| Author | Message | ||
     Snotrocket |
 Hi everyone! I just bought a 97 S3 w/2,300 miles on it. I think it set for a while before I bought it(maybe 8-12months), however I am not 100% sure. What I do know is that I bought the bike off of an Iron Horse dealership who knew very little about them. They were really wanting to get rid of it. I guess they took it in on trade and were not able to find a buyer for it. I love Buells, I really couldn't believe it. I scooped it up for 5,200. Hopefully thats a pretty decent deal. Anyway, let me get to my question. From what I have read, this bike is supposed to have all kinds of torque. Well here's the deal. Im only able to get a good wheely in first gear. When I try to squeeze one out of 2nd, the bike just doesn't wanna do it. Im fine with this, however, is that normal? Should my bike be doing more than it is? If so, do you think the carb needs cleaned or something? Just curious... | ||
| Spiderman |
My M2 doesn't do real good second gear wheelies with out a little coaxing. But it would be a good idea to do a little matinence on her like a carb re-build, some fresh fluids. Make sure the tires are good and adjust the suspension. | ||
| Ara |
Don't forget that the S3 is tuned for more high-end performance than the M2. It's in the cams. | ||
| Snotrocket |
That makes me feel a little better. How big of a deal is it to change out the cams? Do I have to pull the engine? | ||
| Mikej |
Nope. You will have to probably remove the gas tank and rocker covers though to relieve the pressure on the lifters. Work out your intake and exhaust and jetting first, after cleaning up the carb internals, before you go tinkering with the cams. Unless you want to, then open it up. But it's amazing what relatively simple external mods will do to these bikes. | ||
| Spiderman |
And it is also a heavier bike plus mine is far from stock. Plus the stock M2 cams give you more low end than the stock S3 cams | ||
| Ara |
Mikej has the ticket here - listen to him. Minor changes external to the motor itself can take a stock, too-lean, mediocre-breathing Buell and turn it into a real roadburner. Russ | ||
| Lake_Bueller |
Don't forget that the 97 S3 is the same engine as the M2. They didn't switch to the Thunderbolt engine until the 98 model. In addition, the S3 is about 30# heavier  . My personal opinion is that the S3 just doesn't wheelie well. I also have a hard time getting it up (that didn't sound good  ) | ||
| Aaron |
"Don't forget that the 97 S3 is the same engine as the M2." No, the '97 S3 used the 91hp Lightning motor. That motor was never offered in an M2. | ||
| Two_Buells |
I really need to rev the bike to 5000 rpm while shifting into second to get a good wheelie. I have a 99 S3 with full race kit. My S1 is a wheelie monster. 91 hp lightning engine with race kit and mikuni carb. Aaron didn't the first M2 in 1997 come with lightning heads and stock XL cams? | ||
| Lake_Bueller |
Actually Aaron's right  . I looked the Buell website archives and found that the 97 M2 had 80# torque & 83hp. The 97 S3 had 97# torque & 91hp. Thanks for the correction. | ||
| Aaron |
"Aaron didn't the first M2 in 1997 come with lightning heads and stock XL cams? " Yes ... '98 as well ... 83hp claimed if memory serves. | ||
| Snotrocket |
I was told that I have the Lightening heads... Im new so I don't really know if thats good or bad. However, it sounds like I should check into getting some different cams and I should also go ahead and have my stock carb tricked out like everyone does. Anyone know what jets work well on a 97 S3. From what I can tell it seems like just about everyone uses 45 & 195. Does that seem about right? Also, should I be looking into buying the Thunderstorm heads or are my Lightening heads just as good? Actually, whats the difference. Also, whats up with the HD Screaming Eagle parts? Do "we" use them on our Buells or is that for Sportsters and what not? | ||
| Aaron |
Thunderstorm heads have bigger valves. To get the bigger valves in there without shrouding them, they made the chambers bigger. As a result, they use a domed piston to get the compression back. Yes, switching from Lightning to Thunderstorm heads is a wonderful upgrade. But you need the matching pistons. A '97 S3 already has Lightning cams. These are about as good of a "bolt-in" grind as you can get for these motors. To use something bigger & better requires different springs and various clearance checks. There are lots of choices, depending on your goals and how much work you're willing to put into it. | ||
| Lake_Bueller |
Snot- Just rejetting doesn't make much of a difference without changing the exhaust (IMHO). There are lots of great cans for the Buells. My personal preferences: SuperTrapp (the redesigned model) and Daytona Boss (made by Daytona H-D). Good luck and enjoy your Buell. It sound like you got a great deal  | ||
| Spiderman |
You would be suprised on how much just re-jetting can do. Bikes come from the factory as lean as you can get them to pass EPA bull crap. The older thunderstorm motors used to come with a 200 main jet and now they have a 195 even changing the pilot gives you a massive increase in the mid range. | ||
| Blake |
The stock main jet is generally not too lean at all. In fact, it is often too rich. The lean condition from the factory is at low end for EPA criteria. Going from a 42 to a 45 pilot jet will make a huge difference even without changing anything else. Asjusting idle mixture helps too. | ||
| Spiderman |
Blake do u have a 45 pilot jet in your carb, if so pop in a 48 you'll love the difference  | ||
| Blake |
I don't think so. The jetting is already on the rich side as verified by both WOT and 1/8th throttle A/F results. Why do you say a 48 would make sush a noticeable improvement. | ||
| Spiderman |
went from stock to 48 with no other changes the poping stoped and the ol' ass dyno noticed a definate improvement in mid range and when i was in 3rd gear and would get on her she would GO | ||
| Shotgun |
You're both right. What changing to the 48 does is eliminate having to tune the idle air/fuel screw. With a 48 you can just about leave the plug in and not mess with it. Once you do pull the plug and adjust it, you can get equal power and stop all the pop-corn crackling with a 44 or a 45 pilot. And a half-turn can make a ton of difference on the idle screw. Like Blake said somewhere before, if you have to crank it out more than 3 full turns, you need a bigger pilot. If you can adjust it with less, go baby, you're fine. | ||
| Blake |
That kinda makes sense, but I'm still skeptical. The pilot jet also contributes in the transition from low to mid range. It seems a 48 would bump up the richness at the transiiton. |
