| Author | Message | ||
     Terrym |
Found a guy on craigslist with this bike wanting to trade for a Sportster. I approached with my '00 883/1200 Custom. Anyway what's the good, bad & ugly on the 2000 M2. I read in the past about inj. issues. Can they be upgraded or converted to carb? Admired Buells for years but never owned or even ridden one. Really thinking of doing this deal. Anyone? | ||
| Fasted |
m2s are ALL carburetor intakes, NO injection m2s are easy to work on, fun to ride, still lots of parts not to knock sporties (our ancestors), but you will love the extra power, improved handling, and powerful brakes.... if you don't feel competent looking at the bike thru buell eyes, ask for assistance on the badweb forums.....go to topics to choose where else you may want to post your request | ||
| Blake |
Terry, You'll not go wrong with a Cyclone, one of the best motorcycles ever built. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Do a search, I posted quite a few "2000 M2 survival guides". The short answer is that you will have to deal with some things, but that they are all very "deal with able", and if you do them strategically (before something breaks) they take some time but are not expensive and not painful. From memory: 1) Run belt scary loose. 2) Rejet pilot and get access to air fuel mix screw. 3) Replace stock paper rocker box gaskets with metal (perhaps done already). 4) Update front exhaust hanger. 5) Put a voltage spike filter on the speedo sensor. 6) Replace primary tensioner with new updated unit. 7) Replace bow shifter with new updated unit, or some nice American Sport Bike parts. Probably more, thats what I can remember off the top of my head. Of course all these things are to prevent bad things from happening, and these bad things would likely have already happened to an M2, so who knows how far you already are down that list... Rocker box gaskets for example tend to go at about 5000 and 9000 miles (back and front respectively). They are neat bikes. The only "oh crap" thing I can think of would be a leaking rear shock. I don't know what rebuild or replace options are around and practical right now... solving that problem could run into 3 digits. | ||
| Terrym |
Thanks guys, most motor problems I'm familiar with. Bought my XL new in 2000. Thought carbs were gone by 2000, my bad. Understand nobody's knocking the XL, lighter weight, more power, better handling are what I'm after. Woulda bought a Buell back then, but didn't trust my skills with that kind of bike. Also didn't want to rock the boat with my HD friends. Now, I'm older and care alot less what ppl w/ chrome parking lot ornaments think. I inherited Dad's FatBoy last year and the Sporty's just been sitting anyway. It was a fun 50,000 miles, but I want more of a rider's motorcycle. The FatBoy is staying for 2up, some travel, mostly because Dad wanted me to have it. I figure a Tuber will be the perfect compliment (heavy bike/light bike). | ||
| Terrym |
BTW, the guy does admit to a cracked header. Is this abuse or a Buell thing? Can it be welded? Are there better solutions in the aftermarket? The bike has 24,000 miles if thats indicitive to the exhaust issue. I'm starting to get excited. Honestly I'm not scared of a couple minor gliches, my Sportster isn't exactly pristine either. | ||
| Reepicheep |
It happens, but is not super common. I'd also then look for sheared exhaust studs. If it does have a sheared stud, talk like it's the end of the world and get a good deal out of it. It can be a big deal, but more often then not, a $90 tool and a half a day or so will "make it better", often without removing the head. No reason not to weld it, provided they can weld stainless. If it looks bad afterwards, grind it smooth and give it a nice ceramic coat. | ||
| Cyclone00 |
Ive got a 2000 Buell Cyclone myself. I bought it back in 01. I will never get rid of it. Love the thing! | ||
| Terrym |
OK, I'm doing this deal. He came out & looked at my bike last night, I looked at his this morning after work. It boils down to: even trade. His & mine are in pretty equal condition. Mine is farkled a little better & my paint shines up nicer but I've got 50,000 mi. to his 25,000. I'm throwing loads more extras in than he is. This is due mostly to me buying mine 10 yrs. ago to his one year. We've got identical base gasket leaks on the rear cyl. In other words 10 yr. old Sportster to 10 yr. old Buell. The exhaust crack isn't on the header, it's on the lead pipe (right in front of the can) of a V&H slip on. I rode the bike & except for the awkwardness of having never rode a Buell & the cold damp air making excessive warmup time, I could find no real reason not to do this. Get ready for a million questions!!!!!!!!! | ||
| Reepicheep |
Great! Nothing can be wrong that can't be fixed. I really enjoyed my M2. | ||
| Court |
It's one of the better motorcycles EVER made. . . and I can prove it. Do the deal . . get back here . . and we'll get to work. Congratulations. | ||
| Littlebuggles |
Terry, hopefully you've got your new Buell and are perusing the Old School section and the Knowledge Vault for general info. From Reep's list above - my 2000 M2 came with the updated primary tensioner (you may also have that part). My rockerbox gaskets have been done several times in the 24K I've got on my M2, might want to try cleaning the motor real good then verifying it's the base and not the rocker box leaking. These tend to seep at the starter seal. Rear shock is probably all used up. After Shocks and Race Tech both will rebuild and valve your stock shock for you for far less than a Penske or Works Performance shock will cost (but they are supposed to be sweet). Ditch the boomarang shifter for the Buell upgraded part and put some synthetic fluids in your engine and tranny and you'll be pleased with the performance. Some of this you know from having the Sporty, but It's stuff my bike has seen over the years and nearly identical miles as you new bike has. | ||
| Terrym |
Got about 200 mi. on it since I got it. Last night I pulled the carb to check what main jet it had (totally ran outta steam around 90mph). It's a 185 in an aftermarket emulsion tube. So, it's got plenty of mainjet. Decided to put the carb back & check for air leaks. I noticed the carb body has a 2nd nozzle on the inside corner towards the rear cyl. Looks exactly like where the fuel line hooks up, but a tad smaller. What is it? I've never seen a CV with anything like that. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Be real careful here as I am going from memory... and a really old one at that. But I think my M2 had a 200 main stock from the factory. | ||
| Littlebuggles |
Terry, it sounds like a vent line, it should be capped off? My bike had the CA emissons set up, there was a carbon canister that the line ran to for evaporated fuel from the float bowl, or something to that effect. Bottom left side facing the carb mounted on the bike is where mine's at. Reep, they've thrown that question around in the old school section a few times... I also thought I'd had a 185, but dudes believe they are 195 stock, seems a bit big to me. I've got a 200 and a 45 in there now, air/fuel mix screw is turned out 2.5 turns per recommendations here, have not adjusted it with it running for best performance though. Are you familiar with this Terry? The manifold gaskets to the head, and the boot to the carb are probably at the end of their service life if they've never been replaced. Reep, correct me on this, you can spray WD40 at the seal area with the bike running and if it affects the idle you know they're bad. I've not tried it since I've just replaced the seals on a semi-regular basis. Terry, check my profile for common mods, except the tail, that one's not so common. The X1 front end has been done by a few people (becoming more common) and many are putting XB wheels and front end's on for performance and cosmetic appeal. | ||
| Kiwicris |
Hi Terry, Saw your request for info on swapping your Sportster for that M2 back in March last year - (your profile says you own an X1 . .have you just not updated the site profile or did you sell it in the meantime ?? Just curious) - I'm from New Zealand and am in the process of building a $$ stack so I can get a Tuber. If ya don't mind, and you have a few minutes, how have you found the M2? reliability wise, and whats your general feelings about it. I'd be interested to know . Anytime - The stack of $$ isn;t very high !! |
