| Author | Message | ||
     Db4570 |
I posted this on another forum a few days ago with no response, so let's see if you guys can do better. I was originally thinking about Lightnings, but saw a really clean M2 Cyclone at the dealership, and it really caught my eye. I am going to go back for a test ride, and want to know what I should look for. I have never owned a Buell, and ridden one only once. Japanese bikes I have a pretty good feel for, as far as whether they sound and feel right, and I can look for potential pitfalls. But I'm in new territory here. Any suggestions on things to check or watch for so I don't get something with problems? It's a 2000. How much should I try to get it for? It's in very good shape cosmetically, with a couple minor scuffs, and an aftermarket seat and K&N, which is all I noticed so far. Thanks for any help! David | ||
| Two_seasons |
I'd say ~~~ $2500 to $3000 depending on mileage. What to look for... 1) Make sure it shifts smoothly 2) Make sure it has functional brakes 3) Ask dealer to check for any DTC's (diagnostic trouble codes) 4) Make sure you have front fender, rear hugger (goes over the top of the tire) and safety guards around the rear belt area Added bonuses... 1) breather re-route into a can 2) better seat than stock 3) new or almost new tires 4) bar-end mirrors That is about all I can think of off the top of my head. | ||
| Devdawg |
Check exhaust studs and front exhaust mount for breaks. Both very common... | ||
| Ratbuell |
There better not be any DTC's on a Cyclone. It's carbureted. | ||
| Schwiiing |
There won't be any Diagnostic Trouble Codes. The M2 is a carburated bike, not EFI. Have them run the VIN and make sure all of the recalls have been dealt with. The exhaust mount issue is resolved w/ an (upside down) 'Y' shaped front hangar. The stock is 'L' shaped. This was not covered under recall, but if not replaced, will make you crazy with broken exhaust mounts. The stock seat on a 2000 M2 should be just fine. It's wider than pre-99 models and far more comfortable than that on a stock S1 - I've done 14+ hour days on mine more than a few times. If it has many miles on it, you'll want to see if the front isolator has been replaced. The original design was prone to tearing and will increase engine vibrations significantly leading to broken motor mounts and other nastiness. This (again) is not a recall issue, but is something that will need to be done eventually - when the original fails, no need to do it sooner. You'll want to know if the head gaskets have been replaced. The original ones were a cardboard type material and will blow out and leak. The replacements are metal. Yes, once again, not covered under a recall. Overall, they're great bikes. Of the Buell line-up (at the time) they were the most sorted out bike yet. I've got over 50k miles on mine. Depending on mileage, you can have many incredible rides before any of the issues mentioned above need to be seen to. Good luck. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Good advice, listen to it. I loved my 2000 M2. God help me when I come across one neglected and abused in garage somewhere for $1500 to $1000. I don't know how I'll explain it to my wife. The main place I would look is inside yourself. Picture yourself in the garage on a cool fall evening. You have to pull the primary cover and replace a tensioner shoe. Are you thinking "This will be a nice relaxing evening, and I always wanted to see what was in there anyway." Or are you thinking "gaaaa". Or "freaking fraking wracking piece of crap"? Thats as important an answer as anything else. Am M2 is head and shoulders above even a "good" old triumph or norton in terms of reliability, and will crush them in terms of performance, and IMHO has every bit as much character. But it's not an "appliance" type experience either... if you want that, go find an XB9S. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Oh, and when Schwiiing said "head gaskets", he meant "rocker box gaskets". Rocker box gaskets are a much easier replacement. The rear one will go at about 7k, the front will go at 10k. The new metal gaskets solve the problem. | ||
| Schwiiing |
Thanks for the correction Reep. As I was typing, I was searching for the correct term and couldn't pull it. Figured 'close enough, better said wrong, than not at all'. Your analogy of the tensioner shoe replacement is perfect. Is my M2 a reliable machine - absolutely. Do I expect to have to keep up on niggly issues that are inherent to the bike - you better believe it. But it's what gives the bike it's character. Wrenching on the bike becomes a bonding experience. I own a Suzuki Bandit that I use as a daily commuter - just add gas and oil and the thing'll run forever. It's great for getting me to and from work, but when it's time to really ride, the Bandit just sits. It's like the difference between the Econo-box people drive to get to work daily, and the '69 Super Sport that gets a workout on the weekend. | ||
| Two_seasons |
I knew it was carb'd but forgot it doesn't have sensors. Sorry! A great bike for anything. Good luck with the purchase. | ||
| Db4570 |
Well, I took it for a ride yesterday. It is a nice tight bike, and handles great. It will need rubber soon, which I'm guessing is expensive. The dealer barely budged on the price- $3300. I don't want to pay more than what it's worth, especially needing tires, and with only a little riding time left before the snow flies. So I'm waiting for now, unless the dealer sharpens his pencil a bit. I'm sure there are other Cyclones out there. I just like the color of this one... Dave | ||
| Jim2 |
What is the color? | ||
| Db4570 |
Red | ||
| Db4570 |
It also seems to be missing a bolt from the front of the frame into the cylinder head, IIRC. I'm assuming it vibrated out or something. | ||
| Greg_cifu |
THAT could be a big deal. Make sure that they get another bolt (factory bolt, no hardware-store garbage) and make sure it torques-up. That bolt could be broken off in the head. It could be stripped. Maybe it just fell out (doubtful). I'd want a 90 day warranty on that repair. If it were a private party sale, I'd pass and look for another bike. | ||
| Littlebuggles |
Suggest that the remaining bolt should be replaced as well. That's a lot of stress on one bolt. Generally once one fails they should both be done. Could be an indicator of a improperly torqued bolt or a bad isolator or a previous problem that was not corrected properly. As Greg said above if the bolt broke off it needs to be removed, this can require the head being removed and taken to the machine shop, or if there still some bolt left a nut can be welded to it and the remain removed. This doesn't have to be a huge ordeal and can be resolved fairly quickly, but can also be a pain in the butt to do on a new to you motorcycle when you just want to ride it. They should not be sending that bike out for test rides in that condition as riding with only half the hardware securing the motor really loads up the other bolt and is asking for it to fail, that's not a good thing ever, especially when riding. Come to think of it... if it's being ridden with only one bolt through the motor mount the mount itself should also be replaced. It's a very porous cast aluminum, I'd not want to trust one that was treated roughly. I love my 2000 Cyclone. Great bike, tons of character. Lots of Torque! | ||
| Rick_a |
IIRC the '00 later M2's had an extra tie bar bolt hole in the engine mount, but didn't use it. As long as there's two bolts going from the engine mount into the cylinder head you're good to go. | ||
| Db4570 |
Well, the dealer sold this one over the weekend. I'm kind of hooked on Cyclones now, and there's another one I'm going to check out. I hope to be back here soon with more questions or an update! Thanks for the help! David | ||
| Db4570 |
The other one I want to look at sounds nice. It a few hours away from me, so I tried to learn as much as I could about it from the guy over the phone first. He sounds like a pretty sincere guy, and describes the bike in very good mechanical and cosmetic shape, never been laid down. I wonder if there's a good chance he might have thrashed it a bit, though. He mentions how it pulls wheelies so easily, how he took it to a "track day" that ruined the tires, how it revs high, and how he had the forks serviced. I wonder if those wheelies beat on the forks, or if I'm just too paranoid. How much of a beating can these bikes take without suffering major wear? Any other things to look for that might give me some hints on how it was treated? Thanks! Dave | ||
| Desertfox |
How much can they take? PLENTY When I was still new to my X1 and rather stupid, I was pulling wheelies frequently. One time, I went too far and turned the bike vertical and it fell hard on the left side. Broken tail light, cracked primary cover, slight nick in the tail section, slightly bent handlebar. I replaced the broken parts and was good to go. No problems since. Most people can't even tell it was ever dropped. | ||
| Jim2 |
That doesn't mean he trashed the bike. They should be ridden hard. Check the front engine mount isolator. It's a rubber hockey puck like piece that isolates the motor mount from the frame right behind the front fork tubes. Check for torn or cracked rubber. Also check the front motor mount bracket. The metal piece that actually attaches to the front head. Make sure the bolts aren't broken and the mount isn't cracked. Wheelies are fine if they are landed gently and not plopped down hard all the time. Regular hard landings cause stress on the front engine mount point. Ruining tires is part of track days. Servicing forks is a good thing, it would be bad if he never did service them. | ||
| Db4570 |
This is good to hear. It helps me look at it more realistically. I have no real reason to suspect it was beat on. I always hope to hear that the owner just rode it gently on flat, straight roads, at no more than 1/2 throttle, and changed the oil every 500 miles. I think I'm going to go check this bike out. Thanks! David | ||
| Desertfox |
From what I understand, riding the bike too gently all the time can cause carbon to build up on the pistons and eventually cause pinging... maybe just an excuse to rev it up from time to time  They're High Performance bikes! Give 'em some throttle! | ||
| Db4570 |
OK! I bought the thing! It is awesome. It never lets you forget it is a giant two-cylinder internal combustion engine pounding away just inches away from you. The torque! I had a long drive to go check it out. On the way, I was talking myself out of it- the money, the danger, the repairs, etc. But when I hit that starter and it shuddered and roared to life, it sold itself. I really liked Japanese bikes, but they are so refined and tame by comparison. I will be haunting this forum regularly with questions. Thanks for nudging me in the right direction. David | ||
| Littlebuggles |
Pictures or it didn't happen, let's see this thing, congratulations!  | ||
| Reepicheep |
I remember that same moment with my M2 when I got it. I started it in the garage, and I could literally feel the concrete floor shake from it idling. It was nothing like the 600cc inline four it replaced. I was hooked. | ||
| Two_seasons |
Congrats and you'll never be the same again! 8+ hours on my '99 since last Saturday. More today with the wife while our little charges are in school working hard! Nothing like an in-line and that's the BEAST of it...can't help loving this old technology | ||
| Coxster |
Good job DB! I was nervous about buying my M2, and had every reason not to, but just looking at it bumps my pulse rate. I can't believe a 12 yr old $3k machine rides better than a 5 yr old $8k used H-D I got rid of. It's like a 2 wheel version of a AC/Shelby Cobra, complete with pushrods, rocker arms, and a thumpin' cam  | ||
| Desertfox |
Quote " But when I hit that starter and it shuddered and roared to life, it sold itself." Oh man, my X1 is my first motorcycle. When I was checking it out, the salesman twisted the throttle and I nearly jumped out of my shoes! The sound was damned intimidating and I started having second thoughts. I'm so glad I wasn't scared off. The real problem with the high end Japanese bikes, from what I understand, is that you have to really wind them up to enjoy them. I can have fun with my X1 without having to break 60mph or 4000rpm. Simply a FUN BIKE. | ||
| Coxster |
Desertfox you nailed it. I tried describing my cyclone as a 'Nor-ley' to a guy at work; he didn't get it. Maybe my cyclone has stock cams, and pops on decel a bit, but it's just a fun ride no matter how I ride it. I just spent an hour stoplight to stoplight across town and back, simply enjoying the feel and the noise, like a modern take on tradition. |
