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Ezblast
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 27, 2021 - 10:10 pm: | 
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Yes they do fit - two different Blasts did by the same gentleman in Japan - one modified but still very reliable - to a degree - the other is an all-out tribute race build in honor of the gentleman who originally built them in their first renditions as American flattrack racebikes - yes Blasts. He is adapting and using real XR parts because he has built/raced them in Japan - where it is also a popular sport. Unless you actually follow flat track history - the names would mean very little. That XR Blast is also one of the few 44CI Blasts ever built as well.
The StreetRacer built for a famous Japanese Comic -
The Flat Track Ultimate Tribute Racing Blast -
EZ |
Mnscrounger
| | Posted on Monday, August 30, 2021 - 11:25 pm: |
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Those pipes in the first one look like then front half of the Supertrapp XR Sportster setup. ($$$$)the second one definitely looks like genuine XR stuff.( also $$$$) I think i will end up going the cheap route around the jugand back high left side.
On another note:
"To do" list is getting shorter: Move front brake carrier 1.5 mm inward for caliper clearance, fabricate front fender mount, install chain, fabricate chain tensioner, fabricate fork spring spacers /or install heavier fork springs, fabricate exhaust header pipe. I spent last Saturday getting my MIG welder back up and running, so I should be able to at least tack one together. |
Mnscrounger
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 28, 2021 - 09:43 am: |
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$14 exhaust header from 2, 1 3/4" 90 degree elbows from O Reilly. The head flange collar is the remnants of the 1 1/2" Blast unit welded inside the to make a "torque cone". the tailpipe is going to be connnected by the spring flange so the motor movements relative to the frame don't stress the mounts. The pipe on the left side of the bike is going to be close enough to the riders leg I will probably have to get a cheap heat shield.
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Mnscrounger
| | Posted on Friday, October 01, 2021 - 11:24 am: |
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A whole bunch of finishing ahead, but only one section of straight pipe left and I'll have a complete exhaust system.
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Gearheaderiko
| | Posted on Monday, October 11, 2021 - 02:33 pm: |
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Cvc
| | Posted on Thursday, October 21, 2021 - 02:01 am: |
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Nice build. I have a set of ninja 250 forks with Racetech gold valves and springs that I was going to use on a Blast but came across Uly forks and tripples so as I collect the rest of the stuff I will be running xb wheels and swing arm as well. What wheels are those?
If you are interested in the ninja forks get in touch. The upper tubes springs ect are 2.5 inches longer and you can use stock Blast lowers to level front to rear and get the other benefits from the Racetech goods. |
Cvc
| | Posted on Thursday, October 21, 2021 - 02:32 am: |
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Ok I went back and reread the thread. The forks may be a plus to go taller and I understand the wheel challenges. |
Mnscrounger
| | Posted on Thursday, October 21, 2021 - 02:19 pm: |
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I managed to finish the pipes and cook in the Rust-Oleum Hi temp paint. I couldn't resist a short ride up and down the block. (slowly because it was dark, and heaven knows what I might have forgotten to tighten). I think it will be an OK ride. It has a fair amount of trail, so at low speed turns it feels like a bike about 200lbs heavier. That shouldn't be a problem on rutted dirt trails, but longer forks would intensify the problem. Gearing seems about right, but I never went above 2nd gear. I still need to make the heat shield/ exhaust pipe mount, the header brace, and front fender mount, but I think it will be a fun bike.
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Mnscrounger
| | Posted on Friday, October 22, 2021 - 11:22 am: |
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EZ; a few posts up you commented," Unless you actually follow flat track history - the names would mean very little."
As an aside, a few months ago I was filling up my S3T one morning when a gentlemen got out of his van and did a half walk around my bike. I love my S3, but its getting a bit rough around the edges, and not particularly notable, so anyone who looks is usually a fellow Buell owner. He asked what year it was, and knew when I told him 02 that it was fuel injected. He then told ne he puts carb'ed versions of these motors in flat track frames. I immediately replied with "You're Bill Hoffmeister, aren't you?" He was a bit taken a back that I knew of him. I told him I was am admirer of his work. I had seen examples of his builds at the Donnie Smith Custom show for the last few years and his builds are definitely an influence on this budget build I'm doing.
It turns out he lives about 2 blocks from me as the crow flies. Here is a link to his website and the beautiful bikes he builds.
https://grandnationalreplica.com/component-list/
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Mnscrounger
| | Posted on Monday, November 15, 2021 - 11:14 am: |
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The EBR is tucked away under the OEM crate cover for the year, and the plow and snowblower are in the front garage,ready for snow. Since I was out there, I just kept tinkering in the garage and made a heat shield out of some really heavy perforated stainless steel I had laying around for the off road Blast. It looks passable and will work, but I'll have to see if I can find something better next spring at the cycle salvage yards and swap meets.
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Gearheaderiko
| | Posted on Monday, November 15, 2021 - 10:39 pm: |
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Yes the pre-winter switch around. Winter bikes to the front, summer bikes to the rear and make sure the John Deere is ready to plow! |
Mnscrounger
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 16, 2021 - 03:16 pm: |
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That just leaves the front fender mount, and another little in-line fuel filter to replace the one I broke the other day getting the tank off, before its ready for a real test ride in daylight hours. |
Mnscrounger
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 01, 2021 - 02:27 pm: |
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Shakedown ride this morning.
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Gearheaderiko
| | Posted on Friday, December 03, 2021 - 11:59 am: |
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Cvc
| | Posted on Monday, December 27, 2021 - 04:38 am: |
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Looks good how does it feel? |
Mnscrounger
| | Posted on Monday, December 27, 2021 - 01:46 pm: |
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The steering is a bit heavy at low speeds, but I rode a rented Triumph Scrambler a few years ago and it actually feels a lot like that bike did. Though this bike is at least 150 lbs lighter that that Scrambler, so power/ weight should be comparable, but nowhere near equal.
Once rolling it is nice and stable. It should be fine off road, but it won't, "own the corner", like a proper Buell does any more.
The stock front springs are a bit soft for serious off-roading, but flat Minnesota logging roads should be no problem. It cruises in freeway traffic just fine and probably tops out around 65-70. I wish it were geared a bit lower, and maybe someday I'll get into the primary to put in XB9 internals, but for now I'm just going to enjoy it for what it is.
What it is, is a budget custom. reliable enough to ride anywhere, and unique enough that it will catch the eye of knowledgeable enthusiasts, and open conversations that lead to new friends. |
Mnscrounger
| | Posted on Saturday, May 14, 2022 - 12:08 am: |
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I've been taking this custom build to go bombing around town now and then since the beginning of the season, to work out any "bugs" before I take it to the cabin for its permanent home. The gearing on this build is intended for trails, not freeways. With a speed correction of .885 from indicated, top speed is about 62, with about 73 on the speedometer. It runs great, but at highway speeds it's not fun, so I decided to take the scenic route on the way home through Minneapolis surface streets. I found a serious "bug". At first when I heard the clunk and the engine revved I thought I might have popped out of gear, but tapping the shifter and releasing the clutch only made a whirring sound from behind my right foot. I looked down and thought, "oh great my chain came off". Nope that wasn't it either. That big sprocket made enough torque at the hub to cleanly shear ALL 5, 5/16 Gr8 screws. Fortunately I recovered all the spacers, so its just R&R on the wheel, and drilling and tapping for larger screws. |
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