| Author | Message | ||
     Seeeu911 |
I read that John Britten and Eric Buell were in frequent phone contact. Just a search here and I find great pictures and info from people like Court and it’s a fascinating tale. Side by side the S1W and the V1000 look like a matched pair. Yes, one is a race bike and one a street bike but the similarities cant be dismissed.   I want a V1000 but the $1M or so to get one of the 10 in the world escapes me at the moment. So here is my plan. Take a 96-97 well-used S1 and make a Britten Tribute bike. No a Replica, but a Tribute…the diff to me is one of respect for both John and Eric. Not diminishing Eric, more to acknowledge the fantastic nature of his creation and to honor the untimely passing of another fantastic engineer. The task to make the tribute would be not too radical. Visually, except the engine as stressed member the most compelling and gorgeous item on the V1000 is the organic exhaust system. With the same paint scheme as the Daytona winning bike and some careful customization I think it’s fairly straightforward. Here is how I would do it. 1. Relocate the exhaust system: header and muffler to under seat system. Emulating the organic shaped blue V1000 pipes. Exhaust concept is easier than execution. Aaron’s ideas would be helpful here. Equal length tubes bent Britten Style and Blue of course with a modern sportbike resonance chamber/muffler pirated from a CBR or similar? Perhaps my friends at Stainless Specialties could make a set of small twin cans or a small set of carbon fiber ones exist somewhere? I know a local exhaust expert and recently over beer and looking long at both my S1W and pictures of the V1000 he says he can do it. A 2-piece header, mandrel bent perfect no welds showing.  Ther is space under the S1 if other components are relocated.  2. Relocate battery, alternator, fuseblock etc to the lower front of the frame where the exhaust collector is now. Cut away battery tray. 3. The S1 has no chin fairing but I would add the Left side chin from the X1 and modify the right half using a X9B piece to simulate the smaller V1000. The front of the chin fairing I would make XB9 style to cover the relocated battery …possibly a low down chin oil cooler also. 4. Largely leaving intact the S1 frame, relocate the oil tank to where the current muffler is now. Build a round stainless steel oil tank with internal baffles to prevent oil starvation. Aaron replied via emails almost a year ago to my musings about oil tank design and oil pump relocation. A 2.5-quart oblong tank fits perfectly and plumbing using ss lines should not be an issue. I would probably go to an aftermarket oil pump to ensure oil lift to the motor is swift enough. Does anyone make a pre oiler for HD style twins ? 5. Rear tail section is easy, use the rear section from Airtech GP bike.  6.The front bodywork can start with the fairing from the Airtech VR1000. The Left side fairing would be cut back to end just under the tank and on the right side of the bike, the Right, muscle side also cut up to tuck under the tank to leave the pipes naked. Leaving the front windshield design intact.  7. The front fender I have no idea how to do. The entire bike painted with Britten color scheme, blue and pink of course but with good old USA symbology, and yes. BUELL on the tank. So what do you gentlemen think ? | ||
| Court |
>>>So what do you gentlemen think ? I make the first part of your tribute spelling ERIK correctly.  Great idea...the Britten is a bike you can sit and look at for hours and the fascination level never ebbs. Court | ||
| Seeeu911 |
yes, my bad..I guess I should have looked at the Buell poster in my office or my EB signed bike, or my EB signed picture or my EB signed jacket, or his last email to me...duuh I'm a ones and zeros guy.  my spelling is accidental at best. | ||
| Buckinfubba |
donn Man you is thinking overtime...but a very cool Idea I think... how ya doin brutha | ||
| Vr1203 |
I've been on that road  | ||
| Rokoneer |
Outstanding pseudo VR Jim! I like it and I like it alot..... | ||
| Skully |
Nice bike Jim! | ||
| Seeeu911 |
Brian..my brother from another mother ! I'm doing good. Yea, the brain needs to build and create or I go wacko. I have found that even with my new company and family commitments I trully only purge the brain and relax when I am in the garrage wrenching on something. The CBR 1000 rebuild is underway now, but I really like working on the Buell best. I figgure I should just build a new one that way I can build but still ride at the same time. Jim that is a fantastic bike. I've loved your execution from the first time I saw a picture of it. Since you been on that road less traveled andy suggestions or thoughts ? Do you like the Airtech quality ? | ||
| Vr1203 |
"Do you like the Airtech quality ?" No. The stuff doesn't hold up. Its race stuff and who cares if it cracks?  However it does fit good.And it is fiberglass and repairable.And it is the only game in town, if you know what I mean.The head light treatment is not.I can't find a VR1000 headlight assembly to install, unless somebody's got one lying around . I have small lights stuck in the nostrils of the fairing now. | ||
| Vr1203 |
Maybe you should think Buell Tribute , or maybe E. Buell should think Buell Tribute.Make this a special edition and they will come  Noticed I avoided the whole spelling E*** thing  |
