| Author | Message | ||
     Staves |
Hi: I have one of the best kinds of decisions coming up  While this is not my first bike, my next purchase will be my first Buell. I have my eye on a few S3Ts and could really use some collective expertise. I'm 6'2", 200 lbs. and plan to use the S3T as a touring bike (with limited city use). I'm comfortable with basic maintenance having spent countless hours pissing about on my '89 Honda Transalp. There are a few S3Ts I've been looking at though they are either 1998 or 2001 model year. I understand that the '98 was a later, or last, S3 with carbs and by '01 the FI was well sorted. Any DIY maintenance advantages between '98 and '01s? How about acceptable mileage on both of these? Anything specific I ask the owners about? Are replacement hard bags difficult to find? I can hardly wait to get one of these! Thanks in advance for any help. Best, Scott | ||
| Gowindward |
Scott, They are great bikes regardless of the year. The newer bikes did have a few improvements, but nothing that would make me not buy a well cared for older model. | ||
| Woodnbow |
Get the 01 for sure, you won't regret it!  I'm about your size but I weigh 15 pounds more than you... no problem riding 5-6 hundred miles a day with my 115 pound wife right behind me. I've had zero experience with the carbed buells but plenty with cv carbed harleys and the cv carbs are great, trouble free and easy to tune. The FI on my 01 is just as trouble free, never a bobble, cold starts, hot starts, it just fires up and runs from 3000 feet elevation to 11000 with no adjustments. I'm very impressed with Buells work... Good luck with your decision, it doesn't sound like you can go wrong. I'll get in touch tomorrow evening, Woodnbow (Message edited by woodnbow on December 27, 2008) | ||
| Easy_rider |
I've owned a '98 and a '99. The carb on the '98 would "sniff" through the carb. An odd sequence of events led to it being totaled while testing a new Forcewinder, carb tune, and handlebars but like Woody says it was easy to tune. I love not having to remember to push the choke in on the FI, but it's always felt like it vibes a little harsher and isn't quite as "willing" to go above 100 mph. I've never ridden another FI to know whether or not its the particular bike or it's the change to FI with a different crank. If anyone else can chip in, great. The dash lights on the '99 aren't consistent across the gauges like I'd expect but it may be better on a '01 - but that's a nit. You won't go wrong with either. Managing to ride both would be worthwhile if you can manage it. | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
Well I can attest that my X1 with the same engine is quite willing to cross the triple digits. Even with 84,000 miles on the original top end. The difference? Forcewinder, loud pipe, and race ECM. If these engines are allowed to breathe and given a race ECU, they are a whole different animal. The fuel economy is still in the low 50's too. Win/Win  | ||
| Woodnbow |
Agree with Natex, I don't drive that fast but the race pipe and ECM are a huge improvement at all other speeds. I imagine if I'd bought a Carbed model it would benefit from the same treatment, pipe, air filter and rejetting... | ||
| Ratbuell |
I've never owned an EFI tuber, but I've had zero problems with any of my carb'd bikes (past 99 M2; current 98 S1W and 95 S2). I have to admit, the EFI on my Uly is nice in the cold...but not nice enough to replace my tubers Size-wise, you should be fine. I (as noted) have the 95 S2 and love it. I'm 6'4" and used to be about 200 (getting it back, damn hospital took 35 lbs last summer). Fit, reach, comfort, solo or 2-up, are all fine. I do have a Corbin seat, though - which I find to be lightyears ahead of the stocker. If you're looking at T models they should have slightly taller bars than standard S3; options to go taller are out there if you want. Also drop-pegs are an option - neither is expensive or difficult. To directly answer your questions: >>Any DIY maintenance advantages between '98 and '01s? Aside from the computer/EFI, I believe they're basically the same, major-system-wise. Depends if you want to play with jets, or a laptop. >>How about acceptable mileage on both of these? Well-cared-for, unlimited. Look at condition, not the odometer - condition is a more accurate sign as to past care. >>Anything specific I ask the owners about? Manuals, documentation, spare parts, recalls. You can find answers on your own easily enough, but it's nice to see how well they were paying attention lol. >>Are replacement hard bags difficult to find? Still available new. Pricey, but available. They also pop up on ebay from time to time. Something to consider is getting a narrow set and a wide set of lids - swapping takes one or two minutes and quadruples their convenience, IMO. |
