S1 Lightning??

[Virginia_Remington]

So it seems like the S1's are pretty much out of the loop of discustion now days. I just recently purchased one, so excited. But as im looking around ive never seen a color combo like mine. Its a yellow plastic color and blue/purple frame/wheels, any sugestions if this is a stock combo? Last night I tried to change the belt and OMG biggest pain in the ass ever. Any tips cause I did not finish last night I can not get that little rubber/ metal tube off between the frame and motor off to get the belt on. Any help would be great. Oil types ect ect

 

[50dro]

Nice bike! [up] I've seen the purple frames before but they're usually with an orange/red colored paint. Pretty sure the swing arm was always just grey/aluminum colored though as well as the brake calipers.

 

[Virginia_Remington]

Yea if they did paint the swing arm and brakes they did a very nice job cause they are def pro done. Any advise or tips on this bike??

 

[Internet Annoyance]

I have a 1998 S1 lightning and mines all black with a silver frame. It needs a few minor things to get on the road but i got it cheap 2 years ago. ($1900) I really LIKE that purple-Blue color on the frame and wheels,,, I believe its called
"Nuclear Blue"

so what id like to do to mine is pull it down this winter,, paint the frame and wheels that color while upgrading the wheels and forks to XB specs, another list member has done that wheel/fork swap and detailed it on here. worth checking out.

I have no advise for you on the rest,, except the there IS a battery upgrade kit thats worth having if not done already, and a Easy pull clutch ramp mod thats a must have as they strip clutch cables otherwise, and look very carefully at the rear shock mounts and the bolts, I have heard of issues of those failing and causing a wreck

the tanks weep fuel and cause the tank logos to bubble up,, that exhaust looks a bit odd,,, thats about all i got.

congratulations, Im sure you will enjoy the bike

 

[theoctopus]

The S1/S1W is probably my favorite Buell model. It just looks right on.

Sadly, all the S1/S1Ws that pop up here in SoCal have owners who are obviously hitting the crackpipe something fierce, because the price is always stratospheric.

 

[50dro]

I guess there were problems with the shocks too. I have sold a few of the Twin Motorcycles replacements for them. They are very nice pieces but they aren't cheap.

I've recently been offered to buy an S1 for $2k and another for mid $2k. Had me thinking really hard but I don't need a 2nd bike (or marital problems! )

 

[Internet Annoyance]

You only have one bike???????????????[confused][confused][confused]

How do you live???????[confused][confused][confused]

Last time i counted it was over 125 bikes,, theres more than that now. But it upsets my wife so i stopped counting.

see? simple solution.

By the way,,,,, try to avoid lining them all up in one location, thats upsetting as well. Plus keep a few at friends houses. and rotate them thru, that keeps them guessing, Now ask how many of mine run at any one time? thats the challenge. S1s would be an excellent investment im opinion. will only go up in value.

 

[50dro]

Good advice! LOL [up]

 

[Virginia_Remington]

Yea the exhaust is full custom so def not what your going to see on a everyday S1. Sounds great when its running and it has a nice cam in it. Trying to change that belt right now had to step away... what a pain in my ass... Well I appreciate the complements yall, I think im going to like the Buell community .

 

[loose1]

Do you have a service manual? You need a special tool, or make one, to get the rear isolator out.
They are a pain.

Matt

 

[Virginia_Remington]

So I got to ride her finally after getting the belt on.... Lemi tell you I will pay someone next time lol I will never do that again. I made my own tool to separate the Frame and trans with a threaded rod with two nutz in the middle and metal sleeves. But other then the pain in the ass changing belt wow I'm in love for this bike. So easy to ride and feels great.

 

[Internet Annoyance]

Good news,,,, I dont know where you are, but my advice is to enjoy it as it is, then decide what you want to do short term and long term, few people leave these stock, so might as well consider if you will leave it as is, or makes some mods.

But do your self a huge-mungo favor and do a pre-flight and post-flight on this thing each time you ride.

its; A) a new bike
B) You are not familiar with it
C) the DPO factor IE: Dreaded Previous Owner if all goes well it was well taken care of and no issues,
but if it wasnt,,,,,,,, you can save a LOT of grief down the road by looking at EVERYTHING, fluids, adj, wiring, tires, brakes, etc.. not as bad as it sounds,

best of all enjoy....

Start looking for the FACTORY workshop manual and the FACTORY Parts manual. trust me, you will want them.

 

[Virginia_Remington]

I have some s1 lightning manual idk which one. But yes this is something I'm going to take my time to learn how to ride because this is my first road bike I've always been off road. So far I felt pretty comfy with the way it feels and handles pretty close to my old crf450r but much smoother and not so snappy. Tomorrow I'm going for a good ride so I will have a pretty good feel for it by then and each time will build my experience in. I will do a pre check each ride due to it being a little old but nothing wrong with being safe.

 

[Red93stang]

This is the method I used. The manual will tell you to remove the powertrain and pull the frame. This method works like a charm!

http://danielcstarr-pages.blogspot.com/2008/09/unauthorized-scott-free-technique-for.html?m=1

I love the Nuc blue frames as well! I'm kinda bias though since my S1W is molten orange with a Nuc Blue frame.

Nice looking bike! Good luck! Welcome to the board!

 

[Internet Annoyance]

Oooh oooh! looks at those late model Buell XB wheels there!

And i was just talking about you to another guy with a 1999 tuber and suggesting he come on here and read up on that project. So, assuming you have covered MORE riding time on those wheels, how does it feel compared to before? Still feel it was all worth while? They look great.

 

[Red93stang]

And i was just talking about you to another guy with a 1999 tuber and suggesting he come on here and read up on that project. So, assuming you have covered MORE riding time on those wheels, how does it feel compared to before? Still feel it was all worth while? They look great.

It is worth every penny to do this mod. The bike handles similar, if not better than my xb. The only thing I will be changing is the bars. It puts my wrists in to much of a bind and gets to be very uncomfortable after just a few miles. Sorry Virgina I dont want to cloud your thread. Back to your bike! They should have offered that color combo as a factory optition imo. I remember seeing a S3T with that color combo and I just about bought it, probably should have now that I look back. [up]

BTW, I see it has black heads and the manta tank. Are you sure its just a regular S1. You can actually decode the VIN and tell if its actually a White Lightning or not. A S1W has a 4MZYS prefix and a regular S1 will have 4MZSS prefix.

 

[Virginia_Remington]

Well damn aint that just even more awesome it is the 4MZYS LOL...... I just got even more stoked, so its the S1W. Well after riding her this whole weekend, I have found an issue. The battery drain flat, after riding an hour or so I stopped by a buddies house and when I went to leave nothing but a click click click.... I was like ah damn can you give me a jump. Got the bike started and rode home real quick! Went home stuck it on the charger and charged he all the way up went for another ride and battery went dead again. Now the previous owner said the voltage regulator was brand new(Makes me think its not now) so I think I may replace that first but idk.. I would have to have two brand new good working regulators. What yall think I should do, should I change the regulator or go strait for the Stator? Oh and thanks for all the complements [up]

 

[Red93stang]

What yall think I should do, should I change the regulator or go strait for the Stator? Oh and thanks for all the complements

Put a DVOM on the battery and see if the stator is putting out any voltage. My guess would be a stator. Congrats on buying a rare bike and not even knowing it! LOL

 

[Virginia_Remington]

Ok I will try that the next chance I get, if it is the stator how much of a pain is it, anything close to being a pain in the ass as the belt was ) and how rare are the bikes??

 

[djs2k2]

20w50 full synthetic, and I recommend AmSoil though you can use any brand on this planet that you want. We don't need a long discussion on this . If you want to recommend another brand feel free.