Author |
Message |
Jettdawg
| Posted on Friday, September 12, 2008 - 06:58 pm: |
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Just got the new Motorcyclist mag in the mail... on the cover: "$miles per gallon: Laugh at high gas prices!" They tested 4 bikes that get 68 mpg or more, but the Blast wasn't one of them. WTH? |
Pkforbes87
| Posted on Friday, September 12, 2008 - 07:10 pm: |
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I noticed the same thing. The article was supposedly focused on the lowest priced, and most fuel efficient entry level motorcycles. The Blast should have been mentioned in place of the Suzuki DR-Z400SM since it's less expensive, and gets better fuel mileage. |
Seanp
| Posted on Friday, September 12, 2008 - 08:32 pm: |
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I saw an article about beginner bikes in one of the magazines a little while back, and they had catchy titles for all the bikes. Instead of something catchy, for the Blast they had "Low Cost, Low Comfort" or something rather derogatory. |
Wile_ecoyote
| Posted on Friday, September 12, 2008 - 09:28 pm: |
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I believe the article was about 08 models only. |
Cityxslicker
| Posted on Saturday, September 13, 2008 - 02:30 am: |
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they are no longer building the Blast, pst, pass on the rumor, maybe we will end up getting a rotax powered 450 sm/ds out of it . |
Corporatemonkey
| Posted on Saturday, September 13, 2008 - 07:05 am: |
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I know the blast gets blasted by the press, but for a lot of people their first experience with a blast is not great. A few years ago my father took a MSF course to get his moto endorsement. At the time I didn't know what he rode on. Fast forward to when I got my Buell. His first comment was, "oh god what a horrible little bike." I scratched my head wondering what would prompt that kind of comment. Turns out my old man didn't know anything about Buell. He rode a blast during his MSF course. It of course vibrated badly at slow speed. Produced a good amount of heat, and ultimately refused to start after the charging system didn't keep up after a long course day. My father compared it to a rental car. Something you could ride, but something you would never want to buy. The press may have only had a brief encounter with a Blast, and maybe they have a bias because of it. |
Prof_stack
| Posted on Saturday, September 13, 2008 - 09:58 am: |
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They are no longer building the Blast, pst, pass on the rumor, maybe we will end up getting a rotax powered 450 sm/ds out of it. Sounds promising... fwiw: I had a great time putting 10k miles on a 2000 Blast. Even a self-induced high side (through some sand into a curb) in '01 didn't deter me from riding. |
Mikef5000
| Posted on Saturday, September 13, 2008 - 11:14 am: |
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Was the Ninja 500 included in the test? Comparison's don't normally pay any attention to bikes that have been unchanged for a decade, dispite how fitting they might be. |
Jettdawg
| Posted on Saturday, September 13, 2008 - 11:52 am: |
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No, but the Ninja 250 was. |
Xb984r
| Posted on Saturday, September 13, 2008 - 12:08 pm: |
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"No, but the Ninja 250 was." Jettdawg,you do know that the Ninja 250 was completely redone for 2008? |
Mikef5000
| Posted on Saturday, September 13, 2008 - 12:30 pm: |
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"No, but the Ninja 250 was." Jettdawg,you do know that the Ninja 250 was completely redone for 2008? Bingo. |
Jettdawg
| Posted on Saturday, September 13, 2008 - 12:55 pm: |
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Yes, I do know that. I was only answering Mikef5000's question. |
Djkaplan
| Posted on Saturday, September 13, 2008 - 01:28 pm: |
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"...for a lot of people their first experience with a blast is not great." Mine wasn't. Maybe it was the particular bike I demo'd. |
Froggy
| Posted on Saturday, September 13, 2008 - 02:22 pm: |
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Demoed a Blast a few weeks ago, complained about issues with getting stuck in neutral, grinding gears, and in general no feel if the bike actually went in gear. Now its gone from the demo truck, perhaps they threw it off a cliff! |
Cityxslicker
| Posted on Saturday, September 13, 2008 - 06:47 pm: |
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Let me know where that cliff is, I could use a donor |
Rainman
| Posted on Saturday, September 13, 2008 - 06:53 pm: |
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My Blast reminds me of my 1989 Sportster. It sometimes misses a shift between first and second, sometimes grinds a little but it always runs wild. The poor things don't like being cooped up on the Riders Edge course, but they're one of the few bikes you can ride off the course and hit the highway at 80 mph up a mountain. That's what I did with mine. |
2008xb12scg
| Posted on Saturday, September 13, 2008 - 07:20 pm: |
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My first bike was a blast. I had fun on it. Hated the anme though, "blast" can you make it sound any more girly? But I had no problems with it. I can't compare it to much, only riden the Blast and My Lightning. |
Froggy
| Posted on Saturday, September 13, 2008 - 07:46 pm: |
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Sure you can make it more girly, put a sticker that says "883" on it |
Glitch
| Posted on Saturday, September 13, 2008 - 08:31 pm: |
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Let me know where that cliff is, I could use a donor I believe it was right about there.
|
Crusty
| Posted on Saturday, September 13, 2008 - 09:53 pm: |
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Just one question; has Motorcyclist ever not dissed a Buell? |
Bads1
| Posted on Saturday, September 13, 2008 - 10:06 pm: |
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Crusty, I may be wrong but I think they have never said good until a local Wiscosonite and writer for Motorcyclist Aaron Frank came on Board. |
Citified
| Posted on Saturday, September 13, 2008 - 10:16 pm: |
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even Aaron said the ulysses sucked when he finished his longterm test |
Bads1
| Posted on Saturday, September 13, 2008 - 10:19 pm: |
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I read it and I didn't see that. But he did praise it highly through the longterm test. |
Koz5150
| Posted on Sunday, September 14, 2008 - 12:18 am: |
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I believe Aaron talked about how the bike was fun in it's own element. But also talked about how it stumbled and would stall even after 2 FI remaps were done by the dealers. Overall it was a mixed review. I think Motorcyclist has given fair reviews of the Buells they tested. However the theme that always seems to come out is that the bike tested was fun, but they were hoping for more. It always seems to be they are looking for more power, higher quality, better price vs. performance results. |
Koz5150
| Posted on Sunday, September 14, 2008 - 12:19 am: |
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Dana, heard you talking about getting out of the Buell game. Kids and work have a tendancy to do that. I know my miles logged are down this year. |
Ezblast
| Posted on Sunday, September 14, 2008 - 03:32 pm: |
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When they where doing the MPG test the Blast came in second - now because if the Ninja's redoing of its fueling system for more bottom end (sacrificing top end - now the same as the Blasts ignition controlled 95 mph - down from the 101 it used to be - though a 2000 Blast will top out at just above 100), it would come in first - I wonder if they would even point that out. EZ |
Bads1
| Posted on Sunday, September 14, 2008 - 08:23 pm: |
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Koz, I know I have thought of it but I still enjoy the time I do get. Hell I just bought a new wheel for it. (Message edited by bads1 on September 14, 2008) |