| Author | Message | ||
     Chris Maassen |
Hi, I bought a used '96 S 1 Lightening with 1400 miles on the odo. At 1700 miles,i took it in to get serviced after smoking 2 batteries. Found out about the recall for the ground strap from this web site. Waited almost 2 months to get the bike back. Dealership claimed Buell wasn't able to ship the swingarm. Would have been nice to know there would be a problem so I could just get the stap fixed and at least get riding in April and May. Finally got the bike back and the fender rattled off losing the hardware and almost the liscence plate. Had to fabricate a fender eliminator plate so I could ride home that night. Also there was a fuse missing and I had no tail lights or brakelights. Now at 3000 miles the rear headgasket blew. Took it back to the dealership to see if they could warrenty it somehow. 3 weeks later and Buell says no can do. I can't imagine why a headgasket would blow on a bike with so few miles. I bought the bike thinking what a cool and unusually fun ride. I was considering getting a two up seat so I could take my daughter riding. But after this experience, I'm so pissed I wasted a summer trying to get some fun rides in. If I can't get this situation resolved I would not recommend anyone buying a Buell. To think I was considering trading it in on a newer bike with the Thunderstorm heads. If you or anyone else knows of anyone that I could speak to to get this resolved I appreciate the suggestions. Please email me direct if you can. Thanks in advance. Sorry about the lenghth. | ||
| Dave Tripp (Tripper) |
Court - Still heading to KS? Be glad to buy Tacos if time allows for a visit. Heartland Park 1/8 mile drags & Bike Show is Sunday. Ping me if your schedule allows. | ||
| Court Canfield |
Tripper: I am. Have to collect one of my collectibles that's currently on display and make arrangements for shipment back to NYC for Museum duty. . . er, the bike, not me. Not sure what the schedule is gonna be....meeting in Albany tomorrow at 1pm, flight from EWR at 7:00 and tons of work to do Saturday. You going to be in Topsqueka Saturday or Sunday or both ? Maybe early breakfast (yes, I will eat tacos for breakfast) on your way to HPT. Court | ||
| Dave Tripp (Tripper) |
Court - Check ur email before you leave. DaveT | ||
| stever |
I slide appx.30 ft.and end up flying across a 10ft ditch with my bike about 8ft away.I went to the ER after makng sure my bike would be taken care of.This pissed off the two competing ambulance crews but I stood fast and by the time they had dealt with the on site stuff like stopping bleeding Iwas informed my friends were on the way to get the bike.At the ER they cleaned two lrge cuts and put alot of stiches in my knee.I told them my arms hurt so they gave extra Percocet.Two days latter it's time to go back to the hospital because of the pain in my arms.After more X rays they told me elbow and another bone are fractured and put my arm in a hig tech sling.My arms still hurt so I went to an orthipedic specialist.More X rays!My right wrist is broken and in a cast.Even worse my thumb was broken and I had an operation to put pins in it.This was five weeks ago and I am still in some pain.the left hand with the pins sticking out is in a splint.Both the splint (pins) and the cast will be off in two to three weeks.This will be 7-8 weeks of work missed.I used all my vacation and sicktime up and so far owe about 1,000 dollars in medical bills.It would have been worse without protective clothing! I backtracked your posts to about one year and the first one pertaining to the throttle was lastOctober when it was reported to have killed a rider on a DEMO bike.Since then it looks like at least two other people besides myself have been seriously.There were more incidents that could have ended in tragedy.I have owned ten bikes and over twenty years of experience.I have checked my throttle before this and the cables don't effect engine speed when the steering is turned lock to lock.The adjustment at throtle is correct and i have not touched it since I got the bike.I'm pissed that i got to play crash test dummy for HD/Buell.This problem was known at least 11 months ago when the man was killed in Florida on a Buell.The throttle problem has been documented on this site numerous times lately and I'm sure not all of them have been reported since many riders don't visit web sites.When I recieved my shock recall I had already been checking it before I rode only because of Buell sites.Iwant to know why H.D./Buell cannot at least send owners a cuation notice when there may be a defect that can result injury or death.Firestone kept putting out tires they knew were defective and I have talked with a lot of people who swear they will never buy them again.They are at the top of America's •••• list and they have earned it!I'm sure there will be some financial losses that may hurt them.This is as it should be.Are there lessons for H.D./Buell in all this?Buell cannot afford any more mistakesThey have made too many alreadyIs there an offical recall on the throttle?what happened to the shock recall.How many injuries and deaths are"acceptable" before you do the right thing? Thanks for listening you badass Buellers.I do love my bike and I will get it repaired and I will ride it again.I Hope to come back to this site using my own name.Be safe! | ||
| stever |
I slide appx.30 ft.and end up flying across a 10ft ditch with my bike about 8ft away.I went to the ER after makng sure my bike would be taken care of.This pissed off the two competing ambulance crews but I stood fast and by the time they had dealt with the on site stuff like stopping bleeding Iwas informed my friends were on the way to get the bike.At the ER they cleaned two lrge cuts and put alot of stiches in my knee.I told them my arms hurt so they gave extra Percocet.Two days latter it's time to go back to the hospital because of the pain in my arms.After more X rays they told me elbow and another bone are fractured and put my arm in a hig tech sling.My arms still hurt so I went to an orthipedic specialist.More X rays!My right wrist is broken and in a cast.Even worse my thumb was broken and I had an operation to put pins in it.This was five weeks ago and I am still in some pain.the left hand with the pins sticking out is in a splint.Both the splint (pins) and the cast will be off in two to three weeks.This will be 7-8 weeks of work missed.I used all my vacation and sicktime up and so far owe about 1,000 dollars in medical bills.It would have been worse without protective clothing! I backtracked your posts to about one year and the first one pertaining to the throttle was lastOctober when it was reported to have killed a rider on a DEMO bike.Since then it looks like at least two other people besides myself have been seriously.There were more incidents that could have ended in tragedy.I have owned ten bikes and over twenty years of experience.I have checked my throttle before this and the cables don't effect engine speed when the steering is turned lock to lock.The adjustment at throtle is correct and i have not touched it since I got the bike.I'm pissed that i got to play crash test dummy for HD/Buell.This problem was known at least 11 months ago when the man was killed in Florida on a Buell.The throttle problem has been documented on this site numerous times lately and I'm sure not all of them have been reported since many riders don't visit web sites.When I recieved my shock recall I had already been checking it before I rode only because of Buell sites.Iwant to know why H.D./Buell cannot at least send owners a cuation notice when there may be a defect that can result injury or death.Firestone kept putting out tires they knew were defective and I have talked with a lot of people who swear they will never buy them again.They are at the top of America's •••• list and they have earned it!I'm sure there will be some financial losses that may hurt them.This is as it should be.Are there lessons for H.D./Buell in all this?Buell cannot afford any more mistakesThey have made too many alreadyIs there an offical recall on the throttle?what happened to the shock recall.How many injuries and deaths are"acceptable" before you do the right thing? Thanks for listening you badass Buellers.I do love my bike and I will get it repaired and I will ride it again.I Hope to come back to this site using my own name.Be safe! | ||
| BUELLISTIC |
ATT: Stever Safty wire your throttle cables to P/N 27316-88 Bracket and be safe!!!!!! In buelling BUELLISTIC | ||
| Court Canfield |
I guess since this is the "Home Court" area that I'll give you my $02. Buell has done an extraordinary job of far exceeding the moral and legal reporting requirements with regards to suspected product defects. The SRP example is indicative. Buell, as the result of testing (the routine testing was done and it was "over and beyond" testing that revealed the potential problem) discovered an anomoly under certain conditions. Within hours . . . not years as with Fordstone . . Buell announced the Voluntary Product Recall. Bike sales (can you say "revenue") came to a halt. Buell did this before a fix was even envisioned. The SRP is, reportedly, an interim fix. I think they've absolutely bungled (insiders call it the most screwed up program they've ever stumbled through and owners/dealers are proving that true) the delivery. But . . the job they did in advising owners was incredible, admirable and without precedant. I, for the record, have my throttle cables safety wired into the "buckets". Old Timers Hint: I also have LOTS of other things safety wired. Having once had an oil filter decide to unscrew itself while deep in turn 11 at Heartland Park Topeka and wishing I could take credit for the resulting spin and recovery, I learned a cheap lesson. The S.H.I.T. (special high intensity training) plaque, from Reg and Jason Pridmore, hangs in the Buell basement to remind me that, ultimately, when I thrum that throttle that I, like a pilot, am responsible for the safety of my craft. Court | ||
| LeeAW (Leeaw) |
Court, Can you give us mechanically challenged people a step-by-step of how to properly safety-wire our cables? I would do it if I knew what I were doing. Maybe someone can post a pic or two? Lee | ||
| Court Canfield |
Lee: Not a bad idea........I'll have to do the pics later but here, in a nutshell, is the drill: 1.) Procure safety wire pliers and wire. 2.) Remove fuel tank or whatever is in the way of clear access to the location where the TWO (push and pull) cables enter the "buckets". NOTE: The "bucket" is a brass ferrule (holder) that the end of the cable sits in. MENTAL SESSION #1: To paraphrase the words of famed VW Bug moto-head John Muir...."sit on an upside down milk crate, sip a cup of coffee and commune with your bike. Get a mental lay of the land" 3.) Take a 24" (use plenty, it's easy to cut off, tough to stretch) piece of saftey wire and fold it in half. 4.) Place the safety wire so that the center of the "U: you've just created is seated on the brass collar on the end of the throttle cable. 5.) Insure the throttle cable is fully seated in the "bucket". NOTE: The "big picture" is that we are going to connect the secure brass part of the THROTTLE CABLE to the big bad secure MOUNTING BRACKET that holds "the buckets" 6. Put enough "twisted length" in the safety wire to reach from the throttle cable to the bracket that the "buckets" are mounted on. 7.) Arrange the safety wire so that it passes around both sides (one end of the safety wire around each side) of the bracket. 8.) Twist the safety wire taut ( I have spent my life looking for a chance to use that word, Thanks !) 9.) Er...I said TAUT, not TIGHT MENTAL SESSION #2: Sit back. Breath deep. Study what you have done. In a perfectly round world, you have attached the securely attached brass fitting on an otherwise mobile throttle cable to the immobile bracket thus preventing the two from seperating and placing your cute butt in someone's living room. That's about the best I can do, sans pix. If this is not clear (to be doen by a professional mechainc on a closed course only) then ASK QUESTIONS or print this and go to your local...no, wait. Ask questions. Court | ||
| LeeAW (Leeaw) |
Sounds clear. I guess that I would just want to make sure that the ferrule does not come out of it's seat. Easy enough. Now I want to take off my carb and see what jetting is really in there. It runs great, but I am sure there is room for improvement. Maybe someone in the NY/Danbury area is running a how-to clinic on Buell's that I can sit in on? Lee | ||
| todd |
court, r u sure that word u wanted to use is'nt twat instead? twat even make's it past the censor | ||
| JOE N. |
Court 6 weeks ago i pickup a 1995 S-2 at a local used car dealer.My first real bike,I didn't know anything about the recalls until I started to read this site (about 5 weeks ago),So i stopped in at the dealer just to see if maybe he knew if any of the recalls hade been done on the bike,He kinda looked at me funny,I assured him that i wasn't trying to bring the bike back.but I was only trying to get some information,He then gave me the number of the guy who traded it in.Tried to get a hold of him but couldn't. Then I remember reading something on here about the Buell costumer service center,I was a little reluctant to call(some of the guys that posted said they couldn't get an answer or were tranfered to someone who didn't help ).I called and found this not to be the case at all!! I talked to a lady named Jacki, told her i just got this used bike and would like to know what recalles were done on it?She asked for the vin.#,I gave her the number off of the registration.She ran it,and said the # didn't match.I thought know what?She asked if i could check the # on the bike,sounded logical to me, I told her that it was out in the garage and that it would take a few minutes i would call her back. She said thats ok she would just hold on tell i got back.(thought that was really cool). Got the # and one letter was wrong. She ran that one and it worked, gave me all the the info on the recall stuff i needed. Then she asked if i had any other questions,I asked if they had any production # or anything like that.She said they didn't have that there,that i could call the factory and get that information.She gave the number there. I called,talked to a nother very frendly lady(can't remeber her name)and she answered all my questions !!!I was very impressed with all the people at both of the Buell custemer service places.Thought you might like a little positive feedback? Thanks, JOE N. | ||
| Court Canfield |
Joe: I'm bettting that one of the folks you talked to was Joni Kells and you are spot on. . . she's fantastic. I hired Joni while I was at Buell and she rides her own bike, knows how it feels to be an owner and will go to the ends of the earth to insure Buell owners are taken care of. Welcome to the world of Buell. The S-2 is the best Buell available and you're gonna love it ! Court | ||
| buellie dan |
Joe, You are correct in that Buell customer service is the best!! Court, Have we given any thought(I realize it's early) to what we could do for the customer service trio at next years homecoming? Dan | ||
| Paul Lusk (Captlusk) |
Court, Now here is what is no doubt an ignorant question, where are the "buckets" you refer to when safety wiring the throttle cables? On the throttle control housing or the carb? Thanks | ||
| Court Canfield |
Paul: There are no stupid questions in the world of Buell . . .just stupid people sharing a love of the wonder of the world's most emotional motorcycle. BUCKETS are the term I used to describe the brass looking "cup" that sits on the bracket that is mounted atop the carb. The cable has a plastic housing with a brass fitting on the end. The brass cable end sits in "the bucket" which is part of the bracket that receives the cable at the carb bracket. If, upon inspection, this is not clear let me know and I'll shoot a photo while we are at Bonneville and post here. HINT: Never hesitate to ask ANY question. Therein lies the wonderful benefit of this medium. Ride safely, Court | ||
| Paul Lusk (Captlusk) |
Thanks Court | ||
| jim m |
Court, I was wondering, how would you compare the S2 v. the RS/RSS1200? | ||
| davegess |
THIS IS VERY VERY BAD All this talk about old Buells. RR and RR and S2. Please stop immediately or I will send all of you to your rooms. You are giving me an itch to sell the M2 and find a clean RS 5 speed. Please stop I do not need the grief. Dave Gess |
