| Author | Message | ||
     Pizzaboy |
i have a funnay story for everyone. as i was looking around jaXed:mash (which is a cool site that searches every US craigslist and ebay for vehicles at the same time) for what the going price for S2's are, i found this mislabeled S3 in texas.  I replied to the ad and said: "FYI the bike you have listed is an S3, not an S2." ...so i get an email back yesterday saying: "FYI It is an S2. Been a Master Tech. for H.D. for 25 years. He knows his bikes. Thanks tho." i chuckled for a moment and decided that i would help this poor soul 'HD Master tech' out and point out some differences between the S2 and S3. i sent this back to them: "Buell made the s2 for 1995 and 1996 only. The s3 was it's 1997-2002 sucessor and close to the same bike but there were a lot of subtle differences. -First is the air box; it's obvious that your bike pictured is a fuel injected version becuase of the scoop style intake. All s2's were carbureted and had a ham can style air box. -Second, the exhaust manifold goes under the frame for the rear cylinder which they only did for the s3's. It came over the frame on the s2's. -The s3 came with a lower muffler body piece, and the s2 did not. -Also, the s2 had a single aluminum die cut piece that held both rider and passenger pegs and the isolator mount, where the s3 has just bent tube and no aluminum piece. -Lastly the most obvious way to spot the difference is by the rear swing arm. The s2 had a swing arm that was one fixed width as it came to the frame and the s3's swing arm was fat near the frame and tapered off by the time it got to the axle. there are many more subtle differences in the engine(S2:carb'd stock sportster, S3: thunderstorm 91hp engine), controls(S2:1" handlebars, S3: 3/4" handlebars), suspension and body(S2: made of fiberglass, S3: plastic) but the above mentioned items are the easiest to see from a picture. you can use this site to search for pictures of current S2's and S3's for sale. you'll see that the above mentioned points are the easiest way to spot the differences: S2: http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/476 23/317091.html?1248711060 S3: http://www.jaxed.com/cgi-bin/mash.cgi?cat=cpmoto&i tm=buell&loc=&fil=S3&ys=&ye=&ps=&pe=&pgs=50&submit =++++go++++ your HARLEY master tech might know quite a bit about harleys, but few harley techs know much about buells. THAT is the biggest problem with harley/buell dealerships; they want little to do with buells; the sales, service and parts department alike. as buell owners its frustrating to have their dealership barely notice them among the chrome theyre focused on selling. because your bike is an S3, NOT and S2, it is worth more. if you list it corrrectly, it will sell. however no one is going to buy an incorrectly listed S3 as an S2 for $6000. most likely the person who buys that bike you have for sale will know the difference between these 2 bikes also; as theyre looking for a very specific model of bike, and not just any old bike to purchase. if you dont believe me, look at the bike's title and owners manual OR call buell customer service; theyll help you correctly identify your bike quickly, as they DO know buells. - Tony Koehler" and sure enough i get a reply right back that said: "The bike is listed that way because of changes made to it by previous owner. The mentality of Harley Dealerships is the reason why he has his own shop now. But thanks for all your information." i couldnt resist, so i replied back asking what modifications was made to call this obviously S3-looking bike, an S2. .. im awaiting their response! now, i know that the bikes are somewhat similar in looks, but how dense do you have to be to flat out deny being wrong when its pointed out that your bike is NOT an S2 ??? i have had my entertainment for the day for sure! | ||
| Road_thing |
Corpus Chirsti? Where the hell's that? rt  | ||
| Gowindward |
And the real S3 / S2 connoisseur knows that the chin fairing came from an X1 and was not an S3 part. The '97 & '98 S3's are also carbed but have the big air box. They also have the rear header over the frame, and also have an S2 type rectangle tube welded swingarm. The guys is also smokin' dope if he thinks he will get $6k for the bike....not in todays market. | ||
| Ebutch |
Nice S3!!!!!!!  | ||
| Buellistic |
Sure it is not a box job M2, S3, X1, with a S2 TITLE ??? | ||
| Randymoser |
S3s are worth more than S2s? Good lord! Why?  R. | ||
| Pizzaboy |
And the real S3 / S2 connoisseur knows that the chin fairing came from an X1 and was not an S3 part. The '97 & '98 S3's are also carbed but have the big air box. They also have the rear header over the frame, and also have an S2 type rectangle tube welded swingarm. The guys is also smokin' dope if he thinks he will get $6k for the bike....not in todays market. you have excellent points! i havent studied up on my S3's as much as i probably could; cuz i think there inferior bikes to the S2 which IMO is a way better machine, despite its power deficit. and i think the S2's should be worth more money than the S3's for their cool factor and rarity factor. alas, most people take age of vehicle as the common denominator. | ||
| Gowindward |
The S3T is actually a great touring sport bike. They have lots of room for a luggage and a passenger and yes a lot more power than the venerable S2. It's to bad the push for cost reductions and making a profit got in the way of what the S3 could have been had it really followed a different development path. You know all the improvements the S2 could have used and none of the cost cutting measures. Like any business they (Buell) does have to make money and there is a price ceiling, so we got the S3 the way it is, and not the way it could have been. | ||
| Bluesboy |
THE BIG DIFFERENCE IS THE FRAME!All S3`s had S1 frames! | ||
| Spiderman |
Man, it is like the blind leadin the blind in here... | ||
| Guell |
s3 frame was similar to the m2 frame, except when it came to the subframe, that differed. Its not a s1 frame, or an x1 frame, or a m2 frame (Message edited by guell on July 27, 2009) | ||
| Smoke |
although the s3 frame is similar to the s1 they were not exactly the same at the neck or rear subframe. tim | ||
| Ebutch |
I really like the Yellow S3,got to get X1 belly fairing!  Next year will paint S3 YELLOW! With Nuke Blue frame. Also think they could be talked down on$,It,s a new Bike. | ||
| Ebutch |
X1 front fender also NICE!  | ||
| Phelan |
Perhaps it's an M2 converted with an X1 frontend and chin fairing and S3 fairing and bodywork? Hence the Theory of calling it an S2? Lol. Just hav the guy read the title to figure out... | ||
| Phelan |
BTW the mash is one of my favorite tools. | ||
| Pizzaboy |
mash rocks my socks. its the number one thing craigs list left out of their programming! | ||
| Gowindward |
X1 front fender also NICE!" Good eye Butch...I missed that. I actually like the S3 and S2 front fenders. They fit with the fairing IMHO. | ||
| Phelan |
Ditto Loren, but I like the look even more of the early S2 fenders. My American Sport Bike Carbon Fiber fender is modelled after the early S2 fenders. | ||
| Ebutch |
Spidey I have a BLIND GOVERNOR!  | ||
| Doughnut |
Any response yet? | ||
| Pizzaboy |
the lady that was responding on the owner of the bike's behalf said that she would "relay the message and get back to me" maybe ill send her a reminder email tomorrow! i can hardly wait to hear the reasoning! |
