I got a Thunderbolt, now some questions : V-Twin Forum: Harley Davidson Forums

Cop_Stanger · 05-17-2005, 04:40 PM

I'm new to Buell ownership after buying a 2002 S3T at a local foreign car dealer who almost had to give it away in order for someone to buy it. It's Volcano Grey with Orange frame and polished wheels with 4300 miles on it.

Anyway, I want to do at least a stage 1: air cleaner, muffler and fuel injection changes. I'm looking for an inexpensive slip on muffler but I'm not sure what's good or bad and I was going to get the Buell CF air cleaner kit. As for the FI what needs to be done with that if anything??

One more thing, what's the cold idle speed supposed to be on these bikes?? Mine seems kind of low and it sounds like it's going to quit running before it warms up.

Thanks for any help.

pnut · 05-18-2005, 01:12 PM

You'll like the buell, I have the same color combo but on an M2 cyclone.
Anyway D&D makes a pretty good slip on as does white brothers, the vance and hines can there has been some issues but I know they where to rework it so It maybe ok.
Idel speed i'm not sure mines carbed
a few places for some good information would be
www.americanthunderbike.org or www.badweatherbikers.com both are buell forum sites

Old_Mil · 07-24-2005, 12:08 PM

You've bought an example of the best vintage of what I consider to be a great sport touring motorcycle and one of the most fun-to-ride machines on the road. It's actually a clone of mine.

As far as the coldbloodedness of the machine is concerned, mine stopped being cold blooded after it's first long (500 mile round trip) road trip. I actually rode an iron butt on mine as well.

If you're looking for a taller windscreen, get a rifle screen with a custom height (I ordered a custom 20 inch screen and I'm 5'8" so that gives you a yardstick to go by). Forget the Gustaffson screen, it has the same angle as the stock screen so though it's longer it doesn't really do much.

The D&D pipe is great, but it's way too loud for me. My ears were ringing after a long day even though I had on a full face helmet and earplugs. I recently have traded for a vance and hines.

Enjoy the machine!