THinking of buying a cheap 98 Buell

I'm thinking of picking up a 98 Buell LIghtning...its cheap....and just for fun...anyone had a bad experience with one? This is the early type, with the tube frame, before the gas-in-frame, etc models. Its got crazy paint though....a sort of blue-purple (burple?) frame and red-orange (rorange?) everything else...original factory paint.

I had one they are good fun in a straight line & even better when you hit the nos button
i never had any probs with mine had it over a year just make sure you have no lose fillings it will shake them out if you have
a few photos of the beast








Do i miss it No

SICK Buell. Before Harley killed them off I didn't really like the style of the modern Buell's. Too bulbous. Like it was trying to be an FZ6 and it couldn't really even get that down. I would love to pick up an old bike and completely rehabilitate it. Until then I'll just have to stick with this crappy KTM I have

YEh i still got mine......Pure un snivilised charachter i love it . I thought i would sell it when i bought the ktm but i just cant seem to let it go .It provides for me a lot of things, Handling is great Power is low torque is high so although it never feels fast poeple just cant keep up. Untill the road goes too straight. But then its lazy feel is great for chugging along at speeds which feel too frantic for long distances on most modern bikes. It also gives me that tinkering conection that is lost in most modern bike relationships..... i like that. It is probably the only bike that breaks , that owners cant wait to fix intead of the usual i'd get rid type of response.
Ride one first you will love it or hate it . Never could you get a more different feel from the same engine layout as the superduke and tuber buell. Complete contrast Both fantastic machines in their own rights.
Also they stop your old spanners going rusty......peace

Had one back in the day. Suffered oil starvation to the front cylinder, which ultimately fused to the bore...Was fun up until then.

Bought it...will post some pictures later this week.

I love the older Buells. Great machines. Can't wait to see those pics.

I had an 08 XB12SS that I murdered out, with a custom map made by Erik Buell's factory dyno/tune guy. Very fun bikes.

My "new" 1998 Buell Lightning S1 came with the full "Buell race kit". Complete Buell racing exhaust system, new front fork springs, new ignition module, new carbon cover air filter, solo seat (Corbin), different foor pegs and brake/shifter, new handlebars, etc....plus all the original parts, , original rear body and (small) two-up seat, original pegs, passeger pegs, the huge piece of carbon that covers the rear wheel, etc. etc...see photo.......

It has the same switchgear and levers (original) as a Ducati, WP suspension, Marchesini wheels...

It has only 14,000 kilometers on it, which seems very low to me for a bike that is over a dozen years old. It cost $4500. So I'm happy with it...makes a nice companion to the SD.

Crazy paint. "Molten Orange" and the frame and wheels are painted "Blurple".

Nice looking motor you've found yourself there.

Totally cool and the two look like they will get allong swimmingly. Enjoy your summer.

The more bikes the merrier !
Enjoy

I couldn't get the wires to stretch far enough to install the dirt track bars (which don't look any larger than your bars) so I put the original Buell bars on it...but now I think I'll try (harder) again...it wasn't so much the cables as it was the electrical wires (and the throttle cables) that seemed too short...maybe if I take off the fuel tank first and try rerouting a few of them..maybe then they'll reach...any tricks to the installation?

buells are a fun bike, they handle like a 250 but with front wheel lifting torque from idle

2007 xb12r - Firebolt (the same as harry potter's broom stick )

rsz_1rsz_photo_21932_20100315(2).jpg (132.91 KiB) Viewed 6198 times

^^^
Had a test ride on one of those and have to agree with your comment. Twas good to ride but the vibration put me off. It was a strange feeling.

Figured it out. Should have done this to start with. All I had to do was snip the ties off a few wire bundles near front of tank, relocated the clutch cable slightly..and everything fit with my wider flat Track racing bars...("Jim Odom" bars from A+A racing)

have you put up pics anywhere? would like to have a peek

I cut down a set of K&N flat track bars because they felt too wide but then the bend didn't feel right. You need a short tank or short seat to bars distance for those wide flat track bars to feel right. They really turn you into a sail at speed too.

I don`t mind the stock bend on the Buells I`ve ridden.

these are my bars on the SD http://www.ktmtwins.com/ktm-990-super-d ... nd-fatbars A bit higher and less sweep. About as flat track as you can go with the seat to bars distance.

I put the stock bars back on and adjusted them to feel pretty much exactly like my stock Superduke bars...the only change I ever made to the Superduke bars was bar-risers and after one ride around the block I changed those right back..the stock SD bars feel fine and I guess it makes some sense to have both these bikes fit me more or less the same...the Odom bars will go on my Yamaha SR500 Street Tracker project bike...when that finally gets done (maybe this year)

Bar changing may seem like a waste of time, but I like it...It's normally a quick and easy change to do and it radically changes the feel of any bike...But in general I think the best bar on any bike is the traditional relatively low "European" sport bar...which is more or less what originally came on the SD (and the Buell)...its a good compromise....

My younger brother has always ridden his bikes with clip-ons and he thinks the Superduke is a "dirt bike" ....

One last thing about the Buell...aside from the odd mixture of metric and American nuts+bolts sizes, it is very easy to work on...everything real clear and simple...very owner-maintenance friendly ...so different from the Superduke...a nice break now and then.

Renthals are 2" wider but could probably be cut down half an inch per side. They're fine as is for me.

Will