| Author | Message | ||
     Igneroid |
I recently bought a 2002 M2L. Until then, I had only heard of Buell but never seen one. Now that I have one, I'm using the power quite a bit. Does this Sportster engine take the rough stuff?? Mine runs great and hard quite often. Am I gonna wear it out fast?? (Message edited by Igneroid on September 16, 2007) | ||
| Kvdog |
My guess is that if you take the time to warm it up before getting on the gas, and keep track of the oil situation, it may outlast you. Lots of pros and cons about this engine here, but they are tough, get good mileage and are relatively simple to fix. | ||
| Panhead_dan |
Any engine run very, very hard will not last as long as one that is run like grandma's station wagon. These bikes were designed to be run fairly hard and not whimper about it. I'm not worried about a top end overhaul when the time comes. I can't seem to make myself ride it slow and easy all the time. | ||
| Kc69xlch |
for the lack of maintenance they require i would say they very sturdy. ride it until it breaks, then fix it, then ride it some more. they are easy to work on and that can be just as rewarding as riding it. | ||
| Igneroid |
Thanks for the responses people. One of the reasons I asked is that allot of my friends are involved in the local organized dragrace scene and have been pressuring me to showem what "Darth"(name of my Buell) can do in the 8th mile. I was concerned about practicing launching and overheating issues. I'll use my head and give lots of time between practice launches. By the way, any body have any launching tips?? I seem to have too much traction. I weigh 200 lbs and this thing will wheelie no matter how far ahead I get..This web site rocks!!! | ||
| Old_mil |
Warm it up properly, change the oil and filter every often (I'd say ~ 2,500 miles), and do the other maintenance/fluids. The bike will last a long time. | ||
| Kc69xlch |
you may try upping the rpm's at which you leave , drop the clutch. sometimes getting the rear wheel spinning just a little will help your 60ft times. have you ever done a burnout on it yet. its alot like that without the front brake holding | ||
| Igneroid |
Heya Kc69xlch. Thanks for the tip. It seems that the higher the rpm befor dumping the clutch, the higher the wheelie, in which case I back off and enjoy the adrenalin for a bit..heh... My best effort is about 3500 rpm and slipping the clutch while opening up the throttle. It works but I'm not very consistant. If I could get a bit of wheelspin, Im sure it would help but that Dunlop is pretty sticky I guess.... | ||
| Hughlysses |
Igneroid, Welcome to the group. Since your ride is an M2L, try posting your question in the Old School Buell forum: http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/476 23/47623.html?1189985331 This forum is intended for Uly questions. You may get some more responses there. | ||
| Igneroid |
Oops...sorry | ||
| Kc69xlch |
try really dumping the clutch. slipping it is how you pull wheelies, dumping it is how you leave the line at the drag strip. and i would say that 4-4.5k rpms should be in the right range. hold on and have fun | ||
| Blake |
That is extremely dangerous, really horrendously bad advice. Dumping the clutch from any rpm over 2500 on any Buell is likely to loop the bike; the higher the rpm, the more violent the bike will loop. On a Sportster that may work okay, but never on a Buell. | ||
| New12r |
try really dumping the clutch. slipping it is how you pull wheelies, dumping it is how you leave the line at the drag strip. and i would say that 4-4.5k rpms should be in the right range. hold on and have fun Just wow......I would never give this advice to someone new to Buell. For that matter I would never give that advice to anyone. If you dont want the Buell to wheelie, get wheelie bars, On any hard launch I have ever attempted I have never kept the front wheel down....EVER. Be careful and have fun! Welcome to Badweb! | ||
| Bigdaddy |
+3 on the bad advice -- unless you really want to end up on your head. | ||
| Bigkuri |
In fairness, if you are really serious you do dump the clutch. You won't end up on your head, IF you have prepared properly. Those drag guys don't do the burn outs before a race just for show.... The tyre has to be really hot though, so don't burn out then wait an age. The Buells have a lot of torque, but not that much, but takes a bit of technique still! If the wheel is not hot enough (molten like) to slip when dropping the clutch, i.e., a cold high-rev start, then you will be in all sorts of trouble. I've only done this a couple of times, not on a Buell, and I hated it (not enough bottle); so speak to those who know better!  | ||
| Dentguy |
Short wheelbase, 4500rpm and dumping the clutch = a sore back right after you are staring at the sky. | ||
| Kc69xlch |
everyone does what works for them i guess. i'll keep doin' it my way.  | ||
| Igneroid |
Well thanks all for the tips and the varying points of view. Just to update, I went for a ride this evening and tried to do a burnout to goo up the tire. The bike just pushes the front wheel, locked up and all, down the road like a fat kid on a water slide. I tried the 4500 rpm/dump the clutch thing,..... and was wondering who's gonna pay for the underwear...cause these aint no more good.  I used to ride years ago, hadda Kawasaki 500 triple mach 3 that was hard to launch but not like this M2. Anyways, thanks again all and I guess Im not supposed to post stuff about my bike here so we'll catch you at the Old School Board. Later Percy | ||
| Blake |
Bigkuri, If you have a very special drag racing clutch that is set up and tuned for drag racing and being able to dump the clutch I can agree with you. But we are talking about stock Buell motorcycles here. I've never heard that warming up a tire via burnout is to cause it to slip on launch. In fact I think that is 100% opposite of reality. A drag racer who's driven tire(s) slip on launch has usually lost the race. Drag racers heat up their tire(s) via burnout in order to enhance tire grip/traction, not reduce it. | ||
| Blake |
KC69, I don't believe you run your Buell that way anywhere let alone at a drag strip. In fact I'd pay money to see you or anyone on any Buell with a stock wheelbase and drivetrain, revving it to 4,500 rpm at a standstill and dumping the clutch in 1st gear. The amount of sticky stuff they put down on drag strips these days precludes getting any wheelspin out of any kind of stock wheelbase Buell motorcycle. | ||
| Kc69xlch |
blake, first most drag racers do spin the tire a bit on the launch, it helps avoid tire shake as wheel speed at launch is very important. secondly if you have ever seen a buell stunt rider doing burnout donuts in a parking lot of a hd dealer you may not be so freely offering to give your money away. there is a point where the power the engine makes overcomes the traction of the tire. just because you have never done it dont mean it cant be done. | ||
| Bigkuri |
Cheers Blake - noted. I'd need way bigger clangers to try it again, was so nervous before and after that couldn't take in a word the experienced guy was telling us... | ||
| Diablobrian |
The stunt riders you see have absolutely nothing to do with drag racing. The goals are 180 degrees out too, one wants tire spin, one wants the tire to hook up. Their bikes are geared radically differently, and the stunters usually use a box stock motor. You cannot compare launching an IL4 motor ,where launching at 6k nets you less torque than our bikes make at 3k, and launching a v-twin Buell. You cannot compare launching a Buell to a sportster or other H-D because the wheelbase of the bikes are so different as well as the weight and the Cg. I would seriously recommend talking to Wes, or Pammy about drag racing a Buell. They are the authorities on this. I ride a firebolt, and have never really ridden it in anger on a quarter mile, but even just fooling around on the street I have a hard time keeping the front wheel on the ground to the point that if I was drag racing I would look long and hard at launching in 2nd gear rather than first. My motor is a bit hotter than stock 100rwhp/86ftlbs and it is a firebolt so even that is not a n apples to apples piece of advice for anyone looking to drag race a tube frame Buell. Like I said, Wes, or Pammy are the ones to ask. | ||
| Igneroid |
Well this has turned out to be and interesting conversation. I thank everyone for their input. On the drag race thing, Im thinkin I'll tell my buddies Im not interested as I love this bike the way it is and dont wanna put wheelie bars/extended swingarms/yaddyadda on it. Im getting into this cornering thing. I read the tips section and the "keep your head up" tip was really helpfull. Didnt realize I was point fixating(sp). That helped to the point that I got a tad exuberant in a fairly sharp one and .....well, the torque thing does have a downside when you are a greenhorn and leaned waaaay too far over. Didnt lose it but I have another pair of underewear to go with the 4500 rpm clutch dumpers. Shheeees, Im havin too much fun on this bike. How come Buell's arent the top sellers???? | ||
| Dragon_slayer |
The cheapest and easiest improvement is a front strap to pull the front of your bike down at the track. Also raise the front forks higher in the triple clamps. Keep body position low and forward. All of this helps with the weight transfer. Less weight on rear tire, more slip. More weight on front tire, less wheelie. Could also try more air pressure in the back tire. Less foot-patch contact, more slip. Next would be a longer swing arm.  | ||
| Rustyx1w |
I am a big guy, I can launch my X1W without wheelie. Another thing to remember is that 1st gear on a Buell is pretty short, you are going to accelerate the bike harder in 2nd and 3rd because of how the HP & torque balance out in the V-twin, Even screwing around on the street I cannot make mine wheelie unless I really get on it and pull, I don't do wheelies ever, looks like a good way to screw up a motor mount or blow a fork seal to me, always has, like I said I am a big guy, but my X1W will run 100mph 1/4 mile with my fat ass on it, so I aint complaining. | ||
| Igneroid |
}I am a big guy, I can launch my X1W without wheelie. Another thing to remember is that 1st gear on a Buell is pretty short, you are going to accelerate the bike harder in 2nd and 3rd because of how the HP & torque balance out in the V-twin, Even screwing around on the street I cannot make mine wheelie unless I really get on it and pull, I don't do wheelies ever, looks like a good way to screw up a motor mount or blow a fork seal to me, always has, like I said I am a big guy, but my X1W will run 100mph 1/4 mile with my fat ass on it, so I aint complaining. Heya Rusty Im a bigger guy too but I havent figured out how to dump the clutch at revs and launch hard. It ALWAYS leaps into the air. Its not that big a deal as the torque gets er going quick without wheelspin but consistancy is the issue in drag racing these days. Anyhow, I see you are a guitar player as well. Whatcha got?? I bought a PRS 513 a couple months ago. I play regularly in a weekend warrior type band and love it. The guitar is my stage Buell...heh...sometime I miss a gear on both of em..... |
