Buell Blast?

18691 Views 30 Replies 13 Participants Last post by BLAZETIGER, Jul 29, 2008

alleydude

Discussion Starter · Nov 29, 2007

I've been thinking of getting a Blast to bomb around on. I've got three Sportsters, and owned many other bikes, so my expectations aren't very high, I just think that 492cc single thumper is a cool motor, and I'd love to have one. Anyone have any experiance with them? They seem fairly reasonable in price used, some going for less that $2000.

Opinions?

1 - 20 of 31 Posts

CB750F

· #2 · Nov 29, 2007

Never road one myself. it wouldnt be the fastest thing on the highway but you would deffinatly save some money on gas.
MPG (EPA urban/highway test)
Urban 69 MPG
Highway 73 MPG

http://www.buell.com/en_us/DWP/2007...I54JAMQ1377R0&dwp_sid_name=sid&modelyear=2007

ocryan1

· #3 · Nov 29, 2007

I was looking at them myself, looks like a pretty decent bike, and your right about the price, I've been seeing alot of good deals, just not in my area.

olds_cool63

· #4 · Nov 30, 2007

I like the looks of it. I just wish it were a few inches longer (at 77 inches, it's scooter-sized). And a tachometer would be nice. It's definitely nice looking. However, I don't know ANYONE who gets an where NEAR the reported mpg's. I'd go with a Ninja 250. More power and much better mpg's.

G

· #5 · Nov 30, 2007

Well...

Its not that quick for a 500cc bike, word is that the ninja 250 (half the cc's) kills it on the highway, where the ninja will have some reserve power the buell is really pushing to keep up...

I have heard its still pretty manuerable and the kevlar belt instead of the chain is nice... But the sportsters have that to I believe.

Also I have not look at the weight but the buell feels heavier from my memory then the ninja did while sitting on them...

If you just want a fun manueverable toy I'd say used ninja 250, if you are into the sport styling (3 sportsters... probably not) then check out the 2008

...

So much more modern...

I still prefer the older ninjas dated looks over the buell but I prefer a ZX-10 over a Road King... Others are the other way around.

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buellosaurusrex

· #6 · Nov 30, 2007

Well, they're fairly small and underpowered. For nearly the same dollars you can pick up a used tube frame 1200. Unless you're a small or new rider, I think you would outgrow the Blast! within a year or two,, maybe sooner if you're an experienced rider. My advice would be go do a demo on one. Most Buell dealers offer the Rider's Edge course and use the Blast! to teach on, so they usually have lots of slightly rough ones to auction off at the end of the riding season (like: NOW). Go check it out. They're usually ready to wheel & deal. While you're there, see if they have and tube frame trade ins and compare apples to oranges.

ocryan1

· #7 · Nov 30, 2007

jraice said:
Its not that quick for a 500cc bike, word is that the ninja 250 (half the cc's) kills it on the highway, where the ninja will have some reserve power the buell is really pushing to keep up...

Ouch... nevermind, not looking for em anymore. Haha.

G

· #8 · Jan 22, 2008

im gonna hijack this thread. but what about as a first bike? 6 foot tall 240 lbs. would this be a good bike for me. and i doubt i would take it on the highway. my main compute would be a 30 mile drive with the higest speed i could legaly reach being 55.(i normaly dive it at 60-65 in a car) so probally my top speed would be about 65 and maybe not even that high

buellosaurusrex

· #9 · Jan 23, 2008

It would probably do OK for you for a nice commuter. Not that they're slow by any means; they just don't have the punch of an IL4 or the grunt of a V-twin. It's a fantastic handler, very flickable and light. And in a year or two, if you feel you've outgrown it, move up.

G

· #10 · Jan 23, 2008

thank you. i guess it is small as well but i can fit into small spaces. i jsut really like the buel line of bikes and i think a 1000cc+ bike is way to much for a starter bike

G

· #11 · Jan 23, 2008

Buell's are sweet

If you like that style bike then it may be a good way to go... It wont have much power and I would probably not take it on the freeway...

Also I am sure it handles great but regardless of what it really weighs (I have no idea) with me sitting on it it felt noticably heavier then the Ninja 250, which is a bit faster, still comfortable but more sporty looking...

One thing that the buell's have (and Harley's) that is awesome though, no chain... Belt drive needs no maintainance.

G

· #12 · Jan 23, 2008

i dont think that as a first time rider i should be on the freeway to begin with. and there is no way i would own a nijia im just not into that kind of bike where you sit in the bomber postion. plus im not that big on sport bikes i have sat on a few and sitting on my hands and wrists dosnt seem comprtable. the thing i like about the buels is that they setnd to ride more up right.

G

· #13 · Jan 23, 2008

Hmm...

Well I guess you havent sat on a Ninja

...

The 250, 500 and 650 Ninja's are all upright...

I have not done a back to back on them with the buell but I'd atleast sit on one because they are both very similar... The new 2008 Ninja may be a bit sportier but I have heard its still upright, but the 2007 Ninja I sat on fit me better and felt lighter then the buell (which is supposed to have mass centralization and all that)...

Lastly there are probably better bikes out there then because the buell blast IS very close to a sports bike... It is a nice blend of metric cruiser and (american) buell sports bike features... Not to say its not a good bike but it is probably one of the worst performing 500cc bikes out there...

Lastly, while I agree you dont want to be on the freeway for atleast a month or two, statistically its safer then being on the local 2 lane mainstreet and having grandma pull out in front of you...

I'd much rather just have to worry about cars changing lanes into me then the left handers and other issues you see on the "regular" streets...

Good luck either way with your purchase!

And if you want to give the Ninja a little chance, go on ninja250.org, in the FAQ they have a nice article comparing it to the Buell...

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G

· #14 · Jan 23, 2008

well i have getting many mix reviews on the blast so i when to the dealership to hammer things out a bit. and there are plenty of guys that have bought blasts and such that come back for parts and serivce. and they say they are nice bikes. small but nice they keep up on the highway and short freeway sprints but not long freeway driveing. the man i spoke with claimed to have gotten one of there used blasts up to 85 MPH on the road next to the shop. but he is also smaller then i was but he has sold a blast to a guy my size who dosnt have many problems with speed. but after that conversation he showed me a 888cc sportster which i liked just not as a first bike.

buellosaurusrex

· #15 · Jan 24, 2008

Clay54961 said:
well i have getting many mix reviews on the blast so i when to the dealership to hammer things out a bit. and there are plenty of guys that have bought blasts and such that come back for parts and serivce. and they say they are nice bikes. small but nice they keep up on the highway and short freeway sprints but not long freeway driveing. the man i spoke with claimed to have gotten one of there used blasts up to 85 MPH on the road next to the shop. but he is also smaller then i was but he has sold a blast to a guy my size who dosnt have many problems with speed. but after that conversation he showed me a 888cc sportster which i liked just not as a first bike.

The 883 Sportster is definitely not in the same class as the Blast, weight-wise or handling-wise. If you were gonna plunk down the scratch for a Sportster, go with the 1200 and get your money's worth. Yes, the 883 can be upgraded for about $2500.00 in parts (not including labor) but by then you've eclipsed the cost difference between the two. If the Blast seems underpowered, try stepping up to an XB9S Lightning. You can find some of the early models used fairly cheap now ('03, etc). This might be a bit on the hairy edge for a new rider, though.....plenty of torque there. One thing you should do is call your insurance agent and run some scenarios by him or her...you might be shocked and/or surprised at the differences between models. In fact, that may even be your deciding factor, cost notwithstanding.
My insurance man tells of a story of a long-time customer whose 19 year-old son bought a new literbike and came in to insure it.....the dad hit the roof when the best he could do for the kid was $2200.00/year....he made the kid sell it. Wise man say....Do your homework first.

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G

· #16 · Jan 24, 2008

buellosaurusrex said:
The 883 Sportster is definitely not in the same class as the Blast, weight-wise or handling-wise. If you were gonna plunk down the scratch for a Sportster, go with the 1200 and get your money's worth. Yes, the 883 can be upgraded for about $2500.00 in parts (not including labor) but by then you've eclipsed the cost difference between the two. If the Blast seems underpowered, try stepping up to an XB9S Lightning. You can find some of the early models used fairly cheap now ('03, etc). This might be a bit on the hairy edge for a new rider, though.....plenty of torque there. One thing you should do is call your insurance agent and run some scenarios by him or her...you might be shocked and/or surprised at the differences between models. In fact, that may even be your deciding factor, cost notwithstanding.
My insurance man tells of a story of a long-time customer whose 19 year-old son bought a new literbike and came in to insure it.....the dad hit the roof when the best he could do for the kid was $2200.00/year....he made the kid sell it. Wise man say....Do your homework first.

the sportster wouldnt be for awhile i could take out a loan and aford the 883 used. hell i could get it new my credit is good enough. but i would rather buy a bike that is underpowered and grow out of it then have to much power and end up near death in a ditch somewhere because the power was to much for me. the sales dude at the HD dearlership said that the 883 sporster is a fairly comen fisrt bike but it isnt for me.

olds_cool63

· #17 · Jan 24, 2008

Rode the Blast 2 days ago. Nice little bike with good power to get around. I'm not sure about long highway stints on it, tho.

It's really a small bike, tho.

Thanks!

olds_cool63
Custom Sportbike
Custom Cruiser
BOTH metric!

DON'T be a SQUIDIOT!

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olds_cool63

· #18 · Jan 26, 2008

You, know....I was just thinking. Pulling off the fenders, one could put on taller profile tires. Possibly even 17" rims and tires. This could raise the bike to a nicer height.

So, anyone think this would be a problem?

Thanks!

olds_cool63
Custom Sportbike
Custom Cruiser
BOTH metric!

DON'T be a SQUIDIOT!

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alleydude

Discussion Starter · #19 · Jan 26, 2008

buellosaurusrex said:
If you were gonna plunk down the scratch for a Sportster, go with the 1200 and get your money's worth. Yes, the 883 can be upgraded for about $2500.00 in parts (not including labor)...

The 883 can be upgraded to a 1200 for FAR less than $2500 + labor. Just sayin...

buellosaurusrex

· #20 · Jan 27, 2008

alleydude said:
The 883 can be upgraded to a 1200 for FAR less than $2500 + labor. Just sayin...

Yeah, I know. I'm talking retail here.
But I get your drift.

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