My guardian angel apparently drives a Volvo….

I own a few motorcycles so today I wanted to take my favorite one out for a ride, I was in a BAD mood and needed to clear my head.

I am NOT brand loyal (though I root for Aprilia when it comes to moto racing) and I have to say hands down the most fun AND most problematic motorcycle I own is my 2001 Buell X1 Lightning. It’s been to the shop WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY too many times. Electrical issues…transmission issues… starting issues…ignition issues….etc. But it provides a ride experience that my BMW & jap bikes cannot emulate. When it decides to not be a piece of totalshit it is incredible! Rowdy as fuck and fast off the line like a GD rocket.

Today it was actually running REALLY GOOD so imagine my shock when a Volvo rolled up to me FAST and rolled its window down and the driver kept pointing to the ground enthusiastically…

Thank you man!

I love her soooo much but she don’t love me back…. Our relationship reads like the lyrics to a damn country song… This bike hates me.

Silver lining: You know who your real friends are when you break down and need help. They come with quickness to help you. I learned about that today.

Here is to hoping this isn’t yet another impossible to find Buell part….

Not a motorcycle geek...what is that?

It is a shock reservoir, which is an auxiliary chamber attached to high-performance shock absorbers (cars/trucks, motorcycles, and mountain bikes) that holds extra damping oil and pressurized nitrogen gas.

It’s an almost impossible part to replace (on this bike) so grinding it on the road is less than ideal….

Compatible aftermerket replacement shocks I’ve found cost about 1/3 to 1/2 the cost of the bike so this is most unfortunate.

Well, I'm glad I left the one I drove by last year on M33 just south of Atlanta, MI. Sign said $1,800 OBO and my truck bed was empty.

I hope you get it sorted out.

I'm thinking a reservoir is a reservoir. The valving is in the shock body. I think the reservoir just has a piston with a seal between the oil and nitrogen, 'cause you gotta keep'm separated.

Edited to add:
Nope, I'm wrong. It's got a bladder instead of a free floating piston, which means if the housing isn't cracked and/or leaking, then it should be fine. The rebound damping is in the reservoir cap, but shouldn't have been affected.

This might be helpful:

https://www.badweatherbikers.c...ges/3842/452222.html

Buells are such cool looking bikes.

quote:

Originally posted by AllenInAR:
Buells are such cool looking bikes.

They are fun to ride too (when they are not constantly fucking up and running like shit).

My experience with Buell was they were great running and handling motorcycles with that nice hopped up Sportster motor, but they were not the most reliable motorcycle. Mine suffered numerous recalls a couple things fell off, and I had to replace the rocker box gaskets that started leaking. But it was delightful to ride.

The early ones were the worst but by the end of the tube frame run they were pretty well dialed in and more reliable.

My thought is Eric should have continued to improve the tube frame bikes and Harley should have kept Buell.

A couple of zip ties, and a can of black Rustoleum, and you are back in business.

Or, just tell people you're rocking a custom one-of-a-kind kickstand!

quote:

Originally posted by stickman428:

quote:

Originally posted by AllenInAR:
Buells are such cool looking bikes.

They are fun to ride too (when they are not constantly fucking up and running like shit).

Well that's part of the experience, back in the 70's and early 80's if it didn't leak, rattle or fall off it wasn't an official Factory Harley Experience Material!

If it's not leaking, paint it, reattach it and go. BTW, stop at Harbor Freight and get the industrial bottle of Blue Loctite for the winter and then go through every nut and bolt and re loctite and torque everything!

quote:

Originally posted by stickman428:
so imagine my shock when a Volvo rolled up to me FAST and rolled its window down and the driver kept pointing to the ground enthusiastically…

Uuugh...I hate when that happens. At least it was obvious. I've had this happen, including other types of waving, flashing lights, etc. Then I pull over and can find nothing wrong.

Sucks about your bike! Was the reservoir intact and functional other than cosmetically? I'm not a biker, too, so my understanding of this is limited. I'm only familiar with such reservoirs on off-road truck suspension for the extra travel they provide.

Is there an Unreliable/Fun graph for motorcycles like there is a Crazy/Hot graph for women? 'Cause I have a thought where this bike would land if so.