| Author | Message | ||
     Jb2 |
Buellgrrrl, I rode my S2 nearly coast to coast twice. We did several off roads while in the Moab/Grand Junction area both times. I sold the bike to NRHS and the bike was rebuilt for performance purposes to be sold to an overseas client. I'm not sure(would have to ask) but I believe it was delivered with the original belt. I had an S3 that I put over 48,000 miles on before selling it and not only did I never have a belt problem but it was never adjusted. On another trip we rode nearly coast to coast on two VFRs and our trip was delayed twice for replacing chains. The first time in Colorado we had to red-label parts in to keep the trip underway. The second chain was nursed over a thousand miles because of the weekend. The ONLY folks I've known to have belt problems on a Buell were running their belt too tight and created their own catastrophe. I currently ride a Vic with a final belt drive. Dunno why anyone would want a chain or a drive shaft? JB2 | ||
| Buellgrrrl |
Cityxslicker and "Chelle, on the many older Buells you can't do the easy roadside belt change- they sort of laid down a belt and built the bike around it on mine. A belt change on a Cyclone requires a couple jacks, a comealong to hold the bike up and at least a tree limb overhead to hook it to, and a day or so with a special tool and prybars to spread the frame to allow the insertion of the new belt... Clearly not a "side of the road" procedure. As for the chain conversion, the Buell has no cush drive so that may not be a long lived solution. Froggy and Tramp, the belt has been adjusted "sloppy loose" as recommended here on badweb. The original belt made it to about 45,000 miles before I made the mistake of riding it a couple miles on a gravel road. As far as selling my Buell, with under 10,000 mile Cyclones going for $3k, my 50,000 mile plus one is about worthless. Rather than give it away, I'll use it for local riding and day trips along the bus and Amtrak routes until it suffers a major failure or repair parts become unavailable. And Froggy, the Buell would have looked even worse if I'd used a chain drive bike like the WeeStrom for comparison. | ||
| Xl1200r |
Why not just remove the rear wheel to change the belt? Seems a pretty easy procedure to me. And my '64 Sportster has no cush drive that I'm aware of and it seems to do just fine. | ||
| Happy1 |
buellgrrrl if u dislike your buell that much why do u still have it.....sell it to someone who might enjoy it. what happened to the point........buying factory direct. | ||
| Tramp |
My Buell's belt has required FAR less maintenance than any of my Boxers' final drives did. Incidentally, I ride my S2 way offroad frequently, and always have. BMW and Buell both offer some wonderful machines with various issues, like anything else in this life. Buellgrrrl: Please let me know what BMW you'd like to trade it for, and I'll get to work on locating once for you- Please feel free to PM me, as well. | ||
| Tramp |
 (Message edited by tramp on October 23, 2008) | ||
| Court |
Interesting that this very discussion came up in the winter of 1994/95. After lots of arguing on the CompuServe RIDE forum . . I challenged the tormentor, a VFR rider, to meet me at Buell. We'd each leave $10,000 cash as a deposit and circle the United States of America. Anybody who had to touch any part of the bike beyond fuel, oil and tires forfeited their $10K to MDA. Steve didn't show. I did. I spent 31 days, as thousands watched and followed on the internet and I did a call in 15 minute radio piece 3 days a week, navigating 37 states. It's now 13 years later and I'm sure that belt will let me down some day . . . but it ain't happened yet. I can only speak from my own personal experience. | ||
| Crusty |
A belt change on a Cyclone requires a couple jacks, a comealong to hold the bike up and at least a tree limb overhead to hook it to, and a day or so with a special tool and prybars to spread the frame to allow the insertion of the new belt... Clearly not a "side of the road" procedure. I put a belt on my S3 in the driveway, using one jack and the spreader tool. I could do it on the side of the road, if I had to. I also did a chain conversion on my M2. Then, when Goodyear came out with the Hybrex belt, I converted back to belt. My S3 had 60,000 miles on it when I got my M2. My M2 had 55,000 miles on it when I got my Uly. You sure do whine a lot. You should sell that M2 of yours (if you actually own one, which I doubt), and buy something that suits you. I suggest a Honda Pacific Coast. | ||
| Tramp |
I used that Walking Stick to change my belt.... | ||
| Tramp |
 | ||
| Skinstains |
Buellgrrrl, I would be more than confident in saying that I have more miles under my belt than you. However that would just be a stupid mines bigger than yours is arguement, so I'll just assume we both have covered alot of ground on two wheels. I have ridden on three continents on some bikes that were actually trikes (training wheels) and even diesels. I am also rather confident in saying that I am in the small percentage of riders anywhere that have been shot at while riding, by small arms as well as ordinance and automatic weapons. That doesn't make mine bigger than yours either by the way. As for your magic roadside repair(s)...you still end up with a BMW when you're done. Drive shafts are for cars and belts are for trousers that are to big. I have non-cush chain drives on all three of my bulletproof Buells as well as my seven other bikes, one of wich is a 38 three wheeler. un-related...I went to High-Road Buell today and spent $97.50 on something else I didn't need. (Message edited by skinstains on October 22, 2008) | ||
| Buellgrrrl |
Court, you got lucky- I don't think my Buell has ever made as many miles as one circumnavigation of the U.S. without needing repairs. Crusty, where on a Cyclone am I to carry even one jack, never mind the big wrenches and prybars needed for this repair? Meanwhile, it looks like the front isolator for tubers may be disappearing from Harley's parts system, and only six years after the last Tuber was built... Doesn't bode well for the future! | ||
| Jramsey |
BG,H-D part # 16207-79D big twin Iso. When on the road and broke down nice people can barrow just about any tool needed to make repairs, pricks and whinners get sent on down the road empty handed. In my 39 years of motorcycling one thing that I've found out is the cheapest thing on a BMW is the rider. (Message edited by Jramsey on October 23, 2008) | ||
| Tramp |
Let's not devolve this thread into an anti-BMW rant, resultant of Buellgrrrl's ride preference. Were she to prefer Kawasakis would we then bash them? (I certainly wouldn't) Buellgrrrl revels in seeing her distorted, ill-conceived conclusions about the Buell brand in print, on the www. So be it. If this is a venue by which she might vent some of her own frutration, she's free to use it. No need to attack her personally, either. She has had troubles with her Buell, and has found little satisfaction in her quest for solutions. It happens. BMWs, which are excellent machines, as well, have worked well for her. Wonderful news. Much as in the case of this same thread of a year ago, I'm curious re: Buellgrrrl's non-response to offers by Badwebbers to purchase this problematic M2 from her. Until such time as an appropriate response to these offers is conveyed, it's another case of misguided frustration; one with which no clear solution presents itself until she chooses to act on the issue, rather than simply lament, electronically, upon it. | ||
| Jramsey |
Tramp,I wasn't bashing the brand,just stating my opinion of most of the BMW riders I've met over the years. | ||
| Court |
>>>Court, you got lucky Perhaps, but at least I have rock solid facts and evidence to support my position. So you believe that a reliable motorcycle is about "luck" do you? How come some folks are always lucky and some are always unlucky? Folks have told me that I've been lucky when I won gold medals in gymnastics, when I got promotions in the USMC, when I qualified as a rifle expert with a nearly perfect score, when I aced the 200 questions on my FAA pilots exam, when I started my company and got the Small Business of the Year award, when I did my gig with The White House, when I got admitted to Columbia and when I got a 4.22 GPA in college. . . . how come some folks are always so damn lucky? I'm not attacking you personally and I hope you enjoy the dickens out of your BMW. I ride for enjoyment not to provide some fodder for my internet grumblings. I rode for fun yesterday, it's simply gorgeous in New York this time of year, I took the day off today and am going to spend another day riding in the cool fall weather and you know what . . . I'd be willing to wager I'll, once again, get lucky and have nothing but a great time. My experience is precisely what most the folks riding Buells (and, by the way, other motorcycles) experience. When a person sees the bad in everything it is, in my eyes, evidence of deeper concern. That's just my personal opinion and since I am neither a Buell nor a Harley-Davidson dealer I'll likely still, after 20+ years of Buell riding, be here riding next year. | ||
| Crusty |
Thank you, Tramp. I was about to get sucked in by her trolling; in spite of being aware of what was happening. | ||
| Tramp |
They are rarely cheap when it comes to GPS units, aerostitch goddam underwear, CD changers and aftermarket upgrade touring accessories.... | ||
| Jramsey |
Yea they have no problem buying all that crap but pi$$ and moan about $250.00 for a set of tires. | ||
| Tramp |
 Well said! We NEVER saw this in BMW service management....  | ||
| Chellem |
Thank you, Tramp. I was about to get sucked in by her trolling; in spite of being aware of what was happening. Isn't that funny? It's like you can see it happening, but are powerless to stop your fingers from typing. Very frustrating. ->ChelleM | ||
| Xl1200r |
As long as we're supplying facts: My neighbor in my apartment complex had a new BMW - a K1200R Sport in a beautiful Cosmic Blue Metallic. A really gorgeous bike. Anyways, the bike soon disappeared from the parking garage, so I asked him why. Turns out the thing couldn't keep a transmission together, and it had been at the dealer more times than he could remember. Eventually (keep in mind this guy isn't all that bright) he made the decision that he wasn't going to make payments on this bike anymore, seeing as how he could never ride it as it was always apart at the dealership. As you can guess, the repo man gave him a call and told him he was coming to get the bike. The guy wished him luck and told him to take a couple boxes with him, and that it was at the dealer's service center in peices. This isn't a jab at BMW, just pointing out that ALL manufacturers have mishaps and unhappy customers. | ||
| Froggy |
Hey my Aerostitch underwear is very comfy, TYVM. The GPS works wonders, but the skip protection sucked on the CD player so I switched to XM radio.  | ||
| Jaimec |
On the other side of the coin, my 1985 K100 with 158,000 miles, and my current 1999 K1200LT with 122,000 miles have been two of the most reliable VEHICLES (two or four wheels) that I've EVER owned... The K100 was actually stolen from me almost ten years to the day that I bought it. I hope that many years from now I can be buried with the K1200LT (very few people would want to buy a motorcycle with a million miles on it anyway). My 1995 R100RT (on which I only put 40,000 miles) was considerably more reliable than my 2000 M2 Cyclone and maybe a little LESS reliable than my 2006 XB12Ss Lightning Long. | ||
| Buellgrrrl |
I'm amazed that you guys make such poor choices of target... I'm more likely to buy a Suzuki WeeStrom for my next bike than any BMW product. So you can shift your targeting to Suzuki. But I'm open minded and also looking at the DR650, and I'd consider a Kawasaki Versus or KLR650 too. In my wanderings I also found a dealer in Fargo with a half dozen leftover Triumph twins, and at a thousand dollars off list before the negotiating even starts they look tempting. But guys and gal, you've convinced me that Buell ain't even worth looking at. The political targeting on this forum isn't any better- y'll still going after Obama when even the RNC realizes McCain has lost and are shifting their $$$ to the house and senate races. BTW, my 'Stitch has about 100k miles on it and still kept me comfy last night at 39 degrees. | ||
| Chellem |
I'm amazed that you guys make such poor choices of target... I'm more likely to buy a Suzuki WeeStrom for my next bike than any BMW product. I don't think anyone here picked the target - you are the one who brought up the comparison of your BMW. And I get it. You prefer Obama. Start a new thread or continue one over there. Your reputation for trolling is only confirmed by throwing comments like that into your posts. And you've already decided you aren't getting a Buell. You've made that abundantly clear. No matter how many people post up here about how their Buell is reliable, or how many miles they've put on, you won't change your mind. They're just the lucky ones. Your mind's made up. So stop trying to act like WE'RE the ones making the decision for you. It's your decision to make and live with. I hope you're happy with whatever you choose. ->ChelleM | ||
| Pammy |
Holy Schnikies! I can't believe This thread is still going on. I agree with Tramp in his latest assessment of B-grrrls Buell/internet quandry... Her options are varied as I see it. Option #1 is that she rid herself of this albatross that she finds so offensive. (My personal opinion is that this is the best option) Option #2 is that she map her travels out ahead of time and try to be a bit more open to the friendly biker lifestyle so as to have an emergency call number in case she should need help of any kind. Option #3 she could expand her tool pouch a little and include a temporary belt(much like the temp tires that come with new cars). She should also have on hand a tire patch/plug kit with O2 cartridges, or maybe have some slime put into her tires before she leaves. Buell uses those pesky pneumatic tires that are suseptible to flats at the most inopportune times. I must confess that I didn't read the whole thread. But you all had some really good advise and all in all, I think it has remained quite civil... I think B-grrrl has named some really fine cycles that would be certainly more apropos to her riding style. I think she should pull the trigger and let the Buell go and get on with the more pleasant side of life. It is, after all, incredibly too short. Oh Court, I agree with you wholeheartedly in your "unlucky people" post. Carry on | ||
| Cityxslicker |
Most sales are won or lost on attitude; both directions. Very rarely is it price. If this isnt going to be fun, I am not inclined, excited, enthused, or motivated to move a unit just to move a unit off the floor. The Buell crew that I sell to are here because of a passion that is totally different from the Harley crowd. Most of them are now personal friends and on the speed dial for rides, events and what have you. The bike is a great function of assembly and engineering, the people I have met because of it; priceless. I am not out to sell a bike to everyone, and there are some bike deals that just arent there to be made. You can try and take the dealer out of the loop if you want, just dont be surprised if they return the favor. | ||
| Xl1200r |
My Levi's kept me comfy at 34 degrees this morning. | ||
| Skinstains |
Here it is folks. My presumably long awaited final post in this thread. BG one of the bikes in my stable is a DR650, great bike and as reliable as you would expect Suzuki's offering to be. You'll like it I'm sure. Unrelated, Court, thanks for making me feel like the under-achiever of the year. I feel you owe me "another" hot-dog next time we meet for that. In closing, Buellgrrrl... YOUR MOM'S BOX ! |
