.....to actually ride a Harley (well, Harley powered anyway) bike, after riding primarily Yams for 20 years. Went out for a ride last night over to a Harley-riding buddy of mine's place. He let me have a go on his recently bought Buell S1 Lighnting. Definitely NOT a stocker either.....120bhp, 108 ft./lbs. of torque.......got a cerami-coated header with a V&H can......42mm flat-slide Mikuni......& the whole package only weighs about 425lbs.

What a burley sounding Beast this is too......Very Addicting!!!

A bit like a Big-Block Vette.....lightweight with LOADS of Grunt!

I want one!!!

Them loud buggers, dont ur arms get sore from leaving them hanging up there for so long?

nice one scott i'd love a ride on oneof those...

Them loud buggers, dont ur arms get sore from leaving them hanging up there for so long?

No Ape-Hangers on this Beast Smitty......just a nice flat SuperBike bar.

Which accompanies the factory rear-sets quite well.

Strange looking though I only thought they were about 90bhp?

True Alex.....they are a bit odd looking......& 90hp is in stock form.

The one I rode was just like that, only in Black ......with a Cerami-coated Header & V&H aftermarket can.....42mm Flat-Slide Mikuni.....& some headwork done by a Reputable Machinist. My buddy showed me the Dyno papers resulting right around 120hp.

The throttle response was "Right Now" ....& it truly felt as light as my old Seca 550.....which also was about 425lbs.

I'd love to be able to take it for a "Real" ride through the twisties though.

i still like the bikes, i think its the innovative front brakes that do it for me. What did it stop like?

The newer Lightnings have that front "Rim" type brake with the inverted calipers.....Now those look Cool & are quite innovative.

The one I rode has the same brake as pictured above......(6-piston unit) that's actually made by Brembo ....it stopped Great!

But the floater pins holding the rotor were worn excessively--so they rattled, especially @ idle.....sounded like it had that Dry Clutch chatter!