| Author |
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Darthane
| | Posted on Monday, July 28, 2008 - 02:23 pm: | 
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Those little Vespas cost more than a Blast? Jesus Christ! |
Damnut
| | Posted on Monday, July 28, 2008 - 02:25 pm: |
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I am wondering how the BLAST could be positioned as a "REAL" motorcycle with a "lower than a Vespa seat" (I do not know that is a fact),
It is a fact, I am in the process of selling the Vespa that I bought my girlfriend because she is vertically challenged and can not sit on the seat of the Vespa and put her feet down. She could do this on a Blast when we went looking at them a couple of months ago. Needless to say that the Vespa is gone and another Buell will be added to my stable.
I LOVE the Vespa and would like to keep it but with a $5600 sticker price and the market for them being as good as it's going to get, it's gotta go. Definitely a fun machine, I would like to race a Blast with it for shits and giggles though. I would bet that the Vespa would give it a run for it's money. |
Reepicheep
| | Posted on Monday, July 28, 2008 - 02:26 pm: |
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* What?
Dirt oriented dual sports (not something to land a double, but a 250 lb 70mph top speed bike that can go ***anywhere*** if slowly). Sell the base platform with two affordably swappable suspension kits, very tall dirt and very low super-motard, and two gearing kits (high street and low dirt). Mix and match.
* Why?
Because it would be a better blast then a blast, and a fun little dual sport play bike.
* Who is your new market - expanding existing or expanding to new?
New riders, economic commuters, and second playbike experts. Maybe new racers as well.
* How much would you invest - how many dollars would you devote to "freshening"?
$5m.
* What would you do to the price of the bike?
$5k. Probably selling at a loss at that price, maybe break even on gear and accessories. |
Damnut
| | Posted on Monday, July 28, 2008 - 02:28 pm: |
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I have a Vespa GT 200 and, like I mentioned, has a sticker price of $5600 in MA. I can only imagine what the dealers in Gotham City are getting for them.
The thing is really quick and I can get it to do 75 with my fat arse on it, 65 with my girl on the back. |
Court
| | Posted on Monday, July 28, 2008 - 02:53 pm: |
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Bill:
You and I are thinking along the same lines and I see the market and $$ nearly identical.
Frankly the "Mountain has been moved to Mohammed" as a result of the economy and the BLAST® **MAY** be in a position to benefit.
Vespa's are selling like hotcakes at the SoHo showroom. I am collecting photos of various blocks around Mid-Town and engaged in "Scooter Countin".
Be mindful that today I'll pay better than $30 in tolls and we pay upwards of $500/mo for a parking place at Vick's office. Fuel costs are but one component here.
I started to buy Vick a Vespa for her 50th but opted for the sure-fire "Chick Bait" jewelery knowing that she (she was riding down in Baja when we first met) would prefer something she can take out on the open road and I wasn't sure a Vespa would be fully capable.
She bought the BMW F650 in 2000 and it say unstarted for 6 years. She **could** ride it but, at 5'-0" and 100# it was a tippy toe deal and did not inspire confidence.
She sat on the BLAST® with the "normal" seat and declared it perfect. In fact she thought the low seat was too low.
I'm about, half as a joke and half as an urban experiment, to buy her a BLAST® just to see what happens. I'd put a special plate and "This American Made Motorcycle gets 70MPG" graphics on it an park it at Columbia and, like I used to do with the S2, always leave a handful of brochures under the seat strap.
I'll bet I could sell a TON of BLASTs® |
Cityxslicker
| | Posted on Monday, July 28, 2008 - 02:54 pm: |
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The Blast is now the only one using that lower engine block end, it is the only one in the line up carb'd... It would be a nice place to put all of the development that went into the dirt bike that got shelved. Make a SM & Ds model , still keep the price point lower than the KTM and sell the hell out of them (just like usual) |
Ezblast
| | Posted on Monday, July 28, 2008 - 02:55 pm: |
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The Blast definitely needs some marketing - even in SF - few have heard of it - that alone would increase sales - just putting it out there in the public's eye a bit. God knows I've tried - lol
EZ
(Message edited by ezblast on July 28, 2008) |
Barker
| | Posted on Monday, July 28, 2008 - 03:07 pm: |
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spaeking of single to replace the blast,,,,
since MV is now HD maybe I can score me one of my dream bikes.
the caviga mito. (525 single)
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Damnut
| | Posted on Monday, July 28, 2008 - 03:08 pm: |
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There's a bike in that picture? |
Cityxslicker
| | Posted on Monday, July 28, 2008 - 04:15 pm: |
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Nice headlights, I would add that to the stable. Damn shame Cagiva off'd their dirt program to Husky, that sold it to BMW, that is now charging double for it...  |
Ezblast
| | Posted on Monday, July 28, 2008 - 11:12 pm: |
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Sorry - no longer going to be a production bike since they where going to use the Husky engine for that platform -
So what do you Say Erik - that 600cc 50 hp Blast you where talking about a few years back in that dinner in your honor is really sounding pretty good to a lot of people right now -
EZ |
Oz666
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 - 10:01 am: |
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Why would you want to change the Blast? It works great, gets 70+ MPG and all parts fit all years (ok, except maybe `00). Stop falling for the Madison Ave.\Japanese MC Co. hype that sez if it's more than 14 months old, it's obsolete and useless. NOT SO!!!
That said, it would be nice to see some after market add-ons from BMC - some could be adapted from the parts bin, like windscreens, controls, etc. Some need to be tooled or outsourced like performance\adjustable rear shock, for example. Engine performance parts for several levels are already available!
People - the Blast is the Freakin' Volks-Bike for cryin' out loud!!!
 Oz
"Nobody gets in to see the Wizard. Not nobody, not no how." |
Ezblast
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 - 10:45 am: |
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Hey they've had a ton variations/improvements on the Bug - I know - I've owned 5 in my life - and a 77 was much different than a 56 - can't say that about a Blast - get your facts straight.
EZ |
Ezblast
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 - 12:07 pm: |
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Sorry - not meaning to sound harsh, but the last update was just to consolidate some bearing parts, things that have really needed addressing have not been addressed - and though we both agree its a great little bike, it really could use some serious yet inexpensive updating - the boot is first that comes to mind, but there are a few other things as well.
Darn it this is a great bike and it deserves better treatment from the company it has been so successfully representing -
Sorry for the rant, but the next rendition of the Blast could literally be Bullet proof, not just Buell/HD's most reliable - it would take so little cost to make this so.
EZ
(Message edited by ezblast on July 29, 2008) |
Court
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 - 12:25 pm: |
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I'm getting a real bug to buy a Blast, ride the heck out of it and see what happens.
I REALLY like the entire Blast concept. . . but then I admired it since Lisa started on it!
 |
Ferris_von_bueller
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 - 12:26 pm: |
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Nice headlights
I'd like to see how those high beams look before giving my opinion |
Swordsman
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 - 01:08 pm: |
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"Why would you want to change the Blast? It works great, gets 70+ MPG and all parts fit all years (ok, except maybe `00). Stop falling for the Madison Ave.\Japanese MC Co. hype that sez if it's more than 14 months old, it's obsolete and useless. NOT SO!!! "
Again, with that mentality, you'd still be ooo-ing and ahh-ing over tubers. Look at the dramatic improvements from the tubers to the XB's, and from the XB's to the 1125's. There's always, always, ALWAYS room for improvement. A much better question would be, "Why would you want to give up?"
~SM
(Message edited by Swordsman on July 29, 2008) |
Ezblast
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 - 02:06 pm: |
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Court - I ride the heck out of both my bikes and always get off them with a smile on my face - the Blast truly lives up to its name!
EZ |
Tommyr
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 - 04:58 pm: |
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Adamec in Jacksonville is marketing the Blast on TV as a gas saver at 70mpg, and only $4995.
My jaw dropped...and then I smiled.
(I bought my Blast there 2 months ago. In a perfect world, everyone would ride a Buell!) |
Ezblast
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 30, 2008 - 12:54 am: |
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I hear Tilly just got 20 Blasts shipped in for sales.
EZ
(Message edited by ezblast on July 30, 2008) |
Thespive
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 30, 2008 - 01:54 am: |
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I learned to ride on a Blast! and I am a fan. I just wish they'd update the styling and make it look more modern. ell the rest of the Buell line has progressed nicely, its time for a little investment back in to the Blast.
--Sean |
Cityxslicker
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 30, 2008 - 03:28 am: |
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I had my A$$ handed to me by Nick Ienatsch two years ago at Back to the Track in Vegas. He put that bike at the end of a 8 person line up , and by the time the set was over he had lapped us all. that lil bike is phenomenal at cornering and power delivery around the track, took the XB's & Uly to task. Granted the guy has Skillz, and that bike is potent in the right hands
He was kind enough to sign the his book for me, afterwards. |
Rainman
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 30, 2008 - 07:24 am: |
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Fix the boot...fix the boot...fix the boot....fix the boot....fix the boot....fix the boot....
Hey, I have an idea, let's redesign the carb-manifold rubber hose thingy so that it does't crap out at 6,000 miles and make my Blast run like a 1984 Hyundai Excel until I get one in from the dealer who is 80 miles away and fix it myself! It is literally the only thing that's gone wrong with the bike.
Note: Laws, sausage making and Rainman's mechanical skills should not be witnessed by those with weak stomachs or perfectionist tendencies. Just ask his wife...
(Message edited by Rainman on July 30, 2008) |
Ezblast
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 30, 2008 - 12:02 pm: |
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Das Boot - my favorite phrase!
EZ |
Koz5150
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 30, 2008 - 12:18 pm: |
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I drove a Blast once. It was when I took the MSF course at Hal's HD. I dropped the bike while trying to make a 90 degree turn. Being 6'2" I still was standing over the bike with one foot on each side. I picked it up with one hand by the grip and drove off. When riding it I had to sit on the passenger portion of the seat so my knees didn't hit the handlebars on low speed turns.
Yeah it was a cute toy, it reminded me of my mini-bike I had as a kid.
I am not sure why there is a waitinglist for them though. I see used ones for $2500 or less on craigslist all the time???
(Message edited by koz5150 on July 30, 2008) |
Ezblast
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 30, 2008 - 12:24 pm: |
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LOL - the prices are getting higher now, resale is going up, and people want to save money on gas - 70mpg is nice!
EZ |
Prof_stack
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 30, 2008 - 01:07 pm: |
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Used Blasts were once much cheaper. The local Craigslist ads are usually in the $3 - 4 thousand price range. I could have bought a new '07 last February for slightly more than $4k out the door. Missed that one.
But let the gas prices fall some more and the demand will soften. |
Ezblast
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 30, 2008 - 09:54 pm: |
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Heck - the high mileage ones are getting 2500.
EZ |
Gearheaderiko
| | Posted on Friday, August 01, 2008 - 02:33 am: |
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While a little late to this thread, I did notice that at Buell.com, when hitting "compare bikes" the Blast is not an option!
Slightly off topic:
Although the FXSTB and the Blast get the same mpg now, guess which one leaves the garage more?
(you do not want to hit an offramp hard and fast on the FXSTB and expect to get through it without soiled underwear.The Blast - eh, just lean it over)! If I only had the money for a left over TT
Blast - the gateway Buell. |
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