Common equipment failure

[user_deleted]

least expensive top quality front rotor on the market----EBC
all perishables readily available and always will be
belts unique to the XB series
VR's do NOT interchange with sportster models. NOT even close. to attempt the swap you need to substantially lengthen one of the VR harnesses as well as build yourself a custom installation bracket. not worth the time or effort.
with the exception of transluscent body-work....virtually every part will always be available for the XB series. you'll never outlive the supply chain. ask any H1/H2 owner. stock piling XB parts complete and utter waste of time and money.

 

[submax]

What about the front isolator mount, John? I'm considering purchasing one of those as a spare given how hard of a time some folks have had in getting one with lengthy backorders. I've done a little looking and it isn't clear what the normal life expectancy is for that part.

 

[Cooter]

I think what he's saying is it's normal to get a few parts that are Buell specific and have been proven hard to find, but that's not many. Trying to stockpile every part that may fail is not very efficient and futile endeavor.

Sure, grab an isolator or a belt. The VR on my 1125 says Ducati on it and I thought someone was making new translucent parts in Vietnam or something?

If anyone is still overly concerned about spare parts for their Buell being available another decade from now, I'd say buy a low mileage salvage title bike for cheap and stash it as a parts donor.

 

[stellio78]

I've got a spare belt, that's it.

If my local HD dealer can't sort me out I'm hoping Twin Motorcycles can.

There developing some of there own parts too, like the isolater http://www.twinmotorcycles.nl/websh...me=Buell_XB912_TM_Engine_Mount_front_isolater

 

[user_deleted]

What about the front isolator mount, John? I'm considering purchasing one of those as a spare given how hard of a time some folks have had in getting one with lengthy backorders. I've done a little looking and it isn't clear what the normal life expectancy is for that part.

probably not a bad idea james but there's tons of them out there. what people fail to realize is not every dealer performs in the same manner as surdyke, lancaster, new castle et al. there are lots of buell dealers in north america that have a tremendous amount of buell parts as working inventory. they have no interest in online auctions or internet sales. but they have the parts. this is what feeds the bulk of the supply pipeline. and the parts will NOT be going into the parking lot dumpster as inventory room needs to be freed up. dealers are savvy and learned from the 80's and 90's not to ever make that mistake again. IMO as i mentioned stock-piling buell parts utterly ridiculous.

 

[Calvin71x]

Great info here as always. With the solid contributors on this forum like lunatic, Cooter and others it's like we're never riding alone and my appreciation for my Buell just grows stronger. If it isn't said enough, thanks guys! We're out here reading up and absorbing.

 

[airbozo]

Browsing this forum for months was the final check to buying my latest Buell. You guys give me too much confidence...

...but I know with the help here I can fix anything...

Like Calvin said; THANKS!

 

[midway]

I will call Lance and John back and tell them they're full of crap and to stop spreading BS about Buell parts shortages and Harley selling them off to http://www.vpartsinc.com/

 

[user_deleted]

I will call Lance and John back and tell them they're full of crap and to stop spreading BS about Buell parts shortages and Harley selling them off to http://www.vpartsinc.com/

you should indeed do that. H-D "allegedly" selling off buell parts to a 3rd party operation has absolutely no bearing whatsoever on what i noted above. an inference can be drawn from your comment that you're on a first-name basis with these guys. if that's the case i'm sure they'll appreciate your input and duly note same.

 

[submax]

I agree, John and Cooter. Most parts will remain available, or at least relatively easy to find, for quite a while. I'll probably still grab both a front and rear isolator and a belt over the coming year just to be sure I have those. The rest I'll deal with as needed. Before my Buell, I owned a 1983 Honda VF750F Interceptor. Great bike and loved the smooth V4 engine. Some parts were still available from Honda and other sources, but they were becoming harder and harder to find. Of course, we are a ways from having 30+ year old XB Buells...but if old Honda parts are hard to find, someday old Buell parts will be also. But, given the relatively small number of Buell owners, the parts that are out there sitting on shelves might stay available for longer since there are fewer bikes being serviced...it's just finding them that might be challenging years from now.

And to Calvin, airbozo, and midway...glad you're here and enjoying your Buells! :up:

 

[racepro716]

Ok so it's been a while since I've been on here, kinda lurking in the background watching...
As for keeping spare belts around, screw it, I went with the chain conversion on my 08 XB12R. 5000 Km on it last year, one adjustment and I never have to worry about getting stranded again. Thanks to everyone on here with their help finding suppliers for the parts.
My biggest worry is electrical parts, we can fab just about anything else or have it made but what do ya do if your ECM goes for ****?
I was really hoping Erik was going to make a go of it this last time but if EBR isnt around what do we do?
I plan on driving mine into the ground but electrical bits are the one thing that scares me.....

 

[airbozo]

...

And to Calvin, airbozo, and midway...glad you're here and enjoying your Buells! :up:

Oh Hell yeah. Rode the XB to work for the first time since October. The mud and water mostly stopped running across the road so it was time.

I may be loving the XB, but a few of my neighbors seem tense when they asked me if I could please not WOT my bike out of the neighborhood. I promised to take it into consideration. They should be happy they don't need an alarm clock for 6:30am...

BTW: For anyone one the Bay Area, Dudley Perkins Co. Harley-Davidson (recently removed the Buell from their name) still services Buell's and told me they can get any part you need (even a bunch for my S3T). They are in South San Francisco.

 

[njloco]

6:30 ? Tell them there lucky, that's bankers hours, when I work, I'm usually out the door no later than 5:00, as in the AM ! My neighbors can move.

 

[Cooter]

ECM's will be the last of your worries.

1) They rarely go bad

2)They are interchangeable 03-07 and 08-10 (...not between DDFI2 and 3)

3) AND many more were separately supplied by EBR (and IDS) as well.

The rest of the sensors are interchangeable with other applications, just like the fuel pump is.

 

[midway]

Ok so it's been a while since I've been on here, kinda lurking in the background watching. My biggest worry is electrical parts, we can fab just about anything else or have it made but what do ya do if your ECM goes for ****?
I was really hoping Erik was going to make a go of it this last time but if EBR isnt around what do we do?
I plan on driving mine into the ground but electrical bits are the one thing that scares me.....

Yea the ECM was first thing I bought. I'm not going to be persuaded to save a little money and NOT have the parts I need someday or pay way too much. Like the Isolator, now at 116.00 not 66.00.

This is only my first Buell and I plan a second XB so I'm getting back on schedule and going after a backup regulator to add to my bin. Lunatic you are the man, and I was warned as a new member that you were and that you had a cult like following of attach dogs if anyone disagreed with you but seriously don't you have a garage full of Buell parts :up:

 

[user_deleted]

This is only my first Buell and I plan a second XB so I'm getting back on schedule and going after a backup regulator to add to my bin. Lunatic you are the man, and I was warned as a new member that you were and that you had a cult like following of attach dogs if anyone disagreed with you but seriously don't you have a garage full of Buell parts

thanks for the kind words. the basis and thought process behind my prior comments was/is the fact that i hate seeing board members entertain the notion that XB/1125 parts will disappear and be "unobtanium" somewhere in the forseeable future. it will NOT happen. period. in my lifetime i have seen the disappearance of coveted marquee models such as Vincent, Yamaha RD line, Suzuki Gammas, and the venerable Kawasaki H1 & H2.....which incidentally holds the distinction of the world's most collectible and sought-after Japanese vintage motorcycle. forty two years after the last H2 was produced there remains virtually as many new and quality used parts available as on the last day of production.
regarding your "garage full of parts" comment on any given day i own between 25 and 30 motorcycles. typically 4-6 of them are buell XB models. and yes i do have approx. 500 or more assorted XB parts in my inventory but then being a dealer that's part of the requirement to actually sell parts.

 

[airbozo]

midway:

When looking at the difficult parts to get for my 2000 S3T, I am mainly focusing on cosmetic stuff. I can get pretty much anything else, but just try to find a decent original license plate/turn signal holder...
I've had to replace it twice (first one broke due to vibration, yes it was a cheap pos) and am still looking for a replacement...
I am going to buy a complete set of plastics and a new seat since I know I will wear through mine. And left and right switch assemblies.

An ECM is also on the list mainly because I just can't replicate that like I can other electronic parts.

 

[midway]

regarding your "garage full of parts" comment on any given day i own between 25 and 30 motorcycles. typically 4-6 of them are buell XB models. and yes i do have approx. 500 or more assorted XB parts in my inventory but then being a dealer that's part of the requirement to actually sell parts.

Ah ha nice! So I've been looking for a lower belt guard lately. Not a critical component by any means but neither St Pauls or New Castle has a new one. These seem to have been taken off a lot of Buell's for cosmetic reasons so I would imagine several of you have them somewhere?

Pm me if you have one for a 04 firebolt because mine is broken.

 

[user_deleted]

Ah ha nice! So I've been looking for a lower belt guard lately. Not a critical component by any means but neither St Pauls or New Castle has a new one. These seem to have been taken off a lot of Buell's for cosmetic reasons so I would imagine several of you have them somewhere?

Pm me if you have one for a 04 firebolt because mine is broken.

there's over 50 of them active on ebay starting @ $1.00

 

[Cooter]

Suzuki Gamma....drool. That ludicrous smoky SOB brings back some old memories...