| Author | Message | ||
     Gomo |
Let see where should I start..... Ton's of recalls, bad stater, bad fuel injector, bad ecm, bad heat sensor, countless speedo sensors and more. Good thing for that ESP. Now what I found out is bad. Inner cases of my hard bags cracking, latches breaking, lower fairings cracking and breaking and my ESP does not cover it. Come to find out I need to have a Tour Package warranty, something the dealer I bought the bike from never mentioned. So now if I want to have the bike I bought I have to buy the replacement parts myself. Thanks to poor salesperson. Oh by the way, they discountinued the S3T in 2002 and are now phasing out parts for it; which means mucho $$$ for the parts or long hunting on Ebay. I never knew until now that when they said "Own the Corners", it was because I was on one with a broken down bike with sh*tty parts. All this in 3 years of ownership. Went from a proud owner to a dissatisfied one real quick | ||
| Kinger |
Gomo, According to a Buell employee at the homecoming this year, they have lots of replacement parts for the bags in stock waiting to be painted. Of course, your dealer may still say they are out of stock due to some inventory problems. No that the parts are cheap though. I reinforced my bags the same way Al Lighton did, and added a 4th mounting point. Pretty easy to do and they have been holding up well. I wish you luck in resolving your problems, my bike has not been trouble free. | ||
| Budo |
Well, sorry to hear of your problems, but that is pretty much par for the course. Court might be able to help you with those parts. Good luck | ||
| Court |
Gomo: Let me know what parts you need for your latches. In addition, I'll be happy to look into possible solutions for your hard bags. The "touring package" extended warranty is BS. If you bought the extended warranty the entire bike should be covered. I have never heard of the touring package warranty. If you can't tell, I am not a big fan of the extended warranty. Please remember that they are sold by dealers, are the prodcut of a 3rd party insurer, and not endorsed by or part of Buell. I'd be happy to help you in any way I can. Court | ||
| Outrider |
With all due respect, I know a we value Court's intervention on our behalf and many of us have benefited from it. However, it continues to amaze me that a former employee/associate has to intervene in a situation that the company and its dealer network should be able to handle painlessly. Court, thank you for your continued support of your former employer and its customers. | ||
| Rek |
Gomo, Both the hard bags on my '00 S3T all cracked and split in the worst possible way. I bought an epoxy resin kit, layered a 1/4" of resin and matting on the inside and covered it w/ a gel coat on top for a smooth finish. Total cost $24 and you couldn't break it w/ a sledge hammer | ||
| Reepicheep |
Gomo... sorry for your pain. Is your speedo sensor problem better yet? Do you have the old sensor part, or the new (regulated) one? If you are still running the old style part and the sensor is still working, ping me offline, I can save you $50. | ||
| Budo |
I don't understand what is going on with the company either. Perhaps it is a thick layer of red tape or incompetance, whatever it is, a phone call from Court seems to resolve many problems ver quickly. Court has been one of the best things that has happened to Buell, too bad they don't realize that. | ||
| Gomo |
Thanks all for the info and insight. I guess I just needed to vent and I picked the one place I know others would understand. If I decided to bitch on a site for any other make (or just any common bike site) I would most likely get - Who Cares, sell that piece of sh*t! Seems only Buell riders understand each other - for good or worse (hey isn't that line used somewhere else.....)  | ||
| Court |
>>>>I don't understand what is going on with the company either. Perhaps it is a thick layer of red tape or incompetance, whatever it is, a phone call from Court seems to resolve many problems ver quickly. Court has been one of the best things that has happened to Buell, too bad they don't realize that. Whoa doggies.....settle down. I don't *HAVE* to help, I CHOOSE to help. My willingness and eagerness (the chagrin of many HD folks) has nothing to do with a flaw, weakness or inabilty in "the system". Buell is a new kind of company, moving a new rate of speed. During the learning process I find myself able, in some cases, to "translate" between "traditional methods" and "Buellilla Warfare". When I can facilitate help I try. Sometimes I screw up royally. Thing are changing and Buell means and methods improve daily. Erik Buell has proven to me over the last 20 years, that regardless of method he is passionate about providing the best customer experience he possibly can...PERIOD. I never know when I see him if I am about to be cold-cocked or thanked!  Bottom line is I love these motorcycles and the folks they get attached to. Buell is one of the few things that, over all these years, is just plain fun!~ | ||
| Gomo |
Ok I cured myself. I went for an early morning ride on my S3T this morning and remembered why I love riding this machine. Doing a ride with the cool, crisp morning air with the sun rising for a great day was all I needed. I'll get over the other issuses, I always do; partly to the help of others willing to give constructive input on this site. Thanks and enjoy your Ride!  | ||
| Firebolt020283 |
thats good to hear gomo id hate to see someone fall out of love with there bike | ||
| Outrider |
Court...Regardless of your motivation, on behalf of all of us, thank you for your concern and assistance. | ||
| Court |
You are welcome. | ||
| Crusty |
In 35+ years of motorcycling, I have never seen a manufacturer go to the lengths that I personally have seen Buell go to. When my front Isolator broke a week before Homecoming '99, I called Buell Customer Service and spoke about my concern that I wouldn't be able to get the bike fixed in time to make the Homecoming. I was told, by a very highly placed individual, "You'll be at Homecoming if I have to come out to Massachusetts and bring you back, myself". Six hours later, my bike was repaired, and I was riding it. A week later I was at Homecoming. Buell has earned my business and my loyalty. The bikes aren't perfect yet, but they're getting there. I sure wish they'd come out with another sport - tourer, though. | ||
| Grndskpr |
Court...Regardless of your motivation, on behalf of all of us, thank you for your concern and assistance. But it ashame that you should have to R | ||
| Court |
Zeitgesit Simply a time in the evolution of Buell. Try breaking the motor mount on your Gold Wing and calling the dealer with the "but I need to leave in 72 hours" woes. This is not critical of Honda. They, like Buell, have very good and very poor dealers and constantly sing the "how do we bring the underperformers around?" blues. One of the things that makes Buell unique is the way they have attempted to integrate information and intel from the internet to facilitate a much better lubricated customer experience. There are no official channels and the process is big time "in flux". The point is, while others, on advise of counsel, are avoiding the coming means and methods, Buell is at least sticking a toe in the water finding out what works, where the customer service issue mirages and meat are. The fact that the don't stop me speaks volumes for Buell and their demonstrated ability to ensure you enjoy and "uninterrupted ownership experience". If there is one thing that can be said about Mr. Buell management style it is based on results, not simply the process. But, if you can produce the results, he will demand you be able to document the process and show it to be reproducable. Personally, I am very proud of the job Buell folks have done, very excited about the things they are doing, the things they can do, given this type of enviroment, do in the future. Court | ||
| Grndskpr |
Actually spelled Zeigeist The taste, outlook, and spirit characteristic of a period or generation Simply a time in the evolution of Buell. Is it really Buell???or is it the dealers?????? And the reality is do the dealers care about Buell???Some yes but i hate to say it, most dont Try breaking the motor mount on your Gold Wing and calling the dealer with the "but I need to leave in 72 hours" woes. While this may have been true in the past, is it still true???I have yet to see it, but again, i dont believe its Buell, i feel its more of a dealer attitude, while i am sure Topeka will be mentioned, one dealer amongst hundreds is almost insignificant The fact that the don't stop me speaks volumes for Buell and their demonstrated ability to ensure you enjoy and "uninterrupted ownership experience". Again, i dont think you should have to, but if it helps 1 person more power to you, its the people that dont post or are not on the internet that it affects the most, they exist in numbers that out weight this members of this site If there is one thing that can be said about Mr. Buell management style it is based on results, not simply the process. Rare today Personally, I am very proud of the job Buell folks have done It seems fewer and fewer people complain about Buell, they produce what seems to be an above average product, again, i stress, the dealers will be the thorn in there side until they can figure out how to handle that challenge Just thinking out loud R | ||
| Road_thing |
ZeiTgeist. | ||
| Unibear12r |
Agreed about many of the dealers but other brands have it bad too. Not long ago a friend's Gwing was in the shop a month waiting for a plain washer that HE had to find for them. | ||
| Grndskpr |
Agreed about many of the dealers but other brands have it bad too Without question, ducati has had problems with rocker arm, gwings with frames, BMW with relays, Kawis with voltage regulators, ST's with heat, Yamahas with sprokets loosing there bolts and coming off(specifically the r6/R1, pay atention to that Dyna) it just seems to happen more offten with Buell, but of course owning a Buell puts it in the fore Front, they are machines, they break, but i still feel the dealers in general are the problem, wich leads me to ask, what are the rules for being a dealer, and what are the consiquences if you mess with someone, tell 1/2 truths and the fctory finds out????? Again just thinking out loud R | ||
| Gomo |
Unfortunately I am stuck with broken parts and some "I'm sorry's, I wish there was something I can do". All because I wasn't given the proper info. I love my bike, hate the service from the Dealer and/or Parent Co. | ||
| Budo |
In my experience a dealer can simply be incompetant and still be good as far as corporate is concerned. For instance my dealer or service mgr made it real plain that he did not want to rebuild my 1998 S1W when the motor blew. So, he can turn away work and still be a good dealer. Then when the rear wheel needed to be replaced the only option my dealer offered to me was to sell me a new wheel when the wheel was a warranty item from Buell, so a dealer can be ignorant and still be a good dealer. Then my dealer tried for three months to get me an ignition switch and finally told me to find one someplace else. So a dealer can be ignorant (a three wire sporster switch will work) and incompetant and still be a good dealer. If, and I really mean this, if Modesto (or their ilk) had been my dealer I would still have a Buell. My dealer Bumpas HD/Buell of Memphis Tn was incompetant when I owned a Buell and they still blow. But, corporate considers them to be golden. They sell alot of HD's. | ||
| Mikej |
"They sell a lot of HD's." And Modesto no longer sells Buells once their stock is gone. (Unless this has changed.) Sometimes it's not how you play the game, sometimes it's how you play the rules of the game. | ||
| Unibear12r |
A sad truth Mike. | ||
| Gomo |
Well said folks. I hate to acknowledge some good statements about bad things - Oh well, learn & ride (hopefully). | ||
| Court |
The word is Zeitgeist. It is the corrollary to the "great man" theory of cognitive thought...... . . . . .er....I think. | ||
| Crw |
Zeitgeist... literally "TimeGhost" | ||
| Rick_a |
I love working on my Buell. Even when things go wrong I see it more as a challenge than a tragedy. | ||
| Budo |
"Sometimes it's not how you play the game, sometimes it's how you play the rules of the game." This is a very true statment in business and often in life. |
