Just got an 07 Firebolt XB12

[DougH]

Well got a call from the bike shop today. Good news is the header came in early so its now got dual HIDs, and air horn, and a ceramic coated header. The bad is that they spotted a hole in the belt so they are ordering me an S&S /Gates Belt for $183 bucks which I wasnt planning to spend. Hopefully that is the OEM belt. I told them I didnt want the cheaper $150 goodyear belt that I have heard can be problematic.

 

[Lusiphur]

a 1200 V-Twin is equal to a 600cc I4 in most aspects except for torque. The buell has double+ torgue compared to an R6 but the same HP.
But, that's no reason why someone can't learn and be careful.

That's a great looking bike. Keep the rubber down and enjoy an awesome ride

Just be prepared for one thing.
Whenever you go to a bike gathering,
YOU WILL BE the center of attention.

 

[DougH]

Well I got the bike back. Cost way more than I thought it would. The guy spent hours on the HIDs and air horn and I assumed an hour each max. I think the airhorn looks fugly how he did it too. Sigh. At least the pipes look nice. Not sure why the shop did the airhorn like they did as I've not seen anyone else use a goopy sealant.

 

[DougH]

 

[Chicknstripn]

No offense man but I would demand they rework that BS. You paid good money for those jokers to do a professional job. That does not look professional.
And what's up with the belt?
They hand the bike back to you like that?

 

[DougH]

Didn't take pics of the new belt. That's the old one. Kept it in case of an emergency and I need to put it back on sincenits not completely gone. $850 with tax and I was expecting $700 tops. The guy said he had almost an hour just prying the compressor off the airhorn and said he had to put it back together since part of it fell apart? Just so disappointed in how the horn looks.

 

[BambamXB12r]

How does it sound when next to it and at speed?

 

[DougH]

Haven't tried it at speed but its loud sounding next to it.

 

[lawdog]

What shop did the work?

 

[DougH]

BG Motorcycle here in BG if you have heard of it. I'm pretty upset. The other work is good but I'd rather them tell me they messed it up and been honest. He said he has to bore out the hole a little to get the hose to fit. I don't know why he didn't use a different hose? I supplied the wiring kit with relay and horn. I'd have bought the ******* hose and proper fittings myself if I knew how bad it would look. I don't know what to do. $130 in labor for that goopy looking horn. I guess I shouldn't let it bother me but it does. Especially for that money. I was planning of doing that and HIDs myself but boss set me up this week for a bunch of 12 hour days and I really wanted the bike back up sooner. I assumed with an actual shop they would have no problem doing the HID and horn in an hour each not 2 hours each.

 

[Chicknstripn]

Have you tried talking to the shop about your dissatisfaction with the airhorn? Be honest with them and you never know they might do something to try and improve the finish of the horn. The fit, spot where it's mounted, and all doesn't seem bad. It's just that sealant or whatever that makes it look extremely amateur. I'm sure if you had the time you would have made it look more professional. I know the whole deal here was a time issue but now you're going to have to waste more of your time haggling or hashing this out with the shop.
Like I said, I'm sure if you approach the owner the right way they might help you out. That's the only way that shop would save face with me and insure they'd see more business from me.
Good luck

 

[DougH]

Ya I agree. Its a family owned shop. I worked with the cousin of the guy who did the job for over a year. He even said he would complain.

 

[lawdog]

I am not familiar with them myself. Then again I do all my own work so I dont have a lot of experiences with shops around here. If it was me I would just pull the airhorn, get a new plastic scoop, and fix it myself when I have the time. Maybe mount the air horn up under the front fairing or near the bottom on the engine mount cross bar. Whatever would look better. Is the air horn toast too with that goop on it? Can you clean it up?

 

[DougH]

The shop said they would try to fix it and want to make me happy. He said the goop is just silicone and will come right off. I think he wants me to go buy the fitting myself. I like the location. Its just that the execution was poor.

 

[vicenzajay]

Yeah - welcome to motorcycle shop maintenance. I have yet to *not* be shocked at what a job actually costs when it's all said and done.

Not trying to take the focus away from the job on the horn - that looks awful.

the shocking bills are why I started doing the wrenching myself on the Blast on every job I possibly can. Gotta learn the Firebolt, but the goal will be to visit the shop as infrequently as possible.

 

[BambamXB12r]

You and me both. The how to videos the guys make on here are really helpful too. In the end I figure it's all nuts and bolts with the right tools and a little bit of help.

 

[DougH]

Ya. I took the time to open up the airbox and install heat shielding. I'm sure that would have been another $65 from the shop if they did it.

 

[DougH]

So apparently my friend thinks I acted high and mighty at the bike shop as if I knew more about the bike than the bike shop. And apparently people on the forum don't know what they are talking about. My friend must be blind. Still waiting to hear back from the shop again and debating about even taking it in again. My friend doesn't think its a big deal and apparently I pissed him off by acting like all the Buellers know more about what looks good than him. If my bike wasn't being stored at his place i'd probably tell him I didn't know the mechanic was his boyfriend.

 

[BambamXB12r]

I definitely would not take it back. It sucks to be out of some money but it's not worth wasting your time again. Or even further pissing off your "buddy" if you don't like the work after it comes back the second time. I bet they gave it their best shot the first time around so what's the point in letting them continue work that your not satisfied with.

 

[cjanderson_90]

Dude that horn looks super terrible. And it also looks like is the hose ever fails, youll have to remove all that silicon or whatever they used on it. Id take it back immediately. Id at least have them remove it and all of the silicon, reimburse you for the labor they charged and do it myself with some youtube videos. You should try not to mount the pump away from the horn, you're losing decibels that way.