| Author | Message | ||
     Tramp  |
With all the r&d they're putting into street performance machines, I'm always surprised Buell doesn't introduce an american dualsport. dualsport machines are growing in popularity, and the blast, for starters, would platform a kic kass dualsport. Court- whaddaya say/whaddaya know 'bout this concept? i've been toying with the idea of setting an M2 up as a dualsport, removing the rear shock and installing a spanner-bar/bashplate in it's place, and then installing mounts on the frame and swingarm for a conventional rear shock. easy enough to grab some KX forks(or frontend) from the local bike salvage, for some fierce travel, then some nice pro-tapers. aside from my own plan, anyone else think it's a market which might warrant some buell investigation? blake's profile page idea of a kickstart trans could find it's niche in an XBGS 1340. Something to make the BMW GS1200 alittle skeered... or, like i say, just a GS Blast to test the waters.... | ||
| Tucsonxb9s  |
I would think the thumpin' heart out of a Blast would be the perfect start to a Buell dual sport! I was actually thinking about an XR or KLR for a second toy. I could wait for a Buell XB5T!  (Message edited by tucsonxb9s on November 25, 2004) | ||
| Newfie_buell  |
I'd love to see one as well but I think that giant chunk of metal we love as a motor would be too heavy. | ||
| Tom_b  |
Build it and they will come! Sound like a cool idea. wasn't there a woman with a pink XB who motocrossed it posted a few months ago. | ||
| Motomadman  |
I here ya man!!! I'm sure it's a H-U-G-E market! I've been riding the motocross popularity wave for a while now. Seems a lot of 'middle aged' guys are getting back into motocross and bringing their kids with them. Motocross is dangerous for old guys though (as I write this I am recovering from concussion and going into knee surgery). Supermoto picks up where motocross leaves off. Hey how 'bout a Buell Supermoto bike? KTM's got one http://www.ktm.com/EN/models_7361.asp?id_seiten=7361. Trail Riding and Dual purpose? Good possibility! A blast conversion could go over BIG ... A buell with knobbies ... Only problem is the bike would need to loose like 100 lbs. Supermoto sounds more realistic. It's a BIG and GROWING market for sure. Buell is positioned closer to it. How light can we get a Blast down to? | ||
| Kaudette |
Pretty heavy iron for DP - when you get the leg out in the power slides, you really don't want all that extra weight on the bike. A lot of suspended mass in the powertrain so the suspension would have to be extra heavy duty. Worth a look but I'd stick with a good 'ol CR or YZ for the off road stuff or a KTM for the DP | ||
| Ezblast  |
Just changing out exhausts and going to rearsets pairs a ton of weight off the bike - I'm sure if the factory ever got half serious - they could pair the weight enough to make a Dual Sport happen - will they - thats the question! GT - JBOTDS! EZ  | ||
| Rokoneer  |
Nuthin' wrong with a heavy motor in a dual sport...  | ||
| Jprovo  |
If you want a good dualsport from an American company, go buy an ATK. I've thought about dual sporting the Blast, but I opted for a 94ATK 605DSES. It's faster than the Blast, lighter, better suspended, and I bought it for $2000. There is little chance that you can make a better dual sport out of the Blast for that kind of money. The Blast motor is physically huge compared to the 605 Rotax motor in the ATk, and the Buell motor has to weigh 50+ lbs more.  That said, the Blast is a far better streetbike than the ATK. James | ||
| Ezblast |
I'll gladly argue this one with ya at SLO over a few beers  - lol - GT - JBOTDS! EZ | ||
| Spooky  |
I'll just wait for the new Suzuki DR-Z400SM. I will take the black one please. | ||
| Chewy  |
I had actually pondered doing this myself with my S2 a few months back. I've taken it off road several times, but nothing too rough ... I would hate to try and pull that thing out of the mud! | ||
| Tramp |
jprovo- where, exactly, is that rotax engine manufactured, again? you're missing the pointof a first-ever all american harley-davidson powered dualsport. | ||
| Chewy |
Maybe I could mount one of those ATV winches under the headlight! | ||
| Outrider  |
Like this Euro Buell Scrambler???  Too Bad the shock is interfering with the ground clearance and there is no skid or bash plate like you will find for a real dual purpose machine. Not too sure I would like to do much offroading with a belt drive either. I am thinking the XB would be a better platform to work with as all you need to do is move the pipe and consider a chain drive. | ||
| Dsergison  |
if youre looking for the ultimate in lightweight, put it in the truck yourself, street legal stock, INSANE TORQUE, long distance trials type bike.... pampera 280. but at $5000 it'l blow the buget. there are quite a few used ones in europe though.  (Message edited by dsergison on November 26, 2004) | ||
| Tramp |
i think you meant that post for the other thread where the guy's asking for advice on a dirtbike. i really think BMC is missing one of their best opportunities to expand their market/profits. it's like it's just dangling there, waiting..... | ||
| Jprovo |
Tramp, I didn't realie your were trying to make the point of a first-ever all american harley-davidson powered dualsport. Sure, the ATK uses an Austrian made motor, but ATK is still an American company, assembling bikes in the US with parts coming in from all over the world, not unlike the Buell. If you want an American made motor, take a look at the new ATK 450. Do I think that the Blast could be made into a machine that would threaten a BMW GS650? Maybe, but the ammount of money spent would be rediculous. You would throw away the whole bike except the engine, gauges, brakes and lights. I'm really not certain if the Uniplanar engine mounting system could take serious off-road abuse. I've broken a front isolator mount, a front isolator, and had a front isolator mount bolt break off in the head with only street riding. Since the engine mounting system will need a re-design, you're talking a new frame or a modded stocker. A Buell dual sport would be cool, I just think that the Blast engine is far too porky a starting point. James | ||
| Buells Rule! (Dyna in disguise)  |
i really think BMC is missing one of their best opportunities to expand their market/profits. Funny thing we saw when we hit Buells original factory/barn during Buells 20th. It was an impromptu visit that Henry Duga helped setup & lead. When they unlocked the door to the barn, sitting next to the studebaker...there were several laying around on the property..was a brand spanking new Yamaha dirtbike. It got a good laugh from everyone & I dont know if Henry was bothered by it or not at the time. That bike belongs to Erik & he plays around out there from time to time. | ||
| Djkaplan  |
I think a Blast powered dual-sport is entirely feasible, but it'd be heavy and slow. As far as taking an M2 offroad - any serious terrain would ruin the rear isolators pretty quickly. | ||
| Firebolt020283  |
i think it is definatly do able to make a dualsport with the blast. Heck it already has a gastank that looks like a dirt bike, why not just finish the look off. besides dualsports dont have to be great at eather street or drit. They jsut got to be good enuff. so what if its kinda heavy for a dritbike it will still work ok for it | ||
| Tramp |
man- you guys are rtying too hard to deconstruct a point of simplicity- the idea wouldn't be to "threaten" a bmw or anything like that, just as the buell streetbikes don't "threaten" and asian streetbikes. It's a continuation of the original concept, an all-american mf'd. dulalsport for fun. the average american who buys an enduro drives an american made truck, an american car, etc., and typically their dualsport bike is the only non-american vehicle, save for a 4-wheeler or snowmobile. one would think that such a yank would PREFER an american dualsport, then, esp. if they're NOT looking to race it. The various mod.s required would be raelatively minor and cheap to manufacture, esp. considering the sales volume offset. worth a shot, i'll bet. | ||
| Buells Rule! (Dyna in disguise) |
Cannondale tried to make an american dualsport work out & lost thier @ss. Course the high price may have had something to do with it. | ||
| Mutt2jeff  |
I would love a buell dualsport, but the only thing that would be worth keeping on the blast is the motor. The frame and mounting system are just too weak to take any abuse (I too have had front isolator break and isolator mount bolt break off in the bikes head). A lot of buell's cool inovations simply could not be placed on a practical dualsport (but that does make room for some new inovations  ). I would love to have a buell supermoto bike though.  | ||
| Ezblast |
The problems with the Cannondale was that the motor was still made for off road competition and motor life was measured in hours - lol - great bike though - I'm sure someone as inventive as Erik and his team could do something nice - I wait patiently - lol GT - JBOTDS! EZ | ||
| 1313  |
 1313 | ||
| Firemanjim  |
Ick,it looks like Jerry's yellow V-Strom thingie,make it go away!! | ||
| Firebolt020283 |
ewww that thing is ugly | ||
| Outrider |
Does anyone have market sales stats? It would be interesting to see how the Dual Sport bikes fare against the other categories in the US and the World. In particular, I would like to see how the traditional Dual Purpose bikes do in comparison to the newer Adventure Touring market niche. In looking at the numbers, I think it will be apparent why Buell may not be considering the Dual Purpose category. However, the Adventure Touring niche may be something they are considering. One of the factors that is preventing the Dual Sport category from reaching it's true potential is Land Closures. In Wisconsin, there are many ATV trails but very few are open to motorcycles. If HDI introduced a Dual Purpose bike via either HD or BMC, I would think that with their political clout many of these trails would be opened for MC use. In this respect, HDI would be working for the interest of both the industry and the consumers and should be applauded for its effort. | ||
| Bcordb3  |
Outsider - I want the bike that is shown with your avator or whatever that is called, very XR750ish. That is a bike that almost could have been a duel sport bike and all American. |
