Morning All
I purchased a Buell XB12Ss Lightning Long in Dec 08, love the bike appart from the corrosion problems I am now having. The cheesegrater tail piece, front headlight surround, exhaust (I know its a common problem), have been replaced by the dealer. But the rear pulley and front engine bar mount (drops from frame to engine and is the mount for the oil radiator(?)) where the paint is just flaking off have not been replaced.

I have since noticed that the area around the front forks (the circular surface that faces upwards) and the cover on the right side of the engine have started bubbling.

It is still under warranty but the dealer is refusing to replace any more parts and Harley have said they back the dealer.

I have ridden a bit through winter but always washed the bike down prior to putting it away, the dealer asked if I had dried the bike off as well. Their other unhelpful comment was that "they do say harley owners spend more time polishing than riding their bikes".

There is another bloke who appears to have similar paint problems on a 2009 XB12SS but he is only about to take it to the dealer.

Does anyone have any similar problems or advice on how to proceed?

(I was advised to move the post from new members to here for more response)

I had exactly the same. The bubbling on the top of the lower fork castings could have been avoided by spraying S100 on them, but the dealer didn't tell you this did he?

Anyway, I had paint peeling from the bottom yoke, and the front engine mount, both were replaced under warranty without quibble, however when I came back with the bubbling on the lower fork castings (which Adam had had replaced under warranty on his XB), the flaking on the rear sprocket and a pitted front disc I was met with a brick wall.

I got in touch with Buell UK, who called the dealer then called me back and basically told me the same as the dealer. My only course of action was to call the salesman who I bought the bike off (part of the same group of shops) and told him if he did not arrange for these parts to be fixed I would not buy a bike from the group again. The warranty work was then actioned very quickly, however the service manager was not happy at having to go back on his word and I am not sure if the customer / shop relationship has recovered since.

What did this all do for the dealer? Well, when I have bought another Buell, and I have bought two since this warranty claim, I have given the dealer the opportunity to sell me a bike. The first bike, the 1125R, they could not match the price I had been offered one for. The second, I was on the verge of buying an XT off them, but somebody snook in before me (whilst I was trying an X for size) and bought it. I was then told there would be no more new Buells, so I bought a 200 mile old X. Since then, they have had another batch of new Buells including 9 1125Rs, some CRs, some Xs and some XTs. Basically, in appreciation of their honouring of my warranty, I would have bought from them again, and I wanted to...

What did this do for me? Well, when I got my 1125R, I sprayed S100 (take note Foz) on the lower castings on the forks and on the other parts which I thought would suffer from paint bubbling. I did the same on my Uly. Basically, the paintwork is shoddy, but there are ways of looking after it, and prevention, as I have learned, is better than cure.

It would be useful for the dealer to give you some advice when you buy the bike though!

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08 Specialized Langster

Yep you are quite correct, the dealer didn't tell me that about spraying any of the paintwork.

Useful info that there is precedent for someone having the engine yoke/mount replaced under warranty, as the main two items I have issue with are the yoke and the rear pulley.

I have been taking extra extra special care of the pulley but it appears too late as the paint flakes of when you touch it!!

I had my rear pulley replaced under warranty due to paint flaking off, no questions asked - 07 XB12STT, Edinburgh Harley Davidson. I should have the receipt for it somewhere, I can see if there are any codes on it they can look up? It was at the end of last year, around October.

That's bullshit from them replacing some parts and not others. The Harley riders polishing thing is bullshit too - you didn't buy a Harley!

Try speaking to trading standards, or at least tell the dealer you're going to speak to them.

Your only other option is to hang around their shop every Saturday morning explaining what peachs they are to all the customers. Or speak to Black Bear dealers - they seem to have a rep for helping people with Buells out.

So, who is the dealer giving you the runaround - you're in Swindon, Pash is in Bristol - you may both be using the same dealer !

Tried that, but it didn't work - Thanks Steve

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08 Specialized Langster

Dealer is Oxford Harley Davidson... their comment was that they see a lot of buells and have never seen one with paint flaking off on the forks, engine mount and rear pulley. Interestingly I have now seen a Buell 1125 with similar front fork corrosion. Anyhow spoke with trading standards and have written a letter to the finance company as apparently they have a legal responsibility to sort the matter out under the Sales of Goods act 1973 (amended).

We will see where this goes... it is very useful to know that people have had the same parts I am having issues with replaced under warranty.