| Author | Message | ||
     Nevco1 |
Daves...You've got mail. | ||
| Steveford |
Has anyone published an article on converting the older FI tube frames to carburetted? | ||
| Dynarider |
Buell is still being run by Enthusiasts Enthusiasts may work there, but the company is run by HD & the bottom line for them is profits. HD will do all they can to maximize profits for themselves & their shareholders. Maybe the decision to eliminate the race ecms for the tube framers was based on this. These are just numbers used for an example. They produced 50,000 tube frame bikes that could use the race ecms. The produced 100,000 race ecms & know there is plenty left in stock somewhere that they will never run out? I would think by now anyone who owns a tube framed bike & wanted a race ecm would have 1 by now. PS..dont worry there will always be people who have 1 or 2 on hand somewhere. I have a brand new 1 sitting in the box out in my shed. Who knows maybe in a year or 2 I can get some big bucks for it  | ||
| Newfie_buell |
For the big corporations - Its all about the MONEY!!! Shareholders don't care about whether you or I an get our RACE ECM, they just care about the bottom line. Isn't that what Corporate America is all about - PROFIT. Dyna is right on that one!!!!! So, lets start the bidding on the Race ECM!!!! Next thing we know prople will be stealing parts off our bikes just like the black market for kidneys. Warning- Do Not Pass Out in Any Hotel Rooms with Your Bike Parked Outside - Your RACE ECM just may go missing!!!!!! edited by Newfie_Buell on February 21, 2004 | ||
| Nevco1 |
Newfie & Dyna...are you implying I should put the X1 in moth balls and sell it by the piece in a few years? Hmmmm...Just might be the ticket to a decent ROI. I realize that a lot of parts are doomed to be discontinued as between the aftermarket, the local machine shops and the hardware store, most can be replicated. I also realize that a manufacturer has the right to change or discontinue products at their discretion. I just can't fathom discontinuing a specialty electronic part that is the very heart of our bikes and most likely can not be cloned with anywhere near the reliability. Oh well, Buell parts for T-Shirts and Bling Bling. Might make sense to me if I was a shareholder. Too bad they just couldn't limit themselves to a few less repetitive pieces of Bling Bling in the HD Parts and Accessories Catalog that you can pick up at swap meets nationwide for a fraction of the cost. I noticed HDI really skimped on their new bike catalogs and motorclothes catalogs but not their Parts and Accessories catalog. That catalog is a full color 836 page work of art (including covers)that really only applies to existing Harley owners. As usual, I saw tons of them being snatched up by kids and non-Harley types at the Chicago IMS. Gosh, and how many other shows do you think they experienced the same thing. Not to mention the dealers already handed them out last fall to their customers. Betcha limiting the distribution of the Parts and Accessories Catalog or discontinuing of one or two styles of the multitude of valve stem covers they offer would allow HDI to keep the Race ECM and perhaps a few other key Buell Components in the line. Heck, just think...if they think, we might just be able to get parts for our beloved Buell's and the bikes might be worth something again and just maybe it would be a positive step to retain their existing customers. Dang, we lived through recalls and predictable product failures because we shared the dream. It just seems like the current trend is just adding insult to injury. Lastly, I don't fault Erik for this predicament, but I do fault HDI. I wrongly included Erik in my original post concerning this matter. Hmmm...Now, I wonder how long the cams are going to last on my 2003 Wide Glide. Good thing I baby that more than my X1. | ||
| Dynarider |
I wouldnt worry about the cams..& its the cam bearings anyways They had over 100,000 motors that were affected between 1999 & 2000 but since then only a very small handfull have had any issues at all. | ||
| Ftd |
100,000?? I heard 1-2% or 1000-2000 engines. Frank | ||
| Oldguy |
Motorcycle Consumer News covers the cam bearing problem in the current issues twin-cam survey report. I'd be worried if I owned a twin-cam. They had 750 responses to the survey and 10.4% had experienced a cam bearing failure. Admittedly, that's a small sampling, but 10.4% seems to be a huge number of failures for even a small sample. And it seems that Buell owners aren't the only ones dissatisfied with the service at HD dealers. Glenn | ||
| Al_lighton |
I appreciate all the comments about protecting sponsorship interests...Tat nor I nor Aaron et al are getting rich off this stuff. We do it because we hope to be able to eek a living out of doing stuff we love, but believe me, we're not going to own a mansions and expensive cars from it any time soon. If we can't make a living from it, we cease to operate, and Buellers everywhere would be the worse for it. Or not, you decide, and act accordingly. No answer from Banke yet of Davefl's rearset issue, but I'm hopeful to be able to help him out. It will be a lot easier to convince James to run the NC program one more time to make a set of rearsets than it will to convince Buell to sell me tooling for some of the parts they've discontinued. I can't really figure out why that should be the case, so I'll continue to try until the door gets slammed on my foot. I've really only just begun there, so I'm not going to conclude it can't be done just yet. Sure seems to me that everyone wins from it, Buell included, but we'll just have to wait and see if it plays out that way. Al at American Sport Bike | ||
| Nevco1 |
Al...It truly is the entrepreneurial spirit of folks like yourself, Tat, Aaron, et al that keeps the flame going. In this light, supporting the sponsors makes more sense than ever as it appears that the sponsors are truly our "Consumer Advocates." Thank you and God Bless. | ||
| Ftd |
"The Customer Service Department at Harley-Davidson's Milwaukee Headquarters informed me that engines built prior to December 14, 1999 have a rear cam bearing failure rate of 1.5%. The extended warranty provided to owners of pre-12/14/99 bikes " This from the moderator of a popular big twin web site. FWIW Frank | ||
| Nevco1 |
Frank...What site would that be and can you advise of other HD sites that you like? I have yet to locate a Harley site of any consequence. Thanks for your assistance. | ||
| Dynarider |
http://www.lieffcabraser.com/motorcycles.htm The Customer Service Department at Harley-Davidson's Milwaukee Headquarters informed me that engines built prior to December 14, 1999 have a rear cam bearing failure rate of 1.5%. And from what I have read its far greater than that. Of course HD customer service is going to claim a very low incident rate of failures. BTW the cam bearing issue covers more than just early 99 models, it also goes well into the 2000 model year. 1 other BTW..the failure rate does not take into account the bikes that have the bad bearings but havent had sufficient mileage put on them yet to cause failure. From what I have seen so far it occurs much more often on bikes with over 15,000 miles on them. Is it safe to assume that of the 500,000 or so bikes HD sold during those 2 years that quite a few are owned by weekend warriors who havent accumulated enough mileage to hit the breaking point yet? | ||
| Daves |
50,000 miles(Dave miles!) on the 99 FLHT and still the same bearings. I must have got good ones? Ride to the edge! Dave Iowa HD/Buell (Buell Cycle Center) | ||
| Dynarider |
Yep. Nobody is saying all the cam bearings are bad, but there were a lot produced that are bad..or rather can become a problem very quickly. When these bearings go out its typically a very fast process, you dont get much warning at all. | ||
| Davefl |
T.A.O.A.T. I bet they still make the cam bearings. | ||
| Dynarider |
LOL...But would you want to buy them? | ||
| Davefl |
All I want is a set of rearsets. Oh wait and a clutch cable for the M2 . Oh yea and break pads for the S3. Dogit, and a tail light bulb for the S3. I am going to stop now before I make myself sick. | ||
| Lowlife |
What?! There are parts for 2002 bikes that have already been discontinued. I don't care if they are race parts or not, thats no good! (Sorry if I'm chiming-in late). The HD mothership is really starting to chap my ass here. Weak availability for tube frame parts and peel and stick accessories for the XB models??? Boo Hiss! | ||
| Ftd |
Nevco1 Try: groups.yahoo.com/group/harleydavidsonperformance/ groups.yahoo.com/group/HD-TC88 communities.msn.com/HarleyTechTalk/_whatsnew.msnw groups.yahoo.com/group/HarleyTrackandShop/ clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/harleytwincamownersunited www.nightrider.com/ Frank | ||
| Nevco1 |
Frank...Thanks!!! | ||
| Nevco1 |
Dyna...No sweat with my Twin Cam Wide Glide. Only have 3,400 miles on it and it will be sold long before it ever reaches the 17,000 to 20,000 mileage range where the failures in post-2000 models are reportedly happening. | ||
| Bartimus |
I'm glad my wide glide is an '85. With over 75,000 miles, the only failure I've had is the tranny. that was many years ago when I was younger though, I treat my bikes much better now. Really ! | ||
| Newfie_buell |
Why live in fear of something breaking?? IF, I had that fear I would have never even thought about a trip that took me 10000km in 14 days last summer to meet the man that dreamed up these machines. I actually had a major incident while riding through Michigan where there was an Isolator Failure and with the help of OZZ666, his garage, his tools and an islolator kit he had on the shelf we fixed that S1 in about 3.5-4hrs. I can see race parts being discontinued but I really can not see normal original parts being discontinued. If my race ignition packs it in then there are plenty of aftermarket ignition systems out there I would purchase. | ||
| Dynarider |
If my race ignition packs it in then there are plenty of aftermarket ignition systems out there I would purchase. Not so easy with the FI bikes, there are no replacement systems out there. | ||
| Udholmdk |
Hi josh_ the rear sets are made by A.S.B. But tat ( now Al ) has to order about 12-15 sets according to the machine set up. Contact Al at A.S.B. he knows what your after. good luck jan udholm from Denmark | ||
| Csg_inc |
Boy that range of 15,000 was right on in my case no warning at all on my 00 FLSTS it blew up at 15,352 miles half way between tucson and phoenix on a sunday in june at over 100F in the shade. Now it is a 95 inch motor with SE 203 cams and race module. Pulls like a freight train DAVE | ||
| Mikej |
The net result: "I'm not sure if I'm allowed to post the link here or not. If you can't find it let me know." Sorry for the previous rant. Crawling back under my rock now with my two (Buells). Probably end up being buried with them, hard suckers to sell. By the way, did anyone read a recent Enthusiast magazine editorial where the former National BRAG person is saying we all have to get along, and then she goes and puts "Buell" inside "()". Uh, gee thanks. | ||
| Bomber |
the discontinuation of parts sucks, no doubt, but HD isn't alone in this particular transgression . . . the days of Honda stocking old parts is over as well (they used to be the best at that) . . . . all the manufacturers are struggling with the customer service vs profitability dichtomy these days . . . . . its sad, but it's true . . .it also allows folks like American Sport Bike to be in business (so long as they pick their product offerings wisely) . . . when I think of the fact that you can build a brand new 1966 Mustang from aftermarket parts, I'm thinkin that resourceful (read stubborn)people will be able to keep their tubers alive for quite some time . .. . . Davefl . . .. if the factory can't get you a clutch cable, Barnett can (got one from them through Daves late last year) I'm not saying this is a happy situation, just common | ||
| Mikej |
Yep, just buy a brand new bike every other year and trade in your old one for whatever they'll give you for it. Full warranty, no parts worries, something to consider. I believe that brings the cost of ownership to somewhere around $250/month + insurance and consumables like gas, oil, tires. (Let's see, $3000 trade in on one, $2500 trade in on the other, $9000 cost for the new one, $10000 out the door price, - $5500 trade in, - an additional $500 trade in because they didn't like the numbers, leaves $5000 to finance. Still too much. Guess I'll just buy a tensioner and gaskets and such instead.) |
