It certainly opened my eyes to the flaws in the Xb when I spent an afternoon with Maz.

When he showed me the play in the clutch basket bearing I was astonished. As my bike has only covered 4200 miles!! (XB12Ss)

They are engineered to a price, everything is. Harley/Buell won't care as as someone said here these problems usually occur out of warranty.

_________________
I intend to live forever.....................................so far, so good!

I've seen that nervouse twitch in Maz, the day I rolled up on me 9!
I don't think the negativity comes from this board but started from the board of directors at HD. May be they have been clever but by default caused upset in their customers sprouting negativity.

N.

Visiting your shop reminds me of when I bottomed the Gouffre Berger in the 80's

_________________
If your dreams don't scare you, they are not big enough.

Have to? Every other tyre change? Seven (or eight) tyre changes for me on assorted XBs. No new wheel bearings. Never had a problem. Always got the green light from BB, which is good enough for me.

No brand loyalty issues, but Maz's XB-bashing does get tedious after a while.

I know .....thats the scary bit

You want to try spannering the same old failures over and over again, now THAT'S tedious

_________________
Mithered ta death.
92 MB
96 S2T
98 S1W
00 M2
01 X1
03 P3
10 CR

Do you (or anyone else) remove your wheels to check the bearings? If not, they probably feel fine. Mine certainly did before I removed the wheels at just over 3k miles on my 1125 for its second tyre change. (You cannot tell the condition of the bearings while they're on the bike, unless they're about to catastrophically fail - it's been the same on all 4 XB's I've owned)
Do you get charged for wheel removal for the bearing check at a dealers?

Having owned over 60 bikes in 40 years of riding, the XB is the only bike I've ever made a special tool for, to insert the bearings easily. I actually have a collection of knackered bearings with their respective mileages noted - really, I'm not making it up. If you get up to Deliverance PT2, you can feel them and then tell me if you'd be prepared to ride on them. One bearing removed from my XBSs, is virtually impossible to turn with your fingers and makes a horrible noise - the wheel felt fine on a paddock stand

_________________
If your dreams don't scare you, they are not big enough.

Dont waste ya breath Adam, if BB say they're fine, then that's OK then

_________________
Mithered ta death.
92 MB
96 S2T
98 S1W
00 M2
01 X1
03 P3
10 CR

Tis very popular today to be nannied, for generations now folk have just accepted what they are told. Started with the wars me thinks. Only been told what we need to know and what we want to hear. The modern term is "bullshitted" in order to appease and please or comfort someone into a false sense of security cos it's easier than getting of ya arse and doing something about it.
The "blame" it society today has a big play in this condition in as much folk really do believe that they are never to blame and it is someone else's fault. Ignorance is bliss! The only trouble with burying your head in the sand is your arse is on display for all to F@$k ya!

Finnished now

N.

I think your right in what you're saying Nate, but in defence of BB, from what people say about them on this site, it's safe to assume that they are a highly reputable dealership that genuinely cares about its customers. If I didn't live the other side of the country from them, they'd certainly have my custom
However, I'm blessed that Maz and MchrHD are reasonably close.

_________________
If your dreams don't scare you, they are not big enough.

I bypass Preston HD and travel the extra distance to Maz and Manchester HD because of thier reputation, and Maz is such a joy to be around when he tells you how much he likes your bling on the XB

_________________
I intend to live forever.....................................so far, so good!

Steve

_________________
Back on the road again!

....did you free up enough budget to buy your workshop some proper tyre changing gear yet Steve ?........ie. a dynamic balancer instead of that antique static jobbie you had ?

_________________
Mithered ta death.
92 MB
96 S2T
98 S1W
00 M2
01 X1
03 P3
10 CR

Tried one but we sent it back under warranty because it made a horrible squealing noise every time we put a Buell wheel on it

I'm no engineer but myself and the guys I work with put a lot of miles on these bikes and would feel a problem on the road. Didn't stop me feeling paranoid and spoiling the ride throughout my nearly 2000 mile JOGLE trip thinking of the smug grin on your face when you would have to come out to recover me though Strange thing is that 14 Buells completed that trip, a total of over 25000 miles with no problems whatsoever. Must have just been luck or the karma of having a BB staff member with them

Steve

_________________
Back on the road again!

_________________
Good in straight lines
2001 X1 "The Tart's Handbag"
2001 FZS1000 "The Fridge"