| Author | Message | ||
     Blake |
Wrong topic. Try the "Court in Session" Topic. | ||
| Hogluvr |
Sorry Blake, This is where I contacted Court initially about the problem, sorry for the faux pas I've posted in the proper forum... | ||
| Drfudd |
I'm writing a compliment about Buell motorcycles just because I want to express my gratitude towards an unique motorcycle company. A few years ago just as I was about to graduate from college I decided I wanted a motorcycle, so I began to research. At the time I couldn't tell the difference between a Honda and a Kawasaki, or any sport bike. But I knew what I wanted, I wanted a bike that resembled a cafe racer, a sport bike for racing in the streets, stripped down, no nonsense handles like its on rails street bike. Not that I had any intention in racing, its just what I wanted. For my senor project I helped develop a radical suspension on a SAE formula racer. Essentially a small golfcart on steriods. This thing would easily go 140 mph in a heart beat but I wouldn't drive it, it scares the crap out of me. I wanted a bike that I could brag about its radical technologies but I myself would never push it that hard. So in my searches I knew i wanted something that stood out from the pack and preferably American or European made (for some reason I despise Asian made material, don't know why) so early on I found the Buell website, I immediately fell in love. I looked at all the other guys but everyone else was all the same but with minor differences, Buell really really stood out, unlike anything else. The fact that its air cooled, incredible short wheel base, inside-out front break, fuel in the frame, mass centralization, terms and Ideas that really spoke to a graduating Mechanical Engineer from the Motor city. If Buell didn't exist I would of probably purchased a BMW or Ducati, probably Ducati because of their radical valve train (no springs, awesome). But you know, I just graduated from College I gotta put my career on the top of the list, so motorcycle will come later. Skipping forward a year and a half later I'm 800 miles from my home in michigan, now in South Carolina landed myself a great job, great house and I got money to burn, so I need to treat myself, and what better way than a bran-new motorcycle. Hell motorcycles down here in the south are actually practical, you can pretty much ride them year round, unlike in michigan you only have a 4 or 5 month riding season. But I do have a problem, I have a wife, and she hates sport bikes, she likes Harley's, so it takes some convincing, Again if Buell didn't exist I would have bought a Harley, V-rod, those bikes are sweet , they look rad plus they have a awesome engine, and it would please the wife. But I managed to talk her into letting me buy a Buell, its got the harley engine in it, women like Harley engines, and its something very small, cheaper than a V-rod, and to boot, you guys came out with the Lighting long, a stretched version for enhanced passenger riding. So on December 23rd I bought one. My ultimate choice would have been a XB12Scg, because I need something low, on the long I'm not flat footed on the ground, but I could manage. Now I'm a pro-choice kind of guy, Helmet laws should be a choice and so should insurance, now when it comes to vehicle insurance I'll take my chances, but I was hearing good things about Sentry or Dairy land so affording insurance on a sport bike (and the fact that I'm a new rider) sounded possible, so at the dealership the sales guy dials a number, hands me the phone for insurance, at the end of it the nice indian lady said 536 dollars, and I said a year? She said yes, I couldn't believe it everywhere else I shopped they wanted 1000+ a year, this was fantastic. So I was thrilled about insurance, now when it comes to me and helmets, I and all my passengers will ALWAYS wear a helmet, I just think if your dumb enough to ride without one, that should be your choice, not the law. Now about 5 months before I bought my new bike I took a Motorcycle Safety course, and it was worth every penny, I feel I can really ride a bike the right way and not be in fear of crashing it or looking like a squid (a new word I learned since I bought a bike), and in a few weeks I'm taking the expert MSF course to get my license and to brush up my riding skills on my bike. Oh by the way, do other buellers have problems doing the figure 8 with a Buell? The bike I rode for my beginners MSF course was some stupid Hyosung sport bike, it was easy with it, but I tried it with my buell and it is hard as hell, not only do I have to turn the handle bars all the way I really have to got all the way off the seat and lean the bike as much as I can to stay in the box. On the flip side that Hyosung was a horrible thing, it was very difficult to shift, impossible to find neutral (even the instructors had difficultly finding neutral). And I noticed when I tried to lean it over in the corners it would get squirrelly when i pushed it too hard. Anyway its been about 2.5 months since I had my bike, put 700 miles on it and I couldn't be happier with it, it has incredible handling, very forgiving, I consistently find my size 12 Harley boots scraping the ground as I take corners and I have complete confidence in what I can do with the motorcycle, I've only had it up to 100 mph several times, and I doubt I'll be going faster any time soon, I don't know how you guys can handle it faster, its about as fast I feel comfortable going. I also practiced some power wheelies a fee times, it scares the crap out of me how easily the bike pulls that front wheel up, I figured its best to learn because a few times I forgot to roll off the throttle when I shifted and the front wheel caught some air, I just feel I should practice some wheelies so I can control them when I shift too hard. I heard of a course in Atlanta that for about 500 bucks teaches you how to do wheelies, that might be a good course to take just so that I feel comfortable handling all the power of my motorcycle. I drive the thing to work everyday it doesn't' rain, I only live about a mile to work so I take great care to let the bike warm up before I take off with it, I have it down to a good routine now. I've also notice that the bike doesn't run very well when it gets below freezing and I leave it outside, so now I keep it inside every night, doesn't take much effort, I only have a threshold to go over to get it inside, I'm on a slab house (those are amazing popular in the south) so I don't need to take up any steps to get it in and out of my side room everyday. And the bike runs a lot better in cold weather this way. Everybody at work thinks I'm insane riding my bike to work when its only 30 degrees outside, it actually nice because it reminds me of home when I ride in cold weather for a few miles. There are a good amount of motorcycle riders at work, even the director of operations for the plant (the big guy for this facility) rides a motorcycle to work on occasion. And motorcycle's get priority parking, the only ones to park closer to the door is people who ride Bicycles. Even handy-capped people don't park as close as we do, but theres no way to fit handy-capped parking any closer, bikes are small. Also no one at work identified it as a Buell at first, they all thought it was some kind of Ducati. But that doesn't phase me, if their interested in hearing about it, I'm interested in bragging about its very Unique features. And everyone can't believe that this small small motorcycle is 1200 ccs ,which I get a kick out of telling them. Its surprising that the lighting long is a stretched Buell, but still small compared to other big 4 sport bikes and minuscule compared to Cruisers. Its also interesting how easy it is to get the front wheel up, this bike has 3 speeds, fast, faster, and ridiculous fast. Thats one of the things I had to get used to was how fast it'll go just at idle, and I also had to get used to the noticeable engine break, but everything else is great, its shifts great (although rather loudly and it doesn't have a gear indicator, wish it did) its easy to find neutral, accelerates into traffic like a bullet, and passing cars is so easy I never get road rage driving on country highways, I would always hate it getting stuck behind someone going 50 in a 55 zone, I always like to drive 5 over so I usually go about 60, and any corner I come to I have no problem going 60, even if the warning sign says 40 mph. I try to avoid expressways like they are the plague, too much wind for comfortable driving at 70-80 mph, and for some reason at high speeds the fan comes on, and also at speed 25-35, the cooling sweet spot seems to be 45-65, perfect for country highway riding the engine fan never comes on in this spot. Also at this speed the wind resistance seem to balance perfectly with the riding position, so its like I'm riding upright and balanced, a rather comfortable riding position. Anyway I figure this is an exorbitantly long post, but I just wanted to give my experience and praise to a unique motorcycle company and I hope Buell continues this tradition of thinking outside the box and providing a motorcycle product to those who appreciate radical thinking and daring ideas. | ||
| Court |
>>>>Anyway I figure this is an exorbitantly long post Posts with kind words are NEVER too long. I've a feeling we can get this posted on the bulletin board tomorrow and let the folks who built you bike know how much you're enjoying it. Thanks for a great read and reminding a lot of us how much we enjoy these darn things! Court | ||
| Drfudd |
No problem court, I can't praise the uniqueness of this company enough. You look on Ducati's website and all they talk about is how fast and how much horsepower their bikes are, which is fine for their market. But I'm so glad at least one motorcycle company (and its American to boot) found a Niche market. now Ducatis do have some unique technologies, such as their Desmodromic valve train, but its difficult to find any info about it, in fact I'm willing to bet that there are some Ducati riders who have no idea what it is, they just know their bike goes fast. On Buells website its outlined right out front how unique these bikes are, its all on the feature page. They don't heavily advertise HP or 1.4 mile times because its not Buells market and I can't believe that you found this market when your associated with such a large company like HD. I work for the largest solenoid valve manufacture and I know how hard it is to get radical ideas past marketing, its always about maintaining the current market and not going too radical. I'm going to say a HUGE THANK YOU! to all the engineers inside Buell who got really passionate about the XB project and just wouldn't back down to marketing and HD pressure and pushed for something totally different and not knowing for a fact that a market exists for it. Cuz without it you would just be another sportbike manufacture. That should be a good moral booster for Buell riders and Employees. I know it worked for me, I'm a proud owner! | ||
| Slowhand96 |
Why can't the parts books be published online? I just had my first experience buying parts for my Buell, a blast, but I'm sure this would apply to any Buell. It is a very different experience when I go to the dealership to check on parts for my 2000 RK v.s. checking on parts for a Buell. For starters the parts guy had to ask another parts guy where the books were even kept. I wanted the primary gaskets and clips to adjust my shifter pawl, and a top end kit. I actually had a longer list of things I wanted or wanted to check price on but just these parts took so long that I abandoned the rest of my list. I stood there wishing that I had a parts book so I could have just given him a list of part numbers rather than waiting for him to look them up. I when I got home I realized that instead of giving me a top end kit he just gave me only the head and rocker gasket, my mistake for not checking what he was doing more closely. Publishing the parts books would also help with retrofitting, knowing what parts or sets of parts will interchange between models and years. So when we look to "product improvement" or individualizing our bikes we may buy off the shelf Buell parts rather than after market parts. An example would be that several Thumpers have fitted dual headlights to their Blasts, most of them have ordered sets through the JC Whitney or other places while some others have figured out that lights, fairing etc. of the Ulysses will work with just minor modifications. I want to try to put something like cityx bars, black leavers and hand guards on mine. Do I languish at the dealership trying my best to peek over the "book Barrier" to see what they are actually looking up or should I go to an off road store and grab stuff off their shelf and be on my way? Modifying my bike using parts from Buell would be a good thing right? Knowing the parts I wanted in advance so I could save my time and the dealers time would also be a good thing right? I'm happy, I saved some time (and aggravation) they spent less time on me. What could be the down side of publishing the parts books online? Thank you. | ||
| Blake |
Nick (Drfudd), Great story! Thank you for taking the time to share it! I'm thinking, if it's okay with you, that it is worthy of its own headline in the Tale Section.  JC (Slowhand), I agree. It would be so very helpful and valuable to have access to parts and service manuals online. I'd pay money to gain such access and I'm sure many others would too. | ||
| Slowhand96 |
Blake I have to believe that they are already in a digital format somewhere. Then it would be a simple process of finding somewhere to host them. Hmmm I wonder where? Can't you use your influence to get the files? I could understand a reluctance to make a service manual available online. That could potentially, in small ways take some revenue away from the dealerships. But the parts books, that could only be a win - win for everybody! I would, as you suggested, be more than willing to pay some stipend to be able to scrounge around in the parts books. (Message edited by slowhand96 on March 22, 2007) | ||
| Court |
It should be easy to beleive they exist in digital format . . . cause I told you so last November. There is a version of ALL Buell manuals that exists in a very searchable format and is updated constantly. I remain (and am quietly continuing to try to persuade folks) that it would behoove everyone to make the manuals available on the www.buell.com site. There are two new folks involved, progress is slow but I'm optimistic. Several impediments remain to be de-impediated. . . to wit: 1) We've never done that. 2) My God man . . think of the liability we'd incur if we let the customers read a parts manual which they can walk into a dealership and buy. Huh? 3) The current version is pasted up with what looks like electronic yellow sticky notes and would require some messaging for public consumption. 4) The simple logisitics. . . like a dog chasing a car, once he catches it, what's he do with it? Similarly, the moment 10 years of manuals are deployed, under the precept of "being current", well someone has to "own" the process of constantly integrating updates. I am advocating some version of putting on the Buell site in the owners area and maybe having folks check a "this is for information purposes only and by logging in I absolve Buell/HD/New Zealand and Wal-Mart for any responsbility for what I read here". It'll happen . . . . but it's like climbing an oiled picture window. | ||
| Slowhand96 |
Court I don't know how often you hear this but it is probably not enough. Thank You! | ||
| Stretchman |
6 months after I bought my bike, the SS came out. Being that I am about 75-76 inches tall, it really made me mad that I didn't wait for a couple of months before buying. I rode my Buell, and I loved it, but I could never get quite comfortable on it, no matter how it was configured. Well, today, all that changed. I got an excellent deal on a new 07 XB12Ss in sunset orange. I managed to get it outside right as it was starting to rain. Rode it home very carefully, on new tires, trying to follow break in procedures. I can say this. The difference in comfort is night and day. And if it performs half as well as the S I traded did, then I will be totally happy. Now to wait for clearer skies to get some break in miles on her. Thank you very much for building a bike for us tall guys, Mr. Buell. Stretch | ||
| Fpresky |
I have been riding bikes for 34 years and my newly purchased 07 Firebolt 12r is the 12th brand new bike in my lifetime. I have had bikes from many different manufacturers over the years , but would have to say the fit and finish on this new bike are as close to perfection I have ever seen.Every panel is perfectly placed there are no gaps anywhere , the wire harness is clean and well secured. GREAT JOB ON A GREAT BIKE!!!! | ||
| Wintermetal |
for the factory... i quote: "It was in rural Pennsylvania that a little 12-year-old named Erik lived with his family. One day, a friend of Erik's mother stopped by for a visit with her 16-year-old-son. But this wasn't your run-of-the-mill 16-year-old. This guy had a 50cc step-through. Erik begged the kid to let him take it down the end of the driveway and back. Reluctantly, the guy agreed. Erik rolled down the driveway, out onto the street and before the older kid could protest, Erik was already zipping down the road. AND HE NEVER LOOKED BACK" What a quaint story. i think i sense a little song and dance coming on. actually, i really think i sense a renovated idea. enter the buell scooter. yes, a 50cc, automatic step-through. buell is all about improving ideas. and they've got the world-based market. how awesome would it be to see a buell scooter!? they could be big in america, they would be big in europe, asia, and who knows where else. a little vintage cafe-style scooter with unique buellish flair. or even a whole line of styles, from vintage to bigger-engine race scooters! this would be a great way for people to get into buell in a low-budget, simple, enjoyable way. 50cc scooters don't even need to be tagged/licensed in most states to my knowledge, and they provide so much simple pleasure. throw in the advantages of super fuel economy, less pollution, less noise, and that sweet-talkin' italian styling, and you've got a great idea (or i've got a great idea?? someone does, anyway). complete with lights, signals, a little storage cart on the back.... oh yeah! (i'm even willing to submit a few drawings/ideas) oh the possibilities! | ||
| Ratbuell |
Hey Court - the best way I can think of to bring the parts catalog online is to tie it in with the dealers' EPC system. Just add another destination to the "update" list every time somebody updates EPC (wherever *it* lives), and voila! It could even live on buell.com and have .pdf printable diagrams for greasy-fingerprint-garage-use. Not that I've done that. Much. ...or is that too easy?  Also in keeping with the "I'm too stretched / circus-freak-like to ride an XB" thread (I'm 6'4" with a 34" inseam and 37" sleeve; even with the Crossroads bars my S1W is a bit snug; put me on a 52" XB and I look like I'm *wearing* the bike)... when will we see a long wheelbase XB-R? PUH-LEEZE? With Thunderbolt-esque saddlebags available? | ||
| Aussiexbox |
Well Erik,we in Australia hope you are listening,we have a forum in Australia,called Aussie Buell Riders,similar to Badweb,but now Milwaukee is shutting us down,why because HD Australia was to figgin dumb to register the domain name Buell.com.au,our site administrator picked it up and guess what now HD want it back,so to be an absolute bunch of aholes,they are shutting us down and putting the friggin lawyers up em as well.HD,Buell wake up to yourselves and leave us alone,ask nicely and you might get your domain name back,but be a bunch of arsholes,and i'd say we as Aussies will tell you where to get off! | ||
| Borrowedbike |
Gents, Had a minor issue with my 2006 XB12ss a few weeks ago. Just under 1K Miles the bike began to run horribly. This was intermittent, and if I rode long enough I'd end up with a check engine light. Obviously the fuel system was in limp mode, and the bike performance greatly improved. When I (Self) performed the 1000 mile service that weekend I troubleshot the issue. VDSTS showed a shorted intake air sensor. I traced this short to the harness under the seat where it turns behind the negative terminal of the battery. It appears the harness had rubbed the negative terminal and through the outer shield and insulation of the wire. I'll discuss long term repairs with my local dealership as a warranty service, but it may be a product improvement idea to provide an additional support or hard insulation on this section of the harness. Just my two cents... Paul | ||
| Reepicheep |
Yup. What Paul said. I put on my own $.25 cent piece of split loom cable armor after I had a nick at that same place. (2005 XB9SX). To a degree this was self induced, as the dealer put in a new ECM and both of us had been fussing in there. Proper bundle routing can make this less likely to happen... but cable armor could eliminate one more "opportunity for defect". | ||
| Xbullet |
Sorry...thread-jacking. Court, Let me start by saying that my '06 CityX is the most fun motorcycle i've ever ridden, much less owned. I bought it in July of '06, and I'll do the 10,000 mile service on it within the next week or two. I have LOVED every mile. Rain, sleet, snow or shine. straight, curved, street or pastures on the farm, she's been tops! Here comes my gripe. Please take the smarta$$ as tongue-in-cheek. Why sell a product (the XB airbox cover "tank" bag) and not have the replacement parts listed in the accompanying literature ready to sell? i've been 6 months tryin' to find the 2 clips that go on the front of the airbox to mount this bag. i bought the bag new and broke the d*mn plastic connectors (my fault), and even though they are listed (with a part number) in the instruction sheet, my Buell dealer's computer doesn't recognize it as a valid part number. So now i have a 110 dollar bag that i'd like to mount on my bike. insted, i have to use it as a "man-purse" or not use it at all. the parts that i thought would be available if i did somethin' stupid (like break the clips) are not available. i had been lead to believe that i'd be able to replace them and continue using my bag. Should I have bought a Coach purse instead?!?! the money's the same if you buy the little ones... I spoke to a young lady at customer service today about it. hopefully she will be able to help me out, but she said the same things the dealership did before nothing happened. i'm not holding my breath. It's such an insignificant little thing in the grand scheme, but it's like fouling your spark plugs and then finding out that someone makes those plugs every day to go on new bikes, but since your bike is old, you can't get plugs for it. you have to buy a new bike to get the plugs out of it. sorry....i got on a rant. but really, is it that hard to locate these things? I see them on tank bags on the shelf at the dealership every time i walk in. if someone was to steal them off of the demo bag, how would the dealer get a new set of clips? you wouldn't leave them with a bag they couldn't sell. that's bad business. why leave a customer with a bag he can't use? i'll pay for them....just make them available!! Thanks for your time. I apologize for my long-windedness. But after 6 months of nobody being able to figure anything out, I'm a little frustrated. you would be too if you had to buy a new bike and share spark plugs between the old one and the new one. | ||
| Court |
send me a photo, the part number and a copy of that e-mail. Let me see if i can help. | ||
| Pplassm |
Recently bought an 03 XB9S, off this board, no less. Love everything about the bike. Best motorcycle I've had in a long time. (And I'm old) That being said, every other bike I have (Japanese and European) has parts manuals online and online parts ordering. I can't imagine what's holding Buell and HD back on this. OK, I CAN imagine. I don't have to like it, though. We're gonna drag you into the 21st century! Thanks for your help, Court! | ||
| Crusty |
I went on line and registered for Homecoming. When I went to answer the question, "What motorcycle will you be riding", the Ulysses wasn't listed! The only bike that Buell makes that comes with bags and a comfortable seat(i.e., the model most likely to be used for travelling)and it's not listed! What's wrong with you people? You're dropping the ball all over the place! Sheesh! Actually you guys are doing a great job. I don't see any other Manufacturers doing what you're doing, and I just want you to know that your efforts are appreciated. I'm really looking forward to Homecoming this year. | ||
| Gregerso |
ok, dumb question but i just bought an xb12scg. the guy didn't have the manual. how often do you change the oil? | ||
| Court |
>>>how often do you change the oil on a xb12scg? Page 1-6 of your manual: Change it at 1,000, 5,000, 10,000, 15,000, 20,000 and so forth. | ||
| Buellinachinashop |
Erik, If you read the board at all, I just wanted to say thanks for for doing this for me. Greatly appreciated. John  | ||
| Slowride |
Went to the dealers today.... and yeah, I had to go to two before I could even demo a bike to get a bag. 1st dealer (Dallas HD, Allen TX) Sales guy says they have a bag and yes they have the TT I want to demo. So we walk over to look at the TT and I start asking to ride it, he says they don't allow demos, but he tells me to just fill out the card and he will throw me a bag. I ask "what if I wanted to buy a bike today, would I get to ride the bike?" Sales guy says, "Once we get ya approved for financing we could arrange a ride." I laughed and told him I would go elsewhere.. 2nd dealer (American Eagle, Denton TX) Walked in and see a sales guy and asked about a demo ride on a TT and the bag offering. he tells me he doesn't know Buells that well and tells me to hang out a second. He came back 2 mins later with another sales rep and ask me about my Buell experience. I proceed to tell him I have owned 4 and currently have a Uly. He said, let me get you the keys to the TT and oh yeah I need a copy of you Lic. He proceeds to tell me about the TT and how Buell took the suspension of the xb12ss and the ergo of the cityx to make the TT. I said so it had no infulence from the Uly. He so nope, the Uly stands alone. I just cleared my throat and said ah cool.... They will never get it! Needless to say, I got to ride the new TT and got the bag. Nice Bag! I managed to get a nasty head shake on the TT under acceleration. I checked the bike when I got back and it was all fubar'd. The dealer let me set up the bike for me and then take it out again. Got to love that sales guy. I spent about an hour on the bike and loved it, but the Uly is the bike for me. | ||
| Puttputt_lou |
Hi guys, Easy question I think. I do not have the tools [but I have the service manual] to get into the guts of my bike, a '07 Ulysses, and I am having trouble at the dealer's service department. I am having a shifting problem. Upshifting is great but, downshifting gets stuck between gears especially 5th to 4th till I let the clutch out a bit. Then it goes "clunk" and into gear. And then I repeat it down through the gears. Does it hot or cold and about 50% of the time. If I keep my foot on the shifter when I start releasing the clutch the shifter drops another bit as it goes into the gear. The dealer claims that 3 techs cannot repeat the events. How can it happen to me so often and not them? The question is If the dealer cannot repeat it and my shifting techniques have been reviewed and are correct, what steps can I take next to get this problem corrected? [and not have me get creamed by a auto when this happens going around a busy corner.] (Message edited by puttputt_lou on May 08, 2007) | ||
| Ratbuell |
Have you checked your primary fluid level, and your clutch / primary chain adjustment? Any or all three of these can cause a stiff shift issue. Not that it's an excuse..but I've been on the service desk side of the "cannot duplicate" story. It's tough for the guys in the shop, too...they don't know your bike, and thus don't know what "stiffer than it was" really means. It may well be in spec, but just different than what you're used to. Check your adjustments, lube your cable, and see if it helps | ||
| Stretchman |
I have a quick question. I remember hearing somewhere that Buell has somewhere in the neighborhood of like, 47 patents. I had a chance to look at a list, and counted only 22. Which number is closer to being correct? I'd hate to think I put myself in a spot. Stretch | ||
| Court |
PM Sent | ||
| Motornoggin |
Wanted to start a new thread but can't see an option that will allow it, so I'm hoping this get's seen here. Had an issue a while back with the dealer and got an HD employee, and John Salinski (sp?) involved and that got the ball rolling and my issue resolved to my satisfaction (and then some). Haven't been on BadWeb for a while, but wanted to make sure someone got the word that I appreciate the level of customer service I got from Buell and subsequently from the dealer. Thanks to all involved! Rory Palmer 06 XB12X Uly. | ||
| Court |
Word passed. Thank you, it's a pleasure to hear. |
