45° V-Twin, four stroke, pushrod
actuated overhead valve.
hydraulic self-adjusting lifters,
2 valve per cylinder.
Capacity
1203 cc / 73.4 cu in
Bore x Stroke
88.8 x 96.8 mm
Compression Ratio
10.0:1
Cooling system
Air cooled
Induction
Ø40mm Keihin CV carburetor
Starting
Electric
Max Power
68.2 kW / 93.5 hp @ 6100 rpm
Max Torque
113 Nm / 11.5 kgf-m / 83.3 ft.lb @ 5600 rpm
Transmission
5 Speed
Final
Drive
Kevlar belt
Front Suspension
Ø43mm Showa forks with adjustable rebound damping and
preload
Front Wheel Travel
120 mm / 4.7"
Rear Suspension
Showa shock absorber under
engine, adjustable spring preload and compression damping
Front Brakes
Single Ø340 mm disc, 6 piston caliper
Rear Brakes
Single Ø230 mm disc, 2 piston caliper
Front Tyre
120/70-17
Rear Tyre
170/60-17
Seat Height
797 mm / 31.4"
Dry Weight
197 kg / 434 lbs
Fuel Capacity
15 L / 4.0 US gal
Source Motorcycle.Com Los Angeles, May
26, 1999 -
Why call it a Cyclone anyway? And what is up with
Buell's obsession with atmospheric phenomena? Perhaps someday they'll branch out
into related topical names and release a Harley-powered scooter christened the
Buell Breeze. And who wouldn't want an around-town thumper called the Buell
Toto? We will concede, however, that 'Cyclone' seems an apt choice for the bike
that has become MO's preferred Buell for 1999.
In addition to the Thunderstorm heads, the new
frame allows the header pipes to be routed farther away from the rider's right
leg. While it cuts down the heat, it doesn't negate it altogether. Slap on some
Thunderstorm heads for '99 -- the same ones first found on the White Lightning
-- and see what those fat valves can do for you. Quite a bit it turns out, which
is quickly realized when your arms are straining at their sockets after an
uninformed first twist of the throttle. The Cyclone is sick of apologizing for
being a standard.
Moreover, shorter-duration cams than those found
on other Buells might rob a little hay from the ponies up top but give it back
to the chargers at the lower revs, leaving you with seemingly enough torque to
crank-start a battleship.
What the Cyclone doesn't get in 1999 may be its
biggest gain. The M2 retains a single, 40 mm Keihin CV carb rather than
receiving the new, dynamic digital fuel injection (DDFI) system. This is Buell's
first attempt at EFI and while the system should continue to improve, the
present EFI Buells have first-year glitches such as a slight dead spot in the
middle of the powerband. Check out the dyno chart to the right and you'll notice
that the M2's torque band is flat from 3000 rpm to redline.
The M2 is the
smoothest Buell in their '99 line-up. "Translation? Big, fat fun."
Power feels like it's mostly everywhere, and if
you're not pouring it on for that last 1000 rpm, well, you're not having any
trouble hanging some obese wheelies either or dusting your
Rides-from-the-Rising-Sun-mounted buds at the stoplights. The new Showa
rear-shock escapes the recall. The Cyclone's got a few new suspension tricks,
too. Showa is master of ceremonies this year, providing the conventional forks
with adjustable pre-load and rebound and a rear shock with adjustable spring
pre-load and compression.
It's hard to get a stiff ride, however, since the
whole assembly is designed with all-around performance in mind, not just the
twisty stuff. But the bike handles so well, you almost don't notice it. It turns
in easily, smoothly -- counter-steering is very responsive -- and holds the line
with little else on its mind.
Enjoy it: The force is with you. The force is
also with your butt, or more appropriately, off it. In between those porky
wheel-raisers and peg-dragging moments, you'll appreciate that Buell has had
mercy and increased seat width by three inches while rethinking the foam
thickness.
It took them a while, but in 1999 Buell finally
got the seat right. Now, instead of wondering just how many Buell engineers are
having a good laugh while you're coming off two hundred miles feeling as though
you've been wearing some of those sumo panties with the manly butt-strap, you'll
just swing your leg over, grab one of Paco's Supermex Burritos and then be ready
for the next two hundred.
Unless, of course, you've really enjoyed that
sumo feeling in the past -- then you'll be bummed.
There are some other changes of note. In addition
to the redesigned tail section, a new five-gallon gas tank has been fitted, and
the styling change is a plus. The ignition key is now up on the dash, where it's
always longed to be. There's a new, more attractive swingarm.
The engine gets some new paint with a silver-bead
blast finish and black heads. The total fit and finish of the bike seems to be
at a higher standard, which is nice, makes you all the prouder to show the thing
off. The odometer and trip meter are digital. And the key is finally where it
belongs.
"Styling-wise it's an
attractive bike that gained many compliments around town over the past few
months."
As Buell's entry-level motorcycle, the Cyclone
inherits parts and technology that has been developed and refined on other
models and, as such, the 1999 M2 has come away from the recent recall relatively
unscathed. Affected are the plate and washer that retains the fuel tank to the
chassis, the ball that retains pressure in the fuel tank venting system and the
side-stand switch. The engine on the M2, as on all Buells, is not affected.
In any case, the M2 is still a smile machine.
There are some day-to-day realities to deal with, though. Like most Harley
engines, it takes a few minutes for the motor to catch it's breath after sitting
in the garage overnight. If you're using a Cyclone as a commuter (a very cool
commuter!) and you're in a hurry in the morning, you're going to want to make
sure to roll the bike out and get it running a few minutes before you hop on.
Also, like all Buells, the bodywork is pure
American plastic, so magnetic tankbags and the like won't do it. Buell does
offer a line of tankbags, saddlebags, and totes, however.
New is the bigger, beefier new cast-aluminum
swingarm. The older, thinner, steel swingarm is the one being recalled. Wind
protection is good, and that little fly screen does more than might be expected,
but it's not like there's a full fairing. There's a little head shake from time
to time as well, the feel at the bars being very sensitive.
The clutch was a little clunky and neutral was,
at times, hard to find. The header pipes collected some rust, but since we
haven't heard of this happening on other Cyclones we aren't sure whether this is
a flaw in the design or materials, whether it is due to MO's location
near the ocean or whether it's a quirk of our particular press-fleet test bike.
Finally, don't buy this bike with the plans of loading your significant other on
the back.
They won't like it much, the bike is a little
under-sprung anyway, and while the seat is vastly improved for you, it's only a
little improved for your better half.
"It's quirky in some
ways, but a wild ride all the same, and we found ourselves enjoying it time and
time again despite our jaded selves."
Seen the latest Star Wars installment yet?
If you haven't, you will soon, you can't help it. If nothing else, viewing the
aggregate sum of all the trailers, cuts, stills, and commercial promos that are
flashed continuously on every TV in America will be the same thing as seeing the
entire film itself, albeit edited by commerce.
Watching the movie brought back so many good
feelings and memories that we began to loathe most of the critics that have
reviewed it so far. "It's too 'kid' for adults and too 'adult' for kids," writes
one. "It lacks the personality of the first trilogy," writes another. "Movie
critics are parroting, self-absorbed morons," writes MO. No, it isn't a
perfect movie. Who cares? Some things are so much fun that they defy criticism.
The same goes for the Cyclone. It's quirky in
some ways, but a wild ride all the same, and we found ourselves enjoying it time
and time again despite our jaded selves. At $8,599 it's definitely the
bang-for-the-buck Buell as well. If you're in the market for one of those
does-a-bunch-of-things motorcycles then you owe it to yourself to check it out
and take a test ride, which Buell always offers. If you're like us, once you
twist that throttle you'll be saying, "Ah, so that's why they called it a
Cyclone ..."