| Author | Message | ||
     P_squared |
All names/dates/places have been changed/omitted to protect the guilty, er, innocent. All was going well in my quest to sell my tubers in order to purchase my 1125R. I had found buyers for both bikes willing to pay a little bit more than what I wanted to sell them for, and in the process, exceeded the “eBay average” selling price and did not have to resort to parting the bikes out. The interested buyer in the X1, who I’ll call “John” for ease of writing, talked my ear off over his previous Sportster experience. Hard to imagine this early 20 yr. old busting his knuckles on a Sportster, but I’m not going to question his mechanical aptitude in regards to taking my X1 home. I show him the bike and go over it with him front to back, top to bottom. Where everything is located, what I have done to fix/improve, but most importantly (as I would later find out) how to change it BACK from a GP shift to a standard shift pattern. Well, the deal is done. John asks me to ride the bike to his place, since he needs to insure it, etc., etc. I happily agree, since this will be my last ride on it. My ’02 X1 that I bought new with 36 miles on it and had never been titled until I brought it home in February of ‘07. My last tuber thrill ride if you will. My parting words to John as I hand over the keys, “Take good care of her. She’s a good bike and will give you grins like you wouldn’t believe.” Fast forward to the following weekend. Yes, less than 7 days after selling her. It’s ~2:30 a.m.. The phone rings. My wife answers. She hands the phone to me and says, “It’s the police.” Dire thoughts start running through my mind about my friends and family. “This is the XXXX Police Department. We have a report of a stolen motorcycle. The plates come back to you as the registered owner.” “Hmmmm….No, I just sold that bike less than a week ago to John. Let me go downstairs and get the paperwork. Yes, John Smith. His address is 123 Anywhere St, Anywhere, TX.” “Thank you Mr. Lee. We’ll take if from here.” Sure enough, the phone rings Saturday morning around 10:00 a.m. John’s girlfriend tells me that John’s buddy stole the bike after John had passed out and it was WRECKED. Listening to her, it was TOTALLED. Worse yet, John’s “friend” said he wasn’t going to pay to fix anything, and/or help out, but could I please come by to take a look at it & advise them on what I think? So, “my” X1 is now in shambles. Never laid down and/or abused (not counting trackdays) and lovingly taken care of and maintained for a year by me. Calm down, take a deep breath. Buell’s “crash good,” remember? It may not be as bad as it sounds. Okay, I’ll go over to look at it next Saturday and see if I can’t help this potential Bueller out. Friday, John’s girlfriend calls again. The bike won’t start, it’s totaled, and they’re going to part it out. Visions of a Red Neck Mutant come to mind. NO! I can’t let that happen if I can prevent it. I only have two options: 1) Fix it as a “pay it forward & welcome to the Buell family.” 2) If I can’t fix it for them/it’s beyond their budget/abilities, then I’ll just have to bring it home as a “project.” I’m sure my wife will understand if I have to buy it back to protect it, right? Right????? “Just be patient. I’ll come over Saturday after my oldest daughter’s soccer game to take a look at it. I’m sure it’s probably not as bad as you think.” Saturday. My daughter’s team wins their soccer game. The sun is shining. I don’t have a bike (remember, I’m “between” bikes at this time.) Load my “essential” tools in my pickup as well as tie downs (In case it needs to go a dealer and/or come back home with me.) I pull up and see it in the parking lot. Based on previous conversations with John’s girlfriend, I’m expecting a BASKET CASE. Instead, I’m pleasantly surprised to find an intact bike that has minor cosmetic damage at best upon initial visual inspection. I go up to John’s apartment and knock on the door. I’m greeted by John, his girlfriend, the CRIMINAL, and the criminal’s girlfriend. John & I go back down to the bike. I grab my tools. He says it won’t start. I see a little bit of oil on the race headers I put on the bike, just above the “ding” that is really a scratch & can be polished out. So, we have a scratched header (can you say “polish” it out?), a scuffed airbox cover (my housecat cause more damage to plastic), a broken rear brake pedal (Thoughts of Al & American Sport Bike running through my mind), and a missing bar-end mirror handlebar adapter. I tear into the airbox and notice the tube is fine, but the backing plate is TOAST. Ok, new intake needed, no biggie. BadWeb/Craigslist/eBay for someone parting out an X1, or go to an aftermarket intake. But where did all this oil come from???? Seems the drunken CRIMINAL told John the following story in regards to events: “He said he was walking the bike around the block, running. He put it in gear and it got away from him (remember the GP ship???). He said he couldn’t find neutral and it fell on it’s side. The cops had to help him pick it up after they’d found him, which was about an HOUR after he’d “dropped” it while “walking.” They brought it back and parked it here. We’ve been unable to get it running since then and have drained the battery.” Ok, drunk CRIMINAL “friend” stole your keys while you were passed out & “walked” the bike around the block while it was running and subsequently DROPPED it after putting it in gear and being unable to find neutral. Uh huh. I’m “sure” that’s EXACTLY what happened. Now I know why there is oil on the header. It leaked out from the top end. Bike turns over, but won’t start. Anyone want to take bets on fouled plugs? Yup, sure enough, pull the plugs, clean them, put them back in, put jumper cables on, bike starts right up. So much for that “project.” But I feel good. I’ve helped a new to Buell young man. “Okay. Here are your options. You can call the dealership & see if they can track down a stock intake for you. You can also check BadWeb/Craigslist/eBay for anyone parting out an X1. If you decide you want to go to an aftermarket intake, check with American Sport Bike for one. On the exhaust header, I’d get some emery cloth and polish. That scratch will come right out. For the rear brake pedal, same options as the intake – Dealer/BadWeb/Craigslist/eBay/American Sport Bike. Take your pick.” I look the CRIMINAL in the eye and say in my most intimidating manner, “Keep your F!@#$!@#$ paws off of other people’s bikes.” I have now “paid it forward” to another Bueller. I have saved “my” X1 from being parted out/”mutated.” I feel happy. On my way home, my wife says, “Go ahead and stop by the store & get yourself a new helmet, etc.” I do. Life is good. I figure I’ve got a little credit with Karma now. One week later, John’s girlfriend calls. “We called that American SportBike place, but they don’t know what they’re talking about. But we did find another intake. Thanks again for all of your help. The bike is running great.” All the while I’m listening to this, the following thoughts are running through my mind: More likely you called American Sport Bike and YOU couldn’t explain such a simple thing as, “We need a new intake for an ’02 X1.” My dealings w/ Al & American Sport Bike has always been top notch, otherwise, I wouldn’t have specifically recommended them to begin with. I REALLY should have told them it was totaled and offered to buy it back, since they’ve already proven they can’t take care of her. At least I “saved” it, and it didn’t cost them anything other than whatever parts they buy to put it back on the road. My “guesstimate” is less than ~$300.00 to do it right. More, if they want to get into fancy aftermarket upgrades. Sure enough, two weeks later, I get a bill from TxDOT for using the toll road on the X1 registered to me, that I had already sold to John. Yup, Karma punishing me for thinking about fibbing to them in an attempt to get the bike back in my hands. Seems I neglected to keep my plates and make sure he registered the bike under his own name. That has since been corrected. I’d say he got a pretty good deal on his bike, all things considered. A visit at his home, for no cost to him (I didn’t even charge him a beer.) A lesson in how to pull the plugs and clean them if they foul (first time I’ve ever had to do it on that bike.) A parts list & resources for putting the bike back on the road and keeping it maintained. And a $1.50 toll paid by me. Yup, makes it kind of hard to "pay it foward" to folks you don't know, but at least I'll probably see her again on the road/at the track. | ||
| Sleez |
great story, hope it continues to work out in the positive! | ||
| Court |
>>>My daughter’s team wins their soccer game. What was the score? Court P.S. - if you need parts let me know, I know where some are. By the way. You chose wisely. A Buell can always be repaired. Missing a kids soccer game never can. I admire you. | ||
| P_squared |
Final score: 7-2. My daughter scored 3 of the 7. Luckily for me, my family always comes first (including beautiful days I want to ride when my wife reminds me I have other obligations with my daughters.)  No need for parts now, at least that I know of. Last I talked with them, they had it back together and still running. They also picked up an '04 XB12R since then, so it looks like they may be hooked on the kool-aid.  | ||
| Irideabuell |
You're a good man Phil! |
