| Author | Message | ||
     Medic24 |
Were all the 95 S2s included in the signature series? Has anyone done the conversion kit to S3 bags and mounts? | ||
| F_skinner |
Medic, all S2's (1995-1996) are Signature Series bikes. As far as the S3 bag conversion I cannot help you with that because I have never really looked at S3 bags. I do believe the hardware, bag and mounts are different than the S2. Frank | ||
| Bartimus |
there is a thread about S2T saddlebags, and in it someone posted this: http://home.comcast.net/~buellstuff/Saddlebags.pdf IT tells how to put S3 saddlebags on your S2... B | ||
| Court |
>>>>Were all the 95 S2s included in the signature series? Yes | ||
| Medic24 |
Are the signature series covers and doc still available? Current owner never received them. | ||
| F_skinner |
Medic, no they are not still available however we have a spreadsheet you can take a look at on this site at: http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/476 23/315330.html?1198070698 That spreadsheet is a list owners with spare covers as well as those that have their covers and those looking for their covers. If you get the last four of the VIN and the year of the bike (95 or 96)then it is a simple matter to check to see if another BadWeber has them. I have two spare covers however I do not have the one for my bike. Be careful if you buy the S2. They are without a doubt very addictive motorcycles. I have three Buells and the S2 is the one I will not part with. If you have any questions this is the place to ask as there are people on this site that know just about everything there is to know about the S2. Frank | ||
| 1313 |
Has anyone done the conversion kit to S3 bags and mounts? Ummm, yes, I have. Note that the bracket for the S3 bags on a S2 is unique to the S2, it is NOT just the S3 bracket slapped on a S2.  The pic above was taken before I left for Homecoming a couple of years ago (evident by the fact that I washed the darned thing). It's not the complete instruction sheet, but I could scan it if it's needed.   I got tired of my S2 bags opening while I went down the road. The S3 bags have never opened unintentionally on me, but I've had a bag body crack (which I repaired with fiberglass), and a latch lever break (necessitating the purchase of the entire latch assembly), and I am bothered (a little bit) that the ABS is not as easy to work with as fiberglass - otherwise the unneeded (on my bike) rear turn signal pockets would've been eliminated like I did with the S2 bags I used to have. All in all, the S3 bags are superior to the S2 bags. 1313  | ||
| Court |
>>Are the signature series covers and doc still available? No | ||
| F_skinner |
1313, great picture and information. I was unaware that S2 bags would "open up" on you as you went down the road. I might go with soft bags on mine this summer if I find ones I like and can hold all my stuff. Your bike looks great! BTW: I had an interesting turn of events that led me to New Bern NC and the next stop as Basic Training in TX. My folks still live in Jay'ville down the road from you. Frank | ||
| Court |
1313: Gads. . . of all the archived pictures . . . I DO hope you saved the full res copy of your bike CLEAN! . . . now there is a rare photo. The S2 bags required a lot of love and understanding. You guys are tempting me to dig into the story archives (yes, I started writing about Buells well over a decade before most of you appeared) about loosing the laptop and the bottle of cologne on the Blue Ridge PArkway at 4:30AM. It was about July 10, 1995. . . . and was the 2nd of 3 famous "U Turns" I've made on various Buells.
Note to self . . . go look at Ulysses.  | ||
| Ratbuell |
(Knocking on wood) I've had my S2 bags pretty well stuffed, and haven't had any ejection problems yet. I have both sets of lids, and have had to take some serious time adjusting the latches for each particular lid. I've also noticed that my locks rotate in from the ends of the bag, so they both rotate towards the center of the bag. Don't know if that makes sense, or if that's the way they all work, but it seems to sandwich the lids pretty tightly against the bases. I've thought about some sort of "safety pin" secondary latch just in case, but haven't found anything I like the looks of just yet. I wish I could make the FLHP hockey puck latches work, but they're set for a 90 degree joint, not a flat one like on the S2. The search continues, I guess... Somebody should make brackets to put Uly bags on an S2 | ||
| S2pengy |
Finally after many years of trouble free operation, I had one open up on me with the deep lids on. Luckly it was just the aft catch and no contents were spilled, which was good because there were 24 full beer bottles stuffed inside. Yes I know I was over the suggested weight limit for the bag..... I also have had the hanger bracket break twice. | ||
| Ratbuell |
Pengy - that's why I'm going to have the machine shop fab a bracket brace for my S2. I'm going to have them install a piece of round stock to match the rest, spanning from the passenger footpeg mount, up along the bottom corner of the bag, to the spot where the brace turns the corner to go under the taillight. I'm going to have them put a pair of HD bagger twist-pins on the bottom of each bag base to give some vertical and lateral support to the bags, to remove the twisting load. Basically a homemade set of S3 brackets, but I don't have to spring for new bags, LOL. I'll post pics when they're done, probably sometime in Feb. when I'm back at work. | ||
| Doughnut |
Little thread hi-jack. I REALLY want to know the history and reason the bike was called an "S2". Is there a history for that letter/number combo? And why a "Thunderbolt"? Just a cool name? | ||
| Onahog |
S2 saddlebag tips: I placed battery vent tube over the latch hooks and adjusted things so the lid draws in tight. Also, used 2 of the latch setups from a HD bagger tour pac...Mounted one to each lid, On center....Lid can never open and looks good with a chrome latch ... Just my way of NO Loss Lids! I send a pic in...Hb | ||
| Medic24 |
Ok Guys Have made a offer on a 95 S2 and owner has accepted. 3200 miles on bike and it seems to have been sitting a while. Are there any big items that were spec to the s2 I need to watch for? The bike is several hours from home so I have only seen pictures. | ||
| Mikej |
Get the VIN and call a friendly local dealer and have them run a check to ensure all recalls have been done on it. 1995 and 3,200 miles indicates it could possibly still have the original tires on it, if so then bring a trailer when you go pick it up. Swap the fluids, check for leaks, check the age and condition of the battery, post pics of it, and take it from there once you get your hands on it. Once you give it a thorough going over then be preparred to take it for a ride and learn the mystique of the S2. | ||
| Ratbuell |
If you have a full VIN, I can run it for you for open recalls. | ||
| Medic24 |
Long weekend guys but look what followed me home. I am sure I will post many questions as I start to get this bike ready for spring.  | ||
| F_skinner |
Medic, great looking bike. I like that color blue. Welcome to the addiction of the glorious S2s... | ||
| Bluzm2 |
Carabean Blue! You even have the original 9 button front rotor. One thing though, be prepared to replace the rear shock. That pre recall unit is going to leak. You might want to check if it was ever done under recall. That one should have an SRP on it. Welcome to the S2 madness! Brad | ||
| Court |
Great color and I am digging the original front brake . .. ya done good. Court | ||
| Ratbuell |
That's the same shock I have on my S2, but my SWR shows it's already had the recall done. Now its leaking. Are you saying that if I dig, I may find something that'll let me get a new shock? Hmmm.... VERY nice looking bike, too! You're going to love it! | ||
| Onahog |
Nice Unit Medic....Nice House too! Welcome to the world of the Hand built Buells...You will find over time how it will grow on you and become part of you... From its rattly front rotor to its oil tank cap seeping....All part of this American Motorcycles history...Enjoy Man...Hankb  | ||
| Onahog |
Rat.... Buell/CDN, told me that if the 1st recall shock leaked within the first year of its replacemnet, they would replace under warranty with the 2nd recall style. Thus, most folks are SOL......Hb | ||
| Shot_gun |
Medic. That is a Beautiful bike. It kind of reminds me of well.... mine yah thats the ticket.  It's been a while since I been in here. I have a question for all you S2 guy with that nice aluminum swingarm. Where can a guy get one of those? I saw American Sport Bike has one on there website but there is no picture. I'v got about 35k on the clock and I'm going over the chassis this winter with new bearings, mounts ,isolators ect. I'd like the new swingarm to go with my new penske shock. Kudos to the S2 site. I've been surfing this site for the past coulple days This place rocks!  Thanks, S_G | ||
| Aaomy |
http://www.badweatherbikers.com/cgibin/discus/disc us.cgi?pg=prev&topic=47623&page=255090 shot gun,, think here is what you are looking for. please read all the way threw before going with this.. hope this helps,, aaron | ||
| Shot_gun |
Aaron, Thanks. I'm not sure I have that much patience but that is exactly what I'm looking for. The way I work I should have started that project last april.  If you have the rear mount off the donor machine you won't have to cut the notches in the swing arm? Thanks, Chris | ||
| Firemanjim |
Aluminum arm on S-2 must have clearance cut because it hits the frame downtubes with a passenger or big load. No getting around it,had one and took it off. | ||
| Shot_gun |
FMJ, did you use the stock mount or one off a donor machine? | ||
| Aaomy |
lets see if i can simplify this.. do you ride alone or two up? if you ride two up you probably will not like the results. another factor is you personal weight and how soft you like your suspension. if you change to the aluminum one your rear swingarm travel will be less than half what it used to be.. this means you will bottom out.. large bump, even really hammering into corners you will compress the suspension and bottom out. not only will it be a sharp stop but as soon as the frame and swingarm meet you will feel the engine vibration,, like a buzzz.. if you can live with this... watch on e bay or like places for a 2001- 2002 swingarm ,, if you can with mounting block.. that way it is a straight forward change.. if you can not get a block, look threw my previous post link and you will see where it needs to be filed,, this is not very difficult and can easily be done with a hand file.. if you get one with a newer mounting block you can just unbolt one and bolt on the other.. they are a direct replacement.. bolting one directly on like this will give you looks but very limited swingarm travel.. if you want you can follow my posts and remove a little material where the upper frame rails will contact the top of the swingarm.. this will give you a little more travel but still less than the steel one.. this is a do at your own risk type mod.. you are limiting you rear swing arm travel,, some can live with it,, others like the look but prefer a comfortable ride.. hope this helps aaron | ||
| Shot_gun |
AAron, I appreciate all the help. I think I'm going to pass on this for now anyways. I'm not sure I want to give up the range of motion. Most of the time I ride one up but some times on the weekend I'll take my wife out or some times it will be a thrash session  Thanks for all the help. Maybey I'll come up with something else. Chris | ||
| Aaomy |
not a problem,, if you ride two up then you probably dont want it.. when it was only me riding i liked it.. but would still bottom my self out on hard corners.. now that my woman some times rides with me i am probably going to replace it with a braced steel one.. not as nice looking as the al one.. but strong and will have the full range of motion.. |
