Ducati Monster Forum

So, I've been saying for a little while (when selling off certain bikes) that I was moving toward cruisers/classics...



That said, I've got this tradition right, whenever I get a wife pregnant and hear my baby's heartbeat for the first time I buy a bike.




For my 1st (Kelli) - it was a 1996 (then 2 y/o) R1100RSa with only 2k miles on it.








For my 2nd (Fi) - it was a brand new Ductai 696 (also with ABS)











WELL, this time, it's got a "cruiser" motor and it's old enough that I'd call it a "classic" :lol:






This time it's a:



(http://www.gigabikes.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10081/IMG_20131123_153307_563a.jpg)

So, honestly, I didn't think I would/could/should buy a bike this time. Simple economics, we're losing ground right now.

But Jenn finally finishes fellowship this July and her salary should be increasing something in the order/magnitude of 4x what she's making now...

And so last night, she's on call for a 24 hour shift AGAIN...my girls are in bed, and I'm watching Café Racer while just browsing some of the local HD dealer and all-brand dealer websites (and cycletrader.com) looking to see if there is anything cheap to keep my tradition going.

AND WHAM...

...just up the road, at the Harley dealer where I bought my FIRST ever new ANYTHING (a 1993 XL1200) I saw this add:


http://www.hannumshdmedia.com/default.asp?page=xPreOwnedInventoryDetail&id=524444&p=1&s=Year&d=A (http://www.hannumshdmedia.com/default.asp?page=xPreOwnedInventoryDetail&id=524444&p=1&s=Year&d=A)

(http://www.hannumshdmedia.com/used_bikes/IMG_7272.jpg)

(http://www.hannumshdmedia.com/used_bikes/IMG_7276.jpg)


So at this point of the evening I had worked out, had a couple of rums, and a couple of beers, and I text Jenn a link to the add with the message:

"I know we don't have any money, but would you kick my ass if I go buy this bike tomorrow"

Jenn "No"

Me "No, don't go buy it, or no you won't kick my ass?"

Jenn ---> whatever = a smilie kissy face on an IPhone.

Me "Cool, I'll offer em $2500 and if they bite, I'll just hand em a credit card"


So fast forward to today, took a chilly 40F ride about 10-15 miles of backroads to the dealer and ask them for a test ride.

Started and ran great, pulled STRONG, turned like it was on rails... indicated 110 mph on a local stretch of highway while still pulling strong.

Hmmm, feels primitive, but man it turns and the half-fairing really protects.

WTF - go back to the dealer and offer em $2500.

They hem and haw and say "ok"

SHIT, I just accidentally bought a bike.

Pick it up Monday.

Kinda getting more and more excited about it now...   [drink] [drink] [drink]

Congrats. Seems like a steal.

And pardon my ignorance, but what's that big black box on the right side just under the tank? I notice there isn't a matching one on the left side.

neato

A giant air box - I'm assuming there's a filter in it.  [laugh]

Seriously, I don't know for sure because this was a TOTAL impulse buy, less than 18 hours from consideration to purchase...  :-[

I just want to know how many wives it takes to get a Buell. ;D

I'd need to toss about 155 parts out of it, to make it fit my definition of a bike  ;D  [drink]

More than one.... :D

Wait, how many parts in an EVO Sporty motor? More than 154? Less than 156? :o

1. The Engine  ;D

Brrr..it's cold in here. :D

I like it. It would be a good tourer. Useable torque, luggage, lazy donk and no valve adjustments! [thumbsup]

Comfy/supportive Corbin seat, decently protective fairing...I think the fuel tank is pretty big too (5+ gallons).

Congrats on the kid and the bike.

Question, do the kids get named after the bike, or vise versa?

I think it's a great looking bike for a great price.

I'm not sure I dig the tiny ape hangers but otherwise it looks great. [thumbsup]

Kev, I never pegged you for a Britney Spears fan.  ;D

Lol on the bars, that's stock, just a little rise for a more sport touring position.

Just a reference to what a bike s.l.u.t. I am :D

Friends don't let friends buy Buells.  Then again I sold mine at 20k  (got tired of calling flatbeds after the fifth time).

Congrats! I am certain the child will be less maintenance than the Buell.

It's ok, I figure everyone should have at least one problem child. :D

The condensed version  [laugh]

Accurate, or stated another way "you gotta be drinking to buy a Buell." :D

Nice S3, you stole it, IMO.

Those are a blast, been pondering finding a nice low-mile XB1200Ss myself.

nice new ride, though if I were to own a Buell, I think I;d lean more toward a Ulysses, but that is a personal preference thing.

Belt driven bikes do not belong off-road.  My XB9r blew a belt on average every 4k.  I rode it very hard but the belt thing is crap.

Besides that and my stock headlight bulbs melting through their own housings and shorting out stators, it was a fine bike.   [puke]

Good motor, great handling, neat technology however I was so happy to sell it I that I bought a Land Rover.  Figured it could be no worse to deal with than my Buell......

Funny how some here bash Buells, I've got 4, two for the track and two for the road. The have been great bikes! The belt drive is fine, I'm still running the original setup without incident.
In comparison: I just bought my first (used) Ducati...with a smashed gas tank...wich will cost $ 2200.00 for a replacement.
(pretty friggin ridiculous, and No I'm not going to replace it- I'll try and repair it)
 I've crashed both my track bikes and was able to keep riding the rest of the day with minimal damage.
I've yet to ride this new Duc, but I expect it to be very much like my Buells.
I saw your post on BadWeb, you'll enjoy the people there and meeting other Buellers out on the road.
P.S. Congrates on the kid!

I don't bash Buell's, but I do bash Harley dealers for treating it and their customers like second class citizens when it comes to anything surrounding those machines. I knew a guy who had put as much love, tuning, and modding into his S1 Lightning as some guys do their Electra/Dyna Glides....all that $$$ that they wanted nothing of or any part of...

I bash Buells.  Went through five drive belts (and each subsequent pulley and belt "upgrade" on an 03 in 20k.  The stock headlights bulbs melted though the bezels.  Two days after my warranty expired of course.  Two stators went out due to multiple wires being rubbed raw as a result of poor routing.  Great motor and chassis though.

I will never own another and I will never stop bad mouthing them.  Why?  They NEVER warrantied a single belt and I had to buy almost 2k in upgrades.  Each one breaking.  I finally sold it off for 2k and a MK Scorpion.

HD ruined any chance of EVER seeing me buy another one of their products.  So did EB.  Over 30 bikes in my past and the Buell was the only one I was happy to get rid of. 

 

I don't blame you a bit after all that, guess I just got lucky with mine

Sometimes it's funny how two different owners have such different experiences.

It could be differences in use, it could be dumb luck.

I've been told about a bunch of potential pattern failures and weaknesses, and we'll see which raise their heads, but so far it seems like an amazingly tidy machine, perhaps previously owned by someone as hopelessly retentive as me.

The only Buell I have ever seen here is an XB9 lightning on an indy shop floor. Pretty bike.

I really wanted it. But there's no Buell dealer here in indonesia, the HD dealer doesn't sell buell and online shopping was not like today when I can pretty much get any parts from anywhere in the world in a week or two, so I passed.

If there was a buell dealer here, I would've bought it.

Wow you must have been good to the motorcycle Gods!  The lack of dealers saved you.   ;D

As for dealers that did service Buells?  They all acted like a Buell was beneath them.  Right until the bill came, then you paid as much as any of them.  I will never forget my $600.00 quote for two tires installed......

   

Me, Id get the chain drive kit. Is it still available?
Besides that, I'd research and do some work on any historical weaknesses. We do the same for our Ducatis, and there are people who will never buy one of them again.

Chain? Not just no, HELL NO.

I've got twenty plus happy years with mostly belt and shaft drive rides for a reason.

I put up with a chain only when I have to. ;)

The guys at BadWeb gave me a list of things to check, so far so good.