| Author | Message | ||
     Rocketman |
Well I saw my first Firebolt on the road yesterday. Actually it was parked so I took the liberty of sitting on it. Looks great I have to say, and it didn't seem as 'small', even though it is kinda short and stubby, as I thought it would after seeing it on a show stand. Sorry I don't have time to troll around the archives but I was wondering how good these Firebolts are. What's the top speed they're reaching. Are they out shinning the S1's in handling and performance. Would I have one........ Rocket | ||
| Duck |
>Buell would be my last bike, but once I lost confidence in it, it ruined the whole biking experience. Capt, Where have I seen/heard this before?? A good friend of mine gave up on his 00M2 at the same point as you. (he had many failures with the bike and dealers) I'm with you. My 00M2 is still in the shop 200 miles from home where it left me stranded for the umpteenth time. I'm going to keep her, but I definitely don't have the confidence to ride it the distances I'd like to. It sucks to ride with that mental black cloud following you. Good luck with your new ride. Duck | ||
| Choptop |
Got one LSR bike done last night. The 69 Triumph. She's ready to blast down the Salt. Did a rebuild on the engine, added electronic ignition, reworked the electical system (no more Lucas), and put a new pipe on. Its now leaking oil happily in the corner of the garage awaiting its moment in the sun. We start fabrication of the sidecar for the SuperModel's Sidecar tonight. Should have it done by next weekend. The on to prep the Guzzi. Getting excited. | ||
| Loki |
Got to admit, we, ummm, black operators are kinda different. | ||
| Djkaplan |
Duck, what kind of problems have you been having with the 00 M2? I've got one with 15,000 hard miles on it. I thought this model was one of the more reliable Buells. | ||
| Aaron |
Chop, what classes is the Triumph gunning for? | ||
| Choptop |
250cc M-PG 250cc M-PF 250cc MPS-PG 250cc MPS-PF | ||
| Peter |
If that Confederate is as good as it seems, I think I'm going to want one! That's very cool. Loki, I asked because I have routed the exhaust behind the frame, ala post '99, and also wrapped the headers. It is still much warmer than my M2 was though. I only finished putting it together a few days ago. After the first ride I pulled the rocker covers because I thought I had no oil getting there and making it hotter, but it was OK. I sit further back on the S1W so maybe that's just causing me to feel it more. PPiA | ||
| Pdxs3t |
Ferris, You have been known to call me a lot worse, especially when I missed all of the check points a few years back during SPLASH as the chase truck or when I use to ride by and hit your kill switch! And yes, it is all your fault for all of the fun we have had in the past on our Buells and yes, it is your fault for keeping the dream alive in me to ride again (on a Buell) after the S1 had to go bye-bye! Thank you my friend! Jim | ||
| Choptop |
Team Galbraith will be gunning for a total or 10 records this year: 1954 MotoGuzzi Zigolo 100cc P-PV 100cc M-VG 100cc M-VF 100cc MPS-VF (or G) 1942 Harley WLA 500cc SC-VG 500cc SC-VF and the previously mentioned 250cc records. | ||
| Peter |
Chop, Isn't a WLA 750cc? PPiA | ||
| Eeeeek |
PPiA: If I understand the rules correctly Chop gets to cheat and will probably win a bunch of trophies. Chops a lot better rider than me and deserves it. This is actually a test to see if Snail can sucessfully edit Viks posts. Vik | ||
| Duck |
Djkaplan, >I've got one with 15,000 hard miles on it. I thought this model was one of the more reliable Buells. I think you are right, but mine has been anything but reliable with 44,000 on it so far. Starter clutch (twice) Complete replacement of starter Battery replaced Rocker boxes (5 times) Base gaskets (3 times) Cracked header studs (twice) Stock exhaust rear bracket cracked Cracked rear tail section Of course the obligatory side stand switch (got rid of it) SRP shock failed New shock failed Speedo sensor (five times) Cylinders replaced (that's what she's in the shop for now) In fairness to Buell, they have stepped up big time in this latest situation. My extended warranty had expired two days before the latest failure and my local dealer was balking at paying up. Buell corporate stepped in said they would pay for all parts (cylinders, pistons, rings....yada yada) and the dealer would pay the labor. They didn't have to do that and I am more than grateful for their help. Having said that, the pure fun that I used to get from this bike is gone. I'm hoping that when I get her back I'll feel different. We'll see, but one thing is for sure........I'm tired of worrying about what's next every time I take the bike out. I'd love to put some money on a XB9S, but it's hard to buy another Buell after I've had so many problems and been stranded so often. Thanks much to the folks at Ft Washington HD/Buell. They went the extra mile to get this latest mess straightned out. Duck | ||
| Aaron |
10 records? Holy smokes! You're ambitious. | ||
| Scottcolbath |
Anyone got a 26 tooth front pulley they want to sell to a friend of mine? He's playing around at the drags and wants to try a 26 in place of, I believe a 28 or 29 tooth. Thanks, Scott | ||
| S2pengy |
A WLA is a Harley-Davidson 750cc 45 cubic inch Flathead Motor....... | ||
| Choptop |
Vintage Flathead motors over 650cc get bumped down 2 cc classes. Vintage Flatheads below 650cc get bumped down 1 cc class. WLA does indeed = 750cc (in the real world) = 500cc (Racing class at Bonneville) | ||
| Choptop |
You are also allowed a .050 overbore for vintage motors. Heheheheee.... Viva La Vintage. | ||
| Choptop |
Non-Flathead vintage (vintage is 1956 or earlier) engines dont get the displacement break. | ||
| Choptop |
There is no distinction between pushrod and and non-pushrod engines in the vintage class, they all run together. | ||
| Madstuka |
Hey Peter, A friend of mine had a Confederate. Whenever he drove it to work, a huge crowd of guys would surround the bike. They are absolutely awesome. Expensive, but worth it. Pat | ||
| Rocketman |
The Confederate would look better with an S1 style tail on it and some proper foot controls. It's way to heavy as well !!!! Cool website. So how's the Aerocharged Hot Rod Pete ? She's running and that's great. Congrat's mate, I'm jealous as Hell  Rocket | ||
| José_Quiñones |
Used Buells and HD's now available at Harley-Davidson.com | ||
| Loki |
Peter, No problem there. Would like to see a pic of your exhaust set-up though. loki | ||
| Ferris |
Ferris, You have been known to call me a lot worse, especially when I missed all of the check points a few years back during SPLASH as the chase truck... ladies and germs, THIS is priceless! my buddy Jim volunteers to run chase for SPLASH in his truck, and the day before the ride i show him his assigned route, from Woodland, WA up to our first gas stop, in Cougar, on the way up the backside of Mount St. Helens. the day of the ride, he's the last one out of the park in Woodland (as a proper chaser should be), and yet...........when we all come rumbling up the road into Cougar, there's Jim, ALREADY THERE, with an EXTREMELY perplexed look on his face! somehow, in the span of forty-or-so mountainous miles, he PASSED us, obviously taking a diferent route than we did (a route he couldn't BEGIN to remember), and instead of "chaser", he became de facto "leader". his face was beet red the rest of the day  FB | ||
| Pdxs3t |
Ferris That was definitely a Kodak moment! And you would think, I would have remember the route from the year previous when I was running sweep (on my S1) with Jeremy (on his S2) during Blue Groove NW! NOT! Jim | ||
| Davegess |
Rocket my man the Firebolt is awesome. It runs rungs around and S1 in the handling department, which is not to say there is anything wrong with the S1 handling but the thing runs rings around any bike in the handling department. It does not put up the same sort of acceleration numbers as an S1 BUT it much faster on any road with curves, The bumpier the pavement the more of an advantage it has. I love mine. | ||
| Mikeborders |
Folks, Just got back from a little vacation. Fixed the '99 M2 up with hard saddlebags (removable). Loaded it up and added an army ruck full of gear. Only traveled about 600 miles total but had a blast. Made a few observations and have a few questions. Travel was all in the Ozarks. Hot and humid. No time at all on a 4 lane. About 500 miles on twisty, two lane blacktop. And, actually about a hundred miles on gravel roads. Add a quarter mile on a gravel bar along the Bryant River. All with Dunlop 205's. I had serious doubts about my sanity during the gravel bar portion of the trip. The Buell did fine. Although both the gravel roads and black tops were rough and the bike was loaded, I did not experience much bottoming out. I weigh about 150 and had about 50 pounds of gear. The Givi windscreen was perfect for this scenario. The Dunlops suck in loose gravel and on gravel bars. Once those "edges" get under the surface, it just seems to continue to dig deeper. Wore a very ugly hole in the tail section. The speedo sensor gave out (again, I guess I will give up on them and rely on the aftermarket trip computer). The big V-twin engine was perfect. Could lug when needed and had plenty of power. All the sites visited were ones I had frequented during the wild and restless days of my youth. There are way too many people, rules, regulations and disposable diapers and not enough places to pitch a tent by the river for free. Are there any tires that are non-radial that will fit the stock wheels? In reality, I do not require Z-rates and, at my advanced age am not able to utilize that much lean angle anyway. I am no longer a speed junkie and only exceed triple digits while running from the law. I realize a Cyclone is not a dirt bike or even a dual sport but I figured any motorcycle (to be used in the real world) should be able to go anywhere a minivan can. After all, they did when I was a kid. And, it WAS my 8 Grand. Perhaps I should trade for one of those GS1100 Beemers? Or can the Buell be adapted to work for my idea of a good time? All-around riding at regular speeds. Daily commutes to work. No track time. Since we have a large number of really nice places along gravel roads, it needs to be able to handle this. Thoughts, comments or flames about what an idiotic thing to think, taking a Buell off-highway..... Mike Borders PS. The Sporties always handled it. | ||
| Fogcity |
Rick A - What is an "out of class" ticket? (I've run out of class years ago; should I be worried?) | ||
| Snail |
Vik, check your post dated 8/22, 1:48 PM Abuse of power? Paul |
