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Buell Motorcycle Forum » Old School Buell » Archives OSB 001 » Archive through March 17, 2007 » Should we support chopping Buells? » Archive through February 14, 2007 « Previous Next »

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Duckbuell
Posted on Saturday, February 10, 2007 - 12:25 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I would think that we subscribe to BadWeatherBikers because we love what Buells stand for:
1. Great Handling
2. Awesome styling
3. Torquey motors
4. A totally unique riding experience

I am getting pretty disgusted with the trend of chopping Buells.

(Message edited by duckbuell on February 10, 2007)
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Bad_karma
Posted on Saturday, February 10, 2007 - 12:43 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Duckbuell
I feel much the same you do about this but by attacking these individuals we will not stop the process. We will simply run them off the board. There are other underlying action that could change the out come of this but if the whole bike sold for a good price it make it too expense to use as a source of choppers. Just take advantage of the parts maybe pickup another bike. But I don't agree with the personnel attacks.
Joe
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Aldaytona
Posted on Saturday, February 10, 2007 - 07:36 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

How is that rant attacking anybody?
Wonder why a bunch of dirtbags wearing bedsheets and towels on their head is kicking our candy asses?
Oh, I feel so bad now, I think I'll cry a while
OK, I feel better now, sorry I attacked our middle eastern brothers, and all the cry baby politically correct don't offend anyone non gender folks.



NOT!
It's OK to grab your belt right by the buckle and pull it forward to check and see if you've still got a pair, and if so, tell it like it is.
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Aldaytona
Posted on Saturday, February 10, 2007 - 07:41 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I do agree with personnel attacks, but I don't agree with personal attacks, most of the time anyways
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Aldaytona
Posted on Saturday, February 10, 2007 - 07:47 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Oh yeah, and what Duckbuell said also in CAPS, and to quote Dean Wormer " I hate those guys"
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Not_purple_s2
Posted on Saturday, February 10, 2007 - 10:07 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I'd only chop my buell if I wanted to get any money out of it. Sad that my S2 would be worth more as a chopper than original. I could probably put 5-6 grand into chopping my Buell and get anywhere from 10-15 back at a bike week.
Now, even if I were to put that much into my Buell in motor mods, paint, and other improvements, (which I most likely will) I doubt I could get more than $3000 for it. There's no way to recoup the cost of modifying a Buell.

It seems with all the Buell based choppers out there, their prices are starting to drop. I don't think there are many people building them for profit anymore and more people building them for themselves.
If I ever decide to build a chopper I'll use, at the very least, a buell motor. Those are beginning to be more common on eBay. For about $2000 you can buy a 100hp motor and 5spd transmission, compare that to what you'd pay for an equivalent Big Twin, primary, and 5spd tranny.
Buell/Sportster choppers are the cheapest way to build a chopper so many people who want a custom chopper go that route. And since Buells are often cheaper than sportsters and have better components, it makes more sense to use them. We may not agree with what's happening but you can't deny that it's a smart way to build a chop.
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Chasespeed
Posted on Saturday, February 10, 2007 - 10:31 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

My thoughts....

If someone wants to spend their hard earned money stripping, and building, then, good for them...

If they wanna spend their hard earned money, on a 20k or more "chopper", well, fine... not my call...

If I decide to turn my Carbon Kevlar X1 into a chopper, well...thats MY choice...

I advertised this thing, and the only pings I got, were from people wanting to cut it up, but I couldnt get more than a 45oo offer on it...

Oh well...

Chase
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Not_purple_s2
Posted on Saturday, February 10, 2007 - 12:37 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I'll admit that when I bought my Buell I had thoughts of chopping it. The first time I ever heard of Buell was from a Harley guy that told to get one to chop. I was in the market for a cruiser and was looking at Sportsetrs but really wanted something more like a Softail or a custom. He mentioned that I could get a Buell and chop it for less than the cost of a sportster. So I started looking around, found an S2 and bought it for a steal. But once I started learning more and more about Buells and after riding the bike more and more, I realized that I just couldn't chop it.
My dad, a major fan of custom harleys, was doubtful at first. Phil had never liked any type of sportbike. But as soon as he took it for a ride he had a big grin on his face. I left the bike with him for about 2 years while I was in college and working in the oil field. I rode it whenever I came home but most of the miles on it were put there by him. He started bragging about it more and more, especially after he went riding with a friend who had a Big Dog chopper with huge motor and the 300mm rear tire. Even on the highway Phil kept leaving the guy behind and by the end of the day the BD rider was wanting a Buell.
Phil passed away last year. The last time I saw him he was telling me about how he had a good day and felt well enough to take the Buell out ride for most of the day. Just a few days later he passed. If we had chopped it and made it into a hardtail like we had first planned there would have been no way he could have rode that bike.
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Photon7p
Posted on Saturday, February 10, 2007 - 01:00 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I'd have to agree with you guys...chopping a Buell for a chopper is a sin. The reason you can't buy a sportster for less is that you can rebuild any sportster...but with a Buell they just don't support it. If Eric Buell decided to start offering replacement parts for ALL of his Buells there would be a bigger following. Lets face it...a Buell is a Buell...no matter what year or model (I hate to exclude the Blast...but it's fun for what it is) your going to have a similar experience no matter what Buell your on...don't expect them to keep up with the replica racers, they never have...and probably never will...but that's not what Buell is about. So if the parts where out there most people would be able to rebuild their wrecked Buells and not auction them off for half of what you can order the engine for. It's sad that this is the cheapest way for Buell guys to get there hands on parts they need...a chin fairing for an X1 costs about $300 from Buell...I can get a low mile set off of ebay for that or just a little bit more.
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Buellzebub
Posted on Saturday, February 10, 2007 - 02:32 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

...gonna change my wrecked spare s1 into a cruiser eventually (prolly because the mounts on the cases are all cracked and new cases from the Mother Co. are more than a bike on e-bay).

hmmm a hundred hp in a light frame, custom beveled floorboards and a cradle for the engine to prevent the motor from falling when that stellar front engine mount breaks (yes the heim joints will hold the motor off the ground in the buell frame when it breaks), by quick calculation i could convert it for under 10k and have a nice retirement cruiser that can still put a smile on my face (parked next to the S1).

also given the fact that the old tubers have not retained their value anyways one could theoretically come out ahead by selling the "girls bike" when completed. also we can keep our "spares" inventory up by buying the cast off pieces on ebay, it is already getting difficult to find some parts for the s1.

who really cares anyways? as long as you ride the machine, no one has a right to question your reasons for doing so or for building anything. personally, i'll just smile and wave as i ride on.

there are way too many closet critics n pretend bikers out there.

rtfm
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Wolf102
Posted on Saturday, February 10, 2007 - 02:34 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

chopping a buell is a sin! a buell is not only a bike but a work of art also.i like my wife when i die i want to be cremated and my ashes be put in the gas tank of my s2 mixed with some 101 octane.
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Not_purple_s2
Posted on Saturday, February 10, 2007 - 04:37 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

You know I used to see spare S2 parts on eBay all the time. Now that I have the money to buy spare parts, there seem to be very few to find. I guess not that many people are chopping em any more. They seem to be going after the early XB's now.
I wish I had bought more parts when I had the chance. Used to see whole S2 body sets for a couple hundred dollars and Corbin seats for $100 all the time.
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Ebutch
Posted on Saturday, February 10, 2007 - 07:23 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

(Message edited by ebutch on February 11, 2007)[IMG]http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r200/ebutch/94S2fender.jpg[/IMG]

(Message edited by ebutch on February 11, 2007)
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Ebutch
Posted on Saturday, February 10, 2007 - 07:28 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Bought on ebay,arived today 1994 S2 fender?,really thick and heavy compared to my S2T fender, also different shape fender legs with holes .Curtis:It took me 1 year 6mo. to get extra body set on eBay a piece at a time, be paitiont and check constantly.Butch

(Message edited by ebutch on February 10, 2007)

(Message edited by ebutch on February 10, 2007)

(Message edited by ebutch on February 10, 2007)

(Message edited by ebutch on February 10, 2007)
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Ebutch
Posted on Saturday, February 10, 2007 - 11:24 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)



(Message edited by ebutch on February 11, 2007)
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Ebutch
Posted on Sunday, February 11, 2007 - 04:14 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)



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Ebutch
Posted on Sunday, February 11, 2007 - 04:23 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)



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Bluzm2
Posted on Sunday, February 11, 2007 - 06:40 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Ed,
That's the original S2 fender.
They are heavier than the later ones.
I think they used that style for 95 and part of 96.
I like them better than the later model. I also have a spare set of body work including one of the old style fenders.

Brad
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Firemanjim
Posted on Sunday, February 11, 2007 - 09:07 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I saw that one and almost bid,but really need a used S-1 style one instead as I use that to mount the RR front fender on the Bonneville bike.
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Tunes
Posted on Monday, February 12, 2007 - 01:24 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

If you want to chop a Buell, go ahead. It's a free country. I think it's a sin to destroy a bike designed to handle corners... and when you ask me what I think of your chopper, don't get upset when I say your chopper sucks. Like I said, it's free country.
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Djkaplan
Posted on Monday, February 12, 2007 - 10:48 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I'm not impressed with a majority of the mods I see on Buells in general, but I don't criticize the people that make them. If you want to part one out, that's your business, not mine. I don't have to like it, but it's not important that I do.

I don't like a lot of things people do, but I support their rights to do what ever they want if it's legal.
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Jayvee
Posted on Monday, February 12, 2007 - 02:01 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Chop away. Most everybody modifies their bike, it's a continuum. Oft-repeated refrain: If any old Buell is worth so much, why can I buy as many as I want for $3K to $4K?

Especially if somebody is actually building their own bike or chopper. Cool. That's what impresses me, not a $40,000 store-bought designer "custom" bike.
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Halffast
Posted on Monday, February 12, 2007 - 03:09 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I think the trend of chopping Buells is slowing. Most of the so-called mutant choppers that are built from Buells cost 12 to 20K and up to build but are only bringing 1/2 to 3/4 of the cost when they re-sell.
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Hippyjoe
Posted on Tuesday, February 13, 2007 - 12:41 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

From what I've seen in person, the people owning/riding mutants aren't very knowledgeable. Nor do they ride much, or else they have real bikes for when they want to ride and not pose.

From what I've seen on the Internet, the people selling parted Buells/built mutants aren't very literate, intelligent, or honest.

It's a short-term fad that will fade. Left in the ashes will be a lot of wrecked bikes. On the other hand surviving tubers will be worth more, eventually. For now there are cheap parts for those who need them. I don't. I bought, and modified, my Buell with research, knowledge, and intelligence, thanks in large part to this forum.

I'm not impressed with the latest generation of Sportster chopper "builders" (actually they are just kit bike assemblers). Used to be, a guy on a Sporty chopper was either a loose cannon or an apologist. Now they have some sort of suburban credibility because their bikes have the profile and paint jobs of television choppers. Still, it won't be long before the discovery channel saturation point is reached and these garage ornaments are sold off en masse because the credit card companies are collecting, the wife needs room for her new SUV, the divorce lawyers are circling, etc.

Then there will be a bunch of cheap Mutant botch jobs available and not too many primo Buells that can actually be ridden.

And the only people who will have profited will be Redneck engineering, billet bit manufacturers, bike painters, etc. Laughing their way to the bank.

By that point we will all be old geezers and can start a new trend: piecing together "correct" Buells on the Badweb Collector's & Restoration Forum.
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Steveshakeshaft
Posted on Tuesday, February 13, 2007 - 06:01 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

piecing together "correct" Buells on the Badweb Collector's & Restoration Forum
Yes, it will happen. I was laughed at in the late 90's when folk were saying how they'd made plant pots from air boxes and chopped up their mufflers, huggers etc. I argued that within 10 years there would be folks posting "Wanted" ads for these. Well it's happening. Not a lot presently. But the trend will increase. A factory standard S1 or skinny M2 is the rarest and most sought after one. Heavily modified ones are 2 cents a pop. What a laugh, but how very true.
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Jayvee
Posted on Tuesday, February 13, 2007 - 02:21 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Hippyjoe, for a "hippy" that sounds a tad harsh. One could just as easily say, "From what I've seen on the Internet, people aren't very literate, intelligent, or honest."

But, I do see about once a month on craigslist, somebody trying to sell off their mutant "project (that they) just don't have time for" etc.

On the other hand check out this M2: http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/mcy/274931208.html
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Hippyjoe
Posted on Tuesday, February 13, 2007 - 09:40 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Yeah, well it's war hippy. Airborne ranger with a CIB. Now a scruffy bike rider. Grew up on Easyriders and the old Iron Horse. Choppers that got ridden, as well as respect for cherry original classics... like a '41EL, '61FL, or in time a '98S1W. Long-forgotten breed but I'm sure we'll see a whole new generation of guys coming back from the Iraqi meat grinder, getting on Harleys, riding and kicking ass.

I suppose people in general, especially Americans, don't win any awards for literacy or honesty. Still, there are pockets, even on the Internet. I wouldn't be hanging out here if it were a bunch of uppity stiffs.

Actually I was holding back on the mutant assemblers (can't call them builders, it's like buying an erector set and a sears tool kit). It seems that in nearly every ad they post in the classifieds, they 1) brag about the "perfect, low mileage Buell" they just butchered, and 2) come back with self-righteous whining and yelling (i.e. ALL CAPS) when someone questions the brains behind the act. What did they expect, posting on an enthusiast forum? Personally I find them baiting, arrogant, and combative, at least on a computer screen, in addition to the earlier platitudes I heaped on them. I'd call them on it but refrain, out of respect to those trying to snap up the parts.

No big deal, they usually only make a couple posts in the classifieds and then go back to the horse forums or wherever they get their ideas from, once they've sold their throwaways here.

I used to get gas-station cowboys coming up to me, Harley shirt, boots, chains, carrying a six-pack and telling me about the Sporty they had back in the 80's but couldn't afford any more (need the dough for beer and dope). Not looking forward to the new breed of shitheel former mutant owner who just has to tell me about the "buell chopper" (2 words that don't really go together) he had back in the day but had to sell because he needed penis surgery while I'm topping off my M2 and trying to mind my own business.

Twice now I've told Mutant owners to their face why they overpaid for a rolling wreck. Both times they got red in the face but the laughter of the bikers around me shut them right down. The truth hurts, especially when you lose so much money on misguided pretension.

Just my .01 cent.
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Paw
Posted on Tuesday, February 13, 2007 - 10:02 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I think when it craps out, mutate it and buy a new Buell.
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Oldog
Posted on Tuesday, February 13, 2007 - 10:32 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

hearing
redneck frame : 2,500$
buell to chop : 4,500$
then hearing
"Twice now I've told Mutant owners to their face why they overpaid for a rolling wreck. Both times they got red in the face but the laughter of the bikers around me shut them right down. The truth hurts, especially when you lose so much money on misguided pretension. "

PRICELESS!
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Ebutch
Posted on Wednesday, February 14, 2007 - 02:56 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

This happens to all one piece engines hackers love them.Simple To mount with tranny in block. It is OK with me too,buying parts for pennies on the dollar + makes my machines more rare!Since I have Ben riding my S2T 100,000 + miles I seen one other As S2T,S2.And that's almost 9 years! For Hippy Joes snide remark about soldiers in Iraq:Jesus cover our troops with your blood!For they are for Us The Brave That Keeps Us The Land Of The Free!Pull some Gs Butch
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