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Smokedaddy
| | Posted on Sunday, July 03, 2005 - 03:31 pm: | 
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I bought my first two Buell(s) in 96 and 98 at Tucson HD. It was the only Buell dealership in Arizona. I was willing to drive approximately 120 miles, one way, for service (poor service I might add) or to buy another bike (of course that was years ago).
The only problem I see with Buell dealerships is their intolerable poor service. I could care less how MANY dealerships exist, or how much Buell clothing they stock, or even "aftermarket" Buell components. Buell could cut their cost and the end-users cost, by selling clothing on-line or through a catalog (just like GAP or others). Poor service is totally unacceptable. Since American has become a service industry, I find this even more intolerable.
It should be a dealership requirement (if available from Buell) to have all Buell specific routine maintenance and service parts in stock at all times. It should also be a standard operating procedure to overnight or next day ship any warranty part not in stock. HD/Buell should develop a accurate record keeping system and hold dealership service departments accountable for their efforts (or lack of). They should also offer a dealership SERVICE award specifically with lucrative incentives for those meeting that particular standard. A loaner bike should be available to anyone, free of charge, if the dealership has a bike in for warranty service longer than 2 working days.
Buell would have to come up with something pretty innovative and special this month to bring me or any of my friends back to a Buell dealership. My disgust has nothing to do with the price of a Buell, how far I have to drive to get it serviced, its horsepower, clothing lineup, smiley phony faces
rather something I thought was pretty simple to accomplish
parts and quality service in a timely manner.
-SD:
(Message edited by smokedaddy on July 03, 2005) |
Ryker77
| | Posted on Sunday, July 03, 2005 - 03:47 pm: |
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But now days with the fuel injection and other Buell "only" items the need for proper service is getting greater. A few years back any HD mech that knew the ever so common sportster could fix the Buell quickly and properly. Now Buell is mostly all Buell and has little to do with its little sister the Sportster. Perhaps the only reason you could find parts in the past was because the were standard sportster parts.
Which is why I am pulling the fuel injection from my x1 and putting a mukuni carb on the bike.
Buell should try and use as many parts from the HD as possible. This way the tech have the knowledge and parts to fix the bike. |
Buell_less
| | Posted on Sunday, July 03, 2005 - 05:58 pm: |
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Buell should use HD parts? Nah. Why go backwards? Maybe HD should use more Buell parts; if nothing else they'd go faster. Unfortunately, they can't do that, since HDs are required (by their owners) to have silly little mufflers and inadequate air intake systems.
Replacing the fuel injection with a carburetor seems like the classic Luddite reaction to something you don't understand.
If the techs don't have the knowledge to fix Buells, they should be fired. A Buell is not a complicated motorcycle, and learning to work on them shouldn't be a big leap from working on a Harley. |
Thepup
| | Posted on Sunday, July 03, 2005 - 05:59 pm: |
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SD,I felt the same way you did about owning a Buell,but I went to a new dealer and the experience was great.The last dealer did some warranty work and when he was putting the cases back together cracked the piece between the cylinders that is threaded and didn't stop and fix it,just put it right back together.My bike was in the shop for 5 weeks because of this.The funny thing is this dealer received the pegasys award for sales and service.They din't even have an air filter in stock when I needed one.Luckily here in Fla there are HD/Buell dealers everywhere,if I was somewhere that there were only a few in that state and had to drive several hours for good service I would not want a Buell.Luckily I have found a great dealer and am satisfied again. |
Ryker77
| | Posted on Sunday, July 03, 2005 - 06:29 pm: |
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Buell should use HD parts? Nah. Why go backwards? Maybe HD should use more Buell parts; so HD and Buell can't use the common parts like oil filter, air filters, throttle cables, sensors and even fuel injection parts. From what I've read Buell uses Ford fuel injectors.
Replacing the fuel injection with a carburetor seems like the classic Luddite reaction to something you don't understand. I understand this. ET sensor $40.00, reset TPS $50.00, 40 mile trips to the dealer, time wasted trouble shooting sensors - price less. And the fact that X1's parts will be getting harder to find. Or put a simple and EFFECTIVE carb on the bike.
If the techs don't have the knowledge to fix Buells, they should be fired. A Buell is not a complicated motorcycle, and learning to work on them shouldn't be a big leap from working on a Harley. The basic engine is simple. Its just all the extra wires and sensors. Even a trained tech will require a few hours to troubleshoot some electrical problems. And with the fact that Buell and HD have numerous ECM/Fuel injections systems. Sure fire the bike tech. Lots of qualified techs ready to replace them? |
Cataract2
| | Posted on Sunday, July 03, 2005 - 08:33 pm: |
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Thepup, if you don't mind me asking. Where in Fl. do you live and what dealership do you use?
(Message edited by cataract2 on July 03, 2005) |
Whodom
| | Posted on Sunday, July 03, 2005 - 09:16 pm: |
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Court,
It was great to read your "Buell long-term strategy" post above. THIS is the kind of thing I've been looking for every since you started (but never finished) the "State of Buell 2005" thread months ago.
Sounds like we have a lot to look forward to. |
Tunes
| | Posted on Sunday, July 03, 2005 - 09:22 pm: |
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If your going to be a wrench nowadays, you had better like and understand computers and computer type components. Good news is, there's still a large market for older bikes that don't use ECM's. In years past, a mechanic worked on mechanical things... wiring was just that, wires going to switches, coils, and &%#! like that. Now, wiring harnesses are going to sensors which are going to EFI's and ECM's.
I'm still waiting for my XB Service Manual. Does it contain a full circuit schematic? If it does, then I want a crack at my IGN fuse prob.
I'm giving my dealership a chance to save face and make good on my dead motorcycle. If I could, I'd like to bring it to either a different dealership in the area that LOVES Buells or to a friend who wrenches on Buells. I know that either choice is better than where the bike is now, but it's where I bought it.
I thought for sure there was a dedicated Buell dealership in the southern states somewhere, like FL, GA, or something?
I think it's 1/2 the personnel and 1/2 the dealer ownership that sets the tone of how Buells are sold and serviced. I complained about the lack of being able to buy a cap and within 2 weeks they had a stand with caps, shirts, etc. I know who did this... It was the young lady who sold me the XB. Up here in N.E. there is a Buell dude by the name of Dave King. If you're up here and you never heard of him, shame on you. He's similiar to Buell central... Anyway, he left one dealership and went to another. That Buell dedication and attitude went with him and now permeates the new dealership where he works. Even though my nearest Buell dealership is 12 miles away, I buy 90% of my parts, accessories, oil, etc. from him... 68 miles away. I just like the service better. Granted, most of the purchases are via mail, but they still get my business. |
Thepup
| | Posted on Sunday, July 03, 2005 - 10:11 pm: |
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Cataract,I was using Lakeland HD/Buell,I have switched to Tampa HD/Buell.I got a call from Tampa(they rebuilt just about my whole engine and transmission) asking how my bike was and if I have any problems to just bring it in.i would highly recommend them to anyone for service. |
Odinbueller
| | Posted on Sunday, July 03, 2005 - 10:16 pm: |
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We're looking forward to Anthony's start here at Liberty. He's enthusiastic about Buell, and is motivated by racing (his Krylon orange paint is junkyard tough!). We're doing our best to keep parts in stock so that our Buell customers can get what they need in a short amount of time. I'm fortunate enough to be scheduled for Buell poweretrain & electrical schooling at the motor co. this December along with NJBuell. In short, we have a staff that is enthusiastic about the brand, and are doing our best to make others in the store just as enthusiastic.
I'm currently working on getting our BRAG chapter up and running, working on getting more parts, advancing my knowledge on the bikes themselves, and also working on getting more Buell customers in the door. I'm hoping the BRAG chapter will help in that respect. We have seen an increase in Buell customer coming through the door; I just hope that they dig what we've done so far. |
Knotrider
| | Posted on Sunday, July 03, 2005 - 11:13 pm: |
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how about some detail on anthony going to liberty. i'm asuming this is the anthony from edison. or are there two anthony's with cool paintjobs? |
Kevinfromwebb
| | Posted on Monday, July 04, 2005 - 12:45 am: |
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Court, that was interesting info, thanks... One thing that has happened since I've filled in the surveys is I had a nightmare at a local dealer concerning service. It wasn't the diagnosis or the disassembly that was the problem, it was the assembly (or lack thereof) that was the problem. I won't go back to that dealer and I do mention it if anybody asks, and sometimes when they don't... One thing that does stick in my mind was one of the service writers explaining the delay in diagnosing my electrical problems as "We don't work on these very much"...
That shows me that the bikes are dependable but the mechanics are short on training, although that could be caused by the mechanics going from one dealer to another...
Oh, I don't complain to turn people off on the Brand but I do warn them of my problems with that particular dealer...
Here's to Buell, may we have dealers that care about the Brand as much as we do... 
Kevin |
Court
| | Posted on Monday, July 04, 2005 - 06:50 am: |
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>>>>Maybe HD should use more Buell
Harley-Davidson is using MANY more Buell parts AND processes.
Since about 2 years ago the old "it has a Sportster engine" (once, circo 1990, apllied to Buell) may now accuratley be stated about the Sportster "it has a Buell engine".
There are many more things afoot and don't think for one moment that Buell didn't introduce something NEW in 2003.
Imagine doing a jig-saw puzzle with the pieces laying in Karo syrup on sandpaper.
Court |
Deerhunter17
| | Posted on Monday, July 04, 2005 - 08:10 am: |
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Dedicated for sales is one thing, SERVICE is my major concern these days. I want people to service my bike, locally, who KNOW what they are doing. How do you propose to have fewer dealerships, and have a better, more positive reputation among the motorcycle community. I mean, I like the look, sound, and feel of a Ducati, but would never own one because of the maintenance required and the fact that the nearest Dealership is 3 hours away. I have a friend who owns one, and has had it trailered 1000 miles away to have it tuned up. Not my idea of motorcycle ownership. Of course, he has had the thing for several years, and has less than 5000 miles on it, so for him, I guess it's no bike deal. I think the attractiveness of the XB is the way it feels to ride. It makes you take the long way to work, or even just ride for the hell of it. I have put 10k on in a year, and know alot of guys here have done so an more, so when you through in scheduled maint every 5k, your having to service this thing twice a year or more. If you get crap for service, or it comes out broken instead of serviced, it can negate the positive customer feedback and loyalty will wain. So, as I said, fewer more positive sales departments, okay, I can see you point. But if true growth is what you want, the follow up (service) will make provide more loyalty, and growth,or destroy you in the long run, jmho |
Nadz
| | Posted on Monday, July 04, 2005 - 09:32 pm: |
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Been reading thru all the stuff I missed while I was out lighting off pyro, and these thoughts came to me (IMHO):
First of all, I know every Buell dealership between PA and Canada, and the thing they all have in common is that the Hog salesmen don't know squat about Buells and mostly want to sell chrome. But if you go back to the parts counter or find a greasy tech, they will grin and talk your arm off. There's always at least one, find him!
Second, I was shopping at a Yama/Kawi/BMW shop ('cuz H-D doesn't carry sport accessories, boooo) and was there for two hours mostly talking about BMW's. These guys knew I wasn't buying, but they loved to talk tech and were rolling them around and explaining finer points. We need more of that enthusiasm in Hog-land.
Third, I disagree that reducing the number of dealerships is good, unless the remainder get proportionally better as a result. I didn't hear that Buells were good, I saw one while shopping around, and it's engineering and refinement caught my attention. Went home, read more, came back with cash. It was actually a trade-in at a Duc dealer, and he knew more than most H-D salesmen! I agree that they sell themselves, but how can they do that if you can't see/ride one?
Fourth, Parts dammit! Everything I've ever needed has had to be ordered, and the Buell website thumbnails don't help either (thank You instead, badwebbers). So now I just order from our sponsors, but a few super-dealers doesn't make for good corporate success. If "thinning the herd" will get some floorspace out front and racks in back, I'll drive an extra hour (but not 3.5).
Hey Saintly- Iron Block dropped Buell. Too bad, that's my area and they were one of the good ones, too. Had every model, accessories in stock, knowledge, etc. Try out the Binghamton shop- they actually invite you into the (hospital-clean) walk-in shop while they're turning bolts!
Wow, that turned into quite a rant. Ordinarily I'd shorten it, but I hope someone upstairs reads one more opinion... -NadZ |
Buells Rule!
(Dyna in disguise)
| | Posted on Monday, July 04, 2005 - 09:43 pm: |
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These guys knew I wasn't buying, but they loved to talk tech and were rolling them around and explaining finer points. We need more of that enthusiasm in Hog-land.
Had a similar experience at a Volkswagen dealership. The salesmen knew I wasnt buying the $55K Tourage..or however its spelled...but they spent the better part of an hr with me showing me everything it could do. They were getting a big kick out of it & genuinely seemed like they love the product they are selling. |
Ryker77
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 05, 2005 - 08:10 am: |
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Too bad the Tourage is VW worst vehicule as far as number of problems pre 1000 vehicules. That car alone cause VW to drop several places lower for number of problems for 1000 VW's sold.
I don't buy new bikes or cars and have yet to use a dealership for other than minor parts. If not for this website I wouldn't have purchased the X1. Smart and helpfull guys with some great vendors! Hell with it close all the dealerships just leave me with this web site! |
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