| Author | Message | ||
     Hayabusa |
First off, this is a great site...easily one of the best I have ever been on. I have never had access so much great info regarding this bike. Unfortunately I seem to have purchased one of the 1125's that has some issues. To date I have experienced the following problems 1. Boiling Fuel...Engine temp reached 195 in stop and go traffic and the back corner of the frame sounded like a volcano. 2. A dead battery 3 days after the battery was fully charged via a battery tender; I also went on two long rides during that time with the RPM's over 4000. 3. Once the bike gets warm (over 180) it starts stalling when I pull the clutch in. Given what I have read on the site I am not alone with these problems and I believe that they all may be a result of some type of electrical gremlin. I hope that once this gets sorted out the bike will be good to go. As a former owner of a 636R and a Busa I can say that the Buell is a great bike. It is extremely comfortable and has great mannerisms which will lead to speed in the corners. If anyone has any advice that I should pass on to my dealer regarding servicing these issues please let me know. My service techs will be indebted.... | ||
| Fresnobuell |
Yes, your story is familiar. I can personally relate to your dead battery. Please let us know what your service tech tells you. according to mine, there hasn't been much direction from Buell regarding the electrical system. | ||
| Court |
>>>If anyone has any advice that I should pass on to my dealer regarding servicing these issues please let me know. Your Service Tech SHOULD have already attended 1125R school and have a thorough indoctrination into the 2008 Electrical Diagnostics. He also practiced, while in the classroom, on how to get further information from HDnet and SPOC. Your best contact is your dealer and Buell Customer Service. Welcome to the world of Buell. My riding partner has a SuperBusa and I always tease him about the Buell's handling. The Hayabusa is truly one of the great bikes of our time . . . you'll enjoy the Buell for it's low end grunt and I'll bet you find yourself cornering faster than the Busa. . . . Glad you are here . . . | ||
| Fresnobuell |
I'll bet you find yourself cornering faster than the Busa. . . . +1 on that, especially when things tighten up. My bud has a 'Busa as well.} | ||
| Cutty72 |
I just had some of the same problems today as well. Battery has been fine, but my problem is the stalling. Riding in town, every time the clutch is pulled in the bike dies unless I blip the throttle to keep it going. Also, on the way home, my check engine light came on when I was cruising along at 55 mph in 6th gear, about 3200RPM. I shifted down to 5th to get the RPM's up to 4K. After the check engine light came on, any time the RPM's got up to 5K, the tack needle would flash. I have 300 miles on my 1125 right now. Anyone have any ideas?? | ||
| Pariah |
As I once posted, all my stalling problems vanished once I fully charged my battery. Even if your engine starts, your battery voltage might be a tad low... charging the battery ensures that it's in optimum health. I am not sure why this has worked for me--- some folks have suggested it's ECM related. The service manual will shed light once it's published. I asked Fresno to try this out... I don't know if he has reported... | ||
| Cutty72 |
my battery should have been fully charged. I unplugged the 'tender, let it warm up, took off. less than 2 min later at a stop sign, it dies. Don't think this one is battery related. | ||
| Spectrum |
They tach needle lighting up is just the shift light feature. During the first 300 miles the tach needle will light up as you approach 6K. It's just telling you to shift before you hit 6k. Second 300 miles it lights up as you approach 7.5k. Again just it's just reminding you to stay within the break-in limits. Try revving the bike in neutral or with the clutch in. It lights up almost immediately. Guess we aren't supposed to rev it with no load on the engine.  | ||
| Spectrum |
By the way, several us have reported engine stalling during break-in. It only happened a couple of times to me and never reoccurred after break-in. Your's seems more frequent and the engine light is not normal. Is it throwing any diagnostic codes? | ||
| Cutty72 |
how do I check what codes (if any) have been thrown? I know the tach light is supposed to act as a "shift light" but it has NEVER illuminated under 6K under load before today, so it is odd to me. Lastly, the check engine light goes off once the key has been cycled once. Is that normal? | ||
| Nickcaro |
Cutty, have you checked your oil? could be a coincidence but I also had odd stalls my first week until it dawned on me to check the oil as stated here; http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/290 431/325984.html?1208050467 I was way over. So much over that when the dipstick was removed I could see the oil looking up at me... Drained it, followed the steps here and have not had an "odd" stall since. edit; oh yeah, and to see the codes hold the two buttons on your gauge while turning the key to either run or park. then toggle to look at all the info available. (Message edited by nickcaro on April 13, 2008) | ||
| Cutty72 |
thanks. I'll check the codes, and yet again do the proper oil check tomorrow. When I checked the oil yesterday using the proper hot check, it was barely on the dipstick. Granted, today was the first time i've gotten a good long ride on it, so maybe the oil expanded more than usual because of higher operating temps?? | ||
| Slypiranna |
Tach needle flashing is normal. Stalling engine is not. Check engine light is not. Dead battery is not. Boiling fuel is not. For, the not's...head directly to your local Dealer and let them do what they are there to do. If your techs need assistance, offer them the Buell's Customer Service Number 414-343-8400 and I'm sure they'll be directed to the proper channel for resolve...or remind them of their bat line that we don't know about!  ...yet... Then, sit back and give them the due time to call you back informing you that your bike is ready for pickup and all will end well. | ||
| Cutty72 |
Dealer is gonna pick it up on wed. so now we wait. | ||
| Hayabusa |
Well...the bike is at the shop and they asked a ton of questions regarding all the factors that might have impacted the electrical gremlins. I will post once I get some answers. My only fear is that they can't figure out what is wrong! Cross your fingers for me. | ||
| Fresnobuell |
I asked Fresno to try this out... I don't know if he has reported... I did actually plug in the tender that afternoon and it went green within 30 minutes or so. I think my battery was/}is charged adequately. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Last we heard, we had one simple case where a dealer quickly diagnosed and replaced a bad voltage regulator and fixed an 1125r charging problem. We had another simple case where a dealer slowly and excruciatingly and annoyingly diagnosed and replaced a bad voltage regulator and fixed an 1125r charging problem. I'll leave the careful analysis of the difference of the above two cases as an exercise for the reader We had a couple unexplained cases where ECM's were swapped out, but those were also quick and simple. So there may be a couple factors in play. Batphones and new electrical diagnosis guides? Looks like while we were busy arguing, whining, and speculating (I did all three), the elves were quietly working... | ||
| Doerman |
My dealers calls Buell's "Initial Care" hotline when they run across something on the 1125R they don't understand or want verified. That service has been quick and efficient for my dealer. I believe this Buell service is for dealers only and not accessible by the owners. The customer care number above is for owners. If your dealer is not aware of the Initial Care line maybe you can make him aware that such a thing exists and thereby help speed up the process. On edit: The information my dealers has received from Initial Care also extends to issues to watch out for in general. Worked out to be pretty handy for them. (Message edited by doerman on April 16, 2008) | ||
| Hayabusa |
Well, got the bike back from dealer and this what I got: 1. The electrical issues I was having was from a loose ground. 2. I was told by the service tech who was working directly with Buell that the bike must be run over 3K or is operates at an electrical defecit. If you run the high beams it must be run at least 4k. 3. I was told that the fuel boiling was not boiling but the fuel pump keeping pressure in the tank. That is all I have and I will keep a close eye on the bike and see how things go. | ||
| Blake |
#'s 2 and 3 sound dubious to me. | ||
| Fresnobuell |
2. I was told by the service tech who was working directly with Buell that the bike must be run over 3K or is operates at an electrical defecit. If you run the high beams it must be run at least 4k. This is about the 10th variation of this statement. I have a hard time believing that the service departments are making up the figures. It's time that BMC step up to the plate and get these bike right. Stop being so tight-lipped about the fixes--we don't need to know the nitty-gritty details, however I believe the owner deserves an general explanation of what has been done to HIS motorcycle. What ever happened to the bulletin that Court referred to last week? Did it ever materialize? | ||
| Jpfive |
Fresno, the engineers that came down from Troy to work on my bike said different. What I measure in diagnostic mode confirms what they said. They replaced a stator on my bike, which was weak in output, and had some intermittent grounding issues. I watched them work on my bike, and spoke with them at some length. The design parameters of the 1125 charging system carry bright headlamps and and grip heaters without any problem. The system is designed to accomplish this at any rpm above 2000. When cold, diagnostic mode shows my system holding 14.5V at idle with grips turned on and headlights on bright. This stays stable as the engine is revved into the 4000 rpm range. My bike will not carry those volts when hot, but will hold 13+ under the same conditions. I think that the electrical system is adequate for its designed purpose. I wouldn't expect it to compare to a purpose built touring or sport touring machine, but it is fully capable for a sport bike. Jack | ||
| Fresnobuell |
I have a hard time believing that the service departments are making up the figures. What I meant was that the service departments are getting varying figures from personnel at BMC...they aren't pulling the figures out of the sky. | ||
| Blake |
Rumors are near worthless. A continued crusade of indignantly demanding Buell Motorcycle Company placate one's own uninformed/misinformed views is silly. Write them a letter. Posting such content here is largely a waste of time. | ||
| Diablo1 |
Rumors are near worthless. A continued crusade of indignantly demanding Buell Motorcycle Company placate one's own uninformed/misinformed views is silly. Write them a letter. Posting such content here is largely a waste of time. BMC can take that letter and ignore it or throw it in the round file - Who's to know?Ignoring an oft-repeated question about the charging system posted on the WWW is a larger risk for BMC. It will generate a lot more bad PR. Posting the info also helps other owners experiencing the same problem if the dealer gives them the "mechanic's shrug".} | ||
| Blake |
Information is good, helpful, encouraged and applauded here. You seem to be confusing information with gossip. | ||
| Mcclmr |
Hey, I am posting for the first time on here or for that matter I think anywhere. I have a 1125r and just like most or all of you I have had the same problems. But for added fun my clutch went at 1200 miles! I have to give it to harley on this one, they stepped up to the plate and had it fixed in three days. I also know they made a lot of calls and pulled some strings to make this happen. The battery issue was at 1250 or as soon as I go it out of the shop. They did all the checks and everything was work like it is supposed to, which is sad if you think about it. Now it stays on the tender when I am not riding. I love this bike, and yes it runs hotter then HELL which I am sure will suck in the middle of summer here in florida. I hope BMC makes some adjustments and does what it has to for those of use who have the bike. Till then I will ride this bike into the ground and if it breaks, they can keep fixing it. | ||
| Fresnobuell |
You seem to be confusing information with gossip. BMC could do alot to stem the gossip by giving some answers, if they have them. | ||
| Spectrum |
I agree misinformation is bad. I think the point is this stuff is coming from the dealers and supposedly to them from BMC. For example in response to my electrical problems. I had very similar comments from the dealer that supposedly came from BMC. | ||
| Blake |
"BMC could do alot to stem the gossip by giving some answers, if they have them." I can't fault that point. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Please just send the letter. To ignore web postings, all they have to do is is not go to a web site they don't go to anyway. Hardly a high bar. At least with a letter, somebody had to throw it away, and the person that would do that is somebody with enough authority to throw customer complaints away. Badweb gets really tedious when people use it to try and manipulate the factory. | ||
| Court |
>>>Badweb gets really tedious when people use it to try and manipulate the factory. That's an accurate statement. I'd suggest that the factory responds to threats about like most folks here would. I had someone threaten me on the phone once when I was at Buell. Some of you have heard the story of the helicopter dangling the S-1 over San Fran. I'm not proud of the way I handled it but I must say, even 12 years later. . . it was DAMNED effective. Remind me to tell you . . . . | ||
| Reepicheep |
My favorite story is the one that includes...
I won't say who told me the story, and blocked out the roles to protect the innocent. I don't even know 2 of the 3 people in the conversation. But more then once I have thought about it and laughed. I would have laughed even if I was on the receiving end of it... and with my job I have been in meetings and in roles where I *would* have been on the receiving end of it. I wouldn't have been offended at all, I would have thought to myself "this guy is honest, and bright enough to fully appreciate the situation... I can work with a guy like this". Much nicer then somebody wasting my time fully knowing he intends to ignore everything I have to say and whispering the &*&^ you part under his breath. (Message edited by reepicheep on April 21, 2008) |
