| Author | Message | ||
     M2nc |
Some of you may have remembered me post of the day I ran down a V-Rod and Lighting on the Nighthawk. (Please no comments, it's fact with witnesses, get over it) That day my Buddy on the V-Rod and I were riding when we went down one of my favorite roads with a nice S-curve in it. I kept my speed down because I knew the V-rod could not keep up with the Nighthawk through the curves. I though I was running slow enough, but I was wrong. Next thing I saw was the V-rod going across my mirrors and I knew he was heading toward to ditch. It scared me but he's a good rider with more experience than me and was able to gather the big gal up and keep on going. My buddy and I went riding today. He said he was going to meet me on his Super Glide but he had a change of heart. He bought his wife a Blast a couple of months ago and he was on it. We went riding around the area, one of those ride until it gets dark. We ended up riding down that same road together for the first time since the day on the V-Rod and the Nighthawk. I sold the Nighthawk so I was on the M2. As I approached the same S-curve, I decided to test the Blast versus the V-rod. Same rider two different bikes, so I set the pace at 65mph, the same speed as the day on the V-rod. We hit the S-Curve and I looked back and we were still riding in staggered formation. Man, he wasn't even trying. A Blast smokes a V-Rod through the curves. Man the V-Rod is such a poser! | ||
| Jlnance |
 It is easy to underestimate the Blast. The bike certainly has its shortcommings. Also it was designed for beginners, which makes it inappropriate for a lot of experienced riders. But you can tell that someone put some thought into its design. Its a fun little bike that handles and stops well. Buell did a good job with it. | ||
| Nxtr |
Not to side with the V-Rod. What would make you think that the V-Rod was remotly near corner carving status... Scraped up body and chrome is expensive. If you want a real test try it against the Street Rod... V/R, Nick | ||
| Johnnylunchbox |
The Blast is a capable machine that I love riding more and more everytime I take it out. It is my wife's bike but she rarely rides it since she got her EX500. With a few mods like a pipe, air filter and jetting it really wakes the bike up. Mmelvis, a regular on the Thumper section posted this video of him in a race or maybe it was a practice run. He is running with 600cc inline 4's. You can see them overtake him on the straights but he hangs with them in the turns. Being a Blast fan I really enjoyed this video. http://www.geocities.com/mmelvis_2000/homestead3.wmv You can read the whole thread here: http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/20164/6805.html?1134663197 | ||
| Newfie_buell |
I rode both the Vrod and Street and I have to admit the Street Rod would be a serious consideration for a new scoot only for the price. Still too pricey compared to others out there. | ||
| 1313 |
Scraped up body and chrome is expensive.   I prefer to think they just give the bike more character. Plus it separates my bike from the poser-mobiles. Yes, I did run the V-Rod up and down Deal's Gap. My two buddies with Sportsters behind me tell me I was throwing sparks up in every curve. I've even done BattleTrax with it too. You gotta love the crowd's reaction when you start to scrape parts... 1313 | ||
| Biker_bob |
In all fairness the V Rod was not designed to carve corners, it was built to look like a drag bike. This would be like me saying those Buell's suck, they don't have xm cb cd intercom and can't pull my trailer, what a piece of crap. Different built for different purposes. I can't wait to get my Uly in January. But I don't expect it to do the same things my Ultra does. Designed for different purposes. Diversity inside the HD family. Isn't that a good thing? | ||
| Jlnance |
Lighten up guys, I suspect any disparaging remarks about V-Rods were intended soley for 1313.  Not many people really think V-Rods suck. But there are a lot who think the Blasts do. So as the owner of a Blast, I always enjoy threads like this. Its not so much because the Blast took the corner better than the V-Rod (though that is nice.  ). It's because someone with a Super Glide bought a Blast for their wife and in the process discovered what a cool little bike it is. | ||
| Newfie_buell |
Having extensively ridden a Blast for a summer, I have to say its one of the most forgiving bikes out there. It has enough power for the open road, can out handle most other bikes given a confident rider as well and its brakes are second to none. This of course is compared to other bikes in its class. I love the Blast and will probably own one, my daughter likes them as well and I would not hesitate to get her one upon her 16th. | ||
| Cowboy |
I sure feel foolish having bought a X1 lighting...a XB12R....and a V-Rod.Would I be happy with a Blast? I could haved saved over $30,000 | ||
| Jlnance |
Would I be happy with a Blast? I could haved saved over $30,000 The difference between "would I be happy with a Blast" and "would I be happy with ONLY a Blast," comes into play.  I currently own a Blast and a Ulysses. If I had to get rid of one, it would be the Blast. But I'm glad I own it. Some of that may be that I'm attached to it because it was my first bike, but for whatever reason, I'm attached to it. | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
Personally, if I were given the a choice between a powerful heavy bike and an under-powered light bike, I would take the light bike. My '79 XLH is the heaviest bike I have ever used. ...and it's heavy enough! If only they weren't so expensive, I would love to have one of those Aprillia 50cc things! http://www.raceshop.org/motorcycle/aprilia/rs50/bike.htm | ||
| M2nc |
Jim, you read us like a book. I say us, because when I told Dave and Mark about my test, we all agreed we had to post it. And yes, the "poser" part was just to yank some chains. In reality, I love V-Rods for their engine and looks. I also like what the V-Rod represents, a change in thinking at Big Daddy HD. They have found value for the company to invest in developing bikes that are non-traditional. To say they are looking at bikes that are more than just great looking and comfortable. The V-rod was a glimpse at what is to come at HD and I can not wait to see was they and Buell come up with next. Last, but not least, the story is absolutely true. The lowly Blast can out handle a V-Rod and since the V-Rod is one of the more capable HDs out there, it says something for Buell. For those that say Street Rod, put me on a tight mountain road where the power is no advantage and I bet I'll surprise you. The Blast is an impressive little bike for what it is. | ||
| Bomber |
Blast and Lowly in the same sentance is, er, not accurate, I'm thinkin at 6'2", it's way too small for me the ergos make me feel like i'm in the circus that said, if I could alter those things on the P3 in the family motorpool (it's not my scoot, so I won't make the changes), it'd be a GREAT sled -- if you can pick the road, it'll smoke a large number of "faster" bikes in the hands of a heads-up rider -- big fun for sure! best B'trax run I ever saw included a couple of Milwaukee Motor Officers runing -- they just laid those LEO-scoots hard oer on the crash bars and left sparks all the way round the course -- with lights and sirens, natch -- never saw two grown men grin so much ;-} | ||
| Jayvee |
I wanted a Blast so bad, from reading about it, I'm a big fan of single cylinders. But being 6'2" I also felt like the proverbial circus clown. If they would only put the Blast engine in a S1 (or M2) frame, I would buy one for sure. If I had enough money/time I would make one myself. | ||
| Arbalest |
Somebody over on Sacborg is racing an S1/Blast. He said it was lots of work. | ||
| Slaughter |
Stuffing a Blast motor into a tuber frame is possible but the work is huge. You have to build adapters for the rear mount to pick up the isolators on the frame and tie to the rear engine mount. 2 of them are racing at Willow springs but like Arbalest said, the amount of work requires is a real pain. It'll drop right into the XB chassis though. | ||
| Jayvee |
OK ! Erik, put one in an XB frame, and I'll buy it ! | ||
| Biker_bob |
Did you see the magazine (I think cycle World) that declared the new V Rod Destroyer the world's fastest production motorcycle? It is a race only can't be titled so they don't have to do all the EPA Stuff. They also jazzed up the engine obviously. They took them head to head with a busa in the quarter mile and the V rod won. They sell them through the HD dealers and are on allottment. Still won't corner well but what a rush that would be on the drag strip. | ||
| Nikker |
Pfsst....VRod...yeah man...that a poser bike. Forget about that massive 53 front telescopic fork and those brembo brakes...more like...lamo...LOL!!! •••••• horsepower...only 127hp@7000rpm. Mayown...for real.I could slap bratwurst all over a Blast.   Find me another bike that makes 127hp @ 7000rpm.Find me a bigger front end than a 53 mm telescopic...not even USD are THAT big. Buells rule.I dont deny.Ulysses is king of its category even though people dont see it.100hp @6000rpm, buell awesome alluminum frame, buell awesome brakes perfect balance (exhaust under the bike, gas under the seat...), light weight... But respect Harley.The father of all and still the king. You dont see Yamaha pulling 14kilos of torgue from 2.750 rpm till 5000...  (Message edited by Gearheaderiko on January 22, 2008) | ||
| Ezblast |
I'll race that puppy from San Jose on 9 to Alices on 35 - looser buys lunch - better bring your wallet - I won't be needing mine. EZ | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
Nice pics! Nice to see the big bikes at the track. Welcome to Badweb, hope you get that Uly soon, too! sorry but I edited your post... slightly. | ||
| Swampy |
Wow! He wastes his one post! Nicely blacked out VROD and looks lower. Welcome to the Badweb Nikker! | ||
| Ezblast |
Find me another bike that makes 127hp @ 7000rpm.Find me a bigger front end than a 53 mm telescopic...not even USD are THAT big. Buells rule. So true and I found another bike that does all that, weighs over 200lbs less, has that size forks, and is even more powerful, breaks and handles better than most any other bike as well. And guess what? Its a Buell! See the 1125R threads and ditch that modern antique and get an 1125R. LOL  EZ | ||
| P3_pilot |
Hey EZ! Where are you? Been looking to do some short trips with fellow blasters. I'm down in the Ventura county area but I will travel, when is the next time some of you are getting together? Long live the dark side.... | ||
| Dankno |
DISCLAIMER: DO NOT TAUNT TEENAGERS, THEY DO STUPID THINGS WITH OUT CONSIDERING THE CONSEQUENCES. I KNOW I USED TO BE ONE. I WANT TO SHARE THIS ONLY BECAUSE IT'T NOT OFTEN THAT A BLAST GETS CREDITED FOR IT'S ACCELERATION. THAT, AND I THINK ITS FREAKIN' FUNNY!!! Not that anyone would doubt it, but Blast also beats a Ford Contour with an obnoxiously loud intake/exhaust. The barely post-pubescent male pilot and his buddy were egging me on to rev my mighty single (I don't think they had a clue what exactly a Buell, let along a Blast, is) at the stoplight before the freeway on ramp I take home from work. I (reluctantly) brought my steed to about 3/4 of the rpm band a couple of times before writing the two off as morons, grabbing first and getting ready to do battle for a position on the 95 North. As it turns out, apparently the young people in the Ford were headed the same direction that I was, by the time I was leaned over to the right at the base of the on ramp, the Contour was the only thing in my mirrors. At that point I decided that I needed to put some distance between myself and the cage-o-testosterone so I shifted on the rev limiter in every gear up the ramp and all the way to a good rate of speed (Read: Faster than the speed limit but not faster than traffic in the left lane) When I got a good position in the middle lane free of other, larger vehicles where I could settle in for the early evening cruise home. About A MILE AND A HALF later, I hear the all-to-familier-to-Las Vegas honk of a 4-Banger with a low-restriction intake at high RPM. I check my mirrors to make sure I'm not about to get run over, and sure enough, there is the Ford, and the driver is wearing a look of concentration that is usually reserved for having a bowel movement of biblical proportions. I'm giggling to myself at this point, because I'm imagining how pissed the guy would be if his friends found out that he just got dusted by a mostly stock 492cc single that in most circles gets no respect. As he passed me, at a much better clip than I was moving, his buddy waved and they slowly disappeared into traffic. Leaving me thinking the conversation in the car went something like this: "DUDE!!! YOU ALMOST HAD THAT CYCLONE!!! THOSE THINGS ARE FREAKING FAST!!! SERIOUSLY!!! I SAW ONE ON YOUTUBE RIDING A WHEELIE AT OVER 100MPH!!!" Ah, to be young and dumb again... |
