| Author | Message | ||
     Skeeter_xb |
I saw the letter you wrote to Jeff Stevens, the owner of Bloomington IN dealership. It is hanging on the wall leading into the service department. He had a demo ride today of about 15 different bikes. | ||
| Court |
Too cool ! How did the demos go? Tell me about the inside of the dealership. Does it "look" like they sell and support Buells? Jeff has done some neat Buell stuff and it's exciting to hear about the demos. Gads...why didn't you let me know in advance....Bloomington is only a hop-skip-jump from Gotham! Please give Jeff my best, Court | ||
| Smitty808 |
Hey Court, I know you didn't ask me...but they are my local dealer too...and I can think of nothing bad to say about them. They try really hard to keep me happy. Nice selection of Buell Motorcycles, and accessories, and a helpful staff! | ||
| Court |
Sounds like they have the "Buell Brew" formula nailed. I love hearing of these deals. Support them and remember it's a two-way street. Thanks for the great news, Court | ||
| Bedellb |
Court, I have read your insight in the Buell history archives and I was wondering if you could help me shed some light on the 99 X1 as to its history or development? | ||
| Court |
I can try. Fire away. | ||
| Bedellb |
What year was the first X1 made and which frame or style was it a derivitive of in that I think it came from the S1. Why was the X1 made when the S1 had such success? On a side bar, my biggest question is why with such die hard fans of Buell has the Buell company it seems, forgotten the tubers and pushed everything towards the XBs. The rider group I am riding with wants to change our name to the "ebay repair shop". Anything we want to get for our bikes 9 times out of 10 is NOS. | ||
| Knickers |
I have a theory on the X1. It was really the first step towards the XB. A methodical approach to develop the in-house expertise in engineering large aluminum castings as structural members that would be necessary to bring the XB frame concept to life. Thus the X1 tail section and aluminum swingarm brought out on the 99 tubers. The S1 going out of production was the price of progress. Just a theory. | ||
| Kevyn |
My impressions are that Erik is about 5 years ahead in R&D. The tube frame bikes had some technical problems that were limiting the improvements, performance and reliability that Erik demanded. Personally, I think the X1's were a styling exercise with the final 'tweeking' of the tube frames and 'Lightning' motors. The XB's addressed a number of problems that could have taken too much time and $$ to fix on the tube frames. The XB's are technically sophisticated machines. Maybe not as much motor-wise as their Asian counter-parts but in a better/different way. I really like to visit our local Buell dealer and look at the XB's and then look at the HD line-up. Aside from the Street-Rod, the HD's look primitive and cluttered, busy with nuts and bolts and fasteners and unnecessary parts that don't add anything but 'the look' to an already over-dressed machine. No insult Mr. Davidson, just too busy for my tastes. The XB's are clean, uncluttered, refined and purposeful looking. Interestingly, the HD Sportster's are starting to lean in the same direction for cleaning up the clutter...everytime I look at an XB I see another detail that says "WOW, someone put a great deal of thought into this to make it work better, look clean and not draw attention away from the whole..." yet every detail stands out in it's own way contributing to the whole. | ||
| Bomber |
just cuz a part isn't in stock doesn't mean it's not available -- a good dealer can surprise the daylights outa ya on many (most?) parts for tubers . . . . .. . there are several who sponsor this board, and they are all aces at getting parts to you asap! although I love my tuber (Y2K MaDeuce), I've got to admit that the Xseries scoots are, chassis wise, best in practice -- | ||
| Davegess |
I would bet a pretty good chunk of cash that almost every part for the tubers is available or has an appropiate replacment. Heck you can still get a lot of parts for the old RS machines that where made by a compnay that no longer exists. | ||
| Lake_bueller |
There are a lot of "trick" improvements on the X1. As an owner of 3 Buells, I wish they ALL had the removable passenger brackets. More importantly, I'd love to be able to change my belt w/o removing the rear isolators. It is too bad they only made the S1 for 3 years. It was/is the best and baddest looking Buell ever produced (IMHO). (Message edited by lake_bueller on May 13, 2005) | ||
| Paint_shaker |
Gotta agree with Lake... But then again, I own a 98 S1W and 97 S1...  | ||
| Newfie_buell |
Go with a chain Dennis!!!!! | ||
| José_quiñones |
The X1 is the bike the magazines wanted the S1 to be. They all complained (and so did many paying customers) about the seat, the small tank, the rear exhaust pipe cooking your right thigh, etc. The X1 addressed all these complaints, plus added Fuel Injection. It became more practical, less focused on doing one thing like the S1, which was being the back road weapon of choice. Which is fine if you live within 10 miles of the backroads and there are lots of gas stations nearby. If you don't then the X1 (or the M2 or better yet the S3) were a more functional choice. The XB's returned Buell to the S1's focus as a back roads weapon. They need a "practical" Buell to round out the lineup..... I too also wish they would have added the removable side plate to the S3 and M2 frames..... | ||
| Bedellb |
Thanks, Jose. That makes sense to me. To everyone, thanks for the insight! It is people like you that makes this a great web site. | ||
| Mbsween |
I asked Erik the "why drop the tubers?" at the Carving the Northeast Adventure, back in 2003. His reply was pretty simple, (quoting from memory) "...that technology (the tube frame model) worked great for 17 years, it was time to move on..." And like Jose said the X1 was built to address the single focus of the S1. I agree with Jose also that Buell needs something with a little bit more range (well a bigger gas tank anyways) and enough room to hang a decent sized set of saddle bags off. I know, I know, people tour with the Xbs all the time. hell I remember one guy at the Northeast Adventure that had 2 2 gallon gas cans rigged up where saddle bags would normally sit (I'd hate to lowside that bike!). But just the same, I'd like to see around 220 miles for range. Just my 0.02 | ||
| Steve_mackay |
Davegess, try getting S3T shallow bags. Obsolete is what Hals said. | ||
| Davegess |
Steve I did say ALMOST | ||
| Indy_bueller |
Court, I live in Indianapolis, and I have to say that I approve of Bloomington HD/B's arrangement of the Buells on the floor. However thier apparel stock is severely lacking. Accessories are relegated to a small wall between the parts desk and the shop, so you have to move out of the way whenever anyone comes around from behind the parts counter. But at the same time, its the best selection of accessories that I have seen in Indiana, albeit there isnt much there. |
