06 Mastiff, $35,000 pile of junk.

[Thumper]

I agree, give the guy a break. Big Dogs are not all sunshine and skittles as we would like them to be. Many of us have had issues with our bikes. He has a bad problem and is asking for advice. If I had this bike, I can't think of a better description than a "piece of junk". It’s not like he belligerently trashed the company as a whole.

My advice, anytime you don't get what you expect out of a conversation with a service rep, go higher up. The squeeky wheel gets the grease. From my experience though, Big Dog is hard to deal with. They are very "by the book".

I guess if we are voicing opinions, IMO you are in the minority here with this. The reason there is a "book" is for companies to have guidelines. Yes, you can escalate your issue but you will find large number of people that have had issues resolved without jumping thru hoops. As well the dude is trash talking, sounds more like sour grapes than asking for advice. Not to say cant vent here but falls on deaf ears when newbies come stomping in.

 

[mobsta]

that sucks.i had big problems at 3500 miles.big dog wouldnt back it up,s/s said noway big dog buys the motors unassembled.i had s/s rebuild it.after 3500 miles more big problems and s/s basically said i was screwed,all out of warranty by time even with low mileage.however as i said before i still wouldnt give up on my bike and if i could afford it i would by another.good luck

 

[prodiver]

35k Mastiff junk Update

Went to the dealership and picked up the bike figuring it was going to be a long battle with the insurance co. I have been ridding and building Panheads, Shovelhead, and Evo motors for over fifty years and I have never seen a motor as badly damaged as this one was. The head and top of the piston looked like someone had taken a claw hammer to them. They could not even find the rear exhaust valve stem but the head of the valve was about the size of a quarter. The piston seized up to the cylinder wall and the crank shaft was bent. The dealer would not even consider rebuilding it and neither would I. This damage should not have happened with just over 12k on it that was never abused or even rode hard but shit happens. I picked up the bike and all the broken parts and got about half way home when the insurance co called me and said they had reviewed my case and were going to cover the damage. I just turned around and took it back to the dealer. Repair estimate $9155.64.

 

[nymikeok]

good deal..I hope it all works out

 

[bigdogtech01]

Went to the dealership and picked up the bike figuring it was going to be a long battle with the insurance co. I have been ridding and building Panheads, Shovelhead, and Evo motors for over fifty years and I have never seen a motor as badly damaged as this one was. The head and top of the piston looked like someone had taken a claw hammer to them. They could not even find the rear exhaust valve stem but the head of the valve was about the size of a quarter. The piston seized up to the cylinder wall and the crank shaft was bent. The dealer would not even consider rebuilding it and neither would I. This damage should not have happened with just over 12k on it that was never abused or even rode hard but shit happens. I picked up the bike and all the broken parts and got about half way home when the insurance co called me and said they had reviewed my case and were going to cover the damage. I just turned around and took it back to the dealer. Repair estimate $9155.64.

Sounds like someone is bending you over, $9155 to rebuild the motor, WTF!!!! I would be taking to someone else for sure. For that much money you might as well send it down to Kendal Johnson, get some real HP out of it. Why don't you just rebuild it yourself? you claim to know these motors. You rebuild it yourself and it will cost you only a few thousand, not even close to $9100.

 

[woodbutcher]

sounds to me like someone needs to take the tech that wrote the note on the ticket out back behind the woodshed and serve up a good dose of whoop-ass. if it was noisy enough then to put that note on there, it was bad enough to rebuild !!!!!!!!!! glad the insurance stepped up, but i'd take the money and send the motor to john sach, if he would do it. MHO.

 

[Dawgboy]

Went to the dealership and picked up the bike figuring it was going to be a long battle with the insurance co. I have been ridding and building Panheads, Shovelhead, and Evo motors for over fifty years and I have never seen a motor as badly damaged as this one was. The head and top of the piston looked like someone had taken a claw hammer to them. They could not even find the rear exhaust valve stem but the head of the valve was about the size of a quarter. The piston seized up to the cylinder wall and the crank shaft was bent. The dealer would not even consider rebuilding it and neither would I. This damage should not have happened with just over 12k on it that was never abused or even rode hard but shit happens. I picked up the bike and all the broken parts and got about half way home when the insurance co called me and said they had reviewed my case and were going to cover the damage. I just turned around and took it back to the dealer. Repair estimate $9155.64.

Holy shit. Change of fortune, huh.

 

[mobsta]

s/s rebuilt my 107 for 2500 bucks,they replace any parts needed,remeasure everything,go throught the whole motor,comes with 1 year warranty.after the one year thatsit.i put 3500 miles on it and all hell broke loose.sorry past one year have a nice day.

 

[bigdogtech01]

s/s rebuilt my 107 for 2500 bucks,they replace any parts needed,remeasure everything,go throught the whole motor,comes with 1 year warranty.after the one year thatsit.i put 3500 miles on it and all hell broke loose.sorry past one year have a nice day.

True true very true:iagree:

 

[Moespeeds]

Vegas I'm cracking up at your statement! Here in America we assemble shit, but we take pride in it damnnit!

 

[toadstool]

I agree with Vegas the Poser that buys one of these bikes and thinks he will have a relationship of trouble free miles is crazy,its a custom chopper most of the Ma and Pa shops are just waiting to pray on,used to be the only way to obtain a custom bike was to build it and then you knew the answer to every problem but as times change we now have folks mass producing dreams and with dreams there are always a few nightmares.

First off, I absolutely love my bike, problems and all. But….
Do you people hear yourselves? How brainwashed have you become to believe that a high end American made machine means that problems are to be expected and passively accept that your engine blew up after 10K miles. That crap makes me irate. We ride the Ferrari of bikes, sleek and sexy. Ask a Ferrari owner what they would do if their engine blew up after 10K miles. Our bikes are not custom, they are mass produced in a factory. Custom is created in a garage. When I buy American I expect quality, especially on a $29K toy. If a shit country can produce a Honda that never falls apart, we should be able to build a bike that lasts more than 10K miles. If your bike has 50K trouble free miles, good for you, seriously! But we are not talking about you.

 

[RADAMS445]

Amen!!!

 

[mike weimer]

in my opinion thats why bdm is in financial trouble. an unreliable over priced bike. they should have solved the mechanical problems made a reliable bike and things would be great. i am not alone in this thinking because if i was bdm resale value would be strong.

 

[Vegas]

First off, I absolutely love my bike, problems and all. But….
Do you people hear yourselves? How brainwashed have you become to believe that a high end American made machine means that problems are to be expected and passively accept that your engine blew up after 10K miles. That crap makes me irate. We ride the Ferrari of bikes, sleek and sexy. Ask a Ferrari owner what they would do if their engine blew up after 10K miles. Our bikes are not custom, they are mass produced in a factory. Custom is created in a garage. When I buy American I expect quality, especially on a $29K toy. If a shit country can produce a Honda that never falls apart, we should be able to build a bike that lasts more than 10K miles. If your bike has 50K trouble free miles, good for you, seriously! But we are not talking about you.

You don't get it. There haven't been that many engine failures around here. Compare big dog reliability to any other custom manufacturer. They win.....what does that tell you?

 

[Moespeeds]

The engines are great man, but it's a flawed design from the start. Look at what Honda is making, all counterbalanced and overhead cams and low compression, but you feel like you're riding a Dyson, not a chopper. The fact that my shit is trying to tear itself apart when I start it is what makes panties wet and little kids cry. The problem is that sometimes it actually does tear itself apart. Par for the course. Can't compare it to a Ferrari, because for what the Ferrari 3k service costs, you could almost buy a new engine for a BD. The Ferrari wouldn't make 10k miles without constant service, our bikes aren't much different.

 

[educ8tr]

I have to agree with toadstool, our bikes arent custom until we make the custom, they come off an assembly line. I know that when I dropped over $20,000 on my bike, I definately did not expect problems.

 

[KnotSo]

an unreliable over priced bike

Where are the facts to back up this statement?

Over priced? In my book, I would not have bought it if the value was overpriced for what I was getting. Buy a HD, then start adding this and that till you got a comparable bike to the Big Dog. You will cry when you realize what you just did.
Most of us have been down that path, or started down that path, certaintly, most of us have been down a similiar path. My bike is out of warranty, and will take full responsibility for whatever happens to it from here on out.

the Ferrari of bikes

I do not think my Mastiff is in this grouping.
Now, I do have a GS1395 that that statement would define, IMO.


Of course, I also do not look at this as a toy.
I got toys, and some are worth more than this bike, they are treated like a toy, and they do break. They are out of warranty and I do not expect the factory to cover anything. Yes, I am hard on my toys
I also have had issues with my harley, Hondas, Yammies, and a Zuki. IMO, if it is mechanical it will have issues.

Now, as far as prodiver goes, this guy comes on and with absolutly no respect to you all, the forum members, as he will not post an Intro, will not post the history of the bike, how it was ridden, who serviced it, will not toss up the printout of the ignition (tattletail report) and some pictures of the motor. Will not do anything but complain about a motor blowing up, then states he has 50 years working on Knuckleheads, Panheads, Shovelheads and Evo's, yet this one will cost over 9K to rebuild??? You can buy a brand new 117 for about $7000.

There is always two sides to every story and we are only getting one side with no supporting facts. I, for one would like to hear the whole story with supporting facts.

I will also say I have heard tales of breakage, then get a copy of the download and see where the motor was bouncing off the rev limiter for 2 plus hours. In this case, should the factory pick up the bill? Just saying...

Prodiver, give us more...

 

[Thumper]

Sounds like there is a good old fashioned AMERICAN pissing contest going on here. Wonder if they have those in JAPAN :loony::lol:

 

[chaingunner]

The engines are great man, but it's a flawed design from the start. Look at what Honda is making, all counterbalanced and overhead cams and low compression, but you feel like you're riding a Dyson, not a chopper. The fact that my shit is trying to tear itself apart when I start it is what makes panties wet and little kids cry. The problem is that sometimes it actually does tear itself apart. Par for the course. Can't compare it to a Ferrari, because for what the Ferrari 3k service costs, you could almost buy a new engine for a BD. The Ferrari wouldn't make 10k miles without constant service, our bikes aren't much different.

That is so true! I also agree with Vegas, your dealing with old engine tech. Solid motor mounts.... what do you expect.....:angry:

 

[jimizee028]

Before i go here i know i probally shouldnt,but i never have followed my instincts ,i allways have went with my compulsion.......everytime someone comes onto this forum with issues and states them.... its as though you have 5 lawyers jumping down his or her throats with the technicality that what you are saying is technically void 'CAUSE YOU DIDNT POST AN INTRO" automatically this means he has no right to tell his story.....This guy has a legitimate gripe ,and to me its obvious he has found this forum outta despair and trying to find some sorta solution or help for the problems he is having... i would freakin be pissed also,and lookin somewhere ,anywhere for help.I love my bike,and i will be forthcoming into saying that when i bought my bike for $30,000 i wasnt under the impression that this means its only gonna run MOST the time.....maybe some of you gott it like that,maybe some can afford these bike as just another addition to your garage full of toys,but i know i aint got it like that and when i dropped the money i kinda thought if what i got out of my $20,000 HARLEY DAVIDSON i would be getting just that much more from the BIG DOG for $30,000..... my biggest point i would like to make is like i said i love my bike,i love riding it,i love the looks of it....but i am not happy with the dependability factor of it...you can tell me what you want of how its a hot rod of motorcycles,and this can be expected,or you shouldve done your homework or whatever other technicality you would like to throw into the mix....looks and ride will get these bikes a 10 on the scale,,,at first i caught myself drinkin the kool-aid,until the issues affected my being able to go into the garage and attempting to start my bike on a regular basis..so dont come on this forum and pretend that this IS the maserati of all custom bikes,and that everyone and anyone that has an issue or problems is a dick or technically void cause of some tecnicality.....BOTTOM LINE IS THEY COULDVE DONE A BETTER JOB(BIG DOG) THEY DIDNT AND THIS IS ME SPITTIN THE KOOL AID OUT.......