Would you buy another Big Dog??

[Nomad2day]

No way for me....
One year the 2007 Bulldog was advertised as the flagship BDM bike with EFI and the next year it was gone for good it seems. Do I have a one off bike that parts will be hard to come by now?

To many proprietary parts on the bike and especially if you go EFI, the mapping is proprietary as well. The bike is a single band O2 system not a wide band for the cost of the bike. BDM advertises the system as S&S made it VFI "self learning" but has manipulated the system so it cannot function as S&S produced it. You cannot remap the bike and you do not have access to the fault codes. You will have to change out the module if you modify the motor, but it is suppose to be a self learning alpha closed loop system "Not". Perhaps they have placed parameters on how far it can learn and then fault the system. BDM uses a locked secure map. Only corporate can modify the map seeing how the source code has been manipulated, not even a certified S&S VFI tuner van modify the due to the above. Please correct me if this info is incorrect BDM. You should call it a BDM kinda will learn EFI system, not a S&S VFI.

Can't believe I own something you cannot wash without it screwing up or taking a bunch of precautions just to get a dirty bike clean. The EHC, 5 volt to ground does not have enough potential between 5v to ground to be stable which causes a lot of the electrical problems or gremlins. It is nothing more than a 5 volt TTL system (relay logic) used in manufacturing machinery.

A lot of other personal dislikes about the machine but No is my answer.

 

[XTREEME]

I voted yes. Here is the deal. If you plan to leave it fairly stock on a newer bike then it makes sense. Once you decide to pump out more horsepower, mod many things custom then it makes no sense. I built my 69 Camaro from scratch. It is exactly what i want. It costs big money to do that way. I am happy with the stock package plus a camshaft. Anything beyond a camshaft and dress up may no make sense. Especially in Sul's case.

Totally agree with your statement.

Although I can't really vote on this yet since I haven't officially picked my first one up, I have been doing a LOT of investigation into most all of the various flavors of choppers out there (low end to high end).

I have actually test ridden 5 different makes of bikes over the past month (BD, BBC, PCW, Viper, Ridley).

The Viper was sweet with its home grown VTwin throwing out gobs of torque, but at near $40k, thats a bit too much ching for my budget.

Of everything I have tried, the Ridgeback fits me like a glove, and has enough giddy-up to keep me content for a couple seasons anyway (with a Pro Pipe addition of course). But that would be really the only mod I would make.

Your statement about buying a BD to ride it as is, is right on the money. If you know at the start that you are going to want more power and bling, then just jump up to that category to begin with. You'll save money in the long run.

 

[Chopper Dave]

a big HELL YEAH!!! :2thumbs:

 

[P8RIOT]

Absolutely - nothing better on the market that is in any way similar.

 

[V]

I say yep. (Just did in January). 08 Ridge, and sold my 05 Pit. If anything was different would like to have the rewire with out the EHC.

 

[Gas Man]

I'm with Sul on the prioritary parts. I can deal with doing it to things like the controls, handlebars, pegs, ect... but to do it to the heart of the bike like the motor, primary, tranny... FUCK NO. I'm pretty sure S&S and Baker don't need BDM to tell them how to re-design their parts.

And that alone says, my next bike will either be a simple HD or a custom built up off some frame. BDM, BBC, Redneck... who knows... a hand picked piece by piece build.

 

[KnotSo]

Can't believe I own something you cannot wash without it screwing up or taking a bunch of precautions just to get a dirty bike clean.

To me this is really an odd observation. My wiring is stock and I ride in the rain a lot, and will this sunday, I have even washed the bike, all with no issues. I do not however, use high pressure hose to wash the pup.

 

[rip]

I have only had my bike for a little over a month

But I would not hesitate to purchase another, if you look around there's not much to compare to what Big Dog offers. Great bike, great look, great product.

 

[sun_bill1974]

I too was under the impression, our dogs couldn't get bathes due to the sensitive wirings ...I could swear there's a couple of threads in this forum about this.

To me this is really an odd observation. My wiring is stock and I ride in the rain a lot, and will this sunday, I have even washed the bike, all with no issues. I do not however, use high pressure hose to wash the pup.

 

[06Mastiff_shawn]

A BIG YES for me... I was able to put on 1000 miles in the 2 weeks I was home for R&R. I know that is really not much for some on here but I enjoyed every freakin mile. I love the look, the feel and most of all the way it makes ME feel. I have had pumped up motors in cars in the past and with ANY high performance car/motorcycle your going to have some problems. I know this and expect my dog will have some issues also and I am prepared to handle them. I just cant wait to get back and put on more miles on her.


Shawn

 

[reloaderbmg]

the 07 k9 i have now is #2 big dog, traded a 04 chopper for it,
i like this one so much, ill keep it untill i need a trike:2thumbs: :2thumbs: :2thumbs: :2thumbs: :2thumbs: :2thumbs: :2thumbs: :flag: :flag: :flag: :up:

 

[Johnny]

Yes ----- 81 ---------- 81.00%
No ----- 11 ---------- 11.00%
Maybe ----- 8 ---------- 8.00%
Voters: 100.


WOW, CHECK THAT OUT!

 

[Fibersnake]

Yes I would and probably will. NO major issues and any problems were taking care of fine between dealer, BDM and DIY. 2005 may have had more than some of the later or earlier models, but nothing that makes me regret nor would keeping me from buying another one.

Also rode in the rain, many of times and have no problems washing it, just avoid the high pressure wash and try not to flood the controls.

 

[wuudogg]

I'd buy another one... but I'm not sure I can pull off having two in the garage (wife).
I don't have the heart to part with the one I have already.

 

[delly2]

theres 105 voters but only 40ish left comments? hmm hmm?

 

[woodbutcher]

if the situation ever arises again, big dog would be at the top of the list of bikes to consider. as for me, '07 K9 with 6400+ miles and it has never disappointed me and to tell you the truth, my dealer never really has disappointed me either. there have been times i felt they could have done better, but as a rule, they have taken care of me as well or better than most would have. :2thumbs: :2thumbs:

 

[XTREEME]

A good reputable dealer and service makes a HUGE difference. That is why I focused on keeping that part of it in my decision.

 

[Ratman]

Probably not. Though my problems have been minor compared to some, BDM and Microsoft are the only two entities that I am aware of that have consistently put out products with known defects and then tried to brainwash the consumer to make them believe the problem is the consumer or dealer's fault. If they can't build a bike that works correctly at this price point, they should simply raise the price to accommodate a higher quality product. I suspect that if they could either eliminate the engine vibrations or just put a smoother, smaller engine in and get rid of that engine/system module, a huge amount of their problems would go away to begin with. For those of us that purchased new, we can get angry and sell...but so what? BDM has already got our money. They are literally the ONLY company I have ever heard of that boasts about a 2 year warranty, and then according to some of our members will take a printout provided by a component that is most likely faulty, and then use that data to send out a letter telling the customer they will no longer honor the warranty. Unless you (the consumer) signed a disclosure at the time of purchase alerting you that BDM reserves the right to do this sort of thing, I am not sure it is legal. A warranty is a warranty...period, and they should be ashamed of treating customers like this. I am very thankful for this site however... as most of us would be lost without it. I also never cease to be amazed at how willing everyone on this site is to give their time to try to assist their fellow bikers.

 

[Johnny]

theres 105 voters but only 40ish left comments? hmm hmm?

That's not unusual.
The majority of forumites don't participate in discussions; but rather they just read posts.

I also am persuaded that the quagmire of fruitless debate is a superfluous dissipation of my most precious commodity. > Time. ©

 

[BBChopper]

If I had the money again I would build my own from partz. I had several options and ran through all the possibilities then I found my 05 used with warranty. The biggest problem with BDM is the warranty. I can buy a Baker and an S&S with twice the warranty off the shelf and I’m sorry that’s just fucked up!!!!!!!
Dont get me wrong with all the problems I still love my Chopper and dont plan on selling it for some time!!!!!