05-09-2008, 16:50
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#1
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Moderator
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 3,045
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Motorcycle Advice
I've been looking into getting a bike for several years. Now that gas is costing me over 150 a month just to get to work, I think the time is here. I haven't ridden in over 35 years so I'm looking for something simple. I found a bike by Buell called the blast. http://www.buell.com/en_us/bikes/bla...t/features.asp. Price is right as well as economy, etc.
Does anyone have any experience with this one or have any suggestions?
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"Are you listening or just waiting to talk?"
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"Fate rarely calls upon us at a moment of our choosing."
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Kyobanim is offline
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05-09-2008, 17:32
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#2
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Castle Rock, CO
Posts: 2,531
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kyobanim
Does anyone have any experience with this one or have any suggestions?
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My opinion is that you will outgrow a Blast pretty soon...500cc isn't that much motor...on the upside, a Blast gets something north of 70mpg...I'm thinking a Blast would be good for a new rider, especially a small woman or man...I'm 5'8" and 160ish and feel a bit cramped on one...
What did you ride before the hiatus...? A Jap bike, a Brit bike...? When I started riding again, after not quite as long a break as you, I got a Sportster because it was most like what I was used to riding (15-20 year old muscle memory still counts for something)...
Buells are good bikes...I might opt for a XB9...a little more engine, a little more versatile (more highway friendly) and probably a little better resale...
You might ask on the SFMC website, too...heck, you may encounter someone who has a used bike for sale..
My $0.02...
__________________
""A man must know his destiny. if he does not recognize it, then he is lost. By this I mean, once, twice, or at the very most, three times, fate will reach out and tap a man on the shoulder. if he has the imagination, he will turn around and fate will point out to him what fork in the road he should take, if he has the guts, he will take it.""- GEN George S. Patton
Last edited by lksteve; 05-09-2008 at 17:45.
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lksteve is offline
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05-09-2008, 17:54
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#3
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Moderator
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 3,045
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Last bike was Suzuki 250, 1968 vintage.
I'm 5'7" 140 lbs wet. I think I started looking at this because it's similar in profile and physical size.
__________________
"Are you listening or just waiting to talk?"
Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
"Fate rarely calls upon us at a moment of our choosing."
Optimus Prime
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Kyobanim is offline
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05-09-2008, 17:56
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#4
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Castle Rock, CO
Posts: 2,531
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kyobanim
Last bike was Suzuki 250, 1968 vintage.
I'm 5'7" 140 lbs wet. I think I started looking at this because it's similar in profile and physical size.
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That being the case, you are probably on the right track...I know the Blast is very reasonable, and 70 mpg is pretty hard to snort at with gas north of $4/gallon...the Blast will be a lot more powerful than a '68 Suzuki...
__________________
""A man must know his destiny. if he does not recognize it, then he is lost. By this I mean, once, twice, or at the very most, three times, fate will reach out and tap a man on the shoulder. if he has the imagination, he will turn around and fate will point out to him what fork in the road he should take, if he has the guts, he will take it.""- GEN George S. Patton
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lksteve is offline
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05-09-2008, 20:38
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#5
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Area Commander
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: OK. Thanking Our Brave Soldiers
Posts: 3,614
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kyobanim
I've been looking into getting a bike for several years.
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Kyo,
Men on bikes= A good thing! More should ride IMHO, as Bikes add character to Our highways and by-ways. 
Holly
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echoes is offline
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05-09-2008, 22:15
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#6
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Asset
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Colorado
Posts: 57
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BMW
I am very partial to the K series but my next one will be one of the dual purpose R series. While they are expensive if you break it down by the mile it's usually cheaper. 100k miles on a BMW is pretty common. The only bummer is no European delivery.
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Lanyard is offline
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05-09-2008, 23:01
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#7
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Asset
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Orem, Utah
Posts: 26
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Do you have a certain style of bike you are more partial to? I believe there are quite a few Harley riders on this sight, but if you are at all into the Sport bikes then maybe i can lend some advice.
Here are both my Ducati 748 and Suzuki TL1000R.
http://img116.imageshack.us/img116/7562/ducandtlvp3.jpg
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SnwMnkys is offline
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05-10-2008, 07:51
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#8
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Free Pineland
Posts: 24,821
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SnwMnkys
Do you have a certain style of bike you are more partial to? I believe there are quite a few Harley riders on this sight, but if you are at all into the Sport bikes then maybe i can lend some advice.
Here are both my Ducati 748 and Suzuki TL1000R.
http://img116.imageshack.us/img116/7562/ducandtlvp3.jpg |
Buying a Ducati to save money on gas is like getting married for the sex.
TR
__________________
"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." - President Theodore Roosevelt, 1910
De Oppresso Liber 01/20/2025
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The Reaper is offline
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05-10-2008, 08:19
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#9
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Castle Rock, CO
Posts: 2,531
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SnwMnkys
Here are both my Ducati 748 and Suzuki TL1000R.
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Nice bikes, but my back doesn't go there anymore...and I agree with TR regardings Ducks and mileage...
__________________
""A man must know his destiny. if he does not recognize it, then he is lost. By this I mean, once, twice, or at the very most, three times, fate will reach out and tap a man on the shoulder. if he has the imagination, he will turn around and fate will point out to him what fork in the road he should take, if he has the guts, he will take it.""- GEN George S. Patton
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lksteve is offline
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05-10-2008, 08:53
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#10
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Asset
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Orem, Utah
Posts: 26
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Understandable. Maybe look into the FZ1000 or Honda 919. They are pretty upright and more relaxed , but still good performers.
I get 50mpg on the Duc, but the $1000 you have to spend on valve service every 6k miles greatly offsets everything. 
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SnwMnkys is offline
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05-10-2008, 09:00
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#11
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Castle Rock, CO
Posts: 2,531
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SnwMnkys
I get 50mpg on the Duc, but the $1000 you have to spend on valve service every 6k miles greatly offsets everything.
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Isn't that a gear driven overhead cam valve train or did they finally abandon that madness...?
__________________
""A man must know his destiny. if he does not recognize it, then he is lost. By this I mean, once, twice, or at the very most, three times, fate will reach out and tap a man on the shoulder. if he has the imagination, he will turn around and fate will point out to him what fork in the road he should take, if he has the guts, he will take it.""- GEN George S. Patton
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lksteve is offline
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05-10-2008, 09:01
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#12
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Moderator
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 3,045
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I'm 53 and have no no real need for speed. Just a comfortable ride. They are nice looking bikes though.
__________________
"Are you listening or just waiting to talk?"
Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
"Fate rarely calls upon us at a moment of our choosing."
Optimus Prime
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Kyobanim is offline
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05-10-2008, 11:24
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#13
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Asset
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Orem, Utah
Posts: 26
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lksteve
Isn't that a gear driven overhead cam valve train or did they finally abandon that madness...?
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They still use the Desmodromic valve train, and dont see them ever ditching it. No valve springs, just rockers opening and closing the valves. Hence the valve adjustment interval nightmare.
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SnwMnkys is offline
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05-10-2008, 11:29
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#14
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Castle Rock, CO
Posts: 2,531
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SnwMnkys
They still use the Desmodromic valve train, and dont see them ever ditching it. No valve springs, just rockers opening and closing the valves. Hence the valve adjustment interval nightmare.
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I thought about buying a Duck when I was much younger and the Desmo valves were still pretty new...I ran into a guy that had one and he mentioned that he spent nearly as much time doing valve work as he did riding...I bought a Norton and became one with Lucas, Prince of Darkness... 
__________________
""A man must know his destiny. if he does not recognize it, then he is lost. By this I mean, once, twice, or at the very most, three times, fate will reach out and tap a man on the shoulder. if he has the imagination, he will turn around and fate will point out to him what fork in the road he should take, if he has the guts, he will take it.""- GEN George S. Patton
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lksteve is offline
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05-10-2008, 15:09
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#15
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Free Pineland
Posts: 24,821
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lksteve
...I bought a Norton and became one with Lucas, Prince of Darkness... |
I remember him well, from my Triumph days.
TR
__________________
"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." - President Theodore Roosevelt, 1910
De Oppresso Liber 01/20/2025
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The Reaper is offline
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