| Author | Message | ||
     Matty |
Sorry folks, nothing negative was intended - I kinda assumed that folks knew who I was, so that's my error. Just a thumbs up to a motorbike that takes more than a few cues from Erik's unique style and a dream that I'll get to see his take on a super-single. I'd really like to see something like that with the Buell logo on the tank, not a replacement or update for the Blast, but one of his clean sheet designs. I think it's something to think about which is why I posted the link as I did. A couple years back Erik was in town for the Love Ride and we had dinner. During the conversation he talked about a project he was playing with - an XB motor stuffed into an otherwise stock appearing Blast. I think this idea for the single falls into the same kinda fun engineering. So lets turn this around and go to the happy place I intended for it - start thinking about the "what if" scenario of Erik's take on a super-single. | ||
| Diablobrian |
It would probably be better, considering the riders edge usage of the blast, to produce a second, lighter more powerful single. Maybe based on the dirt bike motor that is/was already in development? The Duke would be a good target to aim for. | ||
| Rainman |
I tend to agree with a lot here and I'm not all that agreeable. I love my Blast because it will do 85 up a mountain if it has to, although it prefers 65. It's got enough power to get me out of trouble and enough handling to get me into trouble. It gets good gas mileage. I find it easy for most people to learn on and it's a first bike they can ride with the big boys. I agree that a good single with 60 hp would be fun and I'd probably buy one at some point, being as I seem to be all agog over singles since buying Thumper. Unfortunately, I agree that the primary reason for building the Blast was to provide a bike for the Rider's Edge course and I don't think Buell would sell that many hot singles. They'd probably continue with the Blast, selling it to newbies and dealers. | ||
| Anonymous |
The underslung muffler was first shown to the public in 1985 on the first RR1000. Patents are for 18 years after first public viewing. So the main patent is long gone. Derivatives can be patented but only with very specific narrow focused executions of the design. | ||
| Gian4 |
If I could change the blast I would cafe it. Clippons, bikini fairing, and a boat rear end. Also punch that bad boy up to 650cc. Make it a limited edition and I bet they would all be spoken for before they rolled off the line. Just my 2 cents | ||
| Ryker77 |
I don't blame Buell for making a high power single bike. Is there market demand to justify the cost? But I do like that KTM. I like lightweight nimble bike and cars. Perhaps once Bush attacks Iran and gas prices shoot through the roof the lighter single cyl bike will become big sellers. | ||
| Diablobrian |
The XB's exhaust was patented based on channeling air for cooling effect for an example of the way they have to narrow the design's patent. If you figure in development cycles the world's motorcycle manufacturers jumped on the design as soon as the original patent was over. Can you blame them? It's freakin' brilliant! | ||
| Ezblast |
Does anyone have a couple good pics of the RR1000? - mine all seem to be of the 1200. A single is simple maintenance, repair, great mileage, and a world of fun to ride - if you where to look up how many times folks on this board alone have said - 'I wish Buell made a performance single..' you would be surprised by the number. Erik made a great bike in the Blast, it does its job very well indeed and just keeps on ticking along - that is why so many do wish he had raised it up a notch or three - they - like I - think that the result would have been an awesome single! GT - JBOTDS! EZ  | ||
| Rick_a |
This ones nice...  though it used to look like this:  I can imagine this topic would rub some Buell employees raw. The wound is still fresh after all. My next (and last) bike will be a single. The problem is that there's so many great ones out there, it is a very hard decision! | ||
| Ezblast |
Look for ease of maint. - since all of them have similar performance these days. GT - JBOTDS! EZ | ||
| Rainman |
Just got down rodding the Blast to three different interviews on three different sides of town, cutting through traffic to make right turns, bopping over sidewalks and acting pretty much the fool to get where I needed to go in time. Couldn't do any of that when I rode the Old Wing. They way I'm feeling right now, today, I'll keep my Blast. If Buell should, by chance, put out a higher performance single based on the 450 Rotax or a 650, I'll seriously consider it as a SECOND bike, maybe make it a sport touring. | ||
| Swampy |
YEP! | ||
| Rick_a |
I ran across this today: KTM stunt prototype  I'm no stunter but I love the bodywork, tail, and swingarm. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
I am becoming more and more intrigued by the prospect of a street performance single. That stunter prototype is outstanding! I wouldn't want to strap one on and ride the 300 miles to the "good" roads, but it would be really fun to terrorize my local strafing runs. I couldn't imagine running long distances on one. | ||
| Cowtown |
What kind of stunt is that tank graphic suggesting? | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
The only one worthy of a "single cylinder".  | ||
| Midknyte |
What kind of stunt is that tank graphic suggesting? I think that would be an "endo" | ||
| Not_purple_s2 |
Is it me or does that stunt bike tank look like an X1? | ||
| Cityxslicker |
I can respect the other brands naked bikes without detracting from the things that I really love about my Buell. Hell its not like a girl friend that will get jealous if I take the other one out for a ride ;P That being said, the local KTM dealer will NOT let me demo.... I think it might be the mud on my bike that scares them. | ||
| Slaughter |
My fantasy "single" seen at Ron Woods Racing when I was there about 5 years ago:  I have a hard time NOT loving that 604cc Rotax engine. | ||
| Swampy |
The KTM stunt bike has a Blast front brake rotor! Its mounted the same way! | ||
| Dtx |
That KTM actually says "690" on the tank to represent the engine size. You can't really see the "0". | ||
| Ezblast |
Yeah - 55 to 60 ponies in a 270lb set up would be fun! Performance singles are becoming quite state of the art. GT - JBOTDS! EZ | ||
| Jon |
Ease up, Anony...Anybody that knows Ed, knows he is a Buell fan through and through. That is a stone cold fact. He is not being critical. But this is what galls me about Erik...the missed opportunity for a single cylinder pogo stick. I mean, DUH! Think about it...this is a market that is ripe for the taking! And what does Erik do? He sits on his laurels from the 2001 X1 (mine runs like a tyrant) and takes the easy route with the XB line, ZTL brakes, and now the big cop out...the 1125R. Well, now that he's got the world distracted with all these fake accomplihsments he can go back to smoking cigars and telling stories! Boy!!! The NERVE!!! | ||
| Slaughter |
My boss at Autoresearch collected all things powered by internal combustion engines - old race cars, Maytag washing machines, motorcycles, model cars AND the world famous "Hop Rod" - a 2-stroke single cylinder pogo stick! Impossible to do. Hopping up and down a few strokes and then hitting the ignition switch and pop, pop, pop... yep in theory a 2-stroke pogo stick. Never ran well and nearly impossible to get the hang of the thing... ...now WHAT were we talking about? (Message edited by slaughter on October 12, 2007) | ||
| Rex |
Blast single. A couple of editions of it would be cool, but probably not cost effective, unless done like the ducati classic line. limited number. -Flat tracker one would be cool, and would sell out. Modeled after the short track blasts that were out there running in circles. -I think a blast in an XB frame would be cool. Upped power, etc. should fit fine. all of the parts are there to use. There could still be an entry level blast for newbees. I think the current blast does need an update. Should look like the rest of the line. A different frame for sure. Of course, to set up an entire new model, stock parts, manuals, etc. and only sell a few probably does not make sense, but a small limited edition blast, might work. Do it like the special edition HD's, Ducatis, etc. Would probably sell out. Sell them out ahead of time, no inventory on the floor to worry about and mark down in price. Put me down for one of the Flat Tracker looking Blast now. REX | ||
| Rick_a |
From the beginning, I thought an S1-style streetfighter Blast with some real balls would be cool. 25 RWHP just ain't cuttin' it. It doesn't just need an updated chassis, it needs a new motor. The motor is just too big, heavy, and underpowered for a single. I'm not willing to spend a few grand to make something of it. Keep the newbie friendly bike around, but keep the other thumper fans satisfied as well. Those that want a dirt-tracker Blast, C&J racing makes the frame. You can build one yourself. The chassis kit runs around $2200. I have a 1993 CycleWorld issue with a Wood Rotax featured, right alongside a CBR600F2 streetbike and trick roadracer. Their only real complaint was a tremendous amount of vibration. They claimed it could keep up with a stock 600 at the track then, which isn't saying much now. The MZ Skorpion was a great bike and is a racer with a small following, but it was a bit soft edged for me tastes. The Yamaha SRX600 is one of my fav. singles to date, but good luck finding one these days. They've gone from affordable to collector status. I've had a fondness for the Suzuki DR650SE for a long time. It has potential...just not enough. It also happens to be the only dual sport my short legs can handle. The KTM Duke III is almost perfect IMO...a sporting street single with dirtbike ergonomics. Having put up a big pic of one in my bedroom, I'm a bit infatuated with it. I have no brand loyalty when it comes to anything. I'll purchase whatever suits my needs best. I've had my eye on KTM since the Duke II, but it was still a bit too offroad-based for my tastes. | ||
| Ezblast |
Yes - an XBBlast would be nice - all off the shelf and would definitely be fun! GT - JBOTDS! EZ | ||
| Slaughter |
I've still got a spare rolling chassis and a Blast motor in the garage. If I hadn't wadded up the XB racebike, I'd already have the XB-Last racer going. Chaconas beat me to it. | ||
| Ezblast |
Got pics? |
