Problems with the 05 bigdog chopper
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,154
Likes: 0
From: South Bend, In
RE: Problems with the 05 bigdog chopper
Good luck with your venture, hope all works out. There are some attorney's that specialize in consumer product cases. These guys will take the time to learn everything there is to know about the product they are attepting to attack. You may want to try them.
6th Gear
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
RE: Problems with the 05 bigdog chopper
I've got an 05 BD Ridgeback(same as chopper, only hardtail and 300mm rear tire), and have had nothing but good times with it! A couple of minor recalls(only took minutes to fix). 117 S&S, Baker right side drive 6 speed transmission, and nothing but top notch quality components. I love Harley's too, (my vivid black 07 Road Glide arrives next month). Big Dog makes a great product. So does Harley. Unfortunately, it can happen that lemons appear on all assembly lines(including Harley). Good luck with your dilemma.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 4,307
Likes: 9,428
From: Twin Cities Minnesota
RE: Problems with the 05 bigdog chopper
ORIGINAL: gunrunner
The guy that posted there is no lemon law for bikes is not 100% correct, ga has a new vehicle lemon law and many other states too, check with your state, 3 tries to fix and they have to buy it back.
The guy that posted there is no lemon law for bikes is not 100% correct, ga has a new vehicle lemon law and many other states too, check with your state, 3 tries to fix and they have to buy it back.
I suggest that everyone checks with their agent what their policy covers so you don't get a surprise when you need coverage the most. Also check with your local DMV for warranty laws. Here in Minnesota the Attorney Generals Office also can answer some of your questions on warranties.
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 316
Likes: 2
From:
RE: Problems with the 05 bigdog chopper
I find humor in the fact that there is no end of the guys who want 'cool' but dont want to pay their "dues" in getting it. If you want a chopper, then go out and build one yourself. Make it a personal statement.
Guys who buy big dogs, or any other production customs (ignoring the oxymoron) want the 'cool' without the hassle of doing it themselves. They want 'instant-cool' with the only effort required to obtain it is writing the check.
How many times have you quietly, or even out loud, scoffed or ridiculed somebody who drove a stock Harley-Davidson, as you sat astride your great, thumping Big Dog? I bet its been more than once...
We got one of those types at work. His chopper is drop-dead gorgeous, but he only managed to ride it 1800 miles in two years. It's been broken that much. He used to sneer at us stock HD guys, but I guess when he sees us all riding as his stuff is up on a lift, he is realizing that cool may be cool, but having it start every single time you thumb the button is pretty darn handy, too.
Harley-Davidson aint perfect, but they sure as hell spend a ton more on R&D than Big Dog does. The Big Dog is a jigsaw puzzle. And while they work reasonable well, they cannot hold a candle (in terms of reliablility) to a well developed piece like a stock HD.
I wish you luck with your problem, but dont be mad at me as I ride away on my fully functioning, non-cool, stock bike.
Tim
Guys who buy big dogs, or any other production customs (ignoring the oxymoron) want the 'cool' without the hassle of doing it themselves. They want 'instant-cool' with the only effort required to obtain it is writing the check.
How many times have you quietly, or even out loud, scoffed or ridiculed somebody who drove a stock Harley-Davidson, as you sat astride your great, thumping Big Dog? I bet its been more than once...
We got one of those types at work. His chopper is drop-dead gorgeous, but he only managed to ride it 1800 miles in two years. It's been broken that much. He used to sneer at us stock HD guys, but I guess when he sees us all riding as his stuff is up on a lift, he is realizing that cool may be cool, but having it start every single time you thumb the button is pretty darn handy, too.
Harley-Davidson aint perfect, but they sure as hell spend a ton more on R&D than Big Dog does. The Big Dog is a jigsaw puzzle. And while they work reasonable well, they cannot hold a candle (in terms of reliablility) to a well developed piece like a stock HD.
I wish you luck with your problem, but dont be mad at me as I ride away on my fully functioning, non-cool, stock bike.
Tim
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 25,962
Likes: 9,763
From: Montana & Arkansas
RE: Problems with the 05 bigdog chopper
There is so much diff. between $42K and $16.5 (but greater cause yours has problems) that the attorney route is likely your best route unless the chance of success is nil. A successful result would get you into a Harley and some nice chromies and change. Just get after this issue, fast & aggressively, and don't let the clock run. If BD ended up bankrupt or the new trick of Other Restructuring, you'd be SOL.
Hang in there!
Hang in there!
ORIGINAL: jmorton10
Not that I would wish your problems on anyone else, but have you ever just considered trading the bike in?
I doubt it's worth much as a trade. I manage the Internet Sales dept at a local car dealer & not long ago we had some guy come in with a BD Chopper he wanted to trade on an SUV. He had paid $42,000 for it & rode it 5200 miles.
I told him straight out that we could not give him anywhere near what he wanted for it & suggested he try selling it on ebay. He told me he had just done that & the top bid was $16,500................
~John
Not that I would wish your problems on anyone else, but have you ever just considered trading the bike in?
I doubt it's worth much as a trade. I manage the Internet Sales dept at a local car dealer & not long ago we had some guy come in with a BD Chopper he wanted to trade on an SUV. He had paid $42,000 for it & rode it 5200 miles.
I told him straight out that we could not give him anywhere near what he wanted for it & suggested he try selling it on ebay. He told me he had just done that & the top bid was $16,500................
~John
6th Gear
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
RE: Problems with the 05 bigdog chopper
Cowracer, I bought a bigdog 'cause it was an awesome machine to ride, looks great, and have never had a problem with it! I could not possibly build one any more than you could build a Harley. I never understood why some diss others bikes. The mentality of "if he didn't build it" then its not worth it is such BS. I challenge anyone to prove to me that they built theirs from the ground up. (mined the ore, smelted into steel, produced their own rubber, etc)! I certainly don't possess the gift of most on this board with mechanical abilities, but I certainly paid my dues to be able to write that check for whatever I want! If you park a corvette next to a Lamborghini Diablo, which one will get the most looks? The corvette is a lot more reliable, however.