In February of 2005, I bought a used 2004 VTX Neo with 5098 miles on it. The bike had many accessories already installed. It had driving lights, saddle bags, backrest, tachometer, windshield, crash bar, and Bubs Reinhardt pipes.

Reinhardt pipes have a serious design flaw. They have a bracket that wraps around the pipe and is welded in two places close together. The material hardens, flexes, and cracks between the welds (see sketches).  My pipes had to be re-welded at about 7000 miles.

I contacted Bubs and requested warranty service. Their response is included in the following emails. Those emails say a lot for Bubs customer service.

Due to the customer service issues, I have since replaced the pipes with Hard Krome K-2s at 22000 miles. They seem to be a solid pipe with a quality sound and a good look.

Reviewed by: Bob - Die Hard
bob_berry@adelphia.net

From: Bob Berry [mailto:]
Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2005 7:44 PM
To: bubent@bubent.com
Subject: Design defect

I bought a Honda VTX 1800 Neo Spec1 that had                                         Reinhardt Exhaust Pictured
Reinhart pipes on it when I bought it. The welds on the heat shields are cracking. The rear most weld on the lower pipe was cracked when I bought the bike with only 5K miles on it.

I ride with several people from the Denver area and one of them had the same problem on a VTX 1800 Retro. How can this problem be resolved?

It is a poor advertisement for your quality when I ride with anyone and the pipes rattle louder than the exhaust sound.

Bob Berry

From: Don Delahunt [mailto:returns2@bubent.com]
Sent: Friday, August 12, 2005 12:30 PM
To: bob_berry@adelphia.net
Subject: WARRANTY SERVICE

TO OBTAIN WARRANTY SERVICE, YOU MUST PROVIDE US WITH A FAXED COPY OF YOUR DATED RECEIPT AS A PROOF OF PURCHASE. MAKE SURE YOUR NAME, SHIPPING ADDRESS AND DAYTIME PHONE NUMBER ARE INCLUDED.  TO EXPEDITE YOUR CLAIM, PLEASE INCLUDE A SHORT NOTE INCLUDING, BIKE MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR, EXHAUST TYPE AND PART NUMBER IF AVAILABLE, AND THE PROBLEM. OR YOU MAY CALL ME AT (800) 934-9739 @ EXT: 305.MY NAME IS DON THANK YOU.

----- Original Message -----

From: Bob Berry
To: 'Don Delahunt'
Sent: Friday, August 12, 2005 2:32 PM
Subject: RE: WARRANTY SERVICE

I bought the bike used from Sun Honda in Denver Colorado. The bike had only 5098 miles on it when I bought it. The previous owner installed the Reinhart pipes.

Bob Berry

From: Don Delahunt [mailto:returns2@bubent.com]
Sent: Monday, August 15, 2005 8:55 AM
To: Bob Berry
Subject: Re: WARRANTY SERVICE

BOB,

I WAS MADE AWARE THAT WE CANNOT WARRANTY YOUR PIPES DUE TO THAT I CANNOT TRANSFER WARRANTIES FROM PERSON TO PERSON, BECAUSE THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD THEM PUT ON THE BIKE. I APOLOGIZE. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE CALL ME AT (800) 934-9739 EXT: 305

THANK YOU ,      DON

From: Bob Berry
To: Don Delahunt
Sent: Tuesday, August 16, 2005 7:08 PM
Subject: RE: WARRANTY SERVICE

Thank you for considering my request. I sincerely hope you will change your minds. Your name is on the pipes not mine. I will continue to ride with them rattling like they do until the heat shield finally falls off. The tips will then still carry your name. Your pipes will continue to advertise for you. I always thought that people should warrant their product to keep their good name no matter who the end user happened to be. This is especially true since your pipes are advertised at over $700.00, well above the competition.

I am a member of the Colorado VTX Riders who host an annual event The Fourth of July Ride-in where VTX riders come from all over the country to ride with us in Colorado. We do share horror stories as well as tales of good fortune.

The Colorado VTX Riders also have a web site where we post technical updates on the VTX forum We also post on the VTXOA a national web site sponsored by Honda Direct Line. That is how I finally found your web site as it does not come up in searches for BUB or Reinhart. I post as Die Hard on both sites.

This would be an excellent opportunity for you to promote your customer service on a national level.

Bob Berry

From: Don Delahunt [mailto:returns2@bubent.com]
Sent: Friday, August 12, 2005 12:30 PM
To: bob_berry@adelphia.net
Subject: WARRANTY SERVICEBOB,

I'M SORRY I HAD TO TURN YOU DOWN ,IT'S BECAUSE WE ARE GIVEN STRICT GUIDE LINES THAT WE MUST FOLLOW  IN ORDER TO CONFORM TO OUR CONTRACT WITH OUR DISTRIBUTOR, DRAG SPECIALTIES. AGAIN I APOLOGIZE. IF YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS I CAN BE REACHED AT (800) 934-9739 EXT: 305,THANKS,   DON