| Author | Message | ||
     Oldog |
Hey Brankin Thanks so much for sharing this | ||
| Firemanjim |
Brankin, met Scott at Homecoming this year, we got pulled over together. He is good people!! Get that poor S-2 owner a proper backing plate,please!!! | ||
| 1313 |
With 131 pictures still left to post (and unfortunately some words needing to be typed to give some background info) I've got a feeling that finishing this will be an abitious project for tomorrow night... Boy, does it ever feel ambitious at this moment! We'll see just how much I can get down in a short time. The good thing is that I still have one more day before New Years Eve - I misread the calendar over my Dad's desk when I looked at it last night. So without any further delay... Below is a picture of 3 bikes.  From L to R; the Molten Orange S1 is owned by Michael (and the bike was originally registered in NC, USA), the X1 in the middle is owned by Frank (not that Frank, i.e. not my close friend in germany Frank), while the X1 on the right is owned by my very close German friend Frank. For lack of better descriptors, Frank #2's X1:  Has some unique features, including this carbon fiber tail section originally made by RRC and in VERY SMALL NUMBERS.  Am I the only one confused by multiple people named Frank? 1313 | ||
| 1313 |
Okay, here is my close friend Frank's X1. At least how it looked at this years MSM. Every year the bike seems to change a little...  About the only changes for this year were limited to some artwork on the chin fairing.   Word is that Frank (#1) just bought the M2 that I rode at the 2007 MSM and will be putting that powertrain into the X1 rolling chassis he has. I can't wait to see what he does with his new project, 1313 | ||
| 1313 |
Just like in the US, S to R and R to S conversions, and as evidenced here - partial conversions - are very popular.   A little banner to identify a campsite:  And some slick tank art:  I guess I should've said some 'airbox cover art'... 1313 | ||
| 1313 |
KILL'er Buell! I know I probably posted pictures of this bike from the 2007 MSM, but I just love the bike - and I haven't even seen the movie that is hinted at...     KILL'er Buell indeed! 1313 | ||
| 1313 |
Whoever at Buell says that Sport Tourer's don't sell, needs to spend some time in Germany. Even though the comments may still fly that Sport Tourer's don't sell after spending some time there, I'm sure that some note will be taken of how many 'other motorcycles' have provisions added (either by the Deutsch aftermarket, or the owners ingenuity) to haul some stuff. Here's an example (albeit, a mild one) of how one MSM attendee arrived on his XB Lightning:  For some reason I never tire of seeing this headlight on a tuber:  The rest of the bike is pretty sweet as well:  Next to the X1 was this pretty slick Green XB Lightning:  113 left to go... 1313 | ||
| 1313 |
Something neat at this years MSM was the central building that was used for drink sales (Bier and other alcoholic beverages). Off the top of my head (and looking at the few pics I have with me) I can't remember if it's floorplan was hexagon or octagon shaped. But it had some pretty interesting decor on the walls. Obviously showcasing what that particular area in Germany is known for.    And, of course, my favorite T-shirt pic just happened to be taken inside that building:  And you probably thinking that I was going to forget to post my favorite T-shirt... 1313 | ||
| 1313 |
From the pictures I posted from Hamburg Harley Days, I included an air intake off a H-D Big Twin. Well Buell also did something similar with the HDI tubers. For the enlightenment of anyone who hasn't seen what it looks like on a S1, M2 or S3 (it is quite a bit different - but WAY LESS noticeable - on the X1), here it is:  Traveling by motorcycle - ain't it GREAT!  Hey, I think I've seen that logo somewhere before...  Now take a look at this next bike and answer one question for me:  Is it just me, or does this headlight and fairing-  scream Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots? I think it's cool none-the-less, 1313 | ||
| 1313 |
Werner's (xBORG's Blake) latest, a XB12X:  Honestly, I never really liked X1's all that much (EXCEPT for project Diablo...) until I started seeing the customized ones in Germany.  There are just so many ways to go with them.  Black and Red - I love it!  1313 | ||
| 1313 |
  Every year I notice something on at least one bike at the MSM that becomes something normal for Buell to do in production. For example, this past year I noticed a few bikes with red painted front calipers, which would come out on certain 1125CR's for the 2009 MY.  But this particular bike had both of it's calipers painted red.  96 Flaschen des Biers auf der Wand (96 bottles of beer on the wall) Really 96 pictures left to post, 1313 (Message edited by 1313 on December 30, 2008) | ||
| 1313 |
Seems to be equal billing to me...  I don't know why they chose the Americanized spelling...   Flat black sure does carry some attitude, but with shiny header pipes?!?!  Oh the contrast, 1313 | ||
| 1313 |
Talk about contrast...Compare this XBS with the one in the last picture...  Sure, sport-tourer's don't sell well, but there's one in every crowd...   I guess when you don't have a sport-tourer, like this wise man did with the Green S1 here, you get your better half to haul all the crap with her ride (in this case a Yamaha)...  I guess I should take it easy with Sport-Tourer's, huh? 1313 | ||
| 1313 |
Guess what one of the bikes that Frankfurt Buell brought to the MSM was? That's right, Buell's 'latest' Sport-Tourer, the XB12XT:  Oh yeah, they had 1125R's as well. Such as this 'billboard' for the full fairing:    Outnumbered...as always! 1313 | ||
| 1313 |
One doesn't normally equate tricked out bikes to driving schools, but I guess that is something else that is different in Germany.    Gee, where have I seen that red caliper idea before?  1313 | ||
| 1313 |
And it continues on the other side... COOL Key!  Onto the side rails:  And over the taillight:  Right now I'm sitting here wondering if I already posted a picture of this Green XB Lightning. After all, how many Green XB Lightning's are there?  1313 | ||
| 1313 |
Here's the RRC trailer. I love seeing this trailer! You can probably figure it out, but I really dig how it says 'Parts for Buell motorcycles' before 'Parts for Harley-Davidson Motorcycles':  Interesting White XB Lightning:  Hey, what's it say on the air box cover?  1313 | ||
| 1313 |
'99 X1 blue race stripe:  Couple of friends, from I forget where, man on the Uly and woman on the Firebolt:  LSMFT!   WUNDERBAR! 1313 | ||
| 1313 |
As you can tell by the latest pictures, darkness is beginning to set in which signals the end of the day on Friday. I will leave you for today with a few parting (action) shots from Friday nights festivities:     Along with some teasers for the next installment: - 65 more pictures from the MSM - my unforgettable experience taking a demo ride on the XR1200 in Germany - some more action shots (with even more gusto) from Saturday Until my next installment - HAPPY BUELLING, 1313 | ||
| F_skinner |
Brankin, excellent pics. They really know how to customize a Buell. It is nice to see them keep the frame and basic looks of the Buell instead of the take the motor out and put it in a rigid frame and call it a custom like you see here a lot. Looks like they have a lot of pride in the brand. I would love to make it over there some time just to check out all the bikes and the people that ride them. The quality and quantity of work that went into some of those bikes is fantastic. Keep those pics coming. Frank | ||
| Blake |
Nice photos and accompanying commentary Brankin! Thanks for taking time to share it all. Very cool! Happy New Year! | ||
| Id073897 |
Thanks a lot Brankin for propagating this year's MSM. Hope we meet again in Cologne next year! | ||
| 1313 |
Hallo Gunter! I also hope that we meet again next year! I've never been to Cologne, just like many places in Germany, but the more I experience the better. Now, on with the 2008 MSM coverage from Saturday. The number of vendors was a little less than in 2007, but there were still some very high quality items available. RRC had their (as usual) impressive display. This year there was a project X1 on display,  As usual, the paintwork on any bikes in the RRC display is phenomenal. As evidenced here by this XB Lightning:  As the picture I posted earlier in the 'picture-up' showed RRC also makes parts for H-D's. This V-Rod Street Rod was a repeat from last year's RRC display for the MSM, but it looks a little bit different this year,  It also packs a few choice components:  I guess I should have posted this overall picture of all of the demo bikes Frankfurt H-D/Buell had at the MSM earlier. The bikes ranged from 3 1125R's, a few different Lightning's, an XB12XT and an XR1200.  There'll be more about the demo rides a little later. Particularly on an 1125R and the XR1200. 1313 | ||
| 1313 |
Just like in 2007, there was some rain during the MSM. Not as much as 2007, but it wasn't perfect weather all the time either. It certainly didn't dampen any spirits, just made for some good photo ops.  Even with the rain drops dried off the following tank, the lighting helps with the composition of the picture (of what is my favorite design from the 2008 MSM).  If it wasn't blatantly copying someone elses work, I'd have to put this design on one of my Buell's:  Mr. morals, 1313 | ||
| 1313 |
    Misc. bike pics - no typing... 1313 | ||
| 1313 |
Here's a few pics of me just before taking a demo ride on an 1125R. It was only the 2nd 1125R that I had been on, and I didn't feel too comfortable on an 1125R at that point. Couple that with unfamiliar turf - the roads around the MSM were narrower than US roads and curvy with very little sight distance through the curves - and I was a little timid to 'give it all it had' even though in the German countryside it would've been completely 'legal'. Here's the 3%er salute:  I guess I need longer arms to get the effect I was after in this picture - pointing to the  sticker on the back of my helmet with one hand and pointing to the German number plate on the back of the 1125R with the other.  I can't really remember exactly how fast I went on the 1125R, but I seem to remember it being somewhere around 165 KM/hr, which converts to just over 100 MPH. So yeah, not letting it all hang out, but definitely better than US demo rides. The XR1200 demo ride I took is a whole 'nother story, but will have to wait for the pictures to come up. After the 1125R demo ride I went for a ride (on the borrowed '98 S1) with Michael, Frank and Frank:  And I couldn't get the Buell grin off my face... 1313 | ||
| 1313 |
The MSM is open to all motorcycles, so the possibility exists to see some unusual stuff. The 2008 edition was no different. It was the first time I had seen a KTM RC8, and the next time wouldn't be until the KTM demo rides that just happened to be happening during the weekend of Buelltoberfest at TWO in Suches, GA. But here's my first:     1313 | ||
| 1313 |
Although this muffler looks non-intuitive, apparently it must work decently.  One VERY cool thing about 2008 was that for the Louis Company 70 year anniversary, the giveaway bike was a Buell 1125R.  Below is a VERY, VERY, VERY cool detail on a front sprocket cover. I hope it shows up decently...  Man, there are many times I look at an S1 and kick myself for never buying one.  Not only did this XB Lightning have some wicked paint,  but it also had a lot of work done to the air box cover to make it unique:  1313 | ||
| 1313 |
As this first year S3 with deep bags (which certainly must be a really rare bike in Germany) clearly shows, there's more than one in every crowd.  Sweet X1:  At first I struggled with this Duc fairing on the X1, even though the multiple Pegasus stickers helped a little-  Looking at it from the right side, it started to sink in a little-  But it really wasn't until this close scrutiny that I really 'got it'-  I got it now! 1313 | ||
| 1313 |
Some more misc. pics with little to no typing:   You know there was a day when I really didn't like the Ulysses...I still think they're ugly in stock form (notice my Ulysses XT has a Firebolt front fairing on it...), but there's something about this Uly that makes it for me.  Now here is something truly unusual. See if you can figure it out before it's revealed. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't have believed it. What is that strapped to the back of the bike?   Now look at the passenger on the bike on the right...  WHODATHUNKIT? 1313 |
