| Author | Message | ||
     Werewulf |
the story is in the "daytona beach-news journal" i dont know if its online or not. they have experts testifying as to the defective materials involved. | ||
| Dave |
http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/Local/03AreaEAST0311130 3.htm | ||
| Glitch |
Thanks Dave! | ||
| Werewulf |
try it this way. http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/Local/03AreaEAST0311130 3.htm | ||
| Werewulf |
i think the amount of the suit is a mis-print. i heard it was millions. | ||
| Glitch |
This and this in the same month. Don't look good. | ||
| Pdxs3t |
Will work on that one part of x-mas present. Being unemployed these days, lots of free time on our hands. The photo album is right here next to me by the puter (need to give a call with some deatils). Jim | ||
| Oconnor |
I am up in marin, san rafael. Been trying to get to american sportbike night. But it seems I always get busy monday nights... And sit around the rest of the week with my thumb up my ass.... | ||
| Ferris |
...need to give a call with some details... ping me at fastferris@hotmail.com  | ||
| Gusmyster |
Well said Bartimus! I was thinking of driving to a friends b-day get together tonite (about 50 miles), but now I think I'll ride! g u s m y s t e r | ||
| Geofg |
Cool concept from The Great White North  Slick, and way less dorky than the Segway. -Geof | ||
| Ferris |
...the vehicle is also kept longitudinally stable by a smaller wheel that operates like an airplane's landing gear. It touches the ground when the vehicle is stopped or just starting... hmmmm, reminds me of most of the Buell riders i know....... | ||
| Court |
http://recreation.bombardier.com/En/Media/PressReleases.aspx?press=2005 | ||
| Bads1 |
I was just over lurking on www.sporttwin.com and see that they are possibly going to shut the web sight down as of 12/1/03.Does this mean no sponsor on the bad web????? | ||
| One |
We all need to have more information on the unfortunate incident that happened in Florida before we can pass judgments[sic]. But to get things started let's ask a few questions. Where is the information stating there are problems with the LIGHTNING throttle ? The article sited by Glitch didn't come out until Nov. 3. That piece also states the problem can happen when the twistgrip is released (one hand riding). Was there also a problem with the ENGINE CUTOFF SWITCH (kill button sounds too ominous and is in poor taste used here)Or was the problem that the clutch failed to disengage when the rider should have squeezed it like MSF teaches. Then again was the problem lack of skill and/or experience on a high-power cycle ? Was the rider properly licensed ? Attitude? etc. The blame is not so simple to access now. Perhaps it is the lack of judgment on the part of HD and those 'test site' operators for not believing some people cannot be allowed to ride without being trained. Perhaps I'm rambling now but I think some of us have to stand in an unpopular and not politically correct position to defend the sport we love . Hell, I seem to do it all the time in my other sport with the NRA. | ||
| Werewulf |
i tried to find the info on the second buell test ride fatality. it was in the news about 3 years ago. i doubt that buell makes a bike that is anymore dangerous than any other sport bike, but the timing of these crashes comes at a bad time for a company that can barely keep its head above water. | ||
| Az_m2 |
The lawsuit reported above is the result of an accident that happened in 1999. Werewulf, you're probably thinking of the same accident. | ||
| Werewulf |
i am pretty sure there were two different ones. the first occured from the throttle sticking and the second occured when the rider lost control and hit a fixed object. it was a hot topic back then as many thought it would be the end of the company and still might. some thought it had a part to play in the demise of the tube frames. | ||
| Dave |
http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/Local/03AreaEAST0111140 3.htm DAve | ||
| Hootowl |
The throttle cable hang up is caused by the barrel on the jacket coming out of its socket. (due to improper adjustment of the throttle cable tension) This can only subtract about a quarter of an inch of cable, which isn't exactly a whole lot of throttle angle. Certainly not enough to "jump forward" and throw him 50 feet. I think the judge took this into consideration (after said expert testimony) when he decided to bar the jury from hearing about the recall. | ||
| Glitch |
Mixed feeling on this trial. I hope the family can feel justice has been done in the end, no matter how it turns out for them. And, I hope Buell doesn't get punished for something that wasn't in their control. The truth, it seems, died with the rider, unless, of course, the bike was defective. Can't they just do an "autopsy" on the bike and be done with it? Maybe I'm just too simple minded. | ||
| Dave |
One...after reading your post it seems to me by the questions you ask that you haven't read the article. Hootowl... Good points but I wonder if that 1/4" play was what initiated the events. A couple points to ponder. I like to prove theories... When I took my throttle cables out of adjustment then adjusted them till all slack was removed, the throttle would stick. (That is not how the service manual instructions read) Secondly, remove your barrel clamp if it has one, pull the throttle cable up and over the top of the sleeve and see how fast the throttle actually is. Take a conditioned/seasoned rider and put him aboard a motorcycle with more power than he's ever been used to with a riding position that is foreign to him. Although seasoned...he's unprepared for a unexpected response from the machine when it defies him and keeps accelerating to an intersection. It's not a stretch that panic may overcome him. I've been told that there have been a number of '99 and '00 FI bikes with cracked and broken throttle body shafts. (Mine being one) And Buell came out with an improved throttle body mid-year '00. Would this cause similar engine response if it was cracked/broken? Glitch...From what I read, they had the bike there at the trial. DAve | ||
| Dave |
Court moves outdoors Article 1 of 4 found November 7, 2003; Page 03C Article ID: 408895869 Circuit Judge J. David Walsh (seated above, center, with back to camera) watches Thursday along with jurors, Harley Davidson/Buell motorcycle representatives and family members, as Mark Ezra, a mechanical engineer from St. Louis, disassembles parts of a Buell motorcycle outside the City Island Courthouse. The demonstration is part of an ongoing wrongful death lawsuit filed by Deborah Weaver of Edgewater, widow of John Weaver Jr., killed while operating a Buell motorcycle on a demo ride during ... ...I didn't pay the $2.95 for the full article available at the paper's website. DAve | ||
| Glitch |
I read the article, and I realize the bike is at the trial. I just wonder if anyone can tell what (if anything) broke. If Buell builds a cable bracket, but the material used wasn't high quality (unbeknownst to Buell), and breaks, is Buell still responsible. That's more what I was asking about an autopsy. | ||
| Josh_ |
>Take a conditioned/seasoned rider and put him aboard a motorcycle with more power than he's ever been used to with a riding position that is foreign to him. Then figure it's a bike that encourages you to "goose" the throttle. Now goose it, have the cable housing hang up and leave the throttle open. | ||
| Glitch |
When things go wrong I automatically pull in the clutch. No matter what bike I'm on. | ||
| Aaron |
Sam Weaver, brother of the guy who was killed, used to participate here. What's going on is the ferrules for the idle and pull cables each attach to the carb/throttle body at a different radius. Makes the idle cable loosen as the throttle is open, and that's what lets the cable fall out of the holder. Mechanics often exploit this design feature when removing cables ... hold the throttle wide open and you can generally slide the idle cable right out of it's holder. If the cable adjustment is tight enough, it doesn't clear. But unfortunately, with what seems like a reasonable amount of throttle-closed slack in the throttle grip, it often does clear. The amount it'll loosen depends on the difference in the radiuses of the two attachment points. CV's don't have a lot of difference. I don't know on the DDFI, never really looked that close, but I'm guessing it's worse, hence they're the target of the recall. Mikuni's have a TON of difference in that radius, you can basically always remove the throttle cable by holding the throttle open. The more the throttle is open, the more likely the cable is to fall out. It generally *can* be forced closed. But man, if the throttle's wide open and something like this happens, things are happening fast, you don't have a lot of time to deduce what's going on and react. And it's gonna take some force to close the throttle and the acceleration of the bike is working against you. I don't think we should be second guessing John Weaver's skills, I think this could happen to anyone. | ||
| Glitch |
You're right. I was just thinking out loud. Accidents do happen to the best of us. | ||
| Jim_sb |
We'd all like to believe that our equipment was designed and built in such a way that it is immune to failure modes that could prove extremely hazardous. In the real world, that's simply not the case. I've had throttles stuck wide open and complete brake system failures (both in cars). In those instances you have precious little time to react. You have to prepare as best you can before something like that happens then you have to pray that you're up to the challenge when something does happen. Because it does happen. And it seems like you were never expecting it when it does. My thoughts go out to the rider and his family for this unfortunate tragedy. | ||
| Ccryder |
I have had the throttle stick on my S3T. Fortunately, I was aware that this scenario could happen and hit the engine stop switch and then flicked the throttle a few times and it closed. If I was not accustomed to Sparky and her power, and if I was not aware that this scenario could happen and, if I didn't have plenty of shoulder space to catch my wits, well things could be very different right now. As experienced Buelligans, we are familiar with the power delivery of our steeds and have respect for it. Otherwise it can come around and bite you. After this incident I added safety wire to the cables and adjusted my cables as DAve had detailed. Was this caused by not having the cable clamp? That I do not know. There are many failure modes that could produce this effect (DAve noted another mode). After I instituted these two measures I never had that problem again. It is very unfortunate that anyone was killed while riding any motorcycle and I feel for the families of John Weaver Jr. Sincerely Neil S. |
