| Author | Message | ||
     Mikej |
Local ad (dealership name ommitted): BUELL (dealer name) Announces we are taking orders for the new... 2002 Buell Firebolt XB9R -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- The Hottest Bike Buell Motor Company has ever produced! Come in before they're gone. | ||
| Raymaines |
Honest question here: Isn't it a little late in the FireBolt development cycle to be doing "reliability testing"? Maybe I just don't understand what sort of reliability they are testing for. I guess I'd be OK with nuts and bolts kind of reliability but I hope they aren’t testing the gas tank or crankshaft. Honda seems to be entering the Naked Bike arena. Check out the news on MCN BTW, 6,000 GBP UK Pounds = $8,555.23 US I sure hope the FireBolt is fast and reliable. It seems that there is more and more competition in the street fighter category everyday. | ||
| Court |
Ray: Right you are and the "finishing touches" of the product development cycle that are under way (this is my PERSONAL guess) have little to do with the reliability and durability testing. By now, the miles are logged and the shakers have shaken. My bet is that there have been "quirks" develop, perhaps as independently tested systems are brought together in a commercial package. I understand your concern and think the term "still being tested" or whatever is perhaps a bit misleading. My PERSONAL hope is that Erik F. Buell has stomped down his foot and refused to ship )ala John Deere) a bike that does not have in place a complete customer support system, specialized parts and tools already to the dealers and a parts and service manual that is done. The X-1 ( My PERSONAL OPINION) was an utter embarrasment to Buell. I can't speak for Erik but as I watched Wilke apologizing on the video sent to dealers and explaining his renewed committment to attend to details as "Jerry Wilkee, President Buell motorcycle Company" scrolled accross the screen I was agast. My bet is that whatever is happening now is something I'd want to happen. Buell has a nearly immeasurable part of it's future riding on this bike and it's derivitives. I'd urge patience..... Court | ||
| José_Quiñones |
Mike, Threebuells sounds good, but you have a while to catch up to Aaron! Hey Court, I get the feeling, watching the Product Brochures and the general design and size of Buells, that they are not really designed with "plus size" riders in mind, when a great majority of Buell riders (myself included) are hovering in the 200+ lb range. I think that is why they had such pitiful load ratings in the past, because they were not desinged for the people who actually ride these bikes. this really hit me at the Mid Atlantic Rally last year, where thin was the exception! Am I wrong here? | ||
| Pilot |
I have just placed my order for a shiny white XB9R (blue with orange graphics just did not float my boat)Delivery around Feb 2002. Reason for purchase My copy of Fuell arrived in the mornings mail and my dialing finger reached out and called my dealer .Such is the feeling I have for Buell.Need I say more. | ||
| Jim_Witt |
Court wrote: My PERSONAL hope is that Erik F. Buell has stomped down his foot and refused to ship) ala John Deere) a bike that does not have in place a complete customer support system, specialized parts and tools already to the dealers and a parts and service manual that is done. Greetings Court, Amen ... you might add one item to your list above too. That being having qualified Buell mechanics at the dealerships to work on the new machine. Anywho, those are going to be some tall orders for someone to meet in a short time frame based on their previous and present accountabilities displayed. BTW, you should see my frame near the breather bolt on my S3T. They used a small crowbar to pry back the engine to tighten the bolt (several times now). It's totally destroyed the paint on the frame after numerous attempts to tighten it. To be honest, I'm totally amazed with the new design. I really didn't think we would see anything like this at all. I'm pumped and supportive about the bike but not ready for all issues that may arrise. Cherrs, -JW:>) | ||
| Blake |
Jim: BTW, I would raise bloody hell if some moron took a crow bar to my bike and ragged out the paint on the frame. That is TOTALLY unacceptable! | ||
| Court |
JW Said: "That being having qualified Buell mechanics at the dealerships to work on the new machine." You got it! I begged, with the introduction of the BLAST for a program you may recall I have previsouly described. One of the components would have been providing a COMPREHENSIVE video and crediting the dealer account for 8 hours of tech time and INSISTING the Tech take the tape home and watch it undisturbed. Most dealer training, at the facility, takes place in 2-3 minutes increments. But....re-read what I said about Erik F. Buell.....I get home from Colorado and had GREAT NEWS. Gary Valine, Buell Engine R&D Guru, has been reassigned to Harley-Davdison University for Buell Training. Gary reports he has been showered with the top of the line resources. This is GREAT NEWS for Buell owners. Court | ||
| Jim_Witt |
Hey Court, Great news. I'm keeping the faith in Buell itself but have no faith in my local dealers. BTW, do you happen to know if it's a requirement for a Buell dealership to have Buell mechanics specifically trained on Buells? In other words is there a specific training certificate that is required? As you know there are only 2 dealership in my area selling Buells. I went down to the newer one a few months ago to hand out a few LSR t-shirts. I asked to speak with the Buell mechanics and was told they didn't have any and that it wasn't a requirement in the first place. I was told they had one of the best Sportster gearhead around. S'later, -JW:>) | ||
| Court |
Posted at the request of Mr. Dustykat. This is a photo of the Street Fighter Fairing sold by the good folks at Custom Chrome.  | ||
| Dustykat |
This is the Fairing I discussed last week that has very similar looks to the firebolt. If anyone would like to purchase this is will be available after september here in the states. it WAS a Europe only part last year. I'm pretty confident that this company was subcontracted to make the firebolt fairing. It would be the best way to keep costs down. Dustykat | ||
| Mikej |
DustyKat, Any ballpark pricing info? By the way, I did chase down a V-Rod last night locally. Out on the Honda buzzing to the store and back, saw one go past, flipped a u-turn and caught him picking up a passenger. He was very aware of anyone looking at the bike, and wasn't staying in any one place very long, and was trying to stay low key it appeared. Don't know why, except that the bikes haven't hit the local dealers yet, but he did have a non-dealer plate on it. Oh well, back to the XB watch. | ||
| Al_Lighton |
DustyK, Hmm, I guess there is some similarities, but I'm not so sure they have the same pedigree. Buell seems to be on a Surlyn kick, and the pics from the SportTwin website would seem to indicate that the new fairing is also Surlyn (note unpainted white on rear). This universal streetfighter fairing says it's made of "Gelcoated GFK", whatever that is, but it doesn't sound like Surlyn. And while similar appearing, it isn't the same, and as soon as it is not the same, it means a new mold no matter who makes it. I would think the materials matter more than the shape for selecting a manufacturer, and Buell obviously already has a Surlyn Molder online. All that said, the one you're showing is cool and would look cool on a Buell. Not sure its big enough for the S3, though. Thanks for sharing, Al | ||
| Blake |
Jim: In my opinion a "Sportster" mechanic, by virtue of his often assuming that a Buell is "the same as a 1203 Sportster" could be more dangerous than a big twin mechanic. At least the big twin guy might have the sense to look at the Buell service manual instead of making the mistake of assuming something on the Buell is the same as on a sportster. Do sportsters have DDFI? Do sportsters have the same pistons, crank, rods, flywheel, heads, spark plugs...? Do sportsters put out 101 HP in stock form? | ||
| Jima4media |
OK, back to the FireBolt topic. We were talking over the weekend, and it was mentioned the Millenium Technologies in Plymouth, Wisconsin is making a Nikosil 600cc cylinder for the Blast. http://www.mt-llc.com/ Well, if you put a pair of these puppies on a Firebolt what do you have? A 1200cc fuel-injected kick-ass Pro Thunder killer. Am I right or what? Jim X-2.5 |
