Zugs new ride

[Zugzug]

Heres a few pics. I was going to wait until next weekend to put the drive belt on since it was going to rain but after a lil research I seen it was pretty easy to do. It took about 30 mins with most of that trying to get a couple crudded up torx screws off and about a minute to actually put the belt on. A lil clutch cable adjust and took it for a spin down the drive. I already love this thing :D

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh145/archaicbiker/Buell/422004.jpg

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh145/archaicbiker/Buell/422002.jpg

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh145/archaicbiker/Buell/422001.jpg

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh145/archaicbiker/Buell/422003.jpg

[FastDoc]

Nice! What did you pay for that thing?!

I like the exhaust and bags especially! How many miles?

I've sat on some Blasts in the past (I know, lousy pun) and they are VERY compact small easy unintimidating motorcycles. :D

[2LZ]

That is COOL! :D
Like Doc, I've sat on them and have read great reviews about them but no actual experience.
Awaiting a review! :D

[FastDoc]

I always resected Erik Buell's engineering. Sometimes he met with more success than other times, but he was always different and interesting. There is only so much you can do with a Harley engine, and he did it!

[Jim]

Nice bike :)

[Weldangrind]

Really nice. Love the giant front rotor. Try any stoppies yet? :D

[Zugzug]

Sorry for the slow reply, I was out ridin :D The bikes a BLAST! I picked it up for $800 so I couldnt pass it up. Well NOW it has 6120 miles. Its a sweet lil thumper. Speedo's right on the mark and I easily took her up to 80mph. The V&H exhaust sounds sweet but is a bit on the loud side. Actually this is the type of bike I been waiting for the right deal on. Mid size frame and motor with standard stance. It has cast wheels (tubeless tires) which are easy to plug n go if you have issuses out on the road. Hydrolic valves which mean no adjusting, belt drive which is almost as maint free as a shafty, air cooled. The bike came as you see it but with no belt installed. They threw in a new belt they just bought at HD for $90 plus the low pro seat and a new handlebar. The ones that are on their now have a very slight bend that I wouldnt have even noticed if they didnt give me the new bars. I need to adjust and tighten a few things and will need a rear tire soon but I think I got a great deal. I'm very satisfied.

[Jim]

Awesome, what a great deal :)

[Zugzug]

Oh I forgot to mention they lived 40 miles away and delivery to my apt was included in the deal. :D

[FastDoc]

Awesome deal! Less than a CB!

[SpudRider]

That is a very nice motorcycle, and you got a great deal on it , Zug! :D We eagerly await more updates, and photos of the Blast in its native habitat. ;)

Spud :)

[Weldangrind]

What size is the thumper?

[FastDoc]

Five-hunerd. :D

[SpudRider]

What size is the thumper?
The Buell Blast is 500cc of air cooled, belt driven delight. :D The Blast is a great motorcycle; I am very glad Zug acquired one! Please continue to update us regarding your experience with the Blast, Zug. :D

Spud :)

[Weldangrind]

It's tough to tell from the pic; is it a single? My guess is yes. Who makes the engine?

[SpudRider]

It's tough to tell from the pic; is it a single? My guess is yes. Who makes the engine?
Yes, the Blast enjoys single cylinder, air cooled simplicity. :) By all reports, the Blast is very easy to maintain, especially with the belt drive, instead of chain drive. ;)

Spud :)

[Zugzug]

Its bascially a sportser motor with one lung removed. Its been raining since I got home last night so no updates yet. I cant wait to get back on it.

[SpudRider]

...Its been raining since I got home last night so no updates yet. I cant wait to get back on it.
I don't blame you, Zug! :D I hope you get to ride to celebrate your birthday. ;)

Spud :)

[TheSkipper]

I test rode one the other day im thinking about getting, i love how compact they are. The seem extremly simple too plus its a 500.

[Zugzug]

...Its been raining since I got home last night so no updates yet. I cant wait to get back on it.
I don't blame you, Zug! :D I hope you get to ride to celebrate your birthday. ;)

Spud :)

Me too! I have a nice long day of riding planned for tomarrow with a local grp if the weather breaks. I think Im gonna take it for a spin at least down to the diner today even if it doesnt stop raining.

This bike is a riders bike. Minimal maintainence and maximum funage.

[Zugzug]

I had a nice 300 mile ride today thru some mountain backroads. I would like to share but in my rush to get out the door I forgot my camera phone sitting on the bedside table. :( Ill jack a few when they are posted to give ya a sample of the ride. It was nice but probably not quite as scenic as some of the other members have posted here. The rain was off and on but it was great to get out and away from the city.

[SpudRider]

How well did the new drive belt work, Zug?

Spud :)

[Zugzug]

No probs at all. This is a solid but very loud bike. I definately need to put on some new rubber. At least the rear one anyway. These 8yr old worn out dunlops suck in the turns especailly in the rain with debris on the road.

[Zugzug]

For anyone thinking about a Blast..DO IT! lol It loves to run 70-80 and its smooth in that range and it will go over 90 but thats as fast as I got it on the wet dirty roads. I read that the Blast is a oil user and its true. Not sure how much I used but it was near the full mark when I left this morning and didnt touch the stick when I got home. Ill find out tomarrow when I stop and get a qt to top it off.

EDIT: I only ran that fast on a little bit of hwy we were on. Most of the ride was backroads and the torque kept me right there with the big bikes. I averaged over 60 mpg too.

Heres a link to our photo album from todays ride. I'm pretty sure you can goto the album since its not a private meetup site.

http://www.meetup.com/phila-moto/photos/1361480/22938750/

[FastDoc]

Sounds great Zug. Your happiness with that bike is wonderful. I'm so glad you are enjoying it.

[dmmcd]

Nice! Glad you are enjoying the new bike. Where did your ride take you this weekend? I wish I had more time for rides like that.

[Zugzug]

I rode over to Skippack PA to meet up with the grp and then we took the backroads up to Bills Bike Barn which I think is near Bloomsburg PA then back home.

[dmmcd]

I rode over to Skippack PA to meet up with the grp and then we took the backroads up to Bills Bike Barn which I think is near Bloomsburg PA then back home.

I grew up two minutes from Skippack, and my parents still live there. I know that Wawa in your photos quite well.

[Zugzug]

You should come out and join us sometime. All bikes welcome and a nice friendly group of folks of all ages and walks of life.

[SpudRider]

I rode over to Skippack PA to meet up with the grp and then we took the backroads up to Bills Bike Barn which I think is near Bloomsburg PA then back home.
I would love to visit Bill's Bike Barn; he has a lot of great bikes! :) When it stops raining in East PA, please post more photos, Zug. We want to learn more about your Buell Blast. :)

Spud :)

[Zugzug]

Yeah I forgot my camera phone and out of 500+ pics others posted heres the only good shot of it. It is a nice one though.
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh145/archaicbiker/Buell/Blstn.jpg

I thought I seen everything in Bills Bike Barn but after looking through all the pics I missed a lot of stuff. I will have to go back again sometime.

[MICRider]

Sorry, jumping in kind of late here... $800? Wow! Awesome deal indeed! Plus I love the belt drive, cleaning and lubing the chain every two tanks is a pain in the butt! Enjoy the ride 8)

P.S. W&G, don't you wish we could get deals like that north of the border? Everything here is so dang expensive!

[SpudRider]

Yeah I forgot my camera phone and out of 500+ pics others posted heres the only good shot of it. It is a nice one though.

I thought I seen everything in Bills Bike Barn but after looking through all the pics I missed a lot of stuff. I will have to go back again sometime.
Your bike is beautiful; I really like the red color. :) I forget; were the soft luggage bags part of the deal? How big is the fuel tank? How good is the wind protection when you get the Blast up to 80 mph?

Spud :)

[Zugzug]

Bags were part of the deal too :D The tank is only 2.8. It looks like it would be big but the head sticks up into the middle of it. The painted part is really just a cover over the black plastic tank. This bike is about as noob friendly and maint free as you can get. I can see many miles on this one.

[Zugzug]

P.S. W&G, don't you wish we could get deals like that north of the border? Everything here is so dang expensive!
They're kinda expensive here too but not quite as bad. Im always looking and talking about bikes so I seem to find the deals occassionally. I'm not greedy though. I try to pass the deals along. Believe it or not I actually offered to let a coworker get this deal since I was happy with the Q but he passed. When he seen the bike today he was kicking himself for letting the deal go by.

[SpudRider]

Needless to say, you scored big, Zug! :D The 2.8-gallon fuel tank is not so much a liability for a street bike, especially on the Eastern Seaboard. ;) Back East you can easily get fuel 24-hours a day, with a bank card. :) Riding a dual sport motorcycle into the western boondocks is another matter, altogether! :lol:

You realize, of course, we expect more photos of the Blast! :) Please don't forget your camera. ;)

Spud :)

[Zugzug]

Thats the first time in yrs I didnt have my phone with me. I felt naked. No rides planned this weekend. I need to replace the rear tire and the funds are a bit low. This weeks paycheck goes to rent. I will probably do a shorter ride the weekend of May 7th and lots of riding the following weekend. One of the grps organizers is doing a 8 hr mini rally. I'll put the bike and my butt through the test. Plus I joined one of the Ironbutt things where you go and get BBQ. Gonna be a busy riding season. :D

EDIT: heres a link to it.

http://www.smokechasing.com/

[FastDoc]

I totally dig your Blast, Zug, and your enthusiasm for it. I'd like to ride one someday. How's the vibration from the big single? Is it counterbalanced?

Riding a dual sport motorcycle into the western boondocks is another matter, altogether!

Yup. Doc understands. :oops:

[SpudRider]

...Plus I joined one of the Ironbutt things where you go and get BBQ. Gonna be a busy riding season. :D

EDIT: heres a link to it.

http://www.smokechasing.com/
As Homer Simpson might say, "mmmmmm, barbecue!" :P

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrPzCzYeooM

How's the wind protection while riding 80 mph on the Blast, Zug? :?:

Spud :)

[Weldangrind]

P.S. W&G, don't you wish we could get deals like that north of the border? Everything here is so dang expensive!

It really bugs me. I'm also choked that Zug is selling his Q for $800.00 because that's a fairy tale where I live. You'd struggle to find a clapped-out 30 year old DS with registration for that price in BC. I'd jump on that Q if I could.

[FastDoc]

PP400 anyone? 8)

[Zugzug]

I eat a lot less wind compared to the Q and it does good for a bike that doesnt have a windshield but I still eat a decent amount of wind at hwy speeds. Even though theres a decent amount of wind it doesnt seem to buffet me too bad though. I think with the headlight deflector and the way the tank is shaped it seems to flow the air smoothly. I dont know if Im explaining it in an understandable way. You get steady air pushing against ya but you dont get that rocking and pushing ya back and forth kind of wind.

[SpudRider]

I eat a lot less wind compared to the Q and it does good for a bike that doesnt have a windshield but I still eat a decent amount of wind at hwy speeds. Even though theres a decent amount of wind it doesnt seem to buffet me too bad though. I think with the headlight deflector and the way the tank is shaped it seems to flow the air smoothly. I dont know if Im explaining it in an understandable way. You get steady air pushing against ya but you dont get that rocking and pushing ya back and forth kind of wind.
I understand perfectly, Zug. ;) My XR650L handles the wind in a similar manner. Thanks for your reply. :)

Spud :)

[Zugzug]

I totally dig your Blast, Zug, and your enthusiasm for it. I'd like to ride one someday. How's the vibration from the big single? Is it counterbalanced?


Theres a decent amount of vibration at lower rpm but it smooths right out after you get off the bottom. I read on the Blast forum that it runs the best in the 70-80 mph zone and can run hwy speeds all day long with no issues. It doesnt have a tach but it likes the same rpm range when in 4th too. I like tachs but with a rev limiter theres no danger. I think i read it tops at the rev in 5th at 96mph. Thats faster than I need to go anyway.

[TheSkipper]

How hard is it to get stuff in and out of your saddle bags? i was thinking about getting those for my buell