Buell Demo Day

In fact, other than its mini-bike stature (to me), the Blast was a pleasant surprise. It had more than enough power to keep up with traffic, it shifted easily, ran smoothly (thanks to its rubber mounts), and handled well. Although some of you may not be happy with me when I write this, but I found that it in many ways it was better than my wife's 2002 883. For example, when I rode the 883 from the dealer for the first time, it was farting regularly through the carb, and the engine felt strangled and out of breath. I was horrified by the awful performance, which I considered on par with an old Honda CB350 twin and unworthy of a bike with more than twice the displacement. Paying "the tax" with a new SE air cleaner kit and mufflers made it into a completely different motorcycle. The Blast ran right unmodified. It may even have given the unmodified 883 a run for its money up to the legal limits.

I should also mention that I found the braking performance very good. Each time I played catch up with the leaders, I was forced to make up for the slower acceleration by going faster. This of course also meant that when I did catch up, I had to slow down in a hurry. The brakes on the Blast were excellent in that regard, or at least the front one was. I found the rear brake pedal was positioned somewhat low for me and therefore I probably didn't use it as effectively as I could. Overall, I found the braking progressive and strong.

I can't say that the Blast was totally comfortable though. My wrists had started to hurt after only half an hour, and I didn't like how I was perched on top of the bike, and not in it. Though I wasn't actually cramped on the bike in any way, the feeling that it was too small for me never left me. This is no doubt in part because I am so used to my T-Sport.

Unlike some old timers who get weepy eyed whenever they see an old Brit thumper, I have no nostalgic feelings for what was once considered a big single. Nor would I find the Blast's performance levels sufficient to keep me interested for long. But then I'm not the intended market. Putting aside my personal needs and preferences, I see this bike as an excellent bike for my daughter.

The criteria we used for choosing her a beginner's bike can be summarized as follows: competitive cost, under 500cc for insurance purposes, adequate and tractable power, low to moderate seat height and weight, and last but not least, good looks.

Do I really have to wait until next year before I have one? -Gail

There aren't very many bikes out there that can fulfill all these requirements. Suzuki produces a competent air cooled 500 that offers the best bang for the Canadian buck. Kawasaki has the water-cooled Ninja 500 that is very popular for many as a first bike (in our area), and would have been a contender if Gail wasn't petite. In fact, her boyfriend (another soon to be rider) also must limit himself to a 500 due to the high insurance costs, and the odds are strong for him to end up with this particular model. His 6'4" frame dwarfed the Blast.

Gail on the other hand fit the Blast like a glove. She could plant her feet flat on the ground and found the ergonomics much to her liking. She also appreciates the youthful sport bike styling, and the idea of owning something a little unique.

Another important consideration when buying anything is what kind of after sales support will be available. My long association and experience with Ottawa HD makes that a non-issue. Cost, however, is critical given that Gail is a university student who is paying 100% of her own way. The Blast is marginally more expensive, but still very competitive with its metric counterparts. We hope that we will be able to negotiate a good price when the time comes.

As for power, I don't want my daughter on something that will get her into trouble. At the same time, an underpowered bike can be just as dangerous in certain conditions, is very likely impractical on secondary highways, but worse still, can be just plain boring. As I stated earlier, the Blast can easily keep up with traffic and has more oomph that your typical econo-box. Gail also weighs in at least 50 to 60 pounds less than I do, so for her, the performance should be that much better. I see her enjoying this bike for at least the next few years while she builds up her riding skills and confidence with a machine that doesn't overwhelm, yet still offers some real excitement.