| Author | Message | ||
     Josh_ |
Apologies in advance if the timeline or facts are off, 11 years are a long time! I know I’ve been absent for a while, busy with the whole new-baby thing. Here’s my Buell story. Sorry if it’s a little self-centered, my story is from my point of view  I first heard of Buell back in 96. My then-girlfriend thought I was nuts to sell my first bike (92 Sportster Hugger) to buy a car and suggested I get another bike. The dealership had the red RS1200 poster on the wall and information about the S1, but we opted for what we knew, another Sportster (96 Hugger). I upgraded the suspension (tho kept the ride height) did a 1200 conversion and braided brake lines but wanted more. During the summer of 98 the sales guy let me ride his personal bike, a 98 S1WL (silver, bur frame, PM wheels, Race Kit and Crossroads bars). I about wet myself two blocks into the ride. Coming from a 1200-conversion-with-buckhorns this was a hell of a shock, the only thing I could see of the bike was part of the front wheel. The throttle felt like the control of a booster rocket, the brakes like I was dropping an anchor. I was terrified. I made it 4 blocks and went back shaking. I was looking for another bike, my one set criteria was locking bags. I was lookin at the Ducati ST2/4 and the Triumph Sprint? when I read a review comparing them with the S3. My favorite part was it had a hopped-up version of an engine I knew. I still was hesitant and went online. I found a Buell forum called BadWeatherBikers and started reading. I posted my concerns and got a call from some crazy construction worker in New York. I was hooked. I convinced my girlfriend by riding her to the dealership down a rough-pothole filled road hitting every bump, then rode the same road on a 98 S3. 2.5” ground clearance vs 6.5”? Ha! She loved the magic carpet and didn’t even mind me doubling the speed limit merging on to the Interstate. I ordered a 99 S3 just like the brochure – silver on blue with PMs. I got all the “T” options (the only year the “T” wasn’t a separate model) and large and small saddlebags.  It arrived in Feb and I picked it up between snowstorms, one of the first FI Buells sold in St Louis. I put 500 miles in it the first week so I could get the first maint done and really wring it out. A couple months later I added a WestTek muffler and modified the airbox, but the FI didn’t adapt (this was before the G? update that fixed the 99 FI issues, tho I went to a Race Kit soon after “G” came out). I went drag racing to see how the muffler would do. I lined up behind a ‘Busa who bogged off the line over compensated and stood it right on up. I thought to myself “Self, lets not do that.” Sitting at the light I had to keep it at about 4000RPM as it bogged bad under that due to the muffler/airbox mods. The tree counted down and on the last light I let the RPMs drop slightly. I bogged it bad. I feather the clutch, gave it a bunch of gas and stood it up so fast it about clocked me on the chin. I could read “B U E L L” on the gas cap right in front of my eyes. I had the rear brake covered and let it down gently but it was not my best run of the night (but it was my last!). The next day I went to the dealership for whatever reason. Did I mention it was HD/Buell/Suzuki? Remember the ‘Busa? The sales guy said “Ya know pulling mondo wheelies at the drag strip voids the warranty” The Busa owner had just left after telling a story about a Buell at the track and the sales guy (who knew I dragged my car) figured who it had to be. I met some local Buell guys (Bob, Kevin, John…) (including a “local” who lived 200miles away (Neil)) and we went on rides year round.   That summer I rode up to the Buell Homecoming and met Erik for the first time. What a geek! I remember thinking the marketing people had their hands full. Full of passion and loved talking motorcycles but he was obviously embarrassed by his celebrity status. I had a minute with him where I showed him stress cracks in my S3T lowers and showed what my local wrench did to prevent them from spreading. Erik pointed out where what they needed was extra bracing on one bracket. I told him he should go into motorcycle design. On Saturday I got a ride from a friend (V2win) to drop the S3 at Hal’s for new tires. He was safe and slow but I was still terrified on the back and could not understand how anyone could be a passenger. I called my girlfriend from the hotel and told her she was getting a bike. I assumed a Suzuki Savage 650 as I didn’t know any other decent beginner bikes. After the weekend I spent Monday and Tuesday unlearning all my bad cruiser habits with Reg Pridmore’s CLASS school at Road America. What a blast. The S3 obviously ran out of steam on the two straights and Hurry-Downs, but my ability was already stretched out and it gave me time to rest while everyone else passed me.  Later that summer I had the dubious honor of having the first FI Buell to get a 10,000maint in St Louis. Long story, but I never went back to that dealer again, and I now do my own brakes and make sure they get Locktite. Also that summer some Sportster friends of mine got together to retake a LandSpeedRecord that a MotoGuzi bike had taken from a Sportster.  Late that fall a guy (Aaron) announced on BadWeb he’d picked up 1987 Buell RR1000 #50 on eBay. Some said to take it road racing, I said to take it to Bonneville and offered to run any website he needed. The construction guy from New York signed on as manager, and the rest of the story can be read on teamelves.com or on the BadWeb archives. Late that fall we heard about the Buell Blast and on Jan 16 at the motorcycle show in St Louis I put a deposit on one that turned out to be the first sold in St Louis. I also saw a big sign at the show offering $500 rebate on any new Buell. I knew they meant the vtwins, but the sign and all its fine-print never mentioned it. The booth workers and dealership sales guy all agreed it applied to Blasts (which had only been announced by Buell on the 14th).  We picked it up in March with snow on the ground. Long story, but the dealer screwed me on the sale (out-the-door doesn’t include setup or doc? WTF?) but 6 months later the VP or marketing sent me a check for the rebate. I was more amazed by how nice they were about the whole thing than actually getting by on the technicality. We trailered both bikes up to Homecoming and that time really had a Blast! My S3 had vibration issues (ultimately fixed by the “Y” exhaust hanger) and two friends bikes had issues. Buell had setup a “tech day” where the factory would look into long-term problems and give you a Blast for the day. My girlfriend loved being on a ride with 5 other Blasts, esp the crew that normally left her 30HP bike in the dust.  Did CLASS again Mon and Tues and was obviously improved. The Ducatis (etc) could pass me on the straights but I could out-brake them and catch them exiting the next corner. Was the only Buell there and really opened some eyes on my “touring” bike. That summer was a trying one online for Buell, what with recalls and what not and a growing body at BadWeb. Buell CS (especially Deanne) did a good job taking care of everyone so I sent them a flower arrangement “from BadWeb” for putting up with us. Late that summer Team Elves went to Bonneville and kicked ass with an antique. I foolishly didn’t make it. When the 2001 Blast body work became available in yellow the local Buell group met at my house to swap bodywork.  The following year I married my girlfriend. We had wedding pictures taken with the Sportster and S3 and left the reception on the Buell. Several local Buellers were in attendance incl CCRyder, the “local” from Evansville , IN who rode his “X3” out. The following weekend we rode to Colorado for TeamElves/Rockies BRAG Thunder-in-the-Mountains. A long weekend of good friends and great roads. Al of American Sport Bike getting attacked by a mountain, BluzM2 telling my brand-new-bride “take off your pants you’re getting me hot” showing off 2-up on the twisties (yes, she hangs off with me, no she only complains when I drag her pegs, no she doesn’t have a sister)   Hail on the top of Mt Evans. Ron Dickey complaining about the mostly-stock bikes “It’s like Muffers in the Mountains” We left early Sunday morning and went 960miles in 14 hours back to St Louis, only to find out Jay from American Thunderbike suffered a brain aneurysm on Sunday and was in an ICU in Denver. I had two weeks of work and then was out of a job, so I packed the S3 and met my parents in Sturgis. In between phone job interviews in the Rapid City Holiday Inn I saw the newly announced 01 Buell Firebolt. That was a bit of a trick as the HD workers had not heard of BRAG, nor seen a BRAG ID and didn’t want to let me into the “members only” area. They had at least heard of Buell. I think.  After Sturgis I rode towards Denver to see Jay. My often problematic WestTek muffler let go in Cheyenne. I was in heavy traffic in a construction zone @ about 55MPH, the front of the muffler separated and dropped, catching the lip of a steel plate, ripping the muffler off, catapulting the bike about 18” straight up, blowing the tire and denting the PM wheel. The bike tracked straight the whole time and I rode about a mile to an off ramp. TeamElves Crew Chief Aaron left work early and drove up from Denver to pick me up. Such a nice guy. Even lent me the wheel and original tire from his S2 so I could get back on the road. I went and saw Jay who was out of the ICU and doing much better before heading for home. Oh, remember the muffler? I never saw it again and Aaron didn’t have a spare. So we went to a parts store and got one of those tips the Japanese car owners put on their .2L Civics to make them loud. A muffler shop added a short adapter to get it the correct inlet and length and Aaron welded two flat bars for mounts. So my 2.5” race header went into a short pipe then a 4” resonance chamber disguised as a muffler. Holy shit. I forgot my earplugs when I left Aarons and had to stop to put them in before I ran into an bridge just to end the pain in my head. It was more than loud, imagine an open header, made slightly louder then add a real obnoxious high tinny ring to it. I did have fun opening it up next to all the Sturgis-bound Harleys, esp guys running open pipes who thought they were loud. Everything is relative. Later that summer we rode to the Deal’s Gap BRAG event. I had videos posted for a while. We rode the S3 and Blast out and back and had a great time. https://www.highwayride.com/Buell/TheGapPartOne.mpg https://www.highwayride.com/Buell/TheGapPriceless.mpg https://www.highwayride.com/Buell/TheGapTWO.mpg (those are a little embarrassing, my camera and editing skills are much better now!) 2002 started out slow, then got busy at the end. I bought a 98 S1WL from a friend in early Sept. I had gotten over my initial fear of the Beast and couldn’t pass this one up. I switched it to all white with a solo tail, installed CrossRoad bars, rear sets and a WestTek frame brace, then powder-coated the race kit exhaust silver and got a bunch of other parts done in white. A hotrod shop in Florida made me a 4” chrome glass-pack muffler and the result turned heads everywhere I went.  Bonneville got rained out and everyone converged on Aaron’s place in Denver in late September. PhillyBlast rode to my place on his S2 and we trailered my S1 and S3 and his S2 out. For anyone doing this in the future, yes it works better to put the unfaired bike between the other and to stagger them facing front/back – but put the faired bike facing FORWARD. Trust me on this one. I was so taken by Aaron’s collection I bought an RS1200 WestWind off ebay in October. One owner, 6600 miles “bone stock/OEM” except (I found out) for the RevTech heads, after-market cams and who knew what else. A Harley shop dynoed it at 77HP, but they shut it off at 5500RPM (it pulls strong to 7000) so who knows what it makes.  We were up to 4 Buells, but lagged behind Aaron who had 7 at the time.  Then in November Team Elves was invited to the factory to celebrate two years of records. We met with Erik who led us all over and did a presentation with all the workers. I think we gave them a SCTA plaque with the times on it? My wife pointed out the 00 Homecoming banners with our signatures on it.  My wife also got Erik to sign her bodywork.  I finally made Bonneville in 03. Pics on TeamElves under 2003 Event. What a great time. 2004 I was ready for a new bike, but Buell didn’t make a Sport-Touring bike anymore. My Buell friends had gone Honda (ST1300) and Yamaha (FJR1300) and BMW (RS something?). Opted for the Yamaha and sold the S3. I still regret it. 46,000miles, drag racing, track (6 days total with Reg Pridmore), commuting to work and lots of distance riding. The FJR had a TON of engine and a power windshield, but a lot of weight, especially up high and no soul. I also never got to meet Mr Yamaha. I also sold the S1 (which I loved to look at but never did get used to riding) to help pay for it and was all of a sudden down to 2 Buells.  That summer I did get to see Erik and the Thunderbolts play a local dealership. I parked my RS right in front of the stage and Erik commented on my “WESTWND” plates. Later he seemed embarrassed when his slideshow on the history of Buell went from the RR to the S2 *cough*RS*cough* Went to Homecoming in 05 but left the RS at home as it was in pieces. I rode the Blast around and did CLASS on the FJR. Hey, I’m not limited to 135 on the straights! Damn what a pig to corner and you have to get reeealy far off to not drag anything. Jump to 2007. I’ve taken the FJR to Autobahn in Il, Road America and Barber. I’ve also done Keith Code at Barber on a Kawi ZX6R. I want a track bike. I know Ducati released a track-only bike that I’m interested in and Buell has the XBRR that is waaay out of my price range. I visited Yamaha (my local dealer is great!) Honda and Kawi dealers. Then Buell announces the 1125R. Hmmm interesting. Then the 1125R prototypes are at the Inside Pass track days. I sign up for Road America, take the day off and drive up. 6 sessions on a 1125R on a track I know. Not too bad, decent acceleration (comparable to the FJR) and decent handling comparable to the FJR. I guess its ok. Then I went home and rode my FJR and realized it was a big heavy pig. I’d been as comfortable on the 1125R after one session as I was on my FJR after 34,000miles and 6 track days.  I told my dealer I would be interested in one. Then around Thanksgiving my wife upgrades to an XB12Scg. “It’s easier on the highway”  The dealer decided I could be in-line for an 1125R w/o a deposit, then calls me when the first one comes in early Jan (the guy inline before me would not get back from Iraq for another 6mo). I picked up the first 1125R sold in St Louis in between snow storms the first week of Jan 08. We’re back to 3 Buells! Two 25th anniversary bikes. I ordered a 25th Anniversary Aerositch to match incl elbow/sleeve panels matched to the frame and a “Buell” patch on the back. We also found out we were pregnant. I took the 1125R to Keith Code at Barber, Total Control and the track day at Blackhawk during Homecoming.   My wife got the Lightning signed and I showed off the RS. My wife showed off her 6-month belly riding her Scg around. That was the last ride before our daughter was born.   I joined MCRA in St Louis and attended the track weekend at Hallet in OK, attending their Race Clinic. I sold the FJR the same day. A couple months later I ran my first race on the 1125R in the MCRA “Sportsman Class” and won. I then ran two CCS races and got spanked handily (read the report on BadWeb somewhere)  I’ve been mostly commuting since then, tho we did initiate Lucia into the Buell family and took her to the local dealer’s Daytona party for the big race. It’s been 11 years with at least one Buell in the garage. I’ve made a bunch of friends, met numerous characters (AndyS, Mike from Manhattan, Kitrelle, Tat, Cap’t Pete), had numerous adventures and talked Buell up all over the world telling anyone who would listen about how great the company was. I was at a new (not yet opened) HD Buell dealership in Quito Ecuador a couple months back talking to the owner about how kickass a Uly would be on those roads (he had two Police Demo Ulys). I thought the future was bright and rosy. I was wrong. I was pretty upset when I heard the news. It was a dark day for motorcycling. “My” motorcycling company would be no more. Sure there are lots of great bikes out there, but only one had American cutting-edge engineering and feel to it. Only one could you go visit the factory and meet the founder who still actually put his heart and soul into designing the bikes and taking motorcycling forward. I’ll miss Buell. I hope Erik continues in motorcycling somewhere, my daughter will need a bike in a few years and Honda’s are just boring.  (Message edited by josh_ on October 18, 2009) | ||
| Court |
AWESOME | ||
| Buellish |
Thanks Josh | ||
| Doylejj |
Great read (and really good life, it sounds like). Thanks for sharing | ||
| Brinnutz |
Agreed...Great read, thanks. | ||
| Nevrenuf |
nice read josh and what a beautiful little girl you got. by the sounds of it, it seems like you might have been in sturgis in 01 maybe. | ||
| Josh_ |
Yup. Sturgis 01. God willing and the creek don't rise I'll be at the factory on the 26th. Anyone know the address of the barn or quonset hut? I should have time on Sunday and I've never been there. | ||
| Bluzm2 |
Josh, That was a truly epic recap, I'm humbled to have been mentioned, even as a friendly poke in the ribs. Glad I could add to the memories. You and your lovely bride are also part of my Buell scrapbook of memories. I really hope to see you at the factory on Monday. Brad | ||
| Nevrenuf |
spent 3 weeks on the road going to sturgis in 01. did the buell demo there so that was my first physical contact with the bike. actually tested the m2. started off toward the back and slowly made my way forward on the back road up to i think was spearfish where they go onto the interstate to head back to basecamp. so by the time we got to the interstate i was right behind the leader so i asked him about opening it up. he just told me to wait until we got to the on ramp and when we did get there i was off like a bullet. actually made it back at least 2 minutes before the next person made it back and when i got off the bike, you couldn't smack the permigren off of my face with a steel bar. we were on the wifes flhtcui trike towing a time out trailer behind it. getting on those two wheels was the best thing that could have happened to me. no more trikes and gonna get her another bike besides the blast to ride in a couple of weeks. | ||
| Josh_ |
All that and I left out so much, like Jack R's BDay party at a Tommy Castro show where Erik hopped on stage for a number, waiting with Jack Van Toast? when his big-bore S1 gave out near Road America in 99 until someone (I realized the next year was Aaron) came back with a truck to get him. Seeing Jack's grandson Quenton hopping an S1? off the curbs in front of the hotel like it was a BMX Watching my wife turning and burning behind me through the Gap on our way to the BRAG event The highlight of my bachelor party - getting to ride Kevin "LeftTurnicus" new-to-him S2 around... But more importantly I left out all kinds of people, FireManJim, Rocket, Blake, Pammy, Wes, the Nallins, JB2, Henrik, and may others I've met from Glendale, Ca to Gainsville, Fl. There is a short list of people who can put a smile on my face when they call. The ones who aren't related to me are all Buellers. I'm still pissed about the way the Blast was treated for 2010, tortured and humiliated for a few Marketing laughs, tho I'm now seeing some foreshadowing in the whole thing. Buell is deal, long live the Pegasus. | ||
| Xbrad9r |
great story...felt like it needed bumping as well | ||
| Billybob |
a sad day for erik | ||
| Cyclonedon |
the picture of the little one on the Blast made me smile!  | ||
| Mr1spd |
Wow......that was and is awesome....You don't hear people on the imports share stories like that. Buell riders are different. It's like a big family....... | ||
| Thespive |
So amazing. Thank you for sharing!!! --Sean | ||
| Josh_ |
Keep in mind I just mentioned the bare basics, for the whole story behind any of those events search here on BadWeb. Someone ought to write a book ... | ||
| Rocketman |
Thanks for the memory Josh. Nice story and one that makes me glad I still have the S1W - more than 11 years now. Oh how I was enamoured by the 750 Brutale, but still to this day the older and wiser I become my S1W is even more so my perfect bike. It's got me written all over it. And no it's still not finished yet!  Rocket | ||
| Whatever |
Cool Beans!  | ||
| Daves |
Great read Josh. Bringing back all of my memories of the times I've had and people I have met. Been a great ride! Looking for more in the future. | ||
| Bigdaddy |
Sean! Excellent. | ||
| Blake |
Beautiful Josh! | ||
| 46champ |
welcome back Rocketman| | ||
| Blake |
Wonderful post Sean. Thanks and welcome back old friend. | ||
| Littlebuggles |
Great write up, thanks! It's good to see a few of the old timers back too! Good to see you posting Rocket. What ever happened to Cap't Pete, seems like he just kind of dropped off the face? | ||
| Rocketman |
Great to be back, thank you for the welcomes. I too have a story like Josh's, though I could not write it or simplify it anywhere near as well, but one day soon I might give it a go.......  | ||
| Oldog |
WELCOME BACK Rocket | ||
| Bluzm2 |
Great to hear from you once again Rocket! | ||
| Phillyblast |
 Hmmm, I wonder what that did to gas mileage on the way out? I can't say enough about Josh's hospitality. Some dude he's never met shows up in his driveway at 1 AM and he and Mb didn't even blink. Warm bed, fuzzy dogs, and Josh even let me drive the truck the next day. I always said you meet the nicest people on a Buell.  Of course I saved you the trouble on the way back and took the long way. It snowed in South Dakota, but at least it started to warm up in WI.  All these years later and I still have the S2, took it to Indy MotoGP last year, rode through rain and winds every day. I guess that Badweather Bikers thing is a jinx for me.  I'm looking at a few of the bargain/discounted 1125Rs around my neck of the woods. I don't know if I will keep the S2 if I buy a new one, but it doesn't really matter. I always smile when I take it out for a ride, or even walk by it in the "garage" (ask Josh) not because it's a great bike, but because of the people I've met and the adventures I've had on the bike. |
