| Author | Message | ||
     Ferrisanyoneseenferris |
OK, I read the part in red about new owners questions, so I'll keep it more direct than the typical "what am I looking for" BS. Thanks for that thread, helped me negotiate for the bikes purchase. I've owned probably 100 different HD's in my life, own 2 right now- both Evo FLT's, both with 1948 Panonia Duna sidecars that go with them when I have my kids in tow. If you've never seen them, they look like a jet engine turned into a sidecar. I'm also big on enduros, I've had a multitude of XT's and KLR's and DR's. Now also have a 2002 Tiger 955i, and 2 1985 Yamaha TT600's. I'm really excited about the 2008 Uly I'm buying, it was an older guys bike and and seems to be in decent shape, although it needs tires- back is bald in the center, front is a cheapo Shingdingdong special, and I like when they match. Exhaust goes next, showing some minor rust and I want to open it up anyway. My main question today, is regional. Does anyone know of a tech in Florida, preferably the East Coast, who specializes in Buells? I was buds with the guy who ran the Ft Lauderdale Buell store when it was on US1 about 10 years ago, part of the Rossberger empire, and he hated them. I know there must be a guy somewhere that likes them and knows them intimately and treats them the way I want to see it done. I have a guy for my simple stuff- he's in Melbourne Beach- tires, etc, he's fine and works on my Tiger and TT's. I also have a good tech for my HD's but doubt he's into the Buells as much as I'd like. Also, I want to change body colors- I know its an airbox cover and a fender, and I guess some kind of little chin spoiler- right? Can I paint this stuff or have to source parts that are colored? Any suggestions, greatly appreciated, glad to be owning this thing, hope it works out. I was really drawn to it for the height- I'm 6'5" and I feel like its the one big enduro that really fits me pretty well. Cross your fingers! | ||
| Reepicheep |
You will love it. The Uly works best when ridden like a great big enduro bike. Thats what I tell dirt riding buddies when I toss them the keys for a ride. Every one of them (my self included) comes back with a big stupid grin. The exhaust rust is just surface rust. They do that. To clean up the exhaust, just sand it and clean it and hit it with high temperature engine paint. I've found that lasts much better than the high temp BBQ or stove paint I was using before. Open it if you want, but you don't need to and it works best if you don't, particularly for a homebrew job. Kevin Drum will convert it to a Drummer, which is a well thought out "gutting", and EBR can sell you a custom mapped ECM to match it. Not cheap, but it performs well. If you can find an old Micron header and pipe (long out of production), that was the ticket to big power. Pretty loud, but not "straight pipe I hate everyone" loud. The 2008 was a nice find. The fueling isnt quite as sorted (new form of fuel injection) as some previous and later years, but you got the better oiling system and a bigger crank. So you have the really important bits. The stock plastic bark busters are good for warmth and the minor kicked up rock, but a real set of bark busters will do better for real protection in the event you plow into a deer or something. You can get a set of chinese cheapo's for as low as $40, or get high quality good ones. Or just live with stock, which are fine for what they are. | ||
| Ferrisanyoneseenferris |
Awesome tips, Reepicheep, sincerely appreciated! Any prices on the stuff you mentioned without me digging into it everywhere? Approximates are totally fine... Thanks, I'm looking forward to it, and the ECM sounds like a winner and a must have. I'm old school- everything I usually go for is all mechanical, the Tiger was the first bike with a computer port I ever owned, and its scared me, but so far, all is well. Thanks again! | ||
| Hughlysses |
Congratulations on the Uly purchase. As far as colors, plastics were available in many colors (even including camo) but I doubt they're available new any longer. It might be worth checking. There's a 2010 Buell accessory catalog PDF you can find out on the internet that lists all the available colors and part numbers for the plastics; you could take that to your dealer and see if any of them are available. Otherwise, check the classifieds or ebay. Plastics have been painted; I think they do fine as long as you use the right paint. Search for threads here; "Etennuly" would probably be a good source of info; he rides a Uly and will hopefully post up to let you know. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Here's a photo of a Duna sidehack. http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PJX1UI4Hvy0/S1IxtNfzPwI/ AAAAAAAAAXs/qs8S8U3VRr8/s1600-h/89901207_5thumb_55 0x410.jpg That is a really nice looking sidecar. (Message edited by electraglider_1997 on September 21, 2012) | ||
| Reepicheep |
Here are the handguards (the cheap ones) I got. Installation can be a bit of a Chinese puzzle (literally), and they will only mount up in one position, but it's a reasonable one. http://www.amazon.com/Motocross-Enduro-Aluminum-In side-KDX220R/dp/B004BOXKN0/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid= 1348235174&sr=8-3&keywords=barkbusters You can probably still get the new plastics, but it will likely take a while. I got a brand new airbox cover (the tank thing) for mine last year after the crash. They ain't cheap, but are cheaper than a real part and a paint job. The "logo stickers" don't come with them either, so you will need to get those as well if you want them. I'd probably go that route rather than paint. They are solid molded in color as well, so you can remove some pretty dramatic damage with careful sanding and polish. So if you want to change colors, buy the color you want and sell the color you have. That would probably net out reasonable (cheaper than you would pay to change the color of most other bikes). The Micron, if you manage to find it, will be pushing $1000. The drummer is $300 or so with a core swap, and the EBR ecm is $300 or so also I think. The Drummer and the matching EBR ECM is a probably one of the best sorted aftermarket combos that you can just order... Kevin has a very nice stainless drummer as well. I hate to even think what that costs, but it is beautiful. | ||
| No_rice |
the drummer is $400, and when i got my ss drummer it was going for $650 i believe years ago. it makes a dramatic improvement in the rideability of the bikes. you can run the bike with the stock ecm and a drummer, but my opinion is you will gain even more with a matched ecm tune. i know in my experience that has been worth it. they also have a nice mean tone without being the stupid straightpipe loud and annoying to drive for more then a little while. but then again im the rare hd and buell parts guy that tells someone wanting to put "straight pipes as loud as you can get" on their hd, that they are an idiot. | ||
| Buellerxt |
100 Harley Davidson's AND some other bikes!!!!! Just curious; how did that play out in real time? Buy them to flip? You're 97? J/K As I said, just curious. Thanks. | ||
| Ferrisanyoneseenferris |
Thanks everybody, for the great advice and suggestions! Real nice forum you have here, hope at some point I can return the favor, but just getting into this one and a long way to go, so I'll probably be a leech for a while...  All comments are very much appreciated! Thx! | ||
| Ferrisanyoneseenferris |
Electraglider- Thanks, mine isn't as clean and original as that one- someone did a kick ass job on restoring that one to original. These were used a lot on little bikes- Jawa's and 250cc post war stuff from Eastern Europe. My wife is from Latvia, I've been going there since 1995 and you find these little gems sometimes. I just bought my second one, which is all original- 100%, and tempting to restore, but I need the big tire on it to feel right. The stock one is like a moped tire. I have some pix of mine posted up here. http://www.vintageairstreamforums.com/gallery/show gallery.php?cat=584 Thanks again for the nice comment. | ||
| Ferrisanyoneseenferris |
Buellerxt- I'm O/C on things that I dig- usually toys. I was collecting and doing some buying and selling, but I never wanted to sell them, thats where the problem comes in. I had the same problem previously with muscle cars, I went through like 100 of them too. Its not very fun, in all honesty, but I luckily choose things that I don't get hurt with financially. Still stresses you out though. I'm all messed up with vintage trailers now- like Airstreams, 1930's to 1950's mostly, and they're holding their value as well for now. I have around 45 at this time. I need to go back to Harleys, because they were easier to store. I rode alot of miles on some of them- I did 14000KM's or about 8000 miles in Europe in 30 days on my 1984 FLT once, and same bike hit 7500 miles one August- I think 2001- in the USA. That bike saw about 200K before I put it in the shop for a complete overhaul- still happening a year later. Not sure I'll ride this one like that- more for short hops and around town for me. Stupid thing is, that I haven't even gotten this one picked up, and I'm looking at more. Thinking of buying one for Europe, wife plays pro basketball and stuck here for 6 months minimum. I should probably get into coins or some crap. Would be easier and I'd look less like a screwball with all my stuff! Thanks for the comment and question. | ||
| Ferrisanyoneseenferris |
No Rice- Thanks for the info. I'll decide on which one I want when I get a little more into it, but will have to go for something, and louder. I'm the idiot that has to have it loud. I can't count the times I feel I was saved by my psychotic loud pipes on my HD's with clowns sleeping at the wheel. And now we have everyone texting and tweeting while driving, so anything that lets these yo-yo's know that I'm next to them is a plus in my book. Definitely a different story on getting them to run right when you open up the pipes, agree with that one. Its why I'm seriously hoping to find a tech in FLA that knows these really well that I can trust to bring it to its best. Thanks again, great info. | ||
| Erwin8r |
Ferris, make sure you check out the GB and Keda designs exhausts as well. If you do, however, you'll need to also get the lower fairing brackets from jardine. I had a GB on my XB12, and it was a fantastic muffler. Sounded great, with a deep, throaty rumble, and made good power. Another good looking/sounding pipe is the APH version (Albert actually makes a couple different designs for our bikes). | ||
| Ratbuell |
Keep in mind, loud HD pipes put the noise behind you; a loud XB pipe will have it right under you. You get to listen to the racket too, the whole time you ride. If you prefer to rely on someone else's response to noise for your safety, that's cool, you have plenty of options. I prefer to rely on my own reaction time and attention to conditions, to keep myself (and my stock Uly exhaust) safe on the road. However you choose to ride, you're going to love the Uly!! | ||
| Ftd |
Ferris Buellster.com in Orlando for used parts. Seminole HD and a shop Trackside Cycles for mechanics also in O'town. I see you are in Mia so these probably won't help you much though. Frank | ||
| Panhead_dan |
Ferrisanyoneseenferris, If you like loud and are going to repaint your muffler, you owe it to yourself to fire up the bike and maybe take it for a short ride with the muffler off. This will give you two things. First- it will demonstrate that the design of the stock muffler is closer to perfect than a full straight pipe and that modifying it yourself is likely not going to give you desired results. Second- is the sound. The closest thing I can think of to describe it to you is AA fueler. This allows you to see that inside the sportster-like engine, hidden by the muffler and quiet demeanor lies a highly modified, carefully designed jewel of an engine. I do not advise you to run it much without the muffler and you should also know that this will throw your ECM out of whack a bit as it will be trying to balance things out while running without a muffler. It will sort itself back out again after a few miles of running with the muffler back in place. Your neighbors will love it!! | ||
| Uly_man |
Take the 5th Sir? Anyone who runs a V-Twin that sounds like a sewing machine is just SEWING? Or normal Knob head. | ||
| Steveford |
Run it around without the muffler and you may learn how to replace broken header studs. Buy a shop and parts manual for the bike and yes, the plastics can be painted. Relocate the ECM as far away from the seat pan as you can and keep an eye on the rear wheel bearings. Chuck the stock brake pads for Ferodo or EBC, put some neoprene fork boots over the seals, grease the clutch barrel on a regular basis, avoid Mobil Gear Oil like the plague and you should be good to go. | ||
| Ferrisanyoneseenferris |
First, wanna say thanks for all your guys comments, this is a really nice and welcoming. I think when we love something thats been rendered obsolete, it brings people together. Big thanks for all the help and advice. ftd- I'm a guy who will drive that distance easily to get what I need. Thanks for the leads for the parts and I'll check out Trackside when I need my serious stuff done. I use Franks in Melbourne for the simple stuff. He's good and he's really fair. You guys with the points on exhausts, thanks, I'll definitely change it in the future, but its only showing minor rust right now, so no hurry, but I like noise, and I'm alive after riding a LOT of miles because I ride loud, and drive defensively as well. I stopped drinking- 100%, because I rode so much and always needed my wits turned on 100%, which was a sacrifice well worth it. I won't try the no exhaust trick, I know its gonna be loud, I think I'll skip that one though. I know it needs back pressure, my Evo bikes need complete new jetting when you open them up with 2" open pipes the length of the bike. I'm picking this sucker up tomorrow, I just flew back to Miami from the Canary Islands to make this deal and catch up on some local work, and get it tagged and start the work it needs. Was babied by an older owner and after passing away, his son has it for sale. I'll need tires and a battery and will consult you guys when I make those moves Thanks, cross your fingers! | ||
| Ferrisanyoneseenferris |
www.buellster.com doesn't work. | ||
| Ferrisanyoneseenferris |
buellsterparts.com does work. | ||
| Flwindsurf |
I've been very pleased with the service Space Coast Harley has provided my two buells for the past 3 years. |
