Scared and Alone - A Buell Nightmare

[Midnight82]

I bought my bike just over a month ago. It's a 2004 xb12r. I bought it for $3,900. I bought it from a private party in Prescott Valley Arizona(100 miles from home). On my ride home, my clutch completely went out on me. I ride the bike to a gas station in second gear. Bring it to Harley the next day to find out the Primary Cover was broken. There's a lip where the clutch ramp run to that sheered off. While it's there I have a complete service done to the bike. Plugs, wire, battery, oil and filter. Fork seals and all.
On my ride home after getting the bike it died 5 miles from home. Turns out the Voltage Regulator went out. Replace that. 2 weeks go by and i'm noticing my clutch getting progressively worse. Last week I bring the beast in for another oil change and to have the clutch adjusted. I also order rocker box gaskets because I've noticed a new leak.
Get the bike back, and it's friggin rad. I'm feeling on top of the world. Two days later the clutch is draggin HARD again.

Bring the bike back, the pull the primary off and remove the clutch basket and they see the friggin goblin. The lip of the inner case where the snap ring holds the transmission bearings is broke.. In it's place are holes from where three screws and washers were holding the bearsings in place.

Short story long, I need to complete rebuild the engine with new cases and bearings.


I will NEVER buy a motorcycle off of craigslist again. It's either douchey people on CL, or I'm a friggin jinx.


Down for the count,
Eric

 

[maybebuell]

try to sell it ....dump it insurance job what ever it takes....for the money you spent and will spend you should be riding something new

 

[Midnight82]

I asked the service manager if I could bring in salvaged parts. But I guess since they're all "legitimate" that they can't put cases off of another bike onto mine because they're VIN specific.

 

[racepro716]

Once new a guy (NOT ME!!) who crashed his street bike at the track. Put all the street junk back on it and pushed it out of the pickup on the way home. Called the police and guess what? They come upon a crashed bike, a guy in obvious pain with shredded gear who hit the ditch avoiding a deer. It's been 16 years since I left the track but the bench racing stories just keep going and going and.... Wayne

 

[Midnight82]

I need to hire ninjas to make it vanish. [cool]

 

[onelogue]

Now thats just straight up bad luck! I bought a reconstructed '04 xb12r 6000 miles for $3,300 off a bike dealer on craigslist. (No history report what so ever, so I was gambling on a good deal) Bike has given me no problems! Runs like a champ and is faster than my brothers '08 or at least I like to think so

 

[Midnight82]

Dang, that's gangster.

I took the gamble and I lost, HARD. So now I want to go Jump Kick people all day.

Eric - Shadow Ninja

 

[zoedogg1]

Man!! That does bit big. I have the same bike and I have never had a problem that I didnt cause myself. Had 9700 miles when I got it from a dealer that never even changed the oil in it.

 

[ridendude]

shitty luck man. sorry to hear. I got my '04 XB12S off craiglist as well. Lucked out, been a fantastic bike. The owner worked @ the local harley shop, so it was reasonably maintained. 15000 km in 4 months and not a problem.
Good luck in the future and hope you're not soured too bad.[cool]

 

[the_F_inator]

I bought my '03 XB9R from Craigslist as well & got off to a really bad start too. I was riding it home from the guys house at night & after about 5 miles, the front brakes started pulsing really hard & then quickly began to LOCK up and stay locked.

This rocket scientist had improperly re-built the front master cylinder and the pressure releif valve was being closed off. Fortunately I had some visegrips with me & was able to crack the bleeder valve to relieve the pressure in the line. If not for that I would have been STUCK or could have wiped out pretty hard.

You do have to be really careful buying bikes off CL

It took a little while to fix most of the crap that this guy screwed up on the bike, but I'm really happy with it now.

 

[Midnight82]

Holy Buckets!!
The HD Dealership is dealing me a solid. I guess since I've bot a few bikes from them they want to lend a helping hand so they're cutting me a break on the repairs.

New cases, clutch, bearings and gaskets have been ordered!!!!

Man oh man am I a giddy little bastard right now.
I'm reinacting the old Toyota commercials, (Jumping and doing heal clicks)

I should be draggin my knee in about 2 or 3 weeks.

 

[briarsarmor]

I bought my '05 XB12R off of craigslist too about two months ago and have had no problems whatsoever. Sorry for the bad luck.

Briar

 

[Cocopelle]

Purchased my '03 XB9 off CL and have not had any problems mechanically with it. The previous owner did do some shibby re-wiring that I had to clean up. Other than that its been all gravy.

Sorry to hear about your ordeal but it sounds like it is working out for you.

 

[Ryan H]

Dang... I'm gonna buy one of CL pretty soon that I've been checking out.. Thanks for the horror story lol

 

[Midnight82]

I think the thing that I did wrong was get too psyched about the bike before REALLY looking it over before buying it.

There are clear signs that the bike was abused, and I had my rose colored glasses on and looked passed it.

Things to look for:
-Fork Seals leaking (possible wheelie abuse)
-cracked/broken rear fender - (probably did burnouts, tire expanded and heated up burning the fender)
-scuff/scratches on swingarm, mirrors, levers and frame. (lay down action)

My bike had all of these signs. (I'm a wicked smart buyer)

Once I get my bike back from the shop I'll have a brand new ride though. Rebuilt motor, new fork seals and what not.

PEACE

 

[Midnight82]

My Buell Update:
I'm having the beast fixed.
Having a ton of work done. Once they opened it up they realized there was more broke than origanally quoted.

*Needs two new pistons
*Needs new cams
*Needs a new 5th gear
*Case is being replaced
*Having a new clutch put in
*All new gaskets all the way around
*New bearings

Should have it back tomorrow.
I thought my bike was a monster before, I can't imagine what it'll be like once I am running at 100%. With broken/cracked pistons and a spun crank I must have lost a bunch of power.

 

[only1reds]

You are lucky my friend. Sorry for all of this but now look on the brighter side, you are being taken care of over at the HD dealership, so everything works out. Just in time for summer

 

[Midnight82]

Very true, But summer started 3 months ago here in Phoenix. We're nearing hell now. Riding in 110 degrees is FUN (Sarcasm).

 

[only1reds]

Oh wow, I've driven thru Phoenix a couple of times passing thru. 118 on my car's thermostat, NOT COOL [down]

But the chicks are also HOT there, so I suppose you guys get a [up] for that , oh and Sedona of course

 

[Midnight82]

Valid ;-)