| Author |
Message |
    
Froggy
| | Posted on Friday, August 08, 2008 - 08:12 pm: | 
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M_singer, Just like the Firebolt headlights, the bearings issue will be resolved. Even if they came up with a fix today it will take a little time for it to get to the masses. Unfortunately it’s due to corporate red tape, contracts, and supply issues and testing and other behind the scenes factors. The fix should be out soon. Hopefully whatever fix they come out with, it will be something that can be swapped at a tire change. |
M_singer
| | Posted on Friday, August 08, 2008 - 08:15 pm: |
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>>>>>>To take anything from a message board and extrapolate that a large percentage of the population will experience the same thing is pure fallacy. Message board posters are a small percentage of the whole.
Even scientific studies are generally the result of a small sample of the whole. Are you going to doubt nexus of cancer and smoking simply because not all smokers and non smokers were studied?
Other message boards for other bikes are a similarly small percentage of the whole. You just don't see people having repeat wheel bearing failures to this extent on other bikes. |
M_singer
| | Posted on Friday, August 08, 2008 - 08:20 pm: |
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Froggy I do believe that BMC is working on this. From what I have seen BMC is better about fixing problems with their bikes then most other motorcycle manufacturers. |
Road_kill
| | Posted on Friday, August 08, 2008 - 10:50 pm: |
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I've owned my '08 Uly only 6 months (8000 miles) and have had many of the "typical" problems. It really helps to have a supportive dealer to help me through the frustrating "teething" pains. I believe BMC will continue to sort out and fix issues to increase reliability. From what I understand, the trend over the past few years is very positive. I have resisted the VERY strong urge to fix the bike myself: to use REAL inserts for the oil drain plug; upgrade wheel bearings, etc.. Instead I use the warranty. If not, the BMC engineers will not get the field feedback they need to make proper upgrades/fixes. Don't get me wrong, input and opinions on websites are ok, but physical data from returned parts via warranty claims is key.
To be clear, I have no problem getting on my Uly and driving long distances to the middle of nowhere. That's what I bought it for. I once rode my '85 HD super glide from Phoenix to Fairbanks in a month. Before I left some folks told me the same thing; that bike will never make it - too unreliable. BULL! A bit of a plan, some prep, and some gas. Let's go! I have high confidence in the Uly design. If the bike breaks, it will be fixed! It is way too fun to ride.
Sorry for the long speech,
Road Kill |
Uly1080
| | Posted on Saturday, August 09, 2008 - 08:06 am: |
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Just throwing this out there: 710 miles since Thursday, mostly in remote areas, and my Uly runs better today than it ever has. Over the past year, I've both loved and cursed the bike, and I've tweaked and improved things along the way, but I got off the bike yesterday when I got home more impressed than the day I bought it. Of course I like other bikes as well, and am not yet claiming to be a life long Bueller, but if it's about the RIDE (and to me it is) this bike is hard to beat. |
Red_chili
| | Posted on Monday, August 11, 2008 - 10:57 am: |
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Even scientific studies are generally the result of a small sample of the whole. Are you going to doubt nexus of cancer and smoking simply because not all smokers and non smokers were studied?
You committed a fatal error in your comparison. Scientific studies are indeed conducted on a small sample, but it is a statistically random representative sample and errors in selecting the sample have thrown out many a study.
A bulletin board is not random at all; it is a self-selected sample. Any study that used this method would not get funded, not get published, and would not survive the most basic peer review. |
Neurorider
| | Posted on Monday, August 11, 2008 - 11:11 am: |
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Red_chili, you are right on the money. We are not a random sample of the Buell owner population by any stretch of the imagination. m-singer, I can't decide: are you trying to get us to agree with you so you feel better about trading or selling your Buell, or just trying to turn Buell lovers into frustrated owners? Just ride the blasted thing or sell it already. I stayed off the forum a few days and this thread is still at the top? I'm gonna write an adventure-ride story! 
doc |
Red_chili
| | Posted on Monday, August 11, 2008 - 11:29 am: |
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I repack wheel bearings with every tire change. Or simply replace them. And torque the rear axle, not ham fist it.
Oh yeah, I do that on the Uly too...
Oh yeah, I don't fill the oil to the very top of the dipstick range. Halfway will do it.
Failures to date:
-fan (made noise but still worked, warranty)
-something in the BAS wiring causes the BAS to trip (my BAS was replaced under warranty, but the problem recurred within three days, so my thinking is it must be the wiring).
-Headlight ground at the steering head. I fixed it with a new crimped terminal. Easier than going to the dealer.
-
-
Huh. Guess that's it. Just rode it for four days with the wife on her Beemer and the Uly was flawless. The Beemer required some attention.
I especially like the ability to tune the ECM.
I suppose I should pull the fuel pump and do some shrink tube as prevention.
All my bikes should be as maintenance free. I should live so long.
(Message edited by Red_Chili on August 11, 2008) |
Electraglider_1997
| | Posted on Monday, August 11, 2008 - 11:30 am: |
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I've got near 16,000 miles on my 06 ULY. Just got back from the Sturgis rally and had zero problems. Never needed to add a drop of oil in the 1300 miles of this trip. Averaged around 46 mpg. Fully loaded with hard bags and top case and big ass windshield. I maintain my own bike, little work that there is. I grease the bearings. I listen up here to potential problems that others have experienced and check my bike. My bike has never fallen over because of a side stand. BAS was moved but never was a problem before or since. Original belt. Original front tire was a lemon but I finally changed that. It's been a very reliable bike for me. I expect it will continue to be just as reliable and if little things pop up now and then, then so what. I'll fix it and save my weeping for something important. |
Red_chili
| | Posted on Monday, August 11, 2008 - 11:45 am: |
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One cool thing about a bulletin board's non-representative sample does occur to me though: Because it has the effect of *amplifying* the failure rate of a particular component, you get to hear about any possible failures BEFORE they happen - and inspect and take preemptive action.
"A wise man learns from the mistakes of others..." Or in this case, the misfortunes of others.} |
Etennuly
| | Posted on Monday, August 11, 2008 - 11:50 am: |
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EG,
You got a "Big Ass Windshield"? Let's see a picture.
If it were as BIG as mine you wouldn't use it in the summer time because it blocks too much air and it gets real hot behind it. |
Froggy
| | Posted on Monday, August 11, 2008 - 12:08 pm: |
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Crusty
| | Posted on Monday, August 11, 2008 - 12:11 pm: |
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Are you saying that yours is bigger than his? |
Neurorider
| | Posted on Monday, August 11, 2008 - 12:15 pm: |
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Froggy, that is...umm..HUGE. How does the bike handle with that much windshield?
doc |
Red_chili
| | Posted on Monday, August 11, 2008 - 01:14 pm: |
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Good gosh. |
Froggy
| | Posted on Monday, August 11, 2008 - 01:28 pm: |
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That's Etennuly's Big ass windshield, should of mentioned that in the last post. |
Cityxslicker
| | Posted on Monday, August 11, 2008 - 01:34 pm: |
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that is one notch below a car! Its a naked bike! on the other hand... think of all the mud it will deflect, saving me hours of clothes washing. |
M2nc
| | Posted on Monday, August 11, 2008 - 02:12 pm: |
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If you look at my profile I am keeping a log of all repairs I have had with the bike since new. Presently the bike has 33K, its averaging 49mpg and runs great. The bike still has the original battery, rear wheel bearings and belt. |
Etennuly
| | Posted on Monday, August 11, 2008 - 02:33 pm: |
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Thanks for puttin' that up Froggy. 
Hey EG......Where is yours?
Oh yeah, back on topic a bit. If my business were as good as it was a year or two ago, I would be on a cross, and or around country trip on this 31,000 mile '06 of mine! |
Electraglider_1997
| | Posted on Monday, August 11, 2008 - 10:10 pm: |
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Not as big as yours but I know how to use it. Photo taken at Dalton Lake campground in the Black Hill the other day.
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Electraglider_1997
| | Posted on Monday, August 11, 2008 - 10:19 pm: |
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Here are more photos of my setup.
http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/142 838/213105.html |
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