| Author | Message | ||
     Bike_pilot |
Hi All, I'm new and have an '09 XB12XT that cracked its ECM. Bike was stranded in Boston so I got an Erik Buell Racing ECM shipped by air, but I'd like to get the stock ECM replaced as well. Best I can figure its covered under the 5-year federal emissions warranty. Any recommendations for a good area dealer that will be the easiest to work with on this? | ||
| Hooper |
Battley has treated me pretty well over the years, though I've done no warranty work, other than the routine recalls for the 2006 Uly (bank angle sensor, side stand). They more or less straightened the beast out after I hit a deer a few years ago. I get no funny looks when I say I want to bring my Buell in for maintenance. The poor Uly is currently sitting at Whitt's H-D in Manassas, VA waiting for a voltage regulator...the battery stopped charging which left me on the side of I-66 a couple weekends ago (luckily, my wife was following in the car). I really hope it's just the regulator. Anyway, Whitt's was open on Sunday (Battley usually is not) which was GREAT because that's the day I broke down. They also didn't blink when I rolled my Buell up to the service desk. | ||
| Bike_pilot |
Good to know, thanks! | ||
| Hooper |
Fellow inmate Ratbuell used to work at Frederick H-D/Buell and always had good things to say about their service. That's still a very pro-Buell dealer, but it's a bit of a trek to get there (great roads in that area, though). | ||
| Bike_pilot |
That could work for ride-in-ride-out stuff  | ||
| Xb1125r |
the HD at laurel MD, has treated me good too. great guys and they know thier buells and the 1125rs. | ||
| Pellis |
Pick a part, any part for your Buell. Call Old Glory and any other dealer of your choice. Old Glory's price will be 15% higher then anyone else. And you'll still have to wait for it, as they don't stock anything. | ||
| Elsinore74 |
Hooper, I hope your Uly turned out OK after leaving Whitt's. My last experience there was less than stellar. Had 5k service done in June 2010 (would have done it myself, but went with a dealer to protect the warranty). Rode it home, where I noticed the primary chain sounded like the aftermarket gear drive cam on the neighbor's Mustang. Next day, I noticed oil leaking from the clutch cover ("Arby's Hat"-shaped)gasket. Bought gaskets from a different HD/Buell shop (BadWeb won't let me write their name, for some reason)and properly adjusted primary chain myself. Found one screw hole stripped in the clutch cover, so I carefully installed a threaded insert (using foil coated with grease on backside to catch filings and keep out of primary oil). No more leak. First (1k) maintenance at Whitt's went fine, but a different mechanic signed work order on 5k job. Why not take my bike back and have them make it right? Think about it. Why trust them? I can't supervise the work, so it's not worth the likelihood they'd F-up something else. Expensive lesson, but could have been worse. Of course, the bike hasn't been ridden enough for the next scheduled oil change, so I've yet to see if they stripped-out the drain plug. I recommend anyone but Whitt's. | ||
| Hooper |
Yow! Yeah, they fixed my issue with no problem, but it was a pretty routine electrical part replacement. I guess they were a Buell dealer before the shutdown, but you kind of wish they'd leave a Buell sign up - makes me wonder if they have any intent to keep Buell-knowledgeable technicians on staff. I like that Battley and others keep their sign up on the street. | ||
| Vecchio_lupo |
Just FYI and experiences may vary... I needed a top end gasket set for my 1999 S3T. Patriot Harley parts department told me very flat that they do not carry Buell parts. I said that as far as gaskets and seals its just a XL1200 set, the parts man was very rude and told me to go call somebody that deals with Buells, he went on to say that he had no way to cross reference "Any of that Buell crap" and if I insisted on buying an XL1200 gasket set, he would note that I was buying for a Buell and the sale would be final because he warned me that H-D and Buell parts don't interchange. He was so rude, I called H-D corporate and filed a customer service complaint. H-D was very understanding and apologetic (who knows if it was just lip service?) but they seemed to understand that a person in their early fifties with more than 2 bikes and an established income is exactly the demographic they service. On the up side, I called Whitt's in Manassas and they cross checked the part number and concurred that a XL1200 set was the same as an S3, easy as pie, so I made my purchase and when I picked up the parts they were very Buell friendly. Could I have caught a bad employee at Patriot H-D, yes of course. Is Patriot a bad dealership? Probably not, but that employee put me off of Patriot and i'll shop via mail order or any other of 1/2 a dozen H-D dealers that don't think Buell was a mistake. Rant over...go about your business...idiot venting | ||
| Hooper |
He actually said "crap"????  | ||
| Vecchio_lupo |
Well,...it was over the phone and that's how I remember it. I would not swear in court he used the word "crap", but I was very angry with the language used towards me. I suppose it is possible he used the word "stuff" but I don't remember it like that. The tone of his voice was very snide and derogatory when it came to an "off brand" his words exactly. I am not ready to write off Patriot H-D completely, because my old dealer in Indiana speaks very highly of Patriot. The parts man may have been having a bad day and passed it on to me. The net result is that with so many H-D dealers in such close proximity, I prefer to spend my meager earnings at a Buell friendly dealership, even for my Harley Davidson needs. | ||
| Henshao |
Yeah, Patriot sucks. In my weaker moments I sometimes hope that place burns to the ground, but then I remember that like all head-up-their-ass Harley dealerships, they're just jealous that I bring and leave with the fastest bike on the property. I go to East Coast Harley for all my Buell needs, lots of their staff ride Buells and part 'em right out front. It is a 'Buell Friendly Zone' as told by the helpful guy I usually see at the parts counter. East Coast Harley, Inc. 17975 Main St, Dumfries, VA (703) 221-3757 ‎ · eastcoastharley.com | ||
| Piratius |
I know this is a few months old, but figured I'd add in my $0.02. Trying to get parts for my Blast was a PAIN at Patriot HD. The guy told me straight up he didn't carry Buell parts, and wouldn't even check (might've been the same gent you guys ran into). So I said "ok, I'll go elsewhere for that stuff. Can you check out some parts for my '86 Sportster? I just need some carb parts". He was more than happy to do it, and had the parts in stock. I went in, and checked his screen. They have a tab where they CAN look up Buell stuff - but management might've told them to send us elsewhere. Anyways, I bought the parts (carb gasket, needle, three different Jets). As I was about to turn around, I told the parts guy "Thanks, these are the part numbers listed in my Buell Manual." He was PISSED, but I walked away laughing. I went back and had a young lady at the parts counter help me, I convinced her to "broaden her horizons" and click the Buell tab on her PC. It didn't blow up, it didn't install a virus on her computer. She was able to navigate it EXACTLY the same way that she did the HD-current stuff. She found the part number, and that they had it in stock (surprise - matched up with sportster parts), and was totally pleasant. It may just be that some of the old guys who work there have a tree branch stuck somewhere uncomfortable. I don't have any experience with the service dept at Whitts HD, but their parts guys are AWESOME and are always willing to look up anything I need for the Blast or the Firebolt. Anything they don't have, they'll order for me and have it to me within just a few days. Excellent parts guys! | ||
| Hooper |
I could be wrong, but I don't think Patriot was EVER a Buell dealer, so they may just have never had a whiff of the culture. Too bad for them. Regardless of the differences between the two bike builders, I really think dealers can make it work, and perhaps even make it pay. It's like those companies you call because you want their service, but they never call you back. It's like, "Hey dude, I'm trying to GIVE YOU MONEY!" | ||
| Ducbsa |
Grove's HD in Winchester raced Buells and has seemed friendly to me. |
