Author |
Message |
Dfbutler
| Posted on Tuesday, November 19, 2013 - 01:36 pm: |
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My 99 S3 went up in flames last week. I'd run down the battery the day before working on the headlight and hooked up a trickle charger to bring it back up. Next thing I know, a neighbor is banging on my door yelling your bike is on fire. By the time I get down to the garage area the fire department (fortunately only a couple blocks away) had it out. Total loss. I have some bits and pieces: wide bags with luggage, new fairing bags, Corbin seat back, TPS reset software, FSM available if anyone is interested. |
Dannybuell
| Posted on Tuesday, November 19, 2013 - 02:09 pm: |
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I'm Sorry. |
Firstbuell
| Posted on Tuesday, November 19, 2013 - 03:17 pm: |
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aw, man, that SUX !! |
Paulson
| Posted on Tuesday, November 19, 2013 - 03:51 pm: |
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Sorry to hear it man. Hope the details work out so you can get back up on another Buell. They are out there. |
Buelljunkie
| Posted on Tuesday, November 19, 2013 - 04:16 pm: |
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Don, very sorry to hear about your bike. I'm sure everyone here feels for you. Like Paulson said, I hope you can find your way onto another one! He is right, they are definitely out there. One is waiting for you.. When you feel like it, if you care to send pics of the saddlebags and fairing bags I'm probably interested. Thanks, Dave |
Jim2
| Posted on Tuesday, November 19, 2013 - 04:16 pm: |
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Sad loss. I hope your garage is ok. |
Serialk
| Posted on Tuesday, November 19, 2013 - 04:21 pm: |
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Whoa that sucks. So are you saying that the trickle charger started the fire? or did the battery get way too hot and catch something on fire?? Im always curious when bikes catch on fire due to electrical. was it like a flame ball? gas tank on fire? oil tank fire? tires melted? |
Hybridmomentspass
| Posted on Tuesday, November 19, 2013 - 05:40 pm: |
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need more information - what started the fire? used a trickle charger MANY times with no issues (nor has anyone I've known) |
Buelljunkie
| Posted on Tuesday, November 19, 2013 - 06:01 pm: |
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Don-did the battery get completely discharged? I've heard of certain types of batteries reversing polarity when drained dead flat all the way down to zero. Don't know if that can happen with a bike or car battery, just thinking out loud.. |
Kc_zombie
| Posted on Tuesday, November 19, 2013 - 06:49 pm: |
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R.I.P. faithful S3. |
Kalali
| Posted on Tuesday, November 19, 2013 - 07:10 pm: |
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Good they caught it in time and the fire did not spread. Please share some of the details if/when you're up to it so we can avoid the same mistake. |
Steveford
| Posted on Tuesday, November 19, 2013 - 07:56 pm: |
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Sorry to hear about your bike, what a freak accident. The only cure is to replace it with another one. |
General_ulysses
| Posted on Tuesday, November 19, 2013 - 08:16 pm: |
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Depending on how secure the battery charger gator clamps were, the hot one may have fallen off and sparked on a ground somewhere on the frame. Combined with hydrogen gas (from charging battery) and/or gasoline fumes is a combustion possibility. |
Dfbutler
| Posted on Tuesday, November 26, 2013 - 02:39 pm: |
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I really don't know what happened. I hooked up the charger, set it for 2 amp, watched it for a few minutes to make sure it was running at 2 amps and then went inside to switch clothes from washer to dryer. I was away for maybe 30 minutes and got the knock on the door. Fortunately the fire house is literally only blocks away and they were notified by both a neighbor and the alarm going off. The fire was very intense for a while, melting the exterior keypad for the garage door and blackening the carport area. The fire captain said it would be difficult to determine how it started with what was left. |
Buelljunkie
| Posted on Tuesday, November 26, 2013 - 03:13 pm: |
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The only cure is to replace it with another one. Steveford is absolutely right! Homeowners or renters insurance I hope? BTW, I responded to your PM. |
Trouble_enabler
| Posted on Tuesday, November 26, 2013 - 06:31 pm: |
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Shipping across US wouldn't be more than $500. Lot's of nice parts on this beauty: http://www.ebay.com/itm/190978122969? |
Jolly
| Posted on Tuesday, November 26, 2013 - 08:00 pm: |
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If it helps.... I live out here in MD, about 4 hrs from that bike, if you want it I can help grab it for you and help sort storage until its warm enough to fly and ride..... |
Jhuppdog
| Posted on Wednesday, November 27, 2013 - 12:54 pm: |
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I could also help. I only live 10-20 minutes from that bike. |
Firemanjim
| Posted on Wednesday, November 27, 2013 - 01:30 pm: |
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Nice Banke parts---- unobtainium! |
Rick_a
| Posted on Thursday, November 28, 2013 - 02:35 am: |
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That's a shame. Unbelievable. I've just had a fuel leak and a completely fried battery/voltage regulator. At least your house/garage were spared. |
Buelljunkie
| Posted on Thursday, November 28, 2013 - 11:25 am: |
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Less than an hour left on the ebay auction for that 97 that Trouble posted above! Buy It Now is $2500. Current bid is $1926.01...I bet the reserve is prob $2000. Df - make yourself happy...Just jump in and let Jolly and Jhuppdog help you out! You deserve a nice Christmas gift. Pay yourself first, isn't that what they say?? |
Jolly
| Posted on Thursday, November 28, 2013 - 01:45 pm: |
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I'm still in to help if you need it!! |
Steveford
| Posted on Friday, November 29, 2013 - 09:14 am: |
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Reserve not met. It looks like a really nice bike, too. I shot him an email to see if he'll still have it around tax refund time. An S3 will be my 5th and (maybe) final Buell. I always liked that model. (Message edited by SteveFord on November 29, 2013) |
Buelljunkie
| Posted on Friday, November 29, 2013 - 10:33 am: |
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But...but...you would still need an M2! It does look like a good bike. As Firemanjim said, lots of nice parts. And looks quite clean. Only saw a little bit of oil around the rear rocker, but no biggie easily remedied. Is it just me or does it seem selling prices in general have taken a downturn? Seems like 3500-ish was about average, now you see 2500-3000 frequently. I just hate to see them that low...not because I worry about the value of my bikes(to me the value is not monetary), but because it only makes them that much more appealing to the chopper crowd. |
Steveford
| Posted on Friday, November 29, 2013 - 10:47 am: |
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And a black Lightning Long! The prices of used everything appears to be dropping - guitars, stereo gear, motorcycles, you name it. Our economy is not all that it could be but that's not much of a secret. There's a few things that I would do to that S3 but it would be a fun project. We'll see, I can't do anything until early February. |
Dfbutler
| Posted on Saturday, November 30, 2013 - 01:19 pm: |
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FYI, the bike was taken to Copart, Van Nuys CA (818)782-5315 and is/will be available as a salvage. Parts you may be interested in include: Benke shifter, Supertrapp muffler, New Michelin Pilot Road 3 (need to inspect rear), NHRS ported and polished heads, 1250 kit, ceramic coated headers from American Sport Bike should all be serviceable. |