| Author | Message | ||
     Blake |
Buellistic! You live in Florida! Don't EVEN tell me about riding in the cold. And don't tell me that in a downpour, if you ain't got water proof gear, that little fairing will keep you dry. The bikini bike in a downpour however is useful in that it allows the rain to blast all the dried bug entrails right off your helmet, jacket, and pants.  Blake (likes his only windshield attached to his helmet) | ||
| Mikej |
Chip, that was the short list, the full list extends to all the T versions, the S3's, the RSS, and maybe if dreams come true the Machinist's Union owned Buell, and then on to other marques (like tracking down my old 1942 FL Knucklehead, and a bunch of other bikes). The short list is just what's somewhat available at my local dealership. | ||
| Chuck |
Sorry everybody . . . I just get tired of the whining. | ||
| Peter_T |
Blake, Thanks for your beautifuly stated opininion of the M2 but there was no proof. If Court can "prove" it as he said, then I would like to see that proof. He's been claiming to have it for 2 or so years now and I'm still waiting. He might also like to agree that plenty of people have been around the world on bikes other than a KLR or a GS at the same time. I have no problem with Courts "passion for Buells". I do have a problem with his habit of making big statements he can't support. Chuck, I'm perfectly happy with my X1. Where did you see me say I wasn't? I imagine I'll be riding and enjoying it for a few years yet. What I wont be doing is pretending it is the best ever made, or pretending that it has qualities it lacks. Court, You said in a reply to Blake: "Of note is that you touched only a couple of the points that I would/will." Can I take the "will" part to mean you may actualy produce some proof rather than opinion. If opininion is all you have, then all you have to say is that in your opinion the M2 is the best bike ever made, drop the claim that you can prove it, and we can all go away happy. Best Buell ever made? Has to be the 99 X1 (probably the only vote it will get here ) Pete | ||
| Court |
For the record, the 1999 Buell X-1 was the most problem plauged Buell ever made. This is easy to prove. I was test riding them and still have the four pages of details I used when I called Wilke, got him out of a meeting and begged we delay the intro and avoid a disasater. The first 47 were "recalled" before the world even knew about them and while many were in transit. Shock attachment hole in swingarm, ooops, was misdrilled and had about 1/16" an inch of meat. The wrenches at the "secret intro" ended up working nearly all night. One night every one broke the exhaust bracket. DDFI surging was endemic. The day Erik spoke to the press, Gray Cravillion and I spent the hour trying to "cure" broken exhaust studs on 11 of the 18 bikes. I went ahead and kept Gene Thomason's (HD/Buell West Coast Fleet Technician) notes fearing that someday someone who call me an "anecdotal alarmist". The Japanese editor of "Rider's Club" went through 3 bikes trying to return to the hotel 60 miles away. I started on a Yellow X-1 and kept swapping with folk's as theirs took a dive. Finally we were at capactity 2 DOA in the back of a Dodge pickup (loaded w/o ramp by virture of a small hill in a surprised onlookers backyard) and me limping one in. The hard-nosed HD staff who were going to ride the bikes "from and back to Wisconsin" had had their enthusiasm for Buells dampened. HD folks went in airplanes, all the Buells to the trailer. Well, almost all the Buells.....19 bikes, 18 spots. My first "gun run" from Bryce Canyon to Philadelphia. The 1999 X-1 falls, on my personal list, about 3 notches below the Ural and the Sears Allstate Prowler. On the upside, it did create a class of owner who, absent dealer knowledge and a service manual that technincal publications gave the world a year following the intro of the bike, knows how to service their bike like few other brands. Scratch that one. | ||
| Peter_T |
Dark Ninja, Let me use Blakes eloquent opinion based system of deriving a better bike. Please realise I have a bike in mind as Produce my opinion (as opposed to proof) 1. Reliability. A bike with less recalls and a greater gap between services than the M2 would be better. 2. Acceleration. A bike that could out accelerate an M2 would be better 3. Agility. As above Same for the rest of his points other than the purely subjective ones like point 7,10,16 and the ever present but completely unquantifiable "Grin factor". So let me make a suggestion based on Blakes list An R1 perhaps? 1 yep, better here 2 better here 3 and here 4 I'll give the M2 this one 5 I've seen an R1 with $20,000 (AU) of custom parts so it's up there with an M2 6 More complex perhaps but since it wins on point 1 this doesn't seem to be a problem in this day and age. 7 Purely subjective but that stock airbox on an M2 is ugly as hell. R1's are beautiful bikes, front to back 8 Lower service intervals and sealed bearings 9 A huge network, Gigantic by comparison to Buells here 10 A quality so subjective it isn't worth mentioning. I've never ridden a bike that didn't have a character of its own 11 Factory refused me a replacement front disc carrier after 10,000km because I rode the bike too hard. Enough said. 12 Cheaper to buy and cheaper to maintain 13 Throw a ventura rack on it and you are off 14 A better fuel range and around 50mpg at touring speed 15 why slow the bike down 16 Immense mid range means that you can select a gear and use it until you get bored The "grin factor" Damn, it takes surgery to remove the grin on may face after riding my friends R1. Sorry Dark_Ninja I did it with a real bike in mind but if Blakes method proves the M2 is the best bike ever made what does this make the R1? The other possibility is that this is my opinion and Blakes was his and neither of them prove one is better than the other. Only one person claims to have proof that the M2 is the best bike ever made and he seems very reluctant to provide it. Pete | ||
| Peter_T |
Oops, Sorry Court I missed your posting. You mean I'm not whining about the X1? It really did have problems? Oohh well, I still like it and would vote for it. I missed your proof of the M2's status as "best bike ever made and I can prove it" in that message though. Will it be in the next one? All you did was whine about the 99 X1. For shame! That's not allowed here. Pete | ||
| Peter_T |
Court, I forgot to mention. Your posting does make an interesting change from a couple of years ago when you praised the X1's to the sky. 140mph and second gear power wheelies as I recall until I pointed out my X1 was capable of neither of these and you told us you were riding a development model at the time and production bikes may not be quite the same. LOL and I was accused of making "personal attacks" then as well. Chuck, Sorry you had to put up with all that whining from Court. Let's hope it wont happen again. Pete | ||
| Rocketman |
Teter_Pee : So what, a Buell is a piece of s h i t. Point is, it still could be the best motorcycle the worlds ever seen which is something an R1 will never be ! The R1 is a race rep, not a motorcycle. If you don't understand this, I can't understand why you own an X1 and not the R1 ! Rocket in England | ||
| Buellistic |
Blake: Lets stay with praise of the M2 cyclone!!! Lived in INDIANA and worked outside all year. Yes: rode in snow. Yes: rode in some northern rain storms. Yes: rode a race motor on a frozen lake. In buelling BUELLISTIC and/or Hardley-Harley | ||
| Peter_T |
Hmm, I seem to be having link problems so my apologies if this gets multi posted Rocketman, What would make you think this. Where have I ever said that I think the Buell is a piece of S H I T. I love my X1 (no matter how much Court whines about it) and wouldn't swap it You think the R1 is only a race rep and not a motorcycle. Perhaps you haven't ridden one enough to appreciate it. Say it's only a race rep to my friend who has toured, raced, and gone weekend riding on his. Thank him for me that on a 1,000km trip he held back his "not a motorcycle" to let me keep up on a ride over some great roads here. Bikes are what you make of them. Saying it's a Buell so it must be good is silly. Claiming "soul" to excuse it's failings is silly. Buells are what they are. Competent motorcycles (that happen to suit me) but lets not pretend they are what they are not Court, Still waiting for that proof. Pete | ||
| Peter_T |
Hmmm Rokcetman, I forgot to say that that 1,000km was on the back of 3,000km of touring he had already done. How far have you gone touring on your Buell? Surely it is a real world bike enough to match that. Perhaps you are a little jealouse that an R1 will produce 1/4 mile times close to your S1. But hey 1/4, mile times and dyno HP are what is important in a real world bike isn't it Rocketman Strange that most of your posts have nothing at all to do with riding in the real world Pete | ||
| Court |
Peter: I am not whining about the X-1. Those are my PERSONAL opinions based on the results of test riding. Good point is, you could buy the R1, which I think is an excellent bike, and pocket the $4K. I am off on my BMW today.....now, there's a bike you can take shots at! Court | ||
| Peter_T |
Court, I've ridden BMW's and never really liked them. I'm still here and I'm still waiting. Give me the proof you have that the M2 is the best bike ever made. No prevarication. Provide the proof or admit you dont have it. Is that so hard to do Court. Pete Pete | ||
| Peter_T |
Hey Blake, I'm tired and I'm going to bed but I have one last thing I have to respond to. Personal insults? Not something I've indulged in. I'm not getting any? Ask My GF that "ole BIG Pete just needs to let some juice escape and relax a little" A personal insult? Not to me. My opinions, like yours, are my own and you don't know me and I don't know you. Funny that if any one could be accused of personal insults it would be you. "And he has racing experience too" Have I big noted that? If I have then I apologise. I shouldn't have. Not first string, not second string, not even third string on my best day. Yes I have raced and yes I have gained the experience that that provides. Insult that all you like Blake. LOL Only I will know how bad I was at it "Peter has said many times how much he loves his X1" Well here I do have to pull you up Blake. Insult me all you like but don't insult my X1. I do love the damn thing. Asking Court to back one of his claims is not the same as putting S Hi T on all Buells. I only ask of him what I would ask of anyone. If you say you have proof then don't give me pretty rhetoric or opinion. Give me the proof or admit you dont have it. I'm still waiting Court Pete NEXT PAGE of topic |
