I have mixed feelings about that, Jenna. It's probably a normal "parent thing", but I don't have any plans to encourage him in motorcycling. If he decides on his own to investigate it I'll share everything I can. But I don't have any plans to encourage it. Motorcycles are dangerous.
RD, The original S1 Lightning was produced between '96 and '98. Simple, carburetted, trellis tube framed motorcycle with a huge grin factor. "Wheelie machine" is an accurate description. I geared mine a little taller just to settle it down a bit. With broad, ample torque everywhere, it was still plenty fast and accelerated with a vengence pulling red line at well over 140mph (on the track, of course). A lot more Monstrous than an air-cooled Ducati, and far easier/cheaper to maintain. Gas, oil, brakes and tires is about all my S1 required in 45k hard miles. <a href="https://lornce.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Buells/Buells/20769748_w9kX6T#!i=1648414803&k=zkX42Rw&lb=1&s=A" title="S1 before it saw the track."><img src="https://lornce.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Buells/Buells/i-zkX42Rw/0/L/LornceS1-L.jpg" title="S1 before it saw the track." alt="S1 before it saw the track."></a> <a href="https://lornce.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Buells/Buells/20769748_w9kX6T#!i=1648411616&k=Bqw6jMZ&lb=1&s=A" title="Top of Mosport's turn 2 sneeking under two Italian Superbikes. There's a guy on an Aprilia Mille "Factory" behind the guy on the Ducati."><img src="https://lornce.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Buells/Buells/i-Bqw6jMZ/0/L/Buell%20duc%20hunting-L.jpg" title="Top of Mosport's turn 2 sneeking under two Italian Superbikes. There's a guy on an Aprilia Mille "Factory" behind the guy on the Ducati." alt="Top of Mosport's turn 2 sneeking under two Italian Superbikes. There's a guy on an Aprilia Mille "Factory" behind the guy on the Ducati."></a> There's a guy on a $40k Aprilia Mille "Factory" behind that guy on the $40k Ducati SPWhatever Factory Superbike. I just passed them both approaching Mosport's Turn 2 on my $3500.oo Buell. '99 to '02 X1 Lightning: Still a hot-rod but 40lbs heavier and fuel injected. Arguably a more refined and better finished motorcycle. (but I prefer the earlier, more raucious S1's). '03 to '10 XB9S and XB12S Lightning: (1000 and 1200cc variants). The last Lightnings offered by Buell Mo Co before their demise in '09. Completely different motorcycle with further refined motors, FI and radical aluminum chassis. Apparently Buell's design goal was to fit the hot-rodded HD-based motor into a chassis with the dimensions of 250 GP bike. He pulled it off and created the "World's Best Handling Motorcycle" according to one of the major British bike mags. RD, I love the looks of the early S1's. But there's no denying the performance and build quality advancements of the later XB aluminum framed bikes. I can't stress enough what a performance bargain these things represent. Nothing handles like a Buell.
Check these out: http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/mcy/3677043238.html This one appeals to me more some how: http://chico.craigslist.org/mcy/3658771201.html
My 18 year old son never showed any real interest in my hobby - until now. A part of me is pleased that we will share something special. Another part is plenty scared. Agree with all the respect for Buells. My modded M2 was even more fun than a two valve Ducati and that is saying something. I bought the "preacher" in Daytona after the salesman told me the previous owner was a Pentacostal minister. Possibly a variation on the little old lady as previous owner but I didn't care. Sold. I'm currently on the lookout for an anointed XB.
This would be really cool. <iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/HfTTLlZWgYw?feature=player_detailpage" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> Dad took us to Montreal for the '67 World Expo in a '66 Beetle towing a pop-up camper trailer. Pretty sure speeding tickets weren't a problem.
<iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ZSyQV-eiLmY?feature=player_detailpage" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Remarkable technology. <iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/nztLjEs_2Kw?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
What's the range? Since when is electricity environmentally friendly? Ever been down wind of a coal plant? Watched you favorite canyon vanish under a hydro project, counted the dead birds at a wind farm? Notice the fun and games the Japanese are having with their nuke plant? And last but not least, the death of Loud-Pipes-Save-Lives might not be so welcome in all quarters. Using the motor as a pultipurpose point means you have a completely dedicated motor and service is going to be expensive. Plugging a motor into a plate that handles the structural chores won't cost any weight, simplifies build and service and opens options to fit a different motor. Chains are a lot heavier than belts and run on heavier sprockets. That thing has a massive ($$$$) chain and a very small front sprocket that's going to wear like crazy. The rear sprocket could use more lightening. The belt needs a larger sprocket in general but an intermediate shaft solves that and ads little weight...possibly fully offset by the belt. He's bootstrapping, he doesn't have even one road bike to show at this point. So I doubt he has the cash to get into any more technology than he has. Maybe he will one day. I suspect in the future the batteries will work the way gas cylinders do now. Pay once for the steel and then trade in your MT for a full one as needed. So standardized battery packs that are simply swapped at fueling stations. This enables continuous long distance travel with out long stops to recharge.
Plaka, you old wet blanket, you. Not sure on range, but he managed to solar charge it at an e-bike race at Laguna Seca and again on his record speed run of 218mph at Bonneville. I guess e-bikes aren't effected by power robbing altitude at Bonneville. He anticipates being able to produce upwards of 400hp with his current batteries. :huh I wondered about belts vs. chains myself. Perhaps current belt technology isn't up to the massive torque loads. Or maybe it's as simple as an adjustable gearing issue. The standardised battery idea has merrit, but rapidly advancing battery technology might make that counterproductive at this stage. There's some fascinating developments out there, at any rate. <iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/RL2_NMraTEc?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> This gyro-stabilised scooter is fascinating! <iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Z0m-cUxMcJw?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
C'mon, out with it. :ddog Thunderstorm heads? What else? How's the bodywork and paint? More pictures dammit.
Greg, The bike's still at Dyno's place in Michigan. It's a '96, the PO was the original owner who modded the motor to Thunderstorm spec (heads, pistons, cams) when Buell made the parts available to customers in '98 or '99. Also sports an original (rare as hen's teeth) WP rear shock (not shown in these pics) and factory race pipe. The guy loved his bike and it shows. Marchesini wheels have been stripped of paint and polished to a high finish. PO's pics: <a href="https://lornce.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Buells/Buells/20769748_w9kX6T#!i=2317413604&k=4x2Xsbj&lb=1&s=A" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"><img src="https://lornce.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Buells/Buells/i-4x2Xsbj/0/L/100_1412-L.jpg" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug" alt="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"></a> <a href="https://lornce.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Buells/Buells/20769748_w9kX6T#!i=2317413846&k=bHq3wj6&lb=1&s=A" title=""><img src="https://lornce.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Buells/Buells/i-bHq3wj6/0/L/100_1424-L.jpg" title="" alt=""></a> <a href="https://lornce.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Buells/Buells/20769748_w9kX6T#!i=2317413418&k=9F93RFb&lb=1&s=A" title=""><img src="https://lornce.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Buells/Buells/i-9F93RFb/0/L/100_1461-L.jpg" title="" alt=""></a> One of Dyno's pics: <a href="http://s458.photobucket.com/user/DaveDyno/media/DSCF4381_zps1a806c88.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.advrider.com/advrider-photobucket-images/images/D/DaveDyno_DSCF4381_zps1a806c88.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo DSCF4381_zps1a806c88.jpg"/></a>
Not sure when I'll actually see it, still working through the details of cross border cash transfers, shipping etc, but here's a few of Tim's pics. <a href="https://lornce.smugmug.com/Other/BMWs/i-cnQZwkb/A" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"><img src="https://lornce.smugmug.com/Other/BMWs/i-cnQZwkb/0/L/R50%20slash%202%20i-L.jpg" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug" alt="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"></a> <a href="https://lornce.smugmug.com/Other/BMWs/i-78NrD3m/A" title=""><img src="https://lornce.smugmug.com/Other/BMWs/i-78NrD3m/0/L/r50%20slash%202%20iii-L.jpg" title="" alt=""></a> <a href="https://lornce.smugmug.com/Other/BMWs/i-GHCrLjG/A" title=""><img src="https://lornce.smugmug.com/Other/BMWs/i-GHCrLjG/0/L/r50%20slash%202%20ii-L.jpg" title="" alt=""></a> This is going to be fun.
