| Author | Message | ||
     Dankno |
Hello fellow Blastards, My name is Dankno and the "k" is silent (take THAT freshman english!) To sum myself up as quickly as I can, I have a good friend (that I have known since 8th grade) that once said "Ha, you? No way, you've been a rebel without a cause as long as I've known you." For the record, we we're 22 at the time this conversation took place. Yet, even with my rebellious tendencies, the pro-American, Pro-Union up-bringing I received from my father (2nd generation IBEW 357 inside wireman, 3rd generation IBEW) I still feel the need to support America and her workers. So when I decided to fulfill my lifelong desire for a street/sport motorcycle, I got very lucky in that I absolutely love the styling of "naked" sport bikes. I have always been a fan of Buell's (I feel that the only rival for the lines and curves of an S1W are found on human females, the 1125 family comes in a VERY close third) the fact that they are made here in the USA and appeal to the "hooligan" crowd just reinforces my affection. The story of how I found my Blast is ironically along the same lines. I had just about given up on finding an air-cooled, single cylinder, 500cc naked bike in the heart of Gixxer600-land and began considering an SV650 (as they are much more plentiful in used condition in Vegas, and still fit the bill as a naked twin) when I happened across a low-mileage (only 2K) red P3 on Craigslist, in my hometown only 10 miles from my new apartment, SCORE!!!! I politely begged my bride of 2 months for permission to drain our savings and only after explaining that the cycle in question is limited to 95mph and gets over 60mpg (Yeah right!!! Who rides like that!!!) did she agree to the purchase. The rest as they say is history, and my wife is only somewhat jealous towards the red-head in our garage. I guess there IS such thing as fate. | ||
| Rainman |
... is limited to 95mph and gets over 60mpg (Yeah right!!! Who rides like that!!!) I do! I try to keep it under 80 and average about 60 mpg in town. I keep my speed pretty much 5 to 10 mph over the limit but I don't bother braking for the curves | ||
| Dankno |
I sit comfortably corrected...  Truth be told, even with my heavy foot (er... wrist?) I get between 45-55mpg, and ditto on the not braking for curves... but that's not saying much here in Vegas, I think we only have like, 3...  | ||
| Britchri10 |
Just wanted to say "hello". I have been reading all of the Blast info' on the site for the last year or so and thought it time I signed up. I bought my Blast a year ago. Still stock, apart from a K&N air filter. ( Goes good ). I grew up in the UK and rode several Brit' singles in my youth. Worked as a courier in the UK ( Honda VFR750 ) about 20 years ago. I now live in Fla and middle age made me go back to what I like to do, ride. Too old for rugby now so I get my fun on my Blast. I love the torque, the brakes and the lack of "go fast" looks. I'm 6'1", 190 Lbs. I ride with the low seat as I feel more comfortable lower "in" the bike. I'm a daily commuter ( 16 miles each way. ) Weekends are spent trying to escape the demands of my wife and son so that I can ride a bit. Anyway, I look forward to contributing something meaningful to this site. I just have to work out what form it will take. Cheers. Chris C | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
Welcome BritChris! | ||
| Ezblast |
Welcome! Gonna hit the Ton? on a Blast? EZ | ||
| Fast1075 |
Welcome Chris...May the Torque be with you...  | ||
| Britchri10 |
*Ezblast: My understanding is that the rear drive cog won't let you get to 100 mph? Also, I'm a pretty good sized windbreak for the bike and there ain't no hills in florida long enough to take advantage of! 100 mph is a little fast for me these days. I generally, stick to my approximation of the set speed limits and rarely venture over 85 Mph. Later... Chris C | ||
| Ezblast |
LOL - the ignition works the limiter - but that can be upgraded! Again welcome! EZ | ||
| Fast1075 |
Chris, there are a couple of long hills in the Clermont area that are long enough...but thats quite a ride down from Jacksonville. You just have to think like paint...really thin and smooth...  And seeing that you are from the U.K., I'll bet you had a BSA or Triumph thumper...I had a 441 Victor once...it was way cool...IF IT felt like taking me for a ride...sometimes it didn't, sometimes it tested me to see how strong my kickstart leg was...but I think my Blast has as much character in a refined sort of way...and it never fails to crank with a stab of the starter button. Cheers | ||
| Britchri10 |
Fast1075: BSA (Birmingham sore arse) Single 250. Fired once every so often, could pull a truck. Ariel 500 Single. Pressed steel frame. Very hard to chop (for hard, read impossible!) Vis "like paint": I think thin. However, metabolism says otherwise. I still eat like a rugby player, I just don't play rugby any more! Blast Vs Olde English singles is no competition. For a start (literally) the electrics on the Blast are somewhat (!) more reliable! I also remember crafting a head gasket from an old cornflake packet and vaseline to get home on one occasion. The Blast drinks oil like a Brit' single, it just doesn't leak like one. Happy days! Sometimes I miss kickstarts until I am reminded of the parlous state of my knees. I reckon I'll do something re: performance improvement for the Blast sometime in the near future. The discussion pages on this site are a great source of information and inspiration. Thanks for the welcome to the group. Chris C. PS: I have NO idea as to where the Cleremont region of Fla is! ( I've only lived here for 17 years. | ||
| Zane |
Former Blast owner here, "I generally, stick to my approximation of the set speed limits and rarely venture over 85 Mph." There isn't any need to twist the throttle to the limit. I found from the very start that going 35mph and scraping the peg is a more fun than going 95mph straight and level. Give me the curves anytime I miss my Blast! (Message edited by Zane on February 04, 2009) | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
"I found from the very start that going 35mph and scraping the peg is a more fun than going 95mph straight and level."Amen! | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
PS Let us know when you get a new Buell! | ||
| Rainman |
Paul Stitt, a Wisconsin native who ran a health food company that sold Vitamin D products to improve folks general health, was a Blastard. He didn't ride all of his life. He came to the Blast in his 60s, deciding he wanted to do something fun. He took an MSF course with me and a tai chi class and saw my Blast in the parking lot at the local Senior Center and fell in love. After passing the MSF course, which was delayed three hours by a series of thunderstorms on the very last examination, Paul bought a 2002 red Blast, bought a windshield off of E-bay, got the last remaining Blast tankbag from my dealer before I could get it, recovered his seat with sheepskin and bought saddlebags. He parked his Blast next to mine in the parking lot on tai chi days and we drove the old folks crazy. Paul, however, was diagnosed with a bizarre form of cancer that rests in body fat and tissue. By the time they found it, there was little they could do except give him time. I've been e-mailing him to get a lunch ride going and recently received this note from his wife Barbara.... "Hello Mac - I thought you would like to know that Paul left his body on Saturday, 1/31/09 - so although he would have like to - he won't be able to join you for lunch. An injury to his pelvic area from a long 1500 mile round trip to Morris, IL to attend his older sister's funeral in late August evidently broke some chromosomes which grew out of control and were unstoppable. He had made himself a 'back support' for his long trip on the Buell that was just high enough to cause the injury. We had over 4 months to talk and plan so I am in a good place - and I know he is having a great adventure." Paul was unassuming, passionate about Vitamin D and the last guy you'd think of being a motorcycle enthusiast, yet he drove his Blast 1,500 to a funeral. Truly, he was a Blastard. Peace, Paul. Footpegs are down if you want to go for a ride. (Message edited by Rainman on February 09, 2009) (Message edited by Rainman on February 10, 2009) | ||
| Ezblast |
RIP my brother - RIP. | ||
| Swampy |
Cherish the memories | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
Rainman, sorry to hear about your friend and fellow Blastard. There was probably a good story in that last ride too. Bizarre way to go, but as you get older you find the things you laughed off as a youngster, become a little more serious. I feel your sadness and thanks for sharing his story. | ||
| K03sport |
I have a question for all of the Blastards on this board... Why did you buy the Blast? Why did you choose the Blast over other bikes of similar size or displacement or type? I searched and didn't see anything. If I am beating a dead horse, please point me in the right direction. Here's my quandry...I'm 5'1" and any bike with a seat height over 28" (700mm), 98% of them, is too tall for me. In my riding gear, I tip toe these bikes. I went to the dealer and "tried" on the XB9 and the XB12scg and both were too tall, even the XB12scg was about 2" too tall, the '9 even more. I can fit an 883 Sportster with the low seat, but I don't want a Sportster. I can fit a BMW F650GS single ($7900). I can also fit most 600cc cruisers, but with the current trend of wide, fat seats, there are only a handful of those 600 cruisers that I fit on (comfortably). I owned a '94 Yamaha Virago 750 with a 27" seat and that bike was about at the limit I would want to put myself at, seat height wise. I like the Blast, it's a nice looking bike. I also really like the G650GS/F650GS, but at $3000+ more, the only things it has over the Blast are heated grips, 155cc (13hp) and a soft cushy dual-sport suspension. Enough useless babbling....Thumpers, please give me some insight into your rationalization (if there is any). TIA.  | ||
| Ylwblast03 |
K03, My first bike was a Suzuki Gz250 (baby thumper!) which was fun, but way too small and slow. I got rid of that 3 years ago, but just recently started looking for a new bike. When I found an 03 Blast with super low mileage at my local dealership I jumped on it. I've always liked the looks of the Blast, and there's just something about a single cylinder motor. So far, it's been great...but it's only been a couple weeks! I can tell you that it's definitely fun to ride though. | ||
| Reuel |
It was blind luck for me! About once or twice a year, I find myself near our local HD dealership. Early in 2001, I was looking at a $17,000 Harley. I asked the salesman if there was something smaller that my wife (4'11") could ride. He pointed at this cute little black motorcycle called the Blast. Later, my wife tells me I can get a motorcycle for Valentine's Day. My limit was $5000. So, I picked the Blast! That was 2001, and I've been Blasting ever since. I even got her to sit on the back a few times. I think she liked it, but was just a bit scared to ride, especially after someone ran me off the road a couple years ago. | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
My choice was between the 650Gs (whatever models they had available at the time-2 I think) and the Blast. I chose the Blast because it was cheaper to buy and own, mechanically much, much simpler, and American made. There were other reasons, but those are the basic apples to apples reasons. The BMW, at double the price of a Blast, its not really a fair comparison between the two. Many more accessories available and optional anti-lock brakes. I rode one for a weekend trip. The power was about that of a Blast with a 7500 rpm limit and exhaust. The seat was pure torture (but not much different than a stock Blast seat for long miles). I dont think I'd ever get a 'knee down' on it, but with the ABS brakes the handling was confidence inspiring. It makes a very good dirt/trail bike, not feeling anywhere near the weight it is. After the dirt riding, flicking it through the asphalt turns was effortless (again made much easier by the ABS brakes-I wouldnt buy one without them). Nice bike, but twice the price and higher cost of ownership. (I dont think the seat height is anywhere near as low as the Blast?) | ||
| K03sport |
Gearhead - the new BMW 650GSs are a bit different than the '07/'08s I've looked at. A dealer in Denver had one with the low chassis option and it fit me just fine. The suspension compressed a bit and flat footing wasn't a problem. I still couldn't believe the "almost new" asking price for a used bike...I don't care how 'rare' it may be. Plus, BMW labor cost scare me. I already drive a German car. I hear everyone about the low cost. There really aren't many new bikes on the market that look like the Blast and come in under $5k. All of the Japanese bikes look the same - GS250, Rebel, Vulcan 500. I had a cruiser and don't want one this time around. I won't buy before I ride, so I guess I am going to have to wait a month or so before heading back to the dealer for a test ride. Still looking for more "why the Blast?" responses. | ||
| Wbsprudels |
I chose the Blast because I had never ridden a motorcycle before taking the Riders Edge class last September. I wanted to continue progressing up my learning curve with the same bike I had spent two days on. No regrets--I love my Blast. I'm still hoping I can get my wife to learn to ride it, too. | ||
| Crackhead |
i wanted a starter bike and with my long legs my knees would hit the corner of the tank on my brothers ninja 500, the new 250 wasn't any better. i sat on a friends blast and loved the torque and the seating position was good. I didn't like the stretched out position on the ninja. | ||
| Swampy |
My kids wanted bikes, the Blast was the only option. After getting them, I rode the heck out of them, they are very fun, easy to make changes on, very out of the ordinary, inexpensive to maintain, and with ownership comes membership to this board. | ||
| Ezblast |
   EZ | ||
| Reuel |
Ya know, when I was thinking about motorcycles, buying something foreign didn't even occur to me. It's like HD was all that was available in motorcycles at all. I had seen other motorcycles, but some part of my brain just did not connect with another part of my brain when it came to even thinking about how it looked. | ||
| Themagster |
Why the Blast? Where do I start... Cheap, easy to maintain, easy to ride, fun going slow & easy on the two-lane back roads, a thrill in the curves & fast enough to pass the 18 wheeler on the "big road". They are unique - the bike turns heads and gets attention - not a cookie cutter bike - hey, it's fun to be different. Holds gear for the commute to work (with the right bags), great for the day long weekend ride and acts like a sport-touring bike for those 2-3 week summer adventure rides across America (sans trailer). And you have an excellent support group at BADWEB for all the info you need to keep on the road. BUY A BUELL BLAST - best advice you will ever get. | ||
| K03sport |
Thanks to all. Themagster - sounds like the Blast is actually the bike I want. (Although, I wish Buell made an XB7scg  ) Aurora CO was the last city I was in that was a bit scary to ride in, but I think the Blast would be perfect for what I would be using it for. And with some of the pics I've seen, the Blast can double as a dual-sport bike due to its nimbleness. (Message edited by K03sport on February 18, 2009) |
