New winter project - Buell
Discussion
I have agonised what to buy for this years winter project... Last years was a Honda Dominator, to have a break from Ducati... But if I am honest, fun as it was... I missed the grunt of the V Twin!
I was going to do another Guzzi or Ducati but I have already been there, below is Ducati #10 so i felt I had done them to death. I looked at some of the Japanese V twins, but they are either low power or water cooled, and I like air cooled bikes...
Then last week a chance conversation with a guy down the local cafe, who said he had a buell for sale! so here it is!
At the moment I am in thinking mobe what to do with it... Its exceptionally good condition!
I was going to do another Guzzi or Ducati but I have already been there, below is Ducati #10 so i felt I had done them to death. I looked at some of the Japanese V twins, but they are either low power or water cooled, and I like air cooled bikes...
Then last week a chance conversation with a guy down the local cafe, who said he had a buell for sale! so here it is!
At the moment I am in thinking mobe what to do with it... Its exceptionally good condition!
Rubin215 said:
If it really is in good condition, please leave it standard.
I'll buy it.
I’ll second this! Looking at your previous builds I think we can guess how it’ll look - short seat and orange - there’s a theme I'll buy it.
You do some great builds but I suspect Buells will be one of those things that people collect so if this is as good as it looks can I respectfully suggest you sell it and buy a Virago to customise…
Marquezs Stabilisers said:
I'm in the middle. The Buell looks awful, not that technologically interesting, and they weren't that well made so you could improve on it.
But not by painting the tank orange with a small seat. That would be a waste.
Looks are subjective but thr real quality woes came in with the XB family and HD'S ownership. But not by painting the tank orange with a small seat. That would be a waste.
These pre HD ownership bikes have a bit of a following now and are getting rare so for posterities sake alone, maybe sell it to a brand/model enthusiast and let it live on.
If however, after 4 weeks there's no takers, game on, cut the b
h like a cheapo Brazilian surgeon.Seems a fair compromise
Rubin215 said:
If it really is in good condition, please leave it standard.
I'll buy it.
Its not standard ! I'll buy it.
1, its an m2 rather than an s1, with an s1 seat and seat unit .
2, i have no idea whats going on with that headlamp.
3, the frame has been cut where the rear footrests should be .
Its not hideous though (apart from the headlight)
Edited by bimsb6 on Thursday 17th October 22:33
Edited by bimsb6 on Thursday 17th October 22:38
bimsb6 said:
Its not standard !
1, its an m2 rather than an s1, with an s1 seat and seat unit .
2, i have no idea whats going on with that headlamp.
3, the frame has been cut where the rear footrests should be .
Its not hideous though (apart from the headlight)
Sums it up well... its already been "cut", both footrest mounts and frame under the tail piece. there are plenty of nice standard models out there so I don't feel guilty about modifying it....1, its an m2 rather than an s1, with an s1 seat and seat unit .
2, i have no idea whats going on with that headlamp.
3, the frame has been cut where the rear footrests should be .
Its not hideous though (apart from the headlight)
Edited by bimsb6 on Thursday 17th October 22:33
Edited by bimsb6 on Thursday 17th October 22:38
Yes, that headlight HAS to go!
Pleased to see some love here for a Buell; I've had my (mainly standard) '98 M2 since 2000, and they've never been accepted by the biking majority, being derided as a 'Hardley', despite the fact that that could out-turn and out-brake most sport bikes of the era, and surprised a fair few out of the corners too.
The 'one to have' was the S1, whereas the M2 was the bargain-buy, so not surprisingly a fair few M2s were converted to 'M1' spec (as they became known), but only cosmetically, most didn't stretch to USD forks, and not that hard to reinstate the dual seat/rear pegs.
As prices dropped and because the Buell-modded Sportster motor gave a strong 90-odd bhp, a lot ended up chopped... as in low rider type monstrosities.
That is my only plea, please respect the ideals of the great racer, engineer and innovator, Eric Buell, who gave us mass-centralisation before we knew we what it meant, and don't sell it short by ruining its handling or aggression.
'Black Beauty'
The 'one to have' was the S1, whereas the M2 was the bargain-buy, so not surprisingly a fair few M2s were converted to 'M1' spec (as they became known), but only cosmetically, most didn't stretch to USD forks, and not that hard to reinstate the dual seat/rear pegs.
As prices dropped and because the Buell-modded Sportster motor gave a strong 90-odd bhp, a lot ended up chopped... as in low rider type monstrosities.
That is my only plea, please respect the ideals of the great racer, engineer and innovator, Eric Buell, who gave us mass-centralisation before we knew we what it meant, and don't sell it short by ruining its handling or aggression.
'Black Beauty'
Edited by TwinKam on Friday 18th October 09:49
TwinKam said:
Pleased to see some love here for a Buell; I've had my (mainly standard) '98 M2 since 2000, and they've never been accepted by the biking majority, being derided as a 'Hardley', despite the fact that that could out-turn and out-brake most sport bikes of the era, and surprised a fair few out of the corners too.
The 'one to have' was the S1, whereas the M2 was the bargain-buy, so not surprisingly a fair few M2s were converted to 'M1' spec (as they became known), but only cosmetically, most didn't stretch to USD forks, and not that hard to reinstate the dual seat/rear pegs.
As prices dropped and because the Buell-modded Sportster motor gave a strong 90-odd bhp, a lot ended up chopped... as in low rider type monstrosities.
That is my only plea, please respect the ideals of the great racer, engineer and innovator, Eric Buell, who gave us mass-centralisation before we knew we what it meant, and don't sell it short by ruining its handling or aggression.
'Black Beauty'
absolutely agree with this... I want to stay true to the original concept and definitely won't change the handling... The 'one to have' was the S1, whereas the M2 was the bargain-buy, so not surprisingly a fair few M2s were converted to 'M1' spec (as they became known), but only cosmetically, most didn't stretch to USD forks, and not that hard to reinstate the dual seat/rear pegs.
As prices dropped and because the Buell-modded Sportster motor gave a strong 90-odd bhp, a lot ended up chopped... as in low rider type monstrosities.
That is my only plea, please respect the ideals of the great racer, engineer and innovator, Eric Buell, who gave us mass-centralisation before we knew we what it meant, and don't sell it short by ruining its handling or aggression.
'Black Beauty'
Edited by TwinKam on Friday 18th October 09:49
How you doing? 
I remember heading to a Harley dealer in Maidenhead to take a look at an S1 Lightning. The salesman was very enthusastic and keen to offer demo ride I suspect so he could get out for a ride himself. It turns out it was Paul Lewis and his enthusiasm didn't wane on the test ride making "good" progress on the back wheel.
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