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Loucksgl
| Posted on Thursday, April 24, 2008 - 08:54 pm: |
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15K miles. Humm; And yet another thing. Rear rocker box gasket "again" for the second time leaks and also developed a exhaust leak where header pipes enter the muffler. This may be a contributor to the rough run I have had. I'll see. My only question is what's next? Guessing fan. Or maybe rear wheel bearing. Just replaced the start relay yesterday. Getting like a sitcom. |
Etennuly
| Posted on Thursday, April 24, 2008 - 11:52 pm: |
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I had these kind of problems in the first year with my '06. It is kind of like a Jaguar, fix every damn thing that can go wrong the first year then enjoy what you have built for years after. At least it didn't cost $90,000.00. I know.....it should be flawless, or close. If it wasn't so much fun to ride the choice would be easy. On the other hand the '05 City-X I had, needed only oil and tires in fourteen thousand miles. Not one warranty issue. |
Loucksgl
| Posted on Friday, April 25, 2008 - 11:43 pm: |
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Etennuly ya, I hear ya. But 15,000 miles to me is nothing to judge reliability by. I do 20,000 a year every year minimum. Already past 22,000 on two bikes since mid last year. Uly with 15,000 miles should be new, new! But rotor, stripped swing arm, hebe jeebies 50mph and under, two rocker box gasket leaks, starter relay, exhaust leak, ECM replace and numerous clutch springy brackets that hold the clutch cable off the cylinder. Then theres the brake pads that impregnate the rotor with some kriptonic residue that causes the jitter stops. Then ya get the caugh wheeze every week when pulling out from a stop light and it leaves you dead in the intersection with cars laying on the brakes till ya can hit the start button quick and peel out of there. Runs great at altitude but has the heave ho down here. Everyone says its fine. Can't find anything wrong. I "always" ride alone. Reliability is essential! What happens when its out of warranty? And who's gonna come get me at Mt Mitchel at 2AM Sunday morning when it decides to do some Buell quiver flop trick and die? But I still like the damn thing. |
Etennuly
| Posted on Saturday, April 26, 2008 - 10:01 am: |
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When I bought my '06 my list was just as long. It would have been sold shortly after if it weren't for two things. First it is such an awesome bike to ride, handling, comfort, all around ability to do everything. And second, maybe even more importantly, the help I have received here on BadWeB. It has been incredible to have the help and many new friendships here that have kept me on this bike. Year one with my Uly I found myself saying to others "I love riding this bike" and then a big sigh of reservation as to what would be failing next. After that first year I feel that BadWeB, Smoky Mountain HD, and myself, have finished building the awesome bike that Buell built, and for the past year I have found myself saying that I love this bike. I don't know. Maybe I'm retarded or something, but I have a lot more friends than I did, and still I cannot believe that after 26,000 miles on this thing I cannot wait to get on it and ride. Permagrin has become a staple of my life it would seem. |
Loucksgl
| Posted on Monday, April 28, 2008 - 08:29 am: |
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Etennuly Your sentiments are mine exactly. My question is "why are they built with such a mechanical frustration factor?" "Why is it necessary to start instant problem diagnosis and part replacement on a new bike?" Process of assembly, bad parts or engineering; someone measuring consumer frustration index? If any one of the above; why is it allowed to persist? Not difficult questions, really. Agree; great ride. Fun, a rush, supurb handling, quick. But a continual diagnostic challenge. Why? And yes; I still like the damn thing. But it has been and still is pushing the edge of my acceptance envelope. |
Bombardier
| Posted on Monday, April 28, 2008 - 10:17 pm: |
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Why? So when the dealer buggers off you can fix it yourself!!! In reality this bike is making you more technically savvy and thus it is helping you. This is the reason we keep them because we spend so much time with our hands on them they become like a loved one. |
Loucksgl
| Posted on Tuesday, April 29, 2008 - 10:22 pm: |
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Agree; Great to learn stuff. Can also learn from books. But I'd rather go to a class or school and learn from an instructor rather than experience problems on my bike to correct. I bought it to ride. Not work on. Enjoy, not be frustrated. The finished product appears to be like something designed that was put in production too soon. What happens when the warranty runs out? Tuff to get a fix even when it's in, it seems. Anyway, I still enjoy the ride. Going back to shop Fri for exhaust leak, 2nd rocker box fix, and starter solonoid. Guess I'll re-paint the muffler when I get it back cause paint flaking off and its rusted all over. Yep, we're talken 08 here......Bombardier-Not meaning to be smart; but read your last statement slowly. (Message edited by loucksgl on April 30, 2008) |
Loucksgl
| Posted on Friday, May 02, 2008 - 08:37 pm: |
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Yep, new starter ordered |
Bombardier
| Posted on Friday, May 02, 2008 - 08:55 pm: |
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Yeah I see what you mean but I am not a sick so I did not think of it that way. |
Etennuly
| Posted on Friday, May 02, 2008 - 10:01 pm: |
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Good one, first time I have personally heard of a starter crapping out. I think the issues that present themselves are a result of Buell Motor Company being too big, and too small at the same time. By that I mean, too big as in producing some really awesome bikes in fairly large numbers(quite large numbers for the size of the company). And too small being that they don't have that 'extra' engineer to pass over things a tenth time, and the 'extra' test program people to get more hours of testing before a production run, and so on. Growing pains in business speak. |
Loucksgl
| Posted on Sunday, May 04, 2008 - 10:00 pm: |
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Ya, I agree with all the comments. It's tuff to put your finger on. The motorcycles are fantastic machine for sure. Close to perfect gearing to power. It's just the da-- part's quality I question.. If your going to develop an amazing, world class machine; then put the best parts in it available and earn the reputation of reliability and unbreakable. Instead, I see a machine with the (Potential) to be a world class machine. Just read this site. Wires rubbing bare, heat attacking this and that not to mention the rider, lights that are like Elton John''s song and on and on. As far as new company; it ain't. As far as new bike; it is but it aint. And if it's put out to the public it ought to be reliable and ready and up to the task. Torque and wheelies does not a great motorcycle make. But I love the little bugger. This isn't the place for this I know but had to get it in. Thanks guys. Hopefully this new starter will end the on going saga. Oh, one last thing. Interesting notes about the company size etc. But; thats the companies problem really. Their business. My job is to pay. I do it well. All I expect is the service. I'm investigating and weighing what I'm getting now. (Message edited by loucksgl on May 04, 2008) |
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