1998 Buell White Lightning s1

I'm selling my 1998 Buell White Lightning s1 motorcycle. and I'll tell you why. It's a brilliant little drag bike. fitted at the factory with a Harley-Davidson Sportster 1203cc air-cooled V-twin motor & transmission. It's light. nimble. fast-as-hell. and extremely maneuverable due to its short wheel base. It is also high-maintenance machine. requiring frequent love and attention from a knowledgeable rider with mechanical knowledge and a garage where he (or she) can keep the bike in good running order. I have learned from experience that I am simply NOT that guy. Clint @ Hwy 66 Choppers in Montclair. CA added an aftermarket carb for me that is far superior to the Sportster CV carb it came with. and he also designed the custom-built air filter box that allows increased air flow for improved mid and upper range response. I dropped the bike on its left side at 50mph on 3/23/2014 on the 210 freeway in Pasadena. and all repairs were carried out @ Hwy 66 Choppers. Clint replaced the front wheel (so the new rim and front fender are black. but look very cool). there's a small scrape on the primary cover. my shifter peg has a "bite" taken out of it. and there's a bit of road rash on the left side of the gas tank. The tank has a vinyl wrap (with bubbles in it. of course) of Heath Ledger's Joker and the Japanese kanji symbol for "void" on top. The frame. all-white. is undamaged and perfect. Tires are still in very good shape. Look at the photos carefully. it's all right there.

Everything works. starts. and runs well. except for one thing. Three months ago. Holmes Powersports in Pasadena installed a brand-new clutch (which works great). but now. the god-damned transmission needs new mainshaft and countershaft bearings.

It can't be ridden safely until the bearings have been changed. and the parts cost less than $100. Go online. check it out. Now. I could take the bike to Clint. have him unmount the moror and replace the bearings. put on a new primary cover. strip the vinyl wrap from the gas tank and paint it black so that it matches the front wheel and fender. replace the shifter peg. polish the hell out of the whole thing. forget that it was dropped. and ask five grand for it. On the other hand. you can buy it from me as it is. pay someone like Clint $700 to do that stuff for you. or spend $350 for new bearings and primary cover and a coat of paint for the gas tank and do the work yourself. You might even prefer it cheap-and-nasty. buy it. replace the bearings. and leave the primary and the tank the way they are. The title is clear and in my name (I'm the second owner) and the California registration is good until May 2015. By the way. this is the only Buell White Lightning s1 for sale online ANYWHERE right now.

You gotta ask yourself. “Am I a Buell rider?” If the answer is yes. get in touch.

Also published at eBay.com