So, can anyone here help me to break through the iron gate that is Buell Customer Service with all the women who know absolutely nothing about these machines? I'm super frustrated. I have no problem dealing with women in business, just seems like these girls are airheads and will not allow or help me to escalate any of the issues I've had with Elvira. Please help!!!
I dropped the bike at the dealer yesterday. The Q i had for BMC/CS was... is this covered under warranty... the response was... We have no idea, take it to your local dealer. The dealer is closed on Monday, the weekend weather and trip i had planned and paid for went out the window. I know I need some cheese with my whine, but C'mon! Either it is or it isn't covered. How difficult is that? I was up around 8K in third passing a VERY SLOW driver, got around him and needed to scrub some speed, braked an downshifted and the ass end just lockup, taking teeth from the belt with it. I wasn't doing anything too radical. The bike is bone stock and has 5K Mi on it. Just bought it this Feb past...
See if they would be willing to take one off a bike on the floor.
We have swapped out handle bar kits for customers, taken parts from kits in the back, etc.
We had a customer buy a bike that turned out to have a serious oiling problem. We swapped out the wheels and plastics for another bike and sent him on his way.
Let them know you are trying to get out on a trip and see if they will help you out.
Anyway, I have a 08 rider friend that broke his belt at 4K mi and he told me he hasn't been over 7k rpm. So its not a "radical riding" problem, it has to be a flaw in my way of thinking.
That would be great if the dealer would "step up" and take an existing belt and do the swap for me, but this place is Harley-Centric... and not my selling dealer. I'm in MA, bought the bike in Houston, TX. I know the boys in Houston would swap one out for me in a heartbeat, but these guys, not so confident in that school of thought with them.
strange, i downshift the 1125r track/racebike, brake and throw it in every corner at the racetrack lap after lap with no issues with the belt stripping teeth as of yet. my understanding is that the vacuum type slipper clutch arrangement should prevent that from happening. i think you will be happy to find out that the belt will be covered under warranty when the shop opens tuesday. jmo! tim
Did the rear wheel stay locked up? Wasn't there a recall to replace an oil jet in the transmission. This type of failure would cause the transmission shafts to gall up on the gears due to lack of lubrication. Have you had this recall done? Could be your problem?
Rabbit - To answer your question "no", as a matter of fact I often trail brake into turns and of course don't pull the clutch for that. The operative word in my previous post was "possibly". I was just throwing out speculation, not intending to making any accusations.
Loki - I hope you didn't take my post as an accusation. Based on your humorous response, I don't think you did. I do hope you get your belt fixed under warranty.
Back to my speculations. I can only think of two plausible situations that would cause teeth to be stripped off the belt. One being some sort of mechanical failure and the other being a panic stop situation.
I have 20K miles on my 1125R and have only locked up the rear wheel twice while braking. The first was a full panic stop from 70 mph 2 days after I got the bike. The second was practicing emergency stops in a parking lot. Fortunately both times a did have the clutch pulled in.
Even though I have plenty of saddle time I don't consider myself an advanced skilled rider. Upper novice at best. In an emergency stop situation, I can see myself failing to get the clutch pulled in time, much less making the appropriate down shifts. Based on my skill limitations, short reaction time and task loading, it's quite possible pulling the clutch in would fall low on the priority list.
The experience I had at trying to get the bike hauled down from 70mph has taught me the importance of periodically practicing emergency stops. Even with that, I still have to recognize and acknowledge my skill limitations.
Hopefully you can now see where I was coming from on my previous post.
Smoke - From what I've read, you are an advanced rider. On your comment about the slipper clutch. While it does work well on my bike, I have had the rear wheel squirm slightly when I let the clutch out on double down shifts. Is this just letting the clutch out too fast or could something be a miss with my slipper clutch?
On a side note, I think it's ironic that we have a thread discussing locking up the rear wheel while braking. Does this put an end to the debate about these bikes not having enough rear braking power?
Based on my skill limitations, short reaction time and task loading, it's quite possible pulling the clutch in would fall low on the priority list.
FYI, both MSF courses (Basic and Experienced) teach that you should pull the clutch in while braking to a stop, and also shift down to first in the process to be ready to pull away once you are stopped in case that becomes necessary...
Takis - Yes, I've taken the MSF courses. My point was with little or no reaction time and combine task loading (steering, managing front and rear brakes, distance judgment, clutch, down shifts... etc etc) it's easy for something to not get done. Which leads to my point about periodically practicing.
... task loading (steering, managing front and rear brakes, distance judgment, clutch, down shifts... etc etc) it's easy for something to not get done...
When you put it that way, I think I'll just not ride!
Ah well. I'm a scuba diving professional also. "Task loading" is considered to be the number one root cause of most diving accidents and deaths. The solution is, guess what "training and practice".
No offense taken from anyone posting here. Just trying to relate my experience and unfortunate dissapointment. I Love this machine, believed that the Goodyear Hibrex belt was indestructo, and found out the hard way, it isn't. Purchase in Houston because I have a home there as well as Mass. I'm back and forth frequently and recently rode the 25R XC from H-town to Bean town. Fun ride, no problems, save a cooked rear Pirelli Corsa 111. The clutch recall was done before I took delivery.
Be aware of what you say in all of your posts they are monitoring this sight and will use it against you.I also believe there are a few tippers on here for buell.Probably someone that even has their own topic area."And hawks this site"