This thing finally passed inspection. So I have FINALLY gotten to take it for a spirited ride. Holy shit is it FUN.

I currently own 17 motorcycles and this one is hands down my favorite. Why? It’s sexy, it launches hard as fuck and between 0-100mph it has a very usable power delivery and the sound it makes while riding is just so perfect.

I am going to need to get a better helmet and start riding with ear plugs. My ears were ringing BADLY after a brief ride out to the country.


A local HD specialist tuned the bike and helped me fix the plethora of electrical issues. After test riding the X1 he offered to buy it. . That the second offer to buy it I’ve received. I am never selling this bike.

I’ll never understand why HD didn’t go all in on Buell and expand to a larger line with offerings like the X1 as well as alloy framed bikes like the later Buells. I’ve ridden lots of sportbikes and this thing is a fucking BLAST. It won’t hit crazy high speeds like my litre bike but around town and from a dig this bike rips!

My favorite motorcycle is American made.

Love the color of the frame & wheels...And all that Torque!

quote:

Originally posted by stickman428:
This thing finally passed inspection. So I have FINALLY gotten to take it for a spirited ride. Holy shit is it FUN.

I’ll never understand why HD didn’t go all in on Buell and expand to a larger line with offerings like the X1 as well as alloy framed bikes like the later Buells. I’ve ridden lots of sportbikes and this thing is a fucking BLAST. It won’t hit crazy high speeds like my litre bike but around town and from a dig this bike rips!

My favorite motorcycle is American made.

Awesome, they are wild machines, you don't have to do much to get that front wheel in the air.

There were a lot of things going on that combined brought Buell down.

First, price, compared to offerings from Japan, the Buell was premium priced, which means the majority of people that like to ride sport bikes would have to finance them, that means insurance, in a market where the insurance payment was as much or more than the bike.

Typical HD riders don't fit that market, it was designed to get younger people into the dealers but again, price vs Japan, see above.

Then getting them worked on, not every HD dealer had Buell parts or bikes.

Dealers didn't want them on the showroom because they didn't sell, took up space where a bagger could be sitting...

Lots of intercorporate issues between Eric Buell and HD leadership...

Money, Buell was sucking off cash that could be used to create profits, and public companies are about earnings...

Congrats on getting it right@!

You’re gonna need a bigger garage!

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:


Awesome, they are wild machines, you don't have to do much to get that front wheel in the air.

Or the rear wheel.

Was on one at the end of a Daytona Beach Bike Week demo ride, right behind the ride leader, who was on one of those one lunger beginner bikes. For whatever reason, he fell over to the right at the stoplight at Fentriss(?) & International Blvd.

I reflexively clamped the front brake lever and did an awesome stoppie, landing just short of his helmeted melon. Was not wearing a Go Pro on mine, dang it.

quote:

Originally posted by RichardC:


Or the rear wheel.

Was on one at the end of a Daytona Beach Bike Week demo ride, right behind the ride leader, whe was on one of those one lunger beginner bikes. For whatever reason, he fell over to the right at the stoplight at Fentriss(?) & International Blvd.

I reflexively clamped the front brake lever and did an awesome stoppie, landing just short of his helmeted melon. Was not wearing a Go Pro on mine, dang it.

Buell Blast, good beginner bike, low power, rented one for my wife to learn on before I took her to the class so she's understand the basic operation of the controls.

I’ve been tempted to scoop up a blast as a commuter or one with a blown up motor to swap in a two stroke 250-500cc motor. That would be a FUN project.

I picked up an inexpensive carbon fiber fender on the fleabay. Expectations were low. When it arrived to my shock the carbon looks fantastic. Now I just need to find a CF windscreen and tank cover to match.

When I grow up, I want to have Stickman's MC budget.
Who the hell am I kidding, I'm never going to grow up.

The carbon fiber wind screen that I commissioned two months ago arrived!!! I like it! While I had the windscreen off I removed the previous owners farkle….a 3.2 lb train style horn that was hidden behind the windscreen and would only work intermittently, that shit won’t pass inspections with my luck. . It was replaced with a horn that can hardly be heard over the rumble of the 1203cc V twin BUT is reliable and passed inspection. Hahahah









Pics from my night ride tonight. This is the first night we hit the mid 60’s here in Central North Carolina. WHAT A NIGHT FOR A RIDE!!!

I own a lot of motorcycles. This one is hands down my favorite in my collection currently. My BMW R Nine T comes in a VERY close second place but I adore the rawness and uniqueness of the Buell that was manufactured the year I graduated from High School.

Buell Blast, good beginner bike, low power, rented one for my wife to learn on before I took her to the class so she's understand the basic operation of the controls.

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When I was about 21 I had may license suspended for too many speeding tickets. When I got my renewal it didn't renew my M endorsement. I would need to take the riding test again. Not a real problem as I didn't have a bike.

25 years later I bought my 2005 Fatboy. I had spent way too long without a bike. Harley offered a discount on what they called Riders Edge, which was their MSF training course. They used the Buell Blast as their trainer at that time. I was lucky that I had previous riding experience and the class was very easy for me. Not so much for a few of the other students.

I thought the Blast was a really fun bike to ride for the class and handled pretty well. The 500cc seemed just right for power to me, even though lots of people thought that was too much for a beginner.

Stickman, your Lightning looks great and sounds like a freakin' good time to ride. I'm getting to be kind of old to ride something like that but I always enjoy reading your posts and comments about your experiences in cycling. Ride safe.