| Author | Message | ||
     Quagmire |
I'm considering buying an M2. It would be my first bike. I rented a Blast and after about 100 miles I got a bit cramped in the knee. (I'm 6'.) Should I be considering the S model instead? What are opinions about the long distance commute capabilities of the M2? Also, how do recall notices work for 2nd and further owners? | ||
| Mikej |
Quagmire, Are you buying new or used? The S3 and M2 and S1 are all similar and are all totally different, depending on how finely you want to talk details. How long is your commute? I rode my M2 2,500 miles to Washington state from Wisconsin and it was fine for comfort, but that's just me, others prefer more wind protection (but then I am trying to take delivery of an S2 with the fairing on it). Best thing to do if you have decent dealerships in your area is to go take some test rides, and then decide. Also, decide in advance if you want a carb'd or fuel injected bike, which may also help in your decision process. For me, an M2 would make a fine commute bike regardless of how far the commute was. For the recall issue, your local dealership should be able to plug in the VIN numbers and tell you the bike's recall status. Drop off the bike and the dealership should be able to take care of the recall for you Assuming they get off their duff and do so ... oops, sorry, that slipped out there somehow  . MikeJ | ||
| Leeaw |
Quagmire, I am also 6' and fit my M2 perfectly. The longest I rode in one day is about 250 miles, but I regulary do 100 mile runabouts. On the parkway, it can get a little annoying above 75mph from wind, but otherwise it is great. The new Buell accessory seats are supposed to improve things more. | ||
| Reepicheep |
I commute about 100 miles a day on my M2 (when its running and when the weather is good) no problem. It is great in that role. The only problem I have is that it wears out the toes of my Rockport boots scaping the pegs (literally, I'll post a picture sometime... it looks pretty cool). Seriously, I never thought a decent commuter could be so much fun, and such a fun bike could be such a great commuter. The Elves really nailed a perfect balance on this one. A fairing might allow me to ride earlier and later in the year when the temperatures start to get a little painfull, but when the temperatures are reasonable, the wind is not an issue, and the Cyclone design actually does a decent job of keeping a lot of air off you, and keeping the air that is on you smooth. My wrists start to get a little tired after the first hour on the bike at low speeds without a break, but it is easy to refit the S3 bars if that becomes an issue for you. | ||
| Spacemanspiff |
Hello folks, About to become a Buell owner '02 X1 and wondered about your various experiences with the new Buell seats (with the colored piping) or any other aftermarket seat. Coming off of a 99 Speed Triple and an old wide glide, the stock seat on the X1 feels kinda stiff. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks. | ||
| Blake |
Spaceman: Would you please honor the intented topic and please only post your question to one topic at a time? The ergonomics topic you also posted this question to is appropriate. Congrats on the new ride. | ||
| Ara |
Gang, I have a '97 S3 that I've never had any of the recall work done on. I was in the midst of a divorce that lasted three years, and I just couldn't deal with any more complexity in my life at that time. I have six recalls: - Front isolator - Side stand switch - Fuel tank vent - Fuel tank mount - Swingarm - Rear shock I don't have any qualms about getting the first three done. However I have heard that the fuel tank mount recall may cause my tank to fit poorly, and that the swingarm and shock recalls will cause ride height to increase. I LIKE the exposed spring on the original unit, and I don't have any problems with it. So I need some wisdom. If the smart money is on the new shock and swingarm, I need to know the part number for the most up-to-date shock and swingarm isolators. The dealer nearest my home is a ten year old Harley dealer who has just very recently gotten into the Buell business. I'm not convinced that they know what they're doing yet. Thanks in advance for any assistance/information/war stories you might provide. Russ | ||
| Tripper |
I like my exposed spring also.  So much so that the chin fairing is now gone to show it off. I don't believe the ride height increases story, but I didn't compare before/after. I do know my bike is similar ride height to other Buells I ride with. The first 3 items on your list are good to do. | ||
| Blake |
I think I heard somewhere that the ride height increases if you use the old shock with the new swingarm? The new shock is longer and the new swingarm was designed to work with it, or something like that. Might have something to do with the front shock mount too. | ||
| Tripper |
Heard that on the internet somewhere did ya? (just ribbin ya) Really, they put the 99 shock on all of the bikes without changing anything else. So, 99 shock with 98 swingarm or 98 shock with 99 swingarm, what's the difference? In math parlance, "the variables cancel each other". Now when you replace a recall shock (or exposed spring early unit, but who would do that?) with the next recall shock, I.E. 2001 shock, the front mount must be changed to accomodate the shorter length of this latest unit. | ||
| Jmartz |
Dave: Have you succumbed to the "what if" pressure? I still have the old faithful, never insured the bike, have ridden 10,000 miles w/o helmet and I have not died yet or lost the bike to a thief or an accident. | ||
| Jmartz |
Tripper: That has to be the best looking Pseudo S1W in the world! It will loose that coveted position with a recall sock. | ||
| Court |
Decal | ||
| Rocketman |
For the S1 and S1W, the first batch of enclosed Showas were 1/2" shorter than the exposed spring WP. Accordingly, the S1 and S1W recall swing arm had the rear shock mount arm angled slightly further forwards to maintain the same ride height as the pre-recall items would have given the bike. This I say from memory. Can someone confirm ? Rocket in England | ||
| Tripper |
Jose, no succumbing here. Wait, that didn't come out right. I'm still exposed springy and I can touch the ground just fine. This picture just to bother Rocket who gave up his exposed one based on internet rumour.  | ||
| Rocketman |
What really happened was....... I installed the X1 arm which means if you keep the WP the ride height will be higher. Rocket in England | ||
| Ara |
The Service Manager and resident Buell expert at my local H-D/Buell dealership said that if I choose to replace the shock I HAD to replace the seingarm. I don't know if that's true. My main concern is whether I can do the reverse - replace the swingarm and retain the original shock. Eventually I'd like to go to the alloy swingarm. Can I use the stock exposed-spring shock with the alloy swingarm? Does anybody remember the PN of the new/best/latest isolators? Russ | ||
| Blake |
Dave: Weren't the original steel swingarms recalled/replaced (with new design steel swingarms) along with the shocks? Those are the ones I was thinking had a different geometry to accomodate the new shock. But, you are right, I honestly don't know. That info could be total poo. | ||
| Rocketman |
The WP is a 1\2 inch longer than the Showa. If you use the recall arm or the X1 arc arm and WP shock, I'm almost certain the ride height will be lower. (please note, my above post read higher when it should have read LOWER) Recall arm or X1 arm + Showa shock = same ride height as original arm and WP shock. Rocket in England | ||
| Ara |
Rocket: I can keep my exposed-spring shock (is that the Showa?) and use either the recall swingarm or the new alloy swingarm and the ride height will be unchanged? For sure? Dave: As I understand it, the original steel swingarm had welds that were not full length - a manufacturing shortcut. A very few of them cracked at the welds. The replacement steel swingarm has welds that go the full length and are presumed to be less crack prone. If you still have the original swingarm, you might want to clean the underside real good and inspect it with a mirror and a lot of light. I also understand that only ONE of the original exposed-spring shocks failed. That's why I am not too eager to swap for the new enclosed-spring model. | ||
| S2pengy |
Showa shocks are shorter and they also change the front shock mount this increases the height by about an inch to inch and a half. There are two Showa shocks available the standard and the M2 low. The steel swingarms are the same as far as height. Todd | ||
| Tripper |
Showa from 1999 and 2000, or the showa from 2001? And then there is the M2Low showa. I count at least 3 showa. So showa me some facts, eh? Don't believe it just cause ya read it here. Anyway, just to clarify, I run the WP Exposed Spring shock that came on the bike (there are many variations of this shock also. Mine is the highly dangerous cast tip with the unreliable progressive rate spring sometimes known as the S2 spring, go figure.) with a 1999 alloy swingarm. I don't know if it raised or lowered the ride height. Don't really care as it runs with R1's and Gixxers thru the corners and never tracks anything but true.  | ||
| Rocketman |
.............but you keep running the edge off your boots right Trip The WP is the exposed spring shock. It is longer for sure, by 1\2 inch. I've measured it side by side with the earlier version Showa. I agree, there are at least 3 Showas and I'm told the best is the current one been issued under recall, once again. As far as I know, the third Showa is the short one. For now I have the first Showa that was issued under recall also, but I'm getting the current Showa (not the short one)in exchange for the original recall one I have. Confused ? As far as the front shock mount goes, I wasn't aware of a different one been issued to go with the Showas but that would make more sense than changing the geometry of the arm. Having said that, I was told a long time ago by varying sources that the X1 arc arm does have a different angle for the rear shock mount, ie it reaches further forward. As for the upgrade steel arm, maybe that stayed the same but I was told it was the same geometry as the X1 arm so it could accomodate the shorter Showa shock that was issued under recall at the same time. Still confused ? Me too !!! Rocket in England | ||
| Ara |
Confused? I'm confusticated, bebothered, and bumfuzzled, but I'm not confused! I wonder if I can get the factory to give me a credit under the recall toward an alloy swingarm? It's worth a try! | ||
| Steveshakeshaft |
And adding to the confusion- If you had a Showa shock with the "Shock Reinforcement Pack" added (remember that horrid thing?), then you need to update to the later '01 shock. I had this fitted to my '97 M2 in March '01. There was also a new front shock mount because the latest Showa is ~ 2" shorter than the earlier Showa. But I did get my WP shock and the old swing arm back. Just for show purposes you understand........ I know of one WP shock that failed in the UK. Regards Steve http://ukbeg.com steve@ukbeg.com | ||
| Jmartz |
Daytripper: You are an oddity. By now collective gullibility has forced most of us to give up the old exposed spring because "it might come apart" and harm us. Aren't you afraid for your life? Buell is! Are you irresponsible, father of 3? Go get that recall Showah and protect your life. | ||
| Tripper |
Happy new year Jose. May God bless our free country. Besides, I made a promise to Scott that the spring stays as long as I own her.  | ||
| Jmartz |
God bless you Dave, may you and your family have a very happy and prosperous new year. | ||
| Rocketman |
So if Shakey reckons the front mount was changed for the SHORT Showa (not the recall one), that means the recall arms have to be different otherwise the ride height will be altered by using a 1/2 inch shorter shock. Rocket in England | ||
| Steveshakeshaft |
Rocket, my Showa shock ('01 spec) was a recall shock and it was fitted in place of my WP shock. I never had the "SRP" type Showa shock. If you send me an Email address that works, I'll send you service bulletin B-035A. That explains it all. Steve http://ukbeg.com steve@ukbeg.com |
