| Author | Message | ||
     Nikoff90 |
Ordered my clutch slave and a carbon clutch guard, COmposite had voids and plan on returning now I got my modified rotor and it clearly was not treated well dongs on the inner shield over the magnets + a bit of a gouge from something prying inside the thing on the back edge of the shield. Seriously this type of stuff gives me very little confidence with the guys. Is this normal for these guys? I really was wanting to support the business but this makes it hard in all reality. I like that they sent me a sheet where I state the condition of the part I am pulling out, it should have a quality control for the one they sent me. | ||
| Levor |
Assuming you mean the stator rotor - they didn't return a new rotor - when you return your core, that one is modified then stashed until someone orders one, they grab one off the shelf, its given to the next guy, who sends in his core, and so on. Thusly, you ought to blame the previous guy who beat the hell out of it before sending it in to get his core charge refunded! In regards to the rotor, I do think you're being a bit picky if its simply a cosmetic issue. Once its in, as long as its functional (hasn't delaminated/demagnetized, delamination would be the most likely problem if it was really thrashed on and would be quite obvious upon inspection) I wouldn't worry about it. (Message edited by levor on October 30, 2013) | ||
| Nikoff90 |
They accepted the rotor and than shipped it to me so its on EBR in that case. I admit I am picky and I do quality control at my work all day and a boatload of visual inspection + fix what is needed so i look for things most people miss unless pointed out to them. I don't expect any less really so I may be a bad customer in that sense. I have never run into questionable quality from other vendors in the motorcycle industry over the last 30 years and generally have had my expectations exceeded on most accounts so to me this is not normal. | ||
| Pmjolly |
Could you post a picture? | ||
| Zac4mac |
waitaminnit The rotor is used, if functional, you get a core back. doesn't have to be pretty to work. How would you like to be the guy that has to pony up the full cost for a cosmetic ding? It's an internal part... What about the clutch slave? Carbon and fiberglas have voids sometimes. Vacuuming helps. I find voids in Harley heads all the time. in aluminum... I'm not saying accept crap quality, just be reasonable. you're not. JMHO. Zack | ||
| Wymaen |
>I have never run into questionable quality from other vendors in the motorcycle industry over the last 30 years I'm new here, so I'm not really looking to piss people off, but I'm having a really hard time believing you've never once had an issue with a below-expectation part in your years as a consumer, and that both parts you've ordered from EBR were so poor you feel that you're being ripped off...that's just a lot to swallow. I've ordered parts from EBR on multiple occasions, and never had an unsatisfactory experience, either on the goods OR services side. I know it's anecdotal, and counts for little, but I've not read of anyone else here having such problems. Maybe it's because you're a producer as well, and your standards are higher than others, but it's entirely possible you're being hypercritical of the purported functionality because you weren't blown away by the aesthetics of the parts. I've seen enough footage of Rodrob's mishaps to believe him when he says the case covers hold up; his endorsement of them is what convinced me to order and install mine. Take this as you will, of course...we're on the internet, after all  | ||
| Levor |
I understand where you're coming from. I know I'm picky about cosmetics regarding vehicles, repairs, etc due to my work as a body man, so perfection is my MO, but when it comes to internal parts, they ought to be functional above all else. If I get a set of valve covers for my car but the inside of them has buttcheeks inscribed into them in a stylish but tasteless pattern, as long as the outside is flawless, who cares about the invisible stuff? Whenever you buy a part with a core, you're getting what amounts to a used part, for better or worse. If the damage didn't cause delamination or fitment issues, I can't see cosmetic problems being something one can really justify nitpicking. Nobody knows about it but you, it doesn't influence function, so there's no problem. I mean shoot, almost every time we get used body parts we have to repair them and always repaint. A bit of cosmetic imperfection is to be expected and is par for the course with used/reman parts, my friend. If it was a new rotor you'd definitely have a legit gripe but honest bud, I think you're a bit off base here - that said, it's your money, if you feel you didn't get what you paid for then try to make it right. But on that same hand, it's also your time - is it worth the wait and hassle to have the rotor returned and replaced over a cosmetic problem that, once installed, is of no consequence? Truly, only you can answer that and do what you feel is right and just. Either way, hopefully it works out for ya | ||
| Torquehd |
Carbon and fiberglas have voids sometimes. Vacuuming helps. I find voids in Harley heads all the time. in aluminum... My 2006 XB9SX had excessive porosity in the engine casing, causing an oil leak. Of course, I got a new motor out of the deal, Buell wanted it back for QC purposes. I was a tech at the dealership, glad it was mine and not one a regular customer was waiting on. It sucks but it happens. Then again, the case saver isn't there to be a high-luster, glossed to perfection piece of eye candy. It's like an axle slider. It's ugly, but it does its job. | ||
| Nikoff90 |
Devil is in the details. I hope the rest of my experience with this bike only improves from here. I have not really gotten to ride the thing as its needed the repairs. I can say that it was a bit unhappy going slow, engine and handling. Its somewhat like getting on and off the grid on my late 80s TZ250 "putting around makes you think what the f#$% is wrong with the thing it's not what they are made for", and same with the TZ letting it just run through the rpm range wide open is nice, hopefully the same is true for braking running full speed into turns once the front end is sorted, at the moment it would be a hair raising bottoming out bouncing experience. I did expect the thing to act more like a race-bike than a street bike so no surprise there. Wymaen; sorry I have to admit I grazed your post and did not read it thoroughly as what I hit seemed like it was going to be a bit of flaming. There is a big difference in being ripped off in comparison to unhappy with quality control and care from a manufacturer. I guarantee you Buell will take back anything I am unhappy with but it is a poor business practice to put your consumers in the position where they might consider the said return. This is a turn off and down the road a questionably cared for $500 dollar part could impact sales of the considered purchase of one of your top products, like say the whole new 1190RX. This is the kind of thing I have to discuss with my guys on a daily basis, and the fact they like their jobs and want to keep them. You can pin this on the guy on the floor but ultimately its management that is to blame. Regardless it is not uncommon for slightly damaged use-able product to be moved to consumers as such with implicit notification at reduced cost. This actually fills another nitch in the market and protects the said manufacture in more than just status. Seriously I want to see Buell succeed I wanted to see Highland succeed also. I like nice things and treat them with care even if I have been known to toss them down the road and or track. I know myself and I am sure others don't mind spending their hard earned money on quality things they like but refuse to spend on items they are under whelmed with. I will take the teething of bleeding progress but clear lack of care is troubling especially when it is in clear view and if that is the case what is knowingly hidden? I know no manufacture is above this look at Suzuki and their poorly welded GSXR frames. Happy or not with how the rotor was treated before its arrival to me it is being mounted on the bike as I am sure it will work for now anyway. I will complain here no more because I now know what I should expect and its now on me. No time to reread for clearness hope it works you know what i mean. Dings and scrapes all the way around and I know i am picky, could be the bikes come from the factory with this grade of finish i will have to look closely to the one coming off the bike tonight.  | ||
| Cataract2 |
Have you contacted EBR about the rotor? | ||
| Georgehitch17 |
I love how small issues always results in threats to the company. Did you contact EBR? Did they decline your case and say sorry about your luck? Is the part broken? If you answered "no" to those three questions then you need to quit whining and call them up. But why is it always "I won't be doing business with them ever again" before you even contacted them? | ||
| Jdugger |
You need to sell this bike. It could get a rock chip or something if you actually rode it instead of put it up on stands in the garage and polished it all the time. | ||
| Court |
I spent years doing customer service duty for Buell Motorcycle Company. I'm finding this a bit difficult to believe. I'd have had it solved in a matter of minutes and suspect, if contacted, the folks at EBR would as well. Never, in my experience, has a motorcycle company been more focused to provided an amazing customer experience. | ||
| Dhays1775 |
I believe that little ding you're picture shows isn't out of the ordinary. When I pulled my rotor off to have it machined, it had a couple of those dings in the lip as well. I KNOW I didn't do it, and I also KNOW I will hopefully never have to see those dings again seeing how it is an internal part that still functions as intended. That being said, I have no idea how the ding is created on the rotor. But, I know for a fact the my stock rotor had them. Just my $0.02 | ||
| Zac4mac |
Those magnets are hella strong. The ding being right next to a sprag bolt, the Allen wrench got pulled into the mu-metal lining. Mu-metal doesn't get affected by the magnetic field nor does it distort the field. It is also very soft like tin. Z | ||
| Nikoff90 |
Thanks for the feed back "Dhays1775 , Zac4mac" I had a look at the part in the bike a few minutes ago and it some of the dings not including the nick in the shield and I suspect it is from removal and install of the stator covers without using the 3 guide pins threaded in place. Sorry for any one I offended but I tend to be a little anal retentive about the mechanical bits of my motorcycles. To Buells credit I heard from home that there is a message on the phone for me. Torquehd; I have been there making some of my own fiberglass bits in the past when I had the time to mess with making molds and parts for my bikes. | ||
| Court |
Good news . . you offended no one. Some of us are, perhaps, a bit less anal and something like this may not have moved our needle. But you shared your thoughts and opinion respectfully bringing a data point to the customer base. That's the business I was in for years . . . and I could tell you Buell Customer Service stories for the next 19 days. Briefly . . . I will share with you that Erik Buell, and all the Elves, are as passionately serious about customer service as many businesses say they are. Erik never once asked me "what's it gonna cost?". My marching orders were always . . "be honest and do the right thing". There are few things I'd consider myself an expert on . . . but, Buell Customer Service is one of them. | ||
| Paulp1125cr |
Let me start by saying I love my CR and am very loyal to EBR. With that being said I can't believe how many people are saying that u are to picky! I don't believe that this is a huge problem every company makes mistakes but if It were me I would be upset aswell. When u purchase a product u expect to be in good working order and visually appealing. I mean if I go to a store to by a wrench I'm no paying full price for one that has dents or a bad finish, regardless if it functions perfectly or not. To me this is no different. Would I stop useing EBR? Of course not but I would be disappointed. | ||
| Jdugger |
Don't open the motor, Paul... you won't like what you see inside. It's not cosmetically perfect. | ||
| Figorvonbuellingham |
lol....if you do the gremlins will escape! | ||
| Jdugger |
Imagine the reactions to the paint scribbles of dates and inspection passing codes, not to mention the cast-in manufacturing markers and gear grinding machine markings! Gaaaak! | ||
| Paulp1125cr |
I have been a machinist for twenty years and nothing ever left any of the shops I worked at without being visually appealing regardless of application. As far as paint scribbles and such, that it is to be expected. We're talking about dents and gauges. I know that when your on this forum most of the members don't like to hear that anything to do with Eric buell or EBR be anything less than perfect,but all companies have slip ups, and to suggest that this consumer is being to picky is typical of this forum. | ||
| Two_seasons |
Seems to me that Erik and EBR are very picky. Maybe even to a fault. After all, they did have to add weight to the 1190rs to race in AMA. The bike, for the displacement, was too light. Engineering in the 1190rs is the finest money can buy! You are correct. We are picky on this forum. Generally speaking, we ask for proof of said misdeed. Buell owners have every right to expect the best, even though they themselves don't always live up to the standards they try to impose on others! I've been guilty of that too. My bottom line is 1.) don't sweat the small stuff 2.) don't be any pickier with others than you yourself are willing to put out 3.) patience and control always wins You will never find another brand of motorcycle that handles better than EBR. Added bonus...the CEO actually talks with the customers!!!!! (Erik and I talked at RA for about 20 minutes) Carry on  | ||
| Nikoff90 |
Folded piece of newspaper worked great for protecting the inside of the rotor for me during disassembly. You could probably do the same with a piece of cardboard. | ||
| Paulp1125cr |
That's kind of my point, I love Erik buell I am defiantly a groupie and think he's a genius. What bothers me about some of the members here is that they attack people who come on here for information if they say the most insignificant negative thing about the "cause". I believe he has a right to ask the question and get some answers with out being made fun of or being made to feel like he is wrong. I speak from experience! | ||
| Nikoff90 |
FYI whomever it was that tried to call from EBR "your message was deleted before I heard it", if you can shoot me an email that would be better as I can do emails during business hours but no phone. | ||
| Court |
I speak from experience as well and likely have more Buell experience than any two folks here combined. I would never attack anyone personally based on a report of a negative experience. I spent over 20 years solving customer problems for Buell. Customer most certainly have a right to tell their side . . . I've heard some stories that sounded pretty preposterous . . . but I always listen carefully. Erik has always placed an extraordinary value on providing the best possible customer experience. There are several folks here to whom I've delivered new bikes to their house . . . I can assure you that Erik has always subscribed to a "do whatever it takes as long as it's honest and the right thing" doctrine. | ||
| Zac4mac |
Good to see ya Court. Hope y'all are doing well in N.Y. This would be an easy fix on the phone. Not so much with slower media. I really hope Nic can get his 1125 sorted out. Just try to keep expectations in line with reality. And the Paul - none of these parts are even similar to a machine-shop's products. You make "brand new" stuff out of chunks of metal, this is about polishing a turd. to a FINE sheen. That's the beauty tho, the parts can look like shit, but they work and nobody sees them. win-win for Engineering AND the Consumer. Z | ||
| Paulp1125cr |
Your Absolutely right zac, as long the customer knows that he is getting a refurbished part at a discounted price then it's a win for everyone! | ||
| Sir_wadsalot |
How bout a pic of the CF cover? I agree with the sentiment of an internal part not needing to be pretty, but if I (a former auto painter myself) am paying CF money for CF anything, I expect it to be flawless. It's not fiberglass, where you expect it to look like shit and need refinishing, it's carbon fiber, the most trick material in the world. 10 years ago it was military.....5 years ago unobtanium. Now it's the high standard. I realise it's going to sun fade and look like crap after a season or two, and you racers just see them as "track sliders", but they are indeed a piece of uber trick carbon fibre bodywork to the street riders. I gotta agree with him that I would be miffed if I ordered one and it wasn't flawless. |
