| Author | Message | ||
     Hippyjoe |
I'm considering buying either bike and am trying to narrow it down. Is the rake the same? The X1 looks like it has less rake and a shorter wheelbase, yes or no? Are the tail sections on both bikes stout enough to drill 2, 3/8" holes per side in, run bolts through and hang hard bags? Aside from the tails, are the frames the same? Can I mount an X1 tail section on an M2 frame w/o much hassle? Are all X1's fuel injected? Is the fuel injection any good? Can the ECM be bypassed, or is it needed to control the FI? Can I run a Dyna S on an FI bike, or is the injection tied into the ignition through the ECM? Can I run a Dyna S on a carbureted Buell and bypass the ECM? Did the early years of these bikes have any recall issues, sketchy shocks, etc? How is it to service the clutch on these bike, do I need a Sportster spring tool to keep things from exploding? Thanks for any answers. Joe | ||
| Mikej |
The X1 has a more aggressive geometry. Mount your hard bags to brackets attached to the framework, not to the bodywork. The X1 has a bolt-on tailsection, the M2 does not. Some X1's had f.i. issues which should be well sorted out by now. Any recall issues should be sorted out by now. Proper tools are always a nice thing to have. The M2's have a carb. I like carbs, I have an M2, and an S2, and use soft saddlebags that hang over the seat when I need/want luggage. Look at an S3 if you want hard luggage as most of the S3's are already set up with baggage. Earlier S3's have carbs, later S3's have f.i. . It sounds like you're looking for an S3T if you can find one since you're asking about M2 versus X1 and hard bags. Hope this helps some. (I need to go refucus my eyes now with this latest font Blake us using. (Message edited by mikej on April 17, 2006) | ||
| Hippyjoe |
Thanks, I thought the geometry looked different. Is the rake cast into the neck, are the frames different? Or does Buell get the rake out of the triple trees? I also prefer carbs, I run CV's and understand them. I don't like the idea of a computer-controlled motorcycle. I'm open to an S3T, but they are harder to find and more expensive. They usually come up for sale with FI. Near me, it's mostly M2's. I also prefer my hard bags to the S3T's, mine hinge on the top and are longer. I won't go back to soft bags. I've got brackets for the bags, it looks like an easy mount to that boxy X1 tail, looks like I could just drill a couple holes thru the tail box and hang 'em. X1's also come up for sale pretty cheap. Although I prefer the relaxed rake and carburetion of the M2... Not sure about the M2's tail section; is it tubular steel? I guess I'd have to weld tabs to the tubes and chop the plastic to fit hard bags? I'm wondering what the tail of the M2 looks like under the plastic. J | ||
| Mikej |
X1 and M2 frames are different. M2 and S3 appear to share the steering head as the M2 has the fairing mount tubes to easily mount up an S3 fairing. The tail section of the M2 is just tubing. The recent thread where someone was talking about seat options had Bomber posting some pics of his bike where he is just running a seat on the rear without the rear bodywork. S3's also have the upside down fork tubes that some people prefer. Prices on S3's tends to track the X1 and M2 prices as all 'tubers are somewhat in the pits as far a pricing goes (relative to Harley big-twin pricing). S3's do show up here on a regular basis, or at least they used to. If you haven't done so already post a wanted ad in the bike wanted section of the site here. http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/21/1021.html?1145108143 I had either my M2 or S2 for sale/trade recently, but no takers since I won't take the current market price for mine and the one interesting trade seems to have vanished since he's no longer returning emails (oh well, that's alright since I rode the M2 to work today and will have the S2 carb back on in short order). | ||
| Mikej |
Here's a link to a recent discussion showing some M2 tail section framework to give you an idea of what you'd be looking at: http://www.badweatherbikers.com/cgibin/discus/show.cgi?tpc=47623&post=601229#POS T601229 | ||
| Hippyjoe |
OK, so an X1 is out. What's the scoop on an S3 tail section, is it also tubes? Does an S3 have less plastic than the 3T? Cause that thing looks kind of weird w/ the bags off, and the fairing is pretty f'kin huge for my style. I saw that seat thread, I'll have to take another look. The sofa with the relocated reg, right? That's my kind of modification. Thanks for the link, I'll give it a shot if the new-bike jones bites hard enough. For now I'm just lookin and figgerin things out. I think I saw your ad, aren't you up in Michigan, gone fishin, looking to trade for a bagger? edit: thanks for the seat link, that's it. (Message edited by hippyjoe on April 17, 2006) | ||
| Ceejay |
S3 and the M2 have the same tail frame cept for the S3 has an extra welded on peice that drops off. M2 is well pictured above... | ||
| Mikej |
S3 and S3T are the same bike, T just came with the bags and mounts, many if not most S3 owners added the bag mounts later. Same plastic on both. I'm up in Wisconsin currently, on the west side of Lake Michigan. But yep, that was me. Here's a couple of the S2 pics showing some of the framework that you'd have to deal with.   (The filth on the frame is gas residue from a cracked plastic portion of the gas inlet fitting that I'm finally getting around to working on.) One thing an X1 does have is a removable frame section that allows you to change out the rear drive belt without having to drop the swingarm or do other convoluted dance routines like lift off the frame and such. The S2 has the removable side plate enabling the same ease of belt change as an X1. Drive belts break so infrequently (usually infrequent) that this shouldn't be an issue, but as soon as one does break on you then it does become an issue. Newer tube frame Buells have lighter fly wheels and better flowing heads and a bit more performance, but older ones can be tweaked to perform just as well, and if you understand the benefit of a heavier flywheel then some might say they can perform even better for certain uses and applications (I sure wish I got paid by the word here). I'm currently looking at a used 1995 FLH that a local shop just got in. I don't think they'll work hard enough for the deal I'm thinking of, but if they do then they'll get the M2 and I'll keep the S2, and if not then I'll just wait for the next opportunity to come along. (That oil on the S2's front fender is from where the previous owner had the rocker breather line routed to, which is also getting adjusted. Just in case anyone was wondering.) | ||
| Hippyjoe |
That's a nice-looking bike. I just heard back on an S2T near me, and an S3T one state over. I want only one bike, so if I get a Buell it would have to do it all. My main riding style is "adventure touring/guerilla camping/highway bombing/city cranking." The FXR does pretty well, but I'm thinking a lighter bike would be easier to push around in the woods and flick around city traffic. I'm not worried about changing belts, when the time came I'd install a chain. '95 FLH, I bought a '95FXSTC new, within 3 months the starter crapped out. Harley wouldn't warranty it, so I installed a kicker, pretty easy. Otherwise it was a good bike. That's one disadvantage to a Buell IMO, no kicker. | ||
| Hippyjoe |
Ceejay, I had a look at your bike, what did that front end come off? Did it bolt right up to your M2? How do you like those cams, is that a 536 lift? Are you running hydraulics, looks like it'd be a bitch to adjust the pushrods? How is it tuning that 42mm? Do you really need to go faster with all those goodies, what about more cubes? NIce looking ride, btw. | ||
| Aldaytona |
M2 is a simpler bike to work on for the average guy, carb and regular forks vs injection and cartridge forks which usually mean a trip to the dealer when either has an issue. M2s forever. | ||
| Ryker77 |
Get an s2 or s3.. if it had bags you can sell them and get back 500 easy. You can convert an FI bike to a carb setup and nose cone ignition cheap and easy. I've done it to my x1. Take your time. There is always some awsome deals on ebay every few weeks or so. I love my power beast x1 with 11x rwhp. But for longer rides and hard bags the s3 would have been better. Soon Buell will wise up and make new S3xb.. | ||
| Ryker77 |
Can I run a Dyna S on an FI bike, or is the injection tied into the ignition through the ECM? Can I run a Dyna S on a carbureted Buell and bypass the ECM? You could run aftermarket igntion with the FI. But they are not linked and would not be the best set up. I rode my x1 with FI and twintec for a few weeks. If the bike is allready a carb with an ECM you can either leave the ecm in place minus the ignition part.. or just remove it. I think the only bad thing is the idiot lights don't work once the ECM is removed. | ||
| Ceejay |
Hippy-Forks, triples, and wheels are from an S1. mounted up very easily. stock cams had a #4 problem so I put ones that I thought would give me bang for the buck with little other valve train mods-stock pushrods, valves, new springs, keepers, etc. 42mm has been super cool to tune and use. I like to go from 0-100 as quick as I can, but most of the parts were not pure go fast stuff, as I had an accident and so I went with what I needed to replace, while tuning it to my liking, with minimal cost-most of the stuff I got from friends, here, or e-bay, pammyb has been a big help too. More cubes, prolly not, as I have friends that have ridden that set-up from the big-twin set that got scared...Thanks for the kind words... |
