| Author | Message | ||
     Peter_T |
Court. Your usual grandiose statement with no support. "'Find me ANYONE who has done one of those "round the world" gigs that wasn't on a KLR or a GS." Hell, I know of a guy who did it on a Ural. I've read of plenty of other people who have done it on many other bikes. Talk it or walk Court. Iv'e been waiting for 2 years for you to back your statement that "the M2 is the best bike ever made and I can prove it" Just back this one statement of yours with an Iota of fact and I'll back down. No whining that this is a personal attack because it isn't. I am just tired of you making big claims that you cant support. If the M2 is the best bike ever made and you can prove it then step up and prove it now. If you can't do that then have the guts to say you can't Pete ( don't worry I don't expext you to back the M2 claim. Way too much to ask for when there are so many better bikes out there but at least admit that) | ||
| Blake |
Peter, dude!: First off, I've gotta say this again, and if I were in your neighborhood I'd see to it that, at the soonest possible opportunity, you go get some! Geesh! Secondly, as a... ahem... "satisfied"... ahem  M2 owner/rider for going on four years now; I'm actually stupid enough to quantify why I believe the M2 is "the best bike ever made", at least for me. I'll number each point for easy rebuttal and also because I ain't near so eloquent as Mr. Canfield, so a numbered tech spec oriented format will facilitate composition of my argument. I would like to add one simple clarification to Court's quoted opinion. The M2 is the best street bike ever made. Not a dirt bike and not a race bike, a friggin "street" bike. Why the M2 is "the best street bike ever made": My primary Criteria for "best street bike ever" is a combined grading of the following equally weighted parameters based on the current 2001 production Model Buell M2 Cyclone. Ratings are based on a 0 to 4 point scale as follows: 4 = Superior 3 = Good, Above Average 2 = Acceptable, Average 1 = Poor, Below Average 0 = Inferior 1. Reliability (3) The problems you are so fond of reporting? Well mate, they and others have all been fixed, and some (those attributable to the DDFI) never afflicted the M2. 2. Acceleration (3) Contrary to your statements to the effect that most modern bikes will outperform a Buell, I think if you look at the facts, you will see the exact opposite. Sure the race replicas will outperform an M2 on the race track, so they get higher marks for this category. The M2 beats most of the bikes left including every cruiser (the VAST majority of street models today), and virtually all tourbikes. You can easily verify this by looking at the HP and weight data for all the bikes listed by "Motorcyclist" in their "The List" section. 3. Agility (3) Ditto what I said above for "Acceleration." 4. Comfort (3) The race repli's fail here miserably, and the M2 "Low" version offers ergonomics fitting even the inseam impaired. 5. Customizability (3) From SSSarms, to CF wheels, seats, pipes, mufflers, rearsets, race kits/parts... see ASB, Sport Twin, and even Buell. Want a leaner, meaner look? The '97/'98 tank and tailsection will retrofit the stock parts on newer Cyclones. 6. Simplicity (4) Air cooled, four valved, V-Twin with hydraulic lifters, single carburator, and belt drive. 7. Artistry (3) Some of the coolest lines on the planet. Choice of form, colors, and textures is very appealing. It could be better if the stock cam cover could lose it's excess fat, and they brought back an exposed spring shock. The engine itself is a work of art. 8. Ease of Maintenance (3) Would be a (4) if it weren't for the dificulty in lubricating swingarm bearings (3 hours shop time every 10K miles). Buell, sealed bearings please? Same for the steering head please? 9. Customer Service Network (3) Lot's of dealers after only six years of high volume production. Look for many more in the near future. 10. Uniqueness/"Character" (4) I know you poo poo the "character" aspect, but it is a very important parameter to many people. 11. Factory Support (4) Buell is leading the industry in forthright resolution to problems with voluntary recalls and "good will" upgrade programs. 12. Cost of ownership (3) Reasonable MSRP plus very low maintenance and operational costs put the M2 near the top of this category. 13. Tourability (3) Add soft bags, and a Ventura pack from ASB and you are good to go. 14. Fuel Consumption (4) Fifty+ mpg! 15. Passener Accomodations (3) The M2's rear seat beats all the race repli's, most style oriented cruisers, and many others. That's 49 points total for an average (you just knew there would be some math in this somewhere  ) of 49/15 = 3.3, pretty friggin good; I challenge you to find a bike that beats it. I would add one more parameter, 16. Real world performance (4) I define this as riding a real twisty road in 4th or 5th gear at sane speeds. Having to constantly downshift or ride around in 2nd or 3rd gear half the time to keep in the powerband just ain't a "real world" practice in my book. This parameter also relates the the ease of operation of the bike. In the real world, you shouldn't have to be an expert to control a stock sportbike revving towards redline at WOT. Also, what Court said. Grin factor is a huge part of the proof too. It just ain't an empirically quantifiable parameter. Oh yeah... one other factor. Chick's dig Buells!! Show me a bike that beats the above. Of course you are free and expected to debate my grading too if you like. Plus I'd like to see you, like Dark_Ninja requested on the GDB,
How'd I do Court? Blake (wishing he were out riding) | ||
| Fastback69 |
I would like to add that the M2 is a very forgiving bike to an inexperienced rider. Many of the race replicas are so "edge of the envelope" that they become unforgiving of small errors. My Cyclone is also my first motorcycle. I have taken the state MSF course where we rode 125/250 size bikes. Sometimes, I kinda wish that I would have started out on a smaller 600 bike but only for the experience of learning how to throw a lightweight (relatively speaking) bike around. | ||
| Court |
Blake: There are no more meaningful words than from one who owns an M-2, ya did great. Of note is that you touched only a couple of the points that I would/will. Court | ||
| X1mchip |
Blake Excellent!!!!!!!!!! Now go riding!!!!!! Chip | ||
| Chuck |
So Pete ... just how good a rider do you think you are? Does your Buell limit your ability to demonstrate your superior riding skills? I know you've had your share of "break-downs" and embarrassments at the "hands" of your friends on "better" bikes . . . but if you really find your Buell so offensive, why don't you do the world a favor? Sell it at a "loss" and buy the bike of your dreams. | ||
| Dougp |
Best bike EVER made??? ughhhh.... How 'bout best BUELL ever made? I'd like Aaron's take on this one. Someone who owns/owned more than one model. I've had/have 4 very different Buells. Each one with it's own way to shine. Hands down though........the S1W is heads above the rest. also my most recent acquisition | ||
| Tripper |
The M2 is the Best Bike Ever Made because.... . . . . . . . . . . . . . it kept alot of people from buying the 1999 X1. | ||
| Blake |
Chuck: I gotta say "whoa" there dude. Peter has said many times how much he loves his X1. And he has racing experience too, so I wouldn't question him there either. Like I eluded earlier, ole BIG Pete just needs to let some juice escape and relax a little. Don't know why he gets so bothered by Court's passion for Buells. Dougp: For me, the M2 is "Hands down... heads above the rest." Wish I could have an S1W too for hooligan riding around town. For me the S1W isn't quite up to supporting the long range touring that I enjoy so much. My right knee doesn't clear the stock airbox. I'm 6'-3" though. I guess it comes down to how and where you ride. It wins the cool looks category for sure. Again, one's gotta define what one means by "best". I like being able to give a thrill to a passenger once in a while, and I gotta be able to pack campstuff and gear for a prolonged escape down the byways and parkways. Maybe with the twintail... | ||
| Rocketman |
Don't be so bloody stupid. The M2 is a poor mans S1W. Yeehaa !!!!.......... Ok , I'm duckin' but what another good opportunity to show Peter_Teeeedious that Blake is right. Well, nearly right !  What is it with some people, they have a bad experience with Buell's they want to give us a hard time because we still love 'em ? Rocket in England | ||
| Blake |
LOL! Tripper, you're killing me! | ||
| S2no1 |
Not to distract from the foray, but I am quite certain that an S2 is superior, if not more loveable, than any of the current Buells. "Isn't that your S2?" "It is isn't it" Arvel probably the worst car commercial in history, my apologies for the quote | ||
| Buellistic |
ATT: Buellers I to wish to cast my vote as the M2 Cyclone being the best BUELL made(2nd of course is the BLAST). The only reason I do not have an M2 is it does not have a fairing like the S3. I ride cold,rain,or sunshine thats the only reason I purshased a S3T. In buelling BUELLISTIC and/or Hardley-Harley | ||
| Mikej |
I want an S1, I want an S2, I want an RR, but I plan to keep my M2. Is that relevant to the discussion? MikeJ (Going to see what Slimey Crud looks like tomorrow) | ||
| X1mchip |
Mikej What happened to the request for a S2T,,S3T,,S3,,X1?????????????????? Chip NEXT PAGE of topic |
