2009 Buell 1125R

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HARLEY DAVIDSON BUELL 1125R MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL FREQUENTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE TURN SIGNALS AND GAUGES WOULD BECOME INOPERATIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED PARTS THAT WERE UNKNOWN TO THE CONTACT. THE REPAIR DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,400 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 8,242.

I HAVE HAD THREE EXPERIENCES WITH THE STATOR FAILING. THE FIRST TIME WAS AUGUST OF 2011 THE BIKE HAD 5660 MILES, AND I HAD OWNED IT FOR ABOUT 16 MOS. IT STARTED WITH A SYSTEM VOLTAGE READING AND THE BATTERY WAS LOSING ITS CHARGE MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO START WITHOUT JUMPING OR PUTTING A CHARGER ON THE BATTERY. THE NEXT EPISODES WERE TWICE IN JANUARY OF 2012 AT 6786 MILES, WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS SHUT OFF AND THE SPEEDOMETER BEGAN FLICKERING AND THE TURN SIGNALS ALSO QUIT WORKING. I CHECKED ALL FUSES AND NOW I HAVE TURN SIGNALS AND SPEEDO LIGHTS BUT NO HEADLIGHTS WHETHER ON HI OR LOW BEAM, AND I AM AGAIN GETTING A SYSTEM VOLTAGE READING ON THE SPEEDO. HOW MANY TIMES WILL THIS HAVE TO HAPPEN BEFORE HARLEY DAVIDSON IS FORCED TO COME UP WITH A SAFE AND EFFECTIVE FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM? MUST SOMEONE DIE FIRST? I HAVE READ ONLINE OF PEOPLE USING A 2008 STATOR AND HAVING NO MORE PROBLEMS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BUELL 1125R MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WHEN HE WAS ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A SMALL HOLE IN THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND ALL OF THE CLUTCH FLUIDS HAD LEAKED. THE DEALER ORDERED THE PARTS NEEDED FOR REPAIRS AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE BUT THE PARTS HAD NOT YET BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO FILED A CLAIM ON BEHALF OF THE CONTACT BUT OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,400.

THE STATOR FAILED, SO THE ENGINE CUT-OUT AS I WAS RIDING WHEN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE ENOUGH POWER TO RUN THE CONTROL SYSTEMS. THE CHARGING SYSTEM WAS ALSO AFFECTED, RESULTING IN A DRAINED BATTERY. WHEN THE ENGINE CUT-OUT, THE REAR WHEEL SKIDDED (JUST SHORT OF LOCKING UP) UNTIL I PULLED THE CLUTCH TO TAKE THE ENGINE OUT OF GEAR. I HAD TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD, PRESUMABLY WITH NO BRAKE LIGHTS OR INDICATOR LIGHTS. *TT

DURING LIGHT TRAFFIC (STOP-AND-GO) AND LOW-RPM OPERATION OF THE MOTORCYCLE (HIGHWAY SPEEDS IN HIGH-GEAR), THE STATOR WINDINGS OVER HEAT AND SHORT. THIS CAUSES THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO DRAIN THE BATTERY UNTIL THE ELECTRICAL AND LIGHTING SYSTEMS FAIL COMPLETELY. THE STATOR WAS REPLACED WITH A BRAND NEW OEM PART BY A CERTIFIED TECHNICIAN AT THE SERVICING DEALERSHIP, BUT THE SAME MODE OF FAILURE AND RESULTS HAPPENED AGAIN LATER IN THE SAME YEAR (AUGUST 2010) AT 7000 MI ON THE ODOMETER. *TR

COMPONENT: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR THE STATOR & REGULATOR/RECTIFIER ASSEMBLIES ON THE 2009 BUELL 1125R AND 2009 BUELL 1125R MOTORCYCLES CREATE A UNCONTROLLED BUILD UP OF ELECTRICAL HEAT THAT CAN CAUSE THESE COMPONENTS TO FAIL. THE STATOR ASSEMBLIES HAVE INSUFFICIENT THERMAL PROTECTION TO HANDLE THE HEAT GENERATED BY THE CHARGING SYSTEM. THIS CAUSES THE ELECTRICAL INSULATION TO MELT TO A POINT WHERE A SHORT CIRCUIT SITUATION IS CREATED AND THE STATOR FAILS. THE REGULATOR/RECTIFIER WAS PRODUCED WITH INSUFFICIENT ABILITY TO DISSIPATE HEAT GENERATED BY THE CHARGING SYSTEM. THIS CONDITION CAUSES EXCESSIVE HEAT WITHIN THE CHARGING SYSTEM AND UNCONTROLLED ELECTRIC CURRENT OUTPUT WHICH CAN RESULT IN INSUFFICIENT CHARGING CURRENT BEING PROVIDED TO THE MOTORCYCLE BATTERY. THIS CAN CAUSE THE DISCHARGE OF THE BUELL MOTORCYCLE'S BATTERY, WHICH CAN LEAD TO STALLING OR A NON-START CONDITION; IF THE MOTORCYCLE'S ENGINE STALLS, IT COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH. *KB

WHILE DRIVING DOWN ROAD AT ABOUT 30-35MPH, LOW VOLTAGE LIGHT CAME ON. HAD HARLEY DAVIDSON DIAG AND REPAIR BURNT STATOR. WAS RETURNED VEHICLE AND CHARGING SYSTEM WORKED. HAD CHARGING SYSTEM OVERLAY HARNESS INSTALLED BY HARLEY DAVIDSON. SINCE THEN, HAVE HAD 2 FAILED VOLTAGE REGULATORS, 1 FAILED BATTERY AND HAVE BEEN LEFT STRANDED NUMEROUS TIMES DUE TO DISCHARGED BATTERY. VEHICLE HAS STALLED AT VERY LOW SPEEDS(1-5 MPH) WHILE IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC ON I-26 IN THE MIDDLE LANE. BATT WAS SO DISCHARGED WITH NO CURRENT PROBLEMS(OTHER THAN 1 LEG OF CHARGING BEING DISABLED DUE TO HARNESS OVERLAY). HAD TO PUSH BIKE BY HAND ACROSS SEVERAL LANES OF TRAFFIC DURING RUSH HOUR TO GET TO SAFETY. VEHICLE NOW HAS 20,000 MILES AND WILL HAVE SECOND NEW REGULATOR INSTALLED ON 10-14-11. *KB