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Reepicheep
| Posted on Wednesday, July 29, 2009 - 12:16 pm: |
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Had an inline four with crappy suspension and crappy brakes, and was ready for a better bike. The SV-650 looked like the slam dunk, until I rode one. Too small for my knees (they stuck out over the tank flair). The ZR7 looked like a good bike, but had too many cylinders, and was a bit too much like the bike I wanted to get rid of. TL1000S? Way too track oriented, and, like the SV650, seemed to be a twin trying not to be a twin. The objective search driven by facts popped up a model I knew nothing about from a company I knew little about... the M2. The facts and the numbers all worked to make it a slam dunk... finding a two year old one in the dead of winter with 4k miles for $5k? Sold! The 9sx came because I got tired of working on the M2, and because the XB did more and better, but that's a different topic |
Cyclonedon
| Posted on Wednesday, July 29, 2009 - 12:19 pm: |
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I first bought a Buell because... there wasn't any new Harley-Davidsons available at the time! I'm actually glad there wasn't after riding my M2 Cyclone and now the 2006 Ulysses. But as I get older, I'm still lured back to the HD Road King. |
Bumble_buell
| Posted on Wednesday, July 29, 2009 - 12:23 pm: |
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But as I get older, I'm still lured back to the HD Road King. Nothing wrong with having two horses in your stable! |
Fast1075
| Posted on Wednesday, July 29, 2009 - 12:26 pm: |
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The actual "why I bought a Buell" is at he bottom of this post...read on.. My father loved all kinds of racing...one day while we were in Michigan...I was maybe 8 years old...he loaded me up and took me to a shorttrack in Millburg Michigan. I was HOOKED. After that, when anybody asked me what I was going to be when I grew up....without hesitation...motorcycle mechanic. Saved my money...and got my first "bike" at 13...a Bird minibike with a Briggs motor...at 15 I got my license and bought a Honda 90...rode it all through school. When I graduated from high school..dad asked me what I wanted as a grad gift..I told him...enough tools to go to work at the Honda shop...he hooked me up. I went to the Honda shop and told the owner that I was going to be his next new mechanic...he pretty much straight out said that he had no interest in a pimple faced 18 year old kid doing anything there. I told him I would work for free for two weeks...and then see how it went...he took me up on it. While I worked there I bought many basket cases, fixed them up and sold them...bought my first CR125 and CR250...bought a CB750...I talked the boss into letting me offer performance work, big bore kits, etc...we did a thriving business. Since then, I have owned, built, ridden and raced more bikes than I care to list. From 50's to 1425's...scooters to 7 second dragbikes... After a long period without bikes...I decided to try a street bike...I wanted a "standard" bike...the usual suspects didnt build one...I ended up going to the Harley shop...resigned that I would end up with a Sportster....and there it was...my Buell....with not a second's hesitation I bought it....no regrets...one of the most fun bikes ever...not NEARLY as fun as my old RZ350...and off the bottom of the scale performance wise to even my old XL350 cafe' bike. I would have bought a SCG...but they had none, and I would not pay list price plus special order (still won't)... Why did I buy a Buell...because it is different and it's american made...Will I buy another?? Most likely...when they build one that suits me...hard edged, razor sharp, with mind numbing power...or at least as badass as my old TZ250.. |
Moxnix
| Posted on Wednesday, July 29, 2009 - 12:28 pm: |
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When our road system goes to pot, we might all want a Uly. |
Davefla
| Posted on Wednesday, July 29, 2009 - 12:46 pm: |
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Circa 1982: the last of a string of dirtbikes and no-peds breaks for the last time. Dreams of finding a decent starter bike go on hold through college, marriage, and divorce. Circa 1995: went to some trade show or another, details of which are otherwise completely forgotten. Picked up brochures for Triumph and something called a Buell S2 Thunderbolt (available in Arctic White or Battle Blue, IIRC) & powered by Milwaukee. I still have the Buell brochure, kept safe on a high bookshelf. 2000: the buzz is everywhere for the Buell Blast; I'm searching the internet for news every chance I get. I walk into the dealer sometime in March and plop down a deposit without ever having seen one. In June, I get a call saying that two or three spots ahead of me on the wait list have passed on a red model. I took it home in a truck a day later - it had arrived three days before I would attend a two-day version of the MSF Beginner's course, and I wouldn't have my license for another five days. I do recall that the dealer suggested I would spend the weekend washing it and looking at it and loving it. I might've thought about saying "I'll NEVER come back here to buy conchos with fringed leather tassels attached to a 900 lb piece of driveway jewelry," but I let him think whatever he wanted. I finished the 500 mile break-in within a week & without exceeding 50 mph, and took it to the MSF Advanced course the next year. |
Cyclonedon
| Posted on Wednesday, July 29, 2009 - 12:46 pm: |
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Maxnix, your dead-on with our road system! I have never seen America's roads in such bad shape. |
Skntpig
| Posted on Wednesday, July 29, 2009 - 01:08 pm: |
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I was selling bikes at a Harley, Kawasaki, Seadoo dealership in '94. I had a Honda 600F2 that I owned for a about a year before that. You can imagine the angst from the "hardcore HD" riders to see jap bikes and Seadoos on the same sales floor. Most of my friends rode Hondas and we naturally rode with some of the Kawi customers too. I also had a KLX 650 for a while as a second bike. In '95 we became a Buell and Triumph dealer. My colleague bought the first S2 that came in and we sold the other S2 to a customer. I loved the idea. HD powerplant, sportbike frame, proper wheels and suspension. I loved my Honda but wanted something different. Maybe I could ride with sportbikes and Harleys. Then we got the first '96 S1 in. I was in love. It sold right away. The we got a deposit on the second one before I could decide to jump in on large note like that. I was 21 at the time. Man there went the 2 we were going to get for the year. One of our parts dept. guys had a'96 ZX7RR with PM wheels just like Scott Russells. In the summer of '96 we got the info on the '97 year. I saw the option to order the PM wheels as a factory option. WOW. I talked to the sales manager and ordered my snap red S1 with PMs. It came in in September. I got it early in the week. This weekend was the "Dog Days" motorcycle rally in Key West. I got the 500 break in during the first week, did the oil change and to the keys I go. The headlight and footpeg fell off probably because I was breathing down the neck of the tech the whole time he was un-crating it. It was like being a celebrity down there. There were seriously people on both sides of the street pointing everywhere I went. When I would park it I got swarms of lookers. What is it...I heard these were coming out...Is this the new sportster? I started roadracing Honda 600s that year and rode to work everyday. I got respect from the HD guys because from stoplight to stoplight I couldn't be beat. The sporbike guys liked the fact that I could corner dragging my pegs and kickstand and still be faster than them, no matter what they were riding. Finally a bike that was made for Hooliganism. Stoppies, standup wheelies around corners, rolling burnouts through 2nd, it will do it all. In the first year I put on 14,000 miles and went through 3 sets of pegs and 2 kickstands. I sold a ton of Buells in the next few years. We never had a leftover. I went into the same dealership and the owner came up to me trying to get me to trade on an 08 1125r he had sitting. My response was "I will own one someday, maybe soon. But there aren't 2 bikes you have here I would trade my S1 for." You should have seen the look on his face. I don't ride like I used to but I'm sure he still thinks I'm crazy. |
B00stzx3
| Posted on Wednesday, July 29, 2009 - 02:30 pm: |
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Turned 21, wanted a sportbike. Everyone had a yamakawihondasuki. Wanted something American. Saw the Firebolt, had to have the Firebolt, got the Firebolt. Now I'm full scale Buell addict, won't drive anything else! |
Bott
| Posted on Wednesday, July 29, 2009 - 04:32 pm: |
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,,was at a certain "club" party, around 95 or 96. At the time i was riding a 1982 Honda Nighthawk, which was 'not allowed' to be parked at this friendly buncha riding enthusiasts (sarcasm intended)party.Was a great little bike(still have it,doesn't run). Anyway, i'm walking around the sea of chrome along with plenty of ratty old p.o.s.'s,(but Harley ONLY) rows of mainly patched members' rides. Corner o' my eye i see this bright red 'crotch rocket'. gotta investigate! Whats this thing doing here? The shoddily done handwritten signs clearly say AMERICAN BIKES ONLY! I stroll down the row toward the red crotchy---wow some dude has HUGE stones to be brave enough to sneak that rice burner in here. I gotta watch what happens to that bike, I smirk to myself... Get to the bike. Buell American Motorcycles. Huh? what? Really cool looking bike,has white shoe polish numbers on the windscreen. It's a Sunday, bike musta been up at Lebanon Valley Dragway, a few miles away. As I scope the thing out top to bottom, I see Harley Davidson Motor Company on the derby cover. Now I am REALLY intrigued! You mean this thing is powered with a sporty motor on some kinda sportbike frame? Ask around to a few *ever- so- friendly* club members. Varied answers, some saying its a "jap" frame, some refusing to talk to me, most don't know, don't care. Finally get pointed to the owner, who proceeds to school me on all things Buell, talking very fast and obviously in love with even the very IDEA of Buell. Spent the next weeks on America Online with my 33.6k, dial up connected, windows '95 pentium1 computer finding out all I could about Buells. I think i remember finding AmericanThunderbike.com , and realizing there were quite a few Buell Fanatics around. Knew from day one I would HAVE to have one. Bought my 2000 Cyclone new, a few years later. First new vehicle I had ever bought. Fantastic bike, I will never get rid of it. Bought my '09 1125R in April . Unbelievably FANTASTIC bike. I do believe it was love at first sight with that bright red S2 all those years and miles ago. Thats my story,and I'm stickin to it.
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14d
| Posted on Wednesday, July 29, 2009 - 04:50 pm: |
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My X1 is my first bike. I first looked at buell because I couldn't afford a harley i wanted, and wound up with the X1 when I couldn't get a loan on a new buell. My X1 was the first used Buell I looked at, and after a short test ride I was hooked and bought it 24 hours later. If I'd done some research and read a few of the isolator threads in the old school section I doubt I would have bought it, but I can't see it any other way now. I overpaid for it a bit, and have dumped another 1.5k into it, but man I love this machine. It's all worth it when you hear and feel that roar between your legs. I'll probably own a harley some day, but I'm sooo glad I bought a buell instead. |
Aptbldr
| Posted on Wednesday, July 29, 2009 - 05:34 pm: |
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Wanted a simple inexpensive v-twin with modern tires/chassis/brakes. |
Bob_thompson
| Posted on Wednesday, July 29, 2009 - 08:02 pm: |
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I first bought a Buell because: its what I tried to build in the 70's. Now that kind of has an "old school" sound to it and it should. I'm one of the senior Buell riders around here. What you see below is my attempt to build by myself a cafe racer as that is what street race type bikes were called then and was initiated in England with Triumphs, BSA's, Nortons, etc. Had a few of them but wanted a HD engine in a "sport" type bike and XR 750's were too hard to come by. Came close with it but it lacked good handling. Just a big motor(1410cc's), disc brakes all around, true mag.(real magnesium) wheels, and believe it or not oil in the frame. Got that from Triumph. Neck raked back to 25 degrees. Steep in those days. Cafe race glass. About 430 lbs. Fast forward, after many, many different bikes, to 2003. Retirement and a retirement gift to myself. After researching, with a lot here on BadWeb, and I bought a near new 2002 M2 seen in my profile. Modified by myself to a full faired ride I liked. 2008, enter my ultimate cafe racer, now called a sport bike and I have my 1125R all thanks to Erik Buell. Thanks much Erik and your Elves.......... Riding into my sunset with a smile on my face every time I ride. Bob
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Bjbauer
| Posted on Wednesday, July 29, 2009 - 11:21 pm: |
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To make a long story short I hadn't had a bike for a while so I decided to trade a Sea- Doo PWC I owned in on a Yamaha FJR that I had read and heard good things about as I wanted a Sport Touring type of bike. This was the same dealer I had purchased the PWC from. The same PWC they screwed up when it needed a motor rebuild ( after one year) by farming the rebuild out to a Florida company of their choice and that had to be sent back twice before finally doing it themselves a third time taking it out of use for 1 and a half seasons. (I am really shortening this part) Anyway, it finally gets fixed right and they then tell me they won't take it on trade in on the bike. I was, shall we say "disappointed". I wrote a letter to the sales manager reminding them of my patience throughout their repair fiasco (some would have hired an attorney). Well, he changed his mind and would take it but the bike I wanted had been sold and they didn't know when the would get another. In the mean time I had researched alternatives and heard some good things about the Uly. I sold the Sea-Doo and ordered the Uly. I have been smiling ever since. |
Ezblast
| Posted on Thursday, July 30, 2009 - 12:23 am: |
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I was looking at singles at Scudiera in SF, year 2001, the KTM, one of their mechanics comes through the door, he tells them he just got back from a test riding of the Buell Blast. He said it was slow but handled well. Then he mentions the KTM for sale - the 450 - had at least 14 hp on it, I interrupted, "It handled well - how well?" 'Not bad at all, not steller, but easy enough to flick around.' - That bike had been on my list from the very beginning, time to check it out. I may have to spend time and money to make the bike faster, but its totally ridable, unlike the KTM which would need the QuickSilver carb swapped out to a Mikuni to get it to work right. I needed a real nimble bike to maneuver in San Francisco, and it had to be able to take collateral damage of living in the city. Then there are the back roads where I discovered that the Blast is a Blast! EZ |
Vanvideo
| Posted on Thursday, July 30, 2009 - 08:18 am: |
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I test rode a 12R at Bikeweek. Fell in love with the torque, the rumble of the v-twin, the handling, the incredible front brakes. When I got back on my '92 ZX-7R, I thought something was wrong with the front brakes, they were so weak next to the Buell's. I bought a 9R a month later. You see, test rides do sell bikes! |
Ronbob43
| Posted on Thursday, July 30, 2009 - 09:10 am: |
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Lots of rice from '63 on, with one chopped Panhead built in '75. Loved the Harley motor, but never liked the bikes. Started test riding Buells in the late 80s, but the motors wern't quite what I wanted. Tried to get my short wife interested in the Blast from day one but she thought they were too small. She was losing interest in riding because she wanted sport but only fit cruiser. She finally tested a Blast one year ago, bought it, and has gotten back into the riding spirit from that day. 6 months later I had a CityX and love the way the 9 motor works. |
Prof_stack
| Posted on Thursday, July 30, 2009 - 12:05 pm: |
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The '86 Sporty evo and '89 FLHS Electra-Glide Sport were my previous two rides before Buell. I saw on the Internet that Buell was working on a single-cylinder bike called the Blast. I knew as soon as I saw the side profile that I wanted one. Test rode it overnight (thank Russ Tom, RIP) and declined to buy it but changed my mind the next day and told Russ I wanted it. He said he knew I would. So, I was the first Blast buyer in Seattle, on 06/21/00. I put 10k miles on it before trading up to the then new XB9S. |
Samiam
| Posted on Thursday, July 30, 2009 - 02:36 pm: |
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I remember the first time I saw a Buell. That was the time I KNEW I had to have one someday. I had just graduated Boot Camp in Great Lakes, IL, May 2003. I was out with the girlfriend in Chicago walking around when I heard the amazing sound of an american V-Twin. I look around to see this american V-Twin. What I see is (I believe) a X1 White Lightning. I didn't even know at the time what a Buell was (had previously ridden a '01 Kawasaki KLR 650, '01 BMW R1100S, and '00 Triumph Sprint ST). When that X1 went by I was immediately hooked, I HAD to have one like it! Fast forward a year or so, I am stationed in Jacksonville, FL. I happen to drive by a Harley dealer that is having demo days soon and they have a couple of XBs on display. I talk with the guy for about an hour. I know which bike I'm going to buy right away. I want an XB. I NEED an XB. Unfortunately finances and timing just weren't right. I end up selling my Triumph to pay for parts for my Jeep. Fast forward another year. 2005. I am stationed in Oak Harbor, WA. I go on deployment to 7th fleet (Japan) that December. I discover Harley Davidson participates in the Military Car Sales program. Which is awesome since that means Buells are for sale there too. I immediately order my XB12R. I track its progress as it gets built and shipped to my dealer. I discover BadWeb in the meantime, which is still to this day the best forum I have ever been a member of. I order a slew of aftermarket parts from American Sport Bike for my bike I haven't even seen yet. Keep in mind I've still never even ridden a Buell yet. I count down the days until I get to come home and unite with my new motorcycle. Turns out the dealer doesn't even sell Buells anymore (used to) but since they still participate in the Military Car Sales program they happily receive and uncrate mine. I see my bike. I am in love. I put 2500 miles on my new motorcycle the next week and a half riding to Salt Lake City and back to visit my family on post-deployment leave. I'm still in love with my bike. And the rest is history. -Sam (Message edited by samiam on July 30, 2009) |
S1wmike
| Posted on Thursday, July 30, 2009 - 02:51 pm: |
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iI was aware of Buell seeing a few Thunderbolts around, but the bike that got me was the S1W. I was attending a local H.O.G. meeting on another bike that just pisses off the Harley faithful a 1971 Harley Davidson 350sx Sprint (Aerimichi sp). when right inside the front door was a shiny new S1W triple white and that was it!! It took me ten years to finally get my bike, 4757 miles and very clean and was probally a good thing too. |
Blake
| Posted on Thursday, July 30, 2009 - 03:45 pm: |
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To put it simply... The test ride (96 S1 Lightning) ROCKED my world. I gave my Uly key to a friend not too long ago. His experience was much the same. He's a former Ducati owner, now looking for a deal on an XB12R. |
Road_thing
| Posted on Thursday, July 30, 2009 - 04:16 pm: |
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In 2000 I took a test ride on a hot-rodded '96 S1 that my local indy shop had for sale. When I got back, I wrote him a check and rode it home. Still got it. Don't ride it much, but I just can't bear to part with it.
Makes a heckuva loaner bike when friends visit, though... rt |
Buellish
| Posted on Thursday, July 30, 2009 - 05:01 pm: |
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I road a little Honda P-50 to start things off in '67.In '69 got a 150 Dream,then a 300 Dream and 305 Street Scrambler.In '75 I had a need for speed so I bought a Suzuki 400 TM that only lasted 4 months when I realized dirt was not my thing.I sold the TM and bought a brand new Kawsaki H2 750,which got me many tickets and a nice pile of money at the drag strip. Enter '79.I had sold the H2 to preserve my meager hold on my license,when I did a friend a favour by giving his lovely wife a ride to Dothan,Al.Stopping by HD of Dothan and pressing my nose to the glass I saw a '78 1/2 Super Glide with my name written all over it.A year later picked up an 80/80 FLH which went through many changes and mods over the next 20 years. When I was rebuilding it after the wreck that totaled it.I realized that my riding style was changing.Before the wreck,I was riding in the North Georgia Mountains scraping exaust,frame members,running boards and kick stands.Who needs Ti knee pucks to shoot sparks?What I wanted was to go faster,lean further,stop shorter and have more fun doing it. I had been looking at Guzzi's,BMW R1100S's and Ducati 900 SS's.In '99 one day I typed in Harley Davidson and Sportbike in a search engine and guess what I found. I couldn't belive it!My dreams come true! A bike that did all the things I wanted with a 45 degree V Twin powering it. Within 2 months I had a Parkway Blue S2T. I've had it 9 1/2 years,almost 93,000 miles.And can't imagin life without it. 8 other bikes have shared garage space with it,but the S2T is the only one that stays. It makes me remember the reasons I road in the beginning,40+ years ago. |
Lake_bueller
| Posted on Thursday, July 30, 2009 - 05:33 pm: |
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I first bought a Buell because....(sorry, this might get lengthy) I love to tell the story of my first Buell. It's my trusty 1998 S3T. Black with PM rims. It was the summer of 99. A few years prior, a friend/co-worker got me into riding with a 125 enduro. I was managing the food and beverage operations for a golf complex with multiple course. The entire property was spread out over several hundred acres of rolling Wisconsin terrain. The bike was a quick and easy way to get out to the remote locations to assist staff. At the end of one summer, an employee was going off to school and decided to sell his bike. It was an EX500. The price was right so I jumped on the opportunity. I rode that bike from August - October and again the following spring. It was a great starter bike (kinda like a Blast). But I needed something bigger. My heart was set on getting a sports touring bike. At that time, I only knew about the Ducati ST2/4, Triumph Trophy and BMW K1200RS. Well...I already knew the Ducati and BMW were out of my price range. But I looked for something used. And I looked and looked and looked. I finally decided that the Triumph would be my bike of choice. Off to the Triumph dealer for a test ride. The bike had everything that I thought I wanted. A good motor, hard saddlebags and wind protection. I decide to go home and mull it over for a few days. So after about a week, I grab the checkbook and head back to the Triumph dealership. We negotiate a reasonable price on a leftover 1998 model. The take all my info for the financing and say everything will be ready in about an hour. Now instead of hanging around the dealership, I notice a little burger joint up the road. I hop on the EX500 and ride over for some lunch. Having celebrated my new purchase with a greasy burger and strawberry milk shake, I still have some time to kill. And what a better place than to browse the Harley dealership next door. In typical dealership fashion of the day, your assaulted by a salesman the second you enter the shop. I politing say that I'm just killing some time and he leaves me alone. Then I see it in the back of the room....a BEAUTIFUL S1W in all white. I was in love!! But damn, it wasn't going to make my riding any more comfortable. I needed a sport touring bike. After I wipe the drool from my mouth, I see there is an interesting "sport touring" motorcycle a few bike away. It was a yellow S3T with nuc blue frame & wheels. At this point, I think the salesman had noticed the puddle of drool and smelled fresh bait. He's at my side as I'm flipping over the price tag on the yellow S3T. The sticker price was pushing $15k before tax, title & license. Damn...out of my range. I try to negotiate a but we can't seem to reach a common goal. Then he mentions that a 1998 had just arrived from the factory. It was a demo bike with only 81 miles on the odometer. If I had a few minutes, he'd have the pull it out of the back for me to test ride. He tells the guys to pull the bike around front and takes me to his desk to fill out the demo ride paperwork. Oops....I can't take the bike for a test ride. The reasoning...I only have my temp license. Feeling dejected, I walk out the front door and get ready to leave. That's when they rolled my bike around the corner. A perfect black S3T with polished PM rims. It was the hot rod car I always wanted but in a smaller package. Like a moth drawn to a flame, I remove my helmet and trip my way over to the bike. Did I already mention it was perfect? Okay, not quite perfect. He hadn't turned the key yet. There we go. The growl of the Thunderstorm motor just put the hot rod concept over the edge. I was hooked!!! The first time I rode the bike was after it was signed & sealed. I left the EX500 behind and grinned the whole ride home. I could say "the rest is history". And that is really about true. The only footnote would be that my original Buell lust (white S1W) would wait another 5 years to materialize. And I still ride my S3T as my primary bike. It's pushing 60k miles and running strong. |
Not_purple_s2
| Posted on Thursday, July 30, 2009 - 05:41 pm: |
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I started riding on an old Honda and was ready for a "real bike" I wanted a Harley but I was a broke college student so I couldn't afford even a decent Sportster. Then a chopper guy told me about Buell. "Yeah, they have a hopped up sportster engine and sportbike forks and wheels. Just slap those on a hardtail frame and you've got a badass chopper. Plus you can pick up used Buells really cheap." I should also mention this was during the big Chopper Craze around 2001~2002. So with just a little searching I found a 96 S2T with hardly any miles dirt cheap. After one ride though I dismissed any thought of chopping it. I can't imagine owning a cruiser now, much less a chopper. Motorcycles should be nimble. If I want to "stretch my legs" I'll drive my truck. I liked my Buell so much I bought another one my 2003 XB9S. Sadly, the S2T is "resting" and waiting for a full restoration after a friend laid her down (we swapped bikes so I could ride his XB12R) It didn't do a whole lot of damage but I want to do a frame off build one day to put her back better than ever. |
Hmartin
| Posted on Thursday, July 30, 2009 - 10:52 pm: |
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First saw a Buell on the road in 1989, shaking its bolts loose at a stoplight. I thought back then, "I'm going to own one of those someday." Never got around to it. Then in '06, I was driving through the DFW airport parking lot when I caught a glimpse of something, slammed on the brakes and backed up to see what it was. It was a Ulysses, new that year, parked for some reason in a God-forsaken long-term parking lot. It looked just the perfect thing for a tall, lanky guy who's not ready to ride a cruiser. I never stopped thinking about it after that, not until two years later when I bought my own. |
Gsilvernale
| Posted on Friday, July 31, 2009 - 12:11 am: |
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I took a test drive on a Uly on my birthday - temperature was 42 degrees outside. I grinned the whole time. There is some kind of soulful experience to riding this motorcycle. It's different then my Japanese bikes. |
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