| Author | Message | ||
     Paulinoz |
I log on each morning at work, drink my coffey and read the latest posts. Have been doing this for 5 years now (sad aint it). It seems to me that there is more bad news post than good news posts, more knocking the Buell than praising it, and this is suposed to be a Buell site. I got to thinking abut this after recomending this site to a guy on a Buell I met once befor and when I talked to him next time I met him he mentioned, he didnt realise he had purchased a bike with so many problems he had a 2000 M2 for the past 2 1/2 years. Is this a Buell probelm or a Buell owners problem or what. So being quite this afternoon I decide to visit at random some other sites and guess what?? It aint Buell or Buell owners it's Motorcycles in general. The following was taken from 1 board and would have taken less than 3 minutes to collect. "Well this post says that it is a "gear dog" problem, and left for too long, will grenade the gears and other things too. I'm not the expert here but isn't running synthetic during the break in period a bad thing? I've heard it is so abrasion resistant that it doesn't give the piston rings a chance to "seat" against the cylinder walls. I've heard it's best to run standard oil for the first couple thousand and then switch to syn. I'm installing my SS rear brake line. I have the line attached to the front cylinder and it's fine, however on the rear caliper I have a bad leak. Whenever I let go of my handlebars or hold them lightly, the steering shakes. Not violently, just twitches back and forth rapidly. This occurs around 40-80mph in a straight line. Sent my wheels out to get chrome plated last year. Now I am having a problem with the rotors not setting true on the chromed wheels. Its bad enough that I can hardly use my front brakes at low speed because they chatter so much. Just wondering if anyone else out there had a problem with there bike cutting off while downshifting. I have a '02 and recently at least one time while I am riding my bike cuts off during a down shift. Usually I hear it cut off when I pull the clutch in. I put slip on it a month ago. It ran crappy. Therefore I bought a power commander. Put in the map and it drove great. As of three days ago the bike all of a sudden sounds louder from the exhaust and pulls real sluggish. Not a great deal sluggish, but I definitely notice a difference." I am positive I have read every one of the above problems on this site as well as the site I got those off. Seems no matter what site you look at the above problems can be found. Whats the point of this? I dont know, but makes you think if nothing elese. By the way if you are interested the above comments came of an R1 site but look at any make and I am positive they would be the same, | ||
| SouthernMarine |
People in general like to complain, not all though. The good thing about these sites are exactly what you stated above. People unfortunately experience problems with their bikes, whether self generated or not. By posting those problems, maybe someone else can offer some words of wisdom to help them fix their problem. Yes, I've heard negative things here. But I have definitely heard more positive things. | ||
| Blake |
Interesting analysis Paul. Thanks. Bike boards seem to mirror popular news media. The bad stories seem to garner more airtime. Sad ain't it, that what most compels us to share with others are those experiences in life that are most negative and/or challenging. Thanks. That's some serious philosphy to consider. I had a great day yesterday: Beat a young hotshot kid in raquetball, and today: Was uplifted listening to George W. Bush talk about the issues and plans for the future. Tomorrow will be good too. Will be taking my bike for a nice ride then return home to give it a gentle washing and touch-up waxing. Then to tear into it to begin with the race prepping for the race in three weeks. Cheers mate, Blake | ||
| Paulinoz |
Any day I wake up I think is a good start to a day. Forget the wash and wax just race prep, I have yet to find a bike that goes harder or corners or stops quicker just because it's clean, that might also be my slack justifcation for a dirty bike. Good luck on the track, in 3 weeks I will tearing up the Blue Ridge Parkway, aint Life Grand. | ||
| Road_thing |
Paul, are you still traveling through Dallas? I could probably arrange to have some "business" up that way if you have any down time. Maybe we could go out and try to get arrested... rt | ||
| Firebolt020283 |
i read negitivity here but i also read knowlagable stuff as well as good things on here and those are the reasons i love this site | ||
| Clydeglide |
I am on several message boards, mostly automotive related. When it comes to motor vehicles the tendency seeems to be to complain about the product and discuss shortcomings. It may sound and even be negative but these folks tend to love their machinery of choice and are just looking to improve their ride. Even the "Glock" forum has similiar posts. Overall I find good information and people willing to help the "new guy". I have met some of these folks. Fine people. Which is why I still lurk after being Buelless for over 2 years. The product is just the topic, the people are the reason we're here.  | ||
| Outrider |
Do the Boards do the bike justice??? Overall, I would have to say yes as they communicate both good and bad regardless whether the situation was caused by the manufacturer or the owner. For me, they provide an insight into subjects that I am particularly interested in. Incidentally, I only follow the BWB. Have read it's competition occasionally and found the BWB much more to my liking. The only negativity I see is a reflection of emotion generated by what appears to be a Catch 22 situation at the time. Fortunately, most is countered over time with discoveries that enable owners to remedy their situation, regardless of the problems origin. The major benefit I derive from the boards is that of learning what I can do to my bike in the form of preventative maintenance to reduce the likelihood of the more common failures. In essence, I learn from the mistakes and unfortunate situations experienced by others. I don't mind fine tuning a wheel, even at my cost, but reinventing it seems a little redundant to me. In conclusion, Bike Boards are a good thing regardless of the mood swings they endure on a daily basis. | ||
| Rek |
I'd have to say this board has been a great advantage to me, a new Bueller. And all advice aside (good, bad or otherwise) the sense of community is very comforting at a viseral level. Not only am I the only Buell rider in our county, I'm begining to wonder if I'm not the only one in the state? (See SouthUSMC was right, we do like to complain) I just enjoy lurking, reading the rants, trying to imagine what goes on in some of these heads. Sometimes it's even a bit scary (Political thoughts anyone?) It would be great if I could do these things in real life, face to face, but out here in the boonies that's not an option. | ||
| Raraf |
When I used to work for Microsoft doing Win9X support. I used to pray to get a phone call from someone saying "Just wanted to call and say that I love Windows" or "How do you use Paint?" You gotta look at it in perspective. My friend lived by a Lesbian Bar called The Egyptian. He didn't tell me and when we walked in he shouted "LOOK AT ALL THESE WOMEN - WE ARE GETTING LAID FOR SURE!" We didn't get laid. | ||
| Bomber |
folks with complaints (legit or otherwise) are always louder than those who like what you're doin -- this board mirrors that, I think . . . . the sucess of any product is easily viewable in the sales numbers, both first time and repeat . . . that, imo, is the signal, all else is noise | ||
| Jeremyh |
All i can say is they are all just toys, Japanese, Korean, American you name it they are all toys and were designed with one thing in mind. ABUSE ABUSE ABUSE. No matter what people do or think they are all going to have there problems because guess what....90% of the people who own them don't treat them the best. SUre they may keep them well maintained and clean but it is a machine being put to its outer limits most of the time and BOOOOOM BAAAANG Baammmmm they will break sooner or later. Just keep one thing in mind, they are designed, Engineered and built by people therefore they will have there flaws. Just an FYI for all who are reading. I swore to myself that when i had the chance to get a bike it was going to be one of the many Japanese rockets particularly the R1. Nice bike, decent price but guess what....I own a xb9r now and i am very pleased with the bike, probably more pleased than i would have ever been on an R1. Why.... because it handles the way i like,has more power than i will ever use and i didn't have to pay a fortune for it. I never buy anything thinking its going to stay perfect forever. I would be fooling myself to think that that is going to be the case. Instead i buy what my mind says to at the moment an run with it. If that doesn't work out then its on to something else. (Message edited by jeremyh on September 03, 2004) | ||
| Midknyte |
Negativity? BadWeb is a love-in  I was just about to start a thread saying how much I appreciate the maturity of this board compared to the inane squidishness of other sportbike sites. I chalk up any negativity here to the passion we have for these particular machines. I also get the distinct impression that they (Buells) are much more user serviceable bikes than other brands, so there is a higher percentage of us here torqueing on them ourselves and discovering and postulating and bouncing problems, ideas, and requests off each other... | ||
| Stealthxb |
Midknyte... I also get the distinct impression that they (Buells) are much more user serviceable bikes than other brands, so there is a higher percentage of us here torqueing on them ourselves and discovering and postulating and bouncing problems, ideas, and requests off each other... That is exactly what I was thinking. I also think Buellers put more miles on their machines and therefore are more likely to encounter various problems. | ||
| Firebolt020283 |
the part about the bikes bing more user sevicabe is so true. its like u damn near have to have a degree in engineering to even begin to take a jap bike apart (no thank you). (Message edited by firebolt020283 on September 04, 2004) | ||
| Court |
Let me toss in another component. Badweb has also served a quite unprecedented role, unique I suggest to Buell American Motorcycles, of allowing folks with legitimate problems to be found out quickly, listened to, and have solutions provided without delay. I'll not elaborate, but how many folks have bemoaned a problem on the Suzuki board only to have the dealer call 10 minutes later saying, "bring it in tomorrow, the parts are on the way" or get a mysterious package in the mail with parts. I'll shut up at that, but Badweb has allowed experimentation with the use of technology to bypass, to the benefit of the customer, some of the links in the system. There is, to me as a Buell owner, great value in knowing that when 3 people in different corners of the Earth, have similar problems with a Buell that the appropriate engineering folks are reading about it in minutes or hours, not months as is most often the case. Court | ||
| Starter |
I don't consider bad posts as being a down side to the product but just making an awareness. I read most of the topics in this site before I purchased and consider I made an educated choice knowing well the good points and small problems. These sites are more of a reaching out for a solution or fix from someone in the know that has past experience with this sort of thing. It sometimes helps in a market such as Australia to be able to point the techs in the right direction considering they may see an XB with a problem 3 or 4 times a year and service 5-10 of them if they're lucky. It also doesn't hurt the dealers to monitor this sort of site for experience that they may be lacking and use it as a time saver. | ||
| Charlieboy6649 |
Let's not forget the good things that have happened on this board lately. We've supported a young up and comer in the northwest. We've cheered and supported Alex in his trip across the nation, not to mention the $$$ raised for the American Cancer Society. We've helped out fellow Buellers in times of crisis. Folks, that's the short list and it alone is impressive. When it comes to our machines, we're going to discuss the negative. It is the nature of the beast. But this site is so much more than that! I feel great every time I peruse the board. In some small way, I feel I have friends all over the country. Would you turn a traveling Bueller away or let them sleep on your fold out? I'd let them in my house. Even you 420, the pot has to stay outside though, LOL! Hmmmm, negativity, no... I'm with Midknyte, we are a board of love; both of our machines and our appreciation of eachother. | ||
| Lemonchili_x1 |
I look at a few other boards as well from time to time, most automotive in some way, or to do with house renovations, and all of them feature lots of stuff about problems, failures, hassles with shops etc etc, but I don't think that is necessarily negative - people are sharing information, trying to find fixes or advice, or sometimes just venting frustration... As someone posted recently somewhere - if it was working ok, I'd be out riding it, not posting here  Another way to look at is like when I worked in a bike wreckers a long time ago - Every day I would see crashed/thrashed/trashed or just plain worn out bikes so I'd start to think that every single bike had something that would go wrong with it (and every machine has *something* that'll break eventually)... but I was forgetting about all the beautiful bikes I got to see and ride (totally standard, like new, 1973 Kwaka 900 was a highlight) and the friends I made through the shop. I think it all balances out, you just have to look at it the right way  Court - Buell do (or did) stuff like that? I don't think I've ever heard of a company doing anything like that pro-actively - wow  cheers, lemonchili | ||
| Shky_jake |
I have enjoyed reading and posting on this board for some time now. When I was over seas last year this board kept me in the loop as to what life in the USA was like. And reasons to laugh when my day had gone to crap. It also kept me closer to my M2. Thank you all for that. We all look for comfort or a way to tell some one what we did, whether it is bad or good. This board is just one way for us to do it. The bad stuff is just nature, but if you look (not to hard) you will find things to laugh at as well as to cry at. It is up to the reader to look inside his or her self to determine what you want at that moment. | ||
| Tommy_2stroke |
Of course you will always read more "problem" posts than "praise" posts on any brand's BBS. That's what brand BBSs are for-- mutual information-sharing and support. A casual scan of any board's posts, like Paulinoz said, proves the point. (But its probably not possible to extract definitive reliability numbers, comparing brands, just from reading BBS posts.) The knowledge that the folks within Buell read and follow this board encourages me greatly. To them-- Hey guys, thanks! My XB12Scg is huge fun to ride, and we have only 50 miles left on the break-in schedule. I have a feeling the fun-factor is gonna take an exponential leap very soon! Thinking back on my purchase, I wonder how much my reading along on this BBS influenced me to purchase a Buell. I'm pretty sure the influence was considerable, and perhaps decisive. Yes, I saw all the "problem" posts, but I was able to keep them in perspective, and by reading this board for a few weeks it became quite clear to me that Buell riders in general are MORE than satisfied with their bikes. And that made my purchase decision much easier... (Message edited by tommy_2stroke on September 07, 2004) | ||
| Glitch |
folks with complaints (legit or otherwise) are always louder than those who are out riding. | ||
| Tripp |
i bought my cyclone(used w/5000miles) after lurking on this board for several months, the feeling i got from this board in general was positive enough for me to buy my bike, and 10,000 miles and many problems later, i still get a positive vibe from this site and many times have received invaluable information that get's me up and running again time after time! | ||
| Rick_a |
I lurked on this board for about a year before buying a used S1 with 3000 miles. It helped a deal in making the purchase. A lot of the common problems have occurred, and after 13000 more miles I'm still in love with it...just wishin' I had more $$ to throw at it! It seems to give a good perspective of some of the best and worst to expect. | ||
| Crip2nite |
Mines nice!  | ||
| Lord_deathscyte |
I would like to say that this board has made buying a Buell a high priority for me. Even with all the complaints about the bikes their are enough people saying how they love them. |
