Test rode a buell lightning today and.....

[airbrush]

it made me like my GS even more.

I loved the look of the buell and thought if i was to upgrade, maybe to that, but after the test ride today thats a big negative. Went for maybe a 20 minute ride got off it and my feet and legs were buzzing for maybe 5 minutes afterwards. So much vibration through the foot pegs it was ridiculous. The riding position was upright, much like my GS before i put on the clip ons. Suspension was smooth, power was there...but that vibration was enough to turn me off for good.

...long live GS and GStwin.com...

[JamesG]

Was it a new '05~'06? Was it just putting around town with a lot of stops?

Remember it might have a state of the art frame and suspension, but it still has an antique HD engine... Somethings you can't engineer around.

[500rider]

Yep, I went on a test ride earlier this year.  Maybe it was just how these bikes were set up but the throttle seemed to only have two positions, ON or OFF.  I rode the Buells last year and they seemed a little smoother.  

Yeah , they are also pieces of crap compared to the GS.  The GS is so much smoother, tranny works way better, better handling.  I'd never swap my GS for a Buell.

[kvgs]

Yep, I had a similar experience on a Buell firebolt as well.
But boy did it have some torque

[porsche4786]

anybody ridden a buell blast? They look like a kids toy.

[natedawg120]

havn't ridden one but they sound like toys too.  There are a couple buzzing around town here in Blacksburg.

[airbrush]

yah it was an 05 i believe....went in town a bit and highway. Yup...felt like a piece of junk for the kind of money they want for it.

[Alphamazing]

http://www.mybuell.com/

[dbarile]

I've ridden the blast.  Upright position like the GS, Vibrates like the duce at idle, and has a clutch that is very grabby.  However, after riding one for a couple days, I have to say that there was something endearing about it. Yes it has some faults, but I don't mind tooling around on it. I have heard that the early years were prone to various ills.

[Roadstergal]

I rode a '96 S1 once.  It's basically a Sportster engine with a frame, wheels, tires, a gas tank, and a teeny little seat.  I actually touched both feet down, it's so narrow.

It's a vibrator on wheels at idle.  It smooths out once you rev, but when you're at idle, it's a total "Whee!" moment.  It has torque to wrench your shoulders.  It turns like a cow.

[NiceGuysFinishLast]

It's a vibrator on wheels

thanks for that mental image RG.. :lol:  :lol:  :mrgreen:

[porsche4786]

I was at the harley dealer today looking at harley's with my dad, he's got his eye on a 06 dyna low rider, but might go with a 1200 sportster because it's a bunch cheaper. Anyway, I saw the buell blast, looked at it for a minute. It's probably the most worthless looking bike I've ever seen. My trek mountain bike looks more appealing to me.

[JamesG]

The Blast is designed as a very entry level bike, and so in that case it IS a toy designed to get people hessitant to jump on a full sized bike, into motorcycles.
For that Erik gets a  

If you think the Blast is a joke, try an old Jap '70s bike of the 125cc or so size.

[porsche4786]

How comparable is it to a gs500f?

[500rider]

How comparable is it to a gs500f?

Buell blast is a cheasy cheap POS.  I rode one on a test drive.  No one else would ride it so I thought, what the hell I have nothing else to do right now.   kept hitting the rev limiter expecting there to be some power ... somewhere :dunno: .  very annoying.  vibrates like a SB.  

The GS is a dream compared to the blast.  It does not compare.  some people might think they do because they are both 500's.  Stepping of the Blast to the GS is like stepping off the GS onto a GSXR600.