| Author | Message | ||
     Jasonl (Jasonl) |
Peter_T - Cagiva is doing what you want. Maybe you should check out the Raptor. Myself I like the HD motor. Low maintenance (from my exp) and great feel. Its not the fastest, techno-greatest, or smoothest but I'm not looking for the corvette of motorcycles. I'm looking for a good time. And when I'm looking for a good time I don't look up June Cleaver or even Kathy Ireland. Both would do but myself I'm looking for fun first and style later. But all this is subjective to your definition of fun. Court - seems that someone needs to get on the ball here and realize Buell is in a different economy. I think HD folks will realize what's going on at some point. I hope it's soon. I think the brain swap is a good idea to shake things up but don't let the "cemented minds" lead things. Hd needs new ideas and hence Buell. | ||
| robr |
Hey Court, no need to try to resolve my parts delivery problems. After seven weeks waiting with my bike in the shop for the new muffler mount and a week for Harley to install it, I finally have my bike back. Buell customer service said the dealer had the "ordered the wrong part or something", the dealership told me "no way!" The interesting part was that the new muffler was delivered in about four days. I'm just happy to have my bike back but very leery about bringing it back for anything else. The dealer told me seven weeks was not long to wait for a Buell part! He said one guy is waiting almost four months for the race muffler.Anyway thanks for any help you might have given behind the scenes. I'm still keep'in the faith in Buell,...RobR | ||
| Sean Pepper (Rocketman) |
When you look at motorcycles such as the MV Brutale or Munch Mammoth to name but two, it is clear to me, these machines are way way way expensive to design never mind build, so when you guys talk of tooling costs, I can only assume you're either defending Harley Davidson Motor Co or talking out of your arses. There is no way in the world HD cannot afford to be designing and building motorcycles at this very high level. HD obviously have the funds in place to be able to design and build whatever they choose. They aren't in the Forbes 100 for nothing you know. I would rather suggest HD wont spend money on anything a little more adventurous than what they already have, such as the aqusition of the Buell marque, because there are too many fat cats milking the profits for their personal gain. As if these extremely wealthy cats need anymore money, they'd all do better to throw some money back into the R&D pot, so as they can push HD into a 21st century, state of the art.............................oh bollocks, they aren't interested anyway ! Rocket in England | ||
| Arvel L. Williams (S2no1) |
Rocket, I believe that was the gist of my post discussing the corporate culture and sticking with what has worked in the past. The only problem is that eventually HD must change their corporate culture, or risk being in the same situation of the early 70's and 80'. As for milking the cow, I'd point out that the stock sales of individuals in HD management from last year were huge bordering on the point of sinful. Your right, with that profit margin someone isn't looking out for the "long" term stability of the company. Arvel | ||
| tim ivanoffsmoke |
any more ,corporate america is about quarterly profit and maintaining market share. hd sells everything they build for the cruiser market, but i am under the belief that their biggest profit centers fall into the realm of brand name merchandising. i have always had motorcycles, but i am not necessarily brand loyal. the direction buell has moved lately has me looking elsewhere. 97s1,66xlch,71rd350 | ||
| '00 M2 (Blake) |
Court: Should we create a new topic, "Hammering Harley!" or some such thing? Ciao, Blake | ||
| Speed-X1 |
Court, How bout a ride through Worthington State park before the snow flies again? I'm sure you remember the deer slayer incident! (Haven't heard from Andy lately, he hasn't hurt himself again has he? Just kiddin!) If your up to it Charlie G and I could meet you and whoever else would be up for it. Thanks Rich Kruger East Stroudsburg, Pa. | ||
| Arvel L. Williams (S2no1) |
Blake, OK, No more HD Bashing. Arvel | ||
| Sean Pepper (Rocketman) |
I'm not bashing Harley, I'm merely pointing out that Harley Davidson has continued to do buisness in this way for many years, and I don't have a problem with that, where Harley's are concerned. If you have a product or two, which is good enough to capture all corners of the market you're targeting, and in HD's case I'd say this is so, then as company policy go's, I'd have to say they're doing a fantastic job. Been a Sportster man myself, if I where in the market for a Sporty today, I'd be spoilt for choice. Not only can we decide to have a twin plug head we can choose that or one with a Buell top end. The choice is amazing. Same for the rest too. There's a model amongst the Big Twins that must surely appeal to anyone. The product choice is also amazing. I know that there are certain aspects of each and everyone of the Harley's offered today that some of us will criticize, but that aside, they really have come on leaps and bounds as individual motorcycles, and lest we not forget, they can sell everyone of them and they do ! So no, I'm not bashing Harley here. Infact, my hat's off to 'em but I'm gonna put it straight back on again because I don't own any Harley's now (except my son), I own a Buell, and this is where I consider that Harley haven't done there homework. So, if you catch me bashing Harley D it's because I'm standing in Buell's corner when I'm doing it. Perhaps HD would do well to employ me as "outside consultant" then I'll guarantee you'll see some REAL Buell's coming off the line ! Rocket in England | ||
| Jim Armstrong (Jima4media) |
Rocket, You bring up something that I have been kicking around in my head for a while - a BRAG advisory group that meets online and consults with Harley and Buell as to the needs and desires of its customers. Instanteous feedback on any idea or product or program. Focus groups are too slow in this day and age. The advertising agency is completely out of touch with reality. "Carve Some Concrete"? Who in their right mind would want to ride on concrete? Do any of these people ride motorcycles? Let the ones who ride - decide, and vote with their wallets. CD Cases and axle covers, or performance parts and reliability? Jim X-2.5 http://caferacers.editthispage.com | ||
| Scott Gierke (Techietork) |
Hooligans; We have all chosen our Buells for a reason. I have ridden motorcycles on and off road for 26 years. I have owned a lot of japanese brands. When I was 16 I worked in a motorcycle shop that sold 3 japanese brands, including Harley Davidson and BMW. In this shop all of the other people rode HD. I would give them a bad time about how heavy and slow they were compared to my V-Max. One day the owner told me to shut my pie hole, threw me the keys to a new 84 Heritage Softail and told me to take it home for lunch (20 miles round trip). I came back with the biggest grin, with 8 people standing around the owner said he got it! He was right!! About this time, I found out about this guy from Wisconsin making sport bikes with HD motors! I looked into it a little further, found out the model available was a RS1200 for 18k back in 84-85. This was 3 times the price of my v-max and then some. This was WAY beyond my price range!!! A decade plus a few years have passed and in those years I have owned a Harley, loved the motor, hated the handling and the weight. Still could'nt afford a Buell and could'nt turn my Harley into a sport bike. When I found out that Harley and Buell came together, I knew finally, I would get my Buell. For me my X-1 is the perfect motorcycle light weight, loads of torque, plenty of power for the street, more attitude then anything else out there and the sound when piped that brings a tear to the eye! Harley Davidson the engine, company and it's financial backing of Erik's "genius", put your Buell in your garage. (unless you are one of the few that could afford 18k and get on the list!) One last comment to the people who don't think the Buell is effective against the high h.p. japanese bikes. Today, I had a kawasaki zx-11 (140+ h.p., 170+ top speed) try to keep up with me in a long set of twisties and he could not keep me in sight, until we got on a long straight away! By this time I shut it down, looked in my mirrors, watched him catch up and then blast by at 100+. My work was done, we both knew who was on the best sportbike! Scott G Millenium X-1 Seattle, WA | ||
| Lyons Dunn Lillard (Cap) |
HD is only concerned with short term profits? The Motor Company has made a better than 20 % return over the last 12 or so years. This past year they made more money than ever and the dealers can't keep bikes on the floor! If you had $100,000 dollars invested in HD ten years ago, you would have well over $600,000 in the bank! I have Honda stock from ten years ago, when I worked for Honda and the stock growth is miniscule compared to HD! Scott, The only Softail made in 1984 and it wasn't a Heritage. I believe it came out in 1986. Also 1987 was the first model year for Buell for public market. The bike was the RR 1000. Court is KING! Nuff said!!!!!! | ||
| Scott Gierke (Techietork) |
Lyons, Your account of the year is correct (86) thank you for the correction. The reponse that HD is only interested in revenues and nothing else is up for debate. They have held fast to there traditions of design and the growth of their client base. If they were interested in pure profits they would have sold out long time ago to mass produced economical pez-bikes! Harley has done so well because they got away from AMF and got back to what made them great prior to AMF. | ||
| Sean Pepper (Rocketman) |
So Scott :, maybe you're right with your revenues theory. But I fear for Buell if your theory about HD holding fast to their traditions is also correct. Isn't this the problem we are attempting to put our fingers on ? I think so ! I also think it's time HD realised, a whole new set of traditions are called for, where Buell are concerned. You know, like the one where HD says Buell is a kickarse approach to motorcycling and because of its difference in breeding, we (HD) will not treat it as another Harley product, rather, we will allow Buell the freedom it needs to sustain its unique place in the motorcycle market place ! Rocket in England | ||
| Court (Court) |
As requested.......  | ||
| Court (Court) |
See pics page... | ||
| john macpherson (Jocklandjohn) |
Re Buell V Harley perceptions. I remember reading an article in a US touring bike magazine some years ago. For a bit of light-hearted entertainment the editors thought it would be smart to test a BMW touring bike against a BMW saloon car to see how they compared. Next issue of the magazine carried a letter from "enraged biker of Iowa" saying this was a damned insult to bikers and what depths was this trend going to descend to "A comparison between a Yamaha FJ1200 and Yamaha concert piano?" Buells and Harleys are different, but I'll leave you to make YOUR choice of which one YOU can make sweet music on and which corners like a grand piano! They may share "heritage" but they appeal to a different market. HD needs to fully realise and EXPLOIT this and target appropriately. At least in the UK they seem to have tried - with their posters of Buells wheelying and stoppying. Was that stuff allowed in the USofA? <P | ||
| Vik (Eeeeek) |
No. | ||
| Bryan T Nill (Loki) |
The coolest ad I saw: It was in 'Cycle-World' I believe. It was a Buell leather racing jacket hanging on a wall hook. With sleeves twice as long as the jacket itself. With a statement at the bottom of the page in red "Arm-jerking Acceleration". I have a copy of it that will eventually be framed and hung in my workshop. loki | ||
| Court (Court) |
I still have my autographed copy of the OFFICIAL Buell t-shirt of my brother doing a MONDO wheelie on an S-1 . . . Should I post a pic ? Court |
