| Author | Message | ||
     Ralphthe3rd |
Court, thank you for your insight. And it wasn't really meant to sound like a complaint. I just kinda feel like Ed does. The Blast never gets the spot light(or best parts), always left behind in the wings waiting. But I do guess a starter bike needs to be cost effective? BUT HEY ! I'd sure take you up on the Offer of the Personal Factory tour :-) I'm a true enthusiast when it comes to Buell Bikes, although I've focused on the Blast(I'm a p~o~o~r Blastard), I love ALL Buells and Erik's Philosophy ! Ahhh when/where do I have to be to get this Tour ??? Maybe this summer ??? I'm from Pennsy btw...but I'd drive out special just for that ! | ||
| Rempss |
Glyptal is also red. An excerpt from an ad: "Glyptal Red Brush On Quart - Recommended by many high performance engine rebuilding books, Glyptal seals the tiny pores left in metal after bead blasting and leaves the engine block interiors smooth. Helps keep the oil clean and flowing freely. Acid and oil resistant. Used on generator and alternator armatures, Glyptal has great electrical insulating properties, too!" I have used it many times, it may look like rust in a dark place lit by a flashlight. I also suggest getting a bit of it out and inspecting it further. If it is Glyptal it will not come out without a mechanical removal tool (sanding, scraping etc.), don't do that it is there for a reason if it turns out to be this product. Anyone know if Buell uses it? Jeff | ||
| Ezblast |
I'm with Ralph - where and when - I'd love to tour the Blast plant and enjoy seeing the process first hand! Hey Ralph - maybe well get to meet up - the power that be - my wife - already gave full suport for this trip. And Court - it would be an honor to have you for a guide! Jeff - know the stuff well from my navy days in an engine room - but isn't it pretty pricy?(The Navy never worried about such things on our level - thats what tax payers are for - lol) - Just Blasting on the Dark side! EZ | ||
| Jimalexander |
Hi group, thanks EzBlast for coming to my rescue about discerning the difference between rusty reddish color and real rust. I've been around a few blocks and thought I knew rust when I see it but I am going to do a real inspection and biopsy as suggested later today and will get back with some info. Thanks all for your feedback. Jim. | ||
| Jimalexander |
I just took some pics of an inexpensive tail luggage case that I have installed on my Blast. I don't plan on carrying anything heavy back there though it's solidly mounted and has a quick disconnect from its mount. Go to photos.yahoo.com/tsu9332 and hit my photo album 1 to see pics. Jim. | ||
| Ezblast |
Jim - nice job on the carrier/luggage set up - how did you mount it & could you post a picture of the mounting - please;0) - SHOWING my ignorance here - Where are the Blasts built? Thats the plant I want to tour...the rest of the Buells are cool and I'm a big fan, however, I'm a bigger fan of the single and thats the only tour I'd really be intrested in paying money to travel and see - with Court as a guide - of course;0) Just name a date and time and I'll be there! Just Blasting on the Dark side! EZ | ||
| Rempss |
EZ, Last I purchased it, about 2 years ago (Eastwood Auto), it was about $20 a quart. Jeff | ||
| Ezblast |
Geez - and we used it like water in the old USN. Thanks Jeff - that pretty well answers that question - nope I'm sure thats not it! Just Blasting on the Dark side! EZ | ||
| Jimalexander |
Ezblast, I put up some more pics. The case is from J.C. Whitney, around $59.95. The base has a quick disconnect feature which I like and I have used this case on previous bikes. I decided to drill into the Blast's tail as this part is real inexpensive to replace. I use 6 flat head 1/4" bolts to mount it and it seems that the tail of the bike will hold it and maybe 10 pounds of weight, though I haven't given it a try yet. Jim. | ||
| Joey |
Funny. Blocked! Seems photos.yahoo.com is a web archiving site that the higher-ups don't want us to use at work. Can you post some of those photos here? | ||
| Jimalexander |
Joey, I'm lucky I can get them up on my yahoo site, (not real computer savvy,) I don't know how to post them here. Tell me how and I'll put them up! Jim | ||
| 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...' So prove me wrong - point out where Buell or HD is going to try and offer us something new for or by the thumper you swear they love. Buring the topic won't hide the facts and frankly I'd love to be proved wrong. Surely they are not going to drag this model through too many more years as is. I figure something has to bust - either they introduce a new improved version, or introduce a shitload of accessories that answer our wants. My biggest fear though is that now that it has served its purpose as test bed, is that it will be dropped from the Buell line and show up as some kind of lame HD dirttrack version(like the very lame 883 want to be 750racer) which would kill it for sure(dirt track is cool but so far off main stream now days - ya know). Court still looking foward to that tour - where and when - I'll be there! How about any insider info. or are my worst fears not just the twisted ramblings of a paranoid Blaster... lol...Just Blasting on the Dark side! EZ | ||
| Josh |
EZ, all Buells are assembled at the factory in East Troy. The Blast line is separate from the XB line and has a smaller group of long time Buell workers assembling them, several of whom own Blasts and all of whom I heard speak English with a Wisconsin accent. Work with Court off-line for a tour or just show up Aug 20th. josh 91 RS1200 98 S1WL 99 S3T 00 Blast | ||
| Ezblast |
Josh - you have me mistaken with Ralph on several points - however - thank you for the info. Worked in East Troy as a camp counselor the summer I got out of H.S.(played D&D with Gary G.)-part of the work program for my college. Nice area and I reiterate - if Courts giving the Tour then I'm there. Just Blasting on the Dark side! EZ | ||
| Ralphthe3rd |
Josh- no~NO it was Ed ! ~LOL~ I swear I'd never say assembly line workers didn't speak english *gulp* ;-) Side note to Ed, about a possible XR500R Harley Blast psuedo Flattracker.....Ummm... I've actually been writing to Harley about making such a Bike. Me and Flattrack tuner Bill Werner were discussing this at the Hagerstown,Md. GNC race last summer....sooo Ooops ! Also Ed, the Sportster 883R isn't supposed to be a XR750 GNC wannabe, it celebrates the 883 Sportster Series in GNC racing... thats a whole series devoted to almost stock looking 883's..... But I love any Thumpers....So East Troy here I come ! Btw, What bikes are made in Kansas city ? I thought the V-Rod and the Buells were made in the same factory ??? My brain is a waste since hitting that guardrail back in '84..... | ||
| Ezblast |
Gee Ralph - weren't you a dirt tracker once?;0) Like I said they're cool but now days there aren't too many who could identify with that sport, and regular HD's aren't my cup of tee - a chopper maybe. Still I think the Blast - if inovated w/ some umph could be very sucessfull in a lot of the singles racing that is starting to sprout up everywhere. Why - not - if Ducati and other mfg.rs are willing to put time and money into singles racing, the least Buell(as they have done w/ the XB series)could do is step up with some accessories to help in competition.(I bet you guys wished I had my bike back so I'd leave you alone for awhile - so do I - lol)Just Blasting on the Dark side! EZ | ||
| Ralphthe3rd |
Ed ! "A chopper maybe" ? Oh I didn't hear you say that !!! 50 lashes before you are keel-hauled ! I suppose your chopper would have Ape-Hangers Too ! Oh Man, those California boys have been out in the sun too long.... Ooops- does San Fransisco have Sun.... Ok- too many Fog/smog fumes ? ....mutters a chopper maybe ! ~LOL~ | ||
| Jprovo |
Ralph, bobbers are the essence of 50's motorcycling... less is more, two wheels, engine, not much else. That's what I love about single cylinder engines... simple. Hey Ed! maybe that's what you could do to lose more weight, drop the suspension!  A light weight bar hopper with a Blast engine would be cool. James | ||
| Ezblast |
Joker did one in one of their hidden suspension frames that weighed in wet at 350lbs total for the whole bike! With the Mercury engine - a hella fast light weight cruiser with minimum hastle. The Blast for me is a "chopper" in the sence of its light weight , siplicity - can't get any simpler than one cyl., and ability to be stripped and customized, neked - did I mention nekid..lol..I think that photo shop chopper Blast is as close as... naw its too possible - I won't do it but I'll keep a look out for one. I've seen old HD single choppers - pretty cool and weighing in at less than 300lbs - so I figure its only a matter of time! Just Blasting on the Dark side! EZ | ||
| Phillyblast |
Can you get a patch fine for saying "chopper"? Real men don't ride a bike unless they assume the "Oz audition position":0 But seriously, folks . . . The Blast is a simple enough bike that you have to wonder how hard it would be to make a couple of "limited edition" models - a Jen Snyder Edition dirt tracker, a bobbed single-seater, a "mini XB," etc. all with say 45 hp and some upgraded suspension parts? | ||
| Ralphthe3rd |
P.S.- to James, YES I know all about Bobbers, and they were the First StreetFighters ! But Choppers are a whole nuther thing. Choppers are useless. Too much chrome(on motor retains heat), too much rake and extended forks are stupid, and rigid frames just for the sake of looks are dangerous. So although I applaud the Bobbers of the 40's and 50's... the choppers of the 60's and 70's (hope no Biker reads this)were/are -Just Plain STUPID ! But thats my opinion, and I know that the whole chopper rage started after ex-Vietnam Vets returned back home and brought an attitude with them... At least thats what I recall having lived thru that era as a Teen.... ~Blasto~ | ||
| Ezblast |
Your thinking of show choppers - the wild customs that cost 50 to 100 g's.. I'm talking about the totally striped down minimized bike that may or may not have rake, that is of HD origion but with weight brought down to a min. - usually a frame switch - Those are the dailly driver choppers I see - they weigh in at 380 to 450 lbs and are loud as shit;0) Always said when I get older than dirt I'd do one of those - cost range 6 to 15 grand just depending on how much work you do yourself and what kind of schrounger you are. Just Blasting on the Dark side! EZ | ||
| Bill00 |
Yeah I know what your talking about Ez. From what I understand it started after WWII. The guys came back home after riding the military bikes, and I guess they bought the left over military bikes and striped the side bags, gun racks and stuff off. I would love to have an old flat head Harley Sportster, striped to the the minimum of coarse. | ||
| Jonnyz |
I just posted some pics of my home made number plate/ fly screen in the cool pics section. I plan to makie a few more over the winter and either pick the one I like best or maybe change them out during the summer. Jonny Z | ||
| Ezblast |
Johnnyz - are those adjustable and could they be mounted horizontally ala xb9s in fairing shape also - hmmm - ideas - very nice indeed! Just Blasting on the Dark side! EZ | ||
| Jonnyz |
EZ, Yes they are adjustable. in fact they are just automotive fog lights. These are the ones I used. http://www.pmlights.com/584_2.htm Jon Z | ||
| Joey |
I got thump! The exhaust is shiny and new, the throttle response is improved, and it makes a sound like I've not heard before. If I'm taking off slowly, at a low throttle, the engine sputters out a bit, but I imagine that will be fixed as soon as I put in the bigger jets. I cruised at 80 MPH without feeling like I was doing much. Strange how bad the stock exhaust is for power. The sound is quite the thumpy sound. It's not as loud as I thought it would be, but it is far from quiet. I'll have my wife videotape me riding down the street and post it somewhere for all to hear (and see). Sometime this spring ... | ||
| Ezblast |
All Right Joey - You'll want to get that jetting changed out ASAP - but cool! Got Thump?! - EHEHEH! Just Blasting on the Dark side! EZ | ||
| Ralphthe3rd |
Hey Jonnyz, cool pics of your number plate/flyscreen. I have a question though. What handlebars are you using- they look just like the "Flanders"- Superbike bars that I have on My Bike....are they ??? | ||
| Ltlboybuell |
I did a few searches and couldn't find anything specific on this so here it goes: Has anyone done custom paint on the P3 bodywork? If not does anyone have any prep and materials information? Thanks, Rich |
