| Author | Message | ||
     Ratbuell |
Wasn't intentional...but it just kinda worked out that way. Day full of grouting and sealing a shower...painting some trim...mowing grass...doing laundry...cleaning the house...decided "I need a ride". So, I hopped on the S1W for a quick buzz around the mountain. I forgot what a HOOT that bike is! Bone-stock S1W with a Buell race intake, exhaust, and ignition. Stock S1W solo tail, stock seat, first real ride of the season for it (SeaFoam'd for the winter). Fired right up, warmed up for a longer cycle than normal (front rockerbox appears to be leaking...surprise, surprise - a '98 with 9100 miles, and it leaks...duh). Checked pressure in the PR3's, good to go...so I rolled out. Warmed 'em up, spent about ten miles being gentle and listening to the bike...then said "screw it" and started cranking through some twisties. Not bad for an old girl. Not bad at all. Chicken strips are gone, bike never missed a step, did exactly what I told it to, when I told it to do it. Only thing was...no storage. So...headed home and grabbed the M2 (with a tailbag) so I could get goodies for dinner. The M2 *used* to be an M2L (2001). I converted it to X1 front end, with a stock height rear shock setup. 5126 miles when I parked it after today's hooliganism. I ride this bike MUCH less than the S1W (evidenced by the fact that it wore...ahem...the S1W's tag while I was riding it). It was also parked SeaFoam'd after last season - all stock save for Buell race intake and full exhaust, and Buell race bars (Crossroads style). It horked a couple times on warmup, and popped a good backfire heading down the driveway on the way out. Handling was a bit wonky so I went around the block, checked the PR3's, and the rear was a few psi low so I topped that off and headed out - with a tailbag so I could get some fixin's for dinner. Back to back? The M2 is seriously lacking top-end compared to the S1W. It's not a flat spot, it's not an "issue"...it's the cams (maybe the stock ignition box?). But the bottom end is SO stout...if you upshift sooner, and don't ride them one after the other, you won't even notice. You get to ride just as hard, without being AS far above the speed limit  Handling...well, given that I swapped the front end to USD forks, I can't really compare the two but the M2 handles just as precisely as the S1W. But the SEAT. Ohhhhh, that M2 seat....even the stock 99-up is better than the one-cheek solo seat on the S1W, but the Pegasus seat I have on mine is nearly Uly-quality. Just...soooooo....nice.... I have to say - first of all...I know I'm very lucky to be able to do this sort of dumb stuff  But more than that, if someone is looking into a tuber? The S1W is definitely a badass hooligan. Instant torque, easy to pass cars with it, super flickable chassis, just...attitude on 2 wheels. The M2? Nearly as powerful. More bottom end than top end. Plan your passes, you won't hit the top end of the S1W but you'll have just as much fun down low as the S1W. And...you'll be MUCH more comfortable while doing it. I may swap cams in the M2. But I may just enjoy the comfy seat...and the fact that it doesn't instantly attain the crazy-fast speeds that the S1W does. The bike may as well have the self-control that I lack... | ||
| S1owner |
Ahmen brother! | ||
| Ishai |
Took the M-2 for about 200 miles this afternoon, all in back roads(some gravel too). It now has an S-2 can and airbox with K&N air filter, race ignition module. It is the most perfect imperfect bike I ever had...could it be improved? maybe, but I am having a hell of a good time with it. Absolutely love it. Now need to get the Uly to this level of enjoyment... | ||
| General_ulysses |
Rode both my S1 and Uly this weekend. As much as I love the Uly's comfort, plushness and more refined power...the S1 just has the purest soul and attitude of a...MOTORCYCLE. It's a friggin blast to ride. Not the most comfortable ride, but what it does well - it does WELL. And although I'm not an exhibitionist or an attention seeker, it is fun to get the ogles and compliments while on and off the bike. It attracts attention wherever it goes. Both bikes are awesome, but if I could only keep one? It'd be the S1. | ||
| Kalali |
For those of you who have both an S1 and an X1, how do they compare? | ||
| Roderick |
I had an X1 then it was stolen and trashed. Now I have an S1. The X1 felt heavier on a ride. Not much, but noticeable enough. Felt like I had to put in more effort in any turn. But then it probably was because am small and lightweight to start. The X1 had a 'race' computer and exhaust so it was quicker. Seat made it more comfortable for long rides, and I made several runs from SLC to Boise on it. Not sure if I want to do the same on the S1. The X1's larger fuel capacity was nice. Looks wise, both bikes received equal shares of heads turning and people asking what/who is 'Buell', but I always felt the X1's alum tail was at odds to some degrees with the bike's overall appearance. If there is a theme of some kind for each bike, the S1 felt more uniform with its own theme than the X1 was because of its tail. Each look striking on its own, but I felt the S1 was the better looker, kinda like the girl with the shorter miniskirt and not afraid to flaunt. If I can afford both, I would have both and divide my time equally between them. I have the garage space. But if I have to chose, I would take/keep the S1. Roderick | ||
| Lakes |
Thank's Ratbuell, you sure are lucky. i only got room here for one bike maybe two. but get to ride all year round. what did you notice between stock M2 forks & USD? | ||
| Coxster |
My crazy cam idea: Buy a set of S1 cams ( or whatever they're called ) and put 1/2 of them in the FRONT cylinder and leave the back cylinder stock. Told a successful 1/4 mile local my idea, he told me of using two different heads on SB Chevys back in the day for the same reason . . . | ||
| Lornce |
Does he M2 have the same crank/flywheels as other Buell engines of that era? What year did the M2 first come equipped from the factory with Thunderstorm heads and pistons? Thanks for your input.  | ||
| Jolly |
I have both an S1 and an X1 and they are really completely different bikes, as delivered and as I have set them up. I agree the aluminum tail on the X1 is a little at odds with the bike so I had mine powdercoated black, really settled it into the bike. The real difference though now is how I have the X1 set up. It has S2 forks, LSL clip ons sitting above the trees, and the eurocomponents fairing so it is a far departure from the "as delivered" platform Buell designed. I have a 98 S1w for comparison and it's a true street fighter! I wanted 1 1/8 renthall fatbars on it so I designed a conversion cradle that still utilizes the stock gauges, I really like the bars, it transformed the bike! The two bikes are very different but a lot has to do with beginning factory design and a lot to do with how I "finished" them. They're both great bikes and a lot of fun to ride!! Won't sell either!!!! (Message edited by Jolly on April 22, 2014) | ||
| Littlebuggles |
Great story Joe, thanks for sharing! These are such great bikes, and it takes a certain type of person to be drawn to them. Buells, and Buellers rock. Lornce, major improvements (except with the end of the S1 line in my opinion) were made across the product line in 99, which is when the M2 got the Thunderstorm engine (minus the Lightning cams in the U.S. models). | ||
| Lornce |
Thanks, Littlebuggles. Knew it was somewhere around 2k. A set of the factory .397" "Lightning" cams should liven it right up, then. I assume the M2 has the same light flywheels as all other post-S2 Buells? That M2 seat looks like a nice place to spend some long hours. | ||
| 1313 |
I assume the M2 has the same light flywheels as all other post-S2 Buells? Actually, over the years, there were more than just 1 version of the lightened flywheels used on the tubers... Shocking? 1313 | ||
| Lornce |
Tell us more.  | ||
| Ratbuell |
The '99-up seat is VERY nice. Nearly a Uly seat. And yes, the M2 (along with the rest of the Buell products) went Thunderstorm in '99, but the M2 kept it's torque-cams. I've thought about swapping in some S1W or X1 cams...but I love the low end punch, and it is nice when the bike has the self control I lack sometimes. I'll probably leave it alone - for variety compared to the S1W, and my S2 with thunderstorm top end, heavy stock bottom end, and X1 cams I put the USD forks on more for height (getting away from the L - I'm 6'4" with a 34" inseam), than for the USD. The stock M2 front end is extremely capable, especially when properly adjusted, for just about any street riding. I had a '99 M2, not a low, that I bought new and put nearly 50k on. I rode that bike HARD for all 50k, and never thought "gee, I wish this had USD forks". They look cool (especially with my custom colormatched S1 front fender LOL), but in normal (abnormal?) street riding, I think the gains are marginal at best. Track days...absolutely worth it. And at this point (another factor in my decision) - parts-wise, easier to source/replace because they and their internals / seals are a little more common. At least, that was my rationale | ||
| Lakes |
Thank.s, the USD look good. when my 00 , M2 had head's & barrels off, looked like light flywheels, it came stock with N4 cam's. what would S1 X1 use? i've got the n6 cams in with high comp & it has a lot of grunt also more top end go. i set rev limiter at 6,500 as it revs hard & strong. goes 3,000 & up but only got the 2" collector pipe, have two spare head pipes one is 2.5" but no 2.5" muff to match. thanks for your thoughts. also i think you have a Uly, i saw a 06 Uly X 4 sale here 20,000 mile up, is that a good model? the bike looks ok in pic's | ||
| Ratbuell |
My Uly is an 06 with 30k on it. Rode it to work today - LOVE IT. It truly is my "swiss army bike" - get dirty? Sure. Pack mule? No problem. Drag pegs in the twisties? Not a problem. Cruise on the highway? OK (even with the XB9 primary conversion). If I had to have only one Buell...the 06 UlyX would be it. Don't be scared of the miles. If it's been maintained, it'll be good. '07s had a crank problem on some, but the 06's are solid. Mine still has the factory battery on board! Check the '77' connector in the charging circuit, keep an eye on the sidestand bolts, and don't overtorque your rear axle...and you'll get miles and miles (km and km? ) out of it, with plenty of smiles to boot! Not sure of the cross-reference to Andrews cams for the factory tubers, sorry. Maybe someone (1313?) can help out here...but yes, the M2 had lighter flywheels than the S2, which had bone-stock Sportster wheels. The S2 was, literally, a Sportster motor in a different frame. Anything after an S2...had varying degrees of improvements - Lightning motors had lightened flywheels, Lightning heads and cams; Thunderstorm motors took it a step further with heads and pistons, and cams varied by model (S1W, X1, M2, S3). (Message edited by ratbuell on April 23, 2014) | ||
| Lakes |
Ratbuell, thanks for the info, this bike also got a sport muffler but has stock muffler & all stock parts with it. | ||
| Ratbuell |
I had a drummer on mine for a while, but after I rode it from Maryland to Florida and back (800 miles each way)...and from Maryland to Buelltoberfest and back a couple times (about 500 miles each way)....and to Homecoming and back (I think that was close to 2200 miles in 3 days)...the drone got to me and I went back to stock. The Drummer felt good when I put it on, but going back to stock was WOW - where'd all this midrange come from?? I don't know if it's the way I ride, or the way I keep the bike loaded (heavy), or what...but I'm MUCH happier with a stock pipe with the actuator valve working as designed. Ride the Uly. You'll love it. Where a tuber has "character" when it comes to handling and chassis flex, the Uly is carved from a solid billet of aluminum. Point...drop into a turn...hold your line...twist the throttle...exit...repeat. And DEFINITELY get the stock parts. | ||
| Blu1hockey |
I couldn't imagine riding my X1 anywhere near that. | ||
| Lakes |
Ratbuell thanks, this bike has a micron pipe. sounds great i love riding long distance too, thats a lot of miles you have covered on it on run's. my friend has a 09 or 10 uly he loves it, he owns an engine dyno & does maps for cars (v8's) was showing me soft are he uses to adjust the Buell, his is all stock but he made changes to fuel & timing map then made the exhaust work different too. he was showing me how that stock muff works looks good. it's torque that thrusts you forward not hp. |
