BonkerPro
USA
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Joined: 08/22/2004
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Anyone riding one of these?
I have a friend locally who is shopping them and I know next to nothing about them.
Thanks in advance,
Rick
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1st Scoot -- 1970 Suzuki TC-90 ... Latest Bike -- 1991 GL1500 SE
The destination may be nice, but the ride is the reward.
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THEBurninator
Washburn, MO
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Joined: 08/11/2003
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I can't give you first-hand experience, but I was really interested in these when they first came out and always talked to the owners. I've never met an owner that was unhappy with the bike.
You'll hear lots of hate from people who just don't understand the need for a bike like that, but that's the case for all bikes.
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RuralRider
Missouri
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Joined: 06/13/2007
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I have sat on one at a dealership, a Riders Edge course bike 2004 model. I thought it was the worst shade of orange as it looked like a robotic pumpkin.
That being said, for someone like myself with a 30 inch inseam the lowest (25.5 inch) seat it was equipped with made it VERY easy for me to put my feet down and even extend them outward like stabilizers at a 45 degree angle and still touch showroom floor. It has mass, but it is down low so it feels lighter than it is and it doesn't feel top heavy like a bike of similar weight but with a higher center of gravity, such as a dual sport or sports bike.
With the lower seat my 5'8" frame felt a little tight, but the standard seat, which the dealer didn't have in stock at the time, would add two inches of height. At it was, my knees were slightly elevated with the low seat, but really not that uncomfortable as compared with the fully extended limbs on a cruiser set up or the rabid squirrel on speed position of most sports bikes. It is not a seated with legs below hip level position like a dual sport, at least not with my body design and the low seat. However, it was comfortable and I felt that I would have no problem keeping balance at low speed or stopping/starting from a full stop.
If anything, the seating position felt akin to how my 1979 Yamaha DT125 felt when I rode it. It felt like you were a part of the bike and it was comfortable. I would add a windscreen and side bags or boxes for a commuter as the flyscreen it is equipped with seems a little small for much weather diversion. I personally would feel more comfortable having it equipped with a tachometer as well and not with just a speedometer. It is also said that it buzzes at idle and vibration can be felt through the seat and handlebars at speed. It is a thumper so what would one expect? I have ridden all thumpers in my life up to this point, especially lots of time on a 2 stroke 125cc, so I don't see that as so much a bad thing as a way to be in touch with the engine.
I have read in magazine reports that it has a grabby clutch due to a narrow friction zone, but that is offset by having substantial torque at idle so for a newbie it probably balances out. I didn't experience this for myself, however. I would say that if they are used in Riders Edge courses they must be easy to ride for a totally new rider or else they wouldn't be used.
I would also say that having hydraulic valves and a belt final drive would also help with a newbie getting started in taking care of a bike as both reduce rider required maintenance.
I would consider buying a Buell Blast as a first new bike after trying out others for seating position, ease of balance, price point and other factors such as maintenance intervals, fuel economy and weather protection.
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Ride_Slow2004
Northwest
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Joined: 02/02/2005
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Well written, RuralRider.
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"If people concentrated on the really important things in life, there'd be a shortage of fishing poles."
-Doug Larson
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