| Author | Message | ||
     Lake_bueller |
I recently took delivery of a 1995 S2 with a factory touring kit installed. I bike has seen better days. The fiberglass is rough and had been sprayed white by an amateur. The original front fender is gone. And there isn't much original in the motor either. My initial plan was to bring it back to original as best as possible. But the more time I spend looking over the bike, I'm not sure it would make any difference in it's value. The bike will never be original. So what would you do? Get it close to original (original color) or make it your own (paint it whatever trips your trigger). | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
You paid for it. It's yours. That's my vote. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Meh. I wouldn't molest an unmolested S2. But I'd happily keep molesting one that was already all molested. It's already no good as a survivor, so you might as well make it a nice daily driver. S2's aren't commmon, but they are still pretty easy to scare up. It doesn't make $ense to try and bring one back from the dead. | ||
| Phelan |
There were 2 different "original" front fenders. If it's fiberglass, it's likely an original or Factory replacement, unless it's an airtech piece. If plastic, it's likely the S3 fender. Regardless, I say make it your own. Build it the way you will enjoy it instead of stressing whether or not your parts are period correct OEM. | ||
| Lake_bueller |
Phelan....there wasn't a front fender. The previous owner busted it into pieces. I picked up a few different X1 fenders. Not sure which direction to go for paint. I already have a white S1W. The pearl white and parkway blue are my favorite Buell colors. One of the fenders I snagged was a rare prototype red carbon fiber from the Buell factory liquidation sale. I'm leaning towards a candy red to match that fender. | ||
| Kmbuell |
Dennis, You are correct in that it's not economical to make a rough bike really nice. As far as original, that's getting tougher too. I've got two pretty original S2's and two that have been pretty heavily modified. Value is about the same for all four. They all run, they all need paint, and they are really nice bikes to ride. Be aware that parts for the forks are really rare now along with shift and brake levers. Paint prep is key, strip to bare glass, I don't bother with gel coat. Take off the factory stuff and give it two coats of high quality epoxy primer surfacer, Build from that, The factory cleaning before paint was poor. Lots of mold release and parting wax is under the spray on gel coat. That's what has caused really nice garage queens to have paint bubbles. I don't worry about matching factory paint any longer. All the original codes now are close match because of paint mfgr changes. Some colors cannot be duplicated as toners are obsolete. Have some fun, it's still the best looking bodywork any manufacturer has ever made. Have fun with it, make it yours because its the best bike you can buy for way under $3000 today. PS, I'm still looking for the C/F air cleaner. Two moves has really got my inventory messed up. I have a lot of parts for these, feel free to ping me with your needs. I'll keep looking. I know I have a rebuilt set of forks, used and lightly mangled shift levers and more. I also have a set of NOS shift and brake levers. Ride safe. Kevin | ||
| Johnod |
Pretty much what everyone else said. You can buy original for less than , trying to get back to original. PLUS, it's still not going to be original, no matter how much work you put in. It can only be original once. | ||
| Phelan |
Ah gotcha. Very nice. Candy Apple red would look beautiful. Especially if you really wanted to make it pop with a Gold frame and Wheels! | ||
| Lake_bueller |
^^^ ala ducati  | ||
| Ebutch |
Beull-ty is in the eye of the Beholder !!!!!! Now back to Golf  | ||
| 34nineteen |
Its the same dilemma I'm up against. I bought my M2 to prevent it from becoming a chopper by the PO. However, in the course of building it up as I want it, I've spend way more money on the bike than it will ever be worth. Typically, when I buy/sell motorcycles I make money on the deal. This one is the exception to the rule. Unfortunately, good sense is starting to catch up to desire and I'm having a hard time "throwing good money after bad". I've been trying not to look at it in that perspective, but logic is getting in the way. I keep telling myself, "You're almost done! Just a little more". People like Al, PurPony and Jolly aren't making this any easier.  Its a tough conflict. | ||
| Dammitquikgentry |
PM sent Lake_Bueller | ||
| Oopezoo |
Same boat for my S1. It's close enough to stock that I'm tempted to keep it 100% original, but it will never be nice enough to recoup any money it would require to get it there. Especially considering the paint on the tank is shit. I've finally decided to say screw it and just build it how I want it with some tasteful upgrades and ride it as much as I can. I've only put about 500 miles on it in the 1.5yrs I've owned it due to fighting a few repair issues. I can't wait to finally be able to just toss a leg over it and go | ||
| Lake_bueller |
Sean....nothing in my email accounts or spam. send to awinefan at hotmail Thanks!! | ||
| Jolly |
I think the best approach is to upgrade the stuff that needs to be upgraded, like exhaust hangar, front motor mount, etc, then take the approach of "what would Buell have done to make things better if they were not constrained by market price..("finish the bike to complete the vision").... Now you're into better ..(spelled "billet") swingarm braces, frame braces, etc... And better push rod tube assemblies, fix the rocker box covers... = fix inherent design issues with a motor Buell was "forced" to work with.... Undercut the cam cover gives you instant inspection capability of the oil pump. They won't in our life time be worth more than we paid for them so my approach is to "finish the vision" with each one I buy, make it run, handle, and perform, and operate at as close to problem free as possible so that I can ride the wheels off without dealing with HD known issues or problems induced by a very small company attempting to deliver a niche bike at mainstream pricing that we all could afford, only further hampered by big owner HD who controlled expenses over profit margin compounded by their single vision corporate market vision. As a PERFECT example..... I recently took possession of a red S2 from K12pilot (you guys ever deal with him? Good dude! ) and had the same questions.... Stock or add my touches...???? Well I took the above advice, coupled with a few minor finish issues on the cam cover and primary cover and decided to go ahead and dig in and "make changes". Photos to follow soon in a dedicated thread. | ||
| Mnscrounger |
I tend to modify something only after acquiring a suitable replacement. Thanks to all the Yaffe and Ness wannabes, Buell bits are common and relatively affordable considering their low production volumes. I then compare the two parts, and bastardize the less nice of the two. I raised the fairing a couple inches, and had a custom seat with a passenger backrest done. I 'm also starting in on a project to clean up parts that serves as license plate bracket, turn signal mount, and bag support . (that assembly is BIG for what it does). I'm also still slowly collecting parts for a full mutant conversion. Hopefully it will be about the time motor needs to come out for something or other. The other OEM bits that I took off for good go into storage for the next owner. ( I'm presuming it's not going to be a chopper builder) | ||
| Lake_bueller |
Damn thing is going to turn into a money pit! Okay...it's really all my fault. First new fiberglass from the Buell factory. Now a set of Banke controls from ebay. And did I mention my water heater crapped out! Looks like a new paint job is a "later" project. | ||
| Brentx1 |
Make it your own. Take your time, you will enjoy it more. It might not be cheap but it will be worth it.  |
