| Author | Message | ||
     Jayvee |
I would buy one of these if Buell made it. | ||
| Ezblast |
Kaudette - your not thinking about the practicality of such a thing - a 50 hp single in that weight range would be a huge success because not only would it deliver usable power, but great handling, inexpensive insurance, and gas mileage as well - perfect for commuting and general weekend fun chasing the twins - and if you hipo it you may have a twin chasing you! - lol GT - JBOTDS! EZ  | ||
| Southern Marine |
Let's not forget, beginner racing on a smaller bike. | ||
| Ezblast |
True such a platform would be great for the beginner racer, the commuter, the eco conscious due to great gas mileage and high gas prices, and all the beginners, and thumper fans, as well as the folk just looking for a fun inexpensive bike with simple maintenance - why would I be willing to even pay more - because it fulfills all the requirements I had when I was first looking for a bike but in spades! GT - JBOTDS! EZ | ||
| Southern Marine |
Because you have the extra room, mod the gas tank to allow it to hold more fuel.  Yes, it would add more weight, but I wouldn't care. If they would have had that in a 600, or 650, I would have bought it instead of the original Blast and who knows, I may or may not have upgraded to the 12. Chances are that I would have anyway. | ||
| Ezblast |
Yeah maybe, but look how much better prepared you be learning on such a bike, a single of that caliper really would be a great learning tool also because it really would prepare you for todays modern bikes, and particularly the new bigger Buells - a win - win situation - lol - With the old Blast durability traits coupled with XB characteristics of handling and riding - now thats a formula for a fun learning curve. Final thought - a bike like that - yes you may/probably will get a bigger bike in your life, but chances are also good you would keep this first fun toy of yours - just because it was sooo much fun! A keeper creates its own value. GT - JBOTDS! EZ | ||
| Jlnance |
EZ - I'm just stumbling onto this thread. Thats a nice looking bike. An XB?R with one cylinder removed I assume? Did they have to change the counterweights on the crank when they did that? | ||
| Lake_bueller |
Jim...look closer. It's a Blast motor. I'd still like a good picture of the swingarm mount. | ||
| Ezblast |
I was told that once you swapped head and piston for the XB - it was pretty much a bolt in affair - I would assume that means the swing-arm also. GT - JBOTDS! EZ | ||
| Glitch |
Thanks for the link EZ. I'm not so sure about the swingarm being bolt-on. The XB and Blast cases are too different for that *I think*. | ||
| Ezblast |
The only real differences are what is drilled and tapped for the shifter - lol - GT - JBOTDS! EZ   | ||
| Ezblast |
I posted the pics so new readers of the thread could see what we are talking about! GT - JBOTDS! EZ | ||
| Interex2050 |
If that was a 2-stroke... it would be a beast, and I would want one. edit- heck, I still want one (Message edited by interex2050 on April 22, 2006) | ||
| Kaudette |
138 kg and 65 hp - 640 Duke II from KTM It can be done but not with the iron HD lump and the over-engineered chassis and running gear of an XB. | ||
| Diablobrian |
That's a sweet lil' thumper. Exactly the kind of thing I was thinking would be a perfect first bike for my son. Seems I'm not alone. I hope they're watching this in East Troy. | ||
| Ezblast |
Erik said at the dinner in his honor here last year - during dinner -  I sat across from him asking everything I could and not seem a total pest - Bless his patience - and he mentioned that they had put together a 650cc Blast with 50 hp RW using all factory type parts - he said it was fun - with this chassis setup - it would be a Fire Blast!? - anyway - it would definitely be a fun setup! Even a limited edition - put me first in line - would be a great joy to own! GT - JBOTDS! EZ | ||
| Thansesxb9rs |
If I remember correctly the cases on the blast and motor mounts are exactly the same as the XB motor. I bet it was pretty easy thing to do. Now watch the frames that are on ebay are going to start to sell really high. You could build yourself one pretty cheap just off of ebay parts. | ||
| Ezblast |
True maybe, but you got to ask yourself - what tweeks would Erik give to make it only the Buell Erik could make. That is why interest in a factory version would be high - though in a few years when the Blast may disapear - I'd build one then, my hope is though that Erik would build at least a LE version - it would sell for that reason alone - though I would buy it myself just because it would be a realized ideal of an already great bike - a worthy tribute - if you will - GT - JBOTDS! EZ | ||
| Reepicheep |
Not to hijack a thread... but my neighbor and his buddy both have Honda XR-650's. I have some seat time on another friends XR-650 and loved the bike. Now though, I am discovering some dirty laundry. Apparently the XR's are only good for about 15,000 to 25,000 miles before a rebuild. And after 15k miles or so, you are running the risk of trying to stretch the "normal rebuild" time and having a catastrophic engine failure (meaning the engine can't really be rebuilt, and the bike is effectively totalled). And their fuel mileage on the XR's *suck*. I think my Saturn does better. On top of that, there are a lot more terminal XR engines then there are terminal XR frames, so a severely damaged engine basically means you buy a new XR. So anyway, a seriously lightened "half an XB9" motor based contemporary replacement for the now 20 year old XR design would be pretty cool, and I would rather have half an XB9 in there then that honda motor. If you could get that bike out in a variety of seat heights and under the $5000 price point, I bet you would get a lot of people buying them as a starter bike, or a second bike. | ||
| New12r |
Ok so I have been inspired, I have talked to my better half about this and she is game. I already have the blast, Brave_Angel does not like it, she says it feels weird, too low. So I show her the XBBlast and she is hooked! My local dealer is looking for a blown motor XB I can get a hold of. How am I going to title the bike? As the Blast for insurance purposes, or the XB to avoid the hassle of....That aint the right V.I.N. | ||
| Black_sunshine |
Charlie....That would be the cat's meow! I hope you get to do it. I would love to help you out with that project. That would be perfect for Sam! | ||
| Diablobrian |
special construction blast would be how I'd title it if possible. | ||
| Ezblast |
Erik are you listening? GT - JBOTDS! EZ | ||
| Ezblast |
I think an Special Edition XBBlast 650cc single - I figure about 2 to 3 thousand of such bikes would sell - I'd be first in line! GT - JBOTDS! EZ | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
You think that would be able to use a standard XB9 belt? | ||
| Ezblast |
Don't see why not - GT - JBOTDS! EZ | ||
| Jprovo |
Glitch - With just a cursory look, it seemed like the swingarm was a bolt-on deal. I'll get a better look at it next month. | ||
| Jprovo |
Here's what I know about the XB5R FireBlast. It is owned by Jim Chaconas who raced it last month and finished Third in Formula Singles at Willow Springs (WSMC). http://buell.com/en_us/mania/racing/profile-chaconas.asp Jim is an experienced racer that has been racing a Firebolt, and a stockish Blast (that became the motor donor for this bike). Jim's Firebolt can be seen in the background of the first picture. Last month was the debut of the XB-Blast, and Jim really liked it. As far as work goes, it didn't look that tough. Jim told me that the rear motor mount and swingarm bolt right up, it needed a new front motor link, XB head and engine mount, a rear head mount was fabbed up (I didn't get a good look at it), and a rear muffler/idler sprocket mount because the Blast doesn't have the bosses for the Idler pulley. (Message edited by ezblast on April 24, 2006) | ||
| Sleez |
i'd get one for sure, time to start hunting!!! i'll build my own!!! | ||
| Ezblast |
I - personally - would rather Erik and HD heard our request and Built this puppy - with all the perks that would entail! A thought though for the do-it-yourselfers - 44 Mag time! GT - JBOTDS! EZ (Message edited by ezblast on April 24, 2006) |
