Buell reviews

I bought this bike about 2 months ago. This is my third bike I've had. I am 22 and drive a semi, when I bought this bike it had about 10k miles on it. I've done some normal maintenance on it. It's comfortable for me and handles great. My wife rides on the back and we have gone on rides lasting hours. The only downside of this bike is that it lacks power when there is a passenger. I've had mine up to 110 MPH and still had throttle left. I agree that the distance between 1st and 2nd gear is a big jump, but with a few city miles on it, it will be natural. I haven't had any problems except that parts are cheaply made, but they are cheap to replace. It's never stalled in corners and has never been laid down. People say that they are POS. I question their riding quality and the quality of their upkeep. This is a great bike whether it be for a beginner or someone that just loves to ride. This bike hugs the road and never wants to let go. Show less

I've been riding for 41 years and have ridden everything from a 1965 55cc Yamaha to an alcohol burning Norton dragster. For most of those years I've owned vintage Harleys and Nortons, with a rice burner or five thrown in. Last year I was looking for a street bike that would keep me in the Harley family but would give me the handling and feel of the old Brit bikes I owned (without the leaks and electrics), with modern day comforts and reliablity. that's how I ended up with the Buell. I chose the Cyclone primarily because the seating position was more forgiving for both pilot and passenger and I like to ride... As a bonus, the price was just too good and the bike was kept in mint condition by the original owner. All that being said, I could not have made a better choice. I've owned it for 18 months and have put 18,000 miles on it (in Vermont!). The only problem being a rear rocker cover leak. My bike was made just before HD changed these gaskets to steel so I just called the HD dealer and bought a steel gasket kit ($35). It only took me a few hours to make the change. My wife wasn't terribly thrilled that I did it all in the living room so I could watch MotoGP and Superbike but she got over it... I have ridden 400 mile days on this bike and regularly do 250 mile rides- I'm talking 30 to 40 in a riding season. I've done 200 with my son on the back carrying a backpack... This bike handles like a 250 and accelerates with the best of them (Ducati, RC51, etc.). I've lifted the front wheel by hitting the gas during a lane change in 3d gear. It is super comfortable, and starts every time. I do run synthetic oil, don't beat the bike (are wheelies 'beating'?) and keep it under 130- usually. Seriously, this thing has so much torque that I rarely shift over 3500 RPM. Check the specs and compare the torque to any other bike on the road... OK, 'nuf said. If you want the absolute best value in a motorcycle, get a Cyclone. I would recommend getting a 2001 or '02 however, as Buell made a number of significant improvements in 2001. There is the standard M2 and a M2L which has a 1 inch shorter suspension and the seat is cut down as well. Mine is the M2L. Show less

This is a '96 S1 I've owned since it was purchased in 2001 with 3000 miles. It has always been the ONE streetbike I've wanted, and is also the only bike I've owned. The XB's are more refined, more reliable, and are more stable but don't have the rough and rowdy character this old beast exudes in spades. The operating costs are fairly severe if rode hard and often...both in tickets and maintenance issues. The worst of which have been a couple complete charging systems, blown rear head gasket, and a broken cylinder head (broke at the mount and led to a needed top end rebuild). It is usually used for short commutes but has done a few long trips...the longest a 1500 mile 3 day trip from NY to FL. The seat has about 100 miles of tolerable comfort. These are most reliable left stock, but most fun worked over! After all these years she still puts a big smile on my face everyday. Show less

I got the bike used with 2700 miles and already in 3 months put a total of 6600 miles on it. I replaced the stock exhaust with a slimmer and louder vance hines exhaust mainly to access drain plugs underneath the bike. The bike leaks from rocker cover and uses up rear tires every 2000 miles, with my very aggressive driving. But I've also ridden with touring bikes and it could cruise at 80-90 mph for 300 mi ride at one time. I enjoy the bike and use it to commute to work every day. Show less

Good bike but it needs about 40 more hp and the pegs need to be bout 3/4 in higher. Mine are all chewed up by the corners but after you get through the rubber, the sparks are kinda cool. At least it gets on one wheel! Show less

I have read a bunch of reviews on the 2000 Buell M2 Cyclones, a lot of which complain about the reliability of this bike. I bought my Buell used with 9000 miles on it and have put 11000 miles on it in the 1 year that I have owned it. This is by far the most fun bike I have ever owned. It is comfortable, fast, and very reliable. Except for having the rear head pipe coming off during a 140 mph sprint, the only thing I've done is change the oil and adjust the primary drive chain. I have never had a problem with the rear suspension or the speedo. Granted, Buells are not for everyone but if you like the attitude that comes with this bike and random girls coming up to you in the grocery store parking lot to ask you about your cool looking bike, you should definitely get one. It was the best $ I ever spent! Show less

I'm too old to fold myself into a sport bike so got this instead. It's very versatile and is stable on loose surfaces. I ride it to work often and it makes a great commuter. Got over 48 mpg on the first tank. It handles very well for such a tall motorcycle and with all that torque available, it is easy to ride through the twisties. It is very tall though and not for short legged people. Some heat on right side from exhaust and I plan to ceramic coat it to hopefully resolve that issue. The engine is a lot smoother than I expected for a big v-twin but it still feels like a big v-twin (not a problem for me). Took my wife on a 100 mile ride and she was comfortable. The folding backrest is a great idea. Show less

My 2002 Blast has lived up to all the Eric Buell hype. I have run 60-70 MPH all day and still got 70 MPG. Great in the country, in the twisties and on the open road. The Harley Boys could not outrun me through the corners! I don't know what everybody else complains about. I also have a Honda Helix and a 2005 Harley Dyna Glide Custom. They're all fun in their own right. There is no way to compare them. I'm 67 years old and tour, group ride and cruise. You will not outrun most bikes (and some maxi-scooters) or pop wheelies but speed and acrobatics are not what the Blast is all about. I've ridden bikes for 4 years and the Blast is a lot of fun. Test ride one before you buy it. This is a reliable bike with great brakes, quick steering and very easy to ride. In this area we are blessed with having great dealerships with excellent techs. Find one near you and have a Blast. Show less

My wife just baught an XB12SCG. It is a little small in stature for me but wow does it handle great. After riding her Buell for an hour or so I get back on my ZX6 and have to actually work to ride it. The Buell is very torqy and long in the gears. What a blast. Show less

I have owned and ridden alot of bikes over the years, too many to count, years that is. I have owned 8 harleys,5 triumphs,2 hondas, 9 suzukis, 2kawasakis, 1 bridgestone, 11 bmws, plus a few others. This buell is one of the most fun bikes I have owned, it always feels planted on the pavement, my wife loves the seat and I do too. The bike is tall but not too much for normal riding. If you are height impaired the lowered seat is a big improvement. I just got back from a trip to the Blueridge Mts. and had a great time. The only time you need to really pay attention is off road, having been used to 19 or 21 inch front wheels' the 17 incher takes some getting used to, but using a little common sense helps. The bags and box are of superior quality. I added a Lee Bailey intermediate windshield and that was a good improvement. The bike is faster than any harley that I have ridden esp. considering how well the bike handles. Service is pretty simple. The only complaint that I can tell you about is that there is some heat on the right side of the bike, and fan is noisy. But I'll trade that any day for a bike as capable and versitil as Uly. There is even quite a bit of storage under the seat. Every time I ride or even look at the bike I'm amazed at the high degree of great engineering that has gone into the design of this machine. Show less