| Author | Message | ||
     Resinears |
I'd been dealing with the skipping 1st gear issue for some time, and after multiple other attempted solutions, bit the bullet and bought the Andrews close ratio 1st gear pair (mainshaft and countershaft, 2.61 I think) and installed them a couple of weeks ago. I got the Andrews pair because shipped to Canada, they were cheaper than any other solution I could find. Very happy with the end result. I find that when I come bombing into a tight corner, downshifting into 1st is perfect, where it used to be a little too low before. Too bad that now that it is sorted out, it looks like my time with the Buell is done. I bought another bike (Tuono), and it looks like it's time to say good-bye to the M2. Been fun! | ||
| Upthemaiden |
Those Tuono's look super nice, but if I was going to be swayed away from my S1 by any other newer naked bike, it'd have to be a superduke. In your time researching new gears, did you come across anyone who sells a taller 5th gear set? I don't notice too much trouble with my 1st gear, but I certainly wouldn't mind a taller 5th gear. | ||
| Resinears |
Nope, didn't find anything about the 5th gear ratio. It seems like a final 1:1 is what you get with any transmission, including a Baker 6 speed for a sportster application. The previous owner had installed a Baker chain drive conversion, and I believe the sprockets were set up to deliver longer highway legs, probably at the expense of getting out of the hole slower. I rode a 1290 superduke at a KTM demo days two weeks ago (as well as the superduke GT). I currently own an 1190 Adventure, and previously had a 990 Superduke, but you know what? I rode the Buell daily, and the 1190 adventure which is great as well just sits. Don't get me wrong, all the KTM's were a lot of fun, but less visceral, and sort of sterile overall. The Tuono I bought is a low mileage 2007, so it's a 1000 cc twin. Loads of character, and a bit of an animal. Rode it to work today for the second time, and I have to monitor my speed very closely. That's what I like about the M2 - plenty fast enough to get into trouble if you are pushing it, but typically won't get you in serious trouble with the law... To get back to your issue, if you wanted to lower the highway revs, why not go the easy route and go with a chain drive? You'll lose some of the smoothness a belt imparts, but hey, chains are easy to source and change... | ||
| Upthemaiden |
I look out for KTM demo days all the time, but haven't had any local ones that I've caught. I did actually ride one of those new Panigale V4S about 2 weeks ago, $21k with 214hp. I was actually worried to ride it because I didn't want to get back on my bike and just be disappointed for days at how slow and rough mine felt. Surprise twist, it was horrible. My opinion might be different if I rode it on a track, but on normal streets with cars and red lights and other people around me, it was not enjoyable at all. The engine/subframe absolutely baked the inside of my thighs, to the point that I had to ride with my knees pointing out. I couldn't support my weight with my legs on the tank, so all of my weight went to my wrists and they started to hurt pretty quick. The engine... I assumed every stop sign and redlight I left would leave the front wheel pointing at the sky... it didn't(and I turned the wheelie control down as low as it would go, so it wasn't that). It just pulled like any other bike I had been on. Even wacking the throttle open only lifted the wheel an inch or two and then yanked it back down. I was pleasantly surprised when I got back on my bike and pulled out, at how comfortable, easy to ride, and surprisingly fast my S1 felt. For normal roads and traffic, my S1 felt just as fast as the V4S. I'm sure if I was on the highway and really had a chance to take the bike up to 11k rpm it would be a different story, but I'm never on the highway, so the portion of that engine that I'd use on a normal road, was about as useful as my 91hp engine. That ride made me realize that my mental pictures of the superduke being an amazing bike might be blown out of proportion, and I feel like I need to test ride one now because I might just get off of it and think "meh, that wasn't as great as I thought it'd be" and I can be over it haha. How would you compare the superduke to your M2? It at least has normal handlebars so that's a plus. Did it put out ridiculous heat too, or was it comparable to the buell? I head the engine one them is actually pretty tame unless you really push it. | ||
| Resinears |
Let's put it this way: a 2014 Superduke came up for sale locally at a price that was what I thought would be a steal. I immediately put my 1190 Adventure up for sale, so I could switch it for the Superduke. It never even crossed my mind to get rid of the Buell for a Superduke. Weird eh? The KTM's seating position is great, the heat seems to be bearable, and the fueling is miles ahead of what the 990 Superduke's was. The engine is a beast, but it isn't a light switch. Very easy to modulate, and you really have to twist it to get it to go hard, but man oh man, when you unleash the hounds, it's great. BUT, it still doesn't make the kind of easy torque at 1/8 throttle and low rpm that the Buell does, which gives the Buell a really broad shouldered riding impression. Granted, not much more happens on my M2 when twisting the gas more until it's in the 3500 - 6500+ range, but it's the way it pulls at small throttle that feels so great. The biggest benefit of a newer bike (for me, as a 250 lb rider) is a superior suspension. Very little out there to choose from. I also tried two Yamaha MT01's (after reading all the bullshit hype), and was extremely disappointed. | ||
| Upthemaiden |
I've always loved the MT-01, but that's something you get in Canada that we don't get here. Guess I'll keep the superduke on my wish list and keep an eye out for demo rides. I was actually at a point where I was thinking I needed to slow down a bit more, and really started looking at Indian Scouts, but then I got swooned by the superduke and I figure I might have a few more years in me before I'm ready for a cruiser. I've heard such good things about the superduke and how civil it can be as a commuter though. | ||
| Robertl |
Is this what you bought? https://www.amazon.com/Andrews-2-61-Close-Ratio-29 9110/dp/B004O45X4Q If so, that seems a whole lot cheaper and better solution than just replacing the oem stuff. My M2 likely needs this. I believe changing the final drive ratio with the European setup might be a better solution than chain: http://badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/47623/6 3010.html?1089418565 | ||
| Resinears |
Yup, that's the Andrews pair I bought. I also changed the meshing 3rd gear pair as well which turns out was not required. Heck, when I look at the original skipping 1st gear pair, the dogs barely worn to me. |
