less competition for the GS?

tt_four · July 28, 2009, 05:50:08 PM

I don't think it was ever really considered competition, but it was meant to be a beginner bike all the same.... and is no more

http://www.buell.com/en_ca/bikes/blast/

ohgood · July 28, 2009, 06:01:29 PM

they could have rocked the commuter bike community with a twin, fuel injected, zero maintenance (valves !) belt driven twin... but no. they built shaZam!. oh well, they can join chevy with saying "we almost did it guys ! almost !"

Bluesmudge · July 28, 2009, 11:14:42 PM

I'm very confused...is the blast dead? That website was funny but left me with many questions. I can't tell if it's all a big joke or not. I hate that feeling lol

grayghost · July 29, 2009, 03:18:05 AM

i suppose the past tense is "blasted"

tt_four · July 29, 2009, 05:13:26 AM

Quote from: Bluesmudge on July 28, 2009, 11:14:42 PM
I'm very confused...is the blast dead? That website was funny but left me with many questions. I can't tell if it's all a big joke or not. I hate that feeling lol

Yep, it's done. Not sure if they're making a big deal of it so they can introduce a better replacement, or if they're just giving up on smaller displacement bikes all together. Discussion on another forum leaves people saying they don't picture Buell caring to have another smaller bike.

Kurlon · July 29, 2009, 01:27:13 PM

From what I'm hearing, the Blast isn't dead, but it won't carry a Buell badge any more.

And as far as it not being the perfect twin cylinder commuter bike, it was never intended to be anything close to that. It was supposed to be the tamest, non-threatening in any way to total newbie riders bike possible, and it succeeded 100% in that goal... which is why Buell wants nothing to do with it.

bill14224 · July 29, 2009, 03:23:35 PM

Whether the Blast is dead or not, it was never competition for the GS 500. It's a thumper. Thumpers lack smoothness and top end, and therefore suck as street bikes. Thumpers are for dirt. It's just a fact that will never change. That's my two cents. The KLR 650 is probably the best street worthy thumper ever made and it can't match the GS 500 on the street, no way. The Blast makes the GS 500 seem very refined, smooth, and fast.

I've wanted Buell or Hardley Ableson to make a mid-size standard forever, and to this day my prayers go unanswered. It's as though they sit in the boardroom making sure I'll never buy one of their products.

But they make a fortune selling big paint mixer V-twins to guys who can't ride with more money than brains or skill, so what do I know?

tt_four · July 29, 2009, 05:44:44 PM

Quote from: bill14224 on July 29, 2009, 03:23:35 PM
But they make a fortune selling big paint mixer V-twins to guys who can't ride with more money than brains or skill, so what do I know?

Not everybody considers a motorcycle's only real function to be for dragging knees around corners. I'd love one of their bikes, but the reliability of the engines worry me considering I don't have a ton of background with engine internals, and they don't sell second hand very cheaply. Otherwise I think they look amazing

bill14224 · July 29, 2009, 06:21:24 PM

ttfour, you nailed it. I can't agree with you more. They're beautiful and expensive. They also shake like hell. That's all they offer. That is what I get from owners. I ask them. I listen to them at the bar all the time. When you catch them in an unemotional honest moment, they all complain about cost and especially vibration at some point. I'll ride Jap bikes, thank you very much. Cheaper, better, more reliable, and many are sexy as hell, although that is subjective. Works for me.

Kurlon · July 29, 2009, 07:28:25 PM

Holy stereotyping batman!

Hate to break it to you guys, but modern HD's are not the rancid piles of crap you're hoping they are. Rubber mounted EVO and Twin Cam motors don't vibrate excessively, require less maint than a GS500, make acceptable power, and get the job done quite nicely as long as you're not Joe Rocket - Boy Racer. Rather than relying on third hand info maybe you should actually get out and RIDE one some time.

Alphamazing · July 29, 2009, 07:36:35 PM

Quote from: bill14224 on July 29, 2009, 03:23:35 PM
Thumpers lack smoothness and top end, and therefore suck as street bikes. Thumpers are for dirt.

EXCUSE ME?

tt_four · July 29, 2009, 07:38:57 PM

The local buell dealership closed because the owner was running some kind of drug ring, so I'm out of luck on the one......... not to add to your stereotype of harley drivers...

All you have to do is go to youtube, you can see the things shaking at idle. I told people plenty the triumphs running like junk was just a stereotype, but when I came down to it, my triumph ran like junk and I'll never buy something that isn't japanese again. I love the Z1000, but I wish Honda or Suzuki would put out a bike that looked as good as a buell.

Kurlon · July 29, 2009, 07:47:53 PM

Yup, they shake at idle, and especially with the Buells and the uni-planar mount setup... they get glass smooth with revs. It's kinda freaky actually. I got to ride a Cyclone that had been hot rodded a bit, thing didn't want to idle at all with the big cam in it. At a stop you couldn't use the mirrors, shaking too badly. Blip the throttle and the thing went still till the revs dropped to idle and it resumed it's strained lope. On the road, it wasn't any worse than any other big v-twin I've ridden for vibes.

tt_four · July 29, 2009, 07:52:00 PM

I'd be fine with it, and I don't think a rough idle would bug me at all if I was the only one that was going to be on it, but I think Heather would hate it, not to mention the passenger seats are pretty tiny looking.

Kurlon · July 29, 2009, 07:54:15 PM

The old S3T was setup properly for passengers, unfortunately it's long since discontinued, and was an early bike for Buell, before they had all the gremlins worked out... The Ulysses looks like it's got a reasonable seat setup for rider and passenger?

bill14224 · July 29, 2009, 08:23:32 PM

I don't get the point. I know thumpers have advanced over the years but I said they're not good for the street and they're not, and someone shows me a picture of a track bike. I don't get it. Two cylinders are a lot better than one, and I have ridden Harleys, which have also gotten better over the years. They're much more reliable now, and went from super shaky to tolerably shaky, but to me they're still too heavy and expensive, and less maintenance than a GS 500? C'mon, please, stop, you're killing me! Harley sells looks, sound, and the image that goes with it for high prices, and the American public eats it up. Be honest. I've said here several times I'm in the minority on this and I don't expect to convince anyone. I take a drier view of motorcycling than most of you. If I had the $ for a Harley I'd send my daughter to private school. It's only a bike.

Alphamazing · July 29, 2009, 08:33:57 PM

Quote from: bill14224 on July 29, 2009, 08:23:32 PM
I don't get the point. I know thumpers have advanced over the years but I said they're not good for the street and they're not, and someone shows me a picture of a track bike. I don't get it. Two cylinders are a lot better than one, and I have ridden Harleys, which have also gotten better over the years. They're much more reliable now, and went from super shaky to tolerably shaky, but to me they're still too heavy and expensive, and less maintenance than a GS 500? C'mon, please, stop, you're killing me! Harley sells looks, sound, and the image that goes with it for high prices, and the American public eats it up. Be honest. I've said here several times I'm in the minority on this and I don't expect to convince anyone. I take a drier view of motorcycling than most of you. If I had the $ for a Harley I'd send my daughter to private school. It's only a bike.

Track bike? TRACK BIKE?

Kurlon · July 29, 2009, 08:46:58 PM

Quote from: bill14224 on July 29, 2009, 08:23:32 PM
I don't get the point. I know thumpers have advanced over the years but I said they're not good for the street and they're not, and someone shows me a picture of a track bike. I don't get it. Two cylinders are a lot better than one, and I have ridden Harleys, which have also gotten better over the years. They're much more reliable now, and went from super shaky to tolerably shaky, but to me they're still too heavy and expensive, and less maintenance than a GS 500? C'mon, please, stop, you're killing me! Harley sells looks, sound, and the image that goes with it for high prices, and the American public eats it up. Be honest. I've said here several times I'm in the minority on this and I don't expect to convince anyone. I take a drier view of motorcycling than most of you. If I had the $ for a Harley I'd send my daughter to private school. It's only a bike.

The point? I've got a KTM 520SX, that lil 510cc single puts out more torque and HP than my GS500E by a decent amount (52hp at the rear wheel), is just as smooth, and weighs nearly half as much. Just comparing the engines themselves, the single is easily less than half the weight. Just swapping engines would be a radical improvement for my GS. You can actually make a glass smooth single if you want, ala the old Duc Super Singles with slave rods. Inline twins will always have a rocking imbalance that you can't eliminate. That said, a lil vibration isn't bad as it provides character, too smooth and the bike seems souless, like say, a Bandit 1200S. What a boring machine, can go like a raped ape in a straight line but you might as well have an electric motor beneath you as the motor doesn't provide anything for feeling or feedback.

As far as maint on an HD... what do you think there is? Add gas, change the oil and filter periodically, tires and brake pads when they wear out... that's it. No valve lash to check, etc.

ecpreston · July 30, 2009, 10:27:50 AM

Quote from: tt_four on July 28, 2009, 05:50:08 PM
I don't think it was ever really considered competition, but it was meant to be a beginner bike all the same.... and is no more

http://www.buell.com/en_ca/bikes/blast/

funny!

BTW, the US site is a bit more complete, has videos and explanation:

http://www.buell.com/en_us/bikes/blast/

I did have a blast for a short time, and I can echo that it was NO competition for the GS in a sporting fashion. It was lacking much in power and certianly wasn't as ready for hard riding or track use. As a small commuter for a small person, it was great. I did enjoy riding it, and I have to say it sounded better than the GS too. I would say it was actually smoother and more relaxed on the highway too, and the torque and lack of revs made it seem more like a diesel.

Perfect starter bike, easier to ride.

In further defense of thumpers, I present the BMW 650 GS:

It apparently makes for a nice street bike too. And it clearly has some capability. I'd rock one.

tt_four · July 30, 2009, 12:12:38 PM

When I said it was competition for a GS, I didn't mean it was good competition on a track or a twisty back road, I just meant in the general motorcycle market. They're both smaller displacement beginner bikes. When someone new/short thinks about buying their first bike, and they come up with a list of bikes they'd consider......gs500, ex250, ex500, buell blast, they may not all perform the same, but they're all still the same category.

I had one of those BMWs as a service loaner once, that thing was awful.....

News:

less competition for the GS?