| Author | Message | ||
     Flyin_brian |
I just stumbled across this place and decided to join up and would like to introduce myself. Name is Brian and I live in Antioch (Northern California). I currently own a Harley bagger and I am hoping to find a tuber one of these days. The funny story is that one of my closest friends owns #0001 S2 and I rode it home for him the day he bought it. It's dark blue and has PM wheels and a white frame. He bought it in 2001 from the second owner, the original owner was a famous race car driver and supposedly was good friends with Eric Buell. If you guys are interested in getting more info on it, I can get pictures of the VIN and of the bike itself. Anyhow, I love the S2s and I would like to get one before the rednecks cut them all up. I just looked through my old pics and found one of me the day I rode it home:  | ||
| Court |
Too cool! Thank is not a stock color. I have a list of all the "one off" Buells built. . . if you get a chance SEND me the VIN. Very cool! | ||
| Gowindward |
Brian, Welcome to the board. It's a great place to learn and sure the passion for Buells. | ||
| Flyin_brian |
I couldn't think of it before but the original owner of the bike was Dan Gurney. It has extensive mods to the motor, and came with a few boxes of spare parts, all of which had "SHIP TO: DAN GURNEY RACING" on the shipping labels. I called my friend to ask if he can send me the VIN. He is completely computer illiterate, so there's no chance he would ever get on a forum himself. | ||
| Bluesboy |
Looks like it had some head work done-or different heads.I like the color. | ||
| 1313 |
The color *looks* to me to be Black Sapphire Metallic, which was actually black with Pearl Blue sprayed over the black. With the camera flash for the low light, it could pick out the pearl blue a little more than normal. But for all I know, it could've been something special for Mr. Gurney. Like maybe some extra coats of the Pearl Blue. The connection between Erik Buell and Dan Gurney just made a lightbulb go off. This completely explains why there were prototype Gurney Alligator's at Buell as early as the very late 1990's. Talk about secrecy... With all the one-off stuff in the R&D building clearly on display for everyone with access to the building I was always surprised how one NEVER saw the Alligator unless it was being taken out for a ride. When not being ridden it was always kept hidden behind curtains. Thanks for the trip down memory lane and for making the lightbulb go off, 1313 | ||
| Flyin_brian |
I asked him about the color and he said it is called "Demon Blue". He said it looks more purple than blue, and it's been so long ago that I can't remember. I am planning on taking a ride up to his place when the weather gets better and I will be sure to bring my camera. He has 3 '95s, #32 which is a gray S2T with bags and lowers, and #1010 which is a white one that I haven't seen yet. Here is a pic of #32.  | ||
| F_skinner |
Brain, I sure would like to add your friends S2s to the S2 Registry. If he or you can email the following info I will add them: VIN number, color, build date, if he has the signature series timing cover and documentation and any other information he wants to add about the history of the bikes. The 96 Quick Silver S2T in the picture is one of my favorites but I am biased. Frank (f_skinner@yahoo.com) | ||
| Flyin_brian |
I will definitely get as much info as possible when I get up there to see him. He lives out in the middle of nowhere, and then you take a left and go 5 miles down a rutted gravel road on the side of a cliff!! I used to ride my fatboy down there all the time but I haven't taken the bagger down there yet. He's got at least 6" of snow on the ground right now. So the picture I posted is not a '95? I must have gotten them mixed up. I think he mentioned something about one of them having "Michelle" wheels, maybe it was the 1010 white one... Anyhow, I will get info soon and also I realized I never did post the funny story!! I'll do that soon. Thanks | ||
| Court |
Michelle Ask him if he meant "Mitchell" aluminum rims. | ||
| Gowindward |
How about Marchesini?  | ||
| Ratbuell |
Brian - great information. Very cool to hear of a small horde of S2's living in a good home  For future reference, all the S2T's were 1996 bikes. My bike blurs the line a bit as the original owner added, in 1996, all of the "T" fittings - lowers, bags, bars, and drop pegs - but it's still just a "plain" S2. IIRC another distinguishing mark was the charcoal frame and wheels of the T, as opposed to the white frame and wheels on the S2. Great stuff. I can't wait to see how it unfolds! | ||
| Rex |
Brian. good to hear from you. You need to attend American Sport Bike Night in San Leandro each month. We are a group of Buell (motorcycle) Enthusiasts. We have been meeting the first Monday of the month for the past ten years. a lot of history there, and a lot of great people. http://www.americansportbikenight.net Thanks, REX | ||
| Flyin_brian |
Ok, I get it now on the S2T. It could be that the grey one is #32 of the 1996 models then? Sorry to come in here with such little info. The one thing I know for 100% sure is that the blue one in the first picture is 0001, because I saw that myself and the guy he bought it from was real adamant about what a smoking deal he was getting since it was the first bike and belonged to Gurney and all that. Funny thing is I had no idea what a great piece of Buell history I was riding home. I might just run up there next weekend and get the details on everything, I just hate the thought of riding my beast down that rutted road. Rex, I will definitely try to get to one of those meetings, sounds like a fun group. Will they mind if I'm on a bagger? Brian | ||
| Rex |
You are welcome on any motorcycle. WE are all motorcycle enthusiasts. Look for Jon, or Woz. I live in Arizona, and can only make it back to meetings about 3 times a year, even though I am in the bay area each month working. WE try to have a different theme each month. bonneville, roadracing, hill climbing, flat track, vintage, etc. a lot of fun. we are doing a death valley, tahoe ride soon, along with some other rides in the future. REX | ||
| S2tbolt |
Welcome Brian!!! Thanks for taking time to post; this is good stuff! Keep it comin'... | ||
| Pizzaboy |
hey i have a 96 S2 with the last four of my VIN being 0001!!! cool bike, but there are atleast a handful of 0001 bikes around. the 95 Model Year has atleast 2 and the 96 MY also has atleast 2. mine was the 0001 VIN for the CA smog thunderbolts. there is another 96 S2 that is the 49 state version floating around this site also. go check f_skinners' registry... i was bummed out also when i heard there was more than one 0001 thunderbolt 1313 is right, it could be a number of colors just because the picture quality makes it really hard to figure out what it is. brian, your 'demon blue' that 'looks more purple than blue' sounds just like the color my bike was before i painted it which was 'parkway blue' AKA 'purple'. i couldnt have been happier the day i painted the bike a different color. | ||
| Brprider |
I was the third owner of this bike it was Dan G. Then Ben Arbagast and then me. I still regret selling it. It was a axtell 1452 big bore kit and had a easy 10k in the motor would smoke x1 lighting in 2001 no problem. An was 300000001 I don’t know how many 0s but 3 at the start and 1 at the end. | ||
| Court |
>>>>>Thanks for the trip down memory lane and for making the lightbulb go off, Great memories . . . . |
