Exhaust fell off due to vibration.
Rear piston holed due to bad design of the inlet manifold gasket.
Swing arm isolation bushes distort.
Stopped charging due to an electrical system that is the same on old tractors.
Rear light carrier cracked badly due to vibration.
This S1 gets more looks than Jordan.
Handles like a supermoto.
Will not keep up with Japanese bikes at speed, but corners fantastic.
Wheelies are what it is best at.
The seat is designed by a masochist.
Arm wrenching torque.
I could not agree with you more! I have a 1998 Buell S1 Lighting and everything you talked about except for the charging issue has happened to me, but I will never give it up.
The ride you get out of the S1 is just never ending fun. Roll back on the throttle and it still wants to give you more, and the 1200 motor just takes a beating and keeps coming back for more. I don’t think I could ever sell it.
I grew up riding dirt bikes, and my 1996 S1 Lightning is like riding a high powered dirt bike with a mean edge! I've owned it now for 7 years and plan on keeping it forever! I'm a 41 year old FEMALE. Started riding when I was 7 years old. I love my Buell. It's not meant for riding long distances. But for red light to red light, it's smoken! If you don't know how to wheelie, it'll teach you real fast!
I have had a S1 now for a couple of years, and agree with all the previous points. Best looking bike about - and handles really well (I have a AST shock now as original died at 15k). Sounds great, keeps with with sportsbikes everywhere except on long straights. Faster than 600 sportsbikes on the road due to the torque. Low cost to service, but needs money spending to keep going. Also plenty of room for personalisation.
Massive grin factor - can't imagine selling it.
Bought a 96 S1. Former bikes included everything from Ducati superbikes/ super sports, Honda CBRs to VFRs, and had a Buell XBR. Just got the S1; the meanest, bad-ass looking bike I have owned.
I'm in Chicago, so it's kinda of cold now in February, but plan on doing some riding in the coming months... not a touring bike by any means, but a nice 100 mile urban/ rural bike that keeps you grinning.
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