| Author | Message | ||
     Gearheaderiko |
Took a little early Sunday morning ride. Still the best way to start a day! The exhaust may be loud, but it sounds so sweet when everything is running right. 5000rpm, 6000rpm, 7000rpm, That crisp exhaust note in the sunday morning 'church' air and a little prayer of thanks. Thats good stuff  | ||
| Sycho |
{That crisp exhaust note in the sunday morning 'church' air and a little prayer of thanks. Thats good stuff}  Where'd ya ride to Gearheaderiko? I like the roads up by O'neil Park but I feel guilty when riding thru such peaceful scenery with a loud exhaust. | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
I had to go to tourist town and drop off my rental. I'd left the Blast there while I rented a car for the evening. The ride was on the long way home. All the streets and on ramps that are usually choking with traffic (and tourists) at any other time and you do know that emoticon is telling me I'm jerking it?! | ||
| Sycho |
lol, guess I should just go with this one.  Where's all your cars? Already in MT.? | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
Needed a car that seated 5 adults. None of us had one. | ||
| Ronbob43 |
Riding the wife's Blast east of the Dalles Or. Saturday[ she was on her other bike-TU250 Suzuki] and 130 miles from the motel I figured out that the ridability problem was a failing rear wheel bearing. It was a real mess by the time we got back and loaded it into the PU. Four miles out a chunk of the stock muffler went away, and boy did it get LOUD. Is the Jardine my best choice and is there much danger of me breaking an exhaust stud during the repair? | ||
| Swampy |
The exhaust stud doesn't usually break, they are a straight forward type of device for holding the pipe to the head and they work really well... Just remember to use a new gasket and what ever attaching hardware needs to be really fresh. | ||
| Ronbob43 |
About that gasket-will a sportster have the same one, or do I have to get the Blast specific item? | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
Spotster, Buell , big twin all use the same exhaust port gasket. Very easy to find. | ||
| Ezblast |
Ain't that Blasting on the Dark side! - lol EZ | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
So, back in the day when I was a young lad searching for "The Holy Grail" of parts you'd run into these old guys who would have boxes upon boxes of parts. While sifting through the parts you'd run across, say a factory tach for a convertible only hemi 'Cuda, very rare, but just thrown in with the rest of the parts like its no big deal. And your jaw would just drop. As parts become more and more scarce for the Blast, I fear I may be turning into that guy......... But I will not ask you to answer me these questions three. | ||
| Ezblast |
lol - soon they'll be adapted like those mad-max bikes! EZ | ||
| Ezblast |
Finished my latest carb work has me at a low 12 af at wot, blue Yost needle at second to last setting with yost shim - makes a rich top end, and will require you to launch from a stop if racing, but the wot pull is wild! Very nice! Also put the breather for the DAJ on the DAJ - lol - the good thing is no more having to shift down on Hecker's Pass to go up it, the richness sustains the charge up that pass even with severe winds - of course take off now is 1250 to 1300 rpms for rapid progression - lol EZ               | ||
| Ezblast |
I have owned and ridden a Blast for over 12 years now, and even though I now own a high level super-bike, the 1125CR, I still prefer my modified Blast over it. By now you have spit your coffee and think I must be crazy! Let me explain my reasoning. First, I started on a Blast, and even when it was stock the first year, it was still a lot of fun to ride. As my skills developed, I wanted more out of the bike, so I started modifying. At the time the early Buell tubers where the other Buell, and though I thought, and the Louve concurred, that the 98'S1W was a work of engineering art, still the simplicity and inexpensive nature (LOL) of the Blast kept me hooked on this bike alone. My first mods consisted of basic suspension and motor upgrades I had learned from my days hotroding a 69 VW Beetle - drag style. This meant a hot plug, coil, ignition and wires. Also a free breathing intake and exhaust where needed as well. Add a fork-brace, adjustable clip-ons, and rear-sets, and sticky Pirrelli tires, and I thought I was cooking. The engine was on a performance edge and running real strong, I was a very happy camper, and I found out I had did it all wrong. One split boot later, the piston and head grenaded due to hot plug and a lean condition caused by the torn intake boot. I got better and Nallinized - meaning I hit up NHRS to stage 2 lite my head, except to use ti and steal where ever possible, and upgrade the springs - 650 lift, guides and seals, better piston - hi comp, cyl - niksil, ignition - SE, and the B-50 cam, though I later upgraded to the B-70. And also the DAJ to protect against massive leanness, actually drowning the engine before it could grenade. Then Erik B. mentioned in a meal in his honor that the Blast was designed with a lot of formula bike characteristics, and though designed on purpose to meet a price point, it had the potential to be a lot more, though the factory held him back from doing so. That's when I started researching formula bikes and found out that they had very similar numbers, except of course for weight and power. I was told also that that is why all singles where not allowed to compete in Battle-Trax competitions (like a cross between a police MC practice course and Auto Slalom racing - very fun - did for best times through the course). This way it was only the superbikes and Buell twins esp. the XBs competing. To me this explained why certain other Cali hot shoes on Blasts where constantly passing the twins in the twisties, including the famous Ferris Bueller/JH who always rode with EB when he was visiting Cali. Basics that help - lowest weight, at the lowest point it can be, and centralized for 50/50, 16" wheels and tires, a single style motor - all the things formula bikes had - except the formula bike weighed a lot less, had more power, and better suspension. The challenge was right there before my eyes - I had only to act, and I did - upgrading the suspension all around, the bike can handle the tightest turn effortlessly, and is a true Blast to ride in the twisties . It is at this point that I need to clear up a few things though. When I bought the CR I thought that it would do everything my modified Blast could do in spades - I was wrong. Definitely the CR is the faster bike, and a better handling super-bike than 9/10ths of the other super-bikes out there, having Erik Buell as the creator guaranteed that - Buell's having the title as best handling super-bikes is an established fact that greatly irritates the competition. The truth is though - formula bikes handle better, and to get a super-bike to handle as well, you would have to drop the cost of the bike twice into the equation to get it to handle as well - one of the reasons the 1190 costs so much is for that reason. However, to get a Blast to handle as well a formula bike, is not so hard, and the cost is no wheres near the money needed for the super-bike. That is exactly why I laugh at all of you for complaining about the price of a Works shock - one of the best, and still less in price than a Penski, or Ohlins that you commonly find on super-bikes. Yes I can get the CR to do anything my modified Blast can do, but it's work! Balancing between the massive power, hyper sensitive brakes, heavy weight, and effort to steer the bike will really tire you out after time, and unlike the modified Blast - your not looking for more. This explains to me why super-bike riders love the sweepers, but avoid the really hard stuff, except of course those back road commandos who live for twisties like I do - lol. Power in and by itself gets old and has very limited uses, but that is what I've resigned myself to with the CR. It is my commuter - able to take me to work easily and quickly, and anywhere else I need to go, with no second thoughts, no matter the distance, because that is what it is for. The Modified Blast though is my fun bike - bombing the local twisties, going to bike nights, and just having fun with friends. Since both bikes impress, I am not disappointed by either, for speed and commuting from point a to b - I reach for the CR's keys; For fun, handling the twisties, or hanging with friends I reach for the trusty Modified Blast keys - the inexpensive workhorse that is perfect for anything you modify it to do. EZ | ||
| Ezblast |
Just thinking - lol The ideal Buell Blast would be a 650cc engine that winds to 8000rpms, head-work to stage 3 & ti parts - 11.0 comp, SE530 cam with 1.7 ratio roller rocker-arms, FI&EII, custom ti exhaust header into a Supertrapp 4" with 18 discs, with a 6 speed, a slipper-clutch, a ti duplicate frame and sub-frames and swing-arm that holds enough for 3 qts capacity over the 2.7, the dirt-track seat with the number plate cut off & CFed/layered, CrossRoads RS, frames and wheels coated flat-black Rustoleum, Profis all black with smaller spacer, PS grips, Ohlins all the round with 41mm usd 3 way adjustable in milled out & re-enforced trees running a Brembo custom Billet two piston caliper with custom mount - lol - for Blast disc and wheel with ti axles front and rear, with a rear fully adjustable Ohlins shock as well as an Ohlins radial steering stabilizer behind the AF gauge. Up graded bearings everywhere, CF body, CF tank - with lip for insulation on bottom edge, custom CF fender, and CF fly-screen covering/layer for Acerbis LED fairing Street Legal lighting running 35wtt HID H4 set up, clear LED spear front and rear signals, clear Acerbis LED tail light and tag holder, middle bar to hold AF gauge, and alumn twin gauge dash - speedo and tach.,BS lines for all lines, wire loom covers for all wires and connections - waterproof, 3rd Eye Bar end mirrors with only one rubber, adjustable levers, American Sport Bike spit-can with breather mounted to scoop holder loop, LI battery, Pirelli Diablo tires in the over-sized, billet front mounts and latest main bushing, a custom 1" belt - with lifetime warranty, and finally the extra 2000 heim-joint. Pretty much sums it up. Just when I was thinking I was close to done - I thought this up - just twisted - lol EZ (Message edited by ezblast on January 11, 2013) | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
In desperate need of a little "throttle therapy", I took the Blast out after work saturday for the first time in 8 months. I headed down an unknown road that headed off into the mountains. 6 miles in the fun began! Caution signs posting 35 mph clearly meant 70 and so began an endless succession of leisurely 70-80mph sweepers (though excesses of 90 were seen on occasion). Carrying too much corner speed I was met with a small white cross on the edge of the road inviting me to spend a little of Montana's state budget*. "Not today" I thought, dropping my knee out and the Buell obligingly headed for the inside of the turn. As always she was rock solid, exiting the turn begging for more throttle, taunting me with an "is that all you've got?" attitude! At the snow line and coincidently the Idaho border, is a large state rest stop obviously used to seeing a large amount of tourists and outdoorsman as evidenced by the ample parking and stellar facilities. This was apparently a good day to run the mountain as it was clear of tourists, snow and road salt. I turned around to assault the downhill run. I only met a few cars (blurs really) on the way down, nearly plastering a Buell bumper sticker on, what seemed to be, a slow moving Prius! An excellent run. Few cars, no deer, no leo's, plenty of throttle and plenty of lean! It doesnt get much better! The Blast performed flawlessly on our 70 mile detour and it was criminal to crawl back home at a painfully slow 70mph  *Montana plants a white cross at the site of every highway fatality. | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
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| Ezblast |
Eriko that's terrific!!! EZ | ||
| Themagster |
Hey Eriko - cool pics. I love Lolo Hot Springs - been to the lodge there twice. First time several years ago, most recently last summer on way to Washington. I learned what "chip seal" was at the top of the pass. I don't really miss the chip seal but loved those mountain roads. Your pic brought back some great memories. Hope you are doing well. Happy Trails... | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
Thanks. You're welcome to stop and stay at our place any time. We got plenty of room for guests, plenty of indoor parking and plenty of tools for any repairs! (we arent far from the "93" and you wont have to go down any dirt roads either!) | ||
| Themagster |
Eriko - We appreciate the offer. I am sure we will be out west again on a future adventure. I am still riding the '09 just hit 43,000 miles today and when I get to 45,000 it will be 100,000 between the two Blasts. I will admit that I have been riding the Vulcan more because of the number of miles I put on bikes, I kind of wanted to not tax the Buell. The Vulcan now has 32,000 miles and if I had put those on the Buell it would be up to 75,000 by now. Since I killed the '05 at 55,000 I am a little worried about this one. I love it too much. However, I also just put a deposit on a 2014 CTX700, so I gotta figure out if I can keep all three or if I have to let one go. Would love to keep them all but I have limited space. Anyway, can't wait to get back that way again and will give you a heads up when we do. | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
Finally fixed my rocker box leak and once again I'm amazed at how stable the Blast is. 70mph feels like I can just get off and run along side. 85 mph and the wind is batting me around around from a Summer storm coming up and the Blast is still just rock solid ("more throttle, more throttle...pleeease"). Granted its not stock, but not a whole lot of money or technology went into the front suspension either! | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
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| Ezblast |
Beautiful country, you must be loving it! EZ | ||
| Vicenzajay |
Had an awesome ride this afternoon/evening - 80+ miles of WA state winding highway from the Bremerton area alongside some beautiful water to Shelton. Ate some great barbeque at that very picturesque town and then returned to Bremerton - passing any and all "delay fish" with ease. The road and scenery were beautiful - nice curves without much in the way of annoying speed limits. Reaching Bremerton after just over 80 miles on the road, I filled up at the 76....1.15 gallons to top it off. I love riding this bike :-) | ||
| Ezblast |
lol | ||
| Vicenzajay |
Enjoyed another great ride today - definitely turned over to Fall here in the Pac NW...but the sun peeked out and I took that as a good sign. I rode about 50 miles round trip - up to Anacortes to meet with a good friend and enjoy some great coffee...then back home. Nice stretches of sweepers each way. The bike performed like a champ - I love the Blast! I know that the Blast is supposed to use oil, but my bike is definitely the exception. Since I changed it at 13,000 miles, it has ridden 2,000 miles without losing a drop. I mean nothing...level consistently right at the "max" on the dipstick - no more, no less. I suspect someone did some good work on this bike (a former owner) at some point in its history as it's rock solid. I park it on a long, thick box opened up in the garage so I can quickly check if there's anything leaking. Nothing has reached the floor in three months since I bought it. Wow! |
