| Author | Message | ||
     Hellraged |
Hey all, Im new to motorcycles i dont even have 100 miles under my belt. But i always wanted one and someone was selling this S1 lightning and i talked him down $1500 so i bought it , anways it was sitting up for awhile he said , so i took it to a family machanic and he took out the carb and cleaned it a couple of times, drained the gas replaced with racing fuel, did a oil change, ect.. so now it idle's good can turn the throttle and get up to 4-5k rpms before i lay off it because i dont want to mess things up, So i was practicing in my yard going real slow and learning everything, i finally got confortable enough to try it out in my neighborhood. So now im riding it. But now when i give it some throttle *not too much* and release clutch nice and smooth the bike seems to sputter and kinda loose power , it jerks and is kinda unsafe seeing how im a new rider. So after the gas ran out i bought somemore gas the 93 octain. i then put some seafoam in it, it ran great for about 2 days, no sputtering ect. was going about 45 in my neighborhood and feeling really good about it. I came home friday to go for a ride and it started running poorly again. So i checked gas saw it was kinda low so i went and bought somemore but still same problem. The guy that fixed it said the middle jet might need work on but he isnt comfortable doing it but will if ppl try to BS me. Anyways was just wondering what you all thought, cant get it past 3k RPM's when it does this and cant really get past 1st gear or 20mph.. anyhelp will be of help :P thank you all for reading. -Nick | ||
| Huck_farley |
I'm not trying to be a know-it-all, just looking out for you, but PLEASE get some road time in on a good running, maybe smaller bike before you try to tame this beast. Sounds like your carb still needs more attention from someone with bike/Harley experience. | ||
| Hellraged |
thanks for the response Huck, oh i like the advice :P i am planning on taking a motorcycle course before i actually take it out in traffic. getting a smaller bike isnt really a option since i dont have much money  . However i was thinking about just taking it to a harley place but didnt want them to tell me i owe them $1000 dollars or anything anyways ok yeah i agree might still be in the carb. prob. gotta replace it in general. | ||
| Hootowl |
In all seriousness, please go take a riding course. Most insurance companies will give you a discount for it. And you'll learn a lot. Even if you've been riding for years, an MSF class can do wonders for you. Sounds like there's still some crap in the carb. Could be that your friend cleaned it out well enough, but some more stuff made it in there after it was reassembled. It's going to be a bit stumbly at low RPM, it's a fairly large single crankpin twin. I would keep it above 2500 RPM at all times. 3000 preferably. You'll enjoy your new (to you) bike! It's a keeper. | ||
| Hootowl |
Also, welcome to BadWeb. You must post pictures of your bike within 24 hours.  | ||
| Hellraged |
thanks for the reply Hoot :P of course i will take a riding course , i think me driving a manual car really helped me learn how to do clutch control and shifting seeing how ican shift smoothly to 4th gear when it was driving good. but anyways so above 2.5 and 3k rpms uh? what about idle? how far should i turn the nob to get the rpms ? right now i have it at 1k rpm idle should i do it at 2k rpm if it gets that high? p.s. i will post pics of my bike later today  | ||
| Hellraged |
oh and the bike only has 3k miles on it :P and has no body dmg ect.. except no fenders on front or back, the guy said they where ugly so took them off, i tried to get them but he is acting like he dont wanna give them or something, ohwell ill just have to buy some off this one website bad thing is it comes unfinished no primer or anything lol anyways thanks again for reply and all future replys :P | ||
| Hootowl |
Above 2500 RPM while riding silly. Well, not while riding silly, for that you need to be above 5K Even 2500 is pushing it. The engine vibration isolation system isn't happy, and neither is the engine, until 3K. It'll be rough and clunky below that. Try to get the stock fenders back if he has them. Can't imagine why he needs them at this point. Did the 98 S1's still have CF rear fenders? | ||
| Fahren |
1000 idle is ok. Make sure you have the bike nice and warmed up, with the enrichener (the thing that is like a choke) all the way back in, and smooth idle. You probably have a clogged jet or something similar. You bought a great bike at a great price, a keeper. +1 on the MSF course, and take it really easy on the bike, both for it, and for you. As you ride it a bit, some of the gremlins of having sat for a few years may show up, like dried up gaskets leaking, and that sort of stuff. How are the tires - be sure they are not cracked from dry rot. The bike has a huge amount of torque, and that makes it very strong in acceleration, which you need to be mindful of as a beginning rider. I won't get on you about buying a big bike for a first ride - it's a done deal, and you got a good price for a bike that anyone here would be happy to take off your hands  But please, please be careful, and invest in good protective riding gear - feel free to browse Badweb and ask about recommendations. This is a very pro-protective gear web site (ATGATT = All The Gear All The Time). Learn slow, safe, and enjoy! Now, pix, please!!! | ||
| Midnight_rider |
Hey man check out the Storm front section look under SCBR i live in greenville,sc be willing to help any way i can i have s2 i do all my own work If the bike has been sitting awhile you might want to change intake seals email me and i will help you out | ||
| Midnight_rider |
Nick if you look under Knowledge Vault There is a download on Service Manual For S1 you will need it Robert in Greenville,S.C. | ||
| Kalali |
Welcome to the board and +1 on what everyone else said on safety, etc. In some respect it is a relatively easy bike to ride. It's light and has quick handling for getting out of people's way. It has ton of low end torque so you can get off the line slow and easy without having to wind up the engine. By the same token it can get quickly out of hand if you give it a bit too much throttle especially out of corner or hit the front brake a little too much while making a turn, etc. You should be OK as long as you respect its potential and don't allow anyone else to push you outside of your comfort zone. Ride your own ride... Be safe. | ||
| Hellraged |
wow thanks so much for the nice replys! yeah im very happy with the bike besides that sputtering thing but yeah i got a cool helmet and gloves and boots already, gotta save up for a jacket. Yes it does have fast acceleration almost got me a few times luckly i dont panic and release clutch and hit the throttle rofl, pull in the clutch real fast so it was all good haha, thats cool midnight you live in greenville, i love greenville besides the traffic that is haha. I think the idiot that sold it to me *which he never actually rode himself he said* mentioned something like the fenders are worth some money lol dunno who is gonna buy them since i havent EVER seen this bike out on the road my whole life. But as for the tires there brand new with the nipples still on them :P atleast he did something right! ok well i got some guy to come over here from my church to look at it for me.. i wonder if he will do a good job i dunno wish me luck! hehe -Nick | ||
| Hellraged |
oh i diffentaly respect the motorcycle that i bought hehe its a big boy i know that for sure, i got wife and kids i gotta take care of i cant go off and die now :P, im taking turns nice and slow im alittle afraid to go around a turn and or corner with speed, but im doing it very slow with my feet up not on the ground so i guess im getting it. Been about a month and a half since ibought the bike so im taking it nice and slow for sure. One bad problem is i know NOONE that rides motorcycles lol so its all myself ohwell i might meet some ppl once i get out there and going . -Nick | ||
| Hootowl |
"mentioned something like the fenders are worth some money" The earlier years were CF, not sure about the 98. If they are, that's probably why he's keeping them. Seems pretty cheesy to sell a bike to someone and keep the stock fenders with the intention of selling them to someone else. Why not just ask more for the bike? What does he want for them? | ||
| Hellraged |
HI hoot, yeah i was talkin to him he told me when i bought the bike he was gonna send them in the mail because they was in his other shop or w/e so i said ok.. after 2 weeks and nothing i txt him and asked him about it he said he would send them again.. waited another 2 weeks nothing and i sent him a txt saying i will come down there and pick them up and he said there in walterboro or w/e and i said that is fine ill go there whats the address and he never txted back lol what a jackass i dunno what his problem is, but a website called Airtech or w/e sells the OEM replacement parts that i might buy from eh , dunno what his problem is.. prob some crack head or something that was my first impression when i meet him that he wanted money for crack, thank god its clear title and legal :P | ||
| Hellraged |
alittle update. My friend from church has a nephew that works on bikes, so he came over and was looking and stuff said it runs good and what not but prob. needs the carb to be recleaned ect.. he then opened the gas tank and looked in with a flashlight and him and myself saw stuff like little peices of metal or soemthing floating around in the gas tank.. so that isnt good, we took the gas tank off and he took out the carb and said he was gonna clean it at his work, in the mean time i need to clean out this gas tank... any suggestions on how to do this? the guy told me to buy some BB's and dump the whole thing in the gas tank and shake it around but i dunno lol any suggestions would be awsome thanks! -Nick p.s. sorry no pics tonight since the gas tank is off and what not so hehe but i will post them soon! thanks. | ||
| Oldog |
HR the tank is plastic, the bb trick is for steel tanks, so dont do that, get a pint of clean gas and slosh it around some, trying not to get it on the paint, the petcock is removable so pull it and clean the screen, the fuel cap assm ( the ring specificaly ) has a "roll over" valve in the breather so it may also be gummed up so you may want to slosh it a couple of times if you have not done it an oil and gearbox oil change should be done 20-50 in the oil tank and HD sport trans or its replacement for the gear box. With 3k on the clock its barely broken in, after your jacket get some tools, the years of sitting are going to get you a few issues, parts can be had from our sponsors.(American Sport Bike) congrats and be safe | ||
| Hellraged |
ok good thing you told me i was about to buy some bbs hehe i guess i will just do what you said drain out the gas in a bucket to see whats in there , and then just get some fresh gas and slosh it around and dump again i dont think its rust maybe this indian gas station i got gas from was bad not sure, yeah the oil has been changed with amsoil or something thats what i guy said, i do need some tools though :P but hopefully after all this i can get going because man the time i spent in my neighborhood has been so fun i cant wait to take it out and have a good time on it *i bought it so i could do some country road cruiseing and just enjoy the views of the back country roads* and to go to work and back :P | ||
| Littlebuggles |
Best money you can spend on your new bike is the MSF Basic Rider Course. MSF courses should be starting now, since it's plenty warm enough in your region. You will be so thrilled with how much more confident you feel with cornering, and stopping, and going too, once you've completed the course. Do it. Soon. The 98 (S1W) had a carbon fiber sub-fender on the back, the extended one with the plate mount on it. A lot of people think the stock fender is ugly. I like it. Keeps the rain off your back if you're an all weather rider. I believe the S1 had a fiberglass sub-fender, but could be wrong, all the S1's had the long fender though. The front fender would be a color matched, painted fender. I can post up a pic tomorrow if I can't find one here, of the fender that is. Glad you found this site, welcome! | ||
| Littlebuggles |
Oh, I found a S1W fender pic for you:  And if you'd like to know what's going on inside your carb you can do some reading from the knowledge vault on the subject of jetting/rejetting here: http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/3842/157526.html?1186430192 And some great carb pics and excellent information from another site here: http://www.nightrider.com/biketech/hd_cv_mods.htm#slide_detail (Message edited by littlebuggles on March 29, 2011) | ||
| Littlebuggles |
Court and Rat answered my uncertain knowledge regarding the rear fender on the S1's. Third and fourth posts down: Nice pics too: http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/476 23/621928.html?1301330325 | ||
| Hootowl |
Sure would be nice to have the stock fender and belt guard. I wouldn't let up on the guy. I just want to echo what Oldog said about it being barely broken in. You'll need to adjust your primary chain at 5000 miles. It stretches quite a bit early on, but after 5K, it pretty much stays put. | ||
| Fahren |
And to add to Hootowl, the primary adjuster should be updated. The stock one on the bike needs to be replaced by the thicker, updated one. Cheap part, to avoid an accident waiting to happen. One more suggestion: you say you can't afford a cheap beater learner bike, but can you afford fixing any damage to a rare vintage bike such as you have, if you were to get into any "hot water" with it? Just something to think about - I'm pretty sure you could get a fun little dirt bike and get your "sea legs" for a few hundred dollars. You might even end up keeping the dirt bike if you enjoy off-road riding! | ||
| Midnight_rider |
i would suggest finding a big empty parking lot do some figure 8's working on righthand turns when work on left turns you can do stop and go you could go to the highway dept on weekends practice the motorcycle test it's painted on the pavement what i did Robert in greenville | ||
| Hellraged |
thank you all for your responses! i will take them all to heart! thanks for the pics i dont think they look ugly but thats just me hehe and i wont let up on the guy ill keep txtin him lol , anyways The guy that took my carb and cleaned the jets and stuff tried to put it back on today, but it was flooding the carb once he put it on like the thing inside wasnt moving up i guess its called opening up or something , was spraying gas in there pretty good though. He recommends me get a carb rebuild kit if anyone has any link to buy one of these for my S1 lightning that would be awsome! or is it the same for every bike with a carb? thanks. | ||
| Littlebuggles |
Just go to the HD parts counter, or independent bike store and get a rebuild kit for the Keihin CV40. Suggest upping the 42 slow jet to a 45, while you're in there, it's only a few dollars. It will smooth your low speed throttle a bit. You can pull the bottom off the carb and see which jets you've got, probably stock with as few miles as there are on your bike. Don't say "BUELL" as you are likely to scare them into turning their brains off. Side note, parking lot practice is good, practice using both brakes together, smoothly. If the ground is free of debris you should increase your braking force as your speed comes down for the shortest possible stopping distance. Taking a class is better. I took a couple, then got to teach for MSF for six years. There are too many things you don't even know you don't know when you teach yourself, or when a buddy teaches you. | ||
| Hellraged |
yeah everyone seems to be afraid of Buell's dunno why? all harley places wont even work on them except one its crazy prob. why the guy sold it to me lol but atleast the engine works all i care lol so the stock carb is a Keihin CV40? it has the harley logo on it and stuff. Yeah i read before i got the bike that using both brakes is alot better so ever since i been riding i been using both brakes to get used too it, i feel better using the front break seeing how the back brake needs to be pushed down alittle harder dunno but im getting used to it :P i havent rode it in awhile because of this carb problem, man i will never let this bike sit like previous owners did. Yeah i learned that people in general *around where i live* are pretty stupid and i tend not to take there advice lol but you all seem good and into the bikes so yeah :P , i would have already takein a Riders course already but the one at the tech college was and has been booked up lol sucks, but ill get it sooner or later , might have to cough up 100 more dollars and take the course at harley . I really hope all it needs is that rebuild kit like the guy said. -Nick | ||
| Hellraged |
in those pics of the link you posted , my bike looks exactlly like the red one :P so theres my pic haha na seriously it really does but not so shiny i will post pics soon, | ||
| Charlies_s1 |
I think I have a stock rear fender I could send you, It's a plastic type that the guy i bought mine from gave me. I dont have the mounting hardware for it but you are welcome to have it for the cost of shipping. Just let me know, I won't be able to get back to you till tomorrow night as it's gym nite and I'm out here on the west coast. Just P.M. me your address, And for sure take your time getting used to it as you can get yourself in deep real quick. Chuck. |
