Buell S3T Thunderbolt reviews

Sure it's a lot of money. Sure my right side fairing cracked after 1400 miles. (And it will again I'm sure) but I've had more fun on this bike then my 10 years with my beloved FXR, and my two with the Kaw. Riding position is perfect, handling is excellent, acceleration is effortless, braking is good...get one Show less

I have had over 40 bikes and this is the best. It accelerates up to 80 and beats anything on the street providing that you use the chip, aircleaner, and borla exhaust. For a man over 40 this makes a great sport tourer with awesome luggage capacity. Top speed is around 140 and very stable. Passengers are also very happy. Get one Show less

The S2 is one of the most fun bikes I have owned. The handling is spot on. The vibration rapidly goes away at around 2500 rpm. The first thing I changed was muffler. I installed a Suppertrap with 18 discs and the power came on 700 rpm sooner. The bike is hand built and some bolt on parts just don't bolt on. Expect easy jobs to not be too easy. The vibration isolation is good at speed but it shakes things loose. I would suggest getting a Loctite Manual and all the Loctite needed. I love this bike, it's got loads of personality. It's kinda like a girlfriend that you can't trust completely. Show less

My 1999 S3 with the touring package is by far the best bike I've owned in my 50 years, and over 30 years of riding. It's also my first American bike. It will do anything, and do it well. Sure it has shortcomings; It tries to bake your knees at a stop light, the oil is hard to check, and the stock windscreen does very little, BUT... What it does do well far outweighs its shortcomings. Watch it bounce around at a stop light like a Harley should, or growl when you get over 4500rpms. Great on the highway or on the back roads. A true American touring sport bike. Show less

This bike is all about riding. You may never reach Hayabusa speeds, but you will smile constantly. It is "Different in Every Sense", from the sound to the performance. The torque of this bike will lift the front tire with ease. On the twisties this bike just dips into corners at any speed you dare, and the instant throttle response makes it easy to lose certain Japanese bikes in curvy situations. Buell is more than Specs on paper, it's something you have to ride to understand. Many Buell dealers have demo rides, so don't let the chance to ride the best bike out; slip through your fingers. Show less

There are a lot of sport tourers coming out these days. I picked the Buell S3T because I wanted something unique. Buells are. The bike runs great above 2500 rpm, below that you search for the right gear to keep the lugging from being annoying. Handling is outstanding...the bike goes right where you want with practically no effort. The ergonomics are very comfortable with the touring package, but a slightly taller windscreen wouldn't hurt. The bags are quick and easy to remove, although they must be empty to do so. If you want really good performance, a comfortable ride, and some place to put a couple bags of groceries, this bike should be at the top of your list. I love mine. Show less

This bike is by far one of the best handling bikes out there. Above 3000 rpm and in the twisties, it is smooth and agile. Just think the turn and it happens. that's the up side. Below 3000 rpm, this thing will vibrate your fillings out. Midrange power and torque are weak at best. Worst of all is that things break and the fit and finish are not 14000 dollars(after tax) worthy. At my 500 mile break-in check, the tranny was already having serious problems and the back brake had stopped working. This after 500 sedate miles and a lot of pet and pampering. The Buell dealer was very helpful and fixed everything asap and without cost but is this worth 14000$??? Also the left bag leaks at the slightest hint of moisture in the air. I can tell this is going to be a love-hate machine. It rides like a dream but the Buell nightmare continues. Add to this (which may or may not be contributal to the make) thieves have already tried to separate it from my ownership. A good disk lock and having the steering locked only cost me a few scratches. Happy riding. Show less