| Author | Message | ||
     Baggermike |
Hi blake I could not understand Court saying that, all I have done is hook up a plug to the battery for heated gear or to plug in my battery tender, and I am sure the dealership would have said something the first time I brought it in for the charging problem. Mike | ||
| Court |
Mike: I do not know. Frankly these post swing from one extreme (lemon law) to the other (love) once or twice in the course of a day. The moment I start thinking I'll got back through and try to consolidate the data . . . well, I get sideswiped with the Blast and Ulysses issues. The ONLY people who can sort this out and make any determination are your DEALER and BUELL CUSTOMER SERVICE. The Customer Service folks are enthusiastic riders and tend to error, absent outright abuse, on the side of owners. | ||
| Slypiranna |
...well said court. I've read more info regarding every other bike than the 1125r here. Frankly, it's tiring. Concerning customer service issues...my only advise is to be a good customer and communicator and you might get farther. ...and finally, concerning dealership work/experience...when all else fails, speak to the horses head, not the...well, you know. p.s. PLEASE STICK TO THE SUBJECT MATTER CONCERNING THAT THREAD! ENOUGH ALREADY? | ||
| Baggermike |
Court I did not know about the fork leaking to today when I had just found out about the blast wheel bearings missing half the bearings the blast I bought used for my sons birthday in nov 1st and was from a non buell dealership, I bought it off ebay and was sold as is and said runs great for years and miles which was a 2002 and 6000 miles, it had sat for years and had water in the trans primary and mixed with the oil on the ride home and expanded and got all over the left rear of the bike and I almost wiped out, the guy who sold it moved to florida, the bike had been in an accident, and I assume you know that a bike that sits for years has lots of problems and the bearings I just found out when I dropped off the 1125R at the dealership and had my son follow and then I rode him home and could feel something was wrong, today I went to see what I could do and then seen the bearing were falling out so I got the uly out of storage and there was a puddle of oil at the front wheel, I bought the ulysses in june 2007 and did not abuse this bike in any way, the kickstand broke and thought it was my fault for getting on the bike by standing on the peg, I just found out that others have broken to, in the middle of october I was coming home from shopping and the bike started running bad and then felt something break, no lights came on and road it home and the oil pump broke, they picked up the bike in the middle of october and did not get it back till december right before buying the 1125, I had to leave it there because the other shop did not fix it right and was leaking oil from the rear cynlinder, so the 1125 stopped working and they came and picked it up and dropped off the ulysses, I have not ridden it, so today after having one bike in the shop and the other needing wheel bearings. I got out the ulysses seen the puddle and traced it to the right fork leg, the bike has less than 7000 miles on it, now that has to go back in the shop again, I am sorry if I am getting things mixed up but this is crazy, I have bought so many bikes I have lost count and I have only had trouble with bike this year after selling my bagger to buy the ulysses, and then when the ulysses was in the shop I had the extra insurance to pay for car rental but only covered 750 dollars and I want way over that and ended up owing 350 dollars, I paid cash to rent the car and the girl stole it and they charged it to my account and been fighting this still, so I have had one hell of a fall and winter, the blast has been problem after problem and I have been buying parts to rebuild it, it is a good thing I am a mechanic and can work on it, I can just imagine a school kid that save up enough money to buy this blast and wiped out on the way home, I have had to change the primary oil many time and the first two cups of water came out, I feel like I got a buell curse my first on in 97 vibrated to much and my hand would turn numb riding it fifteen miles, the rear fender broke off, so every Buell I have owned had been problems, I do not want to do the lemon law I want my bike fixed, it runs awesome and I might be trying to run to much gear but from what others have said this should not be true, I was told this time I will get facts, but if I get one more problem I going to flip, I am thinking of trading them in for harleys, now my son does not want the ulysses now with its problem, I need a bike I can trust, I think I can trust the 1125 it is just charging system and not so bad and if it is working right and they say I can only run 60 extra watts with high beams then I expect it to do so and will replace the battery if Buell does not. But I am thinking of talking to were I bought the bike for two new bikes for me and my son and count my losses, I am very frustrated, I know I can fix the blast and will have it like new for the cold riding season and use it for my winter riding. I have found out that I need two bikes so when one is down I can get to were I got to go, I do not think a car dealership would keep my car for over two month, is this the price I pay for only riding bikes? I am not getting a car and will ride the blast all year if I have to, I did get lucky the place I bought the 1125 has a guy who comes to boston and is bringing my parts that I ordered tomorrow and I caught him for the wheel bearings so I will have them tomorrow also, I have lost over a grand because of the ulysses problems alone. Mike | ||
| Brad1445 |
I think Mike has earned the right to post in this electrical thread. I think most people here want the best for Buell as we keep coming back for more bikes demonstrates. I think we all want this American company to succeed and are torn between reality and what we want to be. Hiding from the facts will not change them. I was so tired of having my 06 Buell in service all the time I told the manager he could keep the bike it since he apparently liked being with it so much, Then I walk out to the showroom any buy a new 2008 Buell, my fifth new Buell. The 2008 has had three problems in six months.  I think it is fair for a person who keeps trying to build a relationship to be disappointed when the partner in the relationship has disappointed you AGAIN. I also think that we all waited so long for the day such a Buell would be built that we do expect it to perform without fail. I can also why people connect the dots from bike to bike. I also don't think we should beat up the owners for discussing issues that can be rectified at anytime by the manufacture. The problem is not the problem, its the solution that is causing troubles. (Message edited by brad1445 on March 14, 2008) | ||
| Baggermike |
P. S. I am working with Buell customer service and have not said anything about the lemon law in a very long time, I had not followed through with the lemon law because it would not help me get my bike fixed which is what I want I just want to know facts and I am not getting them here, But I am sure if anyone else was going thru what I have been going through they would not be nice as nice as I am at this point. I am 99% sure I am the only guy on here that only rides bikes, so you do not have to read my post I was ansering questions that Court asked, I brought up the ulysses because I just found out it leaked the oil out of the fork tube today, I mentioned the blast because I feel frustrated and feel like I got ripped off but has nothing to do with Buell and just used it to show all the bad luck I have had with Buell, the blast was bought from a non Buell dealer and I find it very unlucky to have all the problems I have had with two new bikes and one used one, I got taken for a ride with the blast and is not Buells fault the odometer must have been tamperd with because this bike does not have only 6000 miles on it. | ||
| Baggermike |
Thanks Brad I am not pointing a gun at anyones head to read my post, I would think someone would find it amusing at all the problems I have had over the past six month, it is almost funny if it were not me, what are the chances of buying two new bikes and Both having problems, tuesday I found out the rear wheel was moving and today I went to fix it and found only half the ball bearings in the bearings, so I knew I could not ride it so I got the ulysses out of storage and found a puddle of oil on the ground, I found out yesterday that the ulysses has a problem with the kickstand breaking and I thought it was me so the ulysses is going back into the shop again, I do not need problems, and have a right to bitch it is keeping me from doing something I should not, and that is good thing. Mike | ||
| Jedipunk |
Hey Mike, I guess I'm the 1% your not sure of because I only ride bikes too. XB12R, Dyna, 1125R. | ||
| Baggermike |
Hi Jedipunk I see you have more than one bike, I learned my lesson that one bike sucks when it breaks down but have been having problems with all my Buells, now my son does not want the ulysses and wants to get a harley, I am not sure what to do now, I am waiting for wheel bearings to show up for the blast today, the ulysses is not registered and one of the fork legs oil leaked out and the 1125R is in the shop, now the ulysses has to go back into the shop it like playing musical bikes, I have never had problems with any other new or used bikes ever with the exception of Buells, and I have bought many new bikes mostly Harley's, it seems the Harley Gods are pissed at me and want me back. Mike, | ||
| Spectrum |
Update on my previous battery search post. I bought the Westco battery. Not going to install it tell the next time I have a problem. As others have pointed out, this battery isn't going to solve any charging problems. But it will give you a little longer battery life if the charging systems fails. The correct Westco replacement battery is 12V14R-B. Again it's a 14 amp hour battery versus the stock being a 12 amp hour. Original link: http://www.westcobattery.com/battery_page.php?bid= 13&vid=-1 Correct link (same battery just with the polarity oriented properly for the 1125R): http://www.westcobattery.com/battery_page.php?bid= 57&vid=-1 So far this is the best drop-in upgrade/replacement battery I've found for the 1125R. Let me know if you find a better one. | ||
| Baggermike |
Thanks Spectrum I want an oddyssey but they do not fit so maybe I will get the westco I will see how it compares to another battery I seen Mike | ||
| Court |
Mike: you have every right to bitch . . . indeed you do. I was simply illustrating that when you bitch about all 3 bikes, bouncing to and fro from the 1125R to the Uly to the Blast to the Uly - 1125R - Blast and Uly it's pretty much impossible to follow. As a seasoned trouble shooter I feel like I am trying to hold balloons underwater in a bath tub when I read some of the posts. In order for customer service folks to be of much help they need to know precisely what the problem is. Just a thought there that might help you. Before you call . . write down THE problem and when you are talking to them omit the parts about the fear of the Uly kickstand might fail, the wheel bearings could go and stick to THE problem. Give them FACTS. Not what you think, but what you KNOW. Sometimes it helps to also let them know what, in your mind, the solution looks like. What is it that makes you think any of those batteries is better than the one that came in your Buell? Is the bike batter in your 1125R or BAD ? It's likely one OR the other . . not likely it's kinda good or kinda bad. Court | ||
| Baggermike |
Hey Court think how my son feel he has to live with me, Anyway I just replaced the rear wheel bearings on the blast so one down and two to go, the 1125 is in the shop and they took data and relaying it to buell so I have not found out if anything is wrong but I miss it, the ulysses will be next after I get the 1125R back and will see if they can do anything for the kickstand because it broke but I fixed it but do not trust it, the right fork leg leaked the oil out so needs to have new fork seals and a latch that broke on the saddlebag, that can wait to my son is ready to ride it, it just seemed like everything went at once and I have been having the worse luck with bikes, well the blast is back on the road so I feel better now and riding the bike is way better feeling now to. Mike | ||
| Nickcaro |
Mike, I lost track of this... Did you ever get a new battery? I remember you saying you were going to get a third party battery.. I still have to plug the tender in every night otherwise the bike may not start the next day. This week I had to turn down a night of wild sex in the city cause I had zero confidence in being away from my tender for a night. kind of sad that my sex life is now dependent on my ability to plug my bike in. I'm sure that someone is going to flame me for not going through warranty.  I would rather spend a little cash to get a different battery than the stock. Someone must make a high performance battery for bikes.. | ||
| Bigdog_tim |
Nickcaro - yep, you asked for it and now here goes.... Turning down a night of wild sex only because you did not excercise your warranty? SHAME, SHAME, SHAME!  | ||
| Baggermike |
Nick I did not get a new battery yet the bike is in the shop to see what is going on and when the bike is done I plan on getting one in a few month, I like the odyssey but is to long, westco batteries are good, but the odyssey has a three year warranty and like a 6 to 8 year life span maybe more, I want to know if I have a problem and should know soon, I was on the can am website looking at the spyder and was rated at 500 watts and is close to the buell motor in design BRP-ROTAX built both so maybe the stators can be swapped, I got a number to call but waiting to see the results of the test done on my bike then I will know what I need to do if anything. I will post if I get any info hopefully next week. Mike | ||
| Brad1445 |
Court, I agree with you 100 % on being polite and all but With all due respect are the Buell customer service people that fragile? It seems they should be well prepared that people may not be in a good mood when they ar reporting a problem. Or they may not know what the problem is but only that there is something wrong. That said, what ever customer service people are paid, it is likely not enough as it really is not fun work. | ||
| Court |
Brad: It's always good, I could care less who you are dealing with, to be polite. I was in a meeting in our Board room the other day with about 42 people sitting around the conference table. One of the young engineers took exception to some of my concerns his haste to push a $385,000,000 project out the door prematurely to get his bonus. When I presented my list of concerns, rather than even listen he popped off and told me "maybe you just need to go see xxxxx (Chairman of the Board)" and he was amazed as I packed up my drawings, put my contracts in my briefcase and headed out. He ask Joe, the senior engineer sitting next to him, "where does he think he's going?".  He should have been nice and polite. Me and my team held the power, had the resources and were ready to help circumvent all his design error and move the project ahead. I was going to work all weekend to get his project shoved out the door. He was impolite so I've accepted the invite from MBUSA to spend the day driving the new SMART car. I have no tolerance for impolite folks and even had to hang up on a couple folks when I was at Buell. I can solve motorcycle problems but not the character flaws some folks parents forgot to teach. Bye.
| ||
| Brad1445 |
Point taken, As I was reading you post I realized I'm afraid to rock the boat too hard in a restaurant. I know they hold the power. lol | ||
| Nickcaro |
ok, well I'm at the dealer and they are currently swapping out my battery under warranty. They heard my sex story and want to ensure it doesnt happen again | ||
| Baggermike |
Thats Great Nick I hope I get the same treatment, I had put my nephews battery from his sportster and it worked better than the one I have, I did have a bad voltage regulator and read that can harm a battery so if they do not replace it that will be in the back of my head forever bothering me, so if they do not replace it, I will have just for piece of mind, out of all the bikes I have owned it is the battery that has left me stranded, I am also getting MTS towing service it is like AAA for bikes but more expensive but worth it if you need it. Mike | ||
| C4bird |
Anyone have any updates on getting their charging problem fixed? I hadn't had a single problem with my bike (other than the back brake being weak), until today. Bike just barely started when I was heading out for a quick ride. I have been checking the battery voltage and each time I ride, it goes does roughly .15 volts. Today if reached 12.2 and I am putting it on the charger. Hoping there is someone out there that has gotten some sort of fix. | ||
| Baggermike |
C4bird I am one with problems running heated gear and was told I would get answers to my questions and I picked up my bike on monday and no call so far from Buell as to my questions, I am getting madder as the days go by, I was told I would get answers and have not, I do not know if they are going over the figures or just forgetting me, I am calling Buell Monday and if I do not here back by the end of next week I will know Buell is a Company that does not care, I am waiting and waiting but only going to wait so long before I know if Buell really cares about its customers or not, Time will tell and I will post what I find out, I am giving them the benefit of doubt but by the end of next week it will have been two weeks for them to go over the info from the test they said they were going to do, I do not know what they even did for test, so it is one of two things I was lied to or they just have not figured it out. Mike | ||
| C4bird |
Thanks Mike, keep us posted. If Buell customer service and the dealers can't come up with an answer, I'm sure the group knowledge of the bad webbers can come up with a solution! | ||
| Baggermike |
I was told certain things and will post when I know, I am thinking of calling can am the motor for the 3 wheel spyder is similar and maybe get answers from them, anyway what ever I find out will be posted. Mike | ||
| Nickcaro |
here is a direct copy and paste from another thread. It has now been 5 days with 600 miles and still not plugged in to a tender at night like I was before... I am constantly checking the volts via the diag mode both full on and in park mode. My lowest dip in full on mode has been 11.7 and the bike fired up with no trouble. In park mode it has not dropped below 12. ----- well, here is my 2 cents. (a.k.a. one man's point of view from 10k feet) I just hit 2k miles today. I had horrible issues with my battery and/or charging system during my first 1k miles. On my first weekend I needed a jump start three times. If I went out for a ride and did not plug in to a tender over night, the bike would not start the following day. Upon arriving at home the on board diag would show me in the 11 - 11.7 range. I left the bike at the dealer for a few days and they found that all was well except for a loose ground wire to the frame. I was also given the "you must rev out close to 7k to get a good charge." Ok, so I keep my RPMs up and out of habit I still plug the tender in every night. I also switched over to LED running lights and brake light -(reducing my draw) The addition of the HIDs has reduced my need for high beams, so in theory I lowered my demand on the system. All was well, until the day that I did not plug in and whammo... the next day I can't start and the on board diag is showing 9 volts. (via the park mode) - Saturday morning my battery was swapped via a warranty claim. - Saturday I rode >100 miles with so many stops that I lost count. - Saturday night did not plug in to tender. When I got home full run diag mode showed me 12 -Sunday morning full run diag showed 11.7 Bike fired right up and rode about 15 miles. - Sunday night no tender. - Monday morning - full run diag 11.9 bike fires up I leave it alone to warm up while I put gear on, when I come back to give it a little blip the voltage surges as high as 13.9 ! - Monday night come back home 139 miles round trip. Park diag mode showing 12.8 !! At this point it may be safe to say that I just needed a new battery and we can all live happily ever after. <or> Lets see what happens over the next few weeks. If the gremlin lives elsewhere, this battery will start taking a hit and I'll see it as the voltage starts dropping down. | ||
| Bobup |
C4bird...how long between rides did this low voltage occur....1 day? 3 days? 1 week? | ||
| Baggermike |
Hey Nick I to think I need a new battery but they checked the bike out and said it was ok, I got the bike with a bad voltage regulator and have read on moor than on place that a bad voltage regulator can harm the battery, I swapped batteries with my nephews sportster and his battery is over a half year old and did notice a difference, I would have thought Buell would have replaced my battery with the problems I have been having but no go, I was told things and so far no go, I have a battery on my list of things to get and feel like Buell should have changed my battery just to be sure but did not, I was also told that I would get answers and I have not, will wait and see what happens I am running my high beams in the day time and no battery tender and will see what happens. Mike | ||
| Bigdog_tim |
C4bird - I got my bike just before Christmas. Between the crappy Seattle Winter and a LOT of extended international business travel, I just got her in for the 600 mile service last Saturday. The entire time I was gone, she sat in the garage without a battery tender. Saturday, I went for a SPIRITED ride and put on about 100 miles before I got home. Right then some friends called about riding to a nearby casino (one of them has a cabin walking distance). The scenic route to the casino is about 120 miles or so. We all over did the adult beverages and decided to stay overnight at the cabin. We got up Sunday at the crack of noon - and voila, dead battery. I got a lift into the nearest town and picked up a multi-meter and a battery charger. Battery showed 11 volts. Hooked up the charger and chilled out. By 10:00 PM or so (may have been sooner) battery showed 12.8. I fired it right up. It was pouring rain so I stayed overnight. Next AM, still showed full battery. I drove straight to the dealership who checked the charging system. The diagnoses is bad voltage regulator. New regulator due in early next week. | ||
| Fresnobuell |
Tim, did the dealer tell you what was causing the VR to act up? Heat possibly? I had an experience VERY similar to yours--dead battery the morning following a 100+ mile ride. Luckily, I haven't had any trouble since, but it has constantly been something in the back of my mind. |
