| Author | Message | ||
     Crusty |
We all know the story. A guy falls in love with an incredible beauty. He does everything to make her happy, but she treats him like dirt. She blows all his money. She runs around on him. She doesn’t love him at all, but she leads him on, while running him into the ground. All the time, the guy knows exactly what’s happening, but he’s powerless to stop it. I just got back from a 5,000 mile trip to Colorado and back with my wife. I lived there back in the ‘70s, and I wanted to show my wife some incredible roads and scenery. It was an interesting trip. We encountered temperatures of 104 F, freezing mountain rain and some genuinely beautiful but hot weather. My wife got to see unbelievable scenery and we rode over fantastic roads; Rt. 67 from Florence to Westcliff, Monarch Pass, Rt.92 along the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Independence Pass, and a whole lot more. She was overwhelmed to the point of being almost tearfully speechless by the beauty of it all. She took a LOT of pictures with her new digital camera. She also took a few pictures that that weren’t of the scenery. If they get titled, the captions will read, “Here’s John working on the Buell in Colorado Springs”, or “Here’s John working on the Buell in Westcliff”, or “Here’s John working on the Buell in Salida”, or “Here’s John working on the Buell in Gunnison”. On the trip home I would add tranny oil to the primary every 250 miles, just so I wouldn’t run it dry. Until the crankshaft seal started leaking. Then, I just kept an eye on the motor oil level. I got home, but it wasn’t my most enjoyable trip. I’ve put well over 110,000 miles on my two Buells. I had 60,000 on my S3-T when I traded it in on my M2 which has around 55,000 miles on it now. (I rode a few thousand miles without a speedo sensor, a couple of years ago). The tubers are some of the most beautiful motorcycles ever built (the S3-T is THE most beautiful motorcycle ever built), but they are way too fragile. I believe Erik when he says that the XBs are among the most reliable and trouble free ever built, but I never warmed to them. I’m a Sport-Tourer kind of rider. The Ulysses may very well be”a replacement for the defunct S3T”, but it really doesn’t have that soul stirring beauty of a Thunderbolt. However, I can’t keep going on like this. It’s time for a new bike. My wife’s Moto Guzzi Breva 750 had two problems on the trip. She got a screw in the tire in Connecticut on the way out, and I had to plug the tire, and a Semi kicked up a piece of road debris and it broke her headlight lens in Ohio on the way home. It didn’t use any oil, and nothing went amiss. The Hepco & Becker bags on it worked well and kept their contents dry. Guzzi is coming out with its 1100 Breva next month, and it sure is pretty. BUT… I have a Pegasus tattoo on my bicep, and all else being equal, it’s enough to sway me over. I’m going to get a Ulysses. Damned if I know how I’ll pay for it, but I’ll figure out something. Maybe the looks of the XB will grow on me as time goes by. Kind of like the plain girl in high school who really did have a “nice personality” and was really the best choice for a happy and rewarding relationship. I have to have a bike that I can trust to take me a long distance without notice. When I travel, I don’t want to be spending time in parking lots and car washes changing gaskets and hoses and whatever else needs repair. I want to be able to focus on the road and the scenery without worrying if the oil on the back tire will let me corner as hard as I’d like to. | ||
| Daves |
Sounds like a great trip(other than the repairs). Could I interest you in a trip to Wisconsin to pick up your new XB12X?  | ||
| Tramp |
first- erik buell does read this site. daily at worst. secondly- saying 'tubers' are fragile is your experience, not everyone's. my 'tuber' has been and still is the most reliable motorcycle i've ever owned, and the most maintenance free.. in case you're not tired of hearing, i'm a factory-trained bmw tech who's owned the most reliable models in the line. my buell pisses on them all in terms of reliablity and near-absence of maintenance. crust, i'm sorry you've had problems with yours, but don't make broad statements about 'em all as a result of your experience. you'll notice i never say the 'tubers' are the most reliable bikes made, only that MINE has been, in my experience. erik designed a great product. as i keep saying about erik buell, he's sort of motorcycling's van gogh. vincent couldn't sell a painting while he was alive. next time you're looking at a buell, be careful what you say- " ...you might just be staring at van gogh's ear" (Message edited by tramp on August 13, 2005) | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
Crusty, nice post, sounds like a great trip (except for...). i rode Black Canyon of the Gunnison last September, and was overwhelmed as well. good luck. FB | ||
| Iamike |
Darn you Crusty, now I need to go back there! My son is dating a girl from Pueblo and he's been out there twice already this summer (and left dad at home). I wish there was a way to economically put the new engine in the tuber frame. I love my S3 and haven't had any of the problems that you describe. But I would still like the reliability of the new one. | ||
| Tramp |
iamike- i'm confused (which doesn't take much, in my idiotic case  ) if your s3 hasn't given you problems, why do yearn for the 'reliability' of the new one? trust me, i'm not trying to be a wisea*s, i'm just figuring i (as often is the case) missed sump-in... | ||
| Jon |
Ssshhhhh.... When it comes to purchasing a new motorcycle, the "reason" is sometime desire dressed up like a need. Seriously, I'm interested in the answer to Tramps question as well. Consider it a practise session for when your wife wants an answer to the same question... | ||
| Tramp |
yes. that's really why i asked. sort of a marital prep-session/rehearsal so everyone's got their stories straight. -jay | ||
| Regkittrelle |
Jon.. "When it comes to purchasing a new motorcycle, the "reason" is sometime desire dressed up like a need." Greatline. R. | ||
| Crusty |
Tramp, trouble free tubers are extremely rare. Your S2 may be the most trouble free bike you've ever owned, but it's the exception to the rule. If you want, I can name people with specific maladies with their tubers over the past eight years I've been riding them, but that's a side issue. I can also name the trips that my bikes broke on, and relate what the problems were. I don't beat on my bikes. I'm not a factory trained BMW tech (thank God), but I have worked as a mechanic in both Honda and Independent H-D repair shops.I know a little about what I'm talking about. I also know that Erik frequents this site on a regular basis. The title was an eye catcher. As far as BMW reliability goes, my experience with the brand is that BMW is existing proof that Hype and Reputation have little to do with Reality. Dave S.; are you going to do another Fly and Ride this year? IA Mike, From Pueblo, take U.S.50 West to CO.115 South to Florence. Then take CO.67 to Westcliff. You won't believe what you're seeing. You'll be talking about it for a long time. Jerry, thanks. It was a Great Ride. | ||
| Jon |
I think the statement that "trouble free tubers are extremely rare" is pretty subjective. When you say "trouble free", do you mean zero problems? | ||
| Jon |
Crusty, Your motto of "You can't put a price on worthlessness" is a classic. So is "God hates a coward", BTW. | ||
| Dave |
Tramp has only "leaky rocker boxes/pushrod cover seals 213,000 miles" Holy SHeeeee-it! That's awesome! DAve | ||
| Tramp |
i don't know if it's awesome, i've had and seen old airhead beemers do easily as well. i'm vigilant about slow warmup on every start, and i'm big on overly frequent oil changes. i still run the factory low-rev module, which doesn't hurt. crusty, i have no doubt that this s2 is a bit exceptional. i suspect that my inability to just rip outta wherever it's been sitting, upon startup, has been instrumental to this longevity. one of the rpimary differences between a group of HOGs and a group of Hells Angels is that the hogs take off abruptly, twisting their throttles WFO, while a group of Angels will sit and allow everyone's bikes to warm up a minute or two (or more, in winter, when angels everywhere still have to ride) before taking off. Angels all put HUGE miles on their BT evos, sporties and Buells, and anyone spending time around them will pick up plenty of excellent riding and maintenance habits. very well-put about bmw reliability having some mythological smoke and mirrors surrounding the actuality. BMW tech school is a sort of west point for failed a&p techs and wannabe engineers. Incidentally, I knew of several bullers who had logged tall, uninterrupted miles on their tubers, as well. fell out of touch with mnay, but they are out there. I honestly think it has more to do with being religious about slow warmup and frequent oil changes. in fact, my main argument against using synthetic is that, at the exppense of synthetic oil, one could just run organic and change it three time more frequently and possibly be doing their engine more good. the synth. is obviously an excellent product, but dollar-for-dollar, for this tramp, a constant (every 900 miles or so) batch of fresh, high-sulfur/moly 20w50 organic, devoid of the buildup of carbon and lowered ph (I know- blake educated me re: synth creating less carbon and acidity than organic) has no parallel. that's not to say that oil changes of the same frequency with synth would not be better for the machine than with the organic, just not as cost-effective. and yes, i change the (WIX 51515) filter each time. My S2 is NO busa, it's more of a belgian than a thoroughbred, so i don't put the spurs to it. (Message edited by tramp on August 13, 2005) | ||
| Rocketman |
while a group of Angels will sit and allow everyone's bikes to warm up a minute or two (or more, in winter, when angels everywhere still have to ride) before taking off. Angels all put HUGE miles on their BT evos, sporties and Buells, and anyone spending time around them will pick up plenty of excellent riding and maintenance habits. Yeah and Angels use to fly Colours that had never seen the inside of a washing machine. What goes now is clean shaven - clean cut - and Red and White really is red and white. I guess the Angel's are maintaining their clothes just like their mo-cycles these days  Rocket | ||
| Tramp |
.... both are living much longer, healthier lives.... (Message edited by tramp on August 13, 2005) | ||
| Fullpower |
only have 15000 miles on my XB12, have been working 15 hours daily all summer, bulding a new shop, conducting local motocross races, and running my auto-electric rebuilding business, so the only riding i get this year has been commute to and from work, and the odd- take off after work at 8 pm, and ride till tired, return to the shop before opening time, take a quick nap type of rides. friday after work i took a 450 mile putt, saw a tremendous meteor storm around 2 am ( or maybe i was just tired/hallucinating?) have had 3 (2 day) weekend trips of 1300 miles, two of these contained a 1000 mile in 24 hours segment. After installing a chain final drive, the XB is a very reliable low maintenance vehicle, and i would not hesitate to take it far from home, late at night. i use a very small amount of oil during sustained 90 MPH riding, but the bike has not required service during either of its 1000 mile day trips. | ||
| Buellish |
My S2 has been very reliable(knock on carbon fiber). The only time I've spent on the side of the road were due to a broken belt.It has been a very enjoyable ownership experience. Oh yea,it's showing 66,000 miles. Mike | ||
| Tramp |
that's respectable mileage. you keepin' that belt nice and loose? | ||
| Joemama |
I have 8,000 on my '04 Bolt, and I thought that was pretty good, I feel like a spec in the mileage counter of 'ol Trampy Boy | ||
| Tramp |
lucky you. i have a peculiar aspect to my limp for each of those miles.... shoulda been driving a volvo | ||
| Buellish |
"that's respectable mileage. you keepin' that belt nice and loose?" I keep it loose as a couple of my old girl friends, and thats pretty damn loose! | ||
| Tramp |
i know..... how come when girls enjoy promiscuity, they're branded as 'loose', but when fellas enjoy the same approach, they're referred to as 'studs'.... not to get all feminist, here, but...... | ||
| Iamike |
Tramp- Busy weekend, not much time for the PC. The only engine problems I've had were the common rocker box gaskets and the stator. It annoys me that it took so long for HD to fix the first one and I haven't heard if the stator issue is resolved on them yet. It's just disconcerting to take off on a trip with that nagging voice in your head wondering what may break. Mine is starting to get a little noisy and I don't feel like tearing into it to find the cause. The new motor seems to be very reliable and I would like that confidence. I'm sorry if I offended you elswhere but sometime a poster can make a statement that sounds more like a slam. It's no big deal against a friend but to a newby it can turn them off. | ||
| Tramp |
iamike said: "... that nagging voice in your head wondering what may break. Mine is starting to get a little noisy and I don't feel like tearing into it to find the cause." um... you mean tearing into your head figuratively, like with psychiatric assistance, or an trephaning?  "I'm sorry if I offended you elswhere but sometime a poster can make a statement that sounds more like a slam..." Not to worry, mikey. i seem to be the clown prince of offending good folks, usually inadvertantly. again, in my own social circles, these 'slams' are passed around constantly and with big, warm sarcastic grins. hard to translate that very precisely, here on de 'net. thank you for that, and DEFINTELY back atcha. | ||
| Crusty |
It's just disconcerting to take off on a trip with that nagging voice in your head wondering what may break. Mine is starting to get a little noisy and I don't feel like tearing into it to find the cause. The new motor seems to be very reliable and I would like that confidence. Exactly my point. 2,000 miles of,"Is this thing going to get me home, or am I going to have to tear into it AGAIN?" does a lot to dampen enthusiasm for a bike. The good part is my wife is very supportive about this. She was the one who suggested that maybe it's time to get a new bike.  Now, all I have to do is figure out where I can come up with the cash. | ||
| Tramp |
if i paid such avoidable heed to these baseless ruminations, i would have sold my S2 6 years ago. i didn't allow mechanical paranoia to get the bets of me, and i'm proud to say that i'm still the owner of a wonderful old S2t. just because the voices in our heads are loud, at times, it doesn't make them right | ||
| Mfell2112 |
Well Tramp I hope you are correct on the tube framed Buells reliability. So far with mine I have replaced the front motor mount,rocker box gaskets,speedo sensor while the gas tank vibrates and makes a racket. My tail section is cracking to pieces too. Oh and my paint is cracking as well. Other then that and 14,000 miles of riding it since I got her brand new I have never been stranded then again I don't go very far from home. I change the oil every couple thousand miles and I run synthetic. IMHO this bike is fragile. Lucky for it I don't ride it that hard. Regards Mike | ||
| Prez |
colorado is a beautiful area of the USA. i moved from colorado spring to vegas...and i just found out i'm moving to texas now... sounded like a good trip..well..other than the few skirmishes..lol..i'll be making that same trip next yr.. anyone who goes to colorado...I greatly recomend checking out the Great National Sand Dunes by alamosa...it's awesome...Garden of the gods in Colorado Springs...o heck..i could go on 4ever..just go to colorado PERIOD..u wont be disappointed... | ||
| Jackbequick |
"..just go to colorado..." Good advice. At Monarch Summit on US-50 you can get a Subway sandwich, take to cable car up to the observation point on the peak, and see one of the best views in the U.S. Slight dizziness from thin air may be noticed. Not having done that on a bike yet, I wonder how the CV-40's work at higher altitudes? Jack |
