| Author | Message | ||
     Slowride |
Let me preface this thread as my own opinion and rant... That is just aching for sympathy. I have been working on a collection of upgrades/mods for the M2 (i.e. engine and paint) not to mention all the little ones like xb rocker boxes and so on. In the course of collecting information on the various parts required and upgrades possible, it has brought me in contact with a lot of custom bike builders as well as HD dealers. I am starting to notice a pretty disturbing trend.... at least locally (TX). The dealers upon finding out my question is in relation to a Buell immediately laugh or smile with that condescending “yeah right” sh!# eating grin on their face. I throw the part numbers down and they start their search. At this point most of them start to offer some sort of advice on what I should or shouldn’t do in the way of parts, but promptly start to usher me out the door as fast as possible or at least it feels that way. So I decided to go a different route and find a good local shop, most of them dealing in 1 off choppers these days to see if I can get some good engine and paint work done. For the most part I don’t get the facial gestures, I just receive the reply “A what? A buell, we don’t work on Buells” I follow up with, “if I bring just my motor in will you guys do the work you advertise for me.” “It is still a buell” “We don’t work on Buells” I did have at least a couple of shops look at my bike and make recommendations for Painters or Pinstripe artist, but the attitude is generally the same “WTF, you wasting my time with that Bastard Child for?” I mean these guys to advertise V-Twin service and modifications. These guys are building one off bikes with V-twins just like Mr. Buell. What the hell. I am finding no love for the Buell’s anywhere. I was hoping my Buell experience wasn’t going to be a very thing club like the Ducati’s, but the more I look the thinner the line gets. I love my M2 and don’t see anyway I will be getting rid of it anytime soon. My main gripe is that I have to find shops outside of my local area just to have modifications done, which means longer downtimes. SO, if any of you have a suggestion and a personal experience with a good shop located in TX let me know. The ones here in Dallas and surrounding areas are starting to •••• me off. | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
Wow that sucks. I noticed an indifferent attitude myself when I passed through in September 2001. There are crappy dealers everywhere really. Just don't spend your money there! Most of the places up Northeast are fine with Buells. I know that doesn't help you much but at least you can see that it's probably just a local deadspot. A lot of places I used to go to treated sportster people like crap too. Insecure people need to put others down to feel ok. They know that your cheaper bike is faster than their 8000 pound roadkinglide with screamin chicken air filter. | ||
| Koz5150 |
Well, I haven't had too much problems here in Wisconsin, but there are a few Harley dealers that have been less then enthusiastic about Buell. I try to do most of my work myself and have purchased all my needed documentation (parts catalog and service manual) to help me. I also have leaned on Badweb in times of need and that has helped alot. Look at it this way. This type of behavior will probably scare others away from owning a "tuber" which will just make your bike that much more unique in the long run. | ||
| Djkaplan |
If you wanted to meet nice people, you should have gotten a Honda! Just kidding, Honda people are jerks. I find that I do almost all my business through the mail. The local dealer never has parts (even HD parts) so I always have to order them anyway. The only reason I go to the dealer is to buy filters. They always have filters. | ||
| Slowride |
Does NRHS have a website? I did a quick search and it popped back railway sites. Is their any vendors you use more than most DJ? For instance I am picking up the rear sprocket mod dropping down from a 61 to a 55. No Dealers have them, I am going to have it shipped in through a local dealer unless you have other options for HD parts (factory). | ||
| Jb2 |
Slowride... <<www.nallinracing.com>> | ||
| Djkaplan |
I get almost everything I need from American Sport Bike. For instance, I bought some Nallin billet pushrod bases from American Sport Bike and decided to get the top end gaskets from there as well. I could have gotten them from the local Harley dealership, but I've had a pretty miserable experience buying parts there (and other dealers as well). I hear really good things about Dave Stueve at Appleton, so that may be a good place to start your parts search. | ||
| Steve_mackay |
Yup, there are plenty of people who will build you a motor, that *ARE* Buell enthusiastic. Cyclerama http://www.cycle-rama.com/ NRHS http://www.nallinracing.com Hals PA http://www.halspa.com All come to mind. All have extensive Buell experience. I wouldn't waste my time trying to talk someone in to taking my business. | ||
| Jammer |
I've got a rant. I'm currently in the process of replacing my main shaft bearing on my 97 S3. Now, i have more money than time and just assume pay someone else to do it however the dealers in my area hum and haw over whether they are willing to do the job. One service writer asked me to come back later and talk to the service manager and that he could tell me if they're even capable of doing the job. The other one well i didnt give them a chance because i assume they're all the same right. I have the money with in reason but i don't want someone to school themselves at my expence and not being able to give me a solid quote i feel that's exactly what they are going to do. So with the help of the Knowledge Vault and the service manual, it took me two hours to get it torn down to the main shaft. In defence of the dealer in my area, you know they had every part i needed right down to the cheesy clip that holds on the detent plate. I am happy about that  . Now, I need to give props to a new independant shop here in Redlands called California Rider. The mechanic is MMI certified and took every Harley and Buell class that was given. They schooled him on the Firebolt, lightning and Blast but not the tube framed ones. Anyway, The Main Shaft gear and Bearing removal tools quite an expense for tools i will probably use just once. Well California rider will buy the tools back from me (at a discount of course) When i'm done with the job. Trying to get this all done for Octoberfast. I guess my belt was to tight. It seemed loose to me the swingarm mounting bracket is highly polished were the belt passes over it. In eight years i have never touched the belt adjustment. One question when i install the bearing should i lube it with bearing grease or just sportstrans fluid like the manual says? Jeff- | ||
| Steve_mackay |
Jammer. I just did the job you're doing. Luckily, Hals HD loaned me the tool needed to pull the mainshaft & bearing I just put some Redline Synthetic lube in a small oil can, and squirted the heck out of out while spining the main shaft. So every ball was well lubed up. So far so good. Have about 400 miles on the bike in the past two weeks since I did it. | ||
| Pammy |
There is KT Cycles in Baytown Tx. A very good shop from what I have seen. They built John Burdynski's motor. Very nice folks as well. | ||
| Slowride |
Thanks Pammy! I will see if they are there after this Cat5 Rita blows through this weekend. Steve, Thanks for the links... DJ, I bought my Center stand through American Sport Bike. They were GREAT! Good Choice. | ||
| Dago |
I know of a great local shop in Garland. PM me if you're interested. I've been using him for 2 years now. | ||
| Blake |
Pammy, Thanks for the recommendation of a shop in Texas in honor of Micah's (Slowride's) request. It shows a heck of a lot of character for such a notable and well-respected performance shop and sponsor of the site like Cycle-Rama to recommend another shop. Thanks again for that. |
