| Author | Message | ||
     Milar |
I'm narrowing down my Buell search to a Lightning. Either an S1W or one of the limited edition X1's. I ride my bikes. They aren't garage queens. Can those who have been fortunate enough to own/ride both care to comment on the riding differences. I know the X1 has FI and is a 2nd generation bike. Probably a plus for me. But, on the freeway, on a country road, what are the differences? Thank you for your thoughts! Mike | ||
| Buelliedan |
get the S1 for sure. The X1 has a lot of fuel injection issues. If you can find a 1998 S1WL that is what you want. I have owned both BTW. | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
"The X1 has a lot of fuel injection issues." Nope. | ||
| Hootowl |
I've never had an issue with mine either. | ||
| Purpony |
no problem with my FI either on my X1 and mines and early one. I prefer FI over carb. Im looking for an S1 myself and plan on converting it to FI... | ||
| Hootowl |
The X1 seat is massively more comfortable than the S1. And that's not saying much  If you plan on short in town trips, the S1 is fine. If you want to spend hours at a time riding, I'd go with the X1. Neither are a touring bike. | ||
| Oldog |
gee Hoot I did Lexington KY to Wilmington NC in one day on an X1, not that bad.... If you can find a factory custom saddle even if it must be recovered it would be worth while (x1) X1 is my suggestion the FI can be tested and tuned with ECM spy and a cable. It works well enough and is well documented. | ||
| Hootowl |
I have the factory custom seat. It's quite a bit more comfortable than stock, but still not as comfortable as an S3 or an M2. And it's miles better (and better miles) than the S1 seat. I've done all day rides on the X1 too, but it really wasn't all that comfortable. Bearable, but not comfortable. | ||
| The4ork |
you have more exhaust options for the X1... if you ever need to replace the header. the seat is bigger. fuel injection is a matter of taste, im a fuel injection fan, but prefer my buell to be carb'd. FI is for rice bikes and cars. I have an S-1 and love it. looks cooler too | ||
| Hootowl |
"looks cooler too" It does that. | ||
| Milar |
What was the first year for FI on the S3? Mike | ||
| Hootowl |
1999 | ||
| Hootowl |
For what it's worth, the 96 S1 was what turned me on to Buell. I will have one some day. It will be red snap. | ||
| Swamp2 |
I've never had an S1, but I have an X1 with factory race exhaust, muffler, ECM, big bore and forcewinder intake. Runs perfect, so I wouldn't have any qualms about fuel injection and tunability being a factor. I really like being able to use ECMSpy to see what's going on. | ||
| Jolly |
I have a 99 X1, a 96 S1, and a 98 S1W....(Ok, and an S2 and an S3T) And ride them all. I have never had a problem with the FI either. I don't race and have never been on a track so I'm not "super tuning" for every little digit of horse power. Both the S1 and X1 have proven to be rock solid, with the standard issues and preventative MX requirements. Here is where I think things matter.... Prefer to work on a carb? Go S1!, want easy isolator changes? Go X1, want to rebuild forks and have all parts available? Go X1!, want to avoid fuel tank paint bubbles? (By the way, I might have found a long term solution but not a cure) Go X1!, want the most basic raw delivery? GO S1.... The list continues like that.... Can't make up your mind? Buy a few of both and join the crowd saving tube frame Buells from the butchers!!!! You won't regret purchasing either, but which ever one you buy you will wish you had the other!  Want to discuss touchy fuel injection ask me about my Moto Guzzi "problem". compared to the issues a V11 or 1100 sport have the Buell FI is rock solid!! MG has a standard "cough" at idle and an occasional hick up at steady 3k rpm.... The fix? Ride em the way they want to be ridden! My recommendation ..... BUY an S1W and a limited production X1... They don't take up much room at all!!! | ||
| Dueller |
I have owned an S1W for 14 years. Also have a'97 m2. Have ridden a few x1s. My take? Perhaps an automotive analogy best sums it up. The s1w is the 427 AC Shelby cobra of bikes Raw, powerful, hot, primitive visceral hot rod Whereas the x1 is a Mustang GT 500..a bit more civilized but still a hooligan machine. One thing is for sure...the s1w garners more attention even from non-bikers. You just somehow know it's a different breed. (Message edited by dueller on May 28, 2014) | ||
| Swamp2 |
Jolly - not to hijack the thread, but... I've got a MG - 2002 V11 LeMans. The FI seems pretty good to me - I've got Mistral cans, a Stucchi crossover and a Power Commander on it - but I don't really have any complaints. Maybe the Power Commander is helping... | ||
| Jolly |
Once I got both MGs finally tuned right they are SOLID!!!! And fun!!! I want a lemans for my collection soooo badly!!! Ok back to the thread!!!!! | ||
| Lakes |
If you can get an S1W & a X1 buy both , would be great having one of each, if your a rider get an M2, i ride mine almost every day now all year round & long distances too , also drag race it. i road 350 kilometers to the drag strip this past weekend raced all day till 6.30pm stayed the night then road the 350k home. love the bike. i've never owned a MC with FI , but watch my friend custom map them on his DJ250i takes all day slow process, but as far as i know they are reliable just all the extra wiring is not light. with the CV carb i know how to tune it & it never needs touching no flat spots it just goes. but one day i'm sure it will need an over haul then might be hard to get parts? but i'm more than happy, the M2 does not look as good as the S1 but it's good all day rider. as when your riding you can't look at the bike. | ||
| Ratbuell |
It all depends what you're going to do with it. Toy? Regular transportation? I loveloveLOVE my S1W...for about 300 miles at a time. I've done ironbutt days on my 1125CR with touring seat. Same for my Ulysses. And I put nearly 50k on my first Buell, a 99 M2. I now have another M2 - an 01 M2L that I converted to a non-low by using X1 forks and rear shock. Comfy seat, carb is perfectly tuned, I can ride it all day without a hiccup or a sore spot. If you like carb...the S1 is a great bike for short hops and that's simply a function of the seat. If you want comfy but are shy about early EFI...do what I did. Get an M2 and put USD forks on it (or just ride it, the standard forks aren't bad at all...but I'm 6'4" and don't need a low so I changed mine). And if you want an S1W powerband...change cams. Late M2's had the same thunderstorm heads that the S1W had, the only difference was the cam profile. And the seat is simply glorious. | ||
| Charlies_s1 |
I have an S1 and an S1WL so you know what I'm going to say! But both bikes are close to being built for the same purpose. I am turning 54 this summer and can do a tank of fuel before it feels as if I need to get off, I wonder if this was designed into the bike?? But once off for fuel I am ready to go again, But a full day of riding does wear a bit on me. Fun bikes to ride and they do attract a lot of attention. But you can't go wrong which ever one you choose. Chuck. | ||
| Jolly |
recently did 7 hours on my S1 with three stops along the way from my place in southern Md out to Harpers Ferry, I was in your "neighborhood" Ratbuell... anyway, 7 hours on my S1 with a Corbin seat...thought I was crippled for life! ok not quite that bad but ouch... would do it again tomorrow in a heartbeat though! 45 yrs old... | ||
| Brother_in_buells |
Riding a S1 is pain ,but you guy's love it!  | ||
| Milar |
>I have an S1 and an S1WL Sweet! Having ridden both bikes, how would you describe the similarities and differences? | ||
| 99cyclone |
S1 beats S1W hands down. The narrow tank feels so much slimmer, a more visceral experience. There isn't that much difference in power. | ||
| Charlies_s1 |
Sweet! Having ridden both bikes, how would you describe the similarities and differences? S1 beats S1W hands down. The narrow tank feels so much slimmer, a more visceral experience. There isn't that much difference in power. Well I think on my butt dyno I can feel a bit of a difference, There is a tunnel that goes under the runway here in Long Beach and it gives me a chance to blow out the cobwebs in the exhaust. The S1W goes through the gears a bit faster and also feels like it has more up in the higher revs. I agree about the tank, I have the S1W completely apart right now to do a total restore and am going to have a smaller tank painted for it. But they both handle awesome and pull really hard, I love them both, Great bikes!!!!!! |
