Post by wiz2525 on Oct 4, 2008 1:38:10 GMT -5
OK. I've learned my lesson. Just because some dealer sells you a bike doesn't mean they know squat about maintaining it for you.
I am very reluctant to return to their torture chamber with my Big Ruckus. My past experience with them in regularly scheduled maintenance visits has been:
4K tuneup PreSpecs 70mph/70mpg PostSpecs 64mpg/61mpg
Reluctant to return, I delayed my 8K tunrup. Got back at 11,800 when I needed tire replacement. Bought both tires, turns out really didn't need the front one. Result:
(What SHOULD have been->)8K(but really was->)12K Tuneup
Prespecs basically same, bad rear tire.
Work done: Tire change/Tuneup
PostSpecs New tires, but now about every third tank I find my water depleted, and have to replace it, therefore the bike is running hot. PLUS still 64mph/61mpg.
Cost: $474
One of the things that SHOULD have been done at 12K was to replace the drive belt.
At 13400 the old belt exploded. I got the bike back home via my brother's help and trailer. And I meandered around the net looking for advice till a friend of mine found you and pointed me in your direction.
I'm going to go buy the parts for the Variator Tool tomorrow and assemble that. But it looks like, hey, you are already at the clutch assembly. Why not change that out as well?
So now I ask any with experience what would also be wise to change out while I'm at this point?
My experience in working on things is VW SuperBeetles over many years, but not breaking blocks or anything like that. All the outside parts of the bugs I've owned I managed to replace on my own with an 'Idiot's Guide'. (Not a new one, the original Idiot's guide). Plus, I have the official Big Ruckus Maintenance manual for specs and pics to go by. But it is more of a 'If you need to do this' rather than a 'while you are at it' type of manual.
Finally where to buy parts w/o dealer markup?
Any suggestions would be most appreciated!!!!!
;D