| Author | Message | ||
     Thansesxb9rs  |
I just found out that any dealer that is no longer a Buell dealer and still has Buell's in stock, that the warranty on those bikes has offically started as of January 1st. So if you buy one of these bikes in July it will not have a two year warranty but a year and a half warranty, and theses dealerships cannot even do warranty work on any Buells. This is bad for anyone thinking of buying a Buell and buying one from a non Buell dealer. Also I think it is just wrong that a product owned by Harley cannot receive warranty work at any Harley Dealership. | ||
| Dale |
That if one reason I might buy a V-Rod R instead of waiting for the new Buell. | ||
| Brad_buell  |
I think that it's wrong as well, Tim. As HD/Buell eases into this "New" transition of decreasing their Buell Dealerships, they should "Grandfather" existing warranty work. It's not like they're extending themselves to the life of the bike! After my Dealership "loses" Buell, I'll only have two months to go on my '03. Geez, you think that HD/Buell could handle a couple extra months per bike during the transition! Why should the "Customer" be punished. Now I'll have to drive 147 miles round trip for warranty work. That really sucks!  It's still the same company, no matter how you look at it. This isn't like a different company took over. I'm definitely upset about this situation. And I will vent on every thread that comes up on this subject. I think that the current Buell customer, from these dealerships, are the big losers. Man, I hope that I at least get a postcard from Buell telling me the situation and where to go for further warranty work. Heck, maybe throw in some vouchers of some kind to keep me happy. I mean, I'm really feeling like the unwanted step-child. -Brad | ||
| Rkc00  |
Brad_Buell I can't agree with you more. What a sack of S--- this is. I can not even get parts at my shop any more. | ||
| Reepicheep  |
If the dealer does not give you a deal you can't refuse (in spite of the shortened warranty) find some other dealer and buy brand spanking new from them, or set up a deal with DaveS (northerners) or stone mountian (southeners). The reality is that even when these dealers who were not serious about the brand were offering *full* warranties, they could easily (and did frequently) make sure it was *not* worth your trouble to get the warranty claim covered. Be glad you know who the good ones are now, and give people who will take care of you your money. | ||
| Charlieboy6649  |
I too am miffed about the warranty issue. I can't get parts or work done either. I've come to rely on Dave, HD Buells only saving grace in this instance. Phoenix is 167 mi away so I've resorted to not extending the warranty and I've bought the service manual... | ||
| Ronlv |
how are we going to no which dealers will remain buell dealers is there a list | ||
| Dj_rider  |
that just plain up sucks, we need someone high up in the buell company to explain why this is! | ||
| Aldaytona  |
Yeah, that's just what I want, some dealership who doesn't care to have the Buell franchise anyway (this attitude reflects through most of the employees) work on my bike just because it's close. Ever hear "you want it done right, or done right now"? | ||
| Reepicheep |
I'll leave the dealer unnamed (it was NOT F&S or Eastgate Buell), but I had an experience with a Buell dealer that wasn't. All they had to do was put on a new Dunlop D205 front. I knew they had a pretty good profit on the part, but wanted to encourage them to stick with the brand, so I went in and paid my money. The front was off the bike, all they had to do was mount the new tire. Problem 1. The would not do it while I wait. Somewhat understandable, but other deales have done it for me if I coordinate a time ahead. Problem 2. Return to get installed tire, return and put it on my bike. While assembling, I notice a 4 inch (literally) slice down the side, looks like it came from a box cutter. Put the wheel back in the car, drop it off AGAIN. Problem 3. Return to get replaced tire (they covered it). Before leaving dealership, inspect tire. Sure enough, another slit. They have to order another tire, I make another trip and drop off the wheel. Problem 4. They finally get a tire on without a slit. Put it on the Cyclone, pump up the brakes, head down the steep driveway.... WHOOAAAA FOLKS.... we are ballistic and heading towards the road. Frantically pump up brakes AGAIN and get stopped. They bent the rotor so bad that as soon as it rotates, the brakes are pushed back into the calipers so far it takes about 3 full strokes to get braking pressure up. Bring it back again, after a lot of polite but frustrated back and forth, they give me a new rotor at their cost. I won't tell you how much down time and money I spent for that freaking D207 front, but take it from me, getting warranty claims from a dealer that does not want to support the brand is NOT in your interest. The 2 hour round trip to the Dayton dealer that supports me (F&S Buell) was far cheaper and took a lot less time. | ||
| Vikingdave  |
Typical HD corporate BS, they are making too much money on mojo clothes, and posers' lifestyle, selling an antiquated 1940's mojocycle to care. If the Hells Angels decided back in the day, that to be 1% you had to ride a Honda, the MojoFactory would be out of Fn' business!!! I hate them. I'm selling my lowrider, and am seriously considering dumping the Buell, they make me sick!   | ||
| Charlieboy6649 |
I love my Buell enough to keep it and make the commitment to service it myself and trailer to Phoenix when I can't, but the point I'd like to make is, should I have to??? I live 2 blocks from a dealer? I regret to say that since Buell was dropped, their Buell tech has gone elsewhere, a shame since he was really good. Now I'm not saying he left because they dropped the line, and I'm sure the mechs at this dealer could handle the work, but that I'd drive to Phoenix now to get the work done by a certified tech. I don't know what the answer is for those of us at outposts, I wish Buell had the answer for me, but I'm not giving up on my bike! That I do know. | ||
| Court |
>>>Typical HD corporate BS, they are making too much money on mojo clothes, and posers' lifestyle, selling an antiquated 1940's mojocycle to care. Interesting statement. I suspect the HD and the Buell are not all that make you sick. Dial it down to specific, actionable items, ("corporate bullshit" is a tough demon to chase) see if you can solve them. If not, toss the HD and the Buell and find something more suited to you. Court | ||
| Tank_bueller  |
I'm with Charlie! I love my bike enough, it doesn't bother me that my local dealer(20mi away) is transferring Buell sales to their other branch(50-60mi). They say that they will still provide service and parts, but I feel like the "stepchild" every time I go there. I have my service manual, parts manual, and Dave's phone number  . As well as a strong mechanical aptitude. Oh, can't leave out the best resourse....The Badweb!!!! I think I'll be o.k. tank | ||
| Brad_buell |
I'm with most on this issue. I will keep my XB. I'm just Mad that The Company has left us warranty riders out in the cold. Yes, I have the BadWeb, my service manual, parts manual, and of course Dave to help me along with problems. I'm just a little put off at the lack of respect for the people that already made the Buell commitment, only to find out that we've been left high and dry! We've been tabulated in last years sales report and now it's over. Come on Court, HD/Buell could extend the warranty commitment to us current owners in the regions that lost their dealership. This would be a token of faith in their product, as well as their Dealerships. -Brad | ||
| Metalstorm  |
Yes it sucks. No I don't like it. I will however soldier through it. I still have 11 more payments till I'm debt free and when the time comes that I can finally get a bike, it will still be a Buell. By that time it will be clear which dealers are serious about Buell. The closest dealer to me is about 20 miles (Corte Madera) but I think that's a no go. If they havn't dropped Buell yet they should and save us the grief. San Francisco is about 40 miles but that too is questionable these days. I'll probably opt for the 50 mile ride to Vallejo which isn't so bad. | ||
| Court |
>>>So if you buy one of these bikes in July it will not have a two year warranty but a year and a half warranty, I sense a square peg and a round hole duking it out...something here does not sound accurate. e-mail me a number where I can reach in in Olathe. I want to learn the facts. Court | ||
| Thansesxb9rs |
Court I sent you an email. I love my Buell and will never part with it just because they are trying to make a better dealer network, I understand this. Transition periods are always hard for any product. I just think Harley should have put a little more though into the adjustment period for the dealers that have lost their Buell rights. But this does not only effect the dealers that lost the Buell brand but also the remaining dealers, maybe Buell should buy back the remaining buells that are with the dealers that no longer carry their product and have an auction of theses bikes with all the remaining dealers. This way the customers that buy a Buell from a non dealer will not just be out in the cold. | ||
| Court |
I sent a reply: Thanks for the info. It *kinda* sounds a tad bit bogus as warranty policy and requirements are not, I think, so much a matter of dealer policy as they are legal, as in "da law". To "start" a warranty, usually requires the bike to be "sold", i.e. title tranferred. I'm not, I confess, real up on this. My sole experience is a similar case I handled where the customer had been told the "warranty ran out while it was sitting on the showroom floor". Horse****. What happened, in that case, was that there was a sales bounty, Just like Olathe and Noller Ford have on right now for F-250's, whereby the dealer can get cash back for sales in a certain period of time. In the case of the Buells, the dealer had simply "sold" them all (someone should have picked up that all his 1996 S-1's sold in the same week) to store employees. Titles were, as required, tranferred to the employees who simply signed them back over the the dealer, never registering them. I found out when a guy bought what was represented to be a "new" Buell only to find out down the road he was the second owner and the warranty was POOF. Under Federal law (remember what happened to Chrysler...the same reason Buell won't change the wheels from one bike to anther before it leaves the factory) a bike advertised (any vehcile actually) as "NEW" must have a MSO (Manufactuers Statement of Origin) and have never been titled. Not sure, I'll have time to look into this, but it sounds, given the facts I have, suspicious. (Message edited by court on February 06, 2005) | ||
| BadS1  |
Its a new bike no matter what year and mileage until it has sold.Thats when a warranty starts.Never heard of sucha thing. | ||
| Charlieboy6649 |
BadS1, Not true. Wycked bought my bike off the demo fleet. It was advertised as being sold as such but with the 1 year warranty intact because it had never been titled. It was just a matter of warranty transfer when I bought it from him, this is done every day. Well, I had two repairs done under warranty, this proves the bike was in fact still under warranty in the system. I have the receipts to prove it... The warranty was to expire on January 14th 2005(or so, don't have the exact date in front of me). My plan was to buy the extended warranty in early January. I showed up at the dealer and when they checked the system, poof, the warranty was no good! We called HD and were told that since the bike was a demo, the warranty started with the dealer and not the sale and that I never should have been under warranty and it was their mistake. If it was their mistake, they should have honored the physical receipts I had in hand and let me purchase the extended warranty. But alas, I left feeling dejected and pissed-off. Love Buell/HD, hate dealers and the whole network that is supposed to be so efficient... So in essence Court, round peg, square hole or not, half my warranty ran out on the showroom floor... (Message edited by charlieboy6649 on February 06, 2005) | ||
| Geoffg  |
Dale said, "That if one reason I might buy a V-Rod R instead of waiting for the new Buell." What "new Buell?" Am I missing something?   (Message edited by geoffg on February 06, 2005) | ||
| Geoffg |
And, as far as warranty is concerned--I'm buying a leftover 03 XB9R. I know the 03s originally came with a one-year warranty, but the dealer has assured me that this 03 will carry a full two-year warranty, just like an 04 or 05. Is this correct?--I'd like to believe him. | ||
| Court |
>>>Is this correct?--I'd like to believe him. Do so at your peril, the '03 bike would, I'd think, come with the 1 year warranty. But, harken my son....for I bear glad tidings. Warranties are easy and there is no need to invoke parole evidence as a wrranty, you have read the statute of frauds and are aware of the stipulations as they impact contract of one of more years?, are WRITTEN CONTRACTS. That's write a warranty, much life a life insurance policy, is a written contract. Get it, read it know it. Decide if you want to be the tip of the dog's nose or the tip of his tail. Geroffg: If I were you, I'd simply ask the dealer, having made that representation to put it in writing. "I, ________, Joe Dealer, do herby swear, affirm, warrant and commit to honor all provisions of the original factory warranty through the period ending ______. This committment is not conditioned upon existence or validity of the original manufacturers warranty" Or something to that effect.....do what I do, tell them you are stupid and if they don't write it down, you'll never remember it. In my case, it's true...but you can use my strategy.  | ||
| Tank_bueller |
Geoff, I bought a "new" 03' in sept. 04' Only one year on the warranty....Sorry. Unless they are offering the second year out of their own pockets(doubtful), I think they are blowing smoke up your a**. Of course, maybe they know something I don't, in which case, I want my second year(not holding my breath). tank p.s. like Court said: get it in writing!!! (Message edited by tank_bueller on February 06, 2005) | ||
| BadS1 |
I bought my wifes Blast as a demo/MSF bike last year full warranty. | ||
| Daves  |
A demo from a dealer is different than a demo from the Buell factory demo fleet. I just bought 3 bikes from the Buell factory demo fleet. One of them only has 5 miles on it but is a used bike and the warranty is up next month. My demo on the other hand is still considered a new bike and if I were to sell it the buyer would get the full 2 year warranty on it. The 03 only carries a 1 year warranty unless the dealer is buying a one year extended ESP for you. Get it in writing. If they are putting a one year ESP on it there will be ESP paperwork for you to sign and keep a copy. | ||
| Charlieboy6649 |
The thing that really gets me is that if not for their mistake, making me think I had until January, I would have bought the extended service plan earlier when I was still eligible... Rules is rules and I play by them. But if my warranty is up mid year instead of Jan, don't penalize me when a mistake is made and I havn't bought mid year when I think I've got till Jan... I'm sure you could see how that would burn me Dave... | ||
| Daves |
I sure can! The dealership should have known this. | ||
| Dj_rider |
great info guys, keep us posted! | ||
| Geoffg |
Hmmm...I got it in writing already, but in an e-mail--I wonder if that's good enough? I'll probably ask them for something on paper, signed. | ||
| Charlieboy6649 |
I had something better. I've got a printout from Harley that says my end date was in Jan. They wouldn't honor it... | ||
| Spatten1  |
Where is anonymous on this one? | ||
| Court |
The "BUELL" factory does not have very much to do with warranty issues, either developing or administering policy. Most of what I read here seems to conflict with what I know, or have thought, to be fact. I'd suggest perseverance and due diligence. Court | ||
| Charlieboy6649 |
All, I pressed up as far as the lady, sorry don't have her name here at work, who heads up the warranty department. She was the "final say" so to speak, according to our dealer. She said no, I said OK. I'm really not sour at Buell, but at my situation with the warranty. I'm intelligent enough to know that Buell doesn't handle individual warranty problems. In fact I'm happy to have had my two fixes that I did get. Just wish I could have bought the ext. warranty at the reduced rate before it expired. Have you guys seen the price difference! In the end, I decided to buy the manual as I stated and drop the issue. I'm pretty forgiving and very passionate about Buell, so I'm still a fan. Others might not be... |
