Author |
Message |
Titusand
| Posted on Monday, May 24, 2010 - 04:31 pm: |
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What power improvements can be done without changing the stock look? By the way I've really become a huge Blast fan. This is such a great design and just so economical to run. I didn't know until lately how expensive many other bikes are to operate and what a huge bargain the Blast is. |
Tnthumper
| Posted on Monday, May 24, 2010 - 06:48 pm: |
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I am not sure the exact numbers but you can replace stock air cleaner with a K&N or replace stock airbox completely. That is one easy place to start. John |
Titusand
| Posted on Monday, May 24, 2010 - 10:17 pm: |
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I am a bit skeptical about "high-performance" filters. Even K&N doesn't publish data, but many others do, and the flow increase is slight (as in less than 1/2 of 1 percent). |
Gearheaderiko
| Posted on Tuesday, May 25, 2010 - 12:17 am: |
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There is a lot you can do and keep the stock look. The exhaust is the biggest limiting factor, but the list of mods is endless and it'll still look stock. It will cost you $$$$. Is there a specific reason you want it to look stock? |
Sycho
| Posted on Tuesday, May 25, 2010 - 12:33 am: |
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"(Is there a specific reason you want it to look stock?)" Lol, Sleeper? |
Titusand
| Posted on Tuesday, May 25, 2010 - 12:39 am: |
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The stock look, aside from the flyscreen, is a pure personal preference. If the mods are expensive, I don't need or want them. I got this thing to show how inexpensive riding can be. I decided to run it on the expressway and got it up to 86 MPH before I ran out of free space, and then ran it for a bit at 80 (and this is bone stock) and it was as smooth as glass, and I still had some power reserve. There have been many opinions I have read about the Blast's highway ability but it seems to me that the engineers made several interesting choices here, primarily that this engine will move this motorcycle well enough to keep up with most interstate traffic, that a less powerful engine wouldn't do that, and that a larger engine might take it out of the "starter bike" class in the minds of many. If it'll do 80+ smoothly, I can't imagine (as a new rider, anyway) why I would need more power. |
Titusand
| Posted on Tuesday, May 25, 2010 - 12:43 am: |
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I would like to know, though, about how many RPM's it runs at 80mph. |
Titusand
| Posted on Tuesday, May 25, 2010 - 12:48 am: |
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The decals on this 2004 (which had 162 miles on it when I bought it in March 2010) are not too appealing, especially the one on the flyscreen, although I have had a couple of nice words regarding the "American Motorcycles" on the gas tank cover. I might keep the gas tank ones on, even though they are dorky. Someone really needs to slug the marketer who told them to make the exclamation point part of the name. It's probably the same idiot who told them to crush a Blast when the cancelled the Buell name from the Blast. (Message edited by titusand on May 25, 2010) |
Gearheaderiko
| Posted on Tuesday, May 25, 2010 - 01:16 am: |
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About 6500rpms (or redline) in 4th at 80mph. I dont remember how many in 5th They've had worse decals and yeah, the exclamation point does make the joke Besides the stock airbox free breathing mods and K & N filter, tuning in the carb (and timing) can help. The exhaust is $200+ and is one of the very few things that can give you more power and better mpg. Most other improvements will cost you money and mpg (not entirely true though. You can get more power and good mileage but that will, again, cost $$$). Keeping up on the maintenance will help too-mostly correct adjustment if the primary chain. Too loose or too tight will cost you power. Go for more power when you get tired of the good gas mileage! It'll run all day at 80-85mph, stock. |
Titusand
| Posted on Tuesday, May 25, 2010 - 01:38 am: |
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If 80 is redline in 4th, then 94.5 mph would be redline in fifth. I have not heard anyone say a stock Blast will hit 94mph. |
Buellistic
| Posted on Tuesday, May 25, 2010 - 11:45 am: |
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BLUE PRINT the intake port ... Clean up the INTAKE and EXHAUST ports ... |
Gearheaderiko
| Posted on Tuesday, May 25, 2010 - 07:51 pm: |
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A stock Blast will hit 96 mph if conditions are right! |
Titusand
| Posted on Tuesday, May 25, 2010 - 11:29 pm: |
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Really? 96 with the wind to your back and some nice, cool dry air for the motor, I bet. Wow. What do you mean by clean up the intake and exhaust ports? |
Titusand
| Posted on Tuesday, May 25, 2010 - 11:40 pm: |
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I am supposing that changing the spark plug won't make much difference? |
Gearheaderiko
| Posted on Wednesday, May 26, 2010 - 01:17 am: |
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A good sparkplug can make a difference. |
Ezblast
| Posted on Wednesday, May 26, 2010 - 01:26 am: |
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I've hit 96 and the limiter a few times - lol - modify the motor enough and you'll hit it regularly as well, that is why the aftermarket ignition, head upgrades, etc. - unless you have the 2000 with its slightly different gearing - will hit 100 - Try this - a new stock plug, and an Irridium Racing plug - I know the answer, but you try it and you'll choose the Irridium - that simple. EZ |
Milt
| Posted on Wednesday, May 26, 2010 - 10:02 am: |
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Right conditions: Downhill, wind at your back, in a full tuck.... |
Titusand
| Posted on Wednesday, May 26, 2010 - 01:13 pm: |
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Can you give me the name and model # of a plug that I might try? |
Monzaracer
| Posted on Wednesday, May 26, 2010 - 01:30 pm: |
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Actually K&N has many published test of stock vs K&N, the other ability of K&N is that you can literally have one packed solid with dirt and flow much more than stock. I have used K&N for years, with zero effects on longevity, but many hp/tq numbers increased. I can say either the Denso Iridium or the HD gold plug both perform very well. I wish I had a cross to the AC Delco as I have sold many HD riders with fouling issues on champions or the old HD plugs(not gold line) especially with bad tuning. I sent one guy to dyno with AC delco rapidfires and the dyno operator switched totally until Iridium's came out |
Titusand
| Posted on Wednesday, May 26, 2010 - 01:41 pm: |
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So you are convinced on the effect of a K&N on the Blast then. Have you (or anyone else here) done a side-by-side seat of the pants comparison? I see on Amazon.com reviews a lot of people (for the car filters anyway) see no effect from the K&R. |
Ezblast
| Posted on Wednesday, May 26, 2010 - 03:37 pm: |
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The K&N and the Kerker together actually performed worse than the stock setup - which is why Dynojets directions are the reverse of the twins directions - which are correct. The Denso # is - IXU01-27 - don't forget to red locktite the ceramic to the solenoid. EZ |
Titusand
| Posted on Sunday, May 30, 2010 - 09:56 pm: |
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Apparently this is the spark plug that is the improvement for the blast, Denso IXU01-27. Has anyone used it? |
Ezblast
| Posted on Monday, May 31, 2010 - 01:51 am: |
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Yes, both bikes, and come plug change time, on the CR as well - that exact stock number. The trick with the plugs you choose is to make sure you stay to stock coolness level - NGK 9 or HD/Champion 12 - those numbers always useful for comparison, the rest being fit and style dimensional numbers - thread size, etc. - 8mm wire is a small step from the stock 7mm - may not be worth an upgrade? - EZ |
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