when I could not park the bike and fix it. I made 130 miles on my primary tank doing mostly 70 MPH. Seems the stock muffler robs more power than I originally thought... | ||
| Bill00 |
You caught me Ralph. I was just playing around one day and thought I would post it and see what everyone said. Hmm, maybe I'll try that other direction. Joey, an old cheap dirt bike works good for that, but you'll want to get some elbow/forearm and knee/shin guards because when (not if) you fall you'll be glad you have them. I learned the hard way. | ||
| Jimalexander |
I took off my tank to install a crankshaft ventilation filter and noticed that under the oil plug the inner frame that contains the engine oil is covered with rust. The oil level cold was down sufficiently to see. This is a 4 month old, heated basement kept bike with 500 miles on it. Is this normal, or cause for concern? Thanks, Jim. | ||
| Xgecko |
I am guessing that you are refering to the frame exterior...Anyhow the rust isn't likely from your ownership. If like many dealerships the blasts are kept outside (usually only barely covered) then the rust likely had a few months to "grow" before you received it...tell you dealer and get them to clean it up (it's a slow season for them they might do it). BTW if live in a Salty enviroment (i.e. near the coast) then the metal is likely reacting to the air alone. I just packed up my bicycle which has sat (unridden) in a heated garage 2 blocks from the beach for the last month and the chrome frame is covered with corrosion (I should have painted it) nothing a little eblow grease and metal polish won't remove but it was a surprise. | ||
| Ezblast |
ARGGHH!!! It looks to be another week before I get my Ole Blast Vader back! Jonesing sooo bad - they were missing a tool - yea right - whatever - So the new date for recievership is the 25th! Just Blasting on the Dark side! EZ | ||
| Jimalexander |
Xgecko, I'm referring not to the exterior frame that the oil fill plug goes into, though that area does have some weld grundge that will probably rust in time. I mean inside the frame that contains the motor oil as you look through the oil fill hole with a flashlight! The oil level is low enough for me to see a lot of rust on the inner frame. When the bike gets hot the oil level rises and goes above this area. I can't think that this is right on a 4 month old, heated basement kept bike with 500 miles on it. I've kept on top of the oil level during break-in and have topped it up as necessary. Any ideas before I call the dreaded dealer and ask about it? Thanks, Jim. | ||
| Xgecko |
Yikes sounds like you have a lot of water in your oil system...you might want to have the dealler take a hard look at it | ||
| Sarodude |
Jim- That sounds mighty, uh, INTERESTING... Can any insiders comment on what coating (if any) is applied to the inside of the frame? -Saro | ||
| Ralphthe3rd |
Inside frame rust is actually VERY common and is only a light surface rust and not the big flakey stuff to get worried about. I've seen this in a few Blast oil tanks and also in other older brit and even yamaha thumpers. Don't worry ! As in the case of the Blast, the frames inside are never treated and they may even get the light coasting before being welded together. You see our sweet little bikes are put together by over paid americans who really don't care too much about the quality of the products they assemble. You'll also note that the Blast has some of the worst and sloppiest frame welding I've ever seem on a bike. But bigger Buells and All Harleys have pretty welds...How come,......PRICE! I'm sure the Dealer will also tell you not to worry and that they all have more or less of this rust. In the olden days, almost all Jap Bikes had this kind of rust on the inside of their gas tanks, but enough people complained and now the quality is Better. BTW the BMW's and Harleys prevented this condition by coating the inside of their gas tanks....But did they do the oil tanks too ? Don't worry... with all the oil and oil fumes in there...it'll never get worse...Just don't start scratching away at it-OK !!! ~Blasto~ | ||
| Aaron |
Uh, Ralph, I don't want to step in anything, but seriously, go to the Buell factory, meet the people, talk to them, get to know them. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by the depth of their passion for the product and their dedication to doing it well. Many of the people who work at Buell could be making more elsewhere, they choose to work there because they love the bikes. | ||
| Ralphthe3rd |
Aaron, hey buddy- you ain't stepping on anything ;-) I just meant to say the poor little Blast seems to have gotten the short end of the stick when it comes to quality control....~LOL~ They must have a different line crew working on them...one that don't speak Engish as their first language ? Oh YES, I Do know the Passion over at the Buell Works and all lead by the Cheers from Erik. But c'mon man...they really took some cost cutting moves with the Blast, especially in the Frame dept. Btw- I don't know for sure(I'm guessing), but I'll say the frames are probably sub-contracted...that may explain the poor welds and poor paint(on the ones I've seen). But the motors seem as good as any Harley motor ;-) Nothing some good TLC or blueprinting wouldn't make better ? I'd own a Buell, but I'd never own a Harley....(All show no go!) P.S.- Chrome just rusts and weighs more-LOL ! P.P.S.-Aaron, keep up the Great work and maybe Bonneville with be less boat worthy this year ? | ||
| Sarodude |
Ralph- Your price comments are not only about the people who build and make decisions on what the bikes will be but also reflect the customer - if the marketing and product development people did their jobs right. Yeah, the Blast's frame welds do suck. Removing the Y Peg Mounts sucks. The fact that the stock muffler can anchor a Princess cruise liner sucks. BFD - that's the bike we PAID for. Ask the average Blast rider (probably not a power hungry one lunging psycho on this board) what they think about any of those things. "Huh?" will likely be the answer received. I wonder how much harder it would've been to sell a Blast (that otherwise performs and is specd similarly) that we'd have to pay $500 more for - or $1000 more - or... I would agree with Aaron's comment regarding Buell employees giving a crap. The experiences I've had with them is one of CONNECTED, CONCERNED, CONSCIENCIOUS people who value at least SOME things above ca$h. I would personally love to be able to fit into that company someplace. -Saro | ||
| Court |
>>>I just meant to say the poor little Blast seems to have gotten the short end of the stick when it comes to quality control That's a patently inaccurate statement. The BLAST incorporates some incredible quality measures and it shows in the data. There is a huge difference between inexpensive and "cheap". The BLAST required alot of innovative and creative measures in design, sourcing and construction to maintain the price point and the team that did it did an incredible job. In addition, and I'd be happy to arrange a tour for you, the people building the BLAST build each and every one as if they were going to be buying it. Dat's a fact... Court | ||
| Ezblast |
Court - any time you think your serious with that offer - I'll take you up on it - I like to travel and the Blast is fun even in stock trim. What you are really hearing from this board is a true lack of suport for this bike on a corporate level - and its a best seller. What proof - sure - check out your lattest edition of fuell - the Buell factory photo in the TOC - no Blast - factory stuff for the Blast nill, and factory response to Blast problems - extra slow. Thank God our side stand works - cause it would have been the 03' or 04' model before it would get fixed. Don't get me wrong - I love the Blast and think its a great bike - I just don't think Buell shares that same amount of excitement for this bike that they have for the others. Hell - the only footnote for the Blast by them so far is setting new standaards of reliability and manufacturing processes. This bike could be so much more than a beginner's platform - but while the rest of the world is rekindling intrest in performance singles - Buell ignores us and them and continues to tout it as an inexpensive beginner's bike and has been deaf to our plees of more for this single. Just my feelings on the topic. Just Blasting on the Dark side! EZ | ||
| Blake |
Primer is often a rusty redish orange color. | ||
| Ezblast |
Yea and so is Blood - whats your point - that the person can't tell the diff between rust and paint - and besides that common red primer is not used in fuel/oil applications. Try again? Just Blasting on the Dark side! EZ | ||
| Court |
>>>Court - any time you think your serious with that offer - I'll take you up on it If there are enough interested folks attending the 20th Buell Birthday, I may try to make arrangements for the "Super Enthusiasts Tour". It looks like this event is going to be one of THE big two (in conjunction with Bonneville) of the year. Court | ||
| Blake |
EZ, Just throwing out random thoughts, admittedly silly ones. Oxidation only below the oil level inside the oil tank doesn't make much sense to me, especially when considering that motor oil contains corrosion inhibitors. I agree, I wouldn't expect to see red oxide primer inside an oil tank either. Jim, Identification of the off color substance by peering through the filler hole using a flashlight may not be the most reliable approach. Suggest swabbing a sample from the tank for a more definite diagnosis. Blake PS: EZ, If your blood is a "rusty redish orange color", you may want to see a doctor.  |
