| Author | Message | ||
     Greenlantern |
How did you get those backward d's ?  | ||
| P_squared |
Forgot to mention the 1098S & 1098R at the track on Sunday. They both were really fun to ride behind & admire. Until they both broke down. What are the odds on 2 Ducati's being sidelined by mechanical failure on the same track on the same day, while the only Buell just kept running? And for those wondering, I had no problems keeping up with the S before it broke. Ducati 1098 Review in my experience = 2 expensive bikes that broke. Buell 1125R Review in my experience = Runs like a champ. | ||
| Azxb9r |
Why didn't Cycle World include the Blast in their recent Economy bike article? I asked myself that same question when I finished the article. The Blast would have fit into that group quite nicely. As far as fuel mapping is concerned...anything that the factory releases must be EPA compliant. Having said that, the fueling issues should have been cleared up by now imo. | ||
| Koz5150 |
Blake, wow... What can I say, Buell evokes passion in people. This is probably why this board gets so many people who remain active. Loved all your answers, but I don't have the time to respond to each one. However, I will say this. I think you are wrong about the magazines. Publicity = sales and bad press is not good for sales. (I guess that is why Buell advertises in all those magazines) There are a few points I would like to point out where I think you were wrong. 1. The issue I made of Motorcyclist and Sportrider has nothing to do with the staff. It was simply a reference to two independent test, a Uly and an 1125r, and in both cases there were fuel issues. 2. FI is rocket science... FI has been around since the 1960's??? There is no excuse for Buell no getting it right. If they can't get it right, then they shouldn't sell the product without a disclaimer that states "this bike may not run well under 4,000 RPM. We know it's an issue, but we want to sell you the bike anyway" 3. I only bring it to the websites attention in an effort to show that people, like myself, do care about Buell and want Buell to know that we expect a certain level of quality. If they cannont meet those expectations, I will be the first to stand up and say the product is not worth buying. Yeah, I knew there were some potential issues with the M2 when I bought it new. That's why I bought a carbed bike instead of an X1 or S3. Mechanical stuff I can work on myself. I am not at the mercy of a dealer who doesn't care. Bottom line is the 1125r si not ready for the public. | ||
| P_squared |
Bottom line is the 1125r si not ready for the public....That would be YOUR opinion. My opinion, as evidenced by paying the $12k is that it was ready.} Aren't opinions a wonderful thing, since it seems everyone has one, and no two are always the same? So, IMO, unless you've ridden one, stop knocking it. | ||
| Josh_ |
>FI is rocket science... FI has been around since the 1960's??? Rockets have been around longer than that! >Bottom line is the 1125r si not ready for the public. Ha ha ha ha ha Mine has 2900miles (commuting mostly) 1 day Keith Code Superbike School (Barber) 1 day Lee Parks ARC school 1 day Blackhawk Farms (Buell 25th track day) 2 days Hallet Motorsports (track days + race clinic) 1 day GIR (track day + 20min Sportsman race - only 4 laps due to crashes, only 2 counted due to timing of red flags, I led both so I won! ) 1 day CCS races (10min practice, 8 lap SuperStock Unlimited race - crash shortened to 4, 8 lap SuperTwins race) Runs so smooth its scary, linear acceleration from 4000RPM to 10k, amazing handling and brakes. What more do you want? I have a bellypan for racing and heated grips, Throttlemeisters and a trunk for commuting. | ||
| Koz5150 |
What more do you want? One review from an outside source that has had no problems with their bike... Of course I could always refer back to these threads on the 1125r section of Badweb Fueling issue http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/290 431/386444.html?1219244134 Excesive heat http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/290 431/383278.html?1217810037 Fuel venting http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/290 431/367129.html?1215154097 | ||
| P_squared |
Ken, Have YOU experienced these issues yourself, personally, on an 1125R? Based on your previous replies, I will make an educated guess the answer is "NO." I’m also willing to wager that not ALL 1125R owners have either. Does the bike have it’s own quirks? Absolutely. Please show me a bike that doesn’t. To completely bash the bike and to make statements that it is not ready for sale, without ever having ridden one yourself seems a little bit (how to put this kindly?) DUMB. Has Buell lost sales due to unfavorable reviews? Possibly. Yet, in my personal interaction with other riders, I continue to experience curiosity about the bike, and then respect once they see what I can do with it. My experience so far is that this bike performs as advertised. To base a decision on the purchase of a motorcycle COMPLETELY upon the written word in magazines is probably not the smartest decision, IMO. Ride the bike and then make an EDUCATED decision/informed decision based upon ALL the input. Until that happens, I would greatly appreciate it if you stopped implying that I am “stupid” for buying a bike that “is not ready for sale” based upon unfavorable reviews in the media. Josh, Congrats on the win. Seems to be a recurring theme with 1125R's this year.  | ||
| Koz5150 |
I am not attacking you personally. I appologize for the "Deaf, dumb, and blind" comment, it was mean. You are right though, I haven't experienced the 1125r personally. I have many friends here in WI who are Buell riders and have dealt with many of the xb issues. I have test ridden a XB9, and XB12s (lightning long), and a Uly. Hell, I have been to Erik's original workshop, the current factory, and PROUDLY own a pitcrew shirt with his signature. However, I have also dealt with two broken front isolators, a dead speedo, a rockerbox gasket failure, and a rusted ground that caused my 2002 M2 to fail randomly. For that reason you won't hear me praise an 1125 until I read something good about it. Due to the looks of the bike, and all the computer FI stuff you will never see me spend any money on it. I don't have discretionary mony to throw away on toys I cannot maintain myself. So when I start reading some good things, from a reliable unbiased source, I will start promoting Buell again. Till then, I am going to keep on them to get the issues fixed. And before you go off on the "unbiased" magazine thing, I think Motorcyclist gave a fair 1 year review of the Uly. I also believe the one review I read in Motorcyclist (might have been a different mag) earlier this year where they had to get 4 different 1125's before they got one that ran and started withought developing a dead battery and fuel issues were fair reviews. I am sure you can go back to the dealer and look at the maintanace records. As a side note, the Uly reveiw wqas done right here in WI. Funny that on a long term test bike the factory (also located in WI) didn't come out and fix the bike themselves??? | ||
| Josh_ |
>that caused my 2002 M2 to fail randomly. For that reason you won't hear me praise an 1125 until I read something good about it. Wow >when I start reading some good things, from a reliable unbiased source, I will start promoting Buell again. and uhm nevermind | ||
| Crusty |
The truth comes out. Just someone else with an Agenda. Pity. | ||
| Buellinachinashop |
"Funny that on a long term test bike the factory (also located in WI) didn't come out and fix the bike themselves???" Did the magazine ask BMC to come fix it? Buell and the Elves are pretty good about customer service, but they don't have tracking beacons on every bike that lets them know when they break. Gees. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Till then, I am going to keep on them to get the issues fixed. I'm sorry that position has already been filled. You might know the person. His name is Erik.  | ||
| Buellinachinashop |
"You might know the person. His name is Erik." You're really gonna have to be more specific Mr.Ft. I got through 6 pages of Google and this the only Erik who I consider worthy of such an daunting task  | ||
| Bombardier |
You are all right you know. Some bikes have issues - some don't. Some think they are a waste of money - some don't. Would be real scary if we were all the same and the world's only transportation was WWII Volkswagen Beetles now wouldn't it? This was somebody's idea of Nirvana at one time I am told. | ||
| Rainman |
Let me see if I get this right: There are some problems with some bikes, quite a few, that have been noticed by many owners and occurred in the bikes offered to the motor-press. Those problems were reported. Not all bikes have those problems. Not all of the problems in the bikes that have them, enough of a percentage to have affected what seems to be every bike ridden by the media, have been fixed. Some people are really bothered by those problems. Others couldn't give a rodent's rump. I fall into the latter category. You can write your comments in blue. Rock on. | ||
| Spiderman |
You know what I find really ironic about this, Koz lived through the tuber days. He experienced the same trash talk and bad reviews about his machine  | ||
| Court |
I've got a guy at work who is having similar problems with his Ducati. Really the only differnece between him and the Buell folks is that he has no one to call. . . .no Chairman of the Company who is a rider and advocate, no President of the Company who hangs our and rides with owners and listens intently. Like I told him . . . you can;t expect a perfect bike for a mere $72,000. Amazing how arm chair quarterbacks can so accurately describe the problem yet never see any solutions. Well keep right on them and teach them a lesson. . . . your timing is fabulous as we'll soon have MV Agusta to deal with . . . . that'll keep ya'll on your toes. Put my in that "could care less" about the whiners category . . . it's 72oF in N<YC and I'm off to spend the day riding the hills around West Point. . . . . | ||
| Greenlantern |
it's 72oF in N<YC and I'm off to spend the day riding the hills around West Point. . . . . We need a good "I'm jealous" emoticon.....mutter grumble mutter....  | ||
| Dynasport |
This is all very interesting to me. I want to be a big Buell fan and I love this board, but I am also not blind to the many issues Buell seems to have with many of their bikes. I am also not sure why so many of the reviews are negative unless a) pretty much every magazine out there has some inherent dislike for Buell's or b) in their minds Buells are inferior products. I do know this, based on glowing reviews in a number of magazines, even to the point that one magazine named it the Best Sport Touring Bike of the Year I test rode a BMW F800ST. It was only a fairly short test ride at Bike Week in Daytona. Maybe 15 miles. But anyway, in that 15 miles I could tell that bike was not for me. I am used to the vibrating of a Harley motor, but that 800 had a buzz that drove me crazy and put my butt to sleep even in the short ride I had. To be fair, the bike did have some positive aspects, but overall I walked away knowing I would never spend any money on one. I was also amazed that any magazine would pick that bike best anything. That experience opened my eyes a bit. It showed me that what I want and like in a bike may be different from anyone else's. Especially the guys writing magazine articles. I still enjoy reading the magazines, and I won't say they don't influence me to some degree, but I won't ever make a purchase decision based on something I read in a magazine. More to the 1125r point. I really hope Buell solves all the problems people have been having with the bike. I don't have one, but I don't think I have to in order to know that many people have had issues with their bikes. Personally, I would not want a bike with the issues I have read about on here and in the magazines. I understand not everyone has had problems with their bikes, which leads me to believe many of the problems are related to quality control and not design. Otherwise, wouldn't ALL the bikes have the same issues if it was design. If it is a quality control issue, I would think that would be discoverable and fixable. I hope this has happened as I really want Buell to be successful. | ||
| Reepicheep |
I'd sell that Buell right away, and get something reliable, and that the manufacturer will proactively fix. Like maybe a BMW F650. I think RedBaroness over on Advrider has one for sale, once she finishes litigation, I'm sure she will sell it cheap    Notice the *inside* of the castings.  | ||
| Koz5150 |
I am lost as to why you guys keep comparing the issue with Buells to other Bike manufacturers??? That's like justifying buying rotten steak at a store since the chicken is rotten and has worms? Court - you are a good guy, but justifying Buell issues by saying that Ducatti has issues is a lame arguement and doesn't explain why the bike has problems. Why settle for being as good as the other companies, be better and set a new standard for quality. Spidey - Yeah, I lived (and still do) through the tuber issues, but as I stated before, I know what I was getting into when I bought the bike. These issues are different. I can imaging having to deal with remapping fuel curves, and parts melting off my bike while the gas seeps out of the frame. At this point I would hope Buell sends a bike to be reveiwed that runs good. If they can't seem to supply one to a magazine, why would I expect to get "a good one" from the dealer? | ||
| Court |
My purpose is not to lower the bar. My purpose is to vividly illustrate that the "I'll go buy another bike" rant is stupid, baseless and short sighted. Buying a $72,000 Ducati won't solve the problem. Buying a BMW won't solve the problem (I am preparing, in the next 10 minutes to set out for a 500 mile ride on a BMW. If I have a problem, I'll simply fix it) and buying a Porsche (the owners are getting together a petition to make Porsche address the smoking issue and heat issue) won't solve it. If you have a problem . . . . fix it. I am amused when someone, the best cases are the folks who have used ECM Spy to completely •••• up their bikes, always point the finger of bad design. Apparently some assume that these bikes were just slapped together. That's not the case. Buell is as good, and in the case of the BLAST better, than any motorcycle made. It's a fact. I'd love to stick around but I've got to get my wife sent off to the dealer (frickin' $70K convertible top won't operate on a sunny day . . damn Mercedes-Benz) and I'm going riding. You really think I am a good guy or are you just saying that? | ||
| P_squared |
I’m torn between responding, or just hoping this thread dies. Notice the MY ’09 improvements. I’d say these qualify as Buell “listening” and improving on the design. Notice not all MY ’08 customers have complaints. Do you think that may not significantly increase the level of difficulty for Buell to isolate cause & effect in order to determine an appropriate fix? The only complaint I’ve seen that can’t be easily “fixed” by a shadetree mechanic is the fueling. I’ve yet to notice anything I would site as an “issue” with the fueling on my bike. That could be due in large part to how I ride it and what my personal “threshold” is for determining an “issue” vs. “insignificance.” As for the complaints centering around the fueling below 4k: MPH for 1st gear @ 4k = 25.6 MPH for 2nd gear @ 4k = 36.0 MPH for 3rd gear @ 4k = 45.6 MPH for 4th gear @ 4k = 53.7 MPH for 5th gear @ 4k = 60.5 MPH for 5th gear @ 4k = 65.7 Unless your are running in 1st gear at 25 mph or less, how often is this REALLY an issue? Peak HP/Torque is at ~9,800 rpm. Redline is at 10,500. Stop trying to ride it like it has an XL based motor in it. It doesn’t. So am I to believe that ALL of the magazine writers/articles you cited that complained about the fueling below 4k were putzing around a parking lot in 1st gear @ less than 25mph, or were they just too freakin lazy to downshift? Again, as Dan so eloquently pointed out, “It showed me that what I want and like in a bike may be different from anyone else's. Especially the guys writing magazine articles.”} As for where I believe Court was headed in regards to citing issues with a DesmoRR, wouldn’t you expect someone who paid $72k to have a flawless bike? His friend doesn’t. The difference is that when/if I have problems with my $12k bike, I know where to go and how to get the ball rolling to have my issue resolved a LOT faster than the poor soul who spent $72k. My experience shows me this company is AMAZINGLY responsive to their customers. I’ve never had this level of “personal attention” from any other Automobile or Motorcycle manufacturer. THAT is truly amazing & commendable in by book. | ||
| Xl1200r |
The 1125R I test rode spent a LOT of time below 4k rpm, however, I didn't experience any substantial fueling issues. Truth is, the power comes on strong at about 3500rpm. I found myself cruising comfortably around 3k rpm. | ||
| Greenlantern |
What's this? A manufacturer has not managed to iron out all the kinks in a first model year product within 12 months of it's release? I would take my business elsewhere for sure! Thank god my motorcycle is a Buell XB which has no problems (except that intake gasket that was skooshed at the factory and left me limping home. Good thing that naive dealership in the next state over that I bought it from was Stupid enough to drive their van 60 miles to my inconveniently located house and pick it up and have it back in my hands in 2 days, or I would have returned it and bought a Ural. Suckers!) | ||
| Reepicheep |
Just bringing BMW into it for perspective... There are two important questions to consider when buying a motorcycle. 1) How many issues will the bike have when you ride it out the dealer lot? 2) How will the company you bought it from support problem resolution over time? With the Tubers, up until maybe 2002, IMHO Buell had some significant issues with item 1 above. However, they have been good beyond belief with item 2. My M2 had... well... lots of stuff go wrong. When I went to the dealer to buy a replacement part, sure enough, the replacement part was a revised part, and the revised part solved the root problem. I may have had to pay for them (*cough* $100 exhaust mouont *cough*) and put them on, but it was a solid solution for my root problem. Then came the XB's, and (IMHO, YMMV, FWIW) the quality and reliability amazes me. So item 1 above is now at a minimum equal to "other brands". In category 2, Buell seems to be one of the *best* manufacturers I have ever dealt with in any category... and it's another reason I will keep buying and recommending them. I wish Kawasaki had done as much work to improve the weak spots of the KLR-250 during it's 20 year production run, as Buell did to improve the M2 in its 5 year production run. Complicated mechanical systems won't be perfect, particularly if they do anything really interesting. Buy one that is as good as possible out the door, and from a company that will really support it over time. BMW is very good in both regards, and (IMHO) Buell is even better. Anyone have any experience with Ducati? | ||
| Jlnance |
What I find frustrating is not that Buell does a bad job, but that it appears that with a small amount of effort they could do such a much better job. Buell is as good, and in the case of the BLAST better, than any motorcycle made. It's a fact. An excellent example.  Here I sit on the side of the road because that's where the bike decided to quit running. That isn't what frustrates me though. What annoys me is the $8 part that failed is a known problem, and yet remains unchanged, in this, the 10th year of the Blast. It wasn't big deal. I knew what it was instantly and called a friend who brought me a replacement. But it left me wondering, why doesn't Buell care? I'm not pissed at the company or anything. Just confused. I hear stories about Erik and how meticulous he is. I see the hard work he has done, and the commitment he has to his customers. And then the Blast has a boot that regularly fails and I try to reconcile that in my mind. Does he not care? Does he not know? Does he just not have the resources to address it? I've thought the same thing trying to ride my Uly through a town with a 20 mph speed limit. Did no one at Buell ever try to ride a Uly at 20 mph? Did they actually think the performance was acceptable if they did? Again, I'm not mad about it. I did the XB9 primary conversion and now I can ride it at 8 mph. But I am left wondering why. | ||
| Rainman |
Let me guess.....das boot. Been there recently. Luckily, it was in my driveway that it crapped out. | ||
| Jlnance |
Let me guess.....das boot.  |
