| Author | Message | ||
     Ozzie84 |
what the heck is going on with the staff at harley dealerships...everything is nice and dandy when you gonna buy a buell, but when it comes to service it, they suck...ive gone to several around dallas, and pretty much i say "my buell" and their mood changes towards me and just look at me weird.... i left my bike a sat morning (calling friday, and them telling they can see it on sat) and the ppl at the service dpt, said they wont be able to touch it until monday, and i was like ok sure, why not...and right after i dealt w/ the lady and gave her my key, she picked up the phone and said "oh yeah bring it in anytime today, and well take a look at it"....that just made me start wondering I called on monday (yesterday) to check the status, and they said, it wasnt scheduled to be "looked at" until tmrw morning (tuesday)...i called around 3 today and guess what, there just starting on my bike...and all i wanted is for them to check why the heck my bike wont keep a charge...wth is going on!?!?!?!?  here are some pics of my bike on the way to the dealership...even had to borrow a trailer   | ||
| 4cammer |
I feel your pain brother. Mine once sat for a week as they were waiting on a "Buell specific oil seal" (HD part number 11124) and "Buell parts are hard to get". I have since learned to ask for assistance here and do all my own work, warranty or no warranty. Only thing that will keep me from buying a new Buell in the future is the dealership experience. Or lack of..... | ||
| Zoedogg1 |
That sucks man...Harley shops are notorious for doing crap like that to Buell owners. I just so happened to have a local Harley shop that one of the Mech. sorta specializes in and loves Buells. It takes a lot longer than two days here to get your bike worked on. Which is why I am seriously looking into MMI and taking both the Harley and Buell classes. I would like to open my own shop someday here in Tri-Cities, WA. | ||
| Edgydrifter |
Don't lose hope, there are good dealers out there! I look forward to visiting mine. They always treat me like they're glad to see me, even when I'm just there for warranty or recall service. The gal at the service desk and the guy who sold me my Uly know my name, and I get a smile and a handshake every time I set foot in the place. I know--weird, right? It's certainly a far cry from the treatment I used to get at the multibrand bike/ATV/PWC dealership where I bought my Kawasaki, where customer service ranged from friendly-but-clueless to dude-why-are-you-here-leave-me-alone. I've visited plenty of HD/B dealerships where I didn't pick up a very positive vibe, but I've been surprised by how many I've been to where the staff DOES seem enthusiastic about ALL the bikes on the floor. If your local isn't like this, keep looking. It's worth it to travel a little farther for good service. | ||
| Got_jack |
What year is ur bike cause when I bought mine is was brand new 08 12s and it wouldn't hold a charge so I bought it in two days later and they told me that when they built my bike they put in a bad stator at the factory so that might happend to u also. | ||
| Skinstains |
I do all of my own work. If you are good with a wrench buy the parts book "AND" the service manual and get to know your bike intimately. | ||
| Ozzie84 |
well all this hassle surprised me....got me thinking about getting a different bike instead of dealing w/ this dealership crap....but then again, i love my xb | ||
| Iamarchangel |
Sorry about your story. My local dealer is very good. Mind, 30 years ago I didn't think so well of them. | ||
| Redbuelljunkie |
If you would like some good advice on the proper way to secure a motorcycle for transport there are many here who would be glad to help. | ||
| Dmhines |
Stone Mountain Harley in GA is great ... had my bike there twice and they took it in as soon as I got there. Also on Saturdays all Service is First Come First Served ... so just gotta get there early ..... | ||
| 2008xb12scg |
If you would like some good advice on the proper way to secure a motorcycle for transport I would....Should be upright and kickstand up, right? | ||
| Juniorkirk |
Bigg's Harley Davidson/Buell....GREAT service guys. I just wanted one of the guys there to ride my bike quick to give me a clue on what might be wrong with it. After they test rode my bike they took it right into the shop and fixed the problem in less than 30 minutes (smashed plug...no spark), and for $39 it was great to have my bike running good as new again | ||
| Saratoga |
Yea, the sales part was first rate. ...but when I brought my 09 Ss in for engine light and eva problems, the service dept looked at me like I was from outer space. I could tell they had the "What the hell is that?" expression going on when pulling into the service area. | ||
| Thrux181 |
Blue Ridge HD in Hickory, NC is also very good. They go out of their way to keep you on the road. They will take to time to talk to you about your Buell and explain things. | ||
| Beachbuell |
I hope you drove real slow. The way that bike is strapped (or lack of), its ready to fall over. | ||
| Ozzie84 |
anything here in dallas that yall know of????? and what is the proper way to tie it down? | ||
| Redbuelljunkie |
There are four factors to securing a bike for transportation: 1) Make sure the bike cannot move forward- it must be secured by an object (wheel chock, trailer rail, anything immovable, etc...); 2) Make sure bike cannot move backwards- if it cannot move forward (chock/rail) then it must be kept from moving rearward; 3) Make sure bike stays upright- best done with "Canyon Dancer" type bar tie-downs or soft ties attached to handlebars or forks; 4) Make sure bike does not move side-to-side- best done with soft-ties attached to passenger pegs or rear sub-frame. Think of the physics of it- when done properly the bike cannot move forward (solid barrier), it cannot move backward (hint- run tie-downs forward in order to keep bike from moving backward)- the use of handle bar tie-down systems (Canyon Dancer) does double duty of keeping bike from going forward and keeping it upright at the same time, and rear tie-downs keep the back end from "bouncing" out of place. Bike should be secured tight enough- but not too tight. Sitting on it while someone cinches it down compresses the suspension enough... DO NOT compress suspension fully- it will cause damage/premature failure (fork seals). Never strap anything over a part which can be damaged by slipping, slapping, rubbing, or bending forces (seats, levers, switches, lights, oil coolers, etc...)- ensure clearance of all tie-downs before departure. Once you wrap your mind around the theory, it really makes sense and becomes second nature. It is worth it to invest in quality tie-down equipment- it doesn't cost a lot and will make your life easier (not to mention the piece of mind). There it is- easy as cake, piece of pie... | ||
| Propower418 |
I haul my bike on a trailer like that all the time and my truck bed as well. I only use two straps for the trailer or my truck bed. From the handlebars to the front corners of the trailer/truck bed and thats it. The bike does not budge. Just make sure you use some good heavy straps and not some light duty Wal-Mart specials. | ||
| Redfive |
I take my Buell to the Dallas H-D in Allen texas. The techs and service are great. The problem is they are Harley and they think Harley. They do not support Buell at the shops. I cant get an air filter without a two week wait. They dont stock any parts, yet they have walls and walls of Harley shit, no Buell parts. They are great if you wont a tee shirt or Buell sticker, but thats it. I think buell would make a fortune if they would let us order off there website. If it wasnt for Americansportsbike.com We as Buell owners would have nothing. The harley techs are good, but they too are at the mercy of Buell, who acts like there stuff is top secret and you need clearance to buy. I love my XB12ss, I just have to stock up on simple parts as I go along. I broke my brake handle off and left the Harley shop with a whole master cylinder,after two weeks. They said you couldnt by just the brake handle. Go to Buells web site and its there. The H-D guys go by there parts books and thats it. Thats when I found out about Amaricansportsbike. Redfive | ||
| Valiant_duke |
My brother doesn't use any straps! But clips the bike in... Seeing how we have hollow rear axles, he uses the latest and greatest from pitbull. They have come up with a really neat way of securing your bike to (in this case a trailer). It uses the hollow axle and it is rock solid! It wont allow it to move back or forward, and it wont let it tip over AND it doesn't stress the suspension, it actually uses it to "cushion" the bike from the bumps that the trailer doesn't take care of. For the front wheel, we has a wheel chalk that wont allow it to turn, or tip(over). It takes literally 45 seconds to get the bike ready for transportation (great for track!) | ||
| Spatten1 |
Dude, you know Obi Wan Kenobi? | ||
| Froggy |
 | ||
| Ozzie84 |
i went to the dealership in person this time to see what going on w/ my bike.. and guess what guys, they were freakin nice and helpfull, what a HUGE difference than on the phone, i even met with the guy who is working on my bike, and i learned that he has a tuber buell....lol well they told me its the regulator and that they would order it for me ($86) but that its in back order until the end of the month.......go figure so i wont be enjoying my bike anytime soon oh and they also mentioned that im due for my 10k service, which is gonna cost me around $530, labor included, when i get around it.... but does anybody know what exactly do they do at the 10k mark? | ||
| Froggy |
Stator and Voltage regulator is a common issue on the older XB's. 10k service interval is the big one, its oil change, primary fluid change, fork oil change, TPS reset, and possibly tires. The service schedule is listed in your owners manual and service manual. | ||
| Cable |
Apparently on the '08 XB12's there was a recent recall for the upper clutch cable bracket. Now it originally broke less than a month after I bought the bike and I called the salesman before talking to the service dept. He told me that Buell actually makes a heavier duty on which cost like $15 so I said I'm not paying for it. When I spoke the the service manager about getting it fixed I mentioned the heavier bracket and he had said he didn't know about it and I would have to talk to parts. First off I'm not getting paid to upsell these parts and the dipsh*t should have done some research about it. Anyway so I took it up and had the new bracket and cable installed. Then about a month ago I got a letter in the mail about the recall on the bracket and now I will get the new heavier bracket and another new clutch cable for free once again. So just cause it seems a lot of dealerships are lacking in the service area these days this just proves it can't last forever. Cause even though this is just a small amount of money these poor decisions behind the service counter will add up over time. | ||
| Froggy |
Yes because every single dealer employee needs to memorize the contents of every single service bulletin, recall, or other piece of literature that comes out of the Mo Co? Yea it would of been nice if he knew about the upgraded clip, but because he didn't doesn't mean anything is wrong. Your profile says you work with freight. Do you memorize the details of every single piece of cargo you touch? Someone comes out and asks, "Hey, do you remember that that crate going to Dallas from 4 months ago?" What do you say to them? | ||
| Verdad |
Out here in the High Desert of sunny SoCal, Buell dealers are few and far in between. Only one within two hours. I happened on to Antelope Valley HD/B in Lancaster, CA and found my new dealer. The guys in the Service department were very pro-Buell and most helpful and courteous. The fact that it's a three hour and change ride through the Mojave to get there is just icing on the cake as far as I'm concerned. BTW, why all the malice towards Buell owners if we are all supposed to part of the same family (HD and Buell)??? | ||
| Court |
Whatever . . . mine broke at 163 miles. It's a no consequence brake, took it to the dealer got it fixed and kept on riding . . yawn. Your dealer will be happy to fix it free, he just doesn't know it yet. Help him learn. Ya got any problem, let me know. I can also get you a list of REAL things to worry about if you need it.  | ||
| Beachbuell |
Right on Froggy!  | ||
| Spatten1 |
Yes because every single dealer employee needs to memorize the contents of every single service bulletin, recall, or other piece of literature that comes out of the Mo Co? I think a willingness to go through the effort to look it up or make a follow up call would be sufficient. I was at a Suzuki/Honda dealer getting fork parts and couldn't get the lazy parts girl to walk 20 feet to the service department to find out if the sliders should be replaced or just the seals at the given mileage, or what weight fork oil I needed. It was pathetic. I think the frustration is really driven by lazy or arrogant individuals, not what they are willing to recall from memory. If someone does not remember something but makes the effort to get the facts, most any customer would be happy. I hate my local Suzuki dealer. They are alway nice at my HD dealers, ignorant, but nice and willing to help with what little I've asked for. |
