| Author | Message | ||
     Joplin |
 Heya out there,,,I wonder if someone more experienced than I (not hard to do) can give me some advice on a S2 that has been rebuilt and has a little ding in the frame. I wonder if this is cause for concern or not. I NEEEeeeEEEd to get a ride thats running and this bike looks good but has a little character so to say, but i think is mechanically sound AND it is in my $$range. I had a '8? XLH i fixed up but had to sell and rode my beemer into the ground and am not looking at anything but Buells now. But alas am a poor boy for now but in 4-5 years (after i get thru FF academy) will be doing better ,,,but who can wait....ANyhow see pic and any help would be greatly appreciated,,,,JM | ||
| Firemanjim |
What did he hit,and how much is he asking.Look for other hidden damage first.Do wheels look aligned,is rear swingarm bent?How many miles?Why are headers painted black?Where is the nice carbon fiber stock air cleaner?S-2's are out there for really good low prices so don't buy the first husk that comes along.(Check out prices on E-bay and Cycletrader on line.) | ||
| Hans |
Joplin: Whatever will be explained: I would run away from that one. I think the bike has been totalled. Must have been a big hit to deform a frame like that. To align and adjust a bend frame, as can be done by some specialized and well equipped firms, costs as much as about half or 2/3 of a new frame, and then we are talking about very expensive aluminum D-box frames. Whatever would be told about that dent: I would never be assured. I would happily buy a bike with black smoke from the exhaust, if the price was right, but not one with an "innocent" dent in a modern frame, which has been designed to be strong with a minimum of material. Take my words wit a lot of salt: I have no real knowledge on this subject, only suspicious feelings.  Hans | ||
| Road_thing |
JM: I'm with Hans, I'd be very skeptical of any bike with visible frame damage. Jim's right, too, nice S2's abound below $5K. Having said that, if it runs and rides OK, if you're satisfied with your assessment of the bike's overall condition, and if the price is REALLY, REALLY right, you might get a decent rider. Personally, I doubt I'd consider buying it unless the price was significantly below the market, like in the $2-2.5K range. Just my $.02, YMMV, etc. r-t | ||
| Newfie_buell |
For the frame to get a ding like that it would have to been directly pushed in, and I may be wrong then pulled back out to where it is now. If thats the case then the rest of the frame would have been twisted/deformed as well and the spot where the ding is would be much weaker than the rest of the metal due to the bending (I may be wrong on that one too but others will clarify my point) Get the full details on the bike including if it was salvaged then put back on the road. I'd take a pass on that one unless its going real cheap, then try to pick up a good used frame from a scrapped/parted out bike and swap it. | ||
| Davegess |
That frame is scrap. The Buell tube frame is very strong but each tube is important. Any deformation of a tube means that it can no longer carry the load it was designed to carry. Sooner or later something will break. If it breaks while you are trying to avoid that large cardboard box one the freeway you will be in trouble. | ||
| Joplin |
Right on,,,,,Thanks for all y'alls input. Its what I needed,,,,I think the engine/tranny is good,,,but there is so little frame I needed to hear from the experts  ,,oh and you too Jim,,,lol ,,j/k,,,Check it out on ebay http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2413598713&categor y=6704 thanks fellas,,,JM | ||
| 99buellx1 |
WTF, that bike has one EBC rotor and one stock Buell rotor. Kinda looks like a hodge podge. And the speedo is in KPH?!!?? Wierd. Craig Buell Cycle Center  | ||
| Newfie_buell |
I'd say it was a salvaged bike and put back together piece by piece. | ||
| Rick_a |
Looks to me like a wrecker that's been thrown together for the sale... | ||
| Firemanjim |
Dude,other than that frame it looks not bad--I would kill for that second caliper.Let me know if you get it as I have a bunch of S-2 parts/cash I would give for that. | ||
| Joplin |
Jim, I actually am just 30 minutes from this bike. I looked at it on Sunday but have no other Buell exposure to which to compare it with. Engine sounds good, most everything looks ok. THe front forks seem to have more travel than I am used to before the damping effects come in. I didnt get to ride it either. The rotors are different because one was warped and one wasnt. Is the gas tank an insert? THe reason I ask is the gas cap is not centered in the space provided. Is there an internal tank ? Swing arm looks ok,, How much trouble is swapping out frames? With all the negative response and warnings in regards to a bent frame I am leary. Thanks and I will contact you if I get the bike and we can talk. JM | ||
| Jim_m |
Joplin, (Court,Dave, anyone with an S2, feel free to correct as needed) the S2 originally came with a 1 rotor set up...you don't need the second one The gas tank is a tank and a cover...might be not centered due to improper mounting. The frame issue I don't know, but I would heed the warnings of everyone here regarding the frame. You may be able to pick up an old frame somewhere else, but then you'd need to swap them out. | ||
| Road_thing |
Yes, the tank and cover are separate pieces. The tank cover screws to the frame at the front-a trivial misalignment is normal, but it's possible that the misalignment of the cover with respect to the tank filler is symptomatic of a problem with the frame (like, it could be BENT!) That's why I, personally, wouldn't go much higher than the value of the motor, hence my earlier recommendation of a $2000-$2500 bid range. Last time I checked, the bid was up around $2900. Swapping the frame out would be a major pain in the butt from a mechanical viewpoint, and might present some beaurocratic complexities as well. I'd advise you to let that one go--a much nicer one just sold for about $4350 today. r-t (Message edited by road_thing on May 07, 2003) | ||
| Firemanjim |
Is there a rubber grommet between tank filler and tank cover?If that is missing it might appear to be misaligned.The only thing holding that gas tank on is a tang off the front of the tank and 1 blot holding down rear.Lots of room to misalign.Tank cover has 6 screws holding it down,very hard to misalign this as all six will not line up.Its relatively easy to change frames,just alot of wrench turning.You would sure get familiar with the bike fast that way. And not need another caliper--maybe,but want another,oh yeah!!!Like not needing more HP.Or more money,or sex,or motorcycles,its all about WANT!!!!! | ||
| Hans |
Joplin, Joplin, Joplin: Don`t you Americans not have an eagle on certain coins? That is because you have to have a sharp look out where your good, hard, money goes. As being more interested than having real knowledge I had to be somewhat moderated in my negative advising about the dented frame, but you got the same message from Davegess and Blake and others, who are really understanding these things. So you have to swap the frame. You have to find a good frame and don`t think swapping is a simple backyard job, and don`t think that a well trained mecanicien does it in within a couple of hours and don`t think there will be no other new parts involved then. $$ and more $$ But you have also to buy new tires. And a new 80 % race front tire is unusable without an race back tire and ONLY on a race track. More $$ And still then you have to worry about unseen damage: Is that seller not trying to sell a bike with a sick frame: Why should you trust his judgment on other parts which he decided to be "good enough". So don`t run, but fly away from that bike. That sounds, unseen, as an healthy bike: http://www.badweatherbikers.com/cgibin/discus/board-profile.cgi?action=view_prof ile&profile=rocknruss-users Hans |
