| Author | Message | ||
     Rr_eater |
I am only starting this thread, as Duc has no access to a computer now for a few days, and needs some sort of ventilation!!! Check this out!! Leaves Virginia Beach headed for homcoming, on what is arguably the highest mileage/shortest time Uly I know of. Almost to HC, and the kickstand pivot bolt breaks. OK, this has appened to a few of us, and even myself. Drives to next dealership, a ways away, using buildings and gas pumps as kick stands, no real biggie, just a bummer. Get to HC, has a great time, meets Eric who TOTALLY digs his paint job and riding perseverance. Enjoys the remainder of his stay, and heads out for Philly. Half way there, notices, no more cooling fan, again, weird, but not unheard of. Drives on as it is cool and all highway driving. Gets to philly. In Philly, attampting to head out for VB, the belt breaks!!!!!!!!! 25,180 some odd miles, and the BELT BREAKS!!! Come on now. Buell waranties the belt, after using his BRAG deal for the tow to the dealership. OK, takes a bit to get a belt, from another dealer an hour away, so be it. Finishes visit in philly (again), and prepares to head out for VB again. 20 MILES form the dealership, the bike, on the highway, JUST DIES!!! No nothing. Headlight works, turn signals work, horn works. No oil light, engine light, and nothing when you hit the start button. And on top of it all, NO BRAG TOW!! Only once a year is allowed!! Hmmmmmmm I have to feel for the guy, as he thought he had finally put the Buell Bug behind him. I was with him during the trials and tribulations of his 2000 M2, and the pain and breakdowns we went through with it. 60,000 some odd miles before it was stolen. Failed base gaskets multiple times, millions of onces of oil leaks, rocker box issues, trans problems, brakes, batteries, ignition, seems just about everything at least once!! tons of things twice!! I am sure when he gets ahold of a keyboard, he will fill in where and what I have left out, but being on the opposite coast from him and his issues is almost unbearable to me!! I cannot help a friend in need, and that frustrates me the most, because like Duc, I too LOVE the mentality and character of Buell motorcycles, yet I too am moved by the fact that these things have left my friend stranded away from home and dependable help multiple times! So who out there is performing the VOODOO dances and curses that are causing all of those out there left stranded?? I cant blame him for making comments about the future of his still new Buell and the foreseable appropriation of yet another piece of japanese cookie cutter crap. Could I blame him, NO, but I too love these dam bikes, and I want a second, specifically a Uly, for my own stable, but am left with these uneasing questions. Is it just a battery, a relay, a fuse (no checked those), something silly? A stator maybe? Who knows. Please think healthy, helpful thoughts in Duc's plight with yet another PITA on what was supposed to be an enjoyable adventure!! Bruce | ||
| Chadhargis |
I've had other bikes that have had issues reported by various riders, but none of them reported things like "It quit" or "the sidestand fell off". I love my Ulysses, but I already take a fair amount of ribbing from my sportbike riding friends about riding a "Harley". If the damn thing quits on me, parts fall off, or the belt breaks without warning then I can tell you I won't own it long. I've owned several bikes, and not even my old 1974 BMW /6 with 70,000+ miles on it ever left me stranded. My 12 year old Ducati M900 is still going strong. My FJR ran 23,000 flawless miles without so much as a trip to the dealer. My BMW GS was my only lemon, but it never left me stranded, just carboned up and pinged really bad. Other bikes like my KLR, ZR-7, and BMW RT were all perfect. Never one issue out of them. Everytime I read a post like this, I get a little scared. Seems like a lot of folks are having some sort of issue with their Buell. I met a guy this past weekend that had just rebuilt his engine and it only had 50,000 miles on it. YIKES! That should have been barely broken in. I've got a friend who races a stock Ducati Supersport 750. It's over a decade old, and he's run three race seasons on the motor without a rebuild. He won the amateur class and moved up to expert. He's been riding expert the last two years. No issues with the bike quitting. Man, I'm getting worried. | ||
| Stevenknapp |
Sounds like a fuse blew killing the motor and whatnot. Very different from the other problems. Did he check the fuses? Chad, I got a call from Buell about my post in the other thread. They were more concerned about the problem than I expected. I remain impressed. Also, read any internet board, you'll find bikes with big problems. Don't forget how you got rid of the RT! :-D | ||
| Duck |
Finally made it home(my mother's home that is) I'm still trying to get home from the Buell Homecoming. Maybe/hopefully tomorrow. The dealership sent a truck out and I'm sure they are going to charge me $100 bucks for tow. That bothers me a bit as my dealer in VA (Southside HD/Buell) picked me up tons of of times when I had the M2 and never charged me a dime. Oh well...........I understand it's a business. Thing that pisses me off is the very day before when my belt broke and this dealership came to get me I was thinking of upgrading my BRAG roadside assistance. Told myself I'd do it when I got home. That's gonna cost me. Thanks to RR Eater for letting me vent! It's been a couple of really trying days especially considering my history with my M2. I can't help, but think..........Am I going through all of that again?!?! I'm trying to be patient and objective, but is tough. The worst part is that nagging feeling when you you get out there on the road.......is something going happen? I went through that with the M2 and it takes the joy right out of riding. Okay..........onto the bike. 1- I am actually just outside of Pittsburgh 2- The dealership that helped me is Cerini Buell in Belle Vernon, PA. I was on my way home(Yorktown,VA) both days when I have encountered my problems. Yesterday the belt went and today the bike just died as described above. (yes, I checked all fuses) Cerini has been great. One of their employees brought his POV out to get me because the dealership truck was out on a run. Very cool. The owner offered to buy me lunch and everybody was great. Can't say enough good things about them. 3. Today's problem. I was cruising along and the bike just died. Coasted to a stop and tried to start her and got nothing. Headlight and signals are working as well as the hig beam and turn signal idiot lights. None of the other idiot lights are working. Turn the key on and off no change. No fuel pump whirring noise, no oil light or check engine light. Horn works. Checked all fuses and they all look good. That's it. Bike is at the dealer and waiting until tomorrow morning. To add insult to injury.......:>  ........I didn't think to grab the key fro the bags so here I am with all my stuff and I can't get to it! What a dope....:> Add the two days of missed pay and the aforementioned pending towing charge and you can imagine what kind of mood I am in. Thanks | ||
| Davo |
Duck, I am sorry to hear about your problems on the road. I find myself thinking about replacing my Buell but there is nothing like it to replace it. I have 5K on my Uly and the fan is starting to sound kind of sick. I have had several minor problems but I have always been able to limp home. It reminds me of the space shuttle, every time it makes it home I go through it before taking off again. I am going to give it a couple more strikes before going off shore. The bike is too cool to give up without a struggle. | ||
| Bmwr80guy |
Hang in there Duck, got a couple cold ones waiting when you get home.  You'd be shocked to see me actually washing the KLR (not enough rain this week so I had to...) after our trip to the mountains a couple weeks ago. | ||
| Chadhargis |
Steve, My RT was great (other than the lean surge), but pitching it down the Cherohala Skyway wasn't the best way to get a new bike I assure you.  My Ulysses has been nearly perfect. A few quirks that I've worked out myself, but the motor has run strong and I don't baby it. Riding with sportbike hooligans most of the time, I keep 'er wound up pretty tight. Of course, I only have about 4000 miles on it. | ||
| Duck |
Bmwr80! Didn't know you lurked here. Just got a call from the dealer and they are saying blown ignition fuse!!!! I pulled every damn fuse out coudn't see a darn thing wrong with any of them. I'm wondering if the service writer got it wrong from the mech. I'll be there shortly and will know for sure. If it was the fuse then what caused it to go is my question. Ugh Hopefully I can make it home to VA tonight. I need to get the hell out of this Bermuda triangle. | ||
| Ikeman |
That explains whose Uly I saw this afternoon. I bought mine at Cerini's and stopped in today to talk to the service manager (Dave). They are a good group as far as I can tell. I'd invite you over since I only live about 15 minutes away but I'm working 2nd shift all week. I had a similar problem with mine (covered in other posts) but it was water related - rain getting into the connector for the cam position sensor. If you're still in the neighborhood tomorrow maybe we can touch base. Don't know where Tim is (Snub13) but he's also a Cerini customer and maybe he'll chime in. | ||
| Davo |
Duck, My Uly was toasting ignition fuses and I went through the harness and I never found the short but it stopped smoking fuses. I checked the wires and re taped the harness in worn areas. I suspect the problem was in the steering neck or right at the fuel pump connector. | ||
| Chainsaw |
My XB9R was blowing ignition fuses and it turned out to be caused by the SPEEDO SENSOR of all things! | ||
| Wasions |
It's posts like these... ...that make me happy about my last minute switch to the Tiger. Still, I wish you all the best on your trip home. You've certainly got the tenacity to get back alright. And Chad - you need to get out and ride some. The weather's been great! I'll have 5K when I get to work tomorrow. Steve Gear up! | ||
| Rr_eater |
Duc is home, I am sure we will hear more from him shortly on all this!!! Bruce |
