There was a guy looking for a tuber about 10 years back who saw a mint 97 M2 with 5000 miles for 2 grand. I thought it looked sweet. Maz reckoned it was only worth a grand and to walk away as 'It's a 96/97 pre-T/storm bag-o- shite'.

As I am about to spend around £500 getting my rusty old 97 S3T roadworthy, it begs the question should I get shot of it for whatever I can and buy a good condition T/storm tuber for 3Kish? Would my Buelling experience be vastly improved?

Thanks Guys. I remember when I first bought her I did a Buell track day at Cadwell must have been 2001 maybe? Craig Jones was doing his wheelie thing, it was a great day! I asked to go into a beginners group and ended up in a group with Norm (he's the only one I can remember in that group). We were let loose and I remember thinking 'Jesus Christ this things fast. Oops nearly ended up on the grass on that corner etc. All the while pretty much everyone else (mainly X1's as I recall) was undertaking me on pretty much every corner but I didn't mind, I was just having a blast. I nearly always get the same feeling even now so I think I've answered my own question. My S3T, even with a peeling tank, rust spots and disintigrating plastic is a keeper.

On the subject of not caring what others think. It may have been that Cadwell track day or maybe the first Em's day that was held, I can't remember. But, I got talking to a journo from Ride magazine who asked if I would like to take part in an article entitled 'Who would buy one of these?'. The concept for my bike being, what idiot would want a long distance tourer as unreliable as a Buell? There were 3 or 4 other very obscure bikes in the article, so obscure I can't remember what they were!! Anyway, I sang the praises of Buell and got a very nice photo out of it.

https://flic.kr/p/2iYv7EM

That was the bike in its prime. Not looking quite as good now unfortunately.

To be honest 03 not a lot I don't want and not a lot I want. I like the comfort of the fairing being an old fart and the panniers are really handy when the wife comes out with me. Do I need the extra 10bhp the T/storm heads give me? Not really. Its all aesthetic. I think the X1 looks the dogs bollocks design wise. It's a beautiful bike. Maybe one day.

Thanks Guys. I remember when I first bought her I did a Buell track day at Cadwell must have been 2001 maybe? Craig Jones was doing his wheelie thing, it was a great day! I asked to go into a beginners group and ended up in a group with Norm (he's the only one I can remember in that group). We were let loose and I remember thinking 'Jesus Christ this things fast. Oops nearly ended up on the grass on that corner etc. All the while pretty much everyone else (mainly X1's as I recall) was undertaking me on pretty much every corner but I didn't mind, I was just having a blast. I nearly always get the same feeling even now so I think I've answered my own question. My S3T, even with a peeling tank, rust spots and disintigrating plastic is a keeper.

You're probably right. I've got 'rose tinted spectacles syndrome'. TBH I didn't even know that tracks like Cadwell had a noise limit. Didn't seem to be the case back in 2001. I suppose if it was opened up to any V twin there might be more takers.