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2000 Buell X1 Lightning

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 1 of 5 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Suspension. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

Suspension complaints

5 reports
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9,000 miles · Nov 7, 2008
Suspension

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BUELL X1 LIGHTNING. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V163000 (SUSPENSION:REAR), WHICH STATED THAT THE DEALER WILL INSTALL A SHOCK REINFORCEMENT PACKAGE (SRP). THE PACKAGE IS INTENDED TO PROTECT THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM. THE DEALER INSTALLED THE SHOCK REINFOR…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BUELL X1 LIGHTNING. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V163000 (SUSPENSION:REAR), WHICH STATED THAT THE DEALER WILL INSTALL A SHOCK REINFORCEMENT PACKAGE (SRP). THE PACKAGE IS INTENDED TO PROTECT THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM. THE DEALER INSTALLED THE SHOCK REINFORCE PACKAGE, BUT THEY WOULD NOT INSTALL THE SECOND HALF OF THE RECALL, WHICH STATED THAT A NEW SHOCK ABSORBER WAS CURRENTLY BEING DEVELOPED. WHEN THE NEW SHOCK ABSORBER IS AVAILABLE, IT CAN BE INSTALLED FOR FREE THROUGH THE DEALER NETWORK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL SYSTEM INDICATED THAT HIS RECALL WAS ALREADY TAKEN CARE OF; THEREFORE, THE DEALER WILL NOT COMPLETE THE SECOND PORTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,000.

NHTSA ODI #10247970

Mileage unknown · Sep 29, 2004
Suspension

I OWN A BUELL MOTORCYCLE YEAR 2000 MODEL X1 LIGHTNING. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR A DEFECTIVE REAR SHOCK ABSORBERS, NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 00V163000. THE RECALL WAS COMPLETED AND A SHOCK REINFORCEMENT PACKAGE WAS INSTALLED. THE OLD DEFECTIVE SHOCK WAS LEFT ON THE VEHICLE. THERE IS A WARNING ON THE SHOCK THAT STATES THAT THIS…

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I OWN A BUELL MOTORCYCLE YEAR 2000 MODEL X1 LIGHTNING. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR A DEFECTIVE REAR SHOCK ABSORBERS, NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 00V163000. THE RECALL WAS COMPLETED AND A SHOCK REINFORCEMENT PACKAGE WAS INSTALLED. THE OLD DEFECTIVE SHOCK WAS LEFT ON THE VEHICLE. THERE IS A WARNING ON THE SHOCK THAT STATES THAT THIS SHOCK STILL HAS DEFECTS AND THAT IT COULD COLLAPSE. I DON'T FEEL SAFE RIDING THIS MOTORCYCLE IN ITS PRESENT CONDITION. IT STATES IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 00V163000 UNDER REMEDY: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SHOCK REINFORCEMENT PACKAGE (SRP) WHICH PROTECTS THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM. A NEW SHOCK ABSORBER IS CURRENTLY BEING DEVELOPED. WHEN THE NEW SHOCK ABSORBER IS AVAILABLE, IF AN OWNER CHOOSES, THEY CAN HAVE IT INSTALLED AT NO CHARGE THROUGH THE DEALER NETWORK. I WAS NOT AWARE THAT THE MANUFACTURER WAS INSTALLING A NEW UPGRADED SHOCK THEY NEVER CONTACTED ME ABOUT THIS. I HAVE SPOKEN TO THEM ON THE PHONE AND THEY WILL NOT UPDATE THIS SHOCK ACCORDING TO THE REMEDY ON THE RECALL. I WOULD LIKE THE NEW UPDATED SHOCK SO THAT I DON'T HAVE A FUTURE ACCIDENT WITH THE DEFECTIVE SHOCK THAT IS STILL ON THE MOTORCYCLE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS UPDATED THIS SHOCK FOR OTHER BEULL OWNERS AS IT IS STATED IN THE REMEDY PORTION OF THE RECALL. ACCORDING TO THE NHTSA REMEDY BUELL HAS NOT SATISFIED THE REMEDY FOR MY MOTORCYCLE, AS I HAVE CHOSEN TO HAVE THE NEW SHOCK ABSORBER INSTALLED FROM THE DEALER AT NO CHARGE. THEY STATED THAT THEY WILL NOT COMPLETE THE REMEDY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10093317

Mileage unknown · Mar 28, 2002
Suspension

THE REAR SHOCK ABSORBER IS LEAKING OIL VERY HEAVILY. FOUND RECALL NUMBER 10808 00 V 163 000. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. NLM

NHTSA ODI #8006618

Mileage unknown · Aug 30, 2000
Suspension

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 00V163000, BUT DEALER DOESN'T HAVE PARTS. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #554239

Mileage unknown · Aug 7, 2000
Suspension

RECALL 00V163 000/REAR SHOCK ABSORBER: DEALER UNABLE TO HONOR RECALL BECAUSE NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. RECALL NOTICE STATED AT PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE 24 JULY 2000. MANUFACTURER CONTACTED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT PARTS WERE AVAILABLE . CAN NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #867085

Official recalls

2

03V427000 · Vehicle Speed Control:cables

Oct 30, 2003

ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES EQUIPPED EXCLUSIVELY WITH A FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM, THE IDLE CONTROL CABLE CAN BECOME DISLODGED FROM THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM CABLE GUIDE DUE TO IMPROPER ADJUSTMENT OF THE THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: SHOULD THIS OCCUR, THE THROTTLE MAY NOT RETURN TO THE IDLE POSITION WHEN THE OPERATOR'S HAND IS REMOVED FROM THE TWIST GRIP, INCREASING THE RISK OF LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A THROTTLE CABLE CLAMP, WHICH SERVES TO ENSURE RETENTION OF THE THROTTLE CONTROL CABLES IN THE CABLE GUIDE. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING NOVEMBER OR DECEMBER 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BUELL AT 1-414-343-8400.

00V163000 · Suspension:rear

Jun 16, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. THE REAR SHOCK ABSORBER CAN BREAK, DRAGGING THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE ON THE GROUND.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS COULD AFFECT THE HANDLING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SHOCK REINFORCEMENT PACKAGE (SRP) WHICH PROTECTS THE STRUCTUAL INTEGRITY OF THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM. A NEW SHOCK ABSORBER IS CURRENTLY BEING DEVELOPED. WHEN THE NEW SHOCK ABSORBER IS AVAILABLE, IF AN OWNER CHOSES, THEY CAN HAVE IT INSTALLED AT NO CHARGE THROUGH THE DEALER NETWORK.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

PE03043 · Throttle Fails To Return To Idle

Opened Sep 23, 2003 · Closed Oct 30, 2003

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:cables

TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM DESCRIBED ABOVE, BUELL IS RECALLING THOSE FUEL-INJECTED MOTORCYCLES THAT IT BUILT WITHOUT A THROTTLE CABLE CONTROL CLAMP.FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS SUBJECT, PLEASE REFER TO THE MEMORANDUM ENTITLED THE SCOPE OF BUELL'S SAFETY RECALL, 03V-427 COPY ATTACHED.