Certain motorcycles were built with a front shock mount that is cracked and could break allowing the suspension to drop unexpectedly.
1999-2002 · 3 model years
Buell X1 Problems by year
Owners have filed 4 complaints about the Buell X1 across 3 model years, and it has 2 recalls. The 2000 has the most complaints once its age is allowed for (2). The most reported problem area is the acceleration & cruise control, followed by the suspension.
- Complaints
- 4
- Recalls
- 2
- Crashes
- 1
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 1
- Deaths
- 1
X1 complaints by model year
Highlighted: the year with the most complaints for its age. Older vehicles have had more time to collect complaints - the Safety Index grade allows for that.
Most common X1 problems
Buell X1 recalls 2
Vehicle description: motorcycles. The swing arm on these motorcycles was improperly manufactured.
Latest X1 complaints
On may 19, 2007 while traveling south on us-283, 15 miles north of brady tx at roughly 70 mph, in 5th gear on the 2002 buell x1 white lightning, and holding the throttle steady the motor stopped running. *Ak all lights worked indicating electrical power was not lost. The ?Check engine? Light did not come on indicting that failure was not the result of the on board computer or electrical system. The motorcycle rolled to a stop. The motor did not seize and after multiple attempts to restart, the battery ran out...
Read the full complaint
of electrical power and I was forced to find other means to return to houston about 260 miles away. Upon returning to houston, I took my buell 2002, x1 white lightning to the dealer where it was discovered that major engine damage was caused when the oil pump drive gear, which is the worm gear on the drive shaft, part number 26318-88a, disintegrated. Chips from the gear went into the oil pump destroying it. Chips got caught between the cam gears destroying them, which in turn, through-off the cam timing, causing the valves to hit the pistons. A complete rebuild was advised by the dealer at a cost estimated at $4,000 which included, new cases, rebuild heads, new pistons, new cams, new pinion gear, new lifters and this cost could rise if there was hidden damage not discovered in the initial investigation. Upon further investigation it appears that the square key, part #11317, failed causing the pinion gear to rotate on the drive shaft which then set up the chain reaction for all the other failed parts and damage. This motorcycle has only been service by the harley davidson dealer and has 6,086 miles on the motor. I believe this is a design failure and harley davidson and buell should take the responsibility for the repair. This is not an uncommon problem as evident by doing a little research on the internet.
While driving at 35 mph throttle cable stuck open, causing the consumer to be throwen off of the motorcycle into oncoming traffic, and the consumer was run over by vehicles. *Ak
While demonstrating the motorcycle johnr. Weaver was thrown into traffic and run over
RECALL WORK DENIED DUE TO LACK OF PARTS (98V-199). MJS
Questions about the Buell X1
Which Buell X1 years have the most problems?
What are the most common Buell X1 problems?
Across every model year, owners report problems with the acceleration & cruise control (2), suspension (1), engine & cooling (1) most often.
How many recalls does the Buell X1 have?
NHTSA lists 2 recalls across all Buell X1 model years. Each year's page lists the recalls for that year; check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether the repair has been done.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked daily. Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data