| Author | Message | ||
     Hotrats |
Could/would you shed some light on this variation of the RS1200? I've heard it was for California (emissions?) any info appreciated thanks andyh | ||
| 1313 |
Andy, The kit bikes were actually as fully assembled bikes as the non-kit bikes. They were, as you stated, required to have the kit VIN and be considered kit bikes for California emissions. The Buell Motor Company, Inc. bikes did not use a carbon cannister for the California bikes as all the tubers from Buell Motorcycle Company did. I believe even the California XB's use the carbon cannister as I seem to remember seeing a pic or two of XB's with the carbon cannister. 1313  not Court, but I hope I will suffice | ||
| Ducxl |
When i saw a slash/5 in the title i thought BMWs' were involved.I own a slash/6 since brand new. | ||
| Hotrats |
thanks Brankin.... I was hoping someone would answer/confirm my thoughts. looking at previous posts/pics you put up of the RS's in the factory made me drool. So, it seems in the very near future i'll be the proud owner of a RS1200 "kit". dang this madness.... andyh | ||
| 1313 |
Andy, Congrats! You've got quite the Buell collection going. Please tell me you did NOT end up selling the '99 Carbon Fiber Extreme X1. I got one question though. I'm puzzled. If I didn't have to pay for my Icehouse  would I be able to have such a nice Buell collection? 1313 | ||
| Steveshakeshaft |
Congratulations Andy, enjoy! | ||
| Court |
I've been watching that white one for sale. Did you get it? | ||
| Rich |
I'd love to have a RSS tail kit for mine. | ||
| Hotrats |
Thanks all, Brankin, the '99 CF X1 will go nowhere - that's the bike that started this madness. Not having to pay (for at least some of) the Icehouse helps. I can say that the wife is not very happy with me.... Steve, Thanks. I know you're ready to take yours for a spin, but first things first. Court, I'm buying the blue one that is in the classifieds. The white one was listed on ebay after the fact. I'm hoping it sells for a LOT of money. It is a very nice looking bike. I'm hoping you can provide some info on the RS that I'm getting. Thanks everyone! andyh | ||
| Court |
Rich: I'd like to see who snags the white one. Perhaps we can "borrow" the RSS tail section. I know where we can pop molds off it and perhaps make some. Court | ||
| Davegess |
Technically the kit bikes needed to be assembled by the selling dealer. All parts were conveniently included in exactly the places they needed to be assembled to. | ||
| Hotrats |
Court - & Rich I see that airtech makes a RSS tail section. Would this be a option? I've no direct experience & have heard some negative things about some of their products. andyh | ||
| Hotrats |
ah.... Of the 15 1991 RS/RSS kits, anyone have a breakdown as to how many of each model? I think the RS i'm looking into is #14 andyh | ||
| Rich |
I knew about airtech, it's the subframe that is hard to get. | ||
| Court |
I am under the impression that Airtech quality has been iffy. I have no direct experience. Sub frames might be a doable deal. | ||
| Rich |
Matching my 16 year old paint might be a challenge.  | ||
| Steveshakeshaft |
If you have a pattern to use, making RSS sub frames is no problem. | ||
| Hotrats |
Update- the RS1200 "kit" has left Denver - after 3 days, 1625 miles, it's now on my carport. This bike ROCKS!! The trip went ok, couple of small problems - flat tire, small mech. prob. Worst was the RAIN. Not many places to hide in Kansas. Brankin, I had the kit number wrong - care to guess the number? KIT013 !!!! Court, could you provide any info about the history of the bike? I've got the Colorado DMV documents with comments from "Buell Custodian of Records" as to RS1200 kits & kit013 in paticular. Is there any way to get a manual for this year model? That was sadly not included. Any info greatly appreciated thanks andyh  | ||
| Hotrats |
Update- the RS1200 "kit" has left Denver - after 3 days, 1625 miles, it's now on my carport. This bike ROCKS!! The trip went ok, couple of small problems - flat tire, small mech. prob. Worst was the RAIN. Not many places to hide in Kansas. Brankin, I had the kit number wrong - care to guess the number? KIT013 !!!! Court, could you provide any info about the history of the bike? I've got the Colorado DMV documents with comments from "Buell Custodian of Records" as to RS1200 kits & kit013 in particular. Is there any way to get a manual for this year model? That was sadly not included. Any info greatly appreciated thanks andyh here's a pic, of still dirty RS1200 (i hope)  | ||
| 1313 |
KIT013 !!!! Gotta love that! Lucky #13!!! SWEET! Even makes your collection that much more spectacular!!! Have to see if I can dig up any interesting pics of Blue RS's. For now these will have to do:    1313 | ||
| Hotrats |
Thanks Brankin! Would you believe, no Icehouse in east CO., west KS? geez.. i've a lot of ?? about this model bike - differences and such. also, would love to find parts, owners manuals. had new tires installed at HD dealer in KS. boogered up fork leg screws, and speedo quit working 60 miles later.... i shoulda known better. 'nother pic  | ||
| Court |
Forget the speedo . . . Dano set it when he built the bike . . .if you were meant to play with it he'd have made the opening accessible. I'd suggest you forgo allegiance to the original 591 Dunlops. Parts are available, but getting less so. I have a box of owner's manual somewhere . . . let me do some digging. Very cool bike and you're going to find the handling much different. I'll write more and explain it later. This bike is smarter than you. . . listen to it. Court  | ||
| Hotrats |
Thanks Court, the speedo worked fine until had the tires changed.... not going to blame the hd tech - but, he did take front wheel off and reinstall. speaking of the speedo, there is no trip reset button? Dug through my archive of RS pics, see 1 dash with a reset button, 1 without - what gives? The handling is MUCH different from X1 or S3. After that 1600 mi. "test" ride, I was ready to continue on. What a Bike! thanks andyh | ||
| Court |
Uhhh. . . that is an inaccurate statement. I love Buell newbies . . . shhhhhhhh Brankin and Dave G. . . . I'll answer this in just a bit. . . let him think on it. . . I'll be back in an hour or two. By the way . . . until I have time to describe what is arguably one of motorcyclings great engineering moments. . .go take a close look at your wife or girlfriend . . . I'm going to need to know a bit about her to work you through this engineering marvel. Welcome to the fabulous world of the REAL Buells!  | ||
| 1313 |
Andy, Your speedo problem is most likely a broken speedo cable. If the orientation of the speedo drive coming off the front wheel/fork leg is not exactly the same as it was before the tire change the cable will break. It's happened to me quite a few times with my S2, but now I got the knack for ensuring the orientation is the same. There was one time, however, where the tab broke off the speedo drive on my S2... The S2 cable is the same as the S1 cable, which meant the last time I had a speedo cable failure I was easily able to find the part at the Charleston, SC Buell dealer & I was only about 100 miles away at Myrtle Beach Bike Week. The speedo cable failed just before Wilmington, NC (and of course that dealership was closed when I went through Wilmington) on my way to the first MBBW I attended (2002) after moving to NC. The easiest (and safest if it is not the cable) way to verify would be to remove the speedo cable from the back of the speedo and then when you have that end of the cable out in the open undo the connection into the speedo drive. Once removed the inner part of the cable (what actually turns the speedo) can be pulled out of the conduit. If the inner part is in pieces, then it is obviously the cable. Can't comment on the OE part, but I'd assume that the S2/S1 cable would be about the same length and may actually be the right part. The speedo drive is in the same location and the dash/speedo is in about the same location. I thought I had one of the old service manuals around (yellow cover book with the plastic binding keep the pages together thingie - sorry to be so technical), but I couldn't find it. Anyways, here's some interesting pics of Blue (and other color) RS's, all from either the 1st or 2nd Homecoming. Scanned film prints sure play with color and contrast, don't they?  Lightening the picture reveals some of the faces:  To the far right holding one of the Buell daughters is Erik & wearing the red shirt is Kim (employee #2 as mentioned in an article about her in the latest issue of Fuell). If I were ever to title a picture this would be "Duelling BUELL Plates":  The Blue RS with the Wisconsin BUELL plate is my buddy Jeff's RS. I believe there is some significance to the Red RS with the Ohio BUELL plate, but I just can't seem to remember what it is. Maybe Court can fill in that gap. Another angle on the "Duelling Buell Plates":  It shows even in the old days that it was not uncommon to have a H-D or two attend Homecoming. Zoomed in a little one starts to notice the Yellow RSS on the far left has some interesting differences.  This front view of the Jeff's RS and the Yellow RSS (nicknamed Screamin' Yellow Peril) shows a little more.  A solo rear shot of Screamin' Yellow Peril (sorry to drift off the Blue RS topic).  Here's the entire line up (minus the Chevy Turquoise/Teal pinted RS from Colorado) for the Homecoming. My guess is it is the 2nd Homecoming (1992) because John Mikash's Pearl Gray RSS (the RSS became available in the US in 1992, for 1991 the RSS was - or maybe was supposed to be - for Japan only) is in the line up.  A closer view of just the bikes:  The guy in the orange shirt is Keith Ulicki (who's also in an article in the latest issue of Fuell). Another view of the line up.  And a closer view focusing on the bikes - with the white 1965 Chevy II Nova that I drove during my early college days (before I got the DED SLD) peeking out of the shade.   Sorry to drift off topic. I started reminiscing about the old days... Keith Ulicki handed me the keys to an RS during a Buell demo event he had at the old dealership and told me to take it for a spin. I'd have to agree the handling was a little different than my S2, but it still had that smooth Buell ride. Unfortunately when, at a different event, he handed me the keys to a 102 Rear Wheel Hp S2 I did not have the experience to truly enjoy it to the fullest. Just like the time I got to ride Big Red... Big Red is a story in itself. To plagiarize Court - remind me to tell you sometime... Damn, I keep drifting off topic. This stuff is contagious! But I think we all already know that...Andy especially! 1313 | ||
| 1313 |
Court, Dano built Andy's 'new' bike?!?! It keeps getting even better! Dano owns (1995) S2 #13! Alright, I'll shut up now... 1313 (Message edited by 1313 on June 03, 2007) | ||
| Hotrats |
Court- Wonderful World of Buells - you've got that right! "inaccurate statement"? ok, at work now, will look again in the morn. about wife- vietnamese, 'bout 85lb, 5ft, that enough info? Brankin- the pics are great. thanks for carrying us by the original factory last year, helps to put a location to the pics. i think it is Kim, employee #2, whose comments are on the CO. dmv documents i have. the yellow RSS, appears to have honda(?) rims & different front fairing, turn signals? (Japanese market?) big red? love to hear the story, the ice house is waiting. Dano? as "book'em Dano"? Buell? contagious? madness is more like it. thanks for the speedo cable tip, will look into it this week. again, thanks for the info and help andyh (Message edited by hotrats on June 04, 2007) (Message edited by hotrats on June 04, 2007) | ||
| Court |
>>>>wife- vietnamese, 'bout 85lb, 5ft, that enough info? That's exactly what I needed to know. You may have noted that the combined mass of Erik and my wives is less than 200#. . . it's not by accident. Yes Andy there is a reset knob. . . but you can't reach it. It just didn't seem like a problem at the time and building bikes was more important that resetting odomoters. The HD unit fit quite nicely . . Now, I'll share a secret with you and use it as you need. If you want your odometer reset you should maintain a good relationship with your spousal unit for the only way to reset the trip meter is for HER to reach up through the bottom of the fairly . . . feel about until she finds the knurled knob and twist that babe whilst you call out the 6666, 7777, 8888, 9999, STOP!! command. This may, to the untrained eye, appear a design oversight. Nothing could be further from the truth. Watch the view of your wife and she's reaching in the fairing and you'll thank me for the engineering gift from the wizards at Buell. The, just so you'll know, is not the first time an American manufacturer has done it's largely male customers such a favor. In 1952 the guys at Cushman pioneered what has to be one of the most amazing pieces of engineering I've ever seen. Remind me to tell you about it sometime. . . Ride safe, lean much and smile more, Court | ||
| Toona |
OK, it's been 3 hours.... Now I'm reminding you. Spill the beans on the Cushman engineering. And from our past discussions, you know I'm into the Cushman scooters. | ||
| Hotrats |
"the combined mass of Erik and my wives is less than 200#" ah.. "my wives". what a man, what a man. i had looked and tried to reach behind the speedo - couldn't get hand in there. will have to get the wife to reset speedo while i "observe". thanks for the tip, sounds like more fun than having a reset knob on the dash! while looking in the archives, saw where a member is making replica tool pouches. i'm getting him to make me one. now to get the tools. in the same thread, someone posted that they had got either some or all of the tools by calling Buell. i tried that and got directed to HD customer service. this was no help. i need 2 front turn signals also, and would like to find the tools - any ideas? thanks for all the info andyh |
