Opinions on the Buell Blast?

[Lion_Lady]

I got a chance to ride a Blast a couple weekends ago. A lady and her husband had trailered the little beast to the nearby high school where the MSF course is laid out (wifey had failed to pass her Rider's Edge Course). Well, my hubby has taught the MSF course, so he was trying to describe what needed to happen, and I offered to ride the box, etc. on the Blast.

I should first point out that I ride an R1150R BMW. A HEAVY beast with pretty mild ergonomics (just a weee bit sporty).

HA!!! Sitting on the bike immediately brought to mind riding a Vestpa.

A real "Sitting in a chair" position. My feet were UNDER my knees and my upper legs were pretty near flat out in front of me. Add to that the horrid single cylinder vibration and it was all I could do to manage one u-turn in the box. (BMW "thumpers" - single cylinder engines - have a balancing bar that dampens a fair amount of the vibration. I had NO idea how bad a thumper could be.

I will say that the light weight made it easy to keep upright when it tried to tipover, but that is the ONLY thing that can be said to recommend that bike.

P

[CNF2002]

Don't pay 3K for a used blast. Don't get a bike that was used in an MSF course.

The blast gets hit pretty hard. Its not a well-liked bike. It IS thumpy (its a 500cc single cylinder!), it IS a little small (no cross-country trips for tall guys - but I'm 5'10 and I love it as my commuter). What you do get is an awesome little bike that is easy to handle in traffic, enough power for long freeway trips @ 75mph+ and can't-be-beat gas mileage.

If you want a weekend cruiser built for comfort or style, by all means get something else. If you want a commuter workhorse that gets you there and back cheap, or a beginner bike to learn on, the blast is something to consider.

Most of the 'hype' on the blast is just uninformed nonsense from 'some guy' and his 'experience' with his blast. I love that mybuell.com site, its funny...the guy hated the bike because of the engine break-in period! He didn't want to stick to the manufacturers recommendations and his bike ended up having problems - go figure!

[DieMonkeys]

I think I'll just stick with my dreams of a Ninja 250. MSF course is all lined up and paid for, I just have to wait until July 21st (coincidentally my gf's birthday, she wasn't too happy about that, but the 21st is just the short talking class, the weekend is the riding portion). Then after that all that's holding me back is the cash. Gotta keep saving and keep selling all my old stuff I don't use anymore on ebay.

[jmillheiser]

I will agree with lion lady about the riding positon, it is a strange position. My CX500 had a more agressive riding position than the blast.

Easiest way to describe the riding position on the blast is think of a sportster with mid mount controls (especially the low model) but remove 200lbs of weight and the top heavy balance of the sportster

[ericeverson]

I’ve ridden both bikes with in the last year and I would recommend the Ninja. I was helping a lady friend of mine find her first bike and we both disliked the Buell when compared to a Japanese bike. The Ninja has been around for a long time and will be a great beginner bike; I won’t tell you “I told you so” later, but that 250 Ninja is just going to wet your taste for a streetbike with more horsepower.

[DustyJacket]

I put 1,600 miles on my 2002 Blast with no complaints.

Then my wife took it away for herself, and she rides it.

It is a trooper.

[Locopez]

a used Blast for $3K...that is a huge rip off....look to buy from a private party!.....Take the MSF course...instead of believing that the dealer salesman will train you...who knows what kind of rider he is???