DudeHere is how I am looking at it...
Just for you "Positive Experience" people... the following post will not be positive! so please move on to reading a different thread...
I am a very mechanically enclined person. I have built many muscle cars, street, and rat rods. I HATE to pay someone to do ANYTHING bike or auto related because I know that I can fix or rebuild just about anything myself.
BUT.... When we pay $30K+ for our bikes, that have 50-70% proprietary parts on them and about 90-100% of the failures are to those parts, BDM SHOULD take care of those issues UNTIL they are or near 100% fixed. OTHERWISE BDM should put standard parts on the damn bike from the start so that it holds up like most any other custom built bike.
I gaurantee that if anyone of use eliminate all the proprietary parts, mainly the electrical parts, that 90%+ of the issues at hand would go away!!!!
I have had since Jan 1st 2008:
(1) EHC Failure - replaced @ 2700 miles
(2) Valve guide complete failure - complete new engine top end @ 2900 miles
(3) Volt Reg. recall Failure - new EHC,battery & headlight bulb @ approx 5000 miles
(4) EHC/Battery failure - new EHC and battery @ 5500
(5) Clutch Carrier Failure - BDM offered free repair & I turned it down
I wanted better parts, bought Bandit Machine Works setup @ 5900 miles
(6) Possible stator failure due to VR failure current issue @ 6300 miles
So, I guess I had about 2500 miles of "easy does it" riding while breaking in my bike after I got it. And then after the new top end got put on the motor I got another 2000 miles of "easy does it" riding before all hell broke loose with the charging /electrical system. And I do give BDM credit for standing up and replacing what they have.
...Thats all, now back to the regular scheduled program "positive BDM experiences"....
:iagree: nuf' saidI was just reading a post about newbee's coming to this site and seeing nothing but negative experiences or problem bikes.
This site certainly is about us sharing problems with our Big Dogs. Every Bike has problems that come up especially high powered bikes like ours.
What you don't hear is the Hundreds of us that have all our little problems straightened out and are very happy with our Dogs.
Yes some of us have had problems, but the company has taken care of most all of them.
BESIDES, I LOVE RIDING MY BIKE! On my harley yea, it was nice to go for a cruise BUT, on my BIG DOG I just love hoping on it and blasting down the road. It's like my Harley was a Cadillac and my Dog is a Ferrari.
And in truth, I used to drive a 6 series and a 7 series BMWs and I had many more problems with those 80K cars than my 30K Big Dog.
So for those who are lurking here seeing all the problems just be aware you are only seeing the problems not those of us that are happy with our bikes.
nuf' said,
Al
for the bike you get, these things are great,i think the bike is a nice design,but they could have built it a little better,the bikes are put together on a assembly line,just like a car,so thats why there are so many problems,i built my own bike,it was a ridgid 250 pro street with a 113 elbruto polished motor and 6speed,gota say im not perfect but the bike didnt give me any problems like this one i have now 2005 ridgeback,if it werent for this website i would have sold this shambo,but with the help of this site and the SO MANY been there down that problems you guys really make it easier to fix... so thank you ..as for bdm they are of no help to me and a bunch of other people ive spoke with and rode with that have these bikes, if you have the warranty thats different,but i bought this bike used private owner.i asked bdm if i could get the extended warranty cause the bike had 500miles when i bought it,and they said no,now i no why its a problem child...lol
Well actuall I have a 2005 and I have nothing but positive response for my Mastiff and dealings with dealer and BDM. That said do understand your point."just be aware you are only seeing the problems not those of us that are happy with our bikes."
I love my bike probably more than most of the members on here do!
(Notice: every positive response in this thread comes from owners with a year other than a 2005 model bike!) :zwhistle:
It Is! Smile, Be positive!!!![]()
best bike yet was the 04 107 ci. bigdog, chopper, still think its a better engine than 117ci.[and thats not a whine!]I know that most all problem have been fixed in the 2006, 2007 and 2008 model years for the most part and I wish I would have never given up my 2004 Ridgeback for my 2005 but done is done and I would still buy another.