08 Ridgeback on fire, never again!

[erldawg]

Sorry for the problems. Get it all fixed right and see what happens.
I have the same ridgeback......not one issue what-so- ever. tranny is smooth as silk. neutral hits home all the time. (I did put in the bakker recommended fluid) shifts fine up and down.
On trickle charger. I check for unusuall temps on the machine every time I park it. Nothing super hot anywhere.
Good luck. Regards Juice.

I forgot about the change transmission fluid..:2thumbs:

You know, sometimes people and Dogs don't get along. Take the bike back to the pound, get a cat(pussy bike). Maybe the Dog didn't like you. Just saying.

:roll::roll::roll:

 

[PurpleDog]

I got all choked up reading your most unfortunate sequence of events leading to your current situation. PM me your address so that I can send you care package.

I do hope you have better luck with your decision to change vehicle make/model. Best of luck and ride well.

 

[Oscar Maldonado]

Your only option is to figure it all out on your own. If you think you are just going to take it to the dealer every time something goes wrong like you did with your old bikes, you're in for a very rough ride. It's the price you pay for cool, think of it as owning a muscle car.

I'm going to have to agree with Moe on this one. :up:

It is going to cost you some serious chedder if you bring it back everytime a problem should arise. Working on these is not that hard. If you search on this site you can probably find an answer to any question you have. Good luck and I hope all works out for you.

 

[jaggerz]

The trans not downshifting properly may be due to tight rod-ends on the shifter linkage. This happened to me on my 2006 K-9 at 2000 miles and usually after it had been ridden for 1-2 hours. Replace the rod ends, there are several threads about this issue. Good Luck with you bike.

 

[Brew]

:iagree: Lube them heim joints, it looks like rust is on your rod-end

 

[BigSpenda864]

As someone mentioned before, it sounds like some of these issues were from the previous owner not taking care of the bike. I haven't had any issues with my bike really. Its certainly not a mass produced Japanese bike so there will be some adjusting along the way. I thought long and hard about buying this type of bike because they do require a bit more care and work than more mass produced bikes. A few issues just come with the territory.

 

[BikersDream]

Sorry to here of your issues.
Did you buy the scoot from a dealer or a private party?
Sounds like the previous owner did not take care of the bike at all.



5. General rule of thumb is new battery every 2 years

1. Getting into neutral has been an issue and has been covered in several threads on that topic

2. Trans issue could be several things

6. There has been an issue with the voltage regulators and a fix was offered by BDM thru the dealers.

3/4. Lenses and suction cups breaking is not common

Harley mechanics generally are not up to speed on these dogs

Might want to pick up a service manual and go thru the scoot and give it 100% check up.

:iagree::iagree::iagree:

 

[stryfox]

I am satisfied with the quality of my bike.
There are some items that I think could be better, problem I see is it would just add to the price of the bike.

 

[Bigdog_Outlaw]

Quality ?? I can feel the quality of a Bigdog just by the first touch....then after sitting on one and riding one these awesome machines, I know they are of a higher quality than any bike out there. Most of these problems that you have listed are minor ones at best....the wire melting issue looks to be caused by poor maintenance and running your bike unattended.

If you don't think the feeling of riding a badass bike like a Bigdog is worth a few minor problems....then you just don't get it.

But, don't post some lame poll hoping to get a bunch of guys complaining about poor quality in order to justify your cause.

 

[Little-Boo]

Obviously, when the battery wasn't charging properly and you replaced the battery, you should have immediately checked to make sure that the new battery was charging properly, you would have found it wasn't either. At that time you would have found that the VR had already failed.

The trans shifting is a matter of a correct adjustment being made and looks like whoever is working on it doesn't know anything about these adjustments. The trans not shifting is not a common problem, but something that happens from time to time and usually a simple fix.

X3

Carlos

 

[DoubleD]

From the looks of the bike in the pics it looks like its had a hard 2000 miles. These bikes do require a bit of additional maintenance but the rewards of owning and riding one are well worth the time and effort. Those Jap bikes may have run flawlessly but I can guarantee you most everyone you passed never even notice what you were riding. You ride a dog and you won't have any problem knowing if your bike was noticed. All you have to do is look around and here is what you will see :up: :2thumbs: :up: :2thumbs:

 

[DoubleD]

You know, sometimes people and Dogs don't get along. Take the bike back to the pound, get a cat(pussy bike). Maybe the Dog didn't like you. Just saying.

Now that there is a Hoot!!

 

[Mickeetwo]

Most of your problems seem minor and nothing that couldn't happen to any other kind of motorcycle that is fairly new (2000 miles) VR is probably what took the battery out and fire. To early to call it a lemon. Fix the problems and ride it, and give us another report in 6 months. Hang in there.......it will get better (possibly ) To say that other non-USA bikes never have a problem when new is a stretch. Your setting yourself for disappointment in any motorcycle you buy.

 

[GDOG_PITBULL]

Sorry you are having issues with your ride dude. My advice is to get the problems worked out, and once they are you will have hours of killer bike time. Even with the issues these bike have, I am looking for another BDM right now!:2thumbs:
G

 

[XTREEME]

It seems that you went into this purchase unprepared for what is all involved in owning an American chopper. This site alone has most of the information and warning that you would have needed to fully rationalize BEFOREHAND whether or not this type of bike was right for you.

It also seems like you are now looking for sympathy, or maybe even some kind of acknowledgment from the rest of the population here that we are all wrong and stupid for owning these choppers that break down so often. I dunno, that opening post just sounds childish.

Now, a lot of us have had various issues to contend with on our Dogs, and some a lot more drastic that what you have described, but I don't see a lot of the kind of response to the words of your opening post. Whether or not we anticipated the issues we were dealt with, the majority seem to be able to take it in stride and deal with the necessary repairs involved because we really love what these bikes are all about. I mean the whole experience, not just the 'riding them through town because I look cool' part.

As some have mentioned earlier, not all are cut out for it. All I know is that I have a smile on my face every time I start mine up.

 

[Brew]

:iagree: Tru dat XTREEME...:2thumbs:

 

[Fibersnake]

Sorry to hear of all your problems, but first thing as has already been said, is never leave an air-cooled motor idling for 10 min to warm it up. It will for sure and allot more than you ever intended. There is a reason it is called air cooled!

On the tranny, sounds like it just needs a little adjustment as well as learning a little bit of the tendency of these. Taking it to all the dealers who cannot seem to figure out how to make a simple adjustment is not a indication of the bike being a POS!

Learn to fix it yourself, start reading the many helpful threads and how to on here, get it back on the road and enjoy like the vast majority of us do.

 

[Ray]

Agrees with Chacha , not for the timid, and not for those that don't turn wrenches as well, agrees with all the other guys too. I have rode Harleys, well never actually owned one, but slipped my step father's out while he was at work . I don't know if that counts!!!! Might I add never got caught! I owned and rode a Norton ( old style chooper, not really, just a chopper want to be!!), Suzuki, Yamaha, and a Honda when Honda were still cool!! I wrenched them all, took care of them all phychotically.. Still would rather have the scooter even with the issues!!! none of the other bikes had a forum!!!!!! Well that was before Al Gore invented the internet too!! Why would anyone cover up a nasty bike?

Ray Wished I had it!! I rescued my dog!!!!

 

[Tomtang aka Reptilejim]

You have to be patient, tough, persistent and have friends with big dogs. Thank God for this forum! You can't beat a big dog. Hang in there!

 

[JDog]

I would not charge thr battery with a high amp charger with the battery cables hooked up. Undo one of them before charging unless just using a tender. Can be hard on the VR.