| Author | Message | ||
     Jmartz |
After 8 years of ownership and just about 50,000 miles my S1 is now officially retired from daily service. After its last "overhaul" I had reduced its service duty to occasional use, but my wife's unfortunate accident and the factory's decision to discontinue many of the parts have resulted in an earlier retirement that anticipated. Disappointed with Buell's new models, I replaced the S1 with a 2002 Yamaha R1. I had not owned an in-line 4 since my 1973 Kawasaki Z1 900. It is just a coincidence that all these bikes share part of their names. I plan to remain semi-active (as I have been) on this page but I can already see how the # of posts has begun to increase dramatically in favor the XB's and Blasts and soon I will have very little to ask or contribute. I do want to offer a brief review of the R1 from the perspective of a die hard HD-Buell rider and owner of this company's products for many years. The low end weakness of in-line 4's seems to have been a myth. Like Ducatis, being in the proper gear is required but I do not detect any inherent weakness off the line. The reciprocating assembly is so light that quick deceleration takes place if the throttle is closed; far quicker than in a Buell. A rapid gear change and throttle opening is necessary in order to have a smooth transition. People always told me that these low torque bikes would require an overactive left foot. As it turns out I find myself shifting a lot less than in the Buell. With a 12.75 K redline gears can be extended far into the speed envelope which reduces the need to shift. In fact I can rarely use 6th because at already illegal speeds it drops the rpm too much. Another myth about these bikes is that they vibrate less. Between 3.5 and 5.5 K rpm the bars shake worse than an 883 at 70 mph. Perhaps the most surprising aspect of UJM ownership is how well this collection of cheap componentry works together. Handling is nothing short of superb and acceleration on the far side of stellar. Can't really use all it can provide very effectively yet. At 140 HP and 70 lbs. of torque this bike takes some getting used to. | ||
| Phillyblast |
anyone trying to get in touch with me via the old email address in my profile - it's not longer working ('cause I'm no longer working  ) so use djkntz@yahoo.com or djk@super20.shacknet.nu David | ||
| Stingaroo |
Hey guys, this sucks, my school has a virus going around, it affected every computer in the entire school, except for my roomates. He has some kind of high speed set up for virus control, so I can use his for awhile. Hey Alex, could you send me Big Macs email address, I dont have it on this computer. I got your pics you sent me, very rad my friend. Heather, my girlfriend was very impressed with the pic of you and Erik, as was myself. I'm jealous but what do you do. Should have bike up here at school in a bit, got 10,000 mile service done before I left, but now the rear rockerbox is leaking. Anti-pretty my friend, but gives me some thing to wrench on. OCBUELLER, your shirt shall be sent out on thursday after I get paid. Does any one know of any tracks out in Western PA where they race Buells? If anyone has a schedule or know a place where I can get one, please let me know. Later guys, ride safe, (especially you Prior with your Screamin Heathen) Brian | ||
| Nevco1 |
Jmartz...Congrats on the R1. You will learn to love that bike and realize its full potential in no time at all. Got a kick out of your shifting scenario. I shift more on the X1 than on any of my Rice Rockets as I tend to keep the RPM's between 3.0 and 4.5K. The concept is to neither lug nor over rev the bike with longevity in mind. Still provides a lot of power and control in the twisties in this range. Enjoy and stay in touch. Your Buell experience is still valuable to us all. | ||
| Iamike |
James P. Update- Well after taking his Blast in Friday afternoon and diagnosing the problem he is still bikeless. When he called the shop (sorry about this Dave, but the truth hurts) the service writer acted offended that he would actually call and ask about his bike. They weren't real helpful as to when he could get back on the road again. Is it asking too much when a traveller has a problem like his to get something like a head overnighted? We do this quite regularly at my job. Here James has been sitting (well not quite) at my place, with his wife worrying about him for 3 days now. Those of you in the service business, espicially the bike business, what should be expected in a situation like this? The good news is that Dave S. loaned him an S3 and he has been out checking out Iowa. I'm trying to get him to go up into central Wisconsin too. | ||
| Awprior |
Mike, Let me know if you guys are out this way, I'd love to go for a spin and get some dinner. | ||
| Buellzebub |
Stubby, it may be your pads have worn into a wedge shape, check it out. it has happened to me, new pads will bring back the feel[i think i bled my brakes three times before i was told to check the pads]. | ||
| Iamike |
Alex, We were headed over there yesterday but Ralph's 12R had some issues and it was awful hot so we only made it to Backbone park. James is taking off tomorrow to ride over there in the morning and then head up the river into Minnesota. I told him he really needs to get over into Wisconsin too. I'll let him know to call. | ||
| Awprior |
Mike, I'll head to work early, he can give me a buzz there if he wants (563-589-5936). Earliest I can be out is around 2:30. Alex | ||
| Usroute66 |
Does anyone know where Ducati owners post? I have been looking around and can't find a similar site. Blake has really got a good thing going here for us Buell owners. I feel kinda spoiled! JMartz, I know the feeling. I am ready to replace my S3T in the next year and have begun looking around. The new XB12S is a beautful bike and spent considerable time on the 9 demo at Laguna Seca this year. But, I like to travel and the new Buells just don't have it for me. I am not too fond of that short wheelbase either. The new Ducati Multistrada seems to be the bike at the moment. I know the Yamaha FJ 1300 is a great bike, but to me, Jap bikes just lack character that I have grown to love in the Buell. The Duc has the hard bags, character (and those looks...only a mother could love the front fairing), and from what I have read, is tossable in the twisties and can still ride it 500 a miles a day, like I do the S3T from time to time. Good luck with the R1, and congrats on a new bike. Nothing like that feeling. Scott | ||
| Choptop |
Aaron, ping me with your phone # @ agalbraith@otan.us. I've got a Nitrous question. | ||
| Firemanjim |
Chop,give Brian Nallin a call at shop tomorrow,he is the NOX guru. | ||
| Snail |
Stubby, I heard about this trick but haven't tried it. Pump up the brake, and then zip tie the lever tight overnight. Suppose to work the air bubbles out of the high spots and lets them float to the reservoir. Let me know if it works. Paul | ||
| Bartimus |
Stingaroo, check out NEW CASTLE HD/BUELL. They've got an active Buell racing team and provide amazing support for Buells. They helped me out back in 2000 when I blew out my belt heading back to Phoenix after the Louden bike classic in NH. | ||
| Stubby |
buellzebub, the pads were replaced just before sturgis trip, so can't have 1500 on them. It is the lever which "feels" spongey, the brakes stop ok, but just not "right". Snail. If I pump up the front brake lever the sponginess goes away for awhile but creeps back in after a time. I may try your idea. Wasn't there a posting somewhere here where some guy took a big whomping hypodermic, filled it with brake fluid, and rather than using the wheel cylinder valve to bleed the brakes, squirted fluid up through the valve into the master cylinder reservoir? Seems I saw that somewhere. Since I have a bunch 'o hypodermics hereabouts, I may give that a whirl. I suppose I should cover all exposed surfaces with saran wrap first to avoid what might be a "wet burp" of fluid out of the master cylinder reservoir from getting all over my bike... hmmmm???  maybe I'll try the zip tie technique. Regards, Stubb  | ||
| Jmartz |
Thanks for the kind words Nevco and US66. I have been slowly progressing on my skill development to properly drive the new bike. Still take it every day the 15 miles to work. Nevco I lived in Milwaukee during the late 70's when I attended Marquette. My sister-in-law lives in Brookfield a block away from the Briggs and Straton plant. We visit every year and more so now that my son is going to Brookfield east. US66, EB is a genius and I am still in awe of his designs. The reason I did not stay with the brand came down to one simple item; NOT ENOUGH POWER. After spending 20K or so over 8 years in maintenance and modifications I can say that I more than enjoyed my Buell experience but I have nothing left in me to begin that process again. | ||
| Nevco1 |
Jmartz...Next time you visit Brookfield, ping me. Have a number of friends that live in the same area and frequent Boulder Junction. Graduated from Brookfield East in '66, left for over 30 years and came back a few years ago to care for my dad. Still trying to adapt to winter after living in So Cal all those years. LOL Think of me, when you are riding all winter long! | ||
| Henrik |
Stubby - brake bleeding - that'd be me. Henrik | ||
| Danny |
Scott, try clubdesmo.com. I've never been there, but I understand it's pretty good. | ||
| Crw |
Check this out. http://adcache.cycletrader.com/5/5/8/54804558.htm Now I really I wish I had bought one of those '03 H-D anniversary bikes! I had no idea they would appreciate so quickly. I need to find an old appliance box and build me a time machine real quick. | ||
| Hans |
Jose, Congratulations with your new bike. When you ever come to Europe, you are still welcome, and you can ride my bike for a while, (in fact, as long, as you can keep an helmet on your head) And you can take all your time to make plans, while I can keep my M2 for a long, long time before I have reached that high mileage, at which you have to say: Enough is enough. Keep hanging around now and then.  Hans | ||
| Whatever |
Hey Yall!!! I am at Tilley's HD-Buell in beautiful Statesville North Carolina. It is HOTTER THAN A PIGS ANUS HERE!!!  | ||
| Mikej |
Must be that newcomer first time visitor initiation thing down there: Newbie: "Hi, this is my first time here." Local:"Take this here thermometer and get a temp from that pig's anus over there." Ride safe Char, the northland wouldn't be the same without ya. | ||
| Firemanjim |
Define hot.Is that because you live where the sun only comes out a couple of times a year.Heck,it ain't even worth talking about hot around here unless its over 105. | ||
| Cjmblast |
Char, glad to see your still the same even down south in God's country !!!!! CJM  | ||
| Dynarider |
I just want to know how she would know what the temp of a pigs anus is????? | ||
| Bud_man |
Hey. This is my first post here ... I bought a 1997 S1 Lightning 6 weeks ago -- and I love it! I've only owned Japanese bikes prior to this S1 Lightning. This thing has a soul -- you can't help but smile on it! Like Jmartz, I also ride an R1, and I love it too! Such different machines ... it's so nice to have access to them both! The S1 is much more comfortable on my back and wrists than my R1. So,what do you guys do about the seat? Is a Corbin seat the best option (other tails available)? My back and wrists are fine on the S1, it's my butt that falls asleep! Much of a market for used S1 seats? Anyone? My bike has 10,000 miles on it (which is only 1500 miles a year). The guy that originally owned it took great care of it, upgraded it. What should I expect with this bike? Anything I should look out for? Anything I should make sure to change (if it hadn't been changed already)? I just bought a Shop Manual on CD (came in the mail over the weekend, and I can't seem to locate it !!!). Why doesn't Buell/HD have a downloadable shop manual and and Parts Catalog available on the internet? I've searched and haven't found any. Anyone know where I can find a parts manual or shop manual online? I downloaded both manuals for my R1 from the internet. Anyway, hope not all you S1 riders are retiring your bikes (Jmartz) -- who's gonna be there to answer my silly questions? Thanks -- be safe ... - Bud | ||
| Dynarider |
Outlaws suing milwaukee..... 3 Outlaws file suit against Summerfest Men say they were wrongly booted for wearing logo By GRAEME ZIELINSKI gzielinski@journalsentinel.com Last Updated: Aug. 25, 2003 Summerfest smiley face, meet Charlie. That's the nickname of the skull above a set of crossed pistons on the Outlaws Motorcycle Club patch that's at the crux of a civil rights lawsuit filed Monday by three of the club's members. In the federal free-speech suit filed Monday against Milwaukee police and Summerfest, the Outlaws claim they wrongly were booted from the music festival July 2 because they refused to take off or obscure their "colors" showing the toothy logo. The three, Chris Gunderson of Greenfield, Jack Daugherty of Elkhorn and Jim Sworske of Hubertus, were each issued $150 trespassing tickets by Milwaukee police and eventually left without incident. Summerfest officials declined to comment on the lawsuit. Milwaukee City Attorney Grant Langley said in a telephone interview that, from the police standpoint, it was a trespassing issue, and not a lofty First Amendment case. Michael Hupy, the Outlaws' attorney, said, in fact, it was. "After they paid admission and were admitted they were kicked out . . . for wearing their colors," he said at a news conference at the Summerfest gate, flanked by Gunderson, Daugherty and their Harleys. "We still have free speech in this country." Hupy denied that, as some law enforcement officials have suggested privately, that the Outlaws purposely tried to get arrested. He also challenged Summerfest to come up with other instances of anyone being bounced or cited for wearing gang logos at the festival. Summerfest is run quasi-publicly; the city-owned land is leased by Milwaukee World Festival Inc. Nevertheless, Hupy said, "It's a public event." Daugherty, who produced his combat medals from his Army tour in Vietnam, said police humiliated him when they told him to take off his colors in front of 15 friends. "I fought in Vietnam," he said. "I have a right to be in this place." J.D. Davies, an Outlaws member also at the news conference, but not party to the lawsuit, said that it was just the latest in a long string of harassment of Outlaws by law enforcement. He said he thought the tickets were issued to send a message to the Outlaws before the Harley-Davidson 100th birthday celebration this week. Since the late 1990s, a Hydra-headed investigation of the Outlaws in the Midwest produced 23 racketeering convictions and implicated members of the club in bombings, executions and narcotics trafficking. Monday's news conference reflected the familiar relationship between the burly Outlaws and their law-enforcement minders. At the Summerfest main gate, a Milwaukee sheriff's detective captain chatted amiably with the Outlaws. A television reporter tried to ply an Outlaws member for a tour of the club's south side clubhouse. The Summerfest grounds, Harley says in promotional materials, will be the "epicenter of the celebration" for its 100th birthday party. Amy Alarupi, a Harley spokeswoman, said that members of biker gangs wearing their colors would not be prohibited from official events. Several law enforcement agents have said they anticipated trouble in the days ahead between the rival Hell's Angels and the Outlaws, as well as with other of the hard-core biker gangs coming into town. But Alarupi said that there were no problems among the gangs at the 90th and 95th birthday bashes here, and neither has there been any violence on the road leading up to this week's events. "We have good relationships with (the biker gangs) and we're pretty confident that they understand that this is a fun and safe event that everyone is going to attend," she said. Davies, the Outlaws member, said that in the ramp-up to the Harley festivities, local tavern owners have been asked by police not to serve Outlaws and he said that Outlaws members have copiously been given parking tickets by undercover cops. "This kind of stuff happens all the time," he said. From the Aug. 26, 2003 editions of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | ||
| Blackcatracing |
Check Out RacingMotorcycles.com Have a Buell Day | ||
| Jmartz |
Hans: I never forget your kind offer. About that helmet thing, remember I live in a mandatory helmet state. The only time I get to enjoy the open air is at Daytona or Milwaukee when I go to events. I make a point to never take my helmet. Not sure what I do if I lived in Europe. I think Greece is the only country nearby without a helmet law. One of these days I'm goin\g to knock on your door. Budman: Glad to hear we have the same bike combo. You are right about the arms thing. A bit more effort from your legs and speeds above 80 do a pretty good job of relieving the stress. About the seat, consider the "pro series" as an option. Corbin makes one but the jury is still out its benefits/cost ratio. Nevco: I will look you up on my next trip. I already went this year in June but given my new association with the town (my son being in school there) I might come up soon. |
