| Author | Message | ||
     Maddanthony_59 |
My brother from California wanted to go tame the Dragon while visiting for a Family Reunion in Michigan. Since I have both a Cyclone and a Thunderbolt Touring, I suggested we skip the ritualistic InBreeding Ceremonies, and head out to the Smoky Mountains! And so we did! I let him ride the M2L, and I rode the S3T, which I affectionately refer to as The Mule. Here's a picture of us at SM Harley after getting new tires and flirting with enough girls to know it was time to leave!  Well, we got outta there a little later than expected, so we tamed the dragon just as it got dark! We had a Hotel on the North Carolina side, and thought we had plenty of time. Surprising how quickly it gets Dark in the mountains. At any rate, we got an early start the next morning and Zoomed through the first 317 of the 318 curves in 11 miles without incident. Here's me in the ditch after coming out of the 318th turn a touch early! (At all of 15 MPH!)  I almost rode it out, but when I reached for the brake I hit the "Cramp-Buster", and Blipped the throttle. Whoops! I took out both blinkers on the left side, cracked the fairing in 2 places, destroyed the headlight mount, cracked the area around the lock on the tail section, and messed up the saddle bag & tail mount pretty bad. After making an obligatory stop at the Tree of Shame at Deals Gap, we headed home, to Columbus, IN.  Here's what the bike looked like when we got home.  So! I turned this into the insurance figuring $2K damage tops. Not even CLOSE! The 2 estimates I got from the nearest Buell dealerships were just under $5K! NADA puts the bike at $3400, and insurance companies have some goofy schedule that totals a bike at 70% - 80% of that amount in damage. And since I still owe about $2200 to the bank on the bike I can't even buy the bike back for the salvage amount! (Which was under $300!!!) So I was ganna have my loan paid off, and get about $300 in my pocket. When the insurance guy joked about picking up the bike for the salvage amount and making it into a Chopper I withdrew my claim and decided to save the bike, and fix it myself! I knew I needed a few items: Blinkers on Left side Fairing WindScreen Clutch lever Handlebars Saddle Bag Rear Mount for bags Tail Section I found some deals actually! I got 5 blinkers for $50 on Ebay, and a Brand New fairing in the correct color for $250. I found an uncracked tail section on CraigsList for $10 in Toledo. (It's good to have Friends in Low Places!) I actually got the bar & clutch lever from the Harley/Buell dealership for $42 & $24 respectively! But once I started pulling the fairing off the bike I saw that the Fairing mount was tweeked beyond repair!  So, I'll need to get one before moving forward. I think they're in the $350 range from the dealer. Some pics of the bike being disassembled     More to follow! | ||
| Dannybuell |
Are you OK? I hope so. A good bodyman could square that fairing mount out in no time. | ||
| Maddanthony_59 |
Yeah, I'm fine. I caught the handlebar on the Inner thigh and got a nice bruise. (To match the ego!) Well, I might just have to talk to a body man! The metal is not high-strength, and the mirror mount snapped off when I tried to straighten it.  Maybe he could weld it back in place? I'll look into it! | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
Well that sucks. I'm SURE that someone can bend that fairing mount in the correct shape. Mild steel is great for that. Besides, it's under the fairing so it can be ugly as hell! | ||
| Ratbuell |
Heat, patience, and a final strengthening bead-weld...and it'll live again. Sucks to see, but glad you seem to be OK. Bikes can be fixed; people take a lot more work to put back together (DAMHIK). And...is that a factory color combo? I didn't know they did black bodywork with an orange frame, the only one I knew of with that frame was Volcano Gray. Very nice looking bike! | ||
| Two_seasons |
You made the right decision. Best wishes for being back in that saddle soon. Nice bikes you've got there. Tell us how you got such LARGE pictures to load on BadWeb. It's still a mystery to me! | ||
| Dannybuell |
The forks may be twisted in the trees, which can cause weird things to happen. make a witness mark between the tree and fork, loosen the fork clamps and retighten. Was there is any movement? | ||
| Easy_rider |
I've been in a similar situation, created by a situation in the same area. Since we live fairly close - I have one I'm keeping for a "future project" you can use as a template if you'd like. It would give a welder a base to work from, at least. | ||
| Maddanthony_59 |
Yes, I think a Buell is worth saving. I'm starting to see their prices bouncing back up finally, and the S3T is my favorite Tuber. I get the large pictures by hosting them at PhotoBucket. All I do is insert a Link into my message, and the photo is sent from PhotoBucket. (It's Free too!) See between the Quotes: " [ IMG]http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q268/anthenium/ Brad-Vacay/DSC00057.jpg[/IMG] " We looked at the forks and they look good. I'll give the "Witness Protection Program" a test to make sure though. Thanks for the offer Easy_Rider. I'll talk to the Body man. If he can't use the old fairing and the Mount Points on the bike to get the mount straight I might take you up on your offer! Worst case I drop $350 at Southside Harley, and I'm back on the road! I think the saddle bag will be the hardest piece to find. The old one still has 2 of the 3 mount points intact. I wonder if "They" sell just the mounting hardware! The bag is just scuffed up otherwise. Did you notice the Bunji-Cord hold her on? | ||
| Two_seasons |
If you re-glass the saddlebag(s), you could put a fourth mounting point in the bags. More secure. I would post over in the S2 section to get some ideas IIWY. If for no other reason, you have another project designing new mounts! Jig it, mild steel and heat, reshape with a big hammer  | ||
| 1eyert |
I have a 2000 S3 and had the same problem with the fairing mount, when I tried to straighten it one of the lower limbs broke off. Not having a welder or body man handy I used a smaller diameter threaded rod and some JB weld putty, coated the rod, inserted it inside the metal tube part of the fairing mount, other end into the broken fairing stay and let it set up some before adjusting it to the correct angle. So far it has worked fine, I think it is stronger than original, and just a tad heavier... | ||
| Notpurples2 |
eBay and BadWeB can be your best friend when it comes to parts, you just have to be willing to wait. Get prices on all needed parts from HD first. Some parts sell for way less than what you'd pay new but sometimes they sell for way more. | ||
| Maddanthony_59 |
Yeah, I'm using the estimate from the Harley/Buell dealership as a reference. Some noteworthy prices: Fairing Mount - $350 Fairing - $535 (Got a NIB one for $250 on EBAY Tail Section - $575 ($10 on Craigslist!) FI Fuel Tank - $775 (Body man can fix scrapes/repaint for $125) Deep Saddle Bag with Cover - $340 each Saddlebags seem to be the piece to find now. I just need a back. I have a new set of Covers, both Wide & Thin. | ||
| Maddanthony_59 |
I've decided to bite the bullet and buy a fairing mount. I got one for $285 from the dealer, and I guess there are only a few left in the country. Still waiting on the windscreen and tail section. Hopefully they get here before the fairing mount. I'd like to get this baby back on the road! | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Cramp busters are NOT your friend on anything but the interstate. | ||
| Xl1200r |
+1 Ft. I tried one a few times and found myself goosing the throttle when I didn't want to when reaching for the brake sometimes. Glad you're okay and another S3 is saved from a redneck project! | ||
| Maddanthony_59 |
Okay! Parts are arriving. Fairing - Check! Wind Screen - Check Fairing Mount - Check Handle Bars - Check Clutch Lever - Check New Blinkers - Check Headlight - Waiting still... It looks like I'll be putting this baby back together this weekend! I still need to get a new Left Bag, or come up with the hardware for the mount. Here's what I have:  Here's what's missing:  Here's what SHOULD be there:  Anyone got a Mangled bag they want to part out? I might have a line on one in CA, but in the meantime I'll be going S3 -T! I actually have Brand New Skinny lids! I'll put those on and see how well the bag stays on with only 2 points. Or not... | ||
| Maddanthony_59 |
I re-assembled the bike this weekend. But Semi-Disaster! It seems there are 2 different Fairing Mounts! And I NEEDED the Newer one and GOT the older one. The instrument panel has 2 mount points at the top that are now floating. And the access holes for running the wiring through are a bit smaller. I was able to get it together. I have a piece of Foam wedged between the wind screen and the dash to keep it from vibrating too much. Temporary fix, but it does do a decent job! The bike is back on the road! I'll keep my eyes opened for a Tail Mount and a left carrying case for the hardware, and then the bike will be complete. | ||
| Mark61 |
Forget the plastic headlight! Go get a square glass unit with replaceable bulb off a 4 wheeler or jap bike. I used Kawasaki. 2 bolts hold it on. Made mount out of 2 4"(?) pieces of 3/4"x3/4" angle iron/steel. MUCH better light! Can use any wattage you want without worrying about melting! | ||
| Maddanthony_59 |
I rode the bike to work today. I returned the incorrect fairing mount to Chicago Harley-Davidson, and found the Right one on Ebay for $80 WITH The headlight included! Here are the Pics of the 2 different mounts with the instrument clusters: Harley's listed replacement for '99 - '02 S3x:  What's left of the original off the '01 S3T:  Side by Side. See any difference? (Plus the Holes you run the wiring through are a LOT Smaller!)  New Part with '97 Cluster:  Original with '01 Cluster:  Also, I have SCORED a Left Inner Bag from a fellow BW-Biker, so I will have the Skinney Bags on the bike this weekend while I have the tank & Fat Outer Bags repaired and painted. It's looking like a Happy Ending for one Nearly SCRAPED S3T! BTW, the miles are just under 15K. |
