| Author | Message | ||
     Zane |
Ok guys, got a couple more questions about the Blast. 1) If I drive like a normal person and not some wild man, how close to the 69/73 mpg target will I get? Most my driving will be mixed city and highway. Call it a 50/50 mix. No matter what it is, it's got to be better than my pickup. Heck, if it's anywhere close to advertised, I'll make my payment on the gas savings alone. 2) I'm a pretty handy kind of guy. What sort of maintenance and repair items can the non professional do to keep cost down? 3) What weakness does the Blast have? I don't care about it being slower than a Firebolt. I drive like a little ol' man most the time. I'm thinking more along the lines of design problems: Does it have any nasty characteristics to watch out for or does anything tend to wear out or break too fast. That sort of thing. I keep looking at the other bikes on the market and for a bike in that class, I just can't find anything that seems like a better buy. Z | ||
| Zane |
Oh, and two more questions while I'm at it: If you were buying a blast, what goodies would you consider as must haves, like to haves and stay away? I'm thinking that the bags are a must have option and a windshield would be a like to have option. Your thoughts? Also how does the blast do riding double? After I get a couple months of riding under my belt, my 13 year old expects to be on the back. As he put it "Dad, don't even think about leaving me behind or there is gonna be trouble of epic proportions!" Is he a great kid or what? | ||
| Ezblast |
Mixed mileage should be around 55 to 60, do all your maint., it is easy, the only week spot in the bike would be the intake boot - which is fine 99% of the time in stock applications but not so reliable when using after-market intakes, and I would still replace it every other year - it is rubber after all. Being a single - rear tires will usually only last 3000 to 4000 miles. Double riding is doable and since your not looking for greased lightning - it will be fine in that regard. I like naked, but if you must have a windshield - the Givi brand offers several nice options. For long distance riding a Corbin seat is a must, and a lot of folks use the Chase-Harper bags. EZ | ||
| Reuel |
Before I started messing with things, I was getting about 65 mpg. Sargent Cycle has an alternative to the Corbin. They do it like you want them to, but you have to send them a stock seat for them to modify. Mine cost $295 for what I had them do to it. LEDs can help increase visibility. I make a setup that uses stock housings. You'll find that, in general, work you do on your Blast will be more reliable than professional work. Most things, if done by the book, will be just right. Read about primary chain tensioning for something that isn't quite right in the manual. These are dependable machines! | ||
| Zane |
Thanks for response guys. Before I started working as a computer geek, I worked in the trades. I miss working with my hands and when I get to, it's like therapy for me. I can't see me doing a lot of big mods on my baby but I agree that doing the maintenance not only save money but it'll get done with some TLC instead of just some slapped dash get're done kind of way. One of the reasons I never could make much money as a mechanic was that I took too much of a perfectionist attitude. That won't be a problem with my person machine. EZ, sounds like you're not a big fan of windshields. I agree it doesn't do anything for the looks of the bike. Sounds like you'd class it as not necessary at all. I'll look at the both the Corbin and Sargent Cycle seats. I like my big fat rear end to be as comfy as possible. So far the only real grip I have about the Buell is that it only comes in Black or White. For me, a black one I think. | ||
| Luckyduck |
Zane, For luggage, I used the Ventura rack with an SX Appeal top case. The picture is in my profile. My wife likes having something behind her when we ride 2 up. The Blast is a tough little bugger for 2 up. I have had it at 65mph up big hills with 330lbs of us and about 50 lbs of party supplies. To the point of the top case and saddle bags were full and we had a 6 pack split between the pockets of our riding gear. It bottoms out once in a while.  The Corbin seat is great for long days. If I got another, it would have the seat pan an inch taller than standard. My Buell windshield just got taken off for a fly screen. It was just too much. That is it. Doing your own repairs and maintenance is way easier than my other bike was. Oh, for the colors. Decal kits are easy to find. You could have an extra speed producing racing stripe as well. Paul ps. sorry for ripping on your plan to get a bigger bike. | ||
| Zane |
Paul, Don't sweat it. Gettin' picked on a little just makes me feel at home. I was ready to put down money this weekend but my soon to be ex wife pulled come crap that sucked up some of my m/c money. Now I'm delayed until my tax refund comes in. Can you say frustrated!!!!!! Well, it'll give me time to take the riders edge course. I haven't been on a bike at all in 30 years so I'm starting from scratch. When I was a teenager, my brother had an old Honda 305 Dream. I rode it more than he ever did...lol | ||
| Xgecko |
in addition to a Corbin seat think about an Alaskan Leather Sheepskin pad....I rode 1200 miles on one for a weekend trip to try it out and it will never leave my blast again size Med triangle pad fits a corbin seat | ||
| Swampy |
Must have on my list would be Avon Vyper Strykes in the larger size. Super bike bars. If I wasn't concerned about the performance of the tire and had a concern about getting long wear I might look into the Avon AM26. Two up riding is doable, but you teen is going to want a bike of his own ASAP! | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
Zane, Welcome! Blast body panels are available in a variety of colours. You can swap them out later. I dont like windshields either, but thats a personal choice among riders, they have their place.I only have a fairing on the raceBlast but may eventually use a small one on my 'road' (touring) bike. Feel whats real, live windshield free! | ||
| Reuel |
When it's 23 degrees, a windshield is nice. I'll probably take mine off when it warms up.  | ||
| Xgecko |
when it's 23 degree's out heated grips are more important than a windshield... | ||
| Zane |
Guys, I live if the Tampa Bay area of Florida. I don't go outside when it's 23 degrees. No chance I'll be on a bike in that kinda temp. If God had wanted me to live in temps like that he'd have covered me with blubber. oh wait a second... Strike that last part. Seriously, seems like a wind shield would keep me from eating all the bugs around here and since I'll be using it to commute to work, it'll help keep me clean. | ||
| Ezblast |
FULL FACE HELMET! - LOL | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
Reuel,Xgecko,Zane. LOL!!! Yeah, those bugs in the high humidity states can be nasty! (Message edited by gearheaderiko on March 15, 2008) | ||
| Ezblast |
dealing? - sorry about the caps - lol - I work in caps and was in a rush, but really a full face helmet and moist paper towel in your pocket to wipe the visor with in your pocket for trips is an old trick, and I still recommend full face/flip up type helmet. EZ | ||
| Xgecko |
I was just saying....I pretty much rode all winter (in CT/RI) excluding some days when the weather (snow) prevented me from getting the motorcycle out of the garage. Heated grips was the one thing that made a huge difference. BTW I do consider myself spoiled I wear leather gloves down into the 30s and sumergloves into the 50's because a little heat makes it better. but true decadence is warm hands in the pouring rain  (Message edited by Xgecko on March 15, 2008) | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
That was just a funny set of posts (imo), especially ending with the blubber remark! I've found that we all have different ways to keep warm and what is important to keep warm. 29 degrees was the cutoff for the old XL to start. After that its was too chancy to ride as it might not start once I got to where I was going (and the engine cooled). | ||
| Rainman |
OK, gotta get my three cents in before the economy makes them more worthless than they are: My B is totally stock and in town driving with moderate throttle control, I get a consistent 60 to 63 mpg. On the highway, I get 70 at 65 and then it drops the higher the speeds go. I haven't added anything yet, but I'm looking for either chase-harper or cortech sportbags and tailpack. I was looking at the Ventura pack, but I'm a bit broke for awhile. I may get a windshield for a proposed 12-hour freeeway ride this summer, but otherwise I don't find it necessary. Have fun. It's a great bike and more fun than my Gold Wing ever was in the city. | ||
| Themagster |
I sear by the Cortech bags, especially the sport tail bag. With built in bungee cords - it is so convenient to use. Back hooks attached right to the rear fender, I hook the front right in front of the rear passenger pegs. I can have the bag on and off in about 10 seconds. Lots of room and durable. I have put it through the paces. Great choice of bags. | ||
| Themagster |
BTW - Rainman - ever go to the Buddhist Biker Bar & Grill? One of my favorite finds while out on the road...is it still there? | ||
| Fast1075 |
I too live in Central Florida...I always do the full face helmet thing...I absolutely hate fork mounted fairings, they ruin the handling of nearly any bike...but run into a swarm of midges without a shield and you will be utterly blind in seconds...I USED TO ride in the cold...and rain...and loved it!....but that was when a 500cc bike was still considered to be large!!! Now I'm old and jaded...and after having owned, built and raced some rather extreme "import" dragbikes...fast to me anymore is a relative term...with my Blast I dont think ET or MPH...its all about the MPG's! and as an extra bonus a little light duty corner burnin' |
