| Author | Message | ||
     Road_thing |
Nice bike, Don! Do I smell smoke? rt | ||
| Doncasto |
 . . .another view. The slight wafting of smoke is indeed part of the bike's character, and is in homage to its creator - our resident Smoke Eater (retired). I have put just enough miles on the S2 to begin to feel comfortable with its handling . . .a remarkable contrast to the Uly. It has become my "daily driver" . . .and the sorting out process should be wrapping up in the next week or so with the installation of heavier front fork springs and a custom seat. I have never been able to break myself from a lifelong "function over form" habit . . .and do not see myself going "gold" on the rear wheel any time soon. I am toying with the idea of experimenting with the "spares" and putting a dual rotor PM front system on the bike at some point. If and when that happens, I will post a photo that will I hope will address the "mis-match" fatigue . . . Thanks for all the comments and encouragement . . . | ||
| F_skinner |
Don, great looking bike. I look forward to seeing a lot more pics of it... Frank | ||
| Ratbuell |
Very nice bike, Don. Nice riding partner, too  Is that a Corbin you're taking off? If so, and if you're willing to part with it...I'm stockpiling spares for mine. Happy to trade a near-new (I say "near" only because I don't have any packaging) stock S2 seat if you're interested. One thing I've noticed handling-wise, also compared to my Uly, is the S2 is WAAAY more sensitive to the proper rear squat setting, as far as turn-in goes. Rode it for one day, forgetting to dial out the squat I put in for a passenger, and it was darting all OVER the place. Pulled the rear spring preload back down, presto. Human handling again. I actually run mine a little softer than the manual settings, to keep the steering from tipping in too suddenly. | ||
| Doncasto |
Joe: Thanks for the compliments . . .I will relay your regards to Diane, too! I actually have a very near new stock seat as well . . .and two Corbins in my own stockpile. One of the Corbins appears to have been set up specifically for a person less vertically extended than I. I would guess that it would be ideal for a person from the 5'8" viewing perspective. I would like to find a good home for this seat, but plan to keep the others for the time being. I have held off doing a final suspension setup until after the front forks are redone. I have noted some of what you mentioned . . .and found the handling to be more predictable when riding with Diane. I suspect it is a sign that I have the Penske wound up a little too tight for riding without a passenger. Diane does not know it yet, but I will be enlisting her help in setting the sag after our next ride . . .and will try to establish indexes for both riding with and without accompaniment. Thanks again! Don | ||
| S2pengy |
Don What are you asking for the vertical challenged seat, that is if Joe doesn't want it... | ||
| F_skinner |
Awaiting parts!!!  | ||
| Phillyblast |
Don, Thanks for the photo. The S3 bags look much better on yours than they do on mine, I would say partly due to the better mounting position of the Buell bracket vs. the ebay-homemade one that came with my bags, and partly due to my bags being black on a yellow bike. Are those just standard drawer pulls on the top? And where did you go for the custom seat? I'm thinking about getting the stocker redone over the winter - my buns are still a little numb from the ride to Indy and I made the mistake of test riding a Uly - man what a comfy seat on that bike.  | ||
| Doncasto |
Dave: The S3 hard bags I located had been "modified" . . .and I don't mean that in a good way. The latches had apparently failed, as the latches tend to do. Rather than replace the latches they were removed and a hinged ABS door was put in their place. To open the bags one had to pull up on the door (latched with Velcro) and then move the latch assembly by hand. Each bag had a hardware store door pull as a handle. Rather than attempt to patch the door pull holes, I purchased a new matching set and put them on. The are functional . . .along with a set of standard bag latches . . .but not really much on form. It is great to have hard bags once again . . .I have been thoroughly spoiled ever since the old BMW K1100RS days . . . I am having the seat done by Dan Ballard of Bitchn' Stichn' in Lakewood, Colorado. He has done several other for me and they are custom made for my aching boney butt. With the amount of steel in my back and knees, I find even the Corbin's ergos to be painful. The custom S2 seat will be raising me up and back, taking some of the flex from my knees but with an as yet to be determined effect on Erik's "low center of mass" principle. There will be precious little room for passengers on the new seat . . .to the point where there may be a butt size qualifying criteria for potential two-ups. With Diane's posterior in mind, I tried to allow just enough . . .only time will tell if my eye was property calibrated during the redesign effort. (Message edited by doncasto on September 27, 2008) | ||
| Doncasto |
Frank, Your project looks like its coming along fine . . .how soon 'till its on the road? I am hoping to have all the bikes finished and road worthy in the next couple of weeks so that I can convert back into woodworking here. There's a whole house full of projects just waiting for the end of wrenching . . . I'll post more photos when the front end is done. Don P.S. I have been watching the postings on the S2 gathering. If I have not moved out of state I will look forward to joining up. | ||
| F_skinner |
Don, it will be a while before it is back on the road, maybe two months depending on what else I find. Something I learned from the S1W, which is a lot more important than with Sportys I have built, is you really need to plan what you are going to do and when you are going to do it. I have the wheel bearings and the new tires are on the way. I am waiting on a used oil bag and that should finish up the rear. The primary cover is pitted but I may reuse it since a new one is about 250... I could get a cheaper chrome one but do not want that on this bike. I will replace the neck bearings and may have to redo the forks. I got a new speedo for her (old one is broke) and have some odds and ends I am waiting on. I just need to find a painter that can repaint the fiberglass back to original. I really hope you can make the S2 gathering! Frank | ||
| Ratbuell |
Don - no use for the vertically-challenged seat here. I'm 6'4" and now have titanium legs (both sides - left femur, right tibia) - no need to go shorter than what appears to be a stock gunfighter/lady seat. It was on the bike when I bought it. I like the ergos, along with the "T" drop pegs, although with my long arms I could almost go for a lower set of bars....or a bit more stretch / more rearward seating position. Got a gunfighter seat ("solo" Corbin) that I need to try out still...can't tell if it'll put me further back or not. Repeat after me - "no honey, I'd have *sworn* you'd fit on there - no way you need more room than that!" And don't forget that allen-head set screw on the Penske lockring...I always do and some of my threads are boogered now. But, both shocks (Penske S1W; Works S2) are marked with my favorite - touchup paint dots for each position. Frank - if you have an orbital buffer with a velcro head, and both 1000 grit sandpaper and a buffer pad for it, you can get the primary back in shape. Kim dropped her XL and I used the setup above, with some water and Mother's polish and a load of patience, to get all the road rash out of the derby cover. Couldn't even tell it was there. Looking good, though. Can't wait to see it reborn | ||
| S2tbolt |
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| Steveford |
Just finished it - S3 motor, exhaust, swing arm, shock, calipers and wheels in the Purple Nurple.  | ||
| F_skinner |
Steve, looks great. Did you have any problems with the swingarm? Frank | ||
| Steveford |
Thanks. I thought it would but no, there's plenty of room. Other bits gave me some agita (front motor mount, airbox cover, front caliper) but not that. Aside from the axle, axle spacer, rear motor mount, shock and front shock mount you WILL need to use the later caliper and caliper mount, not a chance of the Brembo working. (Message edited by SteveFord on October 14, 2008) | ||
| Buelliedan |
Here is mine:  | ||
| Bluesboy |
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| Firemanjim |
Guys, stop giving Don a bad time.Do you know how hard I tried to find a 17" rear to match, lots of darn 16.5's for all the racers. Here is my latest S-2 all back together with 1250 kit,S/E heads,cams etc. More than a bit rich but still a little over 100 hp. Added new updated oil pump and bronze drive gear,powdercoated XB rocker covers black and some XB pcv valves.    (Message edited by firemanjim on October 31, 2008) | ||
| Phelan |
Very nice Jim, I'm jealous. I take it those are the decked XB style S/E heads? | ||
| Road_thing |
 rt | ||
| F_skinner |
Jim, great looking bike, what color is it? I would like to see a close up of the Buell badges. RT, GREAT PIC! | ||
| F_skinner |
Posted for Phelan.   | ||
| F_skinner |
So far, new brakes front and rear, rebuilt brake calipers, new wheel bearings, tires, clutch cable, fixed speedo, XB neck bearings, isolators, primary shoe, new oil bag... I still have stuff out to powder coat and have to find a place to get the body repainted. I am waiting on one decal...   | ||
| Firemanjim |
Here ya go guys, a little redo for Larry Friese, he wanted a black frame.    | ||
| Firemanjim |
OOPS. put one of mine in there by accident  | ||
| Ratbuell |
I like the black. What color bodywork? | ||
| Bluzm2 |
Jim, is that powdercoat or paint? | ||
| Firemanjim |
Powdercoat with clear, Brad. | ||
| Phelan |
The pics that Frank posted for me above were taken in Missouri on my trip home to Amarillo from picking the bike up in Detroit. |
