| Author | Message | ||
     Anonymous |
He says it is a 97 S3 but I I'm not an expert. So my concern is the rear pipe is over the frame, swing arm is what I believed to be s2 style (steel not the wider aluminum). Which all says S2 to me but the air box is not angled the way I thought the s2s were. Is this normal for 97 or could this be a Frankenstein. Either way it looks to be a fairly nice shape. I am trying to resize the picture of it sorry | ||
| Harleyelf |
Carburetor equipped S3s had the rear exhaust pipe outside the frame. What are the first six digits of the serial number? | ||
| Easy_rider |
If there are sideplates by the pegs it's an S2. No sideplates on an S3. | ||
| Jeff_b |
Ok I figured out how to resize the pic. Thanx that explains the pipe for me. I'm just put off by the swing arm being the straight or even width from front to back I thought that was the S2 style.  | ||
| Mikeyp |
Thats a S3 | ||
| Jolly |
the box style was used until 99 | ||
| Hootowl |
Yes, 99 saw the frame (exhaust under the frame) and swingarm change, as well as the introduction of FI on X1 and S3 and thunderstorm heads on all models. | ||
| Jeff_b |
I think I would prefer the s2 over the s3. I can remember going into a small dealership when I was just a pup and I fell in love with the bike. I'm 6-4" and it felt like they custom built the bike to fit me. I'm still trying to remember what that was. I could've been lookin at the RS model hard to remember. What are the chances of finding a RS and would I b better off lookin for a S2 for riding mostly around town and smaller rides | ||
| Jeff_b |
Thanx.. I know even sellers get it wrong sometimes. So is the frame unchanged until 99 or is it different frame from the 95-96. Thanx in advance and sorry for all the questions | ||
| Hootowl |
95-96 S2s have the same frame, essentially. The S3 wasn't offered until 97, and the frame changed in 99. The S2 was only made for two years, 95-96. | ||
| Jolly |
Im currently rebuilding an S2, so is KCZombie..if your interested in the S2 dive in to that forum. I have both an S3 and an S2, both very different bikes from each other yet both "sport touring".... working on some custom parts for the S2 as well! | ||
| Impala |
That looks like the bike that was on Ebay. Reasonable price if I remember correctly too. | ||
| Steveford |
That S3 might fit you better than an S2 as you sit more "on top" of the bike. If you're local maybe swing by and see how it feels. Banke used to make a foot peg lowering kit for the S3, too. Yeah, that's the one that was on eBay which didn't meet the reserve. | ||
| Jeff_b |
Right on impala. When I seen it I just couldn't b sure what it was exactly. Jolly if you had to choose not so much for a primary bike but something to ride when u just want to would u say the S2 comes out on top? I know the later S3 had a little more punch but I would think it should be easy enough to wake up the 1200 if I felt the need which always do anyways do. Let me know if I'm missing something | ||
| Jeff_b |
 I just missed that. So you think the 3 might fit a taller rider better. I just remember feeling right at home on it and it being one of the first street bikes that caught my attention as a kid when I use too go check it out in the shop back then. Maybe I will take a ride down there. It's really not local but not too far. There really isn't too many of these around to check out any more | ||
| Jeff_b |
To be honest I kinda forgotten all about that bike and I'm just getting a renewed interest in it again | ||
| Trouble_enabler |
"Banke used to make a foot peg lowering kit for the S3, too." Banke used to make a footpeg raising kit for the M2/S3. I think they started making them again, but they are $275 or so. | ||
| Jolly |
steveford is correct, on an S3 you sit more on top of the bike....though I cant comment on which I prefer more, I've only ridden an S2 once around the block on a bike I was looking at buying and decided not to(which was later chopped!) anyway, about 10 miles in the rain..but it was fun!! It made me decide to track one down and ended up with a rescue project that I wasn't anticipating but, I always need a project so..... I really enjoy my S3T and have taken it out on over night trips through the blue-ridge parkway and have had a great time on it. I really don't think you could go wrong...does the bike have bags? they don't come up very regularly but every once in a while you can find a set. for comparison to your 6'4" ... Im 5'8" | ||
| Ratbuell |
S2 - 1995-1996 only. S3 - basically an M2 with a fixed fairing, different tail bodywork, and bags. 97/98 were the "early" frame with the straight swingarm and the header-over-frame style. 99-up are the "late" frame with the 'curvy' cast aluminum swingarm and the frame-over-header design. 1998 S3's were the first Thunderstorm bikes, along with the S1W. Easy giveaways? S2's have big aluminum sideplates with the footpegs (all four) and the sidestand mounted to them, and a large square headlight. All S2's were built with slanted air cleaners, but many owners have changed them. S2's also have clip-on style handlebars - two bars, one attached to each fork. S3's have no aluminum sideplates - the pegs are mounted to the trellis frame - and the headlight is smaller. The air cleaner is either a breadbox (stock), or a flat-mounted oval race intake. And, it has traditional one-piece, clamp-on handlebars. | ||
| Jeff_b |
Thanks rat. I gotta tell ya that sums it up pretty good. There's a lot of useful info there. I've been poking around quite a bit lately and found some of that same info in one place some in another but that def helps to clarify it for sure all In one nutshell... | ||
| Ratbuell |
Helps that I own one of each S2:  S3 (a 1998 Defender, early frame, Thunderstorm motor):  | ||
| Steveford |
Was is a footpeg raising kit? You can tell it's been a while since I owned an S3 with the Banke part on it! | ||
| Jeff_b |
Well I guess it is easy to see you prefer the 3 to ride over the 2. Those are pretty sweet. Who needs limits. What is that poking out where the windshield is supposed to b | ||
| Fahren |
Jeff b, Unless the PO painted your heads black, those on the S3 in your photo would be from a 1998: Thunderstorm heads. | ||
| 1313 |
Unless the PO painted your heads black, those on the S3 in your photo would be from a 1998: Thunderstorm heads. Valid point, but that baby-shit brown frame was 1997 only - thank goodness for that! IMHO... Plus, 1998 would've had a Nissin front caliper, instead of the PM shown in the pic. My vote is that it IS a 1997, 1313 | ||
| Jeff_b |
Well I definitely in the right place .. It does say in that it is a 97 S2 with 98 thunderstorm heads and pistons | ||
| Jeff_b |
The bike I use to admire when I would go into the showroom was something like a navy blue but not sure what the frame was. But the blue body work was bad ass. | ||
| Jolly |
Ratbuell, you know that your red with white frame S2 is what pushed me over the edge to buy my own, that is one beautiful bike! going to have to see that in person this spring or summer...meet in Harpers for lunch! | ||
| Lynrd |
Red Snap and White Marchesinis is the best, IMO | ||
| Ratbuell |
JeffB - that's the top of the dashboard on the Defender. Sitting in the seat, the top of the dash pretty well hugs the windscreen (if it was there it would, anyway...). I'll get that one back on the road soon enough - right now I'm happy that a little piece of Buell history is safe and won't be "choppered". |
