Buell Blast

Last updated
Buell Blast
BuellBlast.jpg
Manufacturer Buell Motorcycle Company
Parent company Harley-Davidson Inc.
Production20002009
Class standard
Engine 491.64 cc air cooled OHV single
Bore / stroke 88.9 mm × 79.4 mm (3.50 in × 3.13 in)
Power 34 bhp (25 kW) @ 6,500 rpm
Torque 30 ft⋅lbf (41 N⋅m) @ 6,500 rpm
Transmission 5-speed manual
Suspension Front: telescopic fork
Rear: swingarm with single coil-over-shock unit.
Brakes Disc/disc
Tires Front: 100/80-16M/CTL 50T
Rear: 120/80-16M/CTL 60T
Rake, trail 25.0° / 3.4 in (86 mm)
Wheelbase 55.0 in (1,400 mm)
DimensionsL: 77.8 in (1,980 mm)
W: 29.3 in (740 mm)
Seat heightStandard: 27.5 in (700 mm)
Low profile: 25.5 in (650 mm)
Weight360 lb (163 kg) (dry)
399 lb (181 kg) (wet)
Fuel capacity2.80 US gal (10.6 l; 2.33 imp gal)
Oil capacity2.0 US qt (1,900 ml)
Fuel consumption64 miles per US gallon (3.7 L/100 km; 77 mpgimp)

The Buell Blast is a motorcycle that was made by the Buell Motorcycle Company from 2000 to 2009.

The Blast was conceived as an entry-level motorcycle to attract newcomers to motorcycling in general and to Harley-Davidson in particular. As such, the design goals were low cost and ease of operation and maintenance. Steps to achieve these goals include the use of an automatically tensioned belt final drive, self-adjusting hydraulic valve lifters, and a carburetor with an automatic choke. The engine design was borrowed from Harley's Evolution Sportster engine with the rear cylinder eliminated. [1] [2] The plastic bodywork pieces of the Blast were made from Surlyn, a substance used to make the outside of golf balls, to protect the surfaces when the Blast is dropped, and the color is molded-in. [2]

The Blast was used in Harley-Davidson's Rider's Edge New Rider program, [3] a similar course to the Motorcycle Safety Foundation's Basic "RiderCourse".

In July 2009, prior to ceasing all motorcycle production, Buell ran an ad campaign stating that the Buell Blast would no longer appear in their line-up. The ad featured a Buell Blast being destroyed in an automobile crusher. [4] [5] For 2010, a limited run of crushed Blast cubes was offered for sale upon request. They were available in Battle Blue, Midnight Black, and Sunfire Yellow, and were individually signed and numbered by Erik Buell. [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harley-Davidson</span> American motorcycle manufacturer

Harley-Davidson, Inc. is an American motorcycle manufacturer headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1903, it is one of two major American motorcycle manufacturers to survive the Great Depression along with its historical rival, Indian Motorcycles. The company has survived numerous ownership arrangements, subsidiary arrangements, periods of poor economic health and product quality, and intense global competition to become one of the world's largest motorcycle manufacturers and an iconic brand widely known for its loyal following. There are owner clubs and events worldwide, as well as a company-sponsored, brand-focused museum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Motorcycle</span> Two- or three-wheeled motor vehicle

A motorcycle, often called a motorbike, bike, cycle, or trike, is a two- or three-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycle design varies greatly to suit a range of different purposes: long-distance travel, commuting, cruising, sport, and off-road riding. Motorcycling is riding a motorcycle and being involved in other related social activity such as joining a motorcycle club and attending motorcycle rallies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buell Motorcycle Company</span> American motorcycle manufacturer

Buell Motorcycles is an American motorcycle manufacturer based in Grand Rapids, MI and was founded in 1983 by ex-Harley-Davidson engineer Erik Buell. Harley-Davidson acquired 49% of Buell in 1993, and Buell became a wholly owned subsidiary of Harley-Davidson by 2003. On November 17, 2006, Buell announced that it had produced and shipped its 100,000th motorcycle.

Erik F. Buell is the founder, former Chairman and Chief Technical Officer of the Buell Motorcycle Company, which eventually merged with Harley-Davidson Corp. Buell is a pioneer of modern race motorcycle technology. Buell is also the founder of Erik Buell Racing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Types of motorcycles</span> Types of motorcycles

The six main types of motorcycles are generally recognized as standard, cruiser, touring, sports, off-road, and dual-purpose. Sport touring is sometimes recognized as a seventh category or integrated with the touring category.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harley-Davidson Sportster</span> Type of motorcycle

The Harley-Davidson Sportster is a line of motorcycles produced continuously since 1957 by Harley-Davidson. Sportster models are designated in Harley-Davidson's product code by beginning with "XL". In 1952, the predecessors to the Sportster, the Model K Sport and Sport Solo motorcycles, were introduced. These models K, KK, KH, and KHK of 1952 to 1956 had a sidevalve engine, whereas the later XL Sportster models use an overhead valve engine. The first Sportster in 1957 had many of the same details of the KH including the frame, fenders, large gas tank and front suspension.

The Evolution engine is an air-cooled, 45-degree, V-twin engine manufactured from 1984 by Harley-Davidson for the company's motorcycles. It was made in the 1,340 cc (82 cu in) displacement for Harley-Davidson Big V-twins bikes, replacing the Shovelhead engine until 2000 when the last EVO was placed in a production factory custom FXR4. In 1999, it was replaced by the Harley-Davidson Twin Cam 88 in the Touring and Dyna model and in 2000 in the Softail models. Also available in the Sportster model beginning in 1986, it was made in the 1,100 cc (67 cu in) displacement until 1988 and is still made in the 883 cc (53.9 cu in) and 1,200 cc (73 cu in) displacements for the Harley-Davidson Sportster, replacing the ironhead Sportster engine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fischer Motor Company</span>

Fischer Motor Company is a US-based sport motorcycle manufacturer. Their MRX 650 is a sport bike built around a 90-degree V-twin engine and a one-piece, twin spar, aluminum perimeter frame. Alan Cathcart of Motorcyclist magazine in his 2006 test review, called the MRX, "the most important new American motorcycle in generations."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harley-Davidson FL</span> HD FL 1200 Lowrider

The Harley-Davidson FL is a model designation used on Harley-Davidson motorcycles since 1941. The FL suffix is mostly applied to Harley-Davidson's large-framed bikes, including the current Touring series, and also the Softail series, especially those with traditional styling, 16-inch front wheels, and either Springer forks or large-diameter telescopic front forks.

The Harley-Davidson Super Glide was a motorcycle made by the Harley-Davidson. Reputed to be the first factory custom motorcycle, it originated Harley-Davidson's FX series of motorcycles by mating Sportster components, most notably the front end, with the chassis of their larger big twin motorcycles. Super Glide models from 1991 to 2018 were based on the Dyna Glide chassis which has a wider variety of front ends and trim levels, and for a time filled the intermediate niche between the smallest and largest Harley-Davidson models; the Dyna platform has since been discontinued for the 2018 model year in favor of the new Softail frame, with some models from the Dyna nameplate being carried over to the Softail line.

The Harley-Davidson Topper was the only motor scooter that the Harley-Davidson Motor Company ever produced.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buell 1125R</span> Type of motorcycle

The Buell 1125R is a sport bike that was made by Buell Motorcycle Company in the United States. It was introduced in July 2007 for the 2008 model year. Production of road-going 1125Rs, and all Buell models, ceased in October 2009. In November 2009, Buell founder Erik Buell launched Erik Buell Racing, which initially produced race-only versions of the 1125R.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bubba Blackwell</span> American motorcycle stunt performer

Bubba Blackwell is an American stunt performer and motorcycle jumping world record holder who is sponsored by and promoted by Harley-Davidson Motorcycles. Prior to his association with Harley-Davidson, Blackwell was sponsored by the now-defunct Buell Motorcycle Company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harley-Davidson XR-750</span> Type of motorcycle

The Harley-Davidson XR-750 is a racing motorcycle made by Harley-Davidson since 1970, primarily for dirt track racing, but also for road racing in the XRTT variant. The XR-750 was designed in response to a 1969 change in AMA Grand National Championship rules that leveled the playing field for makes other than Harley-Davidson, allowing Japanese and British motorcycles to outperform the previously dominant Harley-Davidson KR race bike. The XR-750 went on to win the most races in the history of American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) racing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Erik Buell Racing</span>

Erik Buell Racing (EBR) is an American motorcycle sport company which produces street and racing motorcycles, based in East Troy, Wisconsin, USA. The business entered receivership in April 2015. After two previous attempts, the business remnants were sold in January 2016 to Liquid Asset Partners (LAP), an American organization specializing in the purchase and liquidation of failed businesses. Liquid Asset Partners kept the company intact and motorcycle production resumed on March 1, 2016, the first new model rolling out on March 17, 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harley-Davidson Tri Glide Ultra Classic</span> Type of motorcycle

The Harley-Davidson Tri Glide Ultra Classic is a three-wheeled motorcycle manufactured by Harley-Davidson and introduced in the 2009 model year. Its model designation is FLHTCUTG.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harley-Davidson Model W</span> Type of motorcycle

The Harley-Davidson Model W, also known as the Sport Twin, is a motorcycle made by Harley-Davidson from 1919 to 1923. Unusually for a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, the Model W had a flat-twin engine and a trailing link fork. The Model W set speed records on runs from New York City to Chicago and from the Canada–United States border to the Mexico–United States border. Slow home market sales led to the end of production after four years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indian Model O</span> Type of motorcycle

The Indian Model O was a lightweight motorcycle made by the Hendee Manufacturing Company from 1917 to 1919. Indian expected to sell the Model O to young or thrifty riders. The United States' entry into World War I caused Indian to shift manufacture to military motorcycles, and the low cost of the Ford Model T caused the market for lightweight motorcycles to collapse.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harley-Davidson Street</span> Motorcycle series manufactured by Harley-Davidson

Jungkook just

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Motorcycle wheel</span> Component of motorised two-wheelers

Motorcyclewheels are made to cope with radial and axial forces. They also provide a way of mounting other critical components such as the brakes, final drive and suspension. Wheels, and anything directly connected to them, are considered to be unsprung mass. Traditionally motorcycles used wire-spoked wheels with inner tubes and pneumatic tyres. Although cast wheels were first used on a motorcycle in 1927, it would not be until the 1970s that mainstream manufacturers would start to introduce cast wheels on their roadgoing motorcycles. Spoked wheels are usually made using steel spokes with steel or aluminium rims. Cast wheels are predominantly made from an aluminium-alloy, but can also be made from more-exotic materials, such as magnesium content alloy or carbon fibre.

References

  1. "Buell Blast - A Better Beginner's Bike?". Motorcycle.com. VerticaScope Inc. 2000-01-15. Archived from the original on 2011-07-14. Retrieved 2009-05-16.
  2. 1 2 Gromer, Cliff (1 August 2001). "Popular Mechanics - Buell's Blast Is Easy To Ride". PopularMechanics.com. Hearst Communications Inc. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 2009-05-16.
  3. Madson, Bart (2009-07-28). "2010 Buell Blast First and Last Look?". Motorcycle USA. Motorcycle USA. Archived from the original on 2010-10-12. Retrieved 2009-10-25. ...check out Buell's website to watch Erik Buell's video describing the reasons for his wanton destruction of the fuel-efficient mount that, according to Buell PR, has trained over 175,000 new riders in the Riders Edge New Rider Course since 2000.
  4. 1 2 Korzeniewski, Jeremy (2009-07-28). "Buell Blast comes to a crushing end, new entry-level sportbike in the offing?". Autoblog.com . AOL. Archived from the original on 2009-10-19. Retrieved 2012-09-23.
  5. "2010 Buell Blast Revealed?". Sport Rider. Source Interlink Media. August 2009. Archived from the original on 2010-03-24. Retrieved 2012-09-23.