Buell 500 Question

"Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast." (twostrokesmoke)
03/08/2015 at 22:54 • Filed to: None

For all you two wheel bad types out there. I've run across what I think is probably a good deal on a Buell 500 Blast, but I don't really know enough about the bikes to know what I should be on the look out for.

Here is all I know.

2006 Buell Blast 500

Has about 2800 miles on it.

Always garaged, owner bought it for his wife, she didn't like it. It's always been maintained though.

$1900

Your feedback is welcomed.

DISCUSSION (11)

jkm7680 > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast.
03/08/2015 at 22:57

They're good bikes. Thumpers are the best.

Page Peter Black though, he had a Buell Blast.

Tohru > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast.
03/08/2015 at 23:22

The Blast motor is essentially a Sportster motor with one cylinder removed. Air-cooled, carb'd. I looked at one, and bought a Ninja 250 for the same money.

itranthelasttimeiparkedit > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast.
03/08/2015 at 23:41

I had one. Its slooooooooow (which may be a good thing). Neat little bike, I probably disliked it because it got stuck in 3rd gear and I ended up selling it

Sdwarf36 -1 > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast.
03/08/2015 at 23:48

For the money, I'd look for a Kawasaki ex/gpz/ninja 500. Great bike to learn on-and when you turn the throttle on (for a long time) it will go pretty quick. I've been riding for 35 plus years-and I still get a smile when I take the wife's EX 500 out for a ride.

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > itranthelasttimeiparkedit
03/09/2015 at 00:41

I've already decided that I'm a coward on two wheels, so top speed isn't really my priority. My main concern is really ore about the quality of the bike itself. I'm not looking for a bike that is only good for driving back and forth to the shop for repairs, I ad that before with my old Aprilia. (Great bike when it did run though). How many miles did your have on it before you started having problems like that?

MouseFitzgerald > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast.
03/09/2015 at 01:20

The biggest issue for me is that they aren't fast enough for extended highway use. If I had to run 55mph county roads for under 30 miles fine, but 65+ for long periods is strung out for these guys. They're also very small dimensioanally so take that into consideration if you haven't seen one in person. Personally I'd rather look at a Ninja 500 or better yet Ninja 650. Neither are rockets but have the looks to an extent and the 650 had enough power that it's fun to ride as you progress but not so much that you'll hurt yourself as you get there. I'd also look for Suzuki SV650's, cool bikes that are similar to the Ninja 650 but naked and a V-Twin.

BobintheMtns > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast.
03/09/2015 at 09:13

In motorcycle circles these aren't known as the Blast, it's know as the B Last..... And while you're not interested in top speed, which is fine, but sometimes a little bit of poke in a bike is good when *that* truck is on your ass... Even the owner's wife didn't like it..... Seriously, keep looking.........

itranthelasttimeiparkedit > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast.
03/09/2015 at 10:36

I don't remember, not a lot. It was likely a fluke, I couldn't fine hardly anyone else with the problem. Something like 20k miles.

I ride like a granny and still thought it was slow. Sucks over 50mph or so, I didn't like taking it on the highway

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > BobintheMtns
03/09/2015 at 11:38

I know what you mean about that extra poke. Sometimes that'll save your ass when on two wheels.

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > MouseFitzgerald
03/09/2015 at 11:40

I've sat on one, it wasn't bad. I'm only 5'9, so small frames feel better to me.

bob and john > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast.
03/09/2015 at 13:10

had one, used it to commute to and from school

i'll echo what others have said. its GREAT for putting around on <55 mph roads. delivers AWESOME fuel econ (I was getting high 70s, low 80s mpg) lots of torque down low.

it wasnt happy on the highway. fastetest I've even had it was an indicated 88 MPH (hehe) and it took some coaxing to get there.

reliability...is a bit of a hit or miss. there were some stupid design idea that you can fix on the aftermarket for cheap, and my bike did have a wire short out. but if its lasted this long, it should be one of the better ones.

if you want something thats a bit more powerfull, there are big bore kits for these which REALLY wakes them up. (from like 27, 30 hp to mid 40s) yes, the internals can take it, the motor is based off a harley 1200