| Author | Message | ||
     Dwardo |
I've had my 2002 M2 for a year now and really like it except for a couple of things. I bought it under the impression that it was a a standard model but after decoding the serial number I see it is an M2L. I don't need a low bike as I have a 34" inseam (it doesn't seem all that low though). The two things I like least about the bike are the very rough ride from the rear suspension and inadequate cornering clearance. I suspect both of these things are better on a standard model. Does anyone have a complete list of the parts needed to convert to a standard model, including part numbers? I don't care about the seat, just the suspension and etc. And, where are these numbers found on the parts? Thanks. | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
For the rear, I think just the front mounting plate on the engine is different. For the front? I really don't know. Perhaps you could do a swap of suspension components with someone here that wants a shorter ride? It might be worthwhile to make a posting on the classifieds. | ||
| Zenfrogmaster |
I can get you the part numbers over the weekend, but you'll need: longer kick stand standard shock mount longer fork tubes different fork springs The kick stand and shock mount should be easy to find used. Instead of stock springs, now would be a good time to buy better units. The fork tubes are probably the only thing that would be easier to get from the dealer. You'll probably need new seals and other rubber bits for the forks. Or - find an inverted front end from another tuber. That would be less expensive, especially when you sell off your Low front end (put me on your list if you do!). You'll also end up with a more adjustable bike. The fenders are different, too. | ||
| Dave_02_1200 |
I am also a tall rider who bought a Low model (by accident) because I am so delighted with my other Buell, a 2001 S3. When I compare the two they are really different in many ways. The M2 Low is by far the best street bike. It is more "flickable" around corners and more stable under acceleration and braking. The S3 is the best at higher speeds with its longer softer suspension and it has better cornering clearance for aggressive riding. You just need another bike so you can have the best of both worlds. Good luck, Dave | ||
| Dwardo |
Thanks, ZenFrogmaster, for the info. Changing forks is more work than I had planned for the winter but OTOH apparently you need to remove them to change the oil and that ought to be done. Interesting idea about swapping to an inverted fork. Anybody done it? I look forward to the part numbers. Dave, your perspective on the M2L is interesting. What I really need to do is find a local Bueller with a standard M2 who would volunteer to let me ride it. | ||
| Nevrenuf |
you need to get ahold of rotzaruk here on the badweb. he has a standard right now and i'm sure he would rather have a low instead. before my daughter got hit on my low, i really enjoyed it but i'm having just as much fun with the other one. | ||
| Mick |
My mate just discovered his is a low today, always thought his looked a bit smaller than mine, now I know why  | ||
| Rotzaruck |
Me and my short little legs would definitely consider swapping regular parts for low parts. Trying to get my gumption up to start putting it back together anyway, being able to reach the ground would be a plus. Didn't know the fenders were different though, I'm not sure if I have a black front one, (except the modified two piece version that I know I have). Zenfrog Do inverted forks come in low and regular or will they mount or adjust to accomodate either? Rotzaruck!! | ||
| Guell |
dwardo, the inverted forks is a bolt on mod. Any of them will work, youll need the upper and lower trees, and youll want to change out the head bearings while you do it. Any of the inverted forks from a tuber will work. | ||
| Zenfrogmaster |
The inverted forks are all the same height, as far as I know. I suppose one could slide the tubes up in the triples, but I don't know how far / how much you would gain. Just to be clear on the fenders - M2 or M2L use the same part. The inverted forks use a completely different piece. I'll be near my parts book tonight, so I'll post a write-up. | ||
| Dwardo |
So, do the inverted forks require a different rear shock mount or anything? I assume the suspension adjustments differ. Maybe if I decide to go that route I could get someone to send me the relevant parts of the manual as I only have M2 manuals. Rotzaruck, I would definitely consider a swap with you if I decide not to pursue the inverted fork solution, assuming your parts and my parts are in equivalent condition. Is your bike apart? | ||
| Dwardo |
This is an important question so I wanted to post it separately. I was kicking this around with my buddy, who is not much shorter than I am, and he said he thought my bike was pretty darn high already and I tend to agree. I'm wondering if it started out as an M2L and got wrecked and rebuilt with different parts or something. Is there a way I can look/measure or whatever the shock mount and forks to make sure I really have an M2L and not just an M2L VIN number? Thanks. | ||
| Nevrenuf |
i think the chances of getting one that was already changed without the guy you bought it from not knowing anything are pretty slim but you never know. | ||
| Dwardo |
I bought it from a BMW dealer, who claimed to be selling it on consignment. I tried to get then to contact the previous owner to get the manuals and stuff but didn't succeed so I never talked to him. I didn't know enough about it at the time to decode the VIN number. I bought it because it appeared unabused and pretty clean, although neglected, and it was local so I could ride it first. I don't regret it as it has been pretty nearly without defects so far. | ||
| Nevrenuf |
if that's the way they treated you, imagine how they treat their other customers. the low seat is pretty hard so that would be one indication as to anything being changed. if it is the right seat then measure it from the ground. someone just posted the seat hieghts around here somewhere. | ||
| Dwardo |
Funny about the seat. I got into this because I just snagged a Pegasus seat off of flea-bay and when I put it on I noticed that it is lower than the original seat and also pretty hard. I compared it to my original seat and found that it has less padding. I also noticed it seemed to fit better. That got me thinking I should check the VIN number. If it is an M2L, it may have come to me with a standard seat because the seat it came with is pretty cushy, it just doesn't fit my butt right. | ||
| Zenfrogmaster |
I just posted all the M2 versus M2L part numbers and such in the Cyclone FAQ section. I have a Pegasus seat on my M2L, and it's much better than the M2L seat, which had less padding and a shape that caused delicate parts to jam against the tank. Dwardo - about your shock mount question: The shapes are different, with M2L type "curving" back more. I'll take a picture in the morning. | ||
| Aesquire |
I have a M2L. I've considered going to the S3/X1 upside down forks, but the regular ones are fine for my mass & riding style. I'll get them re valved when needed. I seldom bottom things out, ( but do go through boots. ) The "L" seat is not designed for people with exterior genitalia. The "Buell Custom Color Matched" ( pegasus ) seat is both more comfortable than the "L" & regular seats, It's notably better for the passenger! The regular & "L" seats are shaped by an idiot, ( if you are a passenger ) for style reasons & are designed to make you slide off the back. On the other hand, it does encourage your passenger to cling tightly to you, so it's not a total loss, I guess, maybe. From parts book 2000-2001 M2 Lower front fork assy. ( page 53 ) left 46032-99Y right 46033-99Y left "L" J0121.01A4 right "L" J0122.01A4 which includes I believe the following "different" parts, others are shared. spring regular (2) 46037-99Y low (2) J9113.01A4 Damper assy. regular (2) 46038-99Y low (2) J0109.01A4 Slider tube regular (2) 46147-99Y low (2) J0107.01A4 guide bushings regular (2) 46083-97YA low (2) J0112.01A4 End fork section For 2001 rear shock assm. page 57 Regular K0431.9 low K0410.01A4A Sidestand page 59 regular L0167.9YT low L0167.01A4YT Seat. page 69 regular 52373-99Y low M0090.01A4 That's all I find. From the book, it seems the shock, not the bracket, is the difference in back. I also note the length of the regular M2/S3/X1 shock is different then the M2L shock. I think you are confused because Buell offered a rear lowering bracket that dropped you a small enough amount to just raise the fork tubes in the triple clamps to keep the handling good. Don't forget the kick stand, no matter which way you raise it, with M2 or S3/X1 bits up front. Although it's probably more critical going from regular to low. CHECK ALL PART #'s BEFORE BUYING!!! I could easily have messed some up. I'm also assuming that the 2002 part #s are the same. (Message edited by aesquire on January 04, 2008) | ||
| Aesquire |
Well heck, Zenfrogmaster posted all this in the M2 Folder....FAQ's.....LOL Thanks. | ||
| Rotzaruck |
I finally found the thread that shows how to identify M2 from M2L by vin #. Now I see I have a frame that is in fact a low. Not that that in itself seems to make any difference. I have a set of fork tube assemblies that don't fit numbers posted above, unless I'm just looking crosseyed or something. If the forks I have are lows, I guess I'm pretty much in the M2L capability category. I got hold of a guy with some more and made a deal to buy them, but was too dumb to remember to ask for the numbers. If one of these sets is a standard, Dwardo can take the high road and I'll take the low road and we'll all live happily ever after, if that what he ends up wanting to do. If we only have to swap forks,shock(and/or mount?)and stands, I can send forks and shock ahead. Then we can ship stands simultaneously and just not park until UPS runs!! I must have dreamed I had bought a parts book, or have simply lost it. Until I find it or get one, I must beg for assistance. If you gotta go begging, theres no place like BadWeB!! On the sticker on these housings is: RJ0120.LR RJ0120.LL G906-50 cast into the housings: G906-R G906-L these were, I think, from a 2002, but could have been a 2001 I've got the sneaky suspicion that LL and LR could mean Low Left, and then Low Right right? Hopefully I'll pick up the others in a few days and see what number they are. If they are all low's I guess I'll just have spares. With my history, that may not be a bad thing!! Does any body know the answers to my queries? Thanks!! | ||
| Dwardo |
So where are these stickers and etc. with the part numbers? I can't find any on my bike. I found a parts manual on the web and downloaded it. | ||
| Rotzaruck |
I'll try and post a pic this evening sometime.Just passing through at the moment. Sounds like I bought a parts book just a little too soon, huh? That's okay, you can't put good fingerprints on an on line version!! | ||
| Rotzaruck |
   Here are some pics. I could easily imagine someone peeling them off though. i don't know what they mean or how the casting number might relate to the sticker number.Maybe you can learn something in your book, or I will when mine gets here. Maybe someone else will know how to translate all that | ||
| Dwardo |
I can read the sticker on the right leg. It has two numbers on it, LJ0121-01A4 and RJ0122-01A4. Since the legs do not appear the same, I assume the same sticker went on both legs. In any case, those are the numbers for the M2L, so a stock M2L is what I have. If you can snaffle a decent set of forks that I can rebuild without taking my bike apart, that would be cool as a moose! | ||
| Rotzaruck |
I'll try to pick those up in a day or two, just hope they are not lows also. I'll have to get the other stuff off my bike, but guess I can do that later. Did we ever determine for sure if you change the shock, the mount or both? That show how easy it would be to mess up buying used parts. I was going to put those on my standard, never even thought about them being for a low, the seller probably had no idea either. If I had put them on I would have been running down hill all the time. Would I have gotten better gas mileage? Rozaruck!!! | ||
| Dwardo |
I THINK I understand that the only difference in the rear units is the front bracket, that is, the shock unit is the same. That confuses me because I would have assumed that the M2L would use a higher rate spring to compensate for having less suspension travel (or does it). Maybe one of the Tuber Gurus will chime in and confirm this. I'm busy reading my manual to see how to rebuild the forks. I gotta say, I have a 34-inch inseam and my bike is still pretty high considering it's supposed to be low. I can see how a short guy or gal would like to lower it. For me, some more cornering clearance would be wonderful. | ||
| Aesquire |
I thought the shock was different. It's a different length. | ||
| Dwardo |
That's what I'm wondering about. The dimension for pre-load given in the manual is +/- 1/2 longer, if I remember correctly. I don't know if that is a result of a different shock or an artifact of different geometry. That's what we really need to know. Anybody?? | ||
| Rotzaruck |
Dwardo I should, at least theoretically, have both. If I can just get time to mess with it, I can make some real life comparisons. I can lay them out, take some measurements and pictures and make a shock reality show. I've got my wrecked one in a cold unheated building here at work and I'm trying to get time to move it and all my accumulated parts to a more practical location. If I can get those forks to you, that will give you something to keep you occupied while I get my ducks in a row here. The low frame I got has a shock with it, but it's all wrapped up in two miles of duct tape and Styrofoam and I don't want to unwrap it until I get it inside a decent work area. This is all really getting me motivated though. The problem is, I've got the other bike running, and the weather's been so nice........ | ||
| Dwardo |
That would be great. It would be interesting to know if the extended and compressed lengths are the same. I'd like to say I was in a hurry but realistically, I have that stupid MGB project and I'm renovating my house so I can't give it the priority I would like. I know I need the forks so if I can get my grubby hands on a set of those I can work on that. |
