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Steve Mackay - 22 Mar 2007 06:59 GMT

This is mainly for Saddle, he was interested in my Buell project. I
picked up an '07 Buell STT tonight, along with a few parts to make it in
to the sport touring bike Buell should have built.
http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/32777/266490.jpg

All those boxes are the extra parts I bought. The contain everything to
swap over a Ulysses tail section and side cases, along with a firebolt
fairing.

I chose the STT over a standard lightning because of the 1" extra
suspension travel. Which is about 1 1/4" shorter than a Ulysses.

The short ride home tonight, before the thunderstorms reassured me this
is an AWESOME bike. Much better ride than the wife's iBuell. I took
every pot hole I could find on the way home :)

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sqidbait - 22 Mar 2007 07:29 GMT

> This is mainly for Saddle, he was interested in my Buell project. I
> picked up an '07 Buell STT tonight, along with a few parts to make it in
> to the sport touring bike Buell should have built.http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/32777/266490.jpg

[snip]

Nice bike - it looks like a fun ride.

I have to admit being a bit surprised. I thought you'd be taller -
your
feet barely reach the pegs. I'm not one to criticize, but a Blast
might
have been a better choice for you.

-- Michael

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tomorrow@erols.com - 22 Mar 2007 12:42 GMT

> This is mainly for Saddle, he was interested in my Buell project. I
> picked up an '07 Buell STT tonight, along with a few parts to make it in
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> is an AWESOME bike. Much better ride than the wife's iBuell. I took
> every pot hole I could find on the way home :)

Congratulations. (Looks a lot like the pile of boxes that my wife
dragged home from the Harley dealer the day I rode my Street Glide
home!)

Have you read the April issue Roadracing World & Motorcycle Technology
road test of the STT? Surprisingly complimentary, imho. Maybe
that's the Buell model I ought to take for a test ride!

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Steve Mackay - 22 Mar 2007 14:30 GMT

>> This is mainly for Saddle, he was interested in my Buell project. I
>> picked up an '07 Buell STT tonight, along with a few parts to make it in
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
> dragged home from the Harley dealer the day I rode my Street Glide
> home!)

Thanks! But I bet your boxes cost more :) That's only about $2K retail
in those boxes(no I didn't pay that, I do too many favors for the
dealership, and their race team to do that :) ). But I have a LOT of
work to do now.

> Have you read the April issue Roadracing World & Motorcycle Technology
> road test of the STT? Surprisingly complimentary, imho.

Yup, it's sitting on my desk right now. They seem to really like the
bike. I know I do! :)

Buell has been getting some really positive press the last year or two now.

> Maybe
> that's the Buell model I ought to take for a test ride!

Yeah, go ride one. Like you said in another post, fun bikes. But then
you'll *REALLY* want to go ride one in August when the new models come
out :)

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TroytheTroll - 23 Mar 2007 00:47 GMT

> Buell has been getting some really positive press the last year or two
> now.

You know, that recent link where you can take one for a test ride on a track
during a trackday goes a LONG way to building up a much better impression of
what their products may be capable of, just the idea that they are willing
to let you try it out in such an environment goes a long way with me anyway.

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BryanUT - 23 Mar 2007 00:56 GMT

>> Buell has been getting some really positive press the last year or two
>> now.
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> they are willing to let you try it out in such an environment goes a long
> way with me anyway.

KTM is doing both street and track test days. None in Rockies so far:

http://www.ktmusa.com/Detail.223.20.html?&nodeID=100407&cHash=2a81f03323

I talked to a guy on a new SuperDuke yesterday, I think I'd like to ride one
of those also.

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MHF - 23 Mar 2007 01:28 GMT

>>> Buell has been getting some really positive press the last year or two
>>> now.
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>I talked to a guy on a new SuperDuke yesterday, I think I'd like to ride one
>of those also.

I saw a SuperDuke in person last week. Two things I didn't like about
it right off the bat. The silly dirt bike looking plastics and it is
taller than my ride. Oh wait make that three. The seat is like
concrete. They will be offering test rides later in the year though.
I will definately take one out. Speaking of test rides I went to my
local Triumph dealer and they have three awesome Speed triples in
stock. The owner was kind enough to offer me a test ride of the new
Triple. Man that is one bad machine. They have one in Black too. I
don't get why those triples don't sell by the thousands. They are some
of the coolest bikes on the planet.

Regards

Mike

Go Blackhawks!
Go Cubs!
Go Bulls!

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Steve Mackay - 23 Mar 2007 07:21 GMT

>> Buell has been getting some really positive press the last year or two
>> now.
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> they are willing to let you try it out in such an environment goes a
> long way with me anyway.

Yes, they are doing the right things, showing what their bikes are
capable of in the right setting. Too bad you're not going to make any of
'em. What I do hope they do, is properly set up the suspension for the
rider's weight. Because of the radical chassis geometry, a heavy rider
like you or I(I' 6' 1", and weigh about 220-225) will find the stock
Buell setup VERY twitchy, and at high speeds will be somewhat dangerous
IMHO.

They aren't really going to the tracks that show off the Buell's chassis
either IMHO. What you call "rinky dink" tracks actually are much more
"Buell friendly". It's going to be quite easy to bump off the rev
limiter in 5th down some of the straights on these larger tracks like
Road America. And stock 600 race reps will pass 'em by with ease.

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TroytheTroll - 23 Mar 2007 14:44 GMT

> Too bad you're not going to make any of 'em.

Well, some of the dates are just bad news with my work travel schedule this
spring. And I'm not about to plan this falls activities just yet.

> They aren't really going to the tracks that show off the Buell's chassis
> either IMHO. What you call "rinky dink" tracks actually are much more
> "Buell friendly".

Barber is pretty rinky dink, believe it or not. And please, show off the
chassis? Give me a racetrack and lets get with the program, it can either do
what is required or not.

> It's going to be quite easy to bump off the rev limiter in 5th down some
> of the straights on these larger tracks like Road America. And stock 600
> race reps will pass 'em by with ease.

Road America is special.

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TroytheTroll - 22 Mar 2007 14:06 GMT

> This is mainly for Saddle, he was interested in my Buell project. I picked
> up an '07 Buell STT tonight, along with a few parts to make it in to the
> sport touring bike Buell should have built.
> http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/32777/266490.jpg

The boy looks quite happy with it. The box pile is huge. Have fun.

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MHF - 23 Mar 2007 01:22 GMT

>This is mainly for Saddle, he was interested in my Buell project. I
>picked up an '07 Buell STT tonight, along with a few parts to make it in
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>is an AWESOME bike. Much better ride than the wife's iBuell. I took
>every pot hole I could find on the way home :)

Looks great Steve. Can't wait too see it after you are finished.

Regards

Mike

Go Blackhawks!
Go Cubs!
Go Bulls!

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Saddlebag - 23 Mar 2007 01:43 GMT

Let the wrenchin commence!

I too think the STT is the best all around Buell platform. If only
they'd give it a nice black and red or yellow and black firebolt
treatment instead of that bland orange and white creme sickle crap.
I do hope you have an airbrush in one of those boxes :) Best of luck
and keep us posted.

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Steve Mackay - 23 Mar 2007 07:10 GMT

>> This is mainly for Saddle, he was interested in my Buell project. I
>> picked up an '07 Buell STT tonight, along with a few parts to make it in
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
> I do hope you have an airbrush in one of those boxes :) Best of luck
> and keep us posted.

I took a short 100 mile detour on the way home tonight :) The 1st 50
miles keeping it under 4K is tough. I've been so used to the wife's
iBuell with the 984, the 1203 isn't as smooth, and doesn't rev as fast,
but the extra low end grunt is entertaining. It's still not as fast in a
straight line as my '98 S3T that puts down 96HP at the wheel. But the
new bike being 70+ lbs lighter, is sure entertaining, and MUCH more
nimble :)

I want the bike fully broke in before I start tearing it apart. JUST IN
CASE. And I did notice a little problem. The valve in the exhaust
rattles at idle, and sounds like sh.t.

I bought new plastics. Didn't like the boring white either. It's going
to be red now.

I'm not USUALLY one for asthetics. But I'm going to make this bike look
the way I want. The tail section rails, and tail section that you can
see under the seat and behind it will be powder coated the same color as
the frame, charcoal. And the rear grab rails are going to be powder
coated red like the body work.

I don't understand why Buell doesn't offer more colors. It is cheap, and
quick to do a color changeover.

Tonight I organized, and un-boxed pretty much everything. Started
blasting the tail section and grab rails so I can bring 'em over to the
powder coater this weekend. Boy that original powder coat is some TOUGH
stuff! It will take several hours to blast this stuff off.

I also ordered some Hella 90MM headlights. I don't like the light output
of the stock firebolt lights. And the stock lights have been having some
problems with the reflective coating melting. I'll have to trim the
fairing for the larger lights though.

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Motorcycle Forum / General / Sportbikes / March 2007

The madness begins....