| Author | Message | ||
     Orman1649 |
I am just starting to get into Buells and am looking to buy one. I dug around here some but couldn't find an answer to my question. What are the differences between the S1 and the S1W besides the S1W was a limited run in '98. Also, how can I tell the differences between the two if I am just looking at pictures of bikes for sale online. I have seen many claim to be S1 White Lightnings although I thought "white" lightning was reserved for the S1Ws. For example, the one on Ebay currently says it is a S1 white lightning and it supposedly has the Thunderstorm heads. Is there any way to tell if it is an S1W? Thanks. | ||
| Cyclonemduece |
thunderstorms came on the s1w only, they are a flat black color the regular s1 has gray/silver colored heads, | ||
| Cyclonemduece |
oh yeah and the s1w has the extra capacity fuel tank known as the manta tank | ||
| Sleez |
the S1W is called the White Lightning, it is basically an S1 with the Thunderstorm Engine rated at 101hp. It also came with the larger gas tank of the S3. There is a digit in the VIN that should tell you for sure but i don't have it handy. Originally they were all white on white, but the other colors soon were also available. Mine is molten orange with a black frame, i still love the molten orange with nuclear blue frame, but there seem to be fewer with the black frame. so...quick answer is...look for black heads (thunderstorm) and the large "manta" style gas tank. of course that only goes as far as you can tell the bike has not been changed, the parts are very easily interchangeable, and the current owner might be confused as to what he really has. the VIN is clear cut. hope that helps. | ||
| Smoke |
vin has ys for s1w instead of ss for s1 tim | ||
| Ratbuell |
Engine differences include not only the black heads, but higher compression pistons and different (more agressive) cams. The header was the later style with 2.5" collector as opposed to the "standard" 2". Larger fuel tank, neat available color options (remind Court to tell you sometime...), and more attitude than two wheels should be able to carry. | ||
| Orman1649 |
Thanks alot for all the responses guys | ||
| Bads1 |
Also the paint bubbled on the small tanks around the lettering and was bulletined if memory serves and owners got a new style lettered tank but the option was only Manta. So some of the S1's you see have the Manta tank on them anyways. | ||
| Court |
>>>>but the option was only Manta. Inaccurate. . . . . well, mostly. It depends on which tank you need. I sent 7 tanks to owners in the last 12 months. All were "small" tanks. (Message edited by court on April 13, 2008) | ||
| Bads1 |
I thought that was the option in 98 Court. Since to what I thought I understood was the only tanks being produced?? | ||
| Epmchow |
Court....Can I still get a Manta tank off my S1W replaced? Dealer told me no gain. It is Molten orange with the cleared over decals. Eric | ||
| Jos51700 |
All replacement tanks come with only the raised-letter badges, right? No OE style decals? | ||
| Bads1 |
The raised letter's are OE. They switched to them because of the problem. | ||
| Jos51700 |
They're not OE for S1's or S1W's. | ||
| Court |
The S1 came with the small tank. The S1WL with the larger (Manta) tank. The raised letters started **I THINK** in 1999, the year the S1 disappeared and the X1 came on the scene. | ||
| Mikeyp |
Your correct on the 1999 raised letter bit Court. My 98 replacement tank was sent to me with the 99 raised letter type found on X1's. And just for the record...real Buells have round headlights. ;) | ||
| Bads1 |
And just for the record...real Buells have round headlights. ;) Ummmmm don't get it?? | ||
| Epmchow |
Is the bubbling paint on the tanks still a warranty issue? Or is it to late in the game for that. Bike only has 2800 miles on it. Thanks for any info. | ||
| Court |
>>>Is the bubbling paint on the tanks still a warranty issue? The warrant on effected motorcycles was one year. They were sold in 1996, 1997 and 1998. | ||
| Court |
>>>>My 98 replacement tank was sent to me with the 99 raised letter type found on X1's.  Shhhhhh . . .don't you know your warranty expired 10 years ago?? | ||
| Epmchow |
I guess only the Death and destruction recalls are the important ones. Thanks for the insight. | ||
| Court |
>>>I guess only the Death and destruction recalls are the important ones. Huh? What recall? I'm not so sure the feds would ever ascribe a bubbling decal (at least the one's on the tailgate of my F-150 never caught their eye) as "death and destruction". There was never any recall on the tanks. | ||
| Epmchow |
I realize there are time frames for recalls. Some are related to catastophic failure and some are not. Like the underslung shock and the swing arm. If they fail you may possibly die. One never knows if the company would replace all things that were faulty. It was just an inquiry. Thanks for your knowledge on the subject. | ||
| Jos51700 |
Court, is it possible to get ANY S1W tank with the original style decal? Or do they ALL now come with the raised-letter badging? I don't even want to ever put gas in it, I just want one for looks. | ||
| Court |
Let me check. What color and decal style are you wanting? Pure stock or something different? Drop me a note and let me know what you are looking for. Be patient. (Message edited by court on April 14, 2008) | ||
| Classicbuells |
Jos51700, it maybe convenient for you, if you buy a used "manta" style tank off EBay (or wherever) and repaint it Pearl White with the decals air brushed in the correct color onto the white paint and the whole lot laquered over. I have done this to repair bubbling tanks by removing the bubbled decals with a scalpel and then re-painting the decals in onto the stock tank color. The result looks stock but is a much better job in my opinion. HTH. |
