| Author | Message | ||
     Sofauxboho |
After 5 years of hoping and dreaming, I finally purchased my first Buell today, a '99 M2 with 2,500 miles on it. That's right, almost brand new. Managed to get it for $3,500 which I am just thrilled about. I can't stop looking at it. Can't wait for the sun to come back up. The bike is stock except for two things: The original owner replaced the bikini faired M2 front end with a full S3 fairing, clock, tach, headlight, the whole deal. That's great! Wind protection. I'm thrilled. The second mod is more of a problem. The breadbox was replaced with a Buell Race air filter, the carbon fiber one. Now, this may have been fine for the first owner who stood about five and a half feet tall, but for myself at six foot three, it's a serious problem. There's just absolutely no way to sit on the bike without the tender meaty bits of my knee getting just plain beat up. It's bad to the point where I developed quite a bruise on the 100 mile ride home. So: Does anyone have any advice on how I might remedy the situation, hopefully inexpensively? After buying, registering, and insuring my new bike, the money is about at an end. I've heard the the Forcewinder is the best for folks who are having trouble fitting their knee in. Is there anything else I might want to look at? Are there any major problems with the Forcewinder? Does anyone have a Forcewinder they aren't using that they'd be willing to part with? This is for a carburated M2. Thanks! Reed. | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
The Buell race filter is supposed to be the best in terms of airflow so perhaps you can work a trade with someone? (not me. I'm 6'3" too.) | ||
| Patrickh |
I just live with it, you learn to keep your right knee splayed out a bit. If you go to the track, you can slide back a bit on the seat until you can grip the tank with your knees. I personally don't care for the forcewinder. | ||
| Littlebuggles |
There are a lot of stock air boxes out there to be had for cheap. Keep your jetting the same but put the stock box on with a venturi ring instead of the snorkel and a K&N for airflow, knee clearance is much better than the race can. I took off my race intake last year, I'm 5'10" but still was banging my knee on that thing. If you can stand the looks the stock unit breathes okay set up with the K&N... -Mike | ||
| Djkaplan |
You don't have to live with the interference... get a Forcewinder. Even at 6', my knee interference with the race filter was so bad, I cracked the CF cover in less than 45 minutes of spirited riding. I used to not like the Forcewinder very much, but it works better than a broken CF race filter. I'm glad I didn't sell or trade my old one because it went right back on the bike. | ||
| Henrik |
I liked the Forcewinder I had on the S3 before I sold it. Certainly more leg room, and it flows plenty of air for stock and lightly modified motors. If you get one, please dig up Aaron's review of the Forcewinder as well as the modification - also by Aaron - that used to be a must on the carb style Forcewinders. oh, here it is: http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/3842/11192.html?1021757331 Henrik | ||
| Sleez |
or....get some rearsets,(or peg relocators) will move your feet up and back, the up part might not work for you, but the back will! | ||
| Sofauxboho |
Hey everyone, Thanks for all the advice! I'd actually been thinking about rearsets, but I'm concerned because I have huge size 14 feet and I'd like to be able to take passengers. I step on folks toes on most bikes, and I can only imagine that moving my pegs up and back (straight toward the pillion pegs) won't help the situation. The bike actually came with all the stock bits that had been pulled off (by the dealer) so do have the breadbox, if only I can figure out how to install it. The factory service manual leaves me unimpressed, but I'm sure I'll figure it out. Then I'll have to deal with how it looks though. Ah well. I take it knee room is good with the stock airbox? As good as with the Forcewinder? I'm confused by the Venturi Ring. It goes on where the big L shaped tube in the stock airbox is, replacing the L? What does it do? Why not just take the L off and put nothing there? I've looked around but couldn't find the answer. Finally, I'm still really tempted to get the Forcewinder for astetic reasons, but I have two questions first: 1) This Buell is my primary mode of transportation. I'm selling my other bike and have no car. I'm going to be riding it in the rain and parking it outside when I'm doing things. This leads me to think I shouldn't use an exposed air filter, but reports on these boards differ. Any advice would be great. 2) If I use the Forcewinder with stock everything else, do I need to rejet? I'm not looking for more power right now, I just want to fit on my bike! Thanks again! | ||
| Lowlife |
In response to your 2 questions. 1) Your bike will be fine in the rain. Forcewinders come with a rain sock that fits over the filter element. Make sure it fits snug over the filter or else you will suck in a little water whilist riding in heavier rain. The drawstrings on the ends of the socks loosen up over time. So, replacement is necessary after a long while. Replacement socks can be had directly from Force for about $30 (which is •••••• ridiculous). 2) You may have to re-jet, but I would just swap them out anyway. IMHO a re-jet can wait till you save up a few bucks for some pulls on the dyno. Thats the BEST way to get yourself dialed in. Also, the venturi ring fits betwixt the stock airbox and the carb. Its supposed to add a couple extra ponies when properly tuned. My suggestion: Put the race air cleaner on ebay, and buy a Forcewinder on ebay at the same time. You will most likely, break even once the race can sells. | ||
| Buellfighter |
I'm 6'2 and run a forcewinder for knee clearance (and looks) also. I don't use the sock and have ridden and parked the bike in heavy rain on more than one occasion with no problems. Just a thought. | ||
| Djkaplan |
You can only use the venturi ring if you gut the airbox (remove the L-tube) and make a bracket to hold the airfilter in place. Also, the venturi ring fits against the inside of the airbox, not between the airbox and carb. | ||
| Aesquire |
http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/3842/100876.html?1109261776#POST2 81691 http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/3842/36749.html?1058238879#POST17 9653 The Knowledge vault rocks. If you can find what you're looking for, it is awesome. The Stock airbox, modded as above seems to flow nearly as good as a race carbon hamcan. The variation that uses the Helmholtz tube & conical filter should work about as well, see vault. I actually jetted richer when I put on the race filter, & had to go back to my previous ( not stock ) setup. So...I'm thinking plenty of flow. Don't forget to re-route the breathers to a catchcan/filter. See vault. | ||
| Hodakaguy |
You can get a Bartel carbon fiber intake running a K&N filter. I have had two of these and they are great. Real thin and flow great! Lots of knee room, I'm 6'1" tall and have no problems with it. I like the looks of the Bartel better than the Forcewinder but thats just a personnal preference. Watch e-bay and you can get them real reasonable at times. You can see a picture of it (mine is painted, usually they are all carbon fiber) on my bike at: http://webpages.charter.net/hodakaguy/hodakaguy/ Hope this helps. Hodakaguy (Message edited by hodakaguy on August 02, 2006) | ||
| Jayvee |
I changed to a Corbin seat (+Lady) and this gave me more room between the knee and the carbon fiber Race Kit cover. Still bumped a little bit. (6'2") Finally found a Force on ebay and man, now I have to really hang off the right side to be able to touch the Force. I can do it, but not objectionable at all. I went back to the stock seat even. Either seat, no touching. It's a very nice improvement, plus it looks pretty cool, I got gloss black. | ||
| Devdawg |
American Sport Bike has a Westtek intake that's set forward for additional leg room. http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/3842/103765.html?1110472076#POST3 96664 | ||
| Tattoodnscrewd |
This is a question more directed to the ones having knee clearance issues with the Buell Race Oval. Do you guys clamp on to the tank with your legs while riding ? I am 6'2" and have a longer inseam as well and the little bit that I bump/touch it is hardly bothersome IMO. Unless it's cold out I don't clamp on too much to the tank, usually stay a bit more relaxed,even while riding on the 'spirited' side, my knee may rest on the edge of the cleaner on occasion, but ever so lightly. Or maybe it's because I am on the weight challenged side for being a beanpole, I don't know ... I guess my inquiry is to the riding style. This came up after reading about bruised knees and a cracked CF filter. Just curious. Maybe part is just my opinion on the forcewinder style cleaners, they look good on customs or some cruisers, I just feel they don't flow aesthetically with the look of a Buell (again .. just my opinion) btw - Congrats on the bike purchase !! (I've got a 99 M2 as well- much fun!) Brian (Message edited by tattoodnscrewd on August 02, 2006) | ||
| Gearhead |
I had an M2, now it's for sale in the classified ads. I have a long inseam also and replaced the stock box with the Buell kit with the same result as you. I sold it and bought a the Forcewinder and was very happy with it. I never used the rain sock either and never had an issue in weather. After a few track days I added the Banke peg relocater kit. It gives a little more clearance without affecting passenger pegs and still uses the stock shifter bits. I'd highly recommend both!! | ||
| Littlebuggles |
Reed, Since you are right next to the ocean and will only have your bike you may want to consider getting a bike cover for while you are working. The left-hand switch gear is pretty susceptible to moisture, when I leave my bike out in the rain the turn signals stop working til they dry out, I replaced the switches when my horn button broke off and new switches are the same way... Might be concerned with the air filter becoming saturated too if the bike is exposed to a lot of moisture, rain sock or not, since you are in the Bay area... You should not need to rejet since you are already jetted for the race can unless you find the bike is running too rich. The venturi ring from the dealership is available for pretty cheap, like $1.99 or some ridiculous amount, it's just a short plastic piece that cleans up airflow. There is a metal "C" ring that clamps the snorkel (L) tube to the carb. As Djkaplan said, this is all inside the airbox, however, you can use the stock air filter bracket to secure the filter, just cut it down for better airflow. I'll post pics tomorrow afternoon if you want. You can hack it up or make it look real clean, your choice. The airbox gives you nearly as much clearance as the forcewinder and is much less expensive, but as some said, sell the race intake and maybe you have enough to buy a forcewinder... Regarding your size 14 feet, I wear size 8 and have to ask my wife to slide her feet back on the passenger pegs so she's not kicking my heels, I have the Banke re-locators. You'll want them if you like to lean, you'll just have to educate your passengers. Brian, Regarding riding style, I like to sit back on the seat and bring my knees in, so the wind isn't pulling on them. I don't drop my knees out at all unless I'm reaching for the ground, just don't ride that hard very often. -Mike | ||
| Sofauxboho |
Thanks all, I've just gone ahead and ordered a black Forcewinder off eBay. Managed to get it for $225 shipped, which seems fair enough. I'll slap that on and then add a Corbin seat a bit later when finances allow. One more quick question: Are there any worthwhile exhausts that aren't terribly loud? I'd like a pipe to match the intake, and I wouldn't mind a "richer" engine note, but I'd rather it didn't get all that much louder overall. I was surprised by the volume of the stock pipe. Brian, The main trouble for me was on the highway. When I left my knees loose, they flap around in the wind in an uncomfortable manner. When I held my leg to the bike, the race filter dug right in to the most vulnerable part of my knee. | ||
| Tattoodnscrewd |
I guess everyone fits their bike different regardless of size .. and I can see that on the highway, it was the knee bruising and cracked cover that surprised me. After this post I paid attention when I was on my bike last night and today, and I can see how it might be a bother to some. I just did a 600 mile weekend .. nearly 400 miles were at speeds of 70mph or higher mostly on I43 here in WI (Milwaukee to the Upper Peninsula) and the only things I could wish for on the highway would be more wind protection (even with a helmet)and different foot positions, with a tank bag, the rear pegs didn't help as I couldn't lay on the tank. But never really gave a thought to the air cleaner. Either way, nice purchase on the M2, and I'm glad you found something to accommodate you - when and if you get a corbin seat, I'd like an opinion on it, even being over 6 feet I'd still like a more scooped out seat that doesn't push you into the tank. | ||
| Henrik |
The tuber pipes were a mixed bag. Many pipe manufactureres had underestimated how much abuse a Buell motor puts on the pipes/muffler/mounting straps. Some would even fracture in front of the muffler letting the muffler drop to the ground and basically pole vault bike and rider into the next zip code. If you want aftermarket, I'd give Al at American Sport Bike a call. I'm sure he's up on reliability of current aftermarket offerings. If you want to stay stock-ish, how about giving Kevin at Drummer a call and see what he can do to make a stock pipe flow better? Henrik |
