| Author | Message | ||
     Frito |
I bought my '08 XT from a HD dealer, no Buell affiliation. I was told by the dealer the bikes warranty expires 10-09-09. That would be 2 years from the build date. I call customer service and they parroted the dealers words, but I'm wondering why I'm not getting a full warranty. Sure the bike had 700 miles, but I've bought cars before that had demo miles and a full warranty. The bike has never been titled, I will be the first owner. The MSO states transfer of the bike from Buell to the dealer 9-09. I don't see how this could be. Surely Buell didn't issue a warranty to their self? What am I missing other than a warranty??? | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
Two years from the date of initial sale. Not build. When was it first registered? Are you the first registered owner? | ||
| Froggy |
The warranty starts the day the warranty paperwork is signed. | ||
| Murraebueller |
Ping me with the VIN at sfhdservice@ridenow.com and I'll check and see what HD net says.If you have a fax number I can fax you the page. The standard warranty is two years and unlimited mileage from the date of purchase unless there is some other circumstance preventing it, like it actually being as used vehicle that was registered to someone else. | ||
| Hughlysses |
Occasionally the warranty is longer than 2 years. I bought my bike in December 2006 and my warranty lasted until April 2009. Evidently they had some deal to encourage people to buy bikes during the winter; not sure if that was a one-time thing or not. First time I learned about it was when I took my bike in for warranty service (rear rocker cover) in ~October 2008 and the service guy ran the VIN. Odd that the salesman didn't know about it when I bought the bike; that would have been a pretty good selling point. | ||
| Thegibbon |
Mine was a demo and I was told that I'd get the full 2-year warranty. 18 months later I find out that the warranty started once they put it into demo service, not when I bought it. The dealership was no help, but I called HD and they sorted it out and gave me the full 2 years. | ||
| Dentguy |
"Occasionally the warranty is longer than 2 years. I bought my bike in December 2006 and my warranty lasted until April 2009. Evidently they had some deal to encourage people to buy bikes during the winter; not sure if that was a one-time thing or not. First time I learned about it was when I took my bike in for warranty service (rear rocker cover) in ~October 2008 and the service guy ran the VIN. Odd that the salesman didn't know about it when I bought the bike; that would have been a pretty good selling point." If I remember correctly, that was a special at the time to help promote sales over the winter months. I think the idea was to extend the warrant so that it would be the same as if you waited to purchase in the spring, like many do. Funny (or sad) that the salesman didn't know about it. | ||
| Frito |
What ya'll are saying is what I've been thinking. MB you got mail. A recap of facts. The bike was a demo. It has never been titled. I have the Certificate of Origin in hand. The flip side states this is a new vehicle that has never been titled in this or any other state. I am penned in as the owner. According to the CO the bike was transferred from Buell to the dealer on 9-1-09. I bought the bike on 9-17-09. Buell customer service tells me the warranty expires on 10-9-09. The bike has a 10-07 build date. When I was bidding on the bike the dealer told me by phone it had a couple of months warranty, when I picked it up I was told the 10-9-09 date by them. (so much for honest salesmen) I will be the first registered owner. Thanks for the thoughts. | ||
| Frito |
Thegibbon Your story sounds encouraging. If I can get warranty that's great, it not, Oh well..... (Message edited by frito on October 03, 2009) | ||
| Murraebueller |
Did you get the info and the two emails? | ||
| Court |
Most those dates are meaningless in terms of the warranty period. If you bought the bike from a "non-Buell" dealer it was NOT new. Something sounds unusual. It should be an easy fix. Any problems, be sure to call Buell Customer Service. They have all the information and should be able to sort it out quickly. | ||
| Frito |
murraebueller Got the emails, the wife will have to collect the fax Monday morning. Thanks a lot. | ||
| Frito |
Court sez If you bought the bike from a "non-Buell" dealer it was NOT new. Quoted from the document I have in hand Certificate of Origin for a Vehicle Buell 9-1-09 VIN 2008 Buell MC "I, the undersigned authorized representative of the firm or corporation named below, hereby certify that the new vehicle described above is the property of the said company, firm, or corporation and is transferred on the above date and under the invoice number indicated to the following distributor or dealer." Insert name & address of the selling dealer. "It is further certified that this was the first transfer of such new vehicle in ordinary trade and commerce." Buell Motorcycle Company East Troy, WI Agents signature On the back in the box marked Distribution Dealer Assignment #1 is my info Above my name and the dealer reps sign off is this blurb. "The undersigned seller certifies to the best of his knowledge, information, belief, and under penalty of law that the vehicle is new and has not been registered in this or any state at the time of delivery and the vehicle is not subject to any security interest other than those disclosed herein and warrant title to the vehicle." I agree this is an odd deal. I was told it was a demo bike, used, and only had limited warranty time remaining. But....every bit of documentation I have is the same as every other new rig I have ever bought. Namely a certificate of origin (that repeatedly states the vehicle is new) from the manufacturer listing me as the first registered owner and a bill of sale from the dealer. I called HD/Buell customer service last week and the nice lady there took my vin and said the warranty was nearly gone. I'm thinking I'll call back and ask to speak to a warranty specialist. Something here just ain't right. Warranty or no I'm quite happy with the bike and the deal I got. I turn my own wrenches and really don't like taking my vehicles to the dealers unless it is a warranty issue. I normally ride ~10K miles per year and the XT will probably get over 50% of those. I don't buy into the overpriced extended warranties. It's a gamble that I'm willing to take for the prices offered. But...........if this bike is due the standard 24 month warranty, I hate to leave it on the table. (Message edited by frito on October 04, 2009) | ||
| Frito |
Update. After a few calls to CS the mothership admits that I *technically* have a new bike, but they will not warranty it. They told me that because it was a Company Owned Vehicle, I never should have even had the few days of warranty I was told I had. I asked what was the difference between the bike in a crate that sat around for 2 years and mine, other than a few miles. "Well it's the same thing only different" Because it was entered into their system, even though it was never titled or went retail, the warranty is voided. This leaves me more confused than ever. It belonged to the MoCo it's entire life, they consider it new, but no warranty. I used to think HD/Buell was pretty stand up, but the logic of this eludes me. CS did tell me that I may have legal recourse against the dealer for improper disclosure since they did sell me a *new* bike without a warranty. WTF???? They also said they were going to do reviews of the process to prevent this from happening again. I'm SOL, but dude said to be sure and call him if I had any trouble with the bike since HD is a stand up company and might help out????????? | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
This is confusing. How did a year old bike come to be found in a non-Buell dealership to be sold as new? Starting to sound more and more like the dealership is trying pull one over on you. | ||
| Cycletlh |
I would not waste any more time worrying about the warranty. Problems with these bikes are few. The items that my dealer (now out of business) fixed under warranty they messed up. It would have been easier and if I count my time cheaper to mail order the parts and fix myself. I also do not think you are SOL. You knew up front the warranty was limited. If you have a major failure I think you will find that you will get some support from the factory. Ride it with a big smile like the rest of us.  | ||
| Court |
Yikes. This is not confusing as all. If the bike was ever logged as a C.O.V. (Company Owned Vehicle) there is, nor was there ever, no warranty. Warranties are contracts on motorcycles produced for sale to the public. C.O.V.s are bikes produced for internal use. Some are test bikes, some go to DM's and company execs, some are photo bikes, some are pace bikes and some are demo bikes. Some of you recall the 1998 Race of Champions bikes. Each year Harley-Davidson auctions off the left over C.O.V.s. The dealers who bid on these are well aware that there is no warranty. Technically there CAN'T be a warranty. If . . . (and I have no knowledge about the particulars of this situation) this bike was sold to you by a dealer AND (again, I have no way of knowing) there were any representations made that the bike was "new" and came with a warranty . . you have what would appear to be a sound claim against the dealer. Harley-Davidson does not sell bikes to consumers, ergo you have no basis for a claim against them. Your first step is going to be to look at your paperwork. See if there is ANY (there's generally a checkbox) reference to "new". | ||
| Frito |
You mean like this? "The undersigned seller certifies to the best of his knowledge, information, belief, and under penalty of law that the vehicle is new" (on a notarized document) It's just muddy waters. Calling it a COV doesn't change a thing, other than to the MoCo. My bike has the same supporting documentation as any other bike ever sold by the MoCo. What/how they choose to document the bike internally don't mean diddly at the DMV. To the DMV a MSOed vehicle is new. Like I told the CS tech, if they're gonna sell 'em as used they should title the vehicles and get the MSO out of the picture. Or.....warrant them like every other bike. I don't anticipate any problems or I wouldn't have bought the bike, but if the warranty was obtainable that'd been even better. All this will just make my sales questionnaire a little more painful for 4 River HD, they weren't the best on the front end, and since HD says they dropped the ball, they're not looking good on the back end either. Plus the wife is hacked at them for giving her the wrong size shirt.  | ||
| Svh |
Plus the wife is hacked at them for giving her the wrong size shirt. and that could be the worst screwup in the deal....  | ||
| Buewulf |
Your dealer would have had to represent the bike as a Company Owned Vehicle. Selling it either as a used bike with a partial warranty or a demo bike (which is essentially new from a titling/warranty standpoint) would be misrepresentation in all states that I am familiar with. (though I am not familiar with Arkansas.) However, 1)Court is right. You have no case against HD Buell. 2) The dealership doesn't have any obligation to provide you with a "new bike" warranty since they explicitly told you there wasn't one at the time of purchase. You may have grounds to annul the sale if the bike was misrepresented, which could go either way for you. (They presumably referred to it as a demo which has an implied definition as being new, but they told you that there was no full warranty implying that the bike wasn't new. Plus you completed the sale with this knowledge.) But if you got a great deal, I'd say fark it and just enjoy the bike. (Message edited by Buewulf on October 13, 2009) | ||
| Frito |
if you got a great deal You're right, the $6700 price makes it all good. I'd say fark it and just enjoy the bike. That's where I'm at. I've wasted enough telephone time. :-) I think maybe I'll put tags on it tomorrow. I've put more miles on it in the last couple of weeks than the previouos owner did in it's 2 years of questionable existence. Sooner or later that cardboard tag is gonna attract some unwanted attention. (Message edited by frito on October 13, 2009) (Message edited by frito on October 13, 2009) | ||
| Court |
>>>Calling it a COV doesn't change a thing, other than to the MoCo. That's inaccurate. But it sounds like you are on top of things. Just think if you got the one that they drained the oil out of an pinned the throttle for 4 hours on . . . I'm saying that tongue in cheek because I have a GREAT story of just such a bike being sold in Arizona. I'd wager you'll have nothing but fun with the bike and it was likely a photo bike that did nothing but sit and look pretty. | ||
| Court |
The t-shirt deal is an easy fix too . . . . send me a picture of the shirt and the size you need and I'll see if I have one. | ||
| Frito |
Court sez... send me a picture of the shirt and the size you need and I'll see if I have one. Thanks for the offer, but SWMBO has already taken the dealer to task on that matter. They told her (after a stern lecture), they would be glad to exchange the shirt, just drop it in the mail. People have said I'm a pain to deal with and to an extent that's true. But.....if treated fairly and most importantly, with honesty I make a loyal and very easy to please customer. On this deal, warranty set aside, the dealer set the tone. I was told one thing on the phone about the condition of the bike and found that to be untrue after I drove 250 miles to get the bike, I was dumped on the sales floor for 30+ minutes till I found someone to remind my salesman we were waiting (he was over talking up another couple), my registration paperwork has a affidavit attached since they didn't bother to ask how I wanted to title the vehicle (they just typed in what they thought it should be), the accountant didn't hide her displeasure at having to correct the documentation and prepare the afore mentioned affidavit, any questions I asked the salesman at delivery (this is my first FI/non tuber Buell) were answered with "uh, I don't know", and there's the t-shirt snafu. I don't think I'll hold my breath while I'm waiting to see if the salesman finds anything in the "box of stuff" he said came with the group of Buell's. Even though he promised he'd let me know if there was a manual or anything else that went with the bike. But.........They sent me a calendar with my picture on the cover (yawn) and didn't hesitate to mention there would be a survey forthcoming and they wanted high marks. Providing good CS would be much more effective than begging to get high marks. | ||
| Froggy |
Court, what happens to the bikes that are on the demo truck? Do they get sold off like this? Hell I wouldn't mind picking up a thrashed demo truck bike for cheap | ||
| Court |
>>>>>Court, what happens to the bikes that are on the demo truck? Do they get sold off like this? Hell I wouldn't mind picking up a thrashed demo truck bike for cheap Yes. All C.O.V.'s that are rotated out every year, which are most with the exception of long term test stuff and a few corporate bikes (I refused to give up my famous black S3-T) are auctioned to dealers. I have TWO . . . count'em TWO hilarious stories about these . . . remind me to tell you sometime. |
