| Author | Message | ||
     Wayne |
Just came back from a good spin around South Wales me on the Direbolt and friend on his Triumph speed triple 400 yards from Direbolt dies,engine not running wil not turn over with starter button thought it was seized at first ,but will turn over when pushed in gear . got the direbolt home checked fuses . fuse blown on the starter circuit put in spare fuse, it blows as soon as you put ignition on Put bike away will contact dealer on monday you might ask now Why I am calling it a direbolt [a] because of the appalling gearchange that sometime gets a gear but mostly get a nice neutral as you exit a corner and you really do need it to be in gear at that time [b] because of the meagre power output, which most 600cc bikes from the last 6years will totally anihalate the direbolt when you get onto the sraight bits [C]the side stand what a laugh, when you park it you have to wedge the front wheel against a wall just to make sure it does not fall over [d]Fuel injection has been around for a few years so you think they could get it right now . the direbolt as you pull away from a junction just when you need a smooth pick up it decides to fart and spit like an old RD400 not quite in the powerband [e]the engine noise it sounds like half the engine parts have been thrown into the crankcases and are just sloshing around in there [ then it left the Massey Ferguson Tractor factory after assembly and delivered to Troy [f]the bellypan that likes to melt [g] the seat that cuts into the main battery cable [h]the price tag £7345 for which I could have bought a reliable bike I have learned to live with the above faults and Quirks because I like the way the bike HANDLES I like the way the bike LOOKS I like the Exhaust NOISE But I will not put up with a bike that after 2100 miles[ never goes out in the wet is kept in a garage with heating and is lovingly looked after] FUCKING DIES AT THE SIDE OF THE ROAD as you can gather I have had a tit full of this and as soon as this direbolt is repaired it will be either Part Exchanged an engine and wiring loomfrom some suitable Bike ie JAP yes JAP will be transplanted into the direbolt and then I will call it a firebolt again because it will have the power it deseves it will have the reliability I will repeat this word reliability because if you own a"BUELL" it is something you will not get I base all the above comments on my own experience other peoples comments I await your responses to see how you can defend this and maybe sway my opinion on the Direbolt Wayne | ||
| Rick_A |
All I can add is, sorry about your luck! | ||
| Court |
Sucks to be you, eh? Of all the Firebolts made, the entire lot gets busy getting thrashed and pretty much appearing to be problem free and you, talk about bad luck of the draw, get the ONE that they missed. I'm like you, I'd buy that Triumph as soon as you can get to your dealer. Court | ||
| Chainsaw |
Yup. If my Buell was acting like that, a kawahonda-something would start looking good! You live on a big island right? Let that puppy "accidently" fall off the sidestand down a cliff into the Atlantic. Post pictures of it happening and I'll throw in a couple of bucks towards your insurance deductible!  ChainSaw | ||
| Rick_A |
I myself was relieved to hear the crunching rocks sound coming from the Firebolt I test rode. Made me feel right at home. | ||
| Phillyblast |
So it sounds like a box of rocks, is slow, hits a false neutral every now and then at the most inopportune moment, occasionally stumbles off the line, has a crappy sidestand, but looks great and handles even better? Whew, that's a load off my mind. I was getting worried I wouldn't find a new bike to buy in the coming years if mine ever gets retired. Looks like an XB9R is a suitable replacement for my S2 after all!!!!  | ||
| Mark_In_Ireland |
You should have realised you 'must' wait 3 years before buying a 'new' Buell......then all the teething problems have shown themselves and you don't end up as a unpaid development engineer | ||
| Blake |
I'll try to offer some help... [a] Check primary chain tension. Adjust as required. [b] Not too much you can do about the power other than a race kit or Nallin Racing big bore kit. You might ask to have it checked out on a dyno to see if it is at least making the typical ~75rwhp. If it is not, have the ECM recalibrated for TPS zero, and have the cam position sensor checked/reset for proper timing. The race ECM and muffler will boost peak hp. See the dyno charts page. [c] Recall is just out on this. See the subtopic in the "2003 XB9R Firebolt" thread and ask/tell your dealer. The new sidestands have reportedly already shipped. I think there is also a goodwill upgrade on the clutch inspection cover and gasket. If yours is not weeping, I'd forgo the upgrade for now. [d] Same checks as in [b] above, plus check for air leaks at intake manifold seals. Do this by holding engine at a fast idle, around 2,000 rpm, and spraying WD40 or contact cleaner liberally all around each seal. If engine speed drops, you have found a leak and the cause of your problem. [e] The air cooled pushrod V-Twin with gear driven cams and primary chain drive does emit a cacophony of mechanical noise. Excessive noise could be from a loose or too tight primary chain. [f] Dunno the root cause of that, heard second hand of one other instance of melting chin fairing, resulting possibly from a too lean fuel charge and thus too hot exhaust? Possibly due to intake leak? Let us know what you find. Hope that was of some help. | ||
| Rudebike |
Sorry to hear about your troubles. Make the dealer fix it. Things happen...don't let it ruin your life. | ||
| Spike |
So uh, why'd you buy a Buell in the first place? Mike L. '99 Cyclone | ||
| Rick_A |
...shoulda bought a 'Busa...  | ||
| Ferris |
Wayne, i like the fact that you stepped up and told it like it is, at least from your perspective. please keep us posted how your saga unfolds, there are a lot of prospective Firebolt/Lightning buyers wanting/needing to hear real-world feedback. my guess/hope is that you'll be back in the wind in no time. FB | ||
| Mario666 |
Boy am I starting to miss my Cyclone. | ||
| Gravedigger |
Wayne, If you are blowing the fuse as soon as you turn the ignition, you have a wire rubbing and grounding out somewhere. I had this similiar problem on an old Kawasaki. A wire was rubbing on a fairing bracket. Check your owners manual and run the wiring along the starting circuit. should be quite easy to fix, but not always easy to find. electrical problems always seem quite frustrating but are usually something minor to fix once you locate it. Sorry to hear about your problems, hope you find the problem. Keith | ||
| Hootowl |
Disconnect the speedo sensor and see if the short goes away. They're probably using the same sensor as they did before, and that happened to me once. | ||
| Phillyblast |
Wayne, my last response was kinda flip - Gravedigger and Hootowl are on the money with the electrical problem, Rude is right to have the dealer fix it, and Blake's got the rest covered. These are all "minor" problems, but they add up to a major headache. By themselves, these are annoyances, combined, a PITA. Look at it this way - its a first year bike, with a completely new, and radical, design, so these are piddling problems that once fixed, should go away. They aren't major design flaws, just bugs, in software parlance. | ||
| Wayne |
Hi guys thanks for the feedback Rick A luck does noy come into it quality control and adequate electrical insulation does Court on about luck again read previous paragraph Chainsaw it has crossed my mind Mark in Ireland I should have realised about that Blake [a] covered under warranty cannot touch [b]the power I was living it .I was going to put race kit on but exhaust was so ugly [c] you should be informed by dealer/factory about recalls have had no info in the UK about this [d] warranty again [e] have worked on air cooled engines for a good number of years and I do realise that there is a lot of mechanical noise but usually it sounds sweet but when it is rumbling and clanking things are not what they should be [f]Bellypan mounted to close to exhaust Rudebike will await dealers response when I contact them on monday Spike the reason I bought the direbolt was because unlike the previous range of bikes it did look well put together and it looks damm good and it handles like a dream. Rick A maybe Ferris all will be kept informed Mario666 do not know about that never rode one Gravedigger could fault find the problem but doing so would invalidate the warranty Hootowl same thing about warranty Phillyblast these faults should have been sorted before product was released the faults are not due to radical design because there are no faults with the radical design items just the run of the mill production items that should have been fixed by now but are not Thanks for your respnses and help Wayne | ||
| Fssnoc2501 |
Wayne, Let me something straight. Because these things happened to you and your bike this is now a major production problem and now all the bikes are crap. I'm having a problem with your logic. I realize this is all a big PITA, but if I'm not wrong Buell is not the first brand to have problems. In fact I have NEVER owned a bike, of any brand and I've owned several, that didn't have something go wrong. And if I thought long and hard enough I could have blamed the factory for all of them. Just abit confused on your logic especially before you have talked to dealer or company. Ray | ||
| Rick_A |
Well, all in all, your problems are very minor...a little trimming is all you need to stop the battery cable from being torn into and the chin fairing from further heat damage. As Blake said, your primary chain is likely maladjusted. Simple fix. No Buell is really smooth shifting, but the XB's are the best yet. The sidestand already has a replacement. Your dealership, if competent, should easily be able to track your electrical problem. It seems there were things about the bike you weren't pleased with to begin with (like power and mechanical noise). If you're familiar with Harley/Buell engines, they always sound like they're gonna rattle apart. If you still have the stock exhaust of course those noises are gonna seem to be louder. XB's also have pretty well sorted injection. Sounds like yours is not set up properly. If it spares me the from reading posts like the above, please get rid of it! There are people with old, high mileage, and/or lemon Buells that have persevered and done anything possible to keep their machine on the road when hit with major problems, with nary a complaint and maybe a little negative emotion that is eventually overcome...with problems that make your current nuisances seem like a blessing in comparison. I believe that you are only one of two XB owners that I've witnessed with likewise sentiments on this board. If not luck, chalk it up to karma, then. IMO the XB's are too refined  | ||
| Tripper |
Damn, I think you just hit on why I declined to buy an XB after riding it. Or perhaps it was too much like my S1...I'm so confused. In any case my S1 is not going away and I don't need 2 solo bikes, so Buell has nothing to sell me. Where/When is the new Thunderbolt? | ||
| Rudebike |
Goog going Wayne. Keep this thread refreshed with your progress. I want to know what makes your bike the exception to the "newer Buells are solid" rule. It's probably something very minor. Jon 2001 X1 | ||
| Blake |
How is it a warranty problem to check/adjust your primary chain.  Unless your warranty rules are totally different than ours here in the States, you are certainly allowed to try to diagnose a simple intake air leak, and you are certainly allowed to perform routine maintenance, like tensioning the primary chain. | ||
| Brianbuell |
Sorry to hear about your problems. I own a 02 M2L Cyclone and have put over 6,000 miles on it. I have never had any problems. I guess you just pulled the short straw.... | ||
| Paroyboy |
Wayne, sorry to hear about all of your issues. My Bolt has about 2400 miles on and the only problem I've had so far is the bike falling over because of the side stand. Was told that damaged parts will be replaced under warranty. I definatley agree the bikes never should have been released with that side stand. You can just look at it and tell it's not going to be stable. I also agree that the engine noise is a bit much. I'm just waiting for a louder exhaust to cover it up! As for the fuel injection, I agree with Rick A, have the dealer check it. Mine is very smooth with no pops or dead spots. But it's not just Buell, I believe Triumph is still trying to get the fuel injection right on the 600TT. But actually, I believe it might be a conspiracy. Perhaps your bike is just America's payback for all of the British Leyland crap we got in the 80's! J Just Kidding! (ex-MG owner here) | ||
| Newfie_Buell |
Engine Noise, If my S1 became quiet I would think there was something wrong with it. I like the noise the motor makes especially when pulled up next to a couple of rice burners, those guys think the motor is gonna fly apart in pieces. | ||
| Wayne |
Hi Wayne here Update for dead Bolt hog assistance picked up bike very promptly this morning will be in dealers late afternoon mon or early tues I Have spoken to dealers told them about symptons of breakdown They will look at bike when it arrives also asked them to look at the other issues ie fuel injection not smooth gearchange sidestand engine rumble battery cable bellypan melting Done some research on common buell problems. Have found what is wrong, very common with all buells So why was it not sorted before bike was released anyway some free beers to anyone who comes up with the ansewer but you have to get to wales to claim your prize by the way it rains a lot so bring your waterproofs Wayne | ||
| Wayne |
Blake to answer your question about warranty it is a very grey area in the uk some places wil have no problem with you trying to find a problem while others will have a fit if you do any sort of repair/ diagnostic or tampering with said item which will then invalidate the warranty so the best way to avoid any problems with warranty claims is do what is said in the manual take it to the dealer for any problems. Dealer service it at the specified mileage or date whichever comes first The reason I have any knowledge about this is I used to work for a car manufactures main dealership it is not a question of not being able to do the work ,it is knowing when to leave things alone Hope I have made this point a bit clearer Wayne | ||
| Blake |
No warranty I have ever heard of disallowed the owner of a new vehicle from performing routine maintenance. I'd suspect that there might be very specific laws governing this issue. I would be surprised if it were truly a "gray" area. Over here, the manufacturer would have to prove that an owner damaged, neglected, or improperly maintained a vehicle to deny a warranty claim. As long as he is capable of peforming the required maintenance, the owner never need have the manufacturer or dealer touch the bike after it leaves the show room floor for maintenance work. The primary chain tension falls under that category of maintenance. Also, I'm not suggesting that you repair an intake leak, just that you check for one. Hope they find the problem with the electricals. I hate diagnosing electrical problems. No one else I've heard from has had any such problems with the EFI or electricals on the XB9R. The bike is assembled by humans. I hope some other humans can find their mistakes. | ||
| José_Quiñones |
You have now...  Team CMG had fuse problems with their XB and it turned out to be these voltage regulator wires rubbing against the muffler bracket. Worth checking out this area where the wires go between the oil pump and the muffler. | ||
| X1glider |
Probably the fault of CMG and their homemade muffler and bracket, not Buell's fault. Anytime you make changes to the original design, you have to check anything else in it's proximity. What would have helped here is either more tie wraps or NASA's answer to wires chaffing on parts: teflon tape! |
