| Author | Message | ||
     Gearheaderiko |
From here: http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/201 64/20195.html?1235585739 | ||
| Bandito90 |
Anybody have the info on putting the tuber wheels on and the swing or modifications on the blast?I'm also curios on the forks and if it will still handle decent. | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
Handling, from earliest reports, will suffer. Consider that you're going to make the bike at least 2 inches longer and probably adding heavier wheels. Neither is good for agility or handling. Stock suspension wasnt made for it either. Matty (a member and rare poster here-see the racing section) has fitted just what you propose. It needed some serious dialing in. The huge plus is bigger tires, which at minimum inspire confidence and certainly provide better rubber to grip in the corners. If you spend the time and know what your doing, it can be beneficial. It may push the price of your Blast into the XB range though! You'll have to decide what you want from your Blast (or a motorcycle) and if its worth it. I'm not the voice of reason when it comes to spending money on your Blast!!! If you do various searches here (try 17" wheels first) you will find a bunch of info on guys that have done the conversion. I'm sure there are 17" wheels that will "bolt right on" with just swingarm and chain drive mods, but I dont know what they are and nobody's telling! Since the Ninja 250 now has 17" wheels, there's a very good possibility they they may be easily adapted.  | ||
| Ezblast |
Quite the Sidth Lord these days - for surely - thus spoke the Dark side - lol EZ | ||
| Bandito90 |
I kinda figured it was longer.Getting another set of wheels to work would probably take knowing the offset for the sprocket and chain pitch.Has anybody ever used spoked wheels say like from a sportster? | ||
| Ezblast |
19"wheels? - clearance issues - i'd think. EZ | ||
| Bandito90 |
Ok,I was not sure of the size.How close is offset on a sportster hub to a buell wheel?It would probably be costly,But I'm sure a smaller rim could be laced up. | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
Considering a Blast engine is a Buell/Sportster engine minus a cylinder, offsets shouldnt be a problem (offset sprockets are also available). Since the Sportster rear wheels will fit a Softail (and probably most other 'Big Twins'), they shouldnt pose an offset problem either. The Blast has a generous swingarm width, the same width (appx.) as a Sportster or Softail. Its mostly wheel diameter that poses a problem and that can be solved by a competent welder in a variety of ways. Research is always the problem. Finding the specs and matching them up takes time. | ||
| Shad |
just got a blast and have read some forums about running firebolt rims, anyone know if and hows its achievable, thanks alot. | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
It is expensive and time consuming. Research '17" rims' on this site. At a minimum you'll need to modify or swap the swingarm, a new belt and pulleys and a new front caliper. You can also swap other Buell rims or any other rim you can make fit. I've seen XB (Firebolt) , Tuber (earlier Buells) and Jap rims fitted. There isnt a 'kit' available to do it (that I know of). You'll have to gather the parts and machine work yourself. Another easier option is to have the Blast wheels widened and/or converted to 17". That will still cost $1000, but you'll need less parts. There is one guy (probably others) who's made a caliper mount for the Blast front forks to XB wheel (if you have one made, I'll need one too. Possibly a group buy might keep the price down and get it done). | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
PS Welcome! | ||
| Ezblast |
The easiest way would be to get a tuber chain conversion kit for an M2 plus the M2 swing arm adjuster, and then wheels - Tuber. EZ | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
....which includes swingarm modification. | ||
| Shad |
alrights cool guys thanks for the advice, and my motor is stock other than a vance n hines pipe, would a b50 cam make a difference. I live real close to where they were manufactured and was considering one. Still love the bike just love doin mods more. | ||
| Ezblast |
My friend - welcome to the Dark side, but you've only just begun! EZ | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
Yes, they would make a difference, not as much as the exhaust made, but still better (and if you can get a deal, why not). | ||
| Spade115 |
I was wondering what the Axel size for the blast was for the rear and front? I am considering converting my bike from belt to chain and figure it is easier to swap the rear wheel to fit a chain. Considering a 16 rear, and a 21 front (just because I miss that combo from my old sportster) and need the little extra clearance in the front (Bottom out with my riding a lot) Thank You Spade115 | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
Did you ever get the answer to your question on axle size? | ||
| Cityxslicker |
pity, I was hoping for a pic of someone that did a 19/16 Sportster wheel conversion to the Blast.... even better if it is on the redfeather CJ frame  (yes I have the yellow one saved to my desktop) | ||
| Spade115 |
I would like to see a 16/19 set up on a blast too would be great. | ||
| We_be_thumpin |
I just bought a 2005 blast, first time rider. I want to paint the rims black what kind of paint sticks better on the stock rims? | ||
| Spade115 |
From my understanding any paint will work really.. I measured the axle and got 7.76 o.0 so figure 7/8th axle. | ||
| Spade115 |
OK LAST POST I put is wrong, went through everything and verified with friends its a 3/4 axle sorry for that you all the axle is a 19mm axle. it was .776 is what I read and a friend verified that its a 19mm axle | ||
| Swampy |
I'm thinking what Matt Loose, Loose1 did with his Blast, use an XB swingarm and rear wheel and an XB front wheel with an adapter bracket to hold the front caliper where it belongs. he really had a clean looking setup on his bike. | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
If we had access to the bracket for the front caliper, then it would be easy. Otherwise it's a pipe dream without the necessary tools to make one. | ||
| Weighttopowerr |
What were to happen if I bought a blast swing arm on ebay, had a machine shop stretch it 2" (assuming they could) and put a chain drive on my bike(unless goodyear or somebody makes a longer kevlar belt -unlikely). Obviously a loss of handling from two extra inches in the wheel base would occur. But I could fit a larger wheel in there right? I have seen loose1's fuel injected blast, and his set up is sweet, but I don't trust myself modding the frame that harshly to fit an xb shock in there. Even though an xb swing arm is BA. I'd rather mod for a cbr shock with my proposed stretched swing arm. | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
Its been done and the bike raced competitively. Swingarm stretch is very common and has been for years. Its just a matter of getting everything straight. There's more than one way to skin this cat and it often just comes down to whats the easiest way for the person involved. Its possible to have the Blast wheel converted to a wide 17" and still keep the same length swingarm and the belt. Its possible to modify the XB swingarm for a more stock type fitting shock. Money, time, parts, ability, preference. If you can think it, it most likely can be done. At some point, unless your heart is really in it, its easier (and often cheaper) just to buy a different bike or to a lesser extent, lop a cylinder off an XB or tuber Buell. I'm not saying dont, there's just an awful lot of unfinished projects out there when the person came the aforementioned conclusion! | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/201 64/159483.html?1131738430#MB | ||
| Weighttopowerr |
Great info. From what I have seen you guys talk about widening the stock tire and modding the stock swing arm to allow for more clearance (without stretching) may be the best way to go as far as performance is concerned, which is all I'm concerned about. I want more of a contact patch so I can go with a turbo. I'm thinking a 160/80-16. There are just a lot of bad things said when it comes to handling and 17" wheels the more I dig. | ||
| Ezblast |
You want your bike to handle like a formula bike, or a super-bike? - Those are two different styles of doing the same thing - going around a corner quickly and effectively. EZ | ||
| Weighttopowerr |
Well I don't know what qualifies as a formula bike. I'd rather it handle like an XB than an r6 though. I really like how it handles now, I just don't think a 140 rear tire on that rim has a very high ceiling as far as the power it can handle. |
