I'm really tired of people ragging on my bike (not that it happens often -but still). Usually, if someone doesn't think my bike looks really cool and sounds super cool, they will ask, "when are you going to get a real bike." This is an assanine question. For one, my bike is a starter bike. It's not supposed to be a "big" bike with a "big" cc engine. Who started on a big bike anyway? I've heard of enough people who started on "big" bikes who had accidents, usually due to rider error because they couldn't handle the power. You know, someone who cranked on the throttle and the bike, "just took off." So, here is an ode to my super stable unintimidating pony.
The Buell Blast is a 492cc bike, has a single-cylinder 4-stroke engine (5 speed), and is 390pd (wet). The Buell Blast is a thumper. It's top speed is about 100mph and is really steady in the 75-85 mph range. Without performance mod's the bike feels a little underpowered, particularly in the middle-range or when taking off (34hp, w/ mod's ~40hp). This is great when you are a super noob, because you have enough power to get off the line fast enough, but not so fast that you feel "out-of-control." But, let me tell you about all of the design features that make it a *super* starter bike. The frame is covered in surlyn (think golf balls), so the bike can tumble and come up relatively unscathed. Anything that "hangs off" the bike, is hidden behind the frame and covered (protecting it and you). Anything sticking out is likely made of flexible plastic and is cheap and easy to replace. The pipe is under the bike, a distinctively Buell feature, which adds to its low center of gravity (great for shorter riders). The foot pegs are bendy, which is a good thing if you drag your pegs through a corner. The frame is rigid which adds to the bikes stability. It's a tight little package which makes the bike incredibly easy to ride. The Blast is *very* *very* forgiving of newbie mistakes (stop a little too quickly -unbalanced- and you probably won't drop your bike, take a turn -not a corner- a little too tight and it's easy to correct). The brakes are excellent -you will stop this bike quickly. Maintenance is a breeze... the belt is self-adjusting, etc. OH, and if you take off with the sidestand down, a noob mistake, the bike shuts off.
The downside to the Buell Blast. It burns through oil. It vibrates a lot, but this isn't a surprise as it is a thumper (& an H-D thumper to boot). The Blast has false neutrals -which I hate- but you will learn how to smack that shifter peg with authority. It is a starter bike, so of course you will grow out of it.
Common performance mod's that greatly enhance the Buell Blasts performance: a pipe alone makes a *huge* difference in the low to mid range, a little carb tweak (screw adjustments), and a new air intake system (K&N or Buell ProSeries). If you do the former you also need to rejet the carb. All of these mod's result in a significant horsepower upgrade (from 34hp to ~40hp). A super stable bike with some snap = fun. Oh, and have a tachometer made for the bike and then you can really push this bike around.
Common body mod's: get rid of the Mickey Mouse mirrors for some lower profile mirrors. Some people put superbike bars on the bike.
New the bike is around $4000 and you can buy a good used Buell Blast for ~$2500.
One note: some think this bike a woman's bike, but there are TONS of men who start and continue to ride this bike.
Web sites of interest:
Popular Mechanics review: http://www.popularmechanics.com/automot
BadWeather Bikers Thumper forum (a Buell Blast forum):
http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/m
One newbie woman rider's testament to her Buell Blast after repeatedly dumping her 1200cc Sportster: http://www.bikernet.com/roadtests/PageV
Maggie Mae's web site (she rides her Buell Blast all over the country): http://www.whereismaggiemae.com/bikeinf
The Buell Blast is a 492cc bike, has a single-cylinder 4-stroke engine (5 speed), and is 390pd (wet). The Buell Blast is a thumper. It's top speed is about 100mph and is really steady in the 75-85 mph range. Without performance mod's the bike feels a little underpowered, particularly in the middle-range or when taking off (34hp, w/ mod's ~40hp). This is great when you are a super noob, because you have enough power to get off the line fast enough, but not so fast that you feel "out-of-control." But, let me tell you about all of the design features that make it a *super* starter bike. The frame is covered in surlyn (think golf balls), so the bike can tumble and come up relatively unscathed. Anything that "hangs off" the bike, is hidden behind the frame and covered (protecting it and you). Anything sticking out is likely made of flexible plastic and is cheap and easy to replace. The pipe is under the bike, a distinctively Buell feature, which adds to its low center of gravity (great for shorter riders). The foot pegs are bendy, which is a good thing if you drag your pegs through a corner. The frame is rigid which adds to the bikes stability. It's a tight little package which makes the bike incredibly easy to ride. The Blast is *very* *very* forgiving of newbie mistakes (stop a little too quickly -unbalanced- and you probably won't drop your bike, take a turn -not a corner- a little too tight and it's easy to correct). The brakes are excellent -you will stop this bike quickly. Maintenance is a breeze... the belt is self-adjusting, etc. OH, and if you take off with the sidestand down, a noob mistake, the bike shuts off.
The downside to the Buell Blast. It burns through oil. It vibrates a lot, but this isn't a surprise as it is a thumper (& an H-D thumper to boot). The Blast has false neutrals -which I hate- but you will learn how to smack that shifter peg with authority. It is a starter bike, so of course you will grow out of it.
Common performance mod's that greatly enhance the Buell Blasts performance: a pipe alone makes a *huge* difference in the low to mid range, a little carb tweak (screw adjustments), and a new air intake system (K&N or Buell ProSeries). If you do the former you also need to rejet the carb. All of these mod's result in a significant horsepower upgrade (from 34hp to ~40hp). A super stable bike with some snap = fun. Oh, and have a tachometer made for the bike and then you can really push this bike around.
Common body mod's: get rid of the Mickey Mouse mirrors for some lower profile mirrors. Some people put superbike bars on the bike.
New the bike is around $4000 and you can buy a good used Buell Blast for ~$2500.
One note: some think this bike a woman's bike, but there are TONS of men who start and continue to ride this bike.
Web sites of interest:
Popular Mechanics review: http://www.popularmechanics.com/automot
BadWeather Bikers Thumper forum (a Buell Blast forum):
http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/m
One newbie woman rider's testament to her Buell Blast after repeatedly dumping her 1200cc Sportster: http://www.bikernet.com/roadtests/PageV
Maggie Mae's web site (she rides her Buell Blast all over the country): http://www.whereismaggiemae.com/bikeinf
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