| Author | Message | ||
     Fasteddieb |
I recently went to a BMW K1200RS rally on my Firebolt (it's a long story). It involved riding from Mineral Bluff, GA to Staunton, VA (about 500 miles), followed by maybe 200 miles of VA/W VA roads the next day, followed by the 500 miles home. Observations: 1) the Lightning pegs helped a little, though my knees are generally not an issue. I did manage to drag my left toe in a turn, so you do have to be more aware of your feet than with the stock pegs (which I never got close to dragging). I have a couple caveats concerning the adjusment downward of the brake and shift levers if anyone is interested. 2) for twisties, the stock bars are perfect; for sport touring, they ain't bad. I'm 6'1" and generally I was happy with the bars where they were. I do have a Vista-Cruise throttle lock which lets me rest my right han on occasion. 3) the Buell custom seat is a vast improvement over stock, and is very Corbin-like in shape. 4) I had my SECOND speedo sensor fail on the way home. I hear there's an improved part (with an "A" suffix) that I'll need to get. I removed the bad one and carried it into my Miami dealer to exchange, which they refused to do without the bike there (it's in GA). I took the time to write Erik Buell of my predicament - I can swap sensors in about 10 minutes, but riding to either Marietta, GA or Chattanooga, TN for the repair is nearly 2 hours each way. If I don't hear from Erik, I might try a "special pleading" to Iowa Dave. Worst case - I'll just buy the improved one and install it myself. 5) My stock tires only lasted about 2,600 miles. I installed Bridgestone 010's which feel fine and will hopefully wear longer. The Michelin Pilot Sports are popular on sporty BMW's, and I may try those next. 6) the Oxford bags worked well, though the rain covers didn't prevent water from being forced into them by the rear wheel and puddling at the bottom. 7) this was the first trip where I really became aware of the bike's tendency to "stand up" when the front brake is applied in a turn. I would describe it more as a tendency for the bike to be pulled wide in a turn on front brake application (it feels almost like a magnet pulling the bike). I guess front brake application during a turn is probably not a good idea, though on a BMW with Telelever you can get away with it. Anyway, I modified my riding style and used engine braking and rear brake to set up for the turn and simply ignored the front brake completely in the twisties. In short, if I planned on extensive sport-touring on the Firebolt, I'd look into higher bars and maybe a taller screen. Then again, I have my K1200RS for that. My "mission profile" for the Firebolt is generally day trips in the N GA/TN/NC mountains, and for that, the bike's pretty much fine as is. Fast Eddie B. (Ed Benson, Cooper City, FL/Mineral Bluff, GA) | ||
| Roc |
Ed - If you were going to buy bags for the Firebolt again would you buy the same again? | ||
| Fasteddieb |
I think so. If touring in inclement weather, I'd probably use waterproof bags or garbage bags inside the Oxfords.  Photo from last year's Deal's Gap rally. Last time I checked, GIVI didn't have mounts, but they're good bags. Would look kinda funky on the Firebolt, I'd think. | ||
| Captainplanet |
Ed, I just had my second speedo sensor replaced. The new part number is 74431-01A. I hope this one last longer than the other two did. | ||
| Reepicheep |
AAACKKK! Don't say that, the firebolts are supposed to have solved that particular annoyance! Hruumph. Hopefully the first was a fluke, and the second was the wrong part from dealer stock (the older ones with thinner longer wires), and the new one solves the problem. | ||
| Blake |
Someone at Buell needs to tackle the speedo sensor issue! As to touring on an XB... The Buell tank bag is outstanding. I was very impressed with its quality and features. The best luggage accessory though will probably end up being the Ventura Bike Pack system available from American Sport Bike. I've been using one since 1998; with the 45 liter pack, it is invaluable. Once at your destination you can swap the rack/pack for a grab handle and tail pack and be ready to take on the twisties. | ||
| Mikej |
The speedo-sensor is a Harley-Davidson corporate issue, Buell is just a downstream user of the components. I would not be surprised if there were some mandate precluding Buell from finding an alternative source for the sensors on their own. The sensor is a motor-assembly component and is thereby under the rules and controls of the motor plant. (If you really want to know just take a friendly person aside at some future event and politely ask about it.) Just my outsider opinion, but it is well past finding a solution. And telling us that by fixing it ourselves instead of going through the hassle of having the dealerships fix it so it gets tracked as a problem part only leads to delaying finding a solution, they'd be better off including questions to that effect in the next survey and include a response section to answer why it was paid and changed independantly instead of having the work done at the dealership as a warranty repair.  It should not take two or three visits to a dealership and several weeks due to scheduling to get a relatively minor repair accomplished. Nor should a bike owner have to go through the process of having the dealership bring the bike into their service cue, wipe the end of the plug off, have you come back a week later to retrieve your bike, then have to have you bring the bike back again when it fails again to have the sensor assembly changed this time, then come back a week or two later when they can finally get it into their service cue cycle. It should not take two to four or more trips to get a speedo sensor issue resolved. My last sensor change a week or two ago I did in the garage in about 20 minutes, taking my time. The one before that I did within a 30 minute lunch break in the parking lot of a local dealership, and that included the 10-minute ride each way to the dealership. This problem now has apparently migrated to the XB line of bikes and speaks only bad things about quality. A problem does not have to be a major problem to taint an already tainted image or perception. The speedo-sensor issue is well past due on getting resolved. FIX THE FRIGGIN PROBLEM HARLEY-DAVIDSON. I doubt very much that this posting did anything beyond furthering any chance that I'll ever be employed at H-D Corp. But if they can't fix a relatively simple electro-magnetic device, similar to what's used on hundreds of thousands of bicycles, then it's no wonder they stay with Tradition instead of Innovation. The speedo sensor problem is a Harley-Davidson issue, it is not a Buell issue, the problem and pending solution is owned and controlled by the motor plant design and assembly teams. Period! Have a very nice day.  | ||
| Ray_maines |
Mike, Your point is well taken and I agree in principle but it's still a Buell problem. It's on a Buell, it frustrates a Buell owners, and embarrasses Buell enthusiasts. | ||
| Mikej |
But the point is Buell can do nothing directly about it. They are not even allowed to touch an engine to fix a problem they may find on the assembly line, they have to wheel the bikes to the side and wait for someone to come down from the Capital Drive plant to do any repairs that are found on the assembly line due to Union and other processual rules. Not very efficient, but that's the way it is. This is in the category of the tire fiasco some automotive manufacturers went through. The problem was with the tires, the fix was through the car dealerships and some tire outlets. The problem was owned by the tire manufacturer. The ultimate problem may be owned by the sensor assembly manufacturer, but I don't think anyone has discovered who that company is that makes the actual assembly. Oh well. | ||
| Blake |
Mike, It's that kind of mentality, one of "it ain't my problem" that IS the problem. If the part is a HD part and is causing problems, and if HD won't fix it, then the Buell procurement manager and his program manager should drop the HD part and go to another supplier, one who will stand behind their parts. Simple. | ||
| Roc |
Fasteddieb - Thanks. They look good too. | ||
| Mikej |
Ah, but Blake, you missed the point, even if they tried they aren't allowed to according to the BigHouse rules. | ||
| Bomber |
The problem MikeJ accurately described is in evidence in many companies, and one that frustrated the daylights outs the exact folks Blake named . . . . . Court holds forth, from time to time, on the cool stuff that Buell does in the manufacturing venue (and he's right), showing hom much more complex building a motorcycle is that most of us thought running a company with all the interlocking agreements and and symbiotic relationships is no less complex, if not quite as easily measured . . . the speedo sensor issue is sounding more and more like the rocker-box gasket debacle . . . . I wouldn't bet against some sort of a similar fix (if the "-A" part number isn't the electronic version it) | ||
| Elvis |
"They are not even allowed to touch an engine to fix a problem they may find on the assembly line, they have to wheel the bikes to the side and wait for someone to come down from the Capital Drive plant to do any repairs that are found on the assembly line due to Union and other processual rules." This sounds like the best way to handle it from the point of view of producing a quality product. The line operator may be very qualified to fix the problem, and in some cases a quick fix may be all that is required, but it's important to look more closely than that. What is the cause of the problem? How many other units may be affected? What process improvements might be required to ensure it won't happen again? A quality manufacturer has to answer all those questions. They can't just slap a band-aid on it and send it on its way. While I'm sure there are aspects of Buell's procedures that could be improved, that particular example really indicates their commitment to quality rather than their lack thereof. (crap, if I'm not careful, I'll start sounding like Court) | ||
| Mikej |
Well, I'm almost always willing to learn, especially when I'm wrong, unless I like my answer better, then I may just dig my heels in and stand put, but that may leave me standing alone by the side of the road, which at times isn't always a bad proposition given some circumstances, yet again it is nice at times to go along for the ride, especially if the driver knows a good destination or track to follow, so I'll just say nothing in particular and leave things at that. (Nine commas, one sentence, enough to make an english teacher cry.)  | ||
| Bomber |
er, if I remember correctly, along with the punctuation and such, a sentance was supposed to convey at least one complete thought, yes?  | ||
| Mikej |
It looks completely complete to me, I think.  Hint: "I am almost always willing to learn."  | ||
| Court |
This is one of those there "Paradoxi"...in that a couple very simple things/processes are co-prociating with a couple steeped in complexiousity. I'm tempted, in the interest of brevity, to simple recite my "why Buell doesn't deliver bikes at the plant" soliloquy from days gone past. Suffice to say, the speedo thing has several "owners" and anyone who's a thinking Erik Buell would EVER do the "hey..ain't my problem" dance is ludane. Erik goes absolutely ballistic, as in stapler launching ballistic, over this type of stuff. One of the important components of a solution it to insure it's, more or less, the "equal and opposite" of the problem. Amputation cures tennis elbow. Need a better example?..tell Aaron that you lock-tited your exhaust stud nuts to "fix" the problem. Buell, for what it's worth, has a most qualified, diligent adn dedicated procurement manager. Anyone who tells you that Buell gets told by anyone what to use is fulla hogwash, taint so. I suspect the speedo thing, and it associated buttpainiosis, will soon be history. Court | ||
| Crusty |
I hope so, my speedo sensor just quit yesterday. | ||
| Mikej |
Not being an insider, just having been inside a few times, I have no real idea of how things work apart from what I've seen and have been told. And I too am recently on a fresh speedo sensor, just a few weeks old in fact. Note to self: if I dangle all my dead sensors off the rear of my Buell this summer, keep my helmet on to protect against flying staplers.  | ||
| Two_buells |
My XB9Rt....  | ||
| Xb9 |
another XB9RT  | ||
| Darthane |
Big thanks to XB9 for recommending the Eclipse bags for the 'bolt. They fit great and provide plenty of storage. Eclipse is based in Ypsilanti (about 20-25 miles from me) and they were the nicest people I've met in a LONG time. The bags would work great on a tuber as well. My setup is similar, but I've got the <font size="+1">Buell</font> tank bag instead of another Eclipse. If I ever get my digicam back I'll put a pic of it up. -=eagerly awaiting the NE tour to test out his XB9RT=- Bryan (Message edited by darthane on May 25, 2003, %time) |
