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Two-Bit Knowledge
Choosing the right donor bike
By Justin Schilling
A lot of folks ask us what year and model Buells make the best donor
bikes when they’re looking to build a Redneck Engineering Mutant Buell,
MC Worx Streetfighter or any of the other aftermarket “donor” frames. So
here’s a quick rundown of what separates good from great when it comes
to buying a used Buell.
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Carburetor vs. Fuel Injection: All
Buell tube frame models from 1996 to 1998, as well as 1999-2002 M2
Cyclones were carbureted with standard module ignition systems, while
1999-2002 X1 Lightning and S3 Thunderbolt models came with factory
fuel injection. Obviously, in a bare bones chopper or custom the bulk
of extra wiring needed to run a fully integrated, closed-loop fuel
injection is much more than most folks are looking to try and hide,
and a majority of builders will lean toward switching the engine over
to a carburetor. This a very simple swap, requiring the purchase of a
new carburetor with appropriate fittings and brackets, an intake
manifold, as well as an ignition module (either external box or nose
cone modules will work in this case) and a new timing rotor cup. This
extra investment should be taken into consideration when you’re
budgeting your build if you choose one of these late model, fuel
injected bikes. If you’ve got any questions on carburetor selection,
or ignition applications please feel free to give T.B.C. a call and
we’ll be happy to help.
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Thunderstorm Engines: Buell debuted
their “Thunderstorm” engine package in 1998 in the limited production
S1W White Lightning. The potent combination of high flow cylinder
heads, 10:1 compression ratio pistons, .497 lift cams, hotter ignition
timing and a 6800 RPM rev limit was an instant hit, and gave H-D it’s
first claimed 100+ horsepower production motorcycle. Of course this
102 horsepower claim was based on power at the crank, whereas most of
these bikes averaged 85 ponies to the rear wheel after parasitic
losses in the primary, transmission and final drive. Buell went full
production with the Thunderstorm package in 1999-2002, with all three
models, the X1, S3 and M2 featuring these parts standard. While the X1
and S3 share the same configuration as the original S1W, the M2 was
fitted with the milder XL 1200 cams for a torque-heavy combination. If
you’re looking for out of the box performance then it’s worth your
time to shop around for a Thunderstorm-equipped bike, as the
difference in power output is seat-of-the-pants apparent. Keep in mind
too though that many other 1996-1998 models were upgraded to the
Thunderstorm parts, as Buell offered the package as an all inclusive
kit that many, many owners opted for. Easiest way to tell a real set
of Thunderstorm heads is color, as every set of Thunderstorm heads has
been powder coated solid black, while all the earlier factory Buell
heads came in silver. Again, if you have any questions regarding what
to look for in a motor get a hold of us at T.B.C., or if you’re
looking for a way to make even more power give our friends over at
NRHS V-Twin Performance a look online at
www.nrhsperformance.com
or call them at 303-833-4500. These guys wrote the book on XL and
Buell performance, rewriting the Bonneville record books in the
process.
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Inverted Tube Front Ends: All
1996-1998 S1 and S2 as well as 1999-2002 X1 and S3 models came
standard with the Showa inverted tube front end, while all 1997-2003
M2 models rolled off the line with a conventional tube and slider fork
assembly. This decision is purely one of personal taste and
aesthetics, as either set-up is perfectly usable from a function
standpoint. Some of course like the heavier, more modern look of the
inverted tubes, while other will like the simplicity and classic lines
of the standard forks. New inverted fork assemblies are still
available from H-D/Buell dealers if you should decide to take and M2
based bike that direction, or if your donor was a wreck with fork
damage, but plan on investing a grand by the time you get both tubes
and a set of triple trees to match. Both front ends use the same axles
as well as the same six-piston Nissen brake calipers, so everything is
interchangeable.
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Price differences: 1997-2002 M2
Cyclone models will generally bring the lowest prices in comparison to
other Buells from the same model year, as they were the cheapest new
model in each of six years they were built. S1 and S1W Lightnings will
generally come next in line, with S1W’s commanding higher prices,
based on their fledgling collector status. From there it runs to the
1999-2002 X1 Lightning and S3 Thunderbolt models. These bikes were
Buell’s most expensive production models, and the used resale market
reflects it. With enough patience and a little hunting around pretty
much any Buell model can be had at a fire sale price, just pick the
model that best fits your wants and needs and go from there. Some
great places to search for used Buells include the bikes for sale
classifieds at www.badweatherbikers.com as well old standbys
www.ebaymotors.com and
www.cycletrader.com. If
you’re stumped on the pros and cons of a particular model, or would
just like a second opinion on a bike you’re looking at currently,
please give T.B.C. a call, as we’re more than happy to help.
How we rate them at Two-Bit Choppers:
Basically we look for bikes in this order -
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No.1 on our list has to be the 1998
S1W White Lightning. It’s got everything we like to incorporate into
the mutant in one package: inverted front end, carburetor, standard
ignition and the hot-rod Thunderstorm engine. It’s the perfect donor
bike. Unfortunately, there aren’t tens of thousands of these things,
as less than 5,000 of them were ever built, so finding one period can
be difficult and because of their popularity sellers can command a
premium price.
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No.2 would be the 1999-2002 M2
Cyclone. Thunderstorm heads and pistons, carburetor, standard ignition
and standard forks. Some great buys can be had on used Cyclones and
depending on what your front end plans are, the standard tubes may be
going on the shelf anyway. (Our black bike seen elsewhere on the site
started life as a 1999 M2)
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No.3 would be 1999-2002 X1 or S3
models. Even though these bikes can run a little higher up front, and
can cost even more if you switch out to a carburetor, they still come
with a lot of trick bits and are worth a look.
Hopefully this quick rundown on some
key points will help you in your search for the perfect donor bike.
Basically any tube frame Buell will work, but picking the year and model
that gives you the majority of features you’re looking for can save you
a lot of time, money and headaches in the long run. Again if you have
any questions please give us a call at 970-587-5867 or drop me a line
directly at justin@twobitchoppers.com.
If the Price is Right, Chop It!
Justin Schilling
Owner: Two-Bit Choppers
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