| Author | Message | ||
     Rhun |
I put a deposit down on a red 12S in December for pickup in March or April. Come April I'm told delivery wouldn't be until June. They are six months behind?? The dealer had another 12S on the floor, so since I was going to put the Black with red cover on it (from an 08 12R) and a AM Sport fly screen the only thing missing was the red rims. Since I have a track 12R and extra rims we put mine on until the red one comes in, then we'll swap rims. New bike was throwing an 80 code, they found a bad connector to the fuel pump. The bike had no bottom end under 2K so as the day progressed with my slow break in I did the TPS reset as described on this board. That seemed to help. But as time went on occasional backfiring through the intake occurred more often. Then problems getting it to start, with one while riding die. I returned it to the dealer they decided it was a fuel pump issue. They went to the 'down bike order system' thinking that this was suppose to be the we need it yesterday place. The send it quick by the fastest means. 8 days later the part comes in. Regular parts ordering is sometimes quicker than this. This is my fourth (maybe last) Buell. I've had a Blast, a 12R and an SX all pretty much trouble free. but then again that was yesteryear when they were hungrier. Hence, my title. Six months to get a bike is really excessive. They seem to have very little enthusiasm to support what is sold. I don't think they are going to like my survey responses!! Anyone else running into these issues or am I just lucky?? | ||
| Xl1200r |
March or April delivery being pushed to June is only 2-3 months, not 6. Not sure if Buell does it the same way as HD with the quarters, but a dealer can't garuntee you a delivery date or month, just a delivery quarter - i.e. sometime in the April-June timeframe. Regardless, let me get this straight - You ordered a bike that was late and the dealer tried to make good by selling you one off the floor instead, and when it broke they tried to fix it? And three previous Buells were trouble free? Sorry, I don't really see the issue here. | ||
| Buellinachinashop |
There's guys who waited longer than 6 months for their 1125r's. 3-6 months seems to be average. Seems like you'd have been perfectly happy if the new bike didn't have issues. I don't blame you for being frustrated. Take a deep breath and relax. All your issues will be covered by your dealer (who seems to want to do right by you) and Buell. (Message edited by buellinachinashop on May 16, 2008) | ||
| Akbuell |
Back in Aug '07 put down a deposit on an '08 TT. Fairly early in the model year, dealer's happy, I'm happy, all is good. Then came the LETTER from the mother ship to all dealers. Significant cut backs in production, and forget about the 18 ( to pick a number out of the air) bikes you ordered for the quarter, you will get 6. And that was across the board. My dealer stepped up and bought one off the floor from another dealer, so I did get mine, albeit in Jan. Sorry to hear about your performance issues, but it sounds like your dealer is trying. FWIW, my X-1 really didn't start to act broken in until 5k miles. | ||
| Spacecapsule1 |
december to june is in fact 6 months. i would be pissed too! Your dealer can do much better than that! I had the same issue so I dropped my dealer and went to another one! Problem solved! Ask someone here to use the dealer network and locate the bike you want, then go get it. That's how I did and I'm glad I did it! No waiting.. just had to travel a little, but worth it. | ||
| Echoseven |
The problems and issues your experiencing are a PITA, alot of us with the 08' models are experiencing some growing pains for some reason but as stated our dealers are working through the issues as best they can and though mine has been down more times than my 600rr I traded in on it (which never had any issue) I still love the Buell. Hang in there, if your on your fourth, you love something about these bikes, it just may not be they're "high maintenance" needs. | ||
| Paint_shaker |
XL wrote; "Regardless, let me get this straight - You ordered a bike that was late and the dealer tried to make good by selling you one off the floor instead, and when it broke they tried to fix it? And three previous Buells were trouble free? Sorry, I don't really see the issue here." I concur. | ||
| Rhun |
At issue: a rush order for a part that takes eight days is not a good way to tell customers that you care. From the jest I got from the dealer, on the Harley side it is overnighted immediately. 'Creating' a bike shortage worked well for Harley years back, but their business was already huge. How many of us here on badweb would like to see Buells be mainstream? They won't be, if people can't get them! Although I've never tried, I doubt if I'd have to wait for a 600SV. Most dealers have many on the floor. My dealer is having trouble getting any or finding a dealer who has any he can buy. I assume he is business to sell and he gets to eat when he sells. Quite a difficult task when you have nothing to sell!! My frustration is not so much with the situation, which will pass but with the sluggishness of the situation because of Buells heal dragging. I have been an avid proponent of their product. I value my comments to other prospective buyers; this is depleted by their (Buells) apathy. | ||
| Darthane |
...perhaps you'd like to front Buell the many millions of dollars it would take to build a second manufacturing facility?  | ||
| Rhun |
At issue: Buells apathy on taking care of customers, especially bikes that are three days old. I understand Harley 'hot line' would have shipped it immediately overnight. For a struggling company not having products available is not a good way to attract customers or keep dealers. All of us on Badweather bust our a$$ promoting Buell. Buell needs to stand up and do their part. This was my point. | ||
| Rhun |
I am trying to front them....one bike at a time!!!  | ||
| Bads1 |
Hmmm been with Buell's and really never had a problem in 8 years dealing with them. Sounds like a dealer issue. | ||
| Maryj |
Ok, coming from the dealer perspective... (prepares to be flamed)... it's not as simple as public seems to think it is to make the whole process flow problem free. When a mfg comes out with a new product it's going to have bugs, and the techs aren't brought up to speed with new product updates as quickly as needed. This may only be the dealership I work with we carry 8 mfg's products and cannot possibly keep ALL techs up to date with ALL new product lines. This may not be the case with a Buell dealership...I have yet to visit one!! Here's a good one...Kawasaki came out with a Teryx (utility vehicle) to compete with the existing Yamaha Rhino. Customer is so excited about this machine, puts down a deposit machine gets here...during assy the steering wheel was missing from the box along with important hardware. So we make due and call him when correct part comes in (3 weeks later). Comes back about a month after having the UV and says that it feels like it does have full power. We chk carb, compression, electical sys, etc., etc., go back and forth with the mfg multiple times. FINALLY, they tell us to replace the top end including the cyl. We order all the parts, the customer is calling us everyday, still waiting on parts. 3 weeks into it Kawasaki tells us that one of the cyl is B/O until 3 months from now....try explaining that to a customer. We explain the situation to Kaw they tell us they have to wait until the cyl is made, they have none in stock b/c they don't exisit yet!!! Eventually we get the part I believe it took a month and 1/2 for all parts to come in. Replace what they say to....doesn't fix his problem. The they say go for the carbs....send us an entire assy. Doesn't fix it. FINALLY we get the story from a another customer about how that UV lost power. Find out this guy submerged this unit, stalled it out, and then tried to start it again UNDER water. Chk the exhaust sure enough mud is packed all in it. The tech that was assigned to the machine has been working on this shit for 28 years and was so pissed when we finally found the problem. I think what I'm trying to say is that these are machines, and machines break. I feel for people who have a brand new machine and it's not working properly, but the dealership can't magically snap their fingers and fix it all the time. It is however important that they do everything in their power to make it right. Does Buell have a customer service number? Lots of times we'll give the customer the customer service number for whatever that mfg is and have them call. The funny thing is that our customer have more weight with the mfg than we do. The minute you tell a mfg that you're disappointed in their product and will never buy another product from them they start pulling strings...most of the time. | ||
| Slaughter |
Same thing over and over and over and over again. If the dealer doesn't work with you, you're screwed. Find another dealer. | ||
| Maryj |
"Same thing over and over and over and over again. If the dealer doesn't work with you, you're screwed. Find another dealer." I agree, if you're dealership isn't getting the job done to your standards find one that will. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
coming from the side of riding and working at the shop, any time you have the bike in the shop there is separation anxiety. (hell it may even be the only bike in your garage) It is like having a kid in the ER. You're worried, you're scared, you're angry, and hell you just dont understand why it takes so long to fix X (what ever X is). Telling the Dr how to do his job, will not speed the process, will not get a cure, will not solve anything. Need to step back, take a breath and realize that somethings you cant bludgen correct. Flame all you want, I just got my bike back from service and it was entirely too long. Luckily I was able to expedite parts from a sponsor when I couldnt get them from corporate because of back order. | ||
| Retrittion |
Dealing with bs always sucks -- sorry to hear your having problems. That said, Buell is a company in transition, going through growing pains and in the middle of a major new product launch. These things cause problems -- which sucks for the customers but is understandable. And personally, I don't want Buells to be mainstream -- I would like Eric to have success and for the company to be solvent -- but I like people asking "is that a Ducati" or "is it a BMW". I like running an exotic. I like that we have to figure out our own solutions. I love my 12R, and I like the fact that squids and retreads don't join this club -- just us hooligans. My .02 cents | ||
| Corporatemonkey |
coming from the side of riding and working at the shop, any time you have the bike in the shop there is separation anxiety. (hell it may even be the only bike in your garage) It is like having a kid in the ER. You're worried, you're scared, you're angry, and hell you just dont understand why it takes so long to fix X (what ever X is). Telling the Dr how to do his job, will not speed the process, will not get a cure, will not solve anything. Need to step back, take a breath and realize that somethings you cant bludgen correct. Flame all you want, I just got my bike back from service and it was entirely too long. Luckily I was able to expedite parts from a sponsor when I couldnt get them from corporate because of back order. I have to say most of the problems stem from lack of communications. In your situation you had the inside knowledge to know what is really going on. A lot of us have dealers that either don't tell us what is going on, or worse the story changes depending on who you talk to. Just be honest with people, the world would be a better place. | ||
| Brent_crossbronkos |
"Just be honest with people, the world would be a better place." Well said Corporatemonkey. Brent. | ||
| Flyingpenguin86 |
My only problem with the dealers is that here in Beaumont, the several Harley sales reps that I've spoken with know absolutely nothing aboutn Buells. I've only been riding a year, but I'm looking to upgrade from my '03 XB9S, and the sales people seem to know less than even me, which is sad considering I know just this side of crap about them myself. | ||
| Jettdawg |
MaryJ: "Does Buell have a customer service number? Lots of times we'll give the customer the customer service number for whatever that mfg is and have them call. The funny thing is that our customer have more weight with the mfg than we do. The minute you tell a mfg that you're disappointed in their product and will never buy another product from them they start pulling strings...most of the time." That is SO true.. I work for a Ford dealership and that sort of thing happens there too. WE show a part is on "intergalactic backorder"... none to be had anywhere, anytime in the near future (date off backorder 00/00/00 due to manufacturing concerns or supplier issues). BUT, if the customer calls the CS number in their owner's manual and raises a big stink... lo and behold, the part arrives in a couple days! Makes us (the dealership emplyees) look like lying jerks  Soooooo.. if Buell does have a customer service number and a dealer isn't resolving an issue... definitely worth calling it.  (Message edited by jettdawg on May 17, 2008) | ||
| Bombardier |
It is a damm shame really. From what I have seen and read of Erik Buell it is a shame that the people involved with his product at all levels do not show the same strength of character and vision. Burn me if you will guys but this is what I believe. | ||
| Brumbear |
buy a KTM superduke or a Triumph speed triple and send Buell the pics it will get their attention you can bet on it | ||
| Retrittion |
umm, when I add a Triumph to my garage it will be sitting beside my Buell(s), not in place of 'em. If life was always easy it would be boring. |
