| Author | Message | ||
     Maru |
Hi folks, my name is Steve and I just joined the forum and this is my first post. I am 53 and have been riding on the street since 1976. While I have owned dozens of bikes I bought my first Buell, an S1 last fall. I bought the bike for super short money from a buddy who had 5 bikes and only enough winter storage for 4 and the Buell did not make the cut. The plan was just to use the bike as a commuter/beater, but that was before I fell in love with the thing. Nothing I have ridden in decades spoke to me like the lightning. Last night I bought a second Buell an S2T and will be registering it on Monday. | ||
| Maru |
Does anyone know if the wide bags for the S2T are still available? Also can anyone recommend a decent set of grips for the one inch bar used on the S2? | ||
| Buellistic |
Maru: If you have the PART NUMBER for what you are looking for, you could do two things: Have a H-D/BUELL Dealer do a world wide PART NUMBER SEARCH ... GOOGLE the PART NUMBER ... Last, POST on BadWeatherBikers that you are looking for this PART ... | ||
| Gowindward |
Steve, welcome to the board. I do not know on the wide bag question. Loren | ||
| Easy_rider |
Congratulations! Right now I'm really wishing that I had bought a running example rather than a project. I went to look at my parts catalog to get you the part number, but realized that it's for a '95. S2T was introduced in '96? Check with Ratbuell as to how he holds his bags closed. I hear that the bags aren't dependable, but have 0 first-hand knowledge. Seriously consider modifying to an S3 bag setup. It's apparently good enough that HD developed a kit to do it. I think Don Casto is the most recent convertor. Either way, prepare for sticker shock. | ||
| Leftcoastal |
Regarding the grips - Since the controls are basic H-D units on the S2, (late '80's thru '96, IIRC) there are literally countless grips available for it. Of course, the thick chrome billet and rubber skull and flame ones might not be your cuppa tea, but plain ones and stock ones are readily available. The ones from very recent Sportsters are a bit smaller in diameter and work well. Just trim off the flange on the left grip and it will fit with your controls. You can get stock take off's on fleabay for cheap. The renthal rubber ones from Performance Machine are really nice. Cost about as much as you probably paid for the bike. I would try to source the full kit for putting S3 bags on the S2. My narrow S2 bags are a pain in the posterior with the 2 locks and lack of space. They are very water-tight, though. Well...unless there is any moisture, humidity or precipitation present, that is. Good luck, and welcome! AL | ||
| Maru |
Thanks for the help and the warm welcome guys. Sounds like the S3 bag conversion kit is the way to go. Is this kit still available thru Buell or is it a hunt on Ebay deal? Oh and Al, believe it or not I asked about the grips because the bike currently has the too thick chrome chopper grips you referred to. It also has some skull valve caps, not really my cup off tea either. Glad to hear the bags a water tight since I washed the bike late last night and left it out side and it is raining hard enough to be shopping for an Ark on Ebay. Does precipitation mean the same thing on the east coast as the west? If so ... | ||
| Ratbuell |
Hi Steve. Welcome to the meeting. We're all addicts here - but there's nothing wrong with that. LOL. I can check at work, but I actually think the bag kit (S2T anyway, haven't checked the S3 conversion kit - anyone have a part number?) is still available from the vendor. It's salty, though. What color do you need? The good news is, I know the locks are still available as I ordered a replacement set for my bike a year ago - when I got my bike, it had 3 keys - ignition, left bag, right bag. Grr. Fixed that, ordered L and R bag locks to match the ignition  You do need to remember, though - as well as the OEM bags compliment the super-sexy lines of the S2 (can you tell I love my bike?), they're not the best for weather seal 'technology'. They suck, actually. Will I ever take mine off? No way. Would I ever consider another bag system on my S2? Nope. Do I have both sets of lids and love the fact that I can change them in seconds? Absolutely. Does my stuff get wet? Yep. So I don't put electronics in my saddlebags. My GPS is on the handlebar (and waterproof) and I wear my cell phone on my hip. Any other small items go in the fairing bags. If I have to put a 'delicate' in the saddlebag...it gets a trashbag wrap and goes in the canvas bag liner. I'll do some digging on the bag kit. As noted above, just about any HD grip kit will work. The switch housings are 95-and-earlier, but AFAIK the 96-up grips should work just fine. I see you're in the northeast...think heated grips. They rock. If you need anything, just send me a PM (click on my username in the left column, scroll down, click "send message"). I've got a wealth of useless information on the S2 if you want any  | ||
| Gowindward |
Here is a recent S3T bag conversion. http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/476 23/435269.html?1239642875 | ||
| Maru |
Thanks for the input Joe. The bike is Purple. Please keep me updated on what you can find out. Steve | ||
| Leftcoastal |
I don't think BMC sold a "purple" bike. I'm sure you mean the color referred to as "Parkway Blue" The prefix 'parkway-' means that there is a lot of deep red colorant in the mix. It's NOT purple, really! | ||
| Leftcoastal |
Also - what I meant by "watertight" was that the S2 bags are about as watertight as the Titanic. Where it is now. | ||
| Maru |
Thanks for the correction Left. My bike is Parkway Blue Rat. I totally got what you meant by watertight, I was joking. That is quite a bike Al, flawless attention to detail and slick Turbo. I just got in from changing the oil and rolled it into the shed as it is still sprinkling with more rain due. Ordered some new tires, M brand Plot Road 2's. I will post pics as soon as I can draft my Son to take them and help me post them as I am not that tech smart. I will post pics of my S1 also but it is currently in a million pieces. It was supposed to be a winter project, but it turned into a winter, spring, summer project. It should be rolling and under its own power in the next month or two. Steve | ||
| Phelan |
Steve, why don't you tell them about that killer S1 build?  The S3 may work better, but IMHO they are butt-ugly on a S2 because they sit lower than the S2 bags and mess up the lines. As far as grips go, you can use just about any Harley grips, but I think the stock HD grips are the most comfortable. Had a set of Billet grips on my S2 for a while. That was interesting..ly..painful... Anyway congrats on the purchase Steve and I'm quite jealous. If I could do it all over again I'd buy a '96 S2T instead of a '95 T conversion since the '96 had the dark frame, wheels, and sideplates. | ||
| Essmjay |
So.... Ross, you think my bike is butt-ugly? jest kidding ya I went with the S3 conversion rack because I already had narrow and wide covers and a set of backs. The conversion rack was mucho expensive though. They do set lower, and the fender cutout is a little wide, but other than that I like em. If you are starting from scratch the S2 bags may be a less expensive way to go. Shane leaving 7am tomorrow, headed down the Oregon coast, enroute for Colorado. | ||
| Maru |
Hi Ross. thanks for the added detail about the bag issue. The S1 started out as a perfectly good 20,000 mile 97 model in black. It had led a charmed life when in the care of its original owner and then a close friend of mine bought for use as a roadrace trackday bike. In the next two years it was run regularly at Loudon for probably 2000 trouble free miles which is a lot for a 10 year old bike. Last fall it was offered to me for 1500 dollars because the second owner did not have a place to store it for the winter. | ||
| Maru |
The original plan was to use it to commute back and forth to work, a 15 mile round trip. The plan went south when I fell in love with the thing. Then another friend offered to rebuild the top end for the thing, port the heads, and install some parts he had taken in exchange for some labor including, SE pistons and Se575 cams. Then one thing led to another and I asked if he was willing to build an 88 or 90. Then came the special application S$S flywheels, the Carrillo rods, Axtel barrels and more things than i have the ambition to type. | ||
| Maru |
The bike is currently in pieces in Maine and when the engine is done, which will be soon, I will have to take some time off from work to get up there to reassemble it. The engine is his thing my thing is the chassis. So once it is home I will start messing with the handling. The new plan is to put around locally with it and run it a few time a year at track days. When I have it together enough to post a pic, i will start a thread on it and give more details and let you know how it turned out. Steve | ||
| Ratbuell |
If you look closely at the pic I posted, I added a brace to my bags. It comes from the rear 'hoop' under the tag, goes along the lower inner corner of the bag, to the passenger footpeg brace. I put an FLH saddlebag latchpin through the bottom of the bag, to secure it to the new brace. FSkinner was following us around WI last week at HC and commented that "your bags don't wag like mine". I also don't get airframe wag anymore, either - with the big bags loaded down, at highway speeds, it used to actually wag the bike. Now, no issues all the way into "extra-legal" speeds. We were slammed silly today, no chance to even *look* at my computer...I'll dig tomorrow, Mondays are usually slow(er) | ||
| Medic24 |
Steve These are the part # for the S3 bag kit for the S2. Narrow Z0700.8YAG and wide Z0725.8YAG. Let us know if you find a good deal. At last check they cost about what I paid for my S2. | ||
| Ratbuell |
It looks like narrow is the only way to go right now, at least in new: PART AVAILABILITY Document Help Orders with Part Number | Backorder and Fitment | Parts Locator Note: Vendor Lead Time is the number of days required to process the order and does not include the shipping time. Please consider this when estimating when an item will arrive at your dealership. Enter a part number to view availability information on that part. Part Number: Description: S/B CONVERSION KIT,NARROW ,PKWY BLUE -------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Available: Vendor Direct Superceded To: Part Status: Active Superceded From: 91200-96Y Vendor Lead Time: 21 days Retail Price: $1,850.00 Min Ord Qty: 1 | ||
| Phelan |
For $1900 I'll have a company one-off some bags for me in Carbon Fiber! That's nearly what many of us paid for our bikes! | ||
| Maru |
Thanks for the help guys. Not sure what I am going to do. The bike came with narrow bags but I would like to have a wide set. Guess I will keep my eyes open on Ebay and see what comes up. | ||
| Court |
Be mindful you only need the LIDS . . they use a common base. A couple sets of lids just sold for $100. | ||
| Maru |
Thanks Court. I just found out about your book. I am going to ask for my family to give it to me on my birthday. Steve | ||
| Buellish |
For heated grips try the Polly Heaters. http://www.pollyheaters.com/ I installed a set in the bars on the S2T this past winter.One of the things I like about them is they don't change the diameter of the grips.I have small hands and mounted the '04 and later sportster reduced diameter grips.The Pollys fit inside the bars and only cost $40+ a relay. Welcome to the madness Steve.All S2's are great,but the Parkway Blue bikes are the best! Mike | ||
| Phelan |
When I get around to heated grips, I'll hit up DemonGrips if I remember the name correctly; I have their ad saved somewhere. They have a set of grip heaters for Harleys (and therefor S2s) that includes a replacement clutch perch with the heat adjuster built into the clamp so it looks like a factory piece, at about $100. | ||
| Road_oiler |
S-2 Bags They are not reliable unless you employ a fail/safe system to keep them from popping open. I noticed some interesting inventions at the homecoming. I use a plastic hook and loop system that was used on the fxrt bags. it o0nly allows the bags to open about an inch at best. but there are other means only limited by your imagination} | ||
| Ebutch |
Paul any chance you can post pics of hook-loop system FXRT style for S2 bags? | ||
| Maru |
Parkway Blue is the best. Even the folks that like purple seem to like the color. Hey Road oiler I agree, that the Buell feels like it has Norton n its blood, between the isolastics and the feel reminds me of the earlier featherbed. How does it compare to the Vincent? |
