| Author | Message | ||
     Sandmanx1 |
How do i find out about any recalls on my 2001 lightning x1. I bought my bike in another state and the dealers around here keep telling me to go back to my original dealer they are to busy to deal with me.Unless im buying somthing new from them. But they would admit to that. | ||
| Court |
You may: or Contact Buell Customer Service w/V.I.N. (414) 343-8400 (BCS is gathering up a GREAT reputation) Court | ||
| Johnc |
Court, Buell customer Service may be gathering a great reputation but it's hard to believe that a major player in consumer products, such as Buell, doesn't have a toll free customer assistance number! | ||
| Blake |
John: Let me know if you can find a toll free customer assistance number for ANY other competitive sport bike manufacturer. Hard to believe ain't it?  | ||
| Johnc |
Blake, yeah it is hard to believe. I work in a GM dealership and when we need a part to get a cutomers vehicle going, GM will fly it in to us from anywhere in North America at a very reasonable cost, or at their own expense if the vehicle is covered by warranty. This level of urgency to get the customer on the road just doesn't exist in the motorcycle industry it seems.This is not only the case with Buell, I have had the same experience with my previous Honda, Suzuki and Yamaha bikes.  | ||
| Blake |
John: I couldn't even find CS telephone numbers for Honda or Yamaha. I guess recreational vehicles by definition are in a different class of customer support compared to automobiles. My Buell dealer, Shreveport HD/BUELL, has always been able to get parts overnight if needed. A good dealer makes ALL the difference. | ||
| Blake |
It might be reasonable to have CS on a toll line. With a toll free CS number, companies can get flooded with all kinds of frivolous calls. The toll line helps to filter those. The alternative for some businesses is to implement one of those exasperating automated answering systems. Given the choice, I'd rather pay the meager toll. | ||
| Court |
John: The "Harley Way" (and it makes a ton of sense) is to try to attempt to route all communications and "enable" all fixes through the dealer network. No one ever dreamt the Harley-Davidson dealer network would do such a poor job of supporting Buells. The good news is that several forward thinking dealers have risen above the morass such as Topeka (who rose in 1988) and Modesto. Let me know if you can't make contact and I shall connect you promptly. There have been MAJOR changes in the way customer service is handled at Buell and it's coming more into line with Erik's vision. Trust me, if Erik was in control of THIS aspect of the business the innovation apparent in the XB9R would pale in comparison to the customer service. They can get you a run down of the recall status promptly. Court | ||
| Johnc |
Thanks Court and Blake, I haven't had to use the customer assistance route with Buell. Both times that I have had extremely long waits for parts, the parts have been of the "non essential" variety. But it does make me wonder what would happen if the part required was essential for use of the bike. Regarding recalls, I assume that in the event of a recall, Buell woulld notify the owner by mail if he is the original owner of the bike. All the recalls on my 2000 M2 were done before I purchased the bike and the shock was replaced last fall after I whined about it being ugly and hard to adjust the spring load. | ||
| Blake |
Sounds like you are all set. Do you have the upgraded muffler mounting? And next time the swingarm is off for bearing maintenance/lubrication, have a new set of the beefier isolators installed. | ||
| Johnc |
Blake, my bike does have the new (Y shaped) front muffler hanger. I am trying to convice my dealer to do the upgrade to the new isolators under warranty. Thanks! | ||
| Shot_Gun |
Blake, what is the deal with the isolators? I've been doing alot of reading in here and have herd of S3's with this problem. I have an S2 should I be worried? They don't look bad.(I have it all apart now). What should I look for? Chris | ||
| Henrik |
Chris: when the isolators go, the rubber donut tears, so you'd be able to see it. Besides, according to my Buell tech, the new isolators will not fit the S2. Henrik | ||
| Aaron |
Chris: Isolator failures on bikes with removable side plates (S2's, FXR's, FLH's) seem to be relatively rare. I wouldn't get too concerned. | ||
| Shot_Gun |
Ok, Thanks for all the help. My S2 has been pretty solid through 20K, I was just checking. Thanks, Chris | ||
| Blake |
I trust what Henrik and Aaron advise. Haven't heard of any S2 isolator failures that I can remember. My '97 M2 is still running on the original isolators and is doing fine even after two track days. | ||
| Buelliedan |
Even before you see your isolators tearing you will probably feel it. When my S3s went it felt like somebody was hitting the bottom of my foot with a hammer every time I hit a bump!! They were replaced free of charge with the new ones.  | ||
| Buelliedan |
Thats interesting what Henrik said about the new isolators not fitting the S2s? Looking at my S2 it sure seems like they are the same isolators as the old style ones off my S3 and X1. Didn't 96 S2s and S1s have the same isolators? Anybody have parts manuals for these 2 bikes to compare #s?? I know S1s and S3s have the same isolators. | ||
| Court |
You will have no problem with the isolators on an S-2. On the 1997 and later bikes the onset of an isolator concern will be announced far in advance. Most noticable condition will be in a leaned over right turn with decreasing throttle and will, as previously described, feel like a hammering on the sideplate. The first one I "intentionally" rode to failure registered for better than 2,000 logged miles before being replace on a pit stop in Fort Worth, TX one night. I am unaware of any such failures in an S-2. Go ride that baby ! Court | ||
| Aaron |
They were all the same, until BMC came out with the new ones. | ||
| Buelliedan |
Aaron, Thats what I thought. So if needed(unlikely) new isolators would work on S2s. The one reason I could think that it might be a good idea is load capacity. The new isolators and updated Showa shock are good for an extra 60 pounds I believe. | ||
| Anon_R |
Dan:
No, they will not work on S2s. See the excerpt below from the file Aaron posted. The travel limiters built into the isolators will not fit under the side plates of the S2 models. VEHICLES INVOLVED The revised isolator kit (Part No. Z0010.CB) has been developed for replacement of damaged isolators on all 1996-2000 model year Buell motorcycles (except S2 and S2T models). | ||
| Blake |
Hmmmm, I bet the travel limiters could be cut off by a careful and handy kinda guy. Swhat I'd try to do if I had an S2 with isolator problems. But since none exist, itain't an issue isit. | ||
| Shot_Gun |
Thats what I like about you all, direct and to the point! Thanks for all your wisdom! I knew I came to the right place. To Aaron: As soon as the frikin weather cooperates(snow!) I'll be making my tires hairy! Isn't it April? Damn! | ||
| Cmodtopgun |
Court, I think what really bothers me is seeing older, new Buells on the dealer's floor without having any of the recall work done on them. Why would a dealer have a new 99 or 00 Buell, and not have performed the recall work as needed. Sure, supposedly they will do the work when bike sold, but I wouldn't hold my breath. Maybe they would do the shock recall, but I'd bet they wouldn't do the hanger. When I had the SRp replaced with the new shock last April, they should have also done the hanger. They didn't. Now I am going back for the hanger before I have to pay for it. Finally convinced them that the program was extended. Then they tell me that they don't have one in stock, nor have they done any, so no experience with them. At the same time, I see new bikes or even used bikes on the floor with SRP's. I know dealers are dying for things to do in the winter. Why not do the recall work up front? Why do we know more about these things than the dealer? Why do I have to tell the service dept step by step what do to my bike? I'm not picking on Buell, I find pretty much the same thing with almost all motorcycle and auto dealerships. Most mechanics only know how to do R&R work. They can't diagnose things properly, and replace parts until the bike runs right. Meanwhile, the uninformed consumer pays for their ineptness. I just paid for a repair that was caused by poor wrenching. It was only $60. but frankly, shouldn't have happened, but the mechanic who did the work was no longer employed by the dealership, so I ate the cost. This is why basically the dealership only sees the bike for recall work, and even that I'd prefer to do myself, but they won't give me the parts. It's too bad I'm an accomplished wrench myself, I'd almost rather be unaware than to really know what is going on at the dealerships. | ||
| X1glider |
If you bought an older, new Buell off the floor, as a consumer, how would you find out if there are any recalls much less what they are? I wouldn't expect my dealer to tell me about them, much less have the work done before I bought the bike. How about my 3 week old 2001 X1? How can I find out about recalls on it? | ||
| Doncasto |
A good dealer should be able to provide you that information when given the bike's VIN#. In some cases you may have to contact Buell Customer Service (414-343-8400) and ask John or Renee to help you out. | ||
| Court |
Quick answer: Get in touch with Buell Customer Service, number above. These folks have EARNED a reputation for being responsive and helpful. Law says you can't "sell" the bike, doesn't mention "display". I assume some dealers, as a result of being busy or whatever, just wait till the bike is on the verge of being converted to revenue. Doing it yourself: This debate has gone on longer than "contact patch". All explanations seem to point toward liability issues which, to me, makes a LOT of sense. If I found an "old" S-1 now, I'd buy it before I told the vulchers here  . Court | ||
| Johnc |
I read in my local newspaper this morning that Buell is recalling some 2001 and 2002 Buell X1, M2,M2L and S3T models due to "cracked front shock mounts. Transport Canada says that if the mount is not replaced the suspension could drop, leading to loss of control of the motorcycle". I wonder if this recall will also affect those older bikes that were updated to the 2001 shock and front mount, like my 2000 M2. | ||
| Buellgrrrl |
I checked the Transport Canada website and this recall only seems to affect 9 2002 bikes. None the less I'll take a close look at the forward rear shock mount on my 2001 M2L tomorrow. BuellGrrrl |
