New (to me) Tuber Buell. What should I know?

[JTucker]

Cool bike man, I would love to have one in the garage.

I know what you mean about previous owners, I don't think the guy that owned my XR ever maintained it.

People do some pretty weird stuff, fix their screw ups and ride the thing. Buy a KTM sized bottle of loctite cause they shake all the fasteners loose.

[RedDogAlberta]

Sweet machine. Congratulations!

[B.Curvin]

Originally Posted by JTucker

I know what you mean about previous owners, I don't think the guy that owned my XR ever maintained it.

How's that thing holding up?

[vernon dent]

i owned this x1 lightning. 19,000 miles on the clock, looked new. great bike but it was a one owner machine.
the tube frame bikes will be much easier to get engine parts for, since it was a modded sporty motor. the later ones used a short stroke motor based on a sporty lower end with buell blast top end components.
apparently h-d sold all their remaining buell parts stock off at public auction, how nice....
yours looks good in

[JTucker]

Originally Posted by B.Curvin

How's that thing holding up?

Holding up great. Just put some sumo wheels on it last night, can't wait to try it out.

[Shooter1]

I had a '97 (carbed) and a '00 (FI) S3T, both were Amazon green. Both were stupid fun bikes. I had the '00 to 125 mph once on a long stretch of highway and it felt like it had another 10 in it. I know that ain't much to the imports but I was impressed. The torque rolling out of corners in 2nd/3rd gear would give you a boner, (did me anyway). I always did love the Sporty motor. Good luck with it.

[Hughlysses]

Bump! Any further progress?

[B.Curvin]

Originally Posted by Hughlysses

Bump! Any further progress?

Some how one thing seems to lead to another. Went to lube the clutch cable and found that it was trash. My new one should be at my local shop this week. I got a Barnetts stainless.

Still haven't bought a new rear tire. I want to see if my 160s will work just haven't gotten round to it.

Today I ordered a new pair of Napoleon mirrors off flea bay and last week I won a like new complete 2004 883 air cleaner set up for $6.50

Seriously, 6.50.

I hit the road for work Sunday afternoon and won't be home till Friday night.

I hope to put it back together this weekend.

Tanks for axin. I'll update when I have more.

[Duck Dodgers]

I've never owned a Harley engined anything before. Any pointers on how to keep this thing tip top? I have BIG plans for this but I'll keep that under hat til the time is right.

TIPS 1-3 Must haves

1. Get ride of mouse trap shifter
2. Frame Brace

http://bankeperformance.com/buell.html

3. LSL Frame sliders.

4. Check exhaust for cracks.

5. Check dipstick and cap for seperation

6. QUALITY exhaust flanges and bolts.

7. Ventura rear rack (tall, short and grab handle)

http://www.ventura-bike.com/fitments.aspx?manu=Buell

8. Oil cooler (Spurgon if still around) or

http://www.americansportbike.com/sho...show/5062.html

9. Super bike or wide moto cross bars. (make a riser out of a top clamp sand which .. invert one and clamp over it w/ longer bolts.)

10. Drill a hole in the seat release lever and add a cable or an easy reach bit of your choosing.


Ex owner of a 97 S3T on my all-time never should have sold list

[Hughlysses]

Originally Posted by B.Curvin

Some how one thing seems to lead to another. Went to lube the clutch cable and found that it was trash. My new one should be at my local shop this week. I got a Barnetts stainless.

Cool! The stock cable has an aluminum fitting where it screws into the primary and will wring off VERY easily. I went through that on an S3 I used to own. Nothing like spending $35 on a new clutch cable, wait a week for it to arrive, get all excited that you can finally ride your "new" bike, mount cable on the bike, snap it off, and repeat.

[Hughlysses]

Originally Posted by Duck Dodgers

TIPS 1-3 Must haves

1. Get ride of mouse trap shifter...

I'd always heard that too, but I recently heard a fellow Bueller say there's nothing wrong with the old style shifter IF you install aftermarket bronze bushings to replace the factory plastic ones. Apparently the bronze bushings have much less play than the original plastic bushings and the change drastically improves the shifting. The shifter on my 2000 S3 (a wreck re-claim) was missing when I got it so I installed the updated unit, so I have no experience with the older style shifter.

IIRC, American Sport Bike sells the bronze bushings pretty cheap (~$10/pair?). It might be worth trying before you invest in a new shifter.

[waveydavey]

Originally Posted by Hughlysses

I'd always heard that too, but I recently heard a fellow Bueller say there's nothing wrong with the old style shifter IF you install aftermarket bronze bushings to replace the factory plastic ones. Apparently the bronze bushings have much less play than the original plastic bushings and the change drastically improves the shifting. The shifter on my 2000 S3 (a wreck re-claim) was missing when I got it so I installed the updated unit, so I have no experience with the older style shifter.

IIRC, American Sport Bike sells the bronze bushings pretty cheap (~$10/pair?). It might be worth trying before you invest in a new shifter.

+1 on the bronze bushings making a great difference on the shifter. There is nothing wrong with that shifter if it is set up right.

[B.Curvin]

Originally Posted by Hughlysses

IIRC, American Sport Bike sells the bronze bushings pretty cheap (~$10/pair?). It might be worth trying before you invest in a new shifter.

Noooooow ya tell me. I just ordered new exhaust gaskets, clamps,

retainers and nuts from American sport bike today. Poo.



Would brass bushings work as well as bronze? I've got a big chunk of brass

so I could whip some up on the lathe.

I'd rather do it myself for the practice anyway.

[Hughlysses]

Originally Posted by B.Curvin

Would brass bushings work as well as bronze? I've got a big chunk of brass so I could whip some up on the lathe.

I'd rather do it myself for the practice anyway.

Give Al and Joanne a call; if the parts haven't gone out already, I'm sure they'll be glad to add them to your order.

Making your own sounds like a cool project. I'd think they'd do fine, although they may wear a smidgen faster than bronze.

[GOSTAZ]

Originally Posted by B.Curvin

Noooooow ya tell me. I just ordered new exhaust gaskets, clamps,

retainers and nuts from American sport bike today. Poo.



Would brass bushings work as well as bronze? I've got a big chunk of brass

so I could whip some up on the lathe.

I'd rather do it myself for the practice anyway.

I think the bushings you want are out of stock.... if you whipped 'em up right? A few folks (me) would buy some, they are hard to find and really do help. Banke Performance is the place that makes nice controls. Their shifter is good stuff. If you wanna, talk to Al about a Brembo upgrade for the rear brake, it is dang near useless. Be nice to Al, he is a cool dude, and a wealth of knowledge. Every time I have talked to him, I have learned something. Stupid fun bike. Enjoy!