Bike of the Month for February 2000

Buell Blast

Harley-Davidson's clever little brother, Buell, has come up with about the smartest motorcycle ever built in this country. An actual beginner's bike that doesn't patronize the beginner. It's small, but it doesn't look cheap. It's inexpensive to buy and maintain. Many of the lessons they learned in designing the Blast will eventually make it into the next Sportster. Look at the front brake. Instead of creating a seperate hanger for the floating disc, they just bolt it directly to the wheel. It's cheaper and saves considerably on unsprung weight. How about the color. Don't like it in red or black? Give Buell a little bit of time. The four color pieces; gas tank, front fender, tail section and flyscreen, are easily removable and replaceable. Not only that, but it will cost less to change those parts than buy a new gas tank for a Honda Rebel 250. And no matter how many times you change the gas tank on your Rebel, it will never look as good as the Blast. It's not a motorcycle to endure while you learn to ride. It's a real full-fledged bike that I think a lot of experienced bikers will find enticing. Like I said, clever.