A sad Buell story

[awd]

I've been bikeless for just over 3 weeks now! My XB12X with just over 5000 on the clock dropped a valve on me on my commute home. Luckily I was about 300m from the end of my road so didn't have far to push the bike. McIvor & Veitch, the agents down here, were absolutely great, collected the bike out in our rural area and have kept me informed all along.

Basically the front cylinder broke the exhaust vale spring and dropped the valve into the cylinder, the piston broke the valve, the broken valve punched through the piston and everything is munted! The worst part is that it has taken 3 weeks for the spare parts, admittedly major, to come over from the States. The broken spring was a manufacturing fault so Mr Buell is paying for everything.

The good news is that the spares eventually arrived today and I should have the little beauty back for the long weekend! I hope the weather holds out like it has for the last 3 weeks that I haven't had the bike.

I still think that it is the best machine

[merv]

I still think that it is the best machine

Geepers, what would a bad one do then?

The Yanks supposedly adopted Japanese style kaizen during Harleys recovery 80's to 90's - are they outsourcing to Bangladesh or something now?

[Big Dave]

Buell warranty is really good - I stuffed my front wheel bearings - 'abuses' - nothing more - i fessed up - and they still replaced them - parts are cheap too.

[nudemetalz]

Interesting to hear, I've heard all of the stories of Guzzis having manufacturing faults. Mine, when it was new, had the black crackle engine paint fall-off and had to be repaired under warranty.
Something to be said about having a simple aircooled v-twin ;)

[NighthawkNZ]

Geepers, what would a bad one do then?

thats what i was thinking

[Big Dave]

and sensi can list all triumphs and I know a few honda issues etc etc - co-pilots merc has been at the dealer for 3 weeks...shit happens.
the bitch is if they don't fix it.

you have my sympathies being off the road tho - I was a few weeks off with the wheel bearings - but I had the press bikes to use. - sorry.

[Drum]

If it makes you feel any better I have been waiting 6 weeks for a cush drive. Yes, 6 weeks! Still got a week to wait too.

[awd]

Geepers, what would a bad one do then?

Don't really know I suppose. I'm the type that sees the silver lining on things, in this case I'm getting it back soon and can go for rides. The only party I'm a bit annoyed with are the Buell spares bunch in Wisconsin who took so long to send the necessary bits.

[Blackbird]

Geepers, what would a bad one do then?

The Yanks supposedly adopted Japanese style kaizen during Harleys recovery 80's to 90's - are they outsourcing to Bangladesh or something now?

Kaizen has almost been consigned to history in the West, including our company. I used to facilitate it but it was canned in favour of management by edict some years ago. Very hard to resurrect now.

[Devil]

I think i'm going to have to try me one of those XB12X's some time. Second hand prices are looking pretty good.

[Mully]

I think i'm going to have to try me one of those XB12X's some time. Second hand prices are looking pretty good.

As long as you like riding Singles....... :dodge:

[Rashika]

glad to hear you will be getting it back on the road soon... cant have a Buell rider Buell-less for too long huh?!

[Big Dave]

As long as you like riding Singles....... :dodge:

Nah - that's good - it is just like two 600 singles bolted together.
Good analogy.

[Paul in NZ]

Bikes like all technology are complex bits of kit with multiple failure points and a lot of componentry is outsourced so we can purchase them at affordable prices.... ALL manufacturers drop the ball occasionally, it's what they do about it that matter....

Cheers

[imdying]

ALL manufacturers drop the ball occasionally, it's what they do about it that matter....Hell yes :yes:

This story make me want to get a Buell more rather than less :yes:

[Big Dave]

http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/17/271131.html?1178714981

[vifferman]

If it makes you feel any better I have been waiting 6 weeks for a cush drive. Yes, 6 weeks! Still got a week to wait too.
Is that through the dealers?
I needed new cush drive rubbers for my VFR, and the dealers said none were available in NZ, nor in Japan, so they'd have to go on indent (basically when enough orders were received, they'd manufacture some). "It could take up to 3 months or more". :shit:
So, I decided to order them, paid my deposit, and waited.
And waited.
And contacted them.
And waited.
And contacted them. They'd misplaced the order by now (nearly 6 months!), and offered me the choice of a refund or reorder. I took the refund, ordered some from the US (at less than 1/4 of the price!) and had them in a week.
Now I'll only order common or heavy parts locally. The interdweeb is your friend...

[Jeaves]

Same here , i order all my Genuine Yamaha parts direct from Japan , approx a 1/3 to 1/2 of the price from Yam NZ . I normally would support the local dealers but the pricing is unreal.

[Drum]

Is that through the dealers?.

Yep. They have "guaranteed" delivery in the next week. I, too, was on some sort of back order. Now I have found the rubbers on Ebay for $60 ($150 from the dealer!). Lesson learnt!

[pritch]

I still think that it is the best machine

Well BIKE make mention of Buell quality and reliability issues in the latest issue. Usually the name Buell is coupled with a phrase like "build quality problems". An Australian magazine referred to inexplicable breakdowns earlier this year.

They are a really interesting concept though and I'd love to ride an XB12S but they are potentially just too exciting for me to want to own one.

I hope the weather does its thing for you. (And for me :-)

[Big Dave]

I got 25,000km on mine - no issues other than the wheel bearing and occasional TPS reset.

This was only an experiment...almost 21,000 veiws and some neat comments later.....Wish I hadn't done it in 2 hours.

Still current:

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[RantyDave]

I think i'm going to have to try me one of those XB12X's some time.
I found it really weird. I was expecting it to be as twitchy as a bastard, but it was actually really stable and heavier into the turns than I thought it would be. It's way more comfortable than you would have thought reasonable. There's plenty torque, but bugger all revs which I found difficult to come to terms with having been riding a 4 that will rev to the moon given half a chance. The rev limiter's a savage little bastard too. The aerodynamics are much better than you would have thought and build quality (despite this thread) seemed excellent.

Give it a go. I'm certainly not going to write it off, I did have fun and it did go fast :)

Dave

[Rashika]

I got 25,000km on mine - no issues other than the wheel bearing and occasional TPS reset.

This was only an experiment...almost 21,000 veiws and some neat comments later.....Wish I hadn't done it in 2 hours.


oh Dave, that was soooooooo sweeeeettttt! :innocent:
Actually it was pretty good, Buell should have you on their payroll! :Punk: