| Author | Message | ||
     Jasonblue |
Ok I need to vent a little. Yesterday I call my friendly nieghborhood HD dealer and tell them that I am going to install a race ECM in my XB9 and am going to need to zero my TPS. The service manager says if you bring it in first thing in the mourning (9am) we can get to it while you wait. Cool sounds good. So I get up this mourning, about 7:45, get cleaned up, grab my race ECM a couple of wrenches and head to the dealer. I get to the dealer at about 8:30 and replace the stock ECM with the new one, takes 10 minutes. So I hang out enjoy the nice mourning, have a smoke and wait til 9. When I get inside I then have to talk to an ASSISTANT service manager, I tell him what I need and he says that there is one bike ahead of me and that bike is gonna take an hour. He then says that the technician says the TPS reset is gonna take an hour. I reply that I know what the procedure consists of and it should not take more than 30 minutes tops. The assistant service manager then states "Thats what I thought but the tech says it will be about an hour." Gee, do ya think they work on Buells much? Keep in mind I was planning on waiting while they did this quick and easy job. Now my wife is at work, I left my cell phone at home, and I'm about 15 miles from my house. What a lovely day this is turning out to be! So I walk about a quarter mile to a Denny's and have a descent breakfast and read the paper. Then I walk back, this blows about an hour. I go back into the service area and see that my bike is on a lift with the seat off. So I decide to watch a little bit, its 10:30 now. I watch, and watch, for about a half hour and during this time no one lays a hand on my bike. Actually no one comes within 15 feet of my bike. So when I inquire about the progress to the Asst. manager he has to go find the tach working on it. When he comes back with the tech they state that the Digital Technician is not picking up a signal and it may be 15minutes or it may be a day before they can get a signal. This is where they ask me if I want to wait or I could leave and they will be glad to call me when the bike is done. I kindly explain that I have to stay because I really don't have a choice! After I tell them that both of their facial expressions say #@!$ now we're really gonna have to work on this thing. I guess they were able to get a signal after that because a Digital Tech was promptly hooked up to my bike. The tech would then look at the screen for a while, then he would fire up my bike and rev it a few times, then he would look at the sceen some more, then he would get another guy to look at the screen for a while. This was a cycle that continued for a while, so I decided to go walk around and look at all the shiney Harleys. I did this till about 12:00 and then walked back to the service dept. I timed it perfectly because the tech just happened to be lookin for me. He said "I"m sorry man but its still acting funny" Well I had had enough, so I told him to call me when it they got it figured out. At least his timing was good because my wife was now on her lunch break so I could have her come pick me up and take me home. So here I am relieving some pressure. You know it would have been so much easier if they just would have been honest when I called them yesterday. All they had to say was " Well Jason since we are lazy, slow, incompetent, inconsiderate, and our equipment just doesn't work, I suggest you just drop your bike off." I would have been OK with that, well not really but it would have been better than what I did have to go through. Its sufficiant to say I will be driving the extra 15 or so miles to another dealer from now on. Unless I just want to buy a Harley T-shirt. Slightly pissed, Jason | ||
| Sandbag |
i feel bad for you... i haven't dealt with the service dept at the local dealership yet (but oddly enough, i get my chain lube there.. only place open on sunday, the day i get to ride...), but i've talked to a couple of guys who had the dealership install full race kits, and they haven't had any problems... maybe it was "bring your retarded identical twin to work day" ^_^ wally | ||
| Buckinfubba |
vent away brother....also vent to the higher ups. it is the only way these situations will change | ||
| Austinrider |
Holy crap, thats friggin ridiculous. They reset my tps outside. Just rolled the cart up, plugged into my bike. Let it idle 5 minutes or so to warm up (something out the engine temp having to be in a certain range) and then revving it up and setting it right. Nay a problem since. If they are that incompetent, and since you were that inconvienienced, I would talk to the Dealerships GM, tell him of your gripe. If they dont do the work for free, go his supervisor. I wouldnt even dick around with the Service Dept Manager. Hope this gets resolved for you soon. I would have insisted on a XB12 Demo bike if they were gonna take that long. | ||
| Daves |
Let me guess, "Buells just don't sell around here" Ride to the edge! My techs know how to reset a TPS Dave Iowa HD/Buell (Buell Cycle Center) | ||
| Fullpower |
it would be real neat if we could back off the idle all the way, snap the throttle plate closed, and push a darned button mounted conveniently atop the ecm for 3 seconds, and then have an led illuminate, signalling the succesfull completion of the tps value reset procedure. wouldn't that just be too cool? | ||
| S1eric |
This is what keeps me from buying A new Buell. I like the XB line up. But refuse to put my self through the aggravation of the HD network. I`m keeping my S1`s. But I did go look at A nice R1 today. Looking to add to the stable. New BUELL ????? S1Eric 97S1 98S1W | ||
| Frankenstein |
Why that whole tps reset in the first place? I have other non HD VTwins with fuel injection and there is no such thing as a tps reset. Just set your idle the way you want it and there you go. A simple vacuum sensor behind the throttle plate would give the ecm all it would need to know. | ||
| Jasonblue |
An update: After venting I called up 6 other dealers in the area, and asked them how much, and how long for a TPS reset. Five of them said about 30 min at prices from 26 to 50 bucks. One said about an hour at 75 bucks. You can actually tell within 10 seconds if they deal with Buells much. If they do, they spit out an answer straight away, if not its, can you hold, or T.P. what? One dealer asked me why I needed it reset, so I told him about the race ECM. He stated the way to really wake an XB up is with the powercommander. We then got into a discussion about the XB's, mufflers, ECM's, etc. He genually had an interest in Buells and knew what he was talkin about. Funny thing is he works for Mancuso HD, I took my bike to Crossroads Mancuso its sister shop. Any way I called them back at 5:00 and they were just now test riding it! They are supposed to call me back in 15 minutes. | ||
| Charlieboy6649 |
Let me guess, "Buells just don't sell around here" Couldn't have said it any better myself Dave... My local dealer just sent their entire Buell inventory to Phoenix because Buells just don't sell here in Yuma, Az. I'ts a sad day in Buelldom.  You know it is a great lil' mom and pop shop too. The mechs are good, just not proficient on Buells, so labor time was always a little drawn out. (2 hours to put on a new slip on exhaust...) But I can understand that. What I don't understand is why such a great shop wasn't able to sell their inventory. Guess they don't have the $$$ to advertise like the big dealers.  You know what Buell should do. Send a traveling demo team around to all the HD dealerships with crappy Buell sales to stir up the public. Offer a battletrax type demo. THIS is where the BUELL will be most appreciated anyway! Venting also... Charles  | ||
| Daves |
Charles, It has nothing to do with big ad budgets. It has everything to do with who they have selling(or not) the bikes. It IS that simple! Well that simple plus the fact that the dealer principle has to be behind the effort. Those 2 things can and will make all the difference. Buell does have a demo fleet(no, they don't let you do BattleTrax on them) and dealers could sign up for it at the recent dealers meeting in FL. The dates I wanted were not available for me(that sucks) but we will continue on with our Buell Bash demo day on the 24th of April, we'll just have to use our own bikes like we have done for the past 4 years. No problem, I know that they are trying to get out to the dealers that are marginal and I understand that. On the bright side, I got a call today from a friend at Buell. Seems there are at least 3 dealers, fresh back from Buell training, that want to talk to me about getting their Buell business pointed in the right direction. Very good sign if you ask me. One of these days I'm going to have to start charging them for this stuff. Maybe get 2 Diet Pepsis next time? Ride to the edge! Dave Iowa HD/Buell (Buell Cycle Center) | ||
| Charlieboy6649 |
I'm not saying the Dealers aren't trying (Jim's HD has an excellent sales staff by the way). Many of them owning and riding Buells daily. I'm just saying BMC needs to get off their laurels and bring the bike to the people. I ride with rice rocket owners, because that's all there are here, and most of them are interested in Buell but have never had a chance to demo one. Hell, I didn't even demo before I bought. Good thing they handle as well as they look! Charles | ||
| Daves |
Well there again, who's fault is it that the dealer doesn't offer demo rides? It sure as hell isn't Buells fault! They even came out with a program for dealers last year to "assign" a demo XB and get some $$ back to cover the lower price that a demo bike usually brings. EVERYDAY in Waterloo(if it's above freezing and no ice on the roads) is BUELL DEMO day! We don't wait for a special event,we don't wait for Buell to bring the demo fleet, I get everyone I possibly can out on the bike and riding it. I keep my street leathers in my office,I have loaner helmets if they came in without theirs, I have extra gloves,usually can round up a spare jacket. Our demo rides are usually 20-30 minutes long. It is up to the DEALER to bring the bikes to the people! Yes, Buell can help, do national ads,show up at major bike events and stuff like that but in the end, it is Buells job to build great bikes, it is the dealers job to go out and find customers to buy them. Ride to the edge! Dave Iowa HD/Buell (Buell Cycle Center) | ||
| Thepup |
I have had very good experience at my local dealer.They also have a demo bike to ride anytime | ||
| Honu |
I have to plug my dealer here, even though the salesman did not have alot of knowledge about the Buell line, they did have a demo bike that they offered to me to ride. Picked my bike up yesterday from them after the 1000 mile service, the tech came out and explained to me everything he did to the bike, very enthusiastic about the Buell line, was saving his money for a XB12R. Also one of the service writers just bought a XB9R, both the tech and writer are young guys into sportbikes, so I hope their enthusiasm spills over into the entire dealership. So far just praise for Cowboy Harley Davidson/Buell of Beaumont Tx. Craig  | ||
| Evil_twin |
All of this bad dealer talk kind of scares me. I am taking the eVil Twin in on Friday to have the TPS reset. The Tech told me "No problem, we could do it while you wait." I don't want to be put in the same situation as Jason. I have a job to go to as it is, and with my situation, I have to have one of the other supervisors cover for me. And until I get to work, he is stuck there. I don't want to leave him hangin'. I suppose I will just pray for the best when I get there Friday morning. If I have a problem, they will hear about.... and then, all of you will. Wish me luck. Rich  | ||
| Dynarider |
Hals will do a TPS reset & charge you the the least amount they have on their computer which is 15 minutes, works out to about $15. Takes a whole 5 minutes to do the job. Anyone who tells you otherwise is either a bullshitting liar or is just plain ignorant about Buells. | ||
| Gearloose |
I used to have two Buell dealers within 20 minutes from me,but they only sell HD now.Which is fine because the one had my 00X1 so f**ked up I took it to Waterloo.1.2hrs away. FIXED!! Now I have a XB12S and it sure is nice to have Dave,and the Waterloo gang to deal with. To bad the rest of ya that get worked over by your dealer don't live closer to Waterloo,or the ones thinking of buying one,but are leery(sp) don't have the dealer we have here in Iowa. How did I do Dave? lol | ||
| Sandbag |
hey, if anyone is interested, the demo trucks will be in dothan alabama the 12th and the 13th of march.. fri and sat... i'll be there saturday on the ghetto duct tape mummy (its no where as bad as i talk about it, i swear.. nowhere near as bad as the civic i owned that looked like someone rolled it down and hill and set it on fire...)anyways, i'm lookin forward to seeing how a xb12s hauls my wide fat ass around ^_^ the local dealer (hd of dothan i think its called...) used to have demo bikes, but they don't anymore... wish they would get a demo xb12s in... i'd be willing to wait a while to get a slightly used and needing parts xb... wally | ||
| Hardluckxb |
Sorry about the buellshit you had to deal with Jasonblue. Remeber everyone... The demo fleet will be @ TWO in Suches GA on March 20th and 21st so come on out and show your support. There is more info available on the Quick Board in the March Badness thread. | ||
| Gearloose |
Ahhhh TWO,very nice place, people and Frank is great to shoot the breeze with. Wolfpen is a blast!  | ||
| Smadd |
It's been years since I bought my S3 from Jim's HD/Buell in St. Pete, Fl (1998)... but they thoroughly supported Buell back then. Tommy gave me the keys to an S3 and suggested I keep it for most of the day!! I didn't feel right doing that... but I *did* take it for a long, and revealing test ride. It sold me a bike. I no longer live in Florida, but I'm guessing they're the same. I know the dealer here in Athens, Ohio offers demo rides... they offered an XB. I declined... because I knew I'd be buying if I rode it... and I simply can't afford another bike right now. Steve | ||
| Turnagain |
Hey Steve, funny you mention Jim's. I hit four dealers between St. Pete and Naples when I was there a couple months back. Most had bikes and the single rack of accessories. Jim's had a tons of accessories and no bikes. Why? They were "sold".  hope all's well over there, Steve(2) | ||
| Jasonblue |
Well the wife took me to get my bike this mourning. Went in to get it and the Asst. manager said yeh its ready let me get your ticket. Then it was "That will be 80 bucks please" So I says "Hold on, lets forget about the fact that I had to wait around for 3 and a half hours and still left with out a bike" and he seems to already have done that since he offered no apology. "But I happen to know that zeroing the TPS should take a max of 15 minutes, that is if you have a working Digital Tech, and a qualified Buell service tech. So even if you added roll in, roll out and set up time you could stretch it to .5 hrs for labor." I then told him that I had called 5 dealers including their sister shop and that they had in fact quoted me a half hour labor. Some guy came in at this point who was kind of listening in, I think he was some big wig. He asked what I had done and why, I told him tps reset, race ecm. He told the Asst mngr. to go check the Buell books for a charge time, and then said he thought they usually charge an hour because they zero the TPS check the timing and something else that I can't remember. We talked a little bit, he was a nice guy, looked like he was just fixin to head out on a ride, he had his gear on. Finally he says since our other store quoted you half an hour we'll go ahead and charge you that. He then says "Go out and ride that thing its a beautiful day" So.... it ended up being $39.52, and on a positive note- the did finally get it right cause it runs like a champ. Now I'm gonna take that guys advice and go ride. Supposed to be in the 70's today and sunny. To all you Northerners, sorry about your luck! | ||
| Fullpower |
jason, you sure got lucky there. glad it worked out, sounds like you just narrowly avoided a bit of a screwin'. well, ride it like ya stole it... dean | ||
| Glitch |
So I says "Hold on..." Good for you on speaking up and not taking any bull.  | ||
| Buckinfubba |
yeah I got the same phone call that dave got about talking to dealers. atleast they are pointing them in the right direction nowadays. of course I am more a diet coke kinda guy tho. I do demos anyday of the week would like the whole fleet here. but don't need it just want it. BTW the demo fleet wiil be in maggie valley, NC on april 16th and 17th and you can bet even tho it is 2 hrs away from me I will be there answering questions and helping out anyway I can and I will probably even sell a few while I am there. so we don't need big ad campaings or any of that , we need dealers that want to do something about it and get behind these bikes. I am going to the people I do not expect to have them brought to me....thats the harley way of thinking. just a word for everybody.....no matter what they think they are ready in the books....to set the tps there is no need to check the timing or anything else. yes you can reset the AFV while your there and that takes a split second because it is just touch a button. | ||
| Aydenxb9 |
And if you can't make Maggie Valley, the fleet will be in Myrtle Beach the following week during bike week. | ||
| Buckinfubba |
ayden whats the difference between demo rides in maggie valley compared to myrtle beach..... Curves in the valley there in the roads....at the beach there on the girls.....  now if some one could build a road course on the beach we'd have it made in the shade | ||
| Fatpony |
I've had nothing but GREAT service from Flint River H-D/Buell of Albany Ga. Set AND installed race ecm for no charge while doing routine services on both my X1 and XB9R. It's a family owned and run place, Buell tech is grandson of owner. Grandfather saw me eyeballing X1 while having my Superglide serviced, FORCED me to demo, bought one the following week. Grandson serviced my firebolt, changed ecm and set tps about 3 wks ago. Says it's faster than his race kited bolt. Only diff is my XB12 airbox and DRUMMER (thanks again to Brian and Kevin). Is there a site to check out schedule for the demo fleet (aside from the big shows like Daytona and Myrtle Beach)? I got a flyer from Dothan Al, but I just don't like the vibes of the place. SANDBAG, where do you live? I'm in Marianna, wanta ride shoot me a line. | ||
| Aydenxb9 |
Bubba, how 'bout this? Take the fleet over the intercoastal waterway to the speedway? That could be some sick fun! I was never afraid of the wall on four wheels, wonder if I'd feel the same on two? Off of turn 2 in a drift, rear tire boiling.....AH-HA HA HA!!!!!. Either that or go over to NASCAR Speed Park and kick the go-karters off for a while. Motard anyone? If that doesn't get it, head up to N. Myrtle to the mall that H.O.B. is located at and run around their complex scaring tourists til the little white truck with the green flashing light and the Barney Fiffe wannabe nips us in the bud. Then spend the rest of the time over at Dick's out insulting the wait staff. | ||
| Glitch |
I am more a diet coke kinda guy tho Thanks for your support! | ||
| Buckinfubba |
ayden yeah terroizing on a go kart track would be fun | ||
| Sandbag |
hey, i'm in enterprise, so i'm actually not that far from you... the guys in the place in dothan are actually pretty nice... drop me an email, since yours is hidden. maybe we can get a ride around here going. wally | ||
| Evil_twin |
Took the bike in this morning and had the TPS reset. No problems. In and out in like 20-25 minutes. Had the TPS reset and the idle set at 1050. Costed me $45 after taxes and all. I can't complain. So, here is my shout out to Calumet HD/Buell of Munster IN. Thanks guys, I appreciate it. Sorry about the bad luck Jason. I would find a new dealer. Gotta be someone out there for you. Rich | ||
| Wyckedflesh |
now if some one could build a road course on the beach we'd have it made in the shade The road around Oahu I figured would make an AWESOME IoMTT style run... | ||
| Gonen60 |
IT WOULDN'T SURPRISE ME, IF MY DEALER HAD NO IDEA WHAT A TPS RESET IS !!! | ||
| Ftd |
80 F today so I met some buds in Daytona. Rode my Bourget though not the X1. Stopped at Daytona HD/Buell (ha). One windbreaker, one jacket period. Lady told me they will not be carrying Buell apparel anymore. Orlando HD/Buell has zero also. Daytona had one new XB12R and 3 used Buells. Choppers everywhere though, oh well. Frank    | ||
| Fst_tyms |
The closest dealer to my work is in Simi. Unfortunately the are not only out of line for prices when it comes to Buells, they have given me wrong information on several occasions and are uneducated. They lost many a sales to me for no one ever approaching me or even helping me when I asked for it. I asked one of the sales guys if they had a Lightning LOW? He said," I think we have a yellow one over there". I said you mean the Blast? They have absolutely no Buell gear and when I asked to get it, they laughed at me and said they could order it. I asked for some stuff off the site, they said they couldn't get it. They wanted to mark up a custom seat by $25. They quoted me over $600 for a 10,000 mile service. On another note. the simi dealer is located in moorpark. the same owner has the one located in oxnard. yet that one is called ventura harley? Just a lead, to show you how screwed up they are to begin with. |
