| Author | Message | ||
     Mikep |
6500 miles = Initial adjustments, OC&F's, one light bulb, and one rear tire. No chain adjust, no water, just gas-n-go. I park it in the Winter and it starts when I next decide to ride. No battery tender (the battery is getting a bit weak). Very nice! Oh, I own one of the first XB9R's. mikey | ||
| Kaese |
Ridden mine practically every day since I have gotten it. Low maintenance was one of the reasons I purchased it. Ask a Ducati owner how much it costs to get his valves adjusted, how dirty his wheel gets when he lubes his chain, even gets those privileges by paying more money! After 29,000 miles in 1.5 years, I have been through 5 sets of tires, high beam headlamp assembly and bulb, speedo sensor, 1 belt, 1 clutch cable, rear side reflector, 2 sets of front brake pads and 1 brake rotor. That is every mickey mouse item I have had to purchase on that bike. The rest is just fluids. Not bad for that many miles. THIS IS THE MOST DEPENDABLE BIKE I HAVE EVER RIDDEN and has given me the least problems. Added bonus: it is also FUN TO RIDE! | ||
| Scitz |
I really like not have to clean and lube, and adjust a chain all the time. More time to ride now. | ||
| Race_pirate |
I cant answer that question, and in 2 more weeks its coming off the road for track use only. 1998 Sportster bought new 07FEB98: Gas Oil One set of tires One set of front brake pads I think thats tough to beat, Im on the original battery and I do not use a tender. I do live in the Northeast so I dont ride much from November thru March. | ||
| Pcmodeler |
To be honest, in the short time I've owned it, I've had to have more done to my XB9R than any other bike. Granted, it was purchased used but so were my other bikes. | ||
| Nedwreck |
The lowest maintenance motorbike I ever had was a Honda Silverwing. I got T-Boned by an EEEDIOT before I got my first service. Bob | ||
| Team |
No. | ||
| Scitz |
I bought XB9R used and have had to put some work into it. I think a lot of the used ones get abused by squids before they're sold. At least they have good homes now. If you would like to help other abused Buell's find a good home please send me money. I will purchase an abused Buell and nurse it back to health. It will then live at my Buell ranch and be ridden daily. | ||
| Road_thing |
What is this thing you call "maintenance?" rt | ||
| Emscityx |
My early 1980's BMW opposed twins only needed gas, oil & tires, and could have 90% of their occasional problems fixed on the side of the road with a Leatherman. I think the shadow of historical (not saying current!) H-D unreliability still makes me a bit nervous about the Buell. I do smile at Bueller's gloating at passing 40,000 miles.....my current (1997) Beemer is past 55,000 miles, and I feel like it is finally broken in, and is now ready for 100,000 more miles. | ||
| Rek |
My '73 GT750 only has 19,000 miles on it, but I've never turned a wrench on 'er other than fluids and tires, and of course batteries. Rob | ||
| Sweetp411 |
I think there are a few things with the XB's that are slowly being upgraded in production. It's like any new vehicle model that you buy, the manufacturer let's the consumer work out the kinks, sort of a beta test bike was the 03 XB's in my opinion. I own an '03 XB and the majority of the maintenance problems I've heard are normally the same. For example, broken drive belt, shorted coils, misrouted cables, clutch cover and primary cover leaking, T connector on oil coolant lines leaking, rear tires wearing out at 4K miles. This happens a lot any time a new model of any vehicle is introduced to the market. My smart girlfriend's last two cars have been brand new models of cars, 2000 Merc Cougar and 03 Saturn Ion and I warned her to not buy a new model of a car, she didn't learn the first time and didn't the second time either and has had numerous problems with both. Recalls are common on any new model of car or motorcycle, we are the industries guineau pigs and will continue to be, fact of life. | ||
| Pcmodeler |
Sweetp411, then why has the Ford Focus experienced more recalls then any other vehicle, even for later models? Plus, it was already based on a Ford product being produced in the foreign market. If a manufacturer wants me to beta test a vehicle, it should be priced as such. I'm not rapping on the dependability/etc. of my Beull, just saying that I've had other bikes that required far less maintenance. I rode my Honda CX500 Deluxe from Minnesota to Colorado without a worry. Right now, I wouldn't trust my Buell to do the same. There are some reliability/maintenance issues I feel I need to deal with before that happens (oil leak primarily). | ||
| Sweetp411 |
I'm not disagreeing with you PC, I'm in total agreement. My point was, any time a new model of anything is introduced to the market, the consumer is the tester. It's common business practice all the time. Why should these companies spend billions of dollars on testing and research when the consumer can test the product for you. Being a computer guy you should know this, how many beta versions of software do you get pimped in a year? Let the public find the kinks for the manufacturer and we'll update the production in the future, it's a savings issue to the manufacturer, happens all the time. Besides, I'm a chevy man  . And I completely agree with you, Buell does have some reliability issues, but they have made improvements every year in my opinion. | ||
| Truk |
My most dependable bike ever so far has been my R1. I have 45,000 on my 01 R1. Only problem was a wiring harness that needed to be replace (under extended warranty)at about 40,000. Also first valve inspection was at 26,600 all in spec. I clean and lube the chain every 500 miles, takes me 10 minutes. Replaced the chain at 35,000 miles Other than that, it has been tires, oil and gas. I am even still on the original brake pads, though I will need to change the front pads soon, probably at the next tire change. I ride this bike hard, about 200 miles every saturday. I do not abuse it, but I ride it. I have taken long trips on it, 2,500 miles last summer. The fit and finish still look great I have had the 03 XB9R 4 months. I bought it used with 1800 miles. I now have 3,720 miles. The High beam headlamp holder broke and I have had to re-tork the head bearings to eliminate brake / front end clatter. Also the previous owner stripped one of the seat bolts. I have a head shake at 60mph under deceleration that remained after the re-torqueing the head bearings. I am guessing it has to do with the front tire which doesn't have too much life left. When I replace and have it balanced I will see if that fixes my problem, otherwise we will look further into fixing that. So it has been a bit more work so far, but this brings up a point. This bike is easier and less intimidating to work on than my other bikes. And there is less to do. I get great satisfaction working on it (e.g. torquing the head bearings, fixing the Headlamp, etc...) even changing the oils (engine & tran)was easier than my other bikes. It is a strange mix/paradox of technology and simplicity that intrigues me and I think part of the mystery that causes our illness /infatuation  . I think many people miss that about this bike. it is the marriage of the simple unique push rod V Twin engine in leading edge design of frame, centralization of mass, etc.. that makes this bike so special (Message edited by Truk on April 15, 2005) | ||
| Brucelee |
My XB has had the clutch cable replaced. That's it. Love that bike! | ||
| Truk |
One other thing I want to mention. I think the this is one of the best web sites for a bike, which means a lot to me | ||
| Smokedaddy |
Duh ... that's like saying my 1989 RR1200 with 600 miles on is LOWEST MAINTENENCE bike I've ever owned. I bought one of those scary fast, even by todays standards, 1971 Kawa H1, 2 stroke rockets when they first came out. I pounded that puppy, drag strip, road it real hard daily, went to Canada on it too and never did a thing to it except oil, gas, tires and a chain. After getting into a wreak, I turned it into a jap chopper. Oh, the bike is still around today, just needs some mufflers. Not bad for a 34 year old bike I'd say. Here she be in case you missed it -SD: | ||
| Fullpower |
yeah, if you dont count 3 fork seals, two drive belts,couple sets of brake pads ( fouled by fork oil), an inexplicably warped front brake rotor, and a few TPS resets. actually the least maintenance street bike i have ever seen was my wifes 2000 sportster, which used tires, oil filters, lubricants and fuel. never broke or wore out any parts in 11,000 miles. | ||
| Cataract2 |
None, just fluid changes in the last 7000 miles. | ||
| Wyckedflesh |
This is the lowest non-rider induced maintanence bike I have ever owned. With any other bike, a rear tire change also included a chain swap, with every second rear tire change also including one or both of the sprockets. Points changes for my 70's era bikes every month. Plugs every other points change if lucky. On my new bikes (first owner) clutches at 10000 miles, valve adjustments at 2500 then again at 7500. The same tire and chain combos with them. So yes, with the exception of maintanence that was my fault, the XB has been the least expensive. | ||
| Exupmonkey |
I guess I may have been a wee bit unlucky with my 9r. Bought new just over a year ago its cost me two sets of tyres, one drive belt, one set of front wheel bearings,two minor services at $320 each and the speedo sensor went down however that was replaced as a warranty issue. All that within 6400 miles easyish riding. i love the bike to bits but it is without doubt the most costly bike I have ever had. | ||
| Pcmodeler |
You know Cataract2, I think fluid changes may have been the only thing the previous owner of my bike had to worry about. Maybe that's why I have a bunch of stuff to take care of. | ||
| Fl_billy |
Is it just the fact that the majority of members posting here have 9's or could it be that the 9's in general have more problems than the 12's? Only a couple of responses here have been from 12 owners and they have had zero problems. Also as a general theme on this board, it seems the vast majority of problems are popping up with the 03 9's. Of course, like I said earlier, I think the vast majority of board members own 03 9's. Maybe Smokedaddy has a very valid point. I see the same thing on the SV board where the majority of probs are occurring with the 03 SV1K's (first model year), and it also happens that most of us over there own an 03. For what it's worth, my 12R has been problem free (with the exception of the main fuse wiggling a little loose) since I bought it about a month ago. Almost 2k miles now.....hehehehehe!!!!! I love my 12R!! Anyone wanna buy a really nice SV1KS????  | ||
| Ingemar |
Yes 150 kms: oil and filter change 1500 kms: oil and filter change 5000 kms: oil and filter change (switched to synth) 6500 kms: new tires 11000 kms: oil and filter change Every oil change is both engine and tranny and costs about 75 bucks. Tires were about 275 if I remember correctly. So that's about 575 bucks. Maintanance is a joke with these bikes. Oh, new brake pads at 11000, add 25 bucks so that's 600 and it's still a joke. Try that on a Ducati. | ||
| Brucelee |
I am still trying to figure out how you spend that much on an oil change (unless you are paying someone to do it for you?). I pay around $30 for the supplies and do it myself. Takes about 30 minutes. Back to this issue, the maint. requirement and costs for an XB are very very low. When I compare it to the Ninja I used to own, it might be 25% of that bike's costs. This does not include chain and sprocket replacement, coolant changes etc. Those make the spread even larger. As far as broken items, I have had one clutch cable go in two years. Not bad I would say. | ||
| Apex_assasian |
i have 3000 miles on my 12 and zero problems,granted it's only 3000...runs like a dream not even a hiccup ever. mike | ||
| Reducati |
a 12r here, oil changes only...6k....my (s)old duck 748 would have been time for a valve adjust.....approx $600 ouch.... | ||
| Chainsaw |
I'm gonna have to say my Sportster is the most reliable bike I have ever owned, and I have only ever owned 2, still have both. The Details: Not counting tires, brakes, oil, bulbs, dealer or self inflicted damage: The XB oil leak: 20¢ of teflon tape side stand: warranty bearings: warranty speedo sensor: $50 extended warranty fuses blown by bad speedo sensor: less than $2 stator & voltage regulator: $50 extended warranty Been towed 4 times for reliability issues in 16,500 miles, and been in the shop 6 times in 34 months for a total of about 14 weeks down time. Sportster: Rocker box leak #1: warranty Rocker box leak #2: warranty Rocker box leak #3: warranty Broken Ignition Wires: $100 Dropped Exhaust Valve, Stator, Main Drive Bearing: $50 extended warranty Been towed twice for reliability issues in 36,000 miles. In the shop 5 times in 47 months for a total of about 7 weeks down time. | ||
| Ingemar |
I am still trying to figure out how you spend that much on an oil change It contains miniature gnomes that all push to help turning over the crank.  Seriously, 15 bucks for a filter, another 15x3=45 for 3 quarts for the engine (they don't sell 1/2 a quart), and another quart for the tranny, again 15 bucks. 5x15 makes 75 bucks unless I can't count. Don't forget that I'm not in the States. That oil needs to travel half the earth before I can buy it. Maintainance costs is still a joke, even over here. | ||
| Krassh |
The lowest maintenance bike I have ever owned and still own is my GTS-1000. No minor or major problems in 88,000 miles. The Buell has had some issues but nothing major. Just electrical short, sensor, and oil lines. The only thing that would make the GTS totally maintenance free would be a belt. | ||
| Cataract2 |
PC, out of curiosity, what is that suppose to mean? I've done all the maintenance on my bike per the manual, I have not had a single thing gone wrong that I myself did not cause with my playing with it, IE: TFI unit (which is gone now). | ||
| Charlieboy6649 |
All I've had to replace is two speedo sensors in 14,000 miles! Oil changes, brake pads, and gas. GO BABY GO! Can't say it's the most reliable, it's the only bike I've ever owned, but I love the reliability just the same. | ||
| Pcmodeler |
Cataract2, I mean that the previous owner of MY BIKE may not have properly taken care of it. The bike was purchased as a repo, so I had no way of speaking with the previous owner. As the plastic parts were pretty beat up and there were some broken items, it could also mean that he didn't have regular oil changes done or other work when it should have. For example, it had a small oil leak already when I purchased it. Luckily I was able to track it down this weekend and believe I have resolved that issue. I think you thought I was talking about yours. | ||
| Cataract2 |
The way I read it PC makes it sound like I was abusing my bike and only doing fluid changes and nothing else. Anyways, from the sounds of it your problems seem to stem from the previous owner not doing anything to the bike and abusing it with squid like behavior. |
