| Author | Message | ||
     Gearheaderiko |
17" wheels (better and wider tire selection). XB top end w/7500 rev limit | ||
| Bonesdl1 |
Factory rear sets or at least make it easier to remove the footpeg supports in order to get to the primary cover. | ||
| Ezblast |
A XBBlast would cost practically ziltch in tooling - except for the rear motor mount and the up draft stack into the airbox - the airbox again would hold the carb in place - a lot of stuff - wouldn't be needed - keeping the weight down - oil coolers, fans, ducts - etc - using the lower suspension would keep the beginners safer in a comfort zone and make that specialized group of parts cheaper through volume - and by using XB engine parts more consolidation would happen - XB cam, XB9 piston and head, 7500 rpm limit - a good breathing XB 9 type exhaust - the ability to have great gas mileage, reliably do a daily commute, and the ability to have fun in the twisties on the weekend - probably 38 to the rear but 45 to the crank - torque would probably fall in the 35 range - the latest XB tranny in the Blast would be a thing of wonder (maybe bring back the cassette tranny - with the updated inyards - I know a world of Tuber owners would love him for that - since in the end for gear parts they will be quoting Blast part numbers soon enough), under piston oilers, etc. - An updated, durable, last a 100,000 mile type of bike that would be fun for the beginner and experienced - would such a bike be used in beginner classes - well if it had wheel sliders and frame sliders - sure - that hp range is within the recommended starting range, would have excellent handling - finally - a great all a rounder - a bit like a Honda Civic - lol EZ | ||
| Luckyduck |
Ok, since I sort of instigated this, here are some assumptions: 1. I am going to try to find someone to talk to, present our wish list to at Buell and take a factory tour in February. 2. The Blast is a simple, light weight, compact, versatile, modestly powered sport bike. It is great around town, toodling on backroads, ripping on the twisties and can be pressed for cross country runs. Ala Maggie Mae. With that in mind, here is my wish list of things to change. It is suprisingly short: -Wider gear ratios for lower first and taller fifth. (this would also be nice on the Uly) -4+ gallons of gas for longer trips. -Frame and axle sliders. -Call it a P5 or XB5 or something. Blast is a dorky name. My wish list of things NOT to change: -Gas Mileage, unless it gets better. -Light weight, unless it gets lighter. -2 up ability -Easy to mount rear rack, like the Ventura one now that also fits the XB9 chassis. EZ has it pretty well covered for a dream machine. His idea would be super extra cool if the initial price could be between the base sportster and current Blast. Paul | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
My biggest thing (sorry Ed) is that the Blast looks like crap. I am very interested in the Duke 690.  Light weight, powerful, and VERY attractive. There is no reason that Buell couldn't produce something as attractive and better performing. We got a one lunger Helicon lying around? | ||
| Ezblast |
Off topic - hey its a great looking bike - and this thread is about an updated Blast so it almost fits the topic. EZ | ||
| Luckyduck |
Jeremy, Your talk of the KTM Duke 690 is a good point. What would be "competition" for our mythical XB5 dream machine? KTM Duke 690 at $10,000 is close in concept, but has the KTM vibe instead of the Buell feel to it. Any current entry level bike is not in the same class of handling and overall quality of ride as the XB platform. Which may be good to put it in a class by itself. Paul | ||
| Nevrenuf |
even my wife says the blast doesn't have enough oomph. of course she did have a trike with a 96 inch motor with stage one cams in it. you could get the front wheel airborn if you wanted to with out that much problem. she'd like to have a more aggressive riding position also. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Competition for the Blast? Ninja 250 maybe? There is a derth of competitors in the enrty level category because everyone feels like they NEED a 600 or greater to start with. How long has the Blast existed without a major revision? How about the Ninja 250? Until this year that thing NEVER changed. I put the KLR into the same category. There just isn't much pressure to progress. I agree that $10,000 is way out of bounds. I didn't mean to introduce it to derail the discussion. I only use it as an example of what others are bringing in a singlr cylinder street bike. I'd like an XB frame with homoginated components (wheels, brakes, belts, tires, forks, etc.). I have two sets of wheels for one bike. It I add another bike (an S or 1125R) and another set of wheels, I am set. I can swap out components between bikes. This gives me the ability to do multibike track days without having to spoon tires at the track. I'd like to see the displacement get punched up a bit. It may require the addition of an oil cooler. I guess what I am saying is that I'd like a punchier XBed S model and/or an XBed R model ala MonoGP. | ||
| Naustin |
HOw about drop 40 lbs and up it to ~50hp ala a new rotax single and give it a decent rear shock with preload adjustment. Except, keep the existing bike exactly as it is because its perfect for the role it was designed for, and make the new bike a ground up supermoto...  (Message edited by naustin on January 18, 2008) | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
Its seems there is much love for the Blast. I cant believe how many are stopping by to weigh in! | ||
| Prof_stack |
Riding the XB9S for five years now, I really like how EFI works. No stumbling when cold, cleaner emissions, smoother running under different conditions. An updated Blast with EFI and "normal" back sprocket would be nice. Also, increase the lean angle about 5 degrees, still safe for newbies but better for experienced riders (or hang off more often  ). | ||
| Styxnpicks |
I wouldn't mind seeing a Blast-pro... like less beginner bike and more serious experienced rider frendly, just think, 60-70ish hp single with a 6 speed, better breaks, adjustable suspension, and aluminium frame.... sounds like fun to me | ||
| Ferrisbuellersdayoff |
ground up new bike would cost way too much especially with therecent addition of the 1125R. The amount of money in R&D alone was probably a crazy number. The the production, theres alot of money spent right there also. Just a small list of mods would be great for the blast. I think the idea of the XB5 is an awesome concept. HEY PHOTOSHOP GURUS: draw up some posible XB5S & XB5R models. And i hope the Blast lives as long as the Sportster has/did/will. | ||
| Luckyduck |
Ok, after reading everyone else's wish list it changed my thinking some. Perhaps leave the Blast as an entry level with minimal changes. Then add something that would look like this as a "non-entry level" single cylinder sport bike.  Think about something like: Standard ride height. 600cc ~50hp at the crank ~330 lbs 7100 rpm red line EFI and the works Cost $8,000 (based on other XB prices) It would: -have good range with 4 gallons gas and ~60mpg. -be fairly quick with low 40hp at rear wheel -handle and stop super good -be weird, different and fun to ride in a Buell sort of way. | ||
| Swampy |
I would even buy a first year bike new if it was that. Take note Buell factory, Mister "I'll Never Buy a New Bike" has spoken! | ||
| Ezblast |
Hell Yes! Me Too! | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
 | ||
| Ezblast |
Soo off topic - there are probably 5 to ten pics of that bike floating around this Thumper forum - we are discussing what we would like to see in a limited edition Blast or a re-vamped blast - for instance as stated elsewhere by Jim L. - The manifold couplers tear. Would certainly be nice to have that fixed. Could we get the 06 transmission in the thing so it doesn't clunk and grind. I really don't understand why that wasn't done, it seems like it would be practically free. People have had problems with sheared off bolts on the front engine mounting bracket. People have had problems with the exhaust system shearing off pieces. No major things, but it would be nice to get it sorted. And I'd like to add the oil pump drive gear as well. These are things that should be addressed - some modernization and a bit more power would also be welcome to both beginners and the experienced who buy the bike - please contribute in a more positive fashion - for instance this BlastXB racer would be much closer to the reality we want than the racer you show whose engine life is measured in hours.  This bike still has too much unneeded stuff on it, however, at least it is in the arena we are talking about - using a Blast motor and XB frame (hell - all I need are XB forks,trees, wheels and tires and front brake and my project will be ready to assemble). EZ | ||
| Krid80 |
ftbstrd those 450moto bikes are awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! | ||
| Ezblast |
40 to 120 hr life on the motors - enjoy rich boy! - lol  | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
40 to 120 hr life on the motors - enjoy rich boy! Agreed. It wouldn't prevent them from "Blastizing" the concept, though. I'd like a Mono GP bike I could actually ride TO the curves. As it stands now, I'd need to do a tear down and rebuild once I got to the good roads, another after I had ridden them, and yet another after I got home. There is just so much good homologation between models in the XB line as well as a little in the 1125R line that it would just make sense to upgrade the Blast that way as well. My fear is that the best mod to expect would be a bright shiny new commemorative sticker.  As great as the Blast is, as it currently stands, I would never own one. I WANT to want one.} I like the XB conversion. | ||
| Ezblast |
We all do - and thats our point - it would cost Buell practically nothing to do an updated Blast - answering past weaknesses and addressing concerns would make the model awesome for all us single fans. Yeah - I figure a sticker as well - which is why I say no stickers for me - show me the magic that is Buell! EZ | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
I could see Buell setting the bar in a heavily under served portion of the market with an updated Blast that's for sure. Not to get too far off topic, but why do you thing that Buell has gone so long without an update? Ninja 250 syndrome? I agree. Keep the sticker if that's all that they are going to improve. | ||
| Ezblast |
I understand tooling up for a new model - the engineering resources, etc. that would hold up everything else - including dirt bike divisions, etc., and the Blast is still the most reliable Buell and HD product to date - lol, still I'm hoping he'll realize how popular this puppy has been, combine with how its helped the company, and do a limited edition revamp before its retired and the Helicon takes over everything. Not just for sentimentality but a LE could also be a good way to test the waters for regular sales of such a bike - EZ | ||
| Krid80 |
it is feasible to have a bike like the 450 moto for the street. for example, take a stock 450 or 525 KTM motor and put it in that ultra-lightweight race bike chassis, and it will be likely more reliable than a blast and definately faster. | ||
| Ezblast |
The trick is it would still have to serve its base customers as well as the new group you and others - myself included - would represent - so it would have to be a bike both friendly to newbe and single/thumper lovers such as ourselves. EZ | ||
| Luckyduck |
A several point rant on motorcycle design and use philosophy: One thing that was a huge factor for me in buying the Blast and not a KTM or even a Suzuki was that you do not have to adjust the valves or any regular maintenance that if skipped on a long trip will end with a destroyed motor. Basically you should be able to buy it, drive it, and change the oil. KTM/450 dirt bike maintenance levels would take me out of the buyers pool on an XB6 sort of bike. Personally, I will never consider owning an 1125R . If you are only going to use the first 50hp when riding under 100mph on the roads, why pay the penalty of expense, complication and weight to put the extra 114hp in there? The Buell genious is simple, lightweight sport bikes that are fun. Let's try to get more of that. Anyone can buy a Hyabusa or whatever and be just like everyone else. An XB6 would be in a class by itself. Paul ps. Sorry for the rant. | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
Simplicity (and price) is why I too bought the Blast. Great combo for a 'commuter' bike and its paid off in many other ways too. | ||
| Ezblast |
True - simplicity was the reason I bought it - and though we talk of extras that are pretty wild - In reality - all I am asking is if Buell is going to do anything with it because the issues it does occasionally have could be easily addressed and fixed - perhaps something as simple as an extra QC inspection at the head bolts and muffler welds - I don't know - I do know of problems that the Blast has happened more than just a few times, and the factory has been told about the boot an infinite amount of times by now - lol - and it could use a face lift just as the Ninja 250 and KLR got one, and finally a few updates using existing XB parts - trany, XB9 Pist/head/cam/rpm limmit would really make the bike a much better bike while keeping it in the range of its intended customer base and incur little if any extra cost - surely these are not outlandish things for Buell to consider and perhaps act upon. Sincerely - EZ (Message edited by ezblast on January 20, 2008) |
