Exceptional 1995 Buell S2 Thunderbolt # 307/1399 {35 Photos}

An extraordinarily clean Buell S2 Thunderbolt, ow for sale auction on eBay! /* Disable right click script II (on images)- By Dynamicdrive.com For full source, erms of service, nd 100s DTHML scripts Visit http://www.dynamicdrive.com */ var clickmessage="copyright by californiaclassix.com" function disableclick(e) { if (document.all) { if (event.button==2||event.button==3) { if (event.srcElement.tagName=="IMG"){ alert(clickmessage); return false; } } } else if (document.layers) { if (e.which == 3) { alert(clickmessage); return false; } } else if (document.getElementById){ if (e.which==3&&e.target.tagName=="IMG"){ alert(clickmessage) return false } } } function associateimages(){ for(i=0;i

1995 Buell S2 Thunderbolt! Signature Series # 307/1399

Initially viewed as a match made in heaven, 993 saw the alliance between the BUELL Motor Company and Harley-Davidson, esulting in the birth of the BUELL Motorcycle Company, f which Erik Buell held 51%, nd Harley-Davidson the remaining 49%. The infusion of H-D cash and resources allowed BUELL to build an All-American motorcycle without the monetary restraints the entrepreneur previously had to endure. This first bike was named BUELL S2 Thunderbolt and introduced to the public in 1994 as a 1995 model.

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The S2 Thunderbolt retained styling elements from the 1200RS/RSS Westwind, ts ancestor from BUELL's independent era, et boasted various refinements and some truly unique features. Its heart was Harley-Davidson's 1203cc Evolution engine, lightly enhanced in horsepower and torque by allowing it to inhale and exhale easier. With 76 horses on tap, he 475-lb. bike was no match for the high-revving supersports from Japan, nd never aspired to be one. But its stump-pulling 76 ft-lbs. of torque from low down allowed the Thunderbolt to provide a riding experience that couldn't be found anywhere else.

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And that's exactly what makes the Thunderbolt so special. It's a gentleman's express that combines the best of both worlds by providing riders the Harley-Davidson experience of a big, onkin' V-Twin, tuffed into a world-class chassis designed by an accomplished Harley-Davidson road racer. Interestingly, he same chassis should later serve in one of Team Elves' Bonneville BUELLs, hich hold no less than 4 motorcycle World Landspeed records to this day.

Exactly 1,399 BUELL S2 Thunderbolts were built for the '95 model year, very single one of them entirely by hand.
Remarkably, n July 1995 Erik Buell contacted all of the documented owners personally and, eferring to "the excitement surrounding the collectibility of these bikes," deemed them historically significant. In order to commemorate the event, e sent a Signature Series box containing a signed timing cover with the production number and a Certificate of Authenticity to match.

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Images above show the installed timing cover and the matching Certificate of Authenticity for this bike, 307.

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Accompanying this motorcycle is the factory fold-out brochure, he original Owner's Manual, he factory Service Manual and Parts Catalog, wo BRAG magazines, nd the most amazing poster showing this bike I've ever seen!

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Better yet, here's a huge, -inch thick folder containing every single receipt since new, hronologically ordered in sheet protectors, ncluding the original purchase invoice for $12,400 from Harley-Davidson of Tuscon.
Also included are two Buell fairing bags as well as the Buell underseat bag, ll of which are now obsolete. The battery is almost new and has been nourished on a battery tender, nd so is the rear tire, hich now has exactly 500 miles on it.

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Glancing at the Thunderbolt, he eye immediately catches the beautiful, rtisan-quality tube frame, hich was TIG-welded by one person: race car fabricator Jim Schneider. Quite Ducati-esque in its execution, he bike features a short, 5-inch wheelbase, llowing for quick response to rider input, aking it a blast to ride through the twisties. All of the BUELL S2 frames were powdercoated white, n exclusive feature they share with some contemporary Ducatis, aking them unique in the world of BUELLs. The billet Performance Machine wheels this bike carries were an expensive factory option.

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Also white were the fascias of the two BUELL branded factory gauges, prominently mounted tachometer and a speedometer to the left. Notice the interesting badge to the right of the dash which, or the first time, liminated any reference to the Harley-Davidson sourced engine.

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The '95 S2 Thunderbolt featured here carries all of its factory original Black Sapphire Pearl paint. Due to the pearl content in the three-stage, 4-layer paint, ll of the colors change their appearance slightly, epending upon the ambient lighting. The Black Sapphire Pearl can look blue in bright sunshine, urple before sundown, nd pitch black in the shade.

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Reportedly, he body's styling curves were inspired by a Vargas painting of a beautiful woman. All of the painted bodywork, amely the front fairing, he front fender, he fuel tank cover, nd the tail section, ere made from hand-laid fiberglass, very elaborate and enormously time-consuming method. Since it was also prohibitively expensive, ven for a hand-built bike like the first year Thunderbolt, UELL switched to ABS plastic for the 1996 model year.
This particular S2 carries all of its factory-original fiberglass body parts.

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Hard to believe, ut 20 years ago, hen carbon fiber was as exotic and difficult to work with as a belly dancer from Bengal, UELL already used this very material for its air cleaner housings. By now the aftermarket industry has caught up, ut the original pieces are easily identified by their greenish tint and the label attached to them.

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Also made from carbon fiber was the '95 rear fender and belt guard. Although the S2 Thunderbolt was manufactured for two years, he '96 models had to do with black painted plastic instead.

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This motorcycle has always been adult owned, oved like a favorite child, nd treated with respect. It has never been dropped and never been in the rain in all those years the previous owner -- a very good friend of mine -- and I've owned it. Yet some of the chrome showed some minor pitting, hich is why I had those parts rechromed at a reputable shop in Los Angeles. At the same time, replaced some of the rubber pieces with N.O.S. ones.
I can state in full confidence that this bike is in perfect operating condition. Everything works as it should and there are no issues, o leaks, o smoke, o untoward noises, nd no problems at all. It's most likely one of the best preserved early Thunderbolts in existence and you can hop on and ride it home, cross the country if that's where you live!

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At a MSRP of $11,900.00 (plus tax) over 20 years ago, he new Thunderbolt wasn't exactly cheap, et an incredible bargain in the world of hand built bikes. Originally, series of 300 bikes was targeted and frame numbers (starting wth 1B9...) were assigned and stamped accordingly, tarting in January of 1994.
When the reception of the bike by the motorcycling public was overwhelmingly positive and additional orders poured in, uell had to manufacture a second, uch bigger batch of frames (which -- nobody really knows why -- start with 4MZ...) and switched from TIG welding to MIG welding, ust to save time when keeping up with demand.
Since this bike's frame was manufactured on September 26, 994, s production #307 and still has the 1B9 VIN, t is one of the last ones built from the aforementioned first batch, f which the very first 30 bikes went straight into prominent collections.

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Sadly, uite a few S2s Thunderbolts have lost their life to accidents or when their heart and other organs were used to animate choppers. Others have been modified, ften beyond the boundaries of good taste, o a point of no return. Despite all that, nice S2 Thunderbolt can still be bought rather inexpensively, f one comes up for sale, ut that's about to change.

Often seen as not only the most beautiful but also the best all around BUELL ever made, rices for clean, riginal examples are bound to go up as surely as the sun rises in the morning.
Value isn't everything, hough; what really matters most is the incredible experience of riding a tube frame BUELL. Once you've ridden one, ou'll understand its mystique and might agree: there's nothing like it on Earth.

TERMS OF THIS SALE By bidding in this auction, ou declare that you have read and accept the Terms of this Sale as outlined below. If you have any questions, lease ask them before you bid. After the auction has ended, he sale is final. Please, nly bid on this motorcycle if you are serious about owning it and have the necessary funds readily available!
I require a $500 deposit to be paid via PayPal within 24 hours of the end of the auction and the balance to be paid via bank wire transfer (or in cash) within 5 business days, nless other arrangements have been agreed upon during the auction. This Buell comes with a clear California Certificate of Title in my name. It is currently registered and insured, nd you are welcome to fly in and ride it home. The motorcycle is sold "as is, here is" with no warranty stated or implied. You fully understand that you are not bidding on an "option to buy" this vehicle. You bid to own! There are no contingencies.

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