| Author |
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Icantdrive55
| | Posted on Monday, June 14, 2021 - 01:02 pm: | 
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Mike/Littlebuggles: Thx for the reply/info. I wasn't that keen on keeping the bike...until I began putting some miles on it locally. Helluva fun ride! Not something I'd prolly choose for a week-long ride to the twisties of NC/GA but it'd be fun once I was there. Bags aren't really taking up precious space so I'll prolly keep them with the bike until it goes to the next buyer.
On a not-related question, I assume from the way the bike pulls to redline that the motor was fitted with the Thunderstorm (?) heads by EB. There doesn't seem to be a lot of info out there--at least not readily accessible (or my google-fu is not strong)--and wondered if they were similar in spec to the Branch-modified heads from that era. Ported? Bigger valves? Hotter cams? Certainly an impressive motor compared to the stock H-D 1200s. |
Upthemaiden
| | Posted on Monday, June 14, 2021 - 02:15 pm: |
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Your bike does indeed have the Thunderstorm heads, but I can't say exactly what all they did to them over the lightning heads. |
Captainkirk
| | Posted on Monday, June 14, 2021 - 11:32 pm: |
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The Thunderstorms are black (as are yours) and began showing up on the mid 98 models. By 99 they were standard fare.
I know they flow better than the Lightning heads. Can't say if the valves are bigger. |
Court
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 16, 2021 - 04:35 am: |
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The "Travel Package" would have been something that the dealer put together. There were a couple factory programs but I don't recall a "travel package".
The M2 debuted in 1997 and is, literally, one of the best motorcycles and best values, ever brought to market. Marty Brown and the M2 Development Team got to pretty well sneak under the radar with all the hoopla surrounding the S1 Lightning at the time. They did exhaustive development testing and the M2 was a refined collection of everything you needed for a great motorcycle and nothing you didn't.
There were some hilarious stories during development including the day Marty split one in two at the old AMC test track coming over a jump too hot.
I also got a call from someone asking for his remote rebound reservoir for the rear shock. Of course, the M2 did not have one . . .but in our haste to do photo shoots for all the upcoming intro literature and brochures we, while waiting for the M2 shocks from Showa, just slapped an S1 stick on . . . that, of course, had the remote reservoir. Somewhere I have a couple of the catalogs that slipped out with the wrong photo.
If you have an M2 in that condition . . . the best thing you can do it ride it. It's reliable as a steel shot out, handles fabulously and is literally a piece of motorcycle history that, unfortunately, will never get it's proper recognition. |
Falloutnl
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 16, 2021 - 05:00 am: |
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"unfortunately, will never get it's proper recognition."
Yeah, it's a shame. Such a great bike. |
Icantdrive55
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 16, 2021 - 11:40 am: |
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#Court et al: Wow! GLowing praise, even from a Buell forum member. As I stated, I wasn't one of the early Buell fan-bois, even though I was a sport bike rider that also owned a couple of H-Ds thru the years. The more I ride the M2, the more I like it as an urban brawler....plus the GF says she thinks it's the "prettiest" motorcycle I own so I suppose I should keep it for a bit. 'Course, the other 2 bikes in the garage are Suzuki VStroms....beauty is so subjective. |
Jayvee
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 16, 2021 - 02:49 pm: |
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Was the M2 influenced at all by the release of the Ducati Monster in 1994 ? It seems to have some of the same character and characteristics. I came close to buying a Monster, but glad I waited for the M2. At least they're still making Monsters, even though they kind of lost the simplicity of the early years. (Like Buell...) |
Falloutnl
| | Posted on Thursday, June 17, 2021 - 04:52 am: |
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"Was the M2 influenced at all by the release of the Ducati Monster in 1994?"
To a degree, no doubt. Though the S1 was earlier and more likely to have been penned with one eye on the Monster? Not sure, maybe Court can shed some light on that.
Still, when we're comparing the Monster to tube frame Buells...
I started my motorcycle career on a Monster 620 (a then new) '05 model. It was fine (sounded great) but in terms of chassis and handling, the M2 is just so much better they're not even in the same league if you ask me. I never spent much time on the more expensive (early) Monsters, so I don't know how they would compare. |
Court
| | Posted on Saturday, June 19, 2021 - 09:15 am: |
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>>>>Was the M2 influenced at all by the release of the Ducati Monster in 1994 ?
No. That was another pal, Miguel Galuzz.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMnOzk1DdwU
https://www.ducati.community/threads/interview-wit h-miguel-galluzzi-creator-of-the-monster.17669/
The Monster came out years before the M2 Cyclone.
I> have a great memory . . . when the Monster came out . . of being at the factory and telling Erik that I had seen this cool bike that was so elemental and purpose built looking.
We talked for a bit and he signaled me to follow him. We went back into the R&D area of the old Buell building and he pulled the cover off the "still in development" Buell S1 Lightning and said "let's go for a ride".
We spent an hour, him on my S2 and me on the S1, and had a blast.
Miguel is a fascinating guy. Both he and David Robb (also see) were graduates of the Pasadena School of Design.
The Monster, in my eyes, was a game changer.
I'm not as thrilled about the current designs but the original still stirs my blood.
(Message edited by court on June 20, 2021) |
Kc_zombie
| | Posted on Saturday, June 19, 2021 - 02:47 pm: |
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Interesting stuff. |
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