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Visionary
Posts: 2118
Pitt Meadows, BC Canada | It had to happen. After reading all the zillions of problems members of this forum have had with their Visions - I knew my time was coming. And it did - Disasterously (almost). After 1 1/2 years of ownership - I had my first failure. While on a ride last weekend, I opened my trunk lid to put something away, and heard an AWFUL sound. A BANG - that had a kind of twang to it. And the trunk lid went sickeningly forward - stopping only when it was resting on my speaker enclosures. OMG - I thought.... what has happened??? And I looked. And I saw that the wire that stops the trunk lid from opening too far had SNAPPED ! My GOD - what kind of evilness was that? What kind of cheap crap was Victory putting in their motorcycles to fail like that? This was too big to leave unrepaired, so today I drove the one hour down the highway to my dealer - "Sea-To-Sky Motorsports" to see what could be done about this. Well, you have all read about 'dealers' and how we are treated. So I didn't expect much help - and sure enought - the parts department didn't have a new 'trunk stopper-wire' in stock. As I suspected. What was I to do - I feared my co-pilot would fling open the lid - and smash my speaker enclosures to bits - and then what? But just as I was at the peak of my despair - the entire staff of the dealership - sales/parts/service - got together in a meeting - and out of that came a miracle! They decided to remove the stopper-wire from the trunk of their demo Vision and replace my broken one with that - thus carrying on their reputation as - A Great Dealership ! Let's hear it for "Sea-To-Sky Motorsports" in Langley, B.C. - YAHOO !!!! |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | wooo hooo! good to hear the positive note. I had mine break about 3 months ago, and was anticipating that it would happen. With the trunk rack I felt that it was too heavy and the drop from top center was too great. So when mine broke, I fabricated one from the hardware store. I made it a little shorter than stock so the drop wouldn't be as far. It has held up nicely for 3 months now. I'll try to get a pic tomorrow.
Edited by varyder 2009-09-19 9:51 PM
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Tourer
Posts: 412
Fargo, ND |
Excellent...glad to hear your glowing report donetracey! I, also am fortunate to deal with 'Wheels' in Fargo as they also are an outstanding dealership.
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Tourer
Posts: 340
Regina Saskatchewan Canada | I wonder if a gas shock couldn't be adapted to work on the trunk lid? Then when you unlocked it would just open and you would have to push it down to close it. The hard bags have them, why not the trunk? Heck even my Bushtec trailer has them. |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 34
| I Hope nothing serious ever brakes . Did you expect the dealer to have that part in stock??? Glad the dealer could help.MartyQ |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 34
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I don't know if you are taking the mickey with your posting title [Massive Failure - Dealer Responds ] But don't you think it was a Massive Over Reaction . The front end didn't let go , your rear wheel never collapsed , large pieces of pistons never sprayed your leg as they punched holes in your engine . After 18 months a piece of wire broke . Do you have a rack on the lid , was it loaded . A quick trip to the hardware would have fixed it at least temporarily until you next visited your dealer . Massive Failure usually means catostrophic failure . Glad the dealer came up with the simple 2 minute solution , cheers MartyQ  |
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Visionary
Posts: 3773
Pittsburgh, PA | sorry for your troubles. but if you call a trunk wire that broke a massive failure i would love to see what you would call a engine failure! Or an electrical issue. LOL I think its time to trade her in. its all going to go down hill from this point on. And with you having a replacement trunk wire, the resale just took a massive dive.. =( |
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Cruiser
Posts: 181
Henlow, Bedfordshire, England | british columbian irony......................... |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 600
Linwood, MI | I think donetracey is being a tad sardonic toward a few people that have perhaps had relatively minor issues coupled with somewhat unsatisfactory dealer experiences and turned that "mole hill" into a Victory-sucks-I'm-never-buying-one-again "mountain."
Just my guess.
Don, glad to see you have a dealer willing to do that for you. So many dealers--of any kind of vehicle--won't even consider taking parts off a demo or in-stock vehicle to sure make a current customer is taken care of and happy.
Edited by Rebel 2009-09-20 6:24 AM
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Cruiser
Posts: 106
L.I., N.Y. | It was a sicken crack as it went forward on mine and the sheathing on the wiring ripped, while I was on the road. I wrapped the wire around the screw, the dealer ordered mine and I had it for a week before I replaced it. But on the up side when I was wiring the brake light, turn signal LED lights onto the trunk lid, I was able to slide the wiring thru the sheathing all the way down under the seat. P hope that doesn't happen again. |
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Visionary
Posts: 2027
Brighton, TN | I agree with DonRadioactiveglowinthedarkeTracey, Catastrophic on the Massive scale due to his unfortunate events leading up to this point. He has enjoyed long drives in the country side. Cute young wife doing the picture taking, slurpee duty, and man maintenance. Many more days of just him and the wife, toiling along and meeting some folks along the way. Happy as a pig in slop, enjoying the good life. To finally have something come along and destroy this visceral experience by almost damaging a work of art, that is so usefully enjoyed would be to me also, a travshamockery!
Cannot anyone else understand the dire straits to which he had to burden upon such an occassion? The drive alone would have been very tough especially due to the distance. An HOUR! OhMyGoodGravies! Then to arrive back at the place where you took possessive ownership, OHnO! Surely, they must have what he needs! A simple wire to fix the wretched occassion and put him back into serendipity! But no wire! AAHHHH! But wait, a meeting and a thought process that fixs the world he lives in. Another wire, borrowed from another, and now all is right in the world again. PEACE at Last! The ride home should have been as good as the first ride home.
Grab the wife, twice, grab the camera once. Head out onto the wide open road and feel the passionate affection all over again. |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | pure poetry... |
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Cruiser
Posts: 137
Houston, Texas | Thanks Don
My dealer had a pancake breakfast yesterday morning and another Vision Pilot and I were discussing some of the complaints that pop-up on this forum...he was looking at the dreaded 'saddle bag gap' on the STARSHIP and told me that his was even worse after persons unknown had apparently grabbed the 'gap' while he was in Sturgis and gained entry to the bag.
Not nearly the catastrophe that befell you but life goes on, hopefully you will be able to get past this without therapy or medication.
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Cruiser
Posts: 192
Republic of Tejas | Dan, the point I was attempting to make (rather poorly I guess), was that neither of my side bag covers fit well enough to keep the contents dry. As for the forced entry in Sturgis, that cover was pulled away from the body by 1.5 inches and has been repaired by replacing both hinges and the air shock, however it will still not seal the bag from a light rain. Probably a "show and tell" on my Vision instead of yours would have made the illustration more graphically?
Basically when I talk to other bike owners regardless of brand, they all have a horror story about some dealer somewhere. Then you talk to the person sitting next to them they have not had any problems with the dealership the previous person was flaming. It's all perception I guess????
Massive Failure? Stainless Steel fishing leader from Wal-Mart, KMART, Target, any place that sell's fishing tackle 75 centavos. Sometimes if we stop and get over the initial agitation there are other options available....
Good seeing you again Dan, ride safe.
Edited by OldGringo 2009-09-20 10:37 AM
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Visionary
Posts: 2118
Pitt Meadows, BC Canada | Thank you Chicken Man - and Chris. I knew some of you would understand my torment. And of course, Rebel - who see's ALL !
Regarding fixing something yourself: I have too many things I want to do in my few remaining years - and they don't include any more wrenching or fiddling (which I did for MOST of my life). Now I'd rather pay someone to do that crap. And smile as I make the payment.
:< |
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Cruiser
Posts: 101
Cold Lake Alberta Canada | I cant remember if I shared my most excellent experience this last July. A group of us were on our way from Cold Lake Alberta to Valley City North Dakota for a Red Knights rally. About an hour and a half from home I started to get some funky readings on my volt gage. Down to the bottom and then up to the top. I managed to make Saskatoon Saskatchewan and there I was dead at the dealer Guertin Equipment. (Note they had only been a Victory dealer about three weeks) When I pulled in they said that the mechanic was at Victory school and they wern't sure what they could do. So with limited Victory knowlage and get er done attitude from Bill in the shop we got at it. we spent 5 hours on the first day and all led us to the stator. Of corse there was no parts with in a million miles or so it all seemed lost for the trip. I went to a motel for the night. In the morning I was ready to rent a UHaul and take the unit home to my regular dealer, who had been a wealth of knowlage and help while I was in Saskatoon. I returned at about 9:30 next morning, no need to rush as I was on my way home. I walked into the dealership they offered me coffee. As I had my coffee the shop boss came out and said that my bike would be ready in half an hour. Puzzeled I asked how? They had taken the showroom bike and removed the stator, battery and relays installed them on my bike. All under warranty and cost free. they were embarrassed when they said that I had to pay for the oil that was replaced. WOOOOOOO HOOOOOO I am back on holidays and my entire electrical system has been replaced, and all I had to shell out was $50.00 for an oil change. I was so all over that and ended up only 4 hours behind the guys getting to Valley City. It needs to be said that Guertin Equipment and Elk Island Sales need an ATTA BOY for getting me going quick like a bunny. I have not had a single second of grief since that day. 15000 KM this summer and all with a big grin on my face.
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 34
| Hi One I'd Jim , Now thats what I call service . I would contact Victory and give those guys such a huge RAP , as they deserve it . An example any dealer of any brand of bike should aspire to . Cheers MartyQ |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 1117
Northeast Ohio | I had a cable break too about 3 months ago. I ghetto repaired mine until the new one showed up. I ordered an extra one too and retrained to WU to NOT let the trunk lid go when opening. After really looking at the fastener area, you can see the whole area around the screws flex when you let it go with a couple of inches of freeplay and I don't have a trunk rack.
My cable actually pulled out of the eyeloop fastener. Check that area frequently to help avoid this. The new cables are less than $10 each. Varyder has a much better setup, based on the pics, than the vic one. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 810
| Mine snapped a long time ago. My local dealer had gone out of business. I called remote dealers and they would not ship one to me, so I made one out of the steel cable used for garage door rollers and the associated crimpers. The garage door steel wire has lasted much longer than the OEM one. I also made the new one a tad bit shorter than the OEM one so the trunk lid would not put so much tension on the mounting screws.
Tim
Edited by TimS 2009-09-23 1:49 PM
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Cruiser
Posts: 136
CALGARY ALBERTA | Nice job. It's a little hard to see what you did in the photo
I made one from wire cable and before I crimped the ends, I slipped a piece of heat shrink over it.
I would like to see the ends you used.
If this is all I have to worry about on the Vision, I'm happy to take care of it.
Cheers |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 30
Warrenton, VA | martyq - 2009-09-20 2:33 AM
I don't know if you are taking the mickey with your posting title [Massive Failure - Dealer Responds ] But don't you think it was a Massive Over Reaction . The front end didn't let go , your rear wheel never collapsed , large pieces of pistons never sprayed your leg as they punched holes in your engine . After 18 months a piece of wire broke . Do you have a rack on the lid , was it loaded . A quick trip to the hardware would have fixed it at least temporarily until you next visited your dealer . Massive Failure usually means catostrophic failure . Glad the dealer came up with the simple 2 minute solution , cheers MartyQ
Okay folks take a chill pill, this was what's called sarcasm/humor:> |
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Visionary
Posts: 2118
Pitt Meadows, BC Canada | OMG ! That was 4 years ago!
And last Saturday - THE WORST !!! My ignition switch failed - 4 years after the RECALL on the switch. The HORROR of it all. 5 hours of WRECKER RIDING to get home. And another hour of Wrecker Ride to get the bike from home to the dealer.
Good news? Dealer says my warrantee should cover everything. Yahoo!!!
Bad news? My 5 year warrantee expires in April. What if something Really Bad happens ???? What will I do ???? Sniff .... I'm too old and poor to buy a new one. Sigh ....
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Tourer
Posts: 499
Chattanooga, TN | OMG! That's the WORST story ever! How did you manage to stay calm, Don? Is it just your cool, affable, Vancouver demeanor that allows you to handle such a crisis with ease? We're you a RCMP at some point in the past? I only hope I can be just like you when I grow up! |
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Visionary
Posts: 4278
| I didn't read all the post
TIP make sure cable pivots on bolt that will prevent cable failure |
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Visionary
Posts: 2118
Pitt Meadows, BC Canada | baadawg - 2013-02-05 3:51 PM OMG! That's the WORST story ever! How did you manage to stay calm, Don? Is it just your cool, affable, Vancouver demeanor that allows you to handle such a crisis with ease? We're you a RCMP at some point in the past? I only hope I can be just like you when I grow up! Thank you for your wonderful caring thoughts, Brian. No - not RCMP. Ex- Royal Canadian Engineers and life long Computer Systems Analyst. But the main reason for my legendary calm is this:
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Cruiser
Posts: 133
, AR United States | Ya know Don, a couple drops of Amsoil will make a cable last forever! |
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Visionary
Posts: 2118
Pitt Meadows, BC Canada | BillyJoe - 2013-02-05 5:55 PM Ya know Don, a couple drops of Amsoil will make a cable last forever! And drip all over your belongings. It helps if you don't have a beautiful young Japanese lady throwing the trunk open !!! |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 752
Broken Arrow, OK | lmao. Pimpin' your wife's azz online.............priceless...er,,,,, legendary.
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Visionary
Posts: 2118
Pitt Meadows, BC Canada | Don't be jealous. Go get yer own ...
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Cruiser
Posts: 259
Land O Lakes, FL | Oh my. Calm indeed!
Oh back to the bike now LOL. Hmmm a gas shock AND an auto trunk release on a key fob and presto push a button and the trunk pops open, how awesome would that be!!! |
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Visionary
Posts: 2118
Pitt Meadows, BC Canada | Bill, sounds like you're talking about something my wife would understand: A Japanese Car - I think that's what broke my trunk in the first place. She expected the bike to be like a Toyota - smooth and dependable - never able to comprehend the strength of a piece of wire.
I had to trade my Chrysler 300 for a Mazda cuz she was afraid to drive an 'American' car. Then she buys her own car - a German SMART car. Go figure.
There ain't NUTHIN' sophisticated in the Vision compared to Japanese bikes. But there ain't a Japanese bike anywhere as beautiful - or German or British or anybody's. Love my VV. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 222
Barefoot Bay, FL United States | I had mine break a year ago or so. Because I have the luggage rack on top of the trunk lid, along with 6 flags and holders (lots of extra weight), I decided to 'double-up' on the cable. Have had NO problems since. Just had to wait a few days for my dealer to order them in. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 763
Anderson, IN (48mi NE of downtown Indianapolis) | The cables can be obtained from http://www.mcmaster.com for under $5 and will arrive in most US locations in 3 days.
Edited by victoryvisiontour 2013-02-06 8:30 AM
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Cruiser
Posts: 92
| Wish I had one of those for my bike! To heck with the trunk wire.
Do Canadians still like us? Just asking... |
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Cruiser
Posts: 92
| I've said it before, this piece of wire will continue to break because it is the wrong rope for this application. 7x7 galvanized aircraft cable is fine for holding tags on a piece of equipment but is not good when it comes to fatigue resistance. There are much more capable constructions but when you compare the cost of one foot of 7x7 GAC at about one penny to as much as one dollar for a better rope, the choice is clear.
It's not the cost of the rope assembly ($5-6 @ McMaster Carr), more the potential damage done by the top flopping over. I know that with my rack, that sucker is pretty heavy. I had to modify the rubber stoppers that came with my rack after slamming the lid down so many times trying to get it to latch.
If it is going to open remotely, I want it to close like my Cadillac ... Trash Compactor style. |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 5
| Crawford - sounds like a really neat idea!
Let us all know if you try this and find a good fix. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 1066
Peru, IN | wdwurker - 2013-02-06 12:55 PM
It's not the cost of the rope assembly ($5-6 @ McMaster Carr), more the potential damage done by the top flopping over. I know that with my rack, that sucker is pretty heavy. I had to modify the rubber stoppers that came with my rack after slamming the lid down so many times trying to get it to latch.
If it is going to open remotely, I want it to close like my Cadillac ... Trash Compactor style.
I agree. Mine happened to break in my garage with my helmet on the passenger seat so it couldn't flop open all the way. I can see mass destruction if I'd been outside in the wind with no helmet to break it's "fall". I got a new cable from the dealer only because it's under warranty. If I had to pay for it, it would have been something else. (It'll be something else eventually anyway but now I'm not in a huge hurry for it.)
+1 on the Caddy trunk closer idea. I'm sure it would cost too much to ever sell, but it would be neat to see it done. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 763
Anderson, IN (48mi NE of downtown Indianapolis) | Until their is something better, you can replace the cable every 1~2 yrs for only $5 shipped to your door. Don't wait until it breaks...preventative maintenance. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 1066
Peru, IN | I'll have something different (and better) this summer. The original only took a couple months to break. Not even gonna wait a year or two but good point on the preventative maintenance. |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 26
minnesota | When my cable broke, I made a strap from some 1" nylon webbing that came with my boat cover, put a couple grommets on each end and it has worked fine for 3 years. The nylon webbing has a little give to it which is nice and I don't have to worry about it scratching anything. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 277
Apopka, FL | That's prolly the best idea yet Jeffrey! And why is there only a cable stop on one side? Wouldn't both sides be better? I see some have done that. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 763
Anderson, IN (48mi NE of downtown Indianapolis) | It would be nice if stops and detents were built into the hinges like car doors. |
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