2004 buell xb12r. Poor lighting due to deterioration of inside reflector.
The worst 2004 Buell XB12S problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Lights5
- Electrical2
Specific symptoms reported on the 2004 Buell XB12S
Recalls 1
Electrical system: horn
- What is wrong
- On certain motorcycles, the wire that provides power to the horn, due to misrouting, can become frayed from contact with the horn bracket mounting bolt. As a result, the horn wire may become exposed, and when the horn button is pushed, either the horn circuit fuse or the key switch fuse can blow.
- Risk
- If the key switch fuse blows, the vehicle can stall, which could result in a crash. If the horn fuse blows, there will be a loss of power to the horn and rear brake light.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and correct the wire routing, if necessary. Owner notification began on december 23, 2003. Owners should contact buell at 1‑414‑342‑4680.
Recall number 03V494000 · Recall details
Technical service bulletins for the 2004 Buell XB12S 1
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
What 2004 Buell XB12S owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Headlights become dimmer and dimmer, bulbs ok, chrome finish on inside of headlight housings comes off so bulbs do not reflect making night driving dangerous. Buell chat sites confirm others with xbr models having same failures.
Headlight on buell motorcycles "r" models (2004 to current year) degrades over time. The reflective coating material in the headlight housing degrades and turns to powder and causes the headlight to be un-useful. The degrade is cause by heat from the headlight. Failure isn't corrected as of today.
The coating on the inside of my headlight housing is falling off, drastically decreasing light output. I had them replaced under warranty once for this on 11/18/05, with 23870 miles on the bike. I am now hardly able to see at night again and I am sure that people can't see me as well either.
Silver coating on headlights deteriorates rapidly causing poor illumination and unsafe night time driving and reducing the motorcycles visibility during the day. I am sure the light output is far below dot standards vehicle is an xb12r firebolt, not an xb12s. The xb12r was not listed as an option.
While riding my 2004 buell xb12s motorcycle though the asm america, inc. Parking lot (3440 east university drive phoenix az 85034) at approximately 11:00 am the on 07-19-06 the following occurred. The motorcycle lost all power and I coasted to a stop into a parking spot: 1.riding through the parking lot at about 5-10 MPH. 2.the motorcycle engine stopped running. 3.the motorcycle electrical system completely failed as if the motorcycle has been turned off including loss of horn, turn signals, brake lights, license plate light, rear tail light, head light, instrument lights, warning lights, speedometer and tachometer. 4.if I had been merging onto the freeway at night I probably would have been killed as I would have had no way to signal I was leaving the highway! The dealer is still investigating why the vehicle stopped running.
I am reporting a potentially hazardous problem with my 2004 buell xb12s motorcycle. I have observed this same situation on all similar bikes that I have looked at. Under the seat, the ECM cable harness rests against the negative battery terminal and there are signs of abrasion from vibration.
Compare the 2004 Buell XB12S
Other model years
20042006
Questions about the 2004 Buell XB12S
Is the 2004 Buell XB12S reliable?
Owners have filed 7 complaints about the 2004 Buell XB12S, close to a typical XB12S model year.
What is the most common problem with the 2004 Buell XB12S?
Lights, with 5 complaints, typically around 5,300 miles. Next is electrical (2).
How many recalls does the 2004 Buell XB12S have?
1 recall, covering electrical system.
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