| Author | Message | ||
     Boltrider |
In the book, there's a page about a dealer guy from Japan named Mr. Cash. The way the story reads makes it sound like he lost his dealerships soon after buying those 40 Buells. And then he just disappears. My question to Mr. Canfield and Mr. Gess - what happened to Mr. Cash? | ||
| Davegess |
Mr. Cash was not an H-D. He seems to have been a bit of wheeler dealer and I am not sure if he had financial troubles that sunk his MC business or that the Buells just did not sell as well as he would have liked. He never did order anymore. I am not sure that we have gotten the details just right and only Erik would be able to straighten us out but, like a report from Hunter Thompson, the story may not be correct in all the details BUT the overall impression is correct. | ||
| Court |
>>>>like a report from Hunter Thompson Now THAT made me laugh . . . I was once accused of writing in "Gonzo-Journalizm" style. I confess to wording the story to embellish what started as a GREAT story that time has just made better. I will say one thing that I'm sure Dave will confirm as fact . . . at the time it was happening NO ONE was going to turn down an order for 40 Buells! | ||
| Davegess |
Did you know that you really can't fit 20 RSS motorcycle crates on a 20 foot container? Well you can when you put the second last one in first and lift it up to the top with a forklift, then slide the last one in the bottom. Hope they noticed before they unloaded. Nothing was going to get in the way of shipping those 40 bikes. That was 10 good weeks of production and we needed it. I spent a bunch of time with the NAPA guy around the corner finding a gauge that we could make fit on the new dash, then hours gettign ahold of someone at Stewart Warner who would agree to sell them to us OEM. Anything Mr. Cash wanted her pretty much got. | ||
| Davegess |
BTW Court is a fine "gonzo" journalist. Just 'cause it is the truth does not mean it has to be boring. | ||
| Court |
>>>>then hours getting ahold of someone at Stewart Warner who would agree to sell them to us OEM. I am thrilled, Mr. Purchasing, to report that . . . . your optimism in those days of building a company "one bike at a time" linger on . . . . . there is still a case of your OEM Stewart-Warner Oil Temperature gauges in stock for immediate shipment.  Dave was, even on the darkest of days, the guy who could always see over the horizon and planned for it. The "good news" is that if every remaining RSS-1200 in the world has the oil temp gauge shoot beans tomorrow and all the owner decide to order two, a replacement and a spare, the good folks at Buell stand ready. Optimism that played a key role in the birth of Buell. | ||
| Davegess |
Well they wouldn't sell us less than one case. With OEM pricing it was cheaper to buy 200 than 40 at the distributer price. We still made money on the deal. Compared to the S1 headlight deal it was a walk in the park. | ||
| Court |
>>>>Compared to the S1 headlight deal it was a walk in the park. Hahahahaha . . . ya got me there! By the way . . . before you start with me I still have your original 3 page "how to grow Buell" paper . . . so watch your P's and Q's. Of course . . . at the time growing to 1,000 bikes seemed like going to the moon. | ||
| Davegess |
Hell I would have been happy to sell 4 each week, there are dealers doing more than that now. | ||
| Mark61 |
Would one of those oil temp gages fit in place of the clock on a '99 S3? I would DEARLY love to have 1 if it will! Just let me know how to contact for it. Thanks! mark61 | ||
| Court |
Contact your Authorized Buell Dealer Actually . . . I may be able to help you with this one since it's Buell, not Harley. Drop me a NOTE with your contact info. | ||
| Court |
UPDATE: Just checked. We still have them in stock. They cost $24.68 for the gage and $10.80 for the oil temp sender. | ||
| Mark61 |
Message sent. Next question is why didn't they put these on stock instead of the clock? Who wants clocks when riding? mark61 | ||
| Court |
>>>Who wants clocks when riding? The clock . . . . I tried 2 different ones on a 1997 test bike . . . debuted on the 1998 S3/S3-T. The clock was to accentuate the "touring" placement of the model. I ALWAYS want a clock while riding and have always added, generally an Aerostich, to my panel. I now use the GPS and the one on the Ulyssess panel. | ||
| Loki |
I have my two for my RS. The original and a spare thanks to TA. Yes, I typed RS and not RSS. Remind Court to tell you how many RS bikes were equipped with the RSS dash and oil cooler. | ||
| Mark61 |
Well then I guess I am odd man out on this issue too. I like to ride without pressure. Worked night shift for so long that using the sun-sun up go do my thing! sun down go to work- that is my life style! mark61 | ||
| Mark61 |
Court, Did you get the contact info I sent you via a private message? mark61 | ||
| Court |
No. Resend. | ||
| Easy_rider |
Court, Can you post the p/n of the gauge/sending unit? Thanks, Roger | ||
| Mark61 |
Resent info. mark61 | ||
| Court |
Mark: Call the Buell factory at 262-642-2020 and ask for TOM ANGLIM. Tell him I told you to call and what you need. He'll take care of everything. Court |
