• You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our free community you will see less advertisements, have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join our community today!

    If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us.

1125 NHTSA Investigation

Buellxb Forum

Help Support Buellxb Forum:

BAF here. You guys hating on me have apparently only seen half of my posts on badweb.

First, to clarify, I claim that the STATOR failure isn't a safety issue. The traditional stator failure on the 1125 just causes lack of charging - it does not typically cause VR failure from the reports I've seen. VR failure, leading to blown headlights/etc, is another issue entirely. (And, I guess I need to point out that if the stator had failed in those cases, the VR would have no power to surge the system and blow the headlights with).

Beyond that, there are numerous threads where I, Froggy, Hildstrom, and others give advice on fixing the issue. Hildstrom and I (and also Timebandit and a few others some time ago) have spent plenty of time researching the issue and coming up with a fix. There's a thread over there with Hildstrom's fixes, and also my fixes. The two are similar, and both seem to be holding up just fine.

Like Baf says over there is that all he wants is a refund on his problems with the stator. All he bought his bike for is to ride and not complain.
Click to expand...

I didn't say I want a refund. I said the only "fix" from HD I would accept was a refund.

I should of quoted Red I was refering to the Baf guy. He was over basically making it seem like why is everyone complaining, he just goes out and rides his bike. He was making it seems like why complain just because his bike it working. Well then the thread wasnt for him then but some of us would love to just ride and not complain but our bike are currently garage decorations because this issue has not been addressed and corrected. It seems like this will hopefully move things in the right direction because I for one am tired of dumping more money into my 7000 mile bike then my 30000 mile one and I'm still worried it will leave me stranded when it is actually safe to ride.
Click to expand...

I did buy my bike to ride it, and not to complain. I was hit with the stator failure as well. But I didn't keep throwing parts at it and complain (isn't that the definition of insanity? Repeating the same thing over and over again and expecting different results?) I did some research, and came up with what I think is a much more permanent fix. And I even documented it all, should anyone want the same results. And, as mentioned, Hildstrom has done the same.

I do just go out and ride my bike. I did have the same issues everyone else did. My point was to stop complaining and trying to force HD to release another shitty fix (look at their first attempt at fixing the issue...), and just fix the problem properly yourself. My bike is working, but that's only because I spent my time researching and trying to fix it rather than complain.

So stop throwing money at it replacing the bad parts with parts you know are going to fail...

Here's my fix.
 
Honestly, I really don't think Harley cares. They have nothing to gain by fixing the issue, so unless someone forces them, they probably wont.
 
I did buy my bike to ride it, and not to complain. I was hit with the stator failure as well. But I didn't keep throwing parts at it and complain (isn't that the definition of insanity? Repeating the same thing over and over again and expecting different results?) I did some research, and came up with what I think is a much more permanent fix. And I even documented it all, should anyone want the same results. And, as mentioned, Hildstrom has done the same.

I do just go out and ride my bike. I did have the same issues everyone else did. My point was to stop complaining and trying to force HD to release another shitty fix (look at their first attempt at fixing the issue...), and just fix the problem properly yourself. My bike is working, but that's only because I spent my time researching and trying to fix it rather than complain.

So stop throwing money at it replacing the bad parts with parts you know are going to fail...
Click to expand...

My point is if a product is engineered correctly I should just be able to have something break and replace it with a new part. If I wanted to have to re-engineer the bike I would of just built one from scratch. When something on bikes break I replace it with a new part. I don't look at a completely re-engineered alternative solution because I'm assuming the product was designed to work. So now I'm out all this money to replace what I was testing and determined to be a blown VR and replaced it only to have the same issue because by some magic knowledge I was supposed to research the issue and find out that re-engineering and running a non-stock VR may fix my issue. I don't have the money to be re-engineering my bike. So now that I've researched since simply replacing the part didn't work, I'm being told that since my issue isn't continuous and just intermittedly happening that I'm pretty much gonna have to throw fixes at it and hope one works. That's just something I don't want to blow money on. I'd rather just having a working correctly bike. I'd rather the company that engineered and built the thing realize their mistake and fix the issue and not just throw a bandaid at it and hope people stop complaining. The only way to force Harley to fix this issue the correct way is to sit there and complain to the appropriate organizations to get that to happen. I think thats where the gripe came from about your comment. You did a fix that worked for you but may not work for someone else so you seemed to have a problem with the people who had this problem from complaining.
 
I bought a new motorcycle so I didn't have to troll the internet looking for fixes for my old motorcycle. I bought my Buell brand new off the showroom floor when I was picking my old broken one up from the shop just so I would never have to deal with forums full of tools like BAF ever again. That's right BAF, I bought a new motorcycle because I hate arrogant, I can tell people on the internet my dick is big, f-heads like you. But here I am...
 
only to have the same issue because by some magic knowledge I was supposed to research the issue and find out that re-engineering and running a non-stock VR may fix my issue.
Click to expand...

There's no "magic knowledge" that you're supposed to re-engineer. If I have an issue like this, I tend to do a quick search online to see if others are having it. If I have an issue like this, replace the faulty parts, and have a repeat failure, then I definitely do a search. In doing so, it's painfully obvious that the stock solution isn't good enough, based on the sheer number of failures (and repeat failures).

You did a fix that worked for you but may not work for someone else so you seemed to have a problem with the people who had this problem from complaining.
Click to expand...

I'm fairly confident that the fix I've documented will work for everybody, but only time will tell.

As far as those complaining, I'm just trying to be realistic here - complaining is a waste of time. HD obviously doesn't care, and if they're forced to care, they're going to produce the cheapest quickest fix possible. I don't trust them, any fixes they may be forced to come up with, nor the monkeys at the dealers who will be installing the fixes. Seems like a waste of time to me.

I bought a new motorcycle so I didn't have to troll the internet looking for fixes for my old motorcycle. I bought my Buell brand new off the showroom floor when I was picking my old broken one up from the shop just so I would never have to deal with forums full of tools like BAF ever again.
Click to expand...

We're not talking about what it should be, we're talking about what is. The fact of the matter is, you own a flawed bike. If you want to keep riding it, then you have to fix it. No arrogance here, just pointing out the obvious choices - figure out how to fix it for good, keep throwing the same bad parts at it, relentlessly complain about it (as if HD will magically come up with a proper fix for a customer base they've made painfully obvious they don't give a shit about), or get rid of the bike. Have fun staring at your bike, crying because it doesn't work right.
 
There's no "magic knowledge" that you're supposed to re-engineer. If I have an issue like this, I tend to do a quick search online to see if others are having it. If I have an issue like this, replace the faulty parts, and have a repeat failure, then I definitely do a search. In doing so, it's painfully obvious that the stock solution isn't good enough, based on the sheer number of failures (and repeat failures).
Click to expand...
I've been working on vehicles ever since I've been able to drive them. I know how to test issues and check this to see where the flaw is so the internet is not my first source for fixing my vehicles. I don't tend to go online to research an issue unless I've looked and tested and came up with nothing. That's exactly what I did when my VR went out. I hooked it to a multimeter and it failed the test so I say bad VR and order a new one. Now it hasn't fixed my issue but I'm out that money that I could of used for the re-engineered fix. I'm sorry I don't know what you think the definition of re-engineering is but if I'm redoing a system to change the stock way it was designed then that is re-engineering. Anytime we look at a stock issue and do something to change it, like going from shunt to MOSFET VR, that's re-engineering. Like in my field of engineering when we take a wall out of a structure and add a beam to redistribute the load, we call that re-engineering the structure. So if it's not some magic knowledge why isn't it in the repair manual to re-engineer the electrical system. That's what I meant by magic knowledge. You have to just go and google issues. If that's how I go through life I'd probably be a hypochondriac from half the stuff on google.

My issue isn't even mimicked by anyone else with this issue. Mine is not a constant occurance. It is hit or miss which has left me stumped because no one else has had the issue so there is no one to know what was needed to fix. So you are basically telling me to dump another who knows how much money into my bike to do what you have done when your issue was different then mine.

I'll just wait and see what HD does if they are forced to fix the issue and go from there since I have mine at least manageable for the time being.
 
I just installed new headlights in mine and gonna see how long they last. I know my original VR was bad and just keeping it for the wire connections for now. I have my 2008 VR installed now and gonna see how long it lasts as well. I will probably buy a brand-new battery as well this friday just to completely eliminate that as a factor. For now, I can ride my CR during the day so Im gonna try it out and see what happens.
 
I would buy a 1125 if it were not for all the electrical/reliable issues. And since I'm not a mechanic I've steered away. Prior purchase research for me is a necessity.... Letters and investigations on who to blame (HD or BUELL) after the fact really is like crying over spilled milk.
 
Its far from crying over spilled milk. How do you think recalls get issued. People have to complain and bring it to the manufacturers attention that this is a huge problem. If you drive a car and people were getting decapitated by the airbag and no one wanted to cry over spilled milk and say anything so the manufacturer never fixed it would you still drive it. Sadly with the dwindling of customer service now-a-days this is what we have to resort to to get things done.
 
Well done guys, about time something was done.First stator went with no warning, locked up bike at speed.next stator was toast and miss diagnosed by HD as the VR, big fail, dont get me wrong, love this bike, now in the hands of twin motorcycles Netherlands.They say they have fix, better Rotor with oil feed and 250 degree wire stator, really hope this fixes problem.....
 
Keep this thread alive.....I complained and got my clutch fixed with no $$$ outta my pocket.
 
Talked to the nthsa and they found there to be no problems with buell 1125's and Harley doesn't have to do Anything.....
 
ODI opened this investigation based on 25 allegations of subject motorcycle stalling, without warning, due to charging system failure (typically involving the stator). As part of this investigation, testing was conducted to assess whether there would be a reasonable warning prior to stator-related engine shut-down while underway. A memo describing this testing may be found in the public file for this investigation. Given the relative frequency of alleged stator failures involving Buell 1125's, it is apparent that customers may not be satisfied with their motorcycle. An example of a manufacturer responding to this type of dissatisfaction is found in the Harley Davidson December 7, 2009 product improvement campaign to address the stalling issue. However, current test data does not establish that this customer satisfaction issue is also a safety defect that results in an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety. In the absence of a safety defect trend related to Buell 1125 charging system failures, this investigation is closed. The 62 ODI complaints we cite may be found by entering the following ODI investigation numbers at www.odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/complaints:
 
In a nutshell, the charging system failure is a customer satisfaction issue, but NHTSA doesn't consider it a significant safety issue.

Bummer. [down]
 
Baf how many miles has this repair actually been tested and proven?

That's stator looks awful toasty on your recheck in my opion.
 

Latest posts

Back
Top