| Author | Message | ||
     J2blue |
This past weekend saw the annual Southwest Regional Buell Rally and I was fortunate to be able to attend. Unlike two years ago, when I only had Blast to ride, I took my 1125CR down. I had planned to truck it down there for fear of the infamous stator gremlin, which has already hit me once before. But with really nice weather, and even nicer friends asking me to ride down with them I took a chance and headed south to the land of enchantment. The bike did fine on the trip down, no problems at all. The next morning we all set out as a group riding some of the best roads I've been on. I had to put myself in time-out when my adrenaline level got too high and I began to over-accelerate between turns on this narrow road that follows a little stream down toward Taos. In one set of S-turns I was too hot and had to run off on the shoulder to straighten the turn out. It was a lot of rock and gravel and I almost lost it. further down the road I noticed my engine light and battery light came on together. DAMN! same as before, so I switch to my voltage display and it was showing 11.7 volts. For the next 18 miles or so it did not decrease very much and I kept the engine revving above 5K as much as possible. Finally, at our lunch stop, I pull in and try to keep the engine running while the voltage dropped to 10.2 volts. Without many options I reluctantly turn the engine off and hang my head. But I knew that the rally leader had invited a good friend and manager at the nearest Buell dealer, down in Santa Fe, to come up later so I quickly got in touch with them. The dealership sent out a tow truck and away my bike went. I had to ride on the back on the rally organizer's Uly back to Red River, some of which was in the rain. A few hours later Murrae, the manager from the Santa Fe Harley Davidson Buell shows up with his wife and comes in to tell me the good news. They had a stator in stock and one of his mechanics was going to work on my bike the next morning, a Sunday, to try and get me back on my bike. Wow! Of course there would be a chance that something more could be wrong, and a needed part might not be available, but at least in Santa Fe I could rent a car if I needed to. The next day plans are made and Murrae tells me I will ride on the back with him and his Uly. Not straight down to get the bike, mind you, but with the rest of the group for an awesome all day tour of Northern New Mexico. Let me tell you, there is a different kind of excitement riding without your own hands on the handle bars, two big grown men on a Uly, leaning into the turns and hitting near triple digits! I kept wondering what stress levels the tires were probably enduring and how little brake pad material might be left. That Uly is one tough bike, though! Late that afternoon we made it back to the dealership and my bike was waiting for me, ready to carry me back to Colorado. The store was essentially closed by that time and I worked with Murrae on a little paperwork needed for the warranty work to be processed. What could have been a nightmare turned out to be a very adventurous weekend. I can tell anybody about three really great Buell dealerships based on personal experience. They are Bumpus HDB in Murfressboro, TN; High Country HDB of Frederick, CO; and Santa Fe HDB in New Mexico. Be sure and ask for Murrae if you need to talk Buell at that last one. He rides the bike and cares for the riders who own them. As too many of us know, that caring for the customer is sorely lacking at many dealerships. This is one dealership story that had a happy ending. ps: I don't blame my original dealership for the second stator failing, really, as we all know HD has the dealer hands tied on this issue. I trust they will make good with their cousin dealership in New Mexico on the warranty work. For now I will accept the limitation the stator problem imposes until more is known and a better fix is available. What I do know is, when she is running she runs so good it is worth the price in patience. | ||
| Poppinsexz |
Great story! Always like to hear about the good people out there. | ||
| Mountainstorm |
I agree, a great dealer makes all the difference. In 2001 I purchased a Millenium X-1 and set off from FL to ride the Blue Ridge. The dealer installed a White Bros slip on before I left. The non-Buell techs there did not mount it properly and besides coming loose and fracturing the Jet Hot coated silver header, one of the bolts for the side cover that had to be removed for the installation backed out and I dumped all my Sport Trans fluid about 3 days into the trip way off the beaten path in NC. Stranded with my first Buell I called HD (I had bought the ESP) and the closer dealer was 3-1/2 hours away. In Gastonia. Not only did they send a driver and trailer out for my bike, they got the bike fixed at no charge, and mounted a new rear tire for me by mid morning. I was really impressed. Turns out the Gastonia NC dealer was really into Buells...they had mounted a SuperCharger kit on an X-1 recently and were really A-1 on the technical end of keeping them running. A good dealer can make a world of difference in how you feel about Buell. Something HD never seemed to understand. | ||
| 46champ |
A good dealer can make a world of difference in how you feel about Buell. Something HD never seemed to understand That is not necessarily true I have talked to people from H-D who understood, but you can't interfere with how someone runs their business, suggest yes. | ||
| Xb1200rick |
A good dealer can make a world of difference in how you feel about Buell. I agree!! I have always done business with Mountain Creek HD in Dalton Ga. and have nothing but good things to say . Rick |
