Buell P3

As an Entry Level Bike

Once the standout in the 500cc class, at least from the perspective of the first time buyer, is the now discontinued Buell Blast. The Blast was designed as a sport-standard specifically for the adult entry level buyer. It has an ohv 492cc single cylinder motor designed to be as maintenance free as possible. The transmission is a rugged five-speed. In fact, the whole motorcycle is designed to be as maintenance free as possible. Valves never need adjusting, there is a single 40mm CV carburetor, the choke is automatic, the final drive belt never needs adjusting, the 16" cast alloy wheels run sticky tubeless tires, and so on.

Everything about this motorcycle is designed to be fun and un-intimidating, including the price. Included for the reasonable price are disc brakes front and rear with two piston calipers, optional seat heights of 25.5 inches or 27.5 inches, a dry weight of only 360 pounds, and a 2.8 gallon gas tank (sufficient since the mileage approaches 70 miles/gallon). The primary load bearing frame member is a rectangular steel backbone, which also carries the oil supply for the dry sump engine. Suspension is by conventional telescopic front forks and a rear mono-shock.

The Blast's reported top speed is 95 mph. Stability is good, and the handling is quick and razor sharp. As delivered, the Blast is so quiet and smooth that it almost does not seem like the big single that it is. However, a Vance & Hines replacement header/muffler, coupled with a low restriction air filter and a re-jetted carb, will fix that.

History

The Blast is Buell's only model to use a single-cylinder engine. With 492cc displacement and 360lb dry weight, it was their smallest model, often used in Harley-Davidson's "Rider's Edge" new rider instruction/riding schools.^[1] This filled Harley CEO Jeff Bleustein's idea of having a make-specific training bike, since many students end up buying a bike from the dealer where they trained.^[1]

The Blast came from a quick proof-of-concept at the Buell factory.^[1] It originally used half of a Sportster 883 engine.^[1] The engine ended up 80 percent over budget and very expensive compared to the higher-technology Rotax engines available from outside the company.^[1] Cycle World wrote "Such an overrun would be unheard of from an outside supplier, but when your supplier also owns you, you grin and bear it."^[1] The Blast was ultimately the most expensive development project Buell undertook.^[1]

Because the engine was overpriced, it ended up making money for Harley while losing money for Buell.^[1] It was regarded as a technical success.^[1]

In July 2009, Buell ran an ad campaign stating that the Buell Blast would no longer appear in their line-up. The ad featured a Buell Blast being destroyed in an automobile crusher.^[2]^[3]^[4]