The 2005 Buell Blast represented the sixth model year of the standard bike from the Buell Motorcycle Company, a now-defunct subsidiary of Harley-Davidson. The Blast was designed as a motorcycle for entry-level drivers. Thus Buell paid particular attention to ease of use and maintenance, as well as keeping the cost relatively low. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price of the 2005 Buell Blast was $4,595.
Powering the 2005 Buell Blast is a four-stroke air-cooled single-cylinder engine that displaces at 492 cubic centimeters, and generates 34 horsepower at 7,500 revolutions per minute (RPM) and 30 pound-feet of torque at 3,200 RPM. It has a bore and stroke of 3.5 x 3.13 inches (88.9 x 79.4 millimeters) and a compression ratio of 9.2 to 1, as well as four intake valves on its lone cylinder. A 40-mm Keihin carburetor fuels the engine.
Paired with the engine on the 2005 Buell Blast is a five-speed manual transmission. The bike’s powertrain configuration enables a fuel economy of 69 miles per gallon (mpg) in the city and 72.8 mpg on the highway. This is achieved with a gas tank of 2.8 gallons (10.6 liters), with a 0.6-gallon (2.1-liter) reserve.
Each 2005 Buell Blast relies on an all-wheel disc brake layout for its stopping power. The braking system consists of a 12.6-inch (320-mm) dual disc at the front and an 11.2-inch (285-mm) disc at the back. For its suspension, the 2005 Blast uses a telescopic fork and twin-sided swing arm with rear shock: all from Showa®. The wheels on the bike are made of aluminum and measure 16 inches; each one is wrapped in a Dunlop® tire.
Buell used a steel frame for utmost sturdiness on the 2005 Buell Blast. Covering the bike’s frame are front and rear fenders, engine case guard, chassis protectors, and a spoiler. The seat provides enough room for the driver and a passenger, and there is storage space underneath it. Standard digital instrumentation on the 2005 Blast consists of a trip odometer and speedometer. Also included are halogen lighting and rearview mirrors for enhanced visibility when driving.
Each 2005 Buell Blast has a wheelbase of 55 inches (1,397 mm) and seat height of 27.5 inches (699 mm). With a dry weight of 360 lbs. (163 kilograms) and payload capacity of 390 lbs. (177 kilograms), the gross vehicle weight rating of the 2005 Blast is estimated at 780 lbs. (354 kilograms).
Like other entries, the 2005 Buell Blast has no significant changes over the previous year, which was a common recurrence throughout the template’s nine-year production run. However, as an entry-level motorcycle, the Blast exceeds all expectations, with engine power that is reasonable but not intimidating, top-tier braking prowess, and a well-furnished build.