Buell Demo Day

Quick Riding Impression - Buell Blast

We arrived at Ottawa HD mid morning on the day of the demo rides fearing that we were late, but only a couple of other riders were there before us. After filling out and signing the required forms and passing over my license, we tried to negotiate with the Buell rep to find a way for Gail to be on a Blast. I could tell that he really wanted to help, but with the insurance situation so precarious, he just couldn't break any rules - and the rules were clearly spelled out: a minimum of an M2 license, a full coverage helmet, and no passengers. Gail couldn't even test the bike on the parking lot.

Although Gail would have to continue to dream for the time being, at least I could still test the bike and let her know what I thought of it. Buell did offer me the opportunity to ride it on my own, but I opted to stay with the demo group as long as they promised to keep their speed down so that I could keep up.

You see, I have read dozens of reviews and commentaries about the Blast, most of which were very positive. But there were also some comments made about the shortage of power and how one would quickly grow out of this bike, and those were the ones that stuck in my mind. I also remembered reading that there were concerns with the clutch, and the automatic choke. As I sat on the bike and took hold of the handlebars - chrome tubes reminiscent of sixties era Japanese products - I had few expectations.

I also noted how tiny it felt and how hard and board-like the seat was. When I first rode the 883, I thought it was small and almost toy-like, especially when compared with my 13 years on an Electra Glide. The Blast (360 lbs. dry weight) made me think back to my much younger days on a Honda 65.

Hey! Where are the keys?? I guess some of us are forced to be satisfied just pretending. -Gail

I pressed the starter button and there was immediate life; the engine idling cleanly without spitting, coughing or any hesitation. Someone had written that the exhaust note of the Blast was not unlike that of a lawn tractor, and I guess there was some truth to that. I too could almost hear my Toro idling beneath me, though it was nothing a new performance exhaust wouldn't cure. Besides, who keeps a stock muffler on an American made bike anyway?

The group was ready to leave, so I snicked into gear and let out the clutch to join them. I was warned that in order for the clutch to have such a nice easy pull, its range of engagement had become rather small. I jerked my way into position feeling like a rank amateur. Although I came back half an hour later having mastered the clutch, I suspect my daughter will almost certainly be frustrated it by its abrupt engagement at first. Unlike the big twins and Sportsters with their massive amounts of bottom end torque that make leaving a stop with little or no throttle possible, the Blast, despite being a thumper, is not as forgiving.

Just as I anticipated, I had to work the engine hard to keep up with the full size Buells in front of me. I would hit the rev limiter in both first and second as I tried to wring as much speed as possible from the 492cc, 34 hp motor. I had expected that there would have been a bit more to offer in those first two gears, and now held little hope for anything better in the next three. But I was wrong. The bike seemed to wake up once I hit third, and kept on accelerating reasonably strong through fourth as well. Up to about 110kph, the Blast put on a good show and I actually was having fun bringing it up to speed. I don't know how much acceleration was left above that speed as I had no opportunity to find out, but for a beginner bike I shouldn't think that it would be a serious concern.