Ridgeback

[Beerdrinkinhellraiser]

I've been digging thru the forums searching for posts about dealers and BDM reliability.
Here's my conclusions:
Super Street Custom is good to buy from, bad for service.
Bikers Dream is good on service, but no comments on pricing.

I've got my eye on a Ridgeback at Super Street, but I'm concerned about the reliablity issues. They seem to have quality control problems and I wonder about the stability of BDM in this economy. What happens to the warranty if they go belly up? I owned a AIH Tejas for a while and the small quality control issues drove me nuts. My tranny leaked from day one and in spite of repeated repairs by Bikers Dream, it was still leaking the day I sold it. I had issues with the service dept. at Bikers Dream, but apparently the service manager is a different guy now. I've had problems with the Harleys I've owned too, but there is a huge dealer network to turn to and they generally stand behind their warranties.
Any thoughts from current owners would be welcomed.

 

[jaybird]

Go for it. No more problems with my Ridgeback than any of my Harleys. BDM does catch alot of crap and it would be good if you could find a realiable dealer.Look around for a dealer you can trust.BDM customer service could use alittle help with customer service. Don't know where you live but in VA., we have a great dealer "Full HOUSE CYCLES" they take care of the customer.. Good luck

 

[419jasons]

I got an '08 Ridgeback and love it, but it is a 2nd to my '05 Goldwing. I have had some issues, and based on the posts on here I will continue to have some issues. But, it is way fun to ride, especially when I am going solo. In my opinion a chopper is a bad purchase in any economy. However the bad economy is a big reason I was able to justify buying one, low resale value is great when you are the buyer. I am sure the person that owned it before me took a beating, but they only kept it a year......duh. You would take a beating if you did that with any car. Sounds like you got more experience than most trying to make this decision, since you owned an AIH. You sold it for a reason. Well, it is 78 here today, so I am going to go ride my BD.

 

[Ray]

Agrees with Jaybird, Go for it , only if you really like the scooter, but be prepared to fix things yourself,if and when the dealer's let you down. As someone says one this forum, why pay someone else to mess your bike up when you can do it yourself. All you need is a few tools and very good forum with a bunch of great people with knowledge of these scooters and the willingness to share that knowledge to help you fix it yourself. So let's see you already found the forum (with a bunch of great people with knowledge of these scooters and the willingness to share that knowledge to help you fix it yourself), and you can get tools most anywhere. Somewhere on here you might even find a calender too !!

Ray :2thumbs:

When you get that scooter bring it by the house and leave it a few days , and I will personally make it shine like a big billet/chrome mirror!!

 

[Beerdrinkinhellraiser]

Thanks for the info. I live in N.E. Alabama, so I'm pretty much screwed as far as dealerships go. Super Street (Ringold, GA) is the closest at about 70 miles and Bikers Dream (Alpharetta, GA) is next at about 130 miles. Anybody know any certified repair shops close by?

 

[steve03mastiff]

i have 2 big dogs. fairly new to them both. i absolutely love riding them. but am quickly finding out, that i cannot just BUY a part with ease. i call the factory, they say call a dealer..so i call a dealer...the dealer calls the factory, then dealer calls me??? No, i call the dealer back, and they so...OH, they are out of that part.

so, i'm gonna ride the shit out of these bikes till they fall apart!!! cause i do enjoy riding them...serious head turners for sure.

btw i did find what appears to be a very good dealer in oklahoma. thanks to this forum, i called Matt in Tulsa. he seems cool...gonna buy handlebars from him.

 

[echoniner111]

best advice , don't wash these bikes with water . Mines never seen water due to mother nature or by washing .

 

[BBChopper]

best advice , don't wash these bikes with water . Mines never seen water due to mother nature or by washing .

I ride in the Florida rain all the time other wise you would never ride down here, also wash because I live on a dirt road. Just dont soak the hand controls or battey box.:2thumbs:

 

[V]

I ride in the Florida rain all the time other wise you would never ride down here, also wash because I live on a dirt road. Just dont soak the hand controls or battey box.:2thumbs:

Yep same as AZZ said. I wash everything above the top tree with a mild spray on cleaner and and hand wipe. The rest with Turtlewax wash or Mequiers. Light rinse with the hose and very easy around the seat.

Rain, well it happens and ya can't sit under the carwash forever.

Get the bike and learn to maintain, service and trouble shoot probs yourself. Not hard to and get the bike:2thumbs: