| Author | Message | ||
     Fresnobuell |
Can someone in the know, please describe the "dealer setup" of the 1125r. Exactly what needs to be done to the bike once it is "uncrated." | ||
| Fresnobuell |
Is there a checklist provided by Buell to dealers that prescribes "dealer setup"? I would very much like to keep the dealer's hands off the bike (if setup is simple enough). So what is it? | ||
| Buzzie |
Sorry Fres....I don't think that is possible. Most dealerships are paid to complete the setup and make sure the bike is rideable before delivery to a customer. Its another way to cover their assets. if you know what I mean. | ||
| Jedipunk |
Sorry you feel that way about us "techs" that spend our hard earned cash on the proper tools and education. Some of us are Badwebbers too. | ||
| Zac4mac |
Won't fly, I tried. At least My salesman called me and I got to do the decrating, pulled both seats, plugged in the mains fuse, played with ODIS, poked and prodded and said WOW a lot. Next day I went down, expecting to put my new 1125R in the back of my buddy's truck and met a very gruff head of service that told me, "there's snow on the ground and it don't leave till we test ride it". I almost turned and walked. A$$hat. Went back after a cup of coffee and we went upstairs to the service bays. There was my bike, started it and listened... mmmmm awesome. Figured if I was going to be the first to ride it and they wouldn't let go of it, I started it and rode it about ten feet in the shop. They deliver it to my door, day after tomorrow. Z | ||
| Fresnobuell |
Ok, it looks like there are some things that the dealer needs to do. Let me clarify, the only thing that I am really not crazy about is the dealer test drive. Maybe it's just me, but I think a Buell tech would be way to tempted to wind out the 1125r once or twice. I don't even want anyone to rev it in idle before it is broken in. I didn't mean to offend any dealer guys here. | ||
| Zac4mac |
Like I said Fresno -the man told me: If we don't ride it, you don't get it. Sux, but that's corporate. Z | ||
| Ratbuell |
Eric - deaf ears, my man. It's "us" dealer employees against "them"... I've given up on trying to win that battle. At this point I'm just going to take care of my customers, who I consider my friends, and do my best to educate badwebbers who refuse to let go of the "dealer is evil" mantra. If they're going to do it themselves anyway, might as well help them do it right (within limits of proprietary information disclosure, that is). As for customers doing their own PDI...that is a warranty issue. HDMC and BMC will not under any circumstances warranty a bike that was not set up by dealer personnel. In addition to the training factor mentioned above, there is simple liability. If a loose fastener is missed and something happens on a dealer test ride, the dealer, its personnel, and the motorcycle are covered. If a loose fastener is missed by an owner doing their own setup and something happens on a test ride...somebody's lawyer would then own HDMC. | ||
| Ratbuell |
And Fresno: the tech isn't going to be "tempted". They ride every bike, every day, and it is numbing (especially when it's cold). Riding for a technician on someone else's bike isn't a "fun ride"...it's *work*. In my experience, it stops being "fun" when they hit the time clock. For my money...if anything were to go wrong with my brand new bike, there's nobody I'd rather have in the seat than a dealer technician. | ||
| Zac4mac |
Not sure of others, but my motives hinge on CHOICE. Kinda torques me hard when I'm told, after spending 13 thousand of my dollars that "I don't have any choice about someone else riding it, First or any time" Not to be rude or arrogant, but I'm sure I know as much about the bike as the tech does today. I got enough of my "demands" met to be good with everything but this wait. All will be good Wednesday morning, when I go out to the garage and get on mine. | ||
| Ratbuell |
As stated above, the dealers' "motive" and those of BMC hinge on liability. On Weds, ride your new bike to a lawyer's office and thank them. And you are both rude and arrogant if you really believe your statement. Just reading about the 3 belts on your profile proves it to be incorrect, but I do give you credit for not blaming the belts themselves. All that aside, I am sure you will love riding your new 1125r. | ||
| Zac4mac |
Understand the liability side, that's why I relaxed on some things I wanted. I'm not going to sue somebody for something I do. I pay the price in freedom for those that do. And I said I broke the belts. two. sheeeesh Z | ||
| Ratbuell |
I know you said you broke the belts, and I gave you credit for that. I do respect when someone admits a mistake, it seems to be a lost art in todays' society. My point was, you mishandled not one but two belts and you still claim you know more than a factory tech about your motorcycle. I 'tinker' with my vehicles pretty successfully (bikes and cages alike, including my streetable and emissions tested 11 second turbocharged Dodge Shadow)....but you will never hear me claim to know more than a factory or a trained technician. I've learned over the years that's just not a good way to 'get things done' when you need them. And my apologies to you and anyone reading these threads. I'm afraid I have a bit of "whipped dog syndrome" as a dealer employee. I have a LOT of very happy customers and treat all of them as equals and friends, and reading all the anti-dealer sentiment on here really gets me going. So, if I came across as lashing out personally, I apologize. I just wish folks would come to understand....we really DO know what we're doing, and for the most part we do take pride in our work, and our product. It doesn't help that I completely love this bike and want dearly for it to succeed. Everyone reading this should try working *with* your dealer next time something comes up, instead of *against* them. See how it works out, and please post the results. Constructively. That's how we all make progress  Again, Zac - not a personal attack directed at you, it just happened to come to mind in this thread. Now that we're waaay off topic... (back to lurk mode)  joe (Message edited by ratbuell on December 16, 2007) | ||
| Zac4mac |
Bottom line is - if you want the bike, it's going to go thru a full DEALER setup before you get it. I wanted to "pick it up in the crate" and was warned. Yup that idea has gotten lost with stories of Knuckleheads found under hay-bales. No blood no foul, Joe. My dealer allowed me a lot more freedom than they had to and I'm happy for that. The blindside of waiting 4 days for it caught me off-guard. Z | ||
| Cringblast |
Went and check one out yesterday. Had 16 miles on it. They said, out of the crate they add fluids and take it for a safety check. | ||
| Ratbuell |
Ours (two, so far) have come out of the crate with 2 miles and 3 miles respectively, *before* we do our 12 mile loop. Guess they're doing at least a 'roller run' before leaving the factory. | ||
| Anonymous |
Guess they're doing at least a 'roller run' before leaving the factory. Yes. The engine is run at the end of the line in Austria and then the bike is run at the end of the line in East Troy. | ||
| Ratbuell |
Cool Does BMC do the same crazy-ass unstrapped 2 wheel roller bit they do in York? Freaks me out every time I watch it...lol. | ||
| Fresnobuell |
And Fresno: the tech isn't going to be "tempted". They ride every bike, every day Being the first 1125r in the dealership, I would have to disagree purely on the basis of human nature. Let's face it, this is the most cutting edge, exciting, technologically advanced, powerful piece of machinery to enter a HD/Buell dealership. How could the tech not be tempted? | ||
| Dentguy |
Don't believe that some techs aren't "tempted". When I went to pick up my last new MX bike, it was a quart overfull with oil and the rear tire was worn down. A honest employee told me they were riding wheelies through the parking lot for about 30 minutes. I guess I didn't realize my set up fees included breaking it in. This obviously wasn't a Buell and the brand doesn't matter, but there are techs who are "tempted". Maybe not any Buell techs. Also after the techs test rides they set up another bike for me with the proper oil level and didn't ride it. Sorry to be a little off topic from 1125R set up. (Message edited by dentguy on December 16, 2007) | ||
| Donutclub |
This is a new bike and it will take time for the HD techs to get up to speed...........some faster than others. When I picked up my 1125R, the sales manager walked me around the shop and introduced me to the key departments. When he took me to the service department, the service guy informed me that I need to bring the bike in after 1,000 miles (should be 1000 K or 620 miles) for my first maintenance. I inquired what the first maintenance would entail and he listed some of the obvious items like oil, filter, etcetera. He also included a primary chain adjustment as well as a TPS reset. At that point, I informed him that this bike didn't have a primary chain and that I wasn't sure about the TPS reset either. I could tell that the service guy was a bit embarrassed, but hopefully that will cause him do a-little research before talking to his next 1125R customer. I don't fault the technician, because it's a new model and I'd consider it a paradime shift for Buell/Harley Davidson technicians. I'm still not sure about that TPS reset?? | ||
| Xb9 |
no tps calibration or idle adjustment | ||
| Metalstorm |
This topic just gives me one more reason why it is so important to find a good dealer. A dealer you can trust to take good care of the bike. One that will be aggressive but not abusive. One who won't be so careful as to lug it I'd gladly pay full price to a good dealer for the peace of mind and the support to a good & worthy shop than save a couple hundred bucks from a less than enthused Buell dealership. Donutclub, I think you're 100% right. It's taken a while for even the good dealerships to get the XBs down and now here's something almost completely different. It'll take them a little while to catch their breath then it will be all good | ||
| Court |
>>>Is there a checklist provided by Buell to dealers that prescribes "dealer setup"? There is. It is on H-Dnet and apparently (based on 3 calls I have received about set up) a bit difficult to find. If you have questions, call Tech Services. | ||
| Smoke |
rumor from a local drag racer/ independent shop owner is that the local dealer somehow overpressurized tank and spewed volatile mixture over their first bike ruining plastics. one thing for sure, there was no 1125R on the floor. said drag racer has the HD mechanics tune his race bike on their dyno and was given the tour of the bike when he asked about it. is this possible? tim | ||
| Blake |
Is it possible that there was an accident in a dealership's service area involving some kind of over-pressurization of some tank and a "volatile mixture"? I don't see why not. | ||
| Dbird29 |
Like an OKRA accident? | ||
| Court |
Man . . I'd wheel and deal on that bike pronto . . how cool to have the first 1125r with a tricked out paint job. . . | ||
| Jammin_joules |
I don't even want anyone to rev it in idle before it is broken in. Note to your mother, an employee at East Troy has logged some ticks on your odometer before the bike gets crated. End of line assembly surely resembles that at Harley and going through some gears is part of quality assurance. As for someone doing their own set up, do you have access to a digital technician so you can verify control system operation and things like set points? Elsewhere comments were written about cooling fans not coming on. At what temperature should they come on and how would you verify this? Yes, it is a shame a service writer explained to one owner here that the 1,000 mile first service will be done including TPS reset... But, the guys who do the wrenching, they know better. For every tech or every service writer who has mis-spoke on a technical issue, factory trained techs see 10 or 20 times that many customers who thought they knew better and screwed something up. I find it much more beneficial to create a relationship of trust and open communication with the service writer or manager. One where you are a partnership surrounding the entity that is your bike. If anyone here doesn't think that an attitude of "I know better" comes out in your dealings that may get you less than the best possible treatment, than you should rethink how you treat such behavior when it is given to you in your job or profession. Buell dealers have come a long way to learn how to interact with Buelligans. Most did so when they could have just as easily ignored the brand and made their big bucks taking sales orders on Harley's. Many of those who did not learn have since dropped the brand - which is not good for riders who tour and need on the road service. Still others are not as far along on the learning curve. But IMHO any Buell dealer has a sincere desire to succeed and they know they must improve in order to do that. There is a big carrot out there. Sport bikes, adventure and dual sport is one of the largest growing segments in motorcycling today. Dirt bikes and women riders are right up there. Having been beaten and fed carrots, I for one choose beta carrotine from my suitor. ~jammer | ||
| Buellrcr |
my dealership did not set my 1125r up i did but i work their . and i got to test ride it too. the perks of being a hd tech. |
