| Author | Message | ||
     Oklep |
Hello guys I just discovered these user reviews (on bottom of the page), which are very negative for either S1 or X1. Almost every comment is negative about reliability and so on. Are those reviews exaggerated and artificial? I always thought that tubers are pretty much bulletproof. I cant really tell as I am only short-term owner of S1, so my opinion is not objective S1 reviews http://www.motorcyclenews.com/mcn/bikereviews/sear chresults/bike-reviews/buell/buell-s1-lightning-19 97-1998/ X1 reviews http://www.motorcyclenews.com/mcn/bikereviews/sear chresults/bike-reviews/buell/buell-x1-lightning-19 98-2002/ | ||
| Mcelhaney14 |
I don't feel the same way as the X1 review. I've had my X1 for over 4 years and put 35+ thousand miles on it. Only been stranded once for a broken belt. However, I know my bike sucked a valve in less then 10 thousand miles from new but I believe it was due to the previous owners riding style. As long as you do all the maintenance and ride it like it should be I don't see any reliability problems. Plus that review said 130 miles for fuel range, where I get a consistent 200 per tank sometimes 220. Just keep riding your S1, take care of it and it should treat you well. | ||
| Rocket_in_uk |
I don't need to get as far as reading the second link to respond. The first link, a little harsh, but not far off the truth. Consider the tester at the time would likely be more acquainted to riding silky smooth Japanese bikes  Take some of the comments / replies with a pinch of salt. Especially this one from a Buell mechanic. You would not think such a titled person could be so ignorant to a Buell. I am a Buell mechanic. I know these bikes in and out and can only say don't buy one. I know the looks are tempting and the prices are as well. But don't unless you want to build a chop. I seen a lot of them over the years and they are very bad indeed. Exploding engines, fatal gearbox failures, even rusted through frames. A lot of drivers who praise them have them only as show bikes. I know from one guy who comes to Buell meetings with it on a trailer but parks 2 miles away then rides it there. These guys have all 2 or more other bikes and they never would talk the truth about these bikes. They where build in a time when Buell was still independent and there where no such things like guaranty work or recalls after HD got involved with the XB models onwards finally they got reliable and had guaranty and proper garages for them. Also many parts are not in production anymore and other parts ether have to be altered or you have to buy expansive from aftermarket manufacturers. So unless you build a chop or you want to open a museum but not actually ride it, not worth even looking at it What a complete dick head and one who does not appear as a mechanic to understand motorcycles ! Rocket in England | ||
| S1owner |
Bottom line when these bikes came out and still today they are a red headed step child and black sheep. They are loud, unrefined, un comfortable, rattle like the cargo bay of a B52 and yes have some maintanance issues. But that is exactly why we love our Buells. They are not for the guy who wants to change oil once per year have whisper quite exhaust and silky smooth shifts they are for us who do the research, work out the bugs, and ride the sh*t out of these together! | ||
| Jolly |
There is a standard list of things to do to any tuber, all of which can be done in a day or a slow weekend that truly make these things bulletproof! What these bikes most suffer from is ignorance and poor MX practices from HD mechanics that hate them due to narrow minded single focus HD brand loyalty. I have had issues with a tuber, BUT all have been due to someone else setting the stage for the event. Cracked header for example, poorly installed by HD during service. Trashed primary side... Due to broken primary chain tensioner, due to poorly designed HD part set to tight during service at HD..... Follow the golden list, learn to do your own MX, or find a true bike shop with mechanics, not "technicians" and enjoy the ride!!! Since I've forced myself to slow down a little in life and make the time for things I am passionate about, bikes riding and working on them I have learned a lot about working on these, still have MUCH to learn, but I am the only person I now trust to work on my Buell. Basically, with proper tools, a service manual, focused time, proper approach, and the really dedicated smart people here, there isn't really any MX or repair or mod you can't do yourself. Well by yourself I mean you and the people here!! The only truth to the above statement yes I do have multiple bikes,  | ||
| Coxster |
My M2 always needs attention. If I had a Ducati it would too, same with a Beemer Airhead. ANY bike worth $3k is gonna need some work from time to time. If you want something with character, engineering, some forward thinking, and a little less refinement - buy a Buell. I will never regret my purchase, and probably keep it until I'm 70 (in 20 years) then give it to my son that's only a teen now. If I want to be just like everyone else on the road I can get a slower Sportster for the same money, or maybe a Ninja that will be worth less and less as the years go by. | ||
| Alfau |
I am a Buell mechanic. Support is vital, Your only as good as the weakest link in the chain. Hence the demise! | ||
| Ratbuell |
Spend more time on your motorcycle, and less on the reviews. I have a 98 S1W. I bought it in '06 with 1,100 miles on it. I have had three problems with it to date (currently just under 10k miles): 1. mainshaft bearing siezed from being dried out / rusted. Too much time on the sidestand allowed it to dry out and drain, and on one ride it simply locked up. Flatspotted the tire. I pulled the trap-door transmission and replaced the bearing. Relatively simple, and I also micropolished the gearset while it was out, for smoother shifting (clutch not required). 2. Fuel tank bubbled paint. 3. Front rockerbox leak. I don't pamper the bike, and it always comes back asking for more abuse. Same for my S2, and my M2s. If you read the S1 "review", the only part they're really hard on is the Harley part - the antiquated-design powertrain. They want a sportbike - IL4, butter-smooth, million-RPM redline - and the XL motor...isn't. Period. But it isn't supposed to be. The comments? Aren't even good grammar...much less proper reviews. Take them with a grain of salt. People with good Buells are out riding them like they're supposed to, not pissing and moaning about a bike they didn't take care of! | ||
| Bikerrides |
Well, I currently drive a Honda Ridgeline, a non-truck according to Ford, Chevy, and Ram drivers, and have owned a Subaru Tribeca, as well as a Baja. I remember a kid yelling "thats a ugly car" while driving through a parking lot. I also had a SeaDoo Speedster jetboat, AND I own, ride, and love an S2 and S3T. Obviously, I could give two shits about what others think about the vehicles I own/have owned. Each of them are different, but kick ass in some special way, which gives them character! They all have some design flaws or quirks; who the hell designs a jetboat exhaust that will let water into the engine when not running? Ask me how I know? God, I miss that boat! Its their quirkiness that keeps my toys from being boring; I'm boring enough without them! | ||
| Coxster |
I brought 3 Volvos back to life after they had been trashed and sold for darn near scrap value; Makes working on Buells look easy. Still, a bike lift would be handy  | ||
| S1owner |
Coxster I made my lift cost me 200 I have the plans and details if you are interested  | ||
| 01x1buell |
thats pretty nice for $200 | ||
| S1owner |
Only thing that costed me was the Harbor freight air over hydraulic ram the rest was steel I had laying around | ||
| Oklep |
There is a standard list of things to do to any tuber, all of which can be done in a day or a slow weekend that truly make these things bulletproof! Jolly, where can I found this list? I searched the forum but there is lot of stuff over the years. I think there could be some pinned guides for buell beginners like me, it is shame that great threads are hidden somewhere in archive forever. | ||
| M2marc |
just out of curiosity. Is that what the proper belt tension looks like? I have the instructions and procedure on how to do it. just wasn't sure if that's how it looks | ||
| Ratbuell |
no, that is NOT how it looks. You should be able to make it touch the swingarm by pushing on it, but it should still "hang" without visibly drooping. | ||
| S1owner |
That was in a build process tension was not set. They are left very loose though. | ||
| Oldog |
On the X1 piece I wonder where they got the x1 came from the M2 cyclone drivel, My X1 has been ridden for 54000 miles now I make repairs and service it as I much as I can, the silly comment about ride 2 hours and wrench 2 hours, that guy needs to find a shop as he must be incompetent if he is even close to 2&2 I have owned 3 suzuki motor cycles they were dependable but they did not see the use my buell has, and they broke down too so to the the OP I would say of the reviews meh who cares do you enjoy your scooter? if so great. | ||
| Buellistic |
All "i" can say is "BUELLschitte" !!! Have a 111,819.6 miles on my 1997 S3T as of the last ride and "i" know better !!! | ||
| K12pilot |
All "i" can say is "BUELLschitte" !!! LMFAO )) | ||
| Buellistic |
K12pilot: Was it good for 20 minutes ??? | ||
| Rocket_in_uk |
Have a 111,819.6 miles on my 1997 S3T as of the last ride and "i" know better !!! That is to coin a phrase, "Tuber Cool" Rocket in England | ||
| K12pilot |
At LEAST 20 minutes )) | ||
| Kevmean |
Those reviews are total Bollocks my 2001 X1 has been generally very reliable and no more expensive to run than any other bike, like any other mechanical item just make sure things that should be lubricated are and things that shouldn't move don't. The only thing that has ever fallen off my X1 in 13 years was the tax disc holder ( and me when i got rear ended at some traffic lights )It has done over 65000 miles now and is still my favourite bike and more reliable and better quality finish than my 2008 BMW GSA that I bought last year. | ||
| Jolly |
Oklep, sorry, missed your post, This is the basic list of things to do to keep the tube frame Buells on the road. 1. Billet front motor mount (stock one is the factory V shaped one that can/will(?) break and cause nasty secondary issues) 2. XB rocker box with catch can conversion (changes how the motor breaths/vents - much better design) 3. Updated rocker box gaskets - stock ones were paper and WILL leak) 4. Exhaust header updated “Y” mount (stock one is an "L" design that doesn't carry load well, transfers load back to head when the rubber grommet goes bad) 5. Updated hardened oil pump drive gear (stock one is too soft and wears out around 30K miles) 6. Updated primary chain tensioner (stock one BAD, breaks and gets lodged in your primary chain and makes a very expensive crunching noise - yep learned that one the hard way) 7. Proper install of exhaust - if installed incorrectly, poor technique, sets up a bad load distribution and transfers load back to head - breaks exhaust header bolts in head) 8. Proper tension on final drive belt (most service centers set these way to tight...puts bad load on output shaft and destroys bearings) 9. Personal choice – replace stock push rod tube assemblies with one piece billet base and collapsible push rod tubes (use stock push rods) while you are replacing oil pump drive gear, the stock push rod tubes can be a little tricky to re-install leak free. Hope this helps, learned some of these the hard way, some by chance, and still most of them from here. best tools in your garage: 1. computer to access BADWEB experts 2. service manual 3. proper torque wrenches 4. bike stand front and rear 5. patience 6. sense of humor 7. time - enough time to start a job, walk away from it when it fights you, then see tool number 5 and 6 8. humility - I have learned a lot from the true experts here, once you learn, help when you can, its what makes this forum work so well! special tools - 1. primary drive locking bar or similar tool 2. pinion shaft locking tool (plate - to hold pinion shaft when changing oil pump drive gear) 3. rocker box wrench or cut down allen key 4. socket for primary drive (forgot size will update later) 7. socket for clutch hub (forgot size, will update later) 8. intake wrench (offset angled hex for intake bolts) 9. primary seal tool for installing seal to proper depth (hav'nt had to do this one yet, but going to buy the tool anyway, with 5 of these bikes, going to have to do it at some point) this sounds like a lot, but you can build a bullet proof motor that will last forever, and you can maintain it with this list of mods and tools...AND all of these tools can be purchased for what you would pay in labor for a shop to simply update your rocker box gaskets....trust me, I used to have to pay a shop to do everything because I simply couldn't make the time to learn... (Message edited by Jolly on September 01, 2014) | ||
| Buellistic |
Jolly: You sure got that right !!! It has been proven time and time again that the FACTORY SERVICE MANUAL is not the "GOSPEL", "BUT" not only does it have good "INFORMATION" in it "BUT" wrong information and you have to know the difference ??? (Message edited by buellistic on September 01, 2014) | ||
| Captains1 |
Hey Jolly Thanks for providing that list. I am in the process up fixing up an S1 and that will be some helpful information. Can I ask what the correct procedure for hanging the exhaust is? do you just follow the service manual or is there some other method? Thanks | ||
| Alfau |
So why doesn't EBR support his tube frame babies? | ||
| Oklep |
Jolly, thank you. Bookmarked, amazing post. | ||
| Alfau |
detent plate clip upgrade. |
