Author |
Message |
Steve_mackay
| Posted on Monday, March 19, 2007 - 10:07 am: |
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I pick up my new Super-TT Later this week. The parts guys at Hals said I've got the biggest "pile" of Buell parts they've ever seen in one order For those of you that don't know what I'm doing, I'm making a replacement for my S3T. So I bought a Super TT. Adding a firebolt fairing setup, Hella 90MM lights(stock ones suck), Zero Grave ST screen, and Uly tail + the side cases. I'm going to break the bike in, and then begin tearing her apart Woohoo! The madness begins! |
Aeholton
| Posted on Monday, March 19, 2007 - 12:43 pm: |
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Very cool. We expect lots of pictures, of course. |
Steve_mackay
| Posted on Monday, March 19, 2007 - 01:06 pm: |
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I'll be documenting the entire ordeal. Doing a daily picture/blog thingy on my personal server complete with high resolution pics and all. |
Stealthxb
| Posted on Monday, March 19, 2007 - 01:16 pm: |
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Can't wait to see it Steve! Congrats on the new bike. Keep us up to date on the progress of the project(s). |
Xb9
| Posted on Monday, March 19, 2007 - 02:06 pm: |
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What you are doing is exactly what I would describe as the ultimate SportTouring Buell!! Quote: "Hella 90MM lights(stock ones suck)" Good choice, if you have any questions on the conversion let me know, I originated that mod. |
Steve_mackay
| Posted on Monday, March 19, 2007 - 02:24 pm: |
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Buell wont build me a replacement S3T, so I'll do it myself! And yes, I've followed your posts on the Hella 90mm light conversion. It doesn't look difficult, and something that BUELL should be doing themselves. Better quality, *AND* more light. I'm ordering the high beam and low beams, and the wiring kit. I don't need the "installation" plates, do I? |
Xb9
| Posted on Monday, March 19, 2007 - 02:29 pm: |
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Where's the link to the installation plates? I didn't order/use them, but curious as to what they look like. |
Steve_mackay
| Posted on Monday, March 19, 2007 - 02:45 pm: |
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http://www.rallylights.com/hella/hella%20images/SM S90MP.jpg |
98s3sns
| Posted on Monday, March 19, 2007 - 04:13 pm: |
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Congrats Steve,Ill be looking for the photos. Shawn |
Court
| Posted on Monday, March 19, 2007 - 04:16 pm: |
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Steve: That sounds VERY cool but you know you will be at grave risk of joining the Buell engineers as being a "parts bin builder". Keep us posted and for goodness sake keep a journal and take photos as you do it . . I'll bet those mods would appeal to many. |
Steve_mackay
| Posted on Monday, March 19, 2007 - 04:36 pm: |
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That sounds VERY cool but you know you will be at grave risk of joining the Buell engineers as being a "parts bin builder". Court, you hit it. It's a parts bin bike. It's what I've told more than one Buell employee. It would be an inexpensive engineering project. And a bike that *WOULD* sell to us S3T fans! I've been encouraged by one of the fine folks who work for Buell to send a resume for a "designer"(VS a design engineer, since I lack the "proper" engineering degree) in the past, with my modeling/machining, and tool & die background. But unfortunately, I don't think I could afford to work there at this point. But I bet I'll have Buell folks looking over my bike at Homecoming. According to Bud at Hals, Erik expressed an interest in seeing the finished bike. The funny thing is, even if I paid RETAIL price on all the extra components for my build, it would come in to being about the same $$ as the original S3T. And what do I have? I better handling, lighter, more comfortable sport touring bike. Erik is smoking crack if he thinks the Uly is a true S3T replacement. |
Ft_bstrd
| Posted on Monday, March 19, 2007 - 04:40 pm: |
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What's wrong with a "parts bin" bike, Court? Who said that was a bad thing? |
Old_man
| Posted on Monday, March 19, 2007 - 04:41 pm: |
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It sounds like you'll have a great motorcycle. Congratulations! |
Steve_mackay
| Posted on Monday, March 19, 2007 - 04:50 pm: |
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Ft_bstrd, I'm quite sure that Court didn't mean it in a bad way whatsoever. |
Ft_bstrd
| Posted on Monday, March 19, 2007 - 04:57 pm: |
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I think the reference was to the STT being a "parts bin special". |
Court
| Posted on Monday, March 19, 2007 - 05:07 pm: |
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>>>I think the reference was to the STT being a "parts bin special". It was indeed. You'll recall that when the STT was unveiled that the all-knowing omniscient internet community decried, 17 minutes after it was announced, that it was unfit as a result of having many common parts with current iteration Buells. I maintained that perhaps prudence would dictate one perhaps actually RIDE the motorcycle before espousing such a blanket declaration. I rode it and predicted that minds and attitudes would change. I'd be willing to wager that Steve will back me up based on his riding the bike. True is has many parts in common with the current Buell family . . . but Phyliss Diller and Sophia Loren also share the same parts bin. Buell has brought, precisely as the "we want it longer, shorter and with better suspension" screamin' owners demanded, some pretty innovative thinking to the TT . . . it's a damn fun bike. Talk to me Steveo ! |
Chadhargis
| Posted on Monday, March 19, 2007 - 05:12 pm: |
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I'm hoping to demo ride one on the track at Barber the weekend of the 31st. That is if I can stand to leave my track prepped Ulysses in the pit for a session. |
Ft_bstrd
| Posted on Monday, March 19, 2007 - 05:59 pm: |
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I hope to ride one at MBIV. I think the open market is much more "parts bin" than anything the Buell Engineers could come up with. How many tail swaps/fairing swaps/wheel swaps do we see on a daily basis. To me the genius is in creating bikes that are as different in personality as Buell bikes are and yet share so many common parts. How many common parts are shared between an 12Scg and an 12X? I would predict more than any other manufacturer with two bikes as different as these two in personality. Could you strap a GW tail onto an RC51 and create the bike you want? The changes incorporated into the STT are not inconsequential. Did I not already own a Uly, I would have given the STT a SERIOUS look. I believe, in the case of the STT roll-out, familiarity bred contempt. The Buell community just didn't realize the STT wasn't their sister. |
Wsplrll
| Posted on Monday, March 19, 2007 - 06:54 pm: |
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Good article on the "TT" in April issue of Road Racing World. |
U4euh
| Posted on Monday, March 19, 2007 - 07:42 pm: |
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I thought I slept a week and March Badness was coming early!! WHEW! Sounds like an interesting project, be sure to post up when you have some pictures! |
Jiffy
| Posted on Monday, March 19, 2007 - 08:20 pm: |
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The TT may not be a parts bin bike but there are clearly improvements that Steve found necessary before he took delivery of the bike. Lighting that is functional being one of them. |
Steve_mackay
| Posted on Monday, March 19, 2007 - 10:11 pm: |
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I'd be willing to wager that Steve will back me up based on his riding the bike. Damn straight. The only thing goofy about the bike, is the # plates. And those are EASILY removed. Those dissing the bike, just go ride the thing. Road Racing World hit the nail on the head saying it's the best Buell street bike! It's kinda like the three bears story... With the STT being being "just right" My mods will enhance that feeling for *ME* |
Bads1
| Posted on Monday, March 19, 2007 - 10:21 pm: |
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Steve does sound cool in all but isn't the same if you bought a ULY and put Firebolt fairing and the lights you want on it?? Elaborate for me?? |
Ft_bstrd
| Posted on Monday, March 19, 2007 - 10:47 pm: |
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Except you get the STT suspension. |
Steve_mackay
| Posted on Monday, March 19, 2007 - 11:32 pm: |
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Dana, the STT suspension feels considerably different than the Uly. It's also a bit over an inch shorter travel. The front end doesn't dive under hard braking like I've noticed on the ULY as well. And it would have actually been MORE expensive in the long run(I priced out doing just that), and changing to the STT suspension. |
Bads1
| Posted on Monday, March 19, 2007 - 11:36 pm: |
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Ahhhh now I got ya. I didn't realize the difference. |
Bdabuell
| Posted on Monday, March 19, 2007 - 11:56 pm: |
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sounds like an interesting plan...should be a lot of fun. I'd be very interested to see how easy/difficult the hella lights are to install - lots of pics of that and everything else pls!! |
Hooligan620
| Posted on Tuesday, March 20, 2007 - 12:04 am: |
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Somebody Photoshop this combination! It's sound's cool. |
Stryker_buell
| Posted on Tuesday, March 20, 2007 - 12:27 am: |
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XB & Steve, I am sold on the Hella lights based on posts. From looking at the rally website, what do I need to order? I am a little cornfused as to what I need |
Steve_mackay
| Posted on Tuesday, March 20, 2007 - 07:58 am: |
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Stryker, if you can hold on for about 2 weeks, I'll post REALLY good pics and instructions. I'm a tool and die maker/designer, and could maybe design up a "retrofit" kit, vs having to modify your existing fairing bracket thru one of our fine sponsors. |