Who is into Buell motorcycles

[preS]

and can tell me more re. the collectibility?

Richard

[72targa]

I thought they were really cool when they came out...

Not so sure they're collectible (based on value)...

http://www.ebay.com/sch/Motorcycles-...H_Sold=1&rt=nc

[john1180]

Here's a "nice"one a coworker rides!
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[mrgreenjeans]

Buell made some GREAT bikes when they were an independent utilizing H/D drivetrains and Eric Buell was autonomous and creating without deference to someone else.
H/D did the shameful and put him and his creations out to pasture a few years ago......

I bought an S2 back in the mid 90's new, utilizing a mildly hot rodded 1200 Sportster engine ( all o.e.m. factory BUELL built. ) And I love it.

It was one of the final of 200 S2's made in 1996, and came from the factory with 'Thunderstorm' heads which were hand ported and made prodigous torque and horse power. H/D later contacted the owners by mail and we were issued serialized case covers denoting the number of the bike out of those 200 constructed. We were also given a second set of Thunderstorm heads --- GRATIS. Thru the selling dealership. No problems or concerns with the heads, it was simply a marketing gesture to give ownership a 'Thank You' for buying the bike ...... as not all of the earlier bikes were fitted with heads, an across the board upgrade was made available for any that qualified. (I am thinking they didn't keep records as to who got what with the new free flowing head design.)

My bike was bought at St.Paul H/D and when I went back to pick them up, the parts guy told me, believe it or not, 2 or 3 owners never even came back in to collect them ! If you rode two S2s back to back, the noted difference was more than apparent. Redline was reached almost immediately with the T-storm equipped engine.

The S2 came as a Tube frame, white powdercoated, along with white 3 spoke Marchesini wheels from Italy. Floating front disc brake nearly the size of the wheel. These babies STOP.....

Mine is metallic paint called "Canyon Red". These are the last of the true collectibles and you have to hunt far and wide to find good ones which weren't molested , dropped and rebuilt, or just plain abused to death by uncaring riders more concerned about doing wheelies or stoppies than opening a can of whup on a Japanese sportbike of the day.

1997 saw the S3 model come out to replace it, and altho still a low number bike and tube frame , they are significantly changed to warrant a different market reading..... after 2000 the trend shows significant value drops. Because they are all a different market driven rider and collector they were seeking, touring was also now being emphasized. Most are wrecks..... the single cylinder Blast isn't even a blip on the radar screen of desirability
.
At least not to me. The S2 was the apogee of development closest to what I viewed as a target for superior sport bike riding. Handbuilt with pride. Forged componentry and handlaid fibreglass with the most beautiful gauges to admire.......a chassis refinement which encouraged one to drop a knee and just hit apex after apex with aplomb.

If you can find a pure one-- in an S2, even the S3 model, get it now. But, one will look long and hard for a proper gem with a 'flawless cut' struck by it's maker. Prices climb accordingly.

( and no, mine is NOT for sale )