| Author | Message | ||
     Skyguy |
When I introduced myself to Sacborg I was in the middle of being forced by BMC to upgrade my belt drive. I was fairly upset (still am) about it. Well not long after my post Cecil from Sacborg said "Sell it, Sell it now before it becomes an everyday headache". I am starting to feel his warning............. It has been one thing after another for the better part of a year now. 20,000 miles ridden and I have never had a bike that was so problematic. As soon as I fix one thing something else comes up. Here is my list of things I have had to do to the bike not including the broken fotpegs and things I did to the bike. 3 speedo sensors. Rear disc warped (I rarely use it) Steering head bearings (partially my fault) Wheel bearings needed an upgrade (still unresolved). 3 belts. The latest being the 06 upgrade. 2 Turn signal relays. Rear cyclinder has developed a leak under the jug. Primary gasket leaked and was replaced. Broken clutch cable. Now it is a stator and regulator. I am nearing my wits end with this bike. I am starting to think Cecil had it right. Damm it I want to keep this bike but I need trustworthy daily wheels as well as a playtoy. I bought it used with 2,000 miles on it but the bike was out of warranty due to being garaged for most of it's early life. I am thinking $4,500. I have not yet made up my mind but I am thinking hard about going rice again. So many problems for a low mileage bike has gotten to me finally. Was Cecil right? Does it never end? Am I doomed to an experience fraught with issues? Somebody out there please tell me it is part of a shakedown process. Oh and how big of a PITA is it going to be to retorque the rear head? Do I need to pull the engine? I have a service manual but no specialty tools. This bike is just like my last girlfriend. A fantastic ride when it was not in the shop for mainteance...................... | ||
| Lake_bueller |
I remember back in '99 or '00 when somebody mentioned that there are Monday bikes, Wednesday bikes and Friday bikes. A Monday bike was one that rarely (but occationally) had problems. A Wednesday bike was run forever. A Friday bike was a P.O.S. Always breaking down. I've been lucky. I own 3 Buells and they all seem to be Wednesday bikes. Sounds like you got a Friday bike. But seriously....I'm not the right person to ask. I've had great luck with my Buells. Most of my friends have had great luck with their Buells. You need to do whatever is best for you. No judging from this crowd. As long as you ride within your limits, you're welcome to ride with me  | ||
| Skyguy |
I think I got a Friday bike. Probaly the Friday before a long vacation................ Or the Friday someone decided to quit working in the industry and decided to muck up a bike becasue they did not like the working conditions or some such thing............... I am so darn frustrated. | ||
| Kdan |
That sucks skyguy. I too bought a used 2003 in 05 with about 2200 miles. I have had very few problems in 21,000. It is also my daily driver. | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
My 2000 X1 was a NIGHTMARE for the first 20K miles. I was almost going to lemonlaw it but after 20,000 it calmed down. I was able to get all of those miles within the first year so it was still under warrantee. I also had the extended warrantee for 4 more years and it just barely paid off. I don't know what to tell you besides that. | ||
| Djkaplan |
The worst motorcycle I ever had was a Kawasaki dual-purpose bike I bought brand new - biggest POS ever (Ironically, the dealer was great). I can't list all the problems because there were so many. Even the Suzuki dealer who took it as a trade in got screwed when he re-sold it. I still have a fear of Kawasakis because of that one bike. | ||
| Skyguy |
I don't want to "fear" Buell. I want to love Buell. They just don't make it very easy.... | ||
| Metalstorm |
Wow, that is an amazing list of problems to have endured. I wouldn't blame you one bit if you sold it but I have to give you props, big props, huge. After all you've been through you're still looking for reasons to keep the bike. You still want to love this bike & if that doesn't make you a true Bueller & a motorcycle enthusiast) I don't know what does.  I can offer no advice except do what you think is right. | ||
| Fdl3 |
Yes. | ||
| Diablobrian |
The worst bike I ever owned: Honda V45 Sabre. One of the best bikes I ever owned: Honda V45 Sabre. These machines are built one after another on the same assembly line out of the same boxes of parts. They acquire unique personalities and characters somewhere in the process. It could be an effect of tolerance "stacking", or it could be something about the way they are assembled. Production line vehicles are the best they can be in terms of interchangability, parts availability, and for reduced cost. There will always be some problems that manage to slip through, but the companies involved do try to minimize these issues BTW: Best bike I've owned? want to guess? | ||
| Djkaplan |
I can't say my 2000 M2 is the best bike I've ever owned, but it damn sure is the most interesting. | ||
| Hans |
Was Cecil satisfied with his next bike ? If yes: Do as he. If no: Chill out and trust that you had all your problems within the first 20K miles. If you can`t get the trust again to go riding without a cell phone: Trade your bike in for another Buell at your own dealer.  Hans | ||
| M1combat |
It seems the stators go after about 20-25K. I just did mine too. Kind of a bitch of a job if you don't have a primary locking tool... Get one and it's really a piece of cake. A spendy piece of cake mind you... Are you sure you need the reg? I didn't. | ||
| Rocketman |
Sky, I've been 8 years into Buell this month. My first S1W lasted a month and 2001 miles before it holed a piston. I sent it back to the dealer, got a refund and went to another dealer and bought the same again. That one, the one I still have, did the self same thing at nearly 2500 miles. We rebuilt it into a different animal. My first year of ownership saw me spend £8000 on two different S1W's and about 2 months riding all told. I stayed the course for greater things ans that's what I got. Unfortunately the long haul came at an even higher price but that's another huge story I no longer have the heart to even think of. I still have issues with mine to this day. Some blame the heavy modifications I've done to the S1W. I know different when sometimes it's still a Buell fault, and they do keep coming even after eight years, but it's so long in the tooth now it matters not. I just bite the bullet and get on with repairing it. So I feel for you and know where you're at with your Buell experience. So here's my advice. When it comes to Buells, Cecil is a loud mouthed reactionary jerk who loves trying to pay Buell back for his misery. He is the last person you should take Buell advice from. If you look into Cecil's Buells history, a lot of the problems were brought about by his own stupidity after lots of sound advice on BadWeB (long before Sacborg was born) went ignored. Cecil might have a valid opinion that could resolve your heartache but DON'T LISTEN TO CECIL. BE TRUE TO YOURSELF AND DO WHAT YOUR HEAD OR YOUR HEART TELLS YOU. It is your choice and determination that will see you through and only you can make the choice. Rocket | ||
| Tramp |
....well-put, Rock. Skyguy: I have considerably over 215k miles on my S2, and I'm still running the original stator, piston, rings, etc. That's life. I'm not about to sing the praises of anyone else's Buell, and I certainly won't account for folks who forget that the Buell is a long-stroke, aircooled twin, which requires a little more warmup time (I cringe when I see squids get on the Buell, Cold, and tach it all the way up and take off). You can do that with many of the fine asiatic scoots available on the market, but not with these wonderful, quirky paleoscoots. I love my Buell, but I know it's limitations, and I operate it with said limitations in mind. | ||
| Tramp |
and as to cecil, incidentally, Don't put too much stock into anything he posts. He tends to get a snapshot of something, be it a situation, a location, an object, and he assumes that's simply the way it is. Read, for instance, his "views" on our Hudson Valley's beloved Bear Mtn- he whimpers and whines about how congested and lousy it is, yet when I met some badwebbers there two weeks ago, at 11:am ona clear, sunny saturday AM, It was beautiful, open, and very uncongested, as it's been most every day I've blasted around there, this year. The poor guy saw skyline drive in woodside, ca., for the first time, this past summer, and he posted about what a great riding spot it is (and it is a great spot, one of my favourites), because he didn't see it on a typically congested weekend day. for crowd, congestion and squid coefficient, skyline is far and away worse than bear mtn...but, muc like his bear mtn. experience, he's seen skyline once, and assumes it's alwyas exactly how he saw it that day. not his fault, he just clearly doesn't get out much I've read about his buell issues, then I've actually read his posts where he complains about his newer asian bike's gas tank leaking, and how he stripped threads trying to change a fuel tank, and how he then had to replace it, and how he couldn't ride with the replacement until he got the clour matched to his bodywork, etc. He's a very angry fella who defines himself by the limitations he's set for himself, and he tirades against anyone who might seem to live a more adventurous life (me  ). The guy is the classic case of a 'net wombat who talks tough online, but is scared to death to actually meet up with anyone he lambasts online. He might be a very likeable, albeit nerdy guy in real life, but please don't give his opinions any weight. there are enough angry 'net brand-bashers out there as it is, be the brand they bash kawi, guzzi, buell, yammie, etc. There's an ass for every seat | ||
| Psyclonej |
Hey TRAMP, Howya been? | ||
| Tramp |
OUTstanding,Psyclone!!!!!!!! How goes the GIT-ar life????!?!??!?! GREAT to read you, as always...... | ||
| Daves |
Let's look at your troubles, Not looking to start an argument. I am just asking questions. 3 speedo sensors. Yes, that is a lot of sensors. Did anyone ever look for a cause or just keep replacing them? Rear disc warped (I rarely use it) Rotors don't just decide to warp. Something caused it. Changing a tire and bent it? Caliper hang up and cook it? Worn out pads? Steering head bearings (partially my fault) Why partly your fault? Not torqued right? Wheel bearings needed an upgrade (still unresolved). Why unresolved, if they are black seals, the dealer will replace them for free. 3 belts. The latest being the 06 upgrade. That is a lot of belts. Any idea why? Pulley upgrades? Mishandled belts, possibly before they got to the bike? Possibly installed wrong by someone not following directions in the SM? Maybe the same person that bent the rotor? 2 Turn signal relays. Again, has anyone looked into why? That is pretty uncommon. Rear cyclinder has developed a leak under the jug. As Tramp suggested, has the bike always been warmed up properly? Primary gasket leaked and was replaced. Was it a leak or just weeping? They do that once in a while. Broken clutch cable. Was it lubed properly? Adjusted properly? Where did it break? Now it is a stator and regulator. What oil are you running in the primary? The stator does appear to be kind of a weak link but several that have had to be replaced have been swimming in Mobil gear oil which is suspected to attack the copper in the stator. Is it for sure both? | ||
| Daves |
PS I have met Cecil and he isn't nearly as much of an asshat in person as he comes off as on the net.  | ||
| Tramp |
I doubt he is. few of us, likely, are. everyone i've met from this site, atc, and sacborg have been great folks in person. incidentally, i've never used mobil in my s2. maybe that's why i have over 215k ( stopped counting thousands ago) on my original stator? wouldn't be the first time i've been told this. improper belt alignment is a common issue, i've found, for habitually recurrent belt failure. | ||
| Blake |
What DaveS said. | ||
| Jon |
I got a headache the last time I rode my Buell. I'm having gas as I type this post. Send for help. | ||
| Crusty |
Tell me Cecil was not right Cecil was not right. | ||
| Rocketman |
Just to be clear.... When it comes to Buells, Cecil is a................. That is not a slate on the bloke. Just an observation of his Buell outlook. Rocket | ||
| Tramp |
rocket- that's uneccessary diplomacy on your part. the guy goes out of his way to negatively obsess about buells. it's not the motorcycle for him- bad fit. in his world, however, there's no accounting for the tastes and needs of others... there's simply his needs, and what he saw/heard/assumed. nothing more. again, likely not a bad guy, just a bit sheltered | ||
| Rocketman |
I couldn't give a monkeys bollocks about Cecil, but I really love the way he sucks up to 'Aaron the Buell God'. Nothing could be more ironic - and sickening. Rocket | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
3 speedo sensors & 2 turn signal relays & now stator & regulator, I'd say you've probably had a voltage regulator problem for some time, maybe slightly overcharging & cooking the units. I could be wrong but recurring multiple electrical problems are generally linked. If you've gone thru 3 belts & warped the rear disc I'd guess the rear wheel is mis-aligned, or the swingarm, or frame is distorted ,best way to tell is to put it on a jig to make sure. Do you know if the bike had been dropped before you got it? As for head & front wheel bearings, too much wheelying will kill em, & belts too come to that. There's always a risk buying 2nd hand if you don't know how the bikes been treated. Hope you get it sorted, best of luck. | ||
| Cochise |
Is Cecil even a "member" of this Board? Best to go to Cecil's playground and talk about him there, if he IS a "member" here then, well, carry on. | ||
| Pwnzor |
Something about buying a used bike that has sat in a garage for a whole year rubs me wrong. WHY was it sitting in the garage through the entire warranty period? WHAT happened to the bike, and has been "fixed" or concealed? WHO has ridden the bike, and HOW have they ridden it? All those belts and a rear rotor, sounds like your wheel is not rolling straight. You had problems on both sides of the wheel. When you have two problems so close together it is often the thing sitting in between them causing it. Same for electrical problems, good chance there is a central cause. As for your wheel bearings you need to get Buell Customer Service involved. Get them to contact the dealer. Explain to them what a hassle it has been, they should get the ball rolling for you. Don't give up. You've just got some issues that are currently frustrating you and I know it's tough being without your bike. Mine has been sitting in pieces behind me for weeks. Rebuilding my forks today, and waiting on a part that may be 2 more weeks. Drive the pinzie down to my place and I'll fire up the smoker. Some good barbeque and a few beers will cheer you up. I'm making homemade jerky tomorrow, all day long. Whole neighborhood will be smelling it. |
