| Author | Message | ||
     Pdxs3t |
Ferris, We need to get ya into digital film one of these days! Its soooooooo much cheaper to shoot all day long! >>>>>>and i wound up first in the rain, followed by some heavy rain, followed by some incessant rain, followed shortly thereafter by considerable snow (sound familiar, Jim???) Wow, which time, there are a many memories of past that come to mind.  I still laugh about when we were making our way to Shaniko and we were on I-84 just outside of Troutdale. 6:00 AM, pouring down rain, looking for a gas station because I forgot to fill up, and ahead of you (still not too sure how I worked that one?). We were coming pack onto the freeway and I hit that major puddle which vacated that spot and presented its self all over you. Oh yeah and Ricker with his black HD rain gear that made him look like a black staypuff marshmello man when he got up to speed! JC | ||
| Crusty |
I just got back from the New York IMS Show. Boy, do I love that show! one very interesting thing that I saw was a Ducati Exhibit that was separate from the regular exhibit - you know, the one with the 999s and orange metalflake Monsters. The one I mentioned had six motorcycles. Three were from the '70s; a GT 750, a 750 SS (like Cook Neilson's California Hot Rod & Paul Smart's Imola winner and I just drew a blank on the name of the third bike. Anyway, in front of each was a new 1,000cc copy of each. Boy are they beautiful. Sort of trellis framed, air cooled DS 1000 engines and very clean in appearance. Of course, they still have that damnable Desmodromic valve actuation, so I won't even consider buying one (I hate complexity for its own sake), but they sure do look good. Especially the Paul Smart Replica. | ||
| Ferris |
...and ahead of you (still not too sure how I worked that one?) i must have been practicing my "kinder, gentler" Ferris Bueller routine that day. rest assured, it'll never happen again  | ||
| Captpete |
Erik Buell… Mr. Erik Buell to me. I’ve never had the good fortune to make your acquaintance, but to borrow a few words from Sean, you have made my life interesting these last few years as well. I became a Buell enthusiast in 1999, when I bought an S1W with 1000 miles on it. That was the beginning, and since then I have experienced nearly 5000 thousand miles of exhilaration, fear, joy, camaraderie, laughter, disappointment, challenge, pride of ownership, and much, much more. I understand if you are a little confused by my claim of being a Buell enthusiast while in the next breath I admit to riding less than an average of 100 miles per month during my period of ownership. I know you have to be a very busy man, but you might be interested in my explanation. The factory engine on this bike failed approximately 1000 miles after it came into my possession. Since there was no warranty available to me, I chose to have the repair work done by a world-renowned (their claim) independent shop here in my home state. That engine also failed. I then took it to a local, although not world-renowned, independent shop and that engine failed as well. They tried it again, and it failed again. By this time, I had discovered the BadWeb BBS and decided that perhaps my problem was due to the fact that I had been using shops that specialized in Harley Davidson products in general and Sportsters in particular, and that I would be better served by seeking out a shop that were Buell specialists. I chose CycleRama and after much begging and pleading on my part, they agreed to build the fifth engine for my S1W. The bad news, for both CycleRama and myself, is that the next four engines that they built for me also failed. The good news, for me, is that I met and have since become very good friends with the most stand-up business owners I have ever had the good fortune know in this not-too-short life, or have ever heard of for that matter. For you see, they never quit. I was the one who quit. Before I pulled out of their driveway to test our luck with engine #8, I told Wes Brown if that one failed, I was taking the bike back home in a basket. Wes just shook his head and said, “There’s no way this bike is leaving our shop in a basket.” The significance of that remark is this: CycleRama has never charged me a dime for the cost of building those last three engines. I said above that I was the one who quit. That’s a little misleading. I have temporarily quit because I am out of funds, and there is no way I’m going to allow CycleRama to lose another cent on my behalf. I have to believe that there has been something inherently wrong with that engine since the day it was built, and no one has been able to find the problem… yet. Do I think Buells are junk? No way. Mine is one out of thousands. It happens. It’s just the luck of the draw. Or maybe my karma’s catching up with me. As you might expect, I have very little empathy with the authors of some of the posts on this board who throw tantrums when some little gizmo on their Buell goes haywire. I’m not saying they’re wrong and I’m right. I’m just saying I’m still a Buell enthusiast. I know what’s waiting for me out there when we get it all sorted out. Thanks, Mr. Buell. You have definitely made my life interesting. And the good lord willing, it ain’t over yet. One of these days I’m going to experience a track day on my S1W. Maybe even find out what it’s like to ride it on the salt. Hamilton P. (Capt. Pete) Caldwell, lll P.S. Knowing a bit of your history, you must surely agree that the great rewards are always the result of the great struggle. Don’t you dare quit. Keep working on that next Buell I’ll add to my fledgling stable. The one I’ll happily hand the funds to your company for when they become available. | ||
| Court |
 The event started with speakers from Bologna who turned the mike over to Ducati NA's new President (ask me what happened to the "old" President sometime, how they got to Cupertino and how the staff "disappeared"...you'll ove that story)  The Retro Bikes are unveiled. Sure, it's been done once before in Long Beach, but NYC is the media center of the world and they had tons of folks wanting "film at 11" of the event and the guys from Bologna maintain places in NYC and CT so it was a natural.  Very neat, very simple, very ownable.  Okay...but it's STILL a replica...gotta dig the colored frame though.  Well, ever since riding a YELLOW S3 for a 1999 Forbes test, I've vowed my next bike will be yellow. This is appealing. | ||
| Crusty |
Those Ducks were (are) beautiful. They look much better in person than in the photos. If not for the Rube Goldberg valve setup, I'd be thinking pretty seriously about adding one to my stable. They may be Retro, but they are as sexy as any motorcycle currently being offered. Of course, the S3-T is still the most beautiful motorcycle ever made. (and I don't have to prove it) oh, and by the way: THANK YOU, ERIK!!! | ||
| Court |
Crusty, I'm with you there. Personally, I never tire of looking at my S2 and if I were in the market to buy a motorcycel right now, I'd own Henrik's S3 which is likely the finest living example of a Buell Sport-Tourer alive. Court | ||
| Budo |
Captpete said Do I think Buells are junk? No way. Mine is one out of thousands. It happens. I think you mean one of thousands. You have the most rebuilds of any Buell rider that I know of but there are a number that are on their third motor or second motorcycle, the first one having been bought back by the factory. Captpete, I salute you. You are truely faithfull, hard core, dyed in the wool, blinded by the light, etc...... | ||
| Newfie_buell |
BUT That silver with blue frame Ducati is just Sweet. | ||
| Rocketman |
Gonna be interesting to see what Ducati thinks is important enough to invite all of us to lunch for....hmm...well, ask me after 11:00AM. Well I really thought it was gonna be a Mars shot - after all they are flavour of the month but just to piss on your bonfire Court those Duc's were announced written up and pictured in great detail in MCN UK weeks ago - you know that often inaccurate bike rag who brought us the worlds first pics of the XB12's. Rocket  | ||
| Dynarider |
Those bikes were anoounced a few months ago in either motorcyclist or cycle world. Hardly ground breaking news now. | ||
| Rocketman |
Exactly Dynaburger  Rocket | ||
| Crusty |
That silver with blue frame Ducati is just Sweet. Newfie, it looks even better in person. It really is pretty, and I like the fact that they were unveiled at the New York show for a change; instead of Milan or Tokyo. | ||
| Dynarider |
I hope they have them at the Chicago show, for some strange reason I am drawn to the yellow cafe racer styled one. | ||
| Nevco1 |
Dynaburger??? Hmmm...Would that be a deluxe hamburger laced with a hallucinogenic?  | ||
| Snail |
Capt. Pete, you old salt. You ever check your oil? How can anyone blow up that many engines? Didn't you blow up a boat engine last season too? I thought I was bad, I blew up three Volvo marine engines in about 15 years, then decided something was inherently bad with the engines, and bought a John Deere engine. Been happy with that. You might want to put an inline four in that Buell, you can get one from Suzuki. | ||
| Wyckedflesh |
The tires on the Silver/Blue 1000 look rather interesting in a retro styled way...wonder how they would look on my lightning....And I too must agree that retro cafe yellow thing would look good sitting next to my honda if I ever get it finished. | ||
| Rocketman |
It really is pretty, and I like the fact that they were unveiled at the New York show for a change; instead of Milan or Tokyo. Let's quote facts please. Ducati's New York christmas party was old hat to the world outside of America. Ducati DID launch the Paul Smart 1000 Sport 1000 and GT1000 at the Tokyo show way back in October last year. Please keep up dudes. Rocket | ||
| Newfie_buell |
Those bikes were on their website a month or two ago!!! That Silver one with the blue frame is fucking beautiful!!!!!! | ||
| Crusty |
Rocket, you're right. I AM behind the times. I just got the new Cycle World today, and there they were. Oh, well. Maybe someday, someone will unveil something new in this country, for a change. | ||
| Rocketman |
Not a crack at you Crusty but those Duc's got massive four page coverage the last week in October in MCN UK. Just pointing out that sometimes the US publications or their freelance or full time journo's are not always the first with the scoops. In this case the BadWeB's informant hadn't done the research but then again I've got a flea up my arse since I got ticked off big time wrt the MCN UK scoop on the XB12's. So fella I'm just ribbing him a little but of course he won't bite but it doesn't mean I'm not gonna wave a very British two fingered salute to him - in jest of course - but then again the perp in question doesn't grasp my English humour ever though I'm pretty certain that's a purposeful contention on their part - their loss. Rocket | ||
| Ezblast |
lol | ||
| Snail |
Rocket, you Druid. How's it going? Blow up the Duc yet? | ||
| Edmanning |
Why Buells, Good Question. I'd ridden Honda Interceptors from the get go 1983. Every few years I'd try a gxr or ninja then buy a new VFR. In 97 I talked to a guy out west named Jerry and bought a Cyclone. After that I met Eric, Court, JB2, Henrick etc and still own the bike. Theres nothing on the road like it. Ed "Hillbilly" Manning | ||
| Ferris |
Ed, how you doin', Hillbilly? several minutes ago i saw pix of our very own Court Canfield on SPEED Channel's "Two Wheel Tuesday" piece on Ducati's new GT 1000, Sport 1000, and PaulSmart 1000, displayed in public in North America for the first time at the New York Cycle World International Motorcycle Show. very cool! | ||
| Blake |
That Speed Channel sure is gone to shit. | ||
| Dynarider |
TAOAT | ||
| Vr1203 |
Well, Why wait, you could make your own   http://www.themotorcyclecompany.net/motorcycles/motorcycle_detail.asp?MotorcyclesID=6 edited by blake on January 07, 2004 | ||
| Vr1203 |
Or a person could buy this!!!!  http://www.themotorcyclecompany.net/motorcycles/motorcycle_detail.asp?MotorcyclesID=62 edited by blake on January 07, 2004 | ||
| Nevco1 |
I liked the "NASCAR Channel" so much, I went back to basic cable service and don't miss it at all. Ok, I lied. I miss Two Wheel Tuesdays, but not the rest of it. |
