| Author | Message | ||
     Cbrxxblackbird |
Is the a site to read the manuals online instead of buying. I have a 2001 X1. The import bikes have sites I was just wondering about buells. | ||
| Bomber |
there seem to be no legal electronic copies of Buell manuals since the S1 docs -- also, no aftermarket ones (Clymers, Hayes, et al) not much of a loss, as the factory docs are aces, and not too spendy, either | ||
| Cbrxxblackbird |
I looked at the S1 doc. | ||
| Tattoodnscrewd |
[redacted to avoid promoting illegal sales of bootleg Buell service manuals] (Message edited by Blake on March 06, 2007) | ||
| Bomber |
just as a data point, to do with as you wish, anything like an X1 CD is bootlegged | ||
| Oldog |
Black Bird. Buy the book its cheap... [ if the book hurts your feelings wait till you replace something ]  | ||
| Cbrxxblackbird |
No hurt feelings, I was just asking if they had them online. | ||
| Oldog |
Bird: I wish that electronic manuals were available so I could print sections as needed and mark up the manual with any information or changes to it.. | ||
| Jackbequick |
I mark my manuals up (constructively) as I use them. I have seen and bought a lot of service manuals over the years and the H-D and Buell manuals are some of the best I have seen for helping you to work on your own bike. The bottom line to me was that what I paid for a SM and Parts Book more than paid for itself when I did the 5,000 mile service on an M2 myself instead of taking it to a dealer. After that I was further ahead every time. If you go back over the KV and read the stories there, it is a sure thing that the Buell owners who are happiest with their bikes are the ones doing their most of their own work. It takes some skill and tools but with that, the SM, and the help of the KV and folks here, I quickly learned that I could do all the routine service and repair work on my M2. And it has moved me on to feeling the same way about my Dyna FXD. Jack | ||
| Bad_karma |
You would think in this day and age of security and pass words that once you where verified a buell owner you should be able to access copyrighted service manuals(SM). I have SM for my bikes but I don't see Buell/HD making a lot of money on these items. Joe | ||
| Cbrxxblackbird |
Some of the bikes I had they were online which was nice for quick answers. | ||
| Jayvee |
Especially since you have to provide a VIN to get into the new Buell owner's group web-site, they should allow access to the manuals. Sometimes you just need one page of the parts book, for example the Chin Fairing off the X1, or the handguards off the Uly. I would hate to have to spend $50 to get just the two pages. The parts books are useful for showing all the pieces in almost an "exploded" view, I've found this very helpful in understanding things. | ||
| Court |
My PERSONAL dream is that something like this happens and don't think it ain't being worked on. Here's my reason . . . FIRST: The manuals EXIST. There is a database in which UPDATED (the key word) .pdf copies of manuals, with all the changes in colors like little sticky notes. SECOND: Even if we make them searchable but not downloadable/copiable whatever, it becomes an accross the board "win-win". Folks are at their dealers trying to order a part from the manual they paid $50 for only to find out the part was superceeded 2 years ago. THIRD: If Buell does it. . Buell can control and drive the process. If they don't get off their corporate duff (this, let's be honest... ain't rocket science) and do it someone else will. This . . . boys and girls . . is the INFORMATION AGE. I'd suggest EVERYONE buy all the manuals for their bike. But, I'd REALLY like to see a Buell owner be able to bring up the most current version to confirm fitment. That's the way I see it. Court | ||
| Reepicheep |
Especially the parts manual. I ponied up for both my service manuals, and was happy to have such a great product to buy. But then to pay another $40 or whatever just so I can know the part number for a particular part I need? Or see exploded diagrams that should probably have been in the service manual to begin with? Me getting the right part just helps Buell get my money more efficiently. And on my 2000 M2... which I started adjusting the belt tension on in 2001... if I had an online copy of that manual with real time updates... would I have been overtightening the belt (trashing my 5th gear drive assembly)? Would I have broken a header stud due to a "updated replacement available" front exhaust hanger? Dunno... Of course having the 05 9sx now helps... the thing won't seem to break... | ||
| Bomber |
many companies have done the cost benefit dealio on on-live vs paper docs -- most brick and morter joints (auto, motorcycle) favor prined copies (this MAY be a late-changing attitude from when a PC and badwidth represented a consderable investment for a company -- today, the parts tech in logging into at least one system anyways) a number of future facing durable good manufacturers (machine tools, heavy trucks) have gone to the hybrid distribution methodology -- paper Service Manuals (with real time updates on line) and electronic Parts Books (which tend to change much more often) . . . . no reason HDI couldn't do the same (in fact, in a virtual manner, they have) -- it's the infrastrucure to allow customers access to data that costs, and, if I worked for HDI, I'd be tempted NOT to do the study, being pretty sure it would not be a money maker or enough of a customer satisfaction driver to make it worth while none of the above should give you the impression that I do not want said access, btw . . I'd LOVE it! but every business has to invest their resources where they feel it would make the biggest return, yes? (Message edited by bomber on March 09, 2007) | ||
| Jackbequick |
Court for President! Or guy in charge of online data decisions at the MoCo and Buell at least. I love finding what I need on line and doubt that they are making enough on the manuals to want to protect the distribution. Jack | ||
| Toe_cutter |
I have a PDF version of the 99 X1 manual. I'm willing to give a copy to any one who has a way to receive a 300 meg file. Just let me know... | ||
| Court |
It's political. Only political. At this point there is precisely the copy that NEEDS to be posted online. . . . the document lives. What needs to be developed is all that legal language that says this copy is for informational purposes. You should use it ONLY to find the part number and then contact your local authorized dealer to ensure fitment and that the part number represents the latest and greatest iteration of the dual hyper-gonkulator". That's step one. Having legal do their thing. Next is deciding how to access this thing. I, as usual suggest we tip the scales towards "inclusion" . . people who can go to a Buell website, virtually thumb through pages and spend quality time with the Buell website are far more likely to become customers. I used to spend hours when www.buykawasaki.com came on line. It's still the gold standard for an online parts catalog. Buell is smart enough to raise the bar. Next is the NIH hurdle. To quote a Harley-Davidson executive when I was presenting at M.I.T. in 1998 (a Buell concept that would have been so far ahead of it's time it'd knocked the industry on it's collective ass) . . "Over my dead body will Buell get something that Harley-Davidson doesn't have" It's a shame but there are folks at HD who are still very offended that when Erik made his huge leap of faith in his own talents by leaving the comfort of his job at the mothership and they lectured him . . "you'll be sorry" to have seen his monumental success. It frickin GEEKS them and they, to this day, do whatever they can. Some of them live in the path of this online program. They key is that under the vision of Jon Flickinger there is REAL change. Jon is as smart as he is genuinely committed to Buell's LONG TERM success. If you are going to tell him no, you'd better be able to back it up with facts, not a personal burr under your saddle. I predict it will happen. Just like the lunacy of keeping recall and product bulletins secret from the Buell owning public, the idea that folks should not be able to see the most current and up to date manuals. . . well, don't make much sense. I'm thinking it'd be cool if you had to BUY a paper copy to get a code to access the online updates. Not sure how I'd grandfather folks . . . but it could be worked out. Progress. Court P.S. - you can imagine how popular my online diatribes make me . . .  | ||
| Naustin |
I'm tired of Erik's personal enemies at HD ••••••• up my life. He should just kill the bastards and I'll help him bury them. THe over my dead body attitude is the biggest roadblock to my continued patronage of the Buell brand. I love my Buell. But, when I am confronted by that attitude, a little voice in my head always screams out "You don't have to put up with this shit -- Is it really worth it?". So far, "Yes" has been the answer, but some days, it holds only a tenuous majority. P.S. - you can imagine how popular my online diatribes make me . . .: ) One's popularity on HD soil is diametrically opposed to one's popularity HERE most of the time.  THAT'S THE WHOLE PROBLEM (Message edited by naustin on March 10, 2007) | ||
| Reepicheep |
Having been a victim... errr... I mean valued contributor... for several big organizations, corporations, churches, you name it. If you think you are going to avoid pissing contests and petty politics by buying brand X, you are sorely mistaken, unless brand X is built from scratch by one man working alone. My Dad works for a feeder plant for several of the "big" japanese vehicle manufacturers. They are just as political, just more organized and methodical at it | ||
| Court |
I have great and continuing faith in Erik's ability to prevail . . . . several events over the past couple years have been absolutely monuments to his tenacity. The QUALITY of Buells and it's impact on Harley-Davidson (you did know that Buell is the HIGHEST QUALITY product coming out of the Harley-Davidson organization??) have done much to cement the future. These are good times. . . yeah. . I'm excited. By the way, I've owned large companies, I'ev worked for (presently) large companies, I spent a gig in the USMC and a 2 year stint with the Reagan-Bush White House Advance Team and the LEAST POLITICAL of the venues was . . . you guessed it. . THE WHITE HOUSE. Go figure? | ||
| Bad_karma |
I wish you hadn't told us that court Joe | ||
| Iamike |
I would love to have the manual on a CD. At work when we give an order to the linemen they are given a map, a parts list (that is also sent to stores so they have the parts ready when the crew gets there) and a job description. This is all done on the computer at a fraction of the time it would take by hand. I would love to look up the project, be able to zoom in on the details for my aging eyes, and print what I want. Then I wouldn't care about referring to the manual (print out) with greasy fingers. I just hate it when I need to look back for an explanation and clean up my hands to open the manual. Between this board and the manual I have been able to hit 60,000mi. on my bike with only one disabling incident (stator at the end of a 700mi. trip. | ||
| Oldog |
The QUALITY of Buells and it's impact on Harley-Davidson (you did know that Buell is the HIGHEST QUALITY product coming out of the Harley-Davidson organization??) No suprise there, Sad but True on N.I.H. having been a Victim of the "HD attittude" I will say this, There seems to be a culture at Buell that IS not likely to be present at HD, I say this, After a conversation with a Buell employee {from the assembley plant no less!} at Daytona, The Brake kit issues and resolution also by a Buell employee, They have good leadership and a good company culture, They can "do it" if they can win at the "politics" game .. They would not have gotten this far with out it remind me to tell you how I know some time... } | ||
| Court |
Part of the problem of being as old as I am is that I know how you know. . . Buell is an amazing company. | ||
| Oldog |
I thought that It was particulary Cool to talk to someone who may have actualy put my bike together, As well as to learn some of the things that go on there at BMC like the groups moving from station to station in an effort to IMPROVE quality, From my perspective I can't think of a better way to motivate an employee than let them have face time with a customer. I enjoyed it... A Buell is built in about an hour and a half start to finish how cool is that. ... Oh and I still want an electronic manual. (Message edited by Oldog on March 12, 2007) | ||
| Cbrxxblackbird |
Electronic manual? Or one on cd? | ||
| Court |
>>>A Buell is built in about an hour and a half Actually 9 x 7:14 I'd love to take about 6 folks on a "behind the scenes" (nothing confidential, just the parts you don't see) tour. You'd be amazed at what is happening at Buell. |
