| Author | Message | ||
     José_Quiñones |
MikeJ Excellent link there, very interesting article Posted just because it's interesting to see how the bike evolved. I actually like that fairing better. | ||
| José_Quiñones |
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| Davegess |
Buell only dealerships don't exist at this point methinks. The few stand alones are actually part of an existing HD dealer who has set up a seperate store. As far as 160 bikes, I think that refers to the amount that they can sell in a year. I am also sure that the number of bikes is lower in Europe and other places. I also think that Buell only dealers are a possibility in Europe as part of a multi line dealer. It would be impossible to survive on only Buell sales. They are projecting only 12000 bikes for this model year. What does Ducati make 40000? Aprilla? KTM? Actually Ducati is really the closest comparasion to Buell, the people they appeal to are not that different and they have faced many of the same constraints. Even with 4 times the sales ducati has not proven to be wildly profitable. they have done pretty well in the last couple of years and seem to be improving at a good clip but the 80's and early 90's were very tough for them. IMHO Buell needs to do a couple of things; one, focus one making the firebolt and blast to a very high level of quality and getting all 12000 sold. (The wall street folks who follow HD agree with me BTW) two, improve dealers and dealer support three, over the next five years use the two platforms to expand the bikes they sell and DOUBLE sales. This probably means coming up with CHEAPER versions of the firebolt not more expensive ones (re VROD) sort of like the M2 compared to the X1. I know Rocket wants exclusive but yah can't stay in business as an exclusive bike maker unless you make only dozens of bikes not thousands, the numbers just do not add up. They have to do all this on a very tight budget that does not negatively effect HD profits. This is a huge job, without HD impossible, with HD only doable 'cause Erik is mad. (mad in a good way) dave | ||
| Arbalest |
If you have seen any of the financial news about Ducati, you will note that unit sales are down this year from last. Profits, however, are up. The profits are not coming form motorcycle sales, but from Ducati "accessories". Can you say "motorclothes"? It seems to me that Buell riders are all about the Machine, not the clothes you wear while riding. Buell will never make a fortune thru accessories. I hope Buell riders continue to be about the bike. | ||
| Superbad |
There are lots of 2000 and 2001 model Ducati's sitting at dealerships. My local dealer has about 7 748's and 6 996's on the floor. Not to mention the 900SS and 750ss there. This isn't a very good dealership, they started selling Ducatis about 4 years ago. I personally am excited to deal with the local H-D/Buell dealer here, as I have heard all kinds of good things. Ducati is all about Catalog lifestyle engineering. I loved them when they were inconvenient, tempermental motorcycles for those who know what a great bike is and aren't afraid to ride something different. Kinda like all the Buell'ers here. Now I am tired of the "Ducati Lifestyle". Bobby | ||
| José_Quiñones |
Same thing here in the Norther Virginia area. The local Ducati Dealer is selling his remaining inventory of 2001 APRILIA and DUCATI bikes, including a stunning blue Futura, at invoice cost. They have plenty of Suzukis and Yamahas left over too. Ft. Washington HD/Buell has plenty of X1's, M2's and Blasts looking for a home. Can you say "Buyer's Market" | ||
| Oldman |
yea mike maybe i'll hit the lotto tomorrow. pete, i can find you alot of twistie roads with a little bit of hilliness to em. other than that you just have pammy although it looks like there looking for a tech acording to one of the rags i read, can you fill that bill. | ||
| Smitty |
Someone told me that the local Harley shop had Buells. Hoping to take a long and better look at the XB I went over. No Buells at all, tons of bikes including 4 V Rods all shined up and ready to go. I hope this dealer doesn’t get Buells because he had the V Rods marked up a little high over list for my taste and id hate to see his prices on the Buells. Oh yeah the prices on the v Rods was 2 of them $27,775.00 and 1 was discounted to $27,774.00 the other ones said display.  | ||
| Peter |
Dave, OK. 160 sales/year makes more sense. How did Modesto get by with only Buells and (was it GasGas?) one other minor brand? The number one Buell seller in Holland is also not a Harley dealer, but does carry Moto Guzzi, Triumph and scooters. I just have the idea that with a lot of goodwill to Modesto's style of service, they could be creaming the Buell parts scene with an online website. Oldman, I wish I had a green card. I'd go and annoy Pammy about that one... PPiA | ||
| Davegess |
Peter, I think Modesto has another shop that is HD. I am not surprised to see a Buell dealer in Europe that is not an HD dealer. HD dealers are really poor places to sell Buells in Europe | ||
| Anonymous |
Dave, from the responses on this board, they seem like a poor place to sell Buells in America too  | ||
| Spiderman |
That they are Anonymous. I'm the buell manager and being in an Harley shop first off intimidates sportbike riders, and a few techs here an else were do not really like the Buell motorcycle, even like one of the sales people here said, " I have a hard time selling them cause i dont like that kind of riding and i dont know to much about them" The knowlege part can always be fixed. Cause i dont "favor" Jap bikes but i know alot about them. Mind you nothing personel about Jap bikes they are just to Cookie cutter for me with the exception of a few. (but this is a whole nother subject) all in all i love working in the shop i work at cause they Brought me in to help bring in Buell customers and work with the dealer to make it more welcome to the Buell customer basis, and the cool thing they are cooperating  | ||
| Anonymous |
There are most definitely good dealers out there, but when you read about those bad ones, well, it makes you nervous. Luckily, my dealer is fairly knowledgable, and even have a Buell race team, so I'm covered , but, there are those horror stories that float around.... | ||
| Blackbuellm2 |
Looking at the # of total dealer VS/ the number of "good" dealers in the Buell market simply makes the point that Buell is on the edge of the cliff market wise. Either HD/Buell gets it together and gets the network on board or I personally feel that Buell will be but a memory in the next two years. There is too many dealers out there who do offer service value and an excellent product for Buell to compete in an apathetic manner. Time to fish or cut bait as they say. | ||
| Buelliedan |
There are a LOT of really bad Kawayamahondazuki dealers out there as well. Just read some of the horror stories on other boards. It is not uncommon for Suzuki dealers to try and deny a warranty claim on a bike if it has an aftermarket muffler on it. I guees that factory says that makes it a "race bike" Fortunately for them they have not had as many quality control issues as Buells have had. But the most important thing you can do to improve the dealerships is to voice your opinion with your wallet. If your local dealer sucks tell them. If they don't improve let them know that you will not buy anything from them again including parts. Call a good dealer for your parts: Modesto, Topeka, etc... This is how to make them listen. Not by bitching on this board. | ||
| Libnosis |
Dan I agree 100%. lib | ||
| Mikej |
A question indirectly brought up from the general discussion board, what are the projected/actual 1/4mile times/speeds for the XB9R in a drag-strip setting? I know that isn't it's intended use, but you know it will be run down a few strips. Just curious. (And figured I'd post while I still have a job and this company is still in business in this locale, lots of stuff happening internally and externally.) MikeJ | ||
| Court |
They must as a covenent of the Harley-Davidson Dealer Contract. I have the guidelines, somewhere, that set requirements and the what you can and can't do, for "Satellite" Stores. This conversation has gone on and unheeded for a time that is roughly equal to the "how are we going to get dealers excited" conversation. Court | ||
| Oldman |
when you have the same bikes on the floor for the past 8 months, and even when you tell the gm you have a pricing problem on those buells in conjunction with other dealers, but you still see those same buells in those stores. where does one think the problem lies. had i been just a buell dealer on saturday, i could have sold at least 3 buells from people wanting to change the way they wanted to ride(jap bikes mainly) salesman in general are trained to lead people to the cruisers me thinks cause i have never seen someone being directed to a buell, like, have you ever thought of riding something different??? | ||
| Elvis |
I think most of us would agree that Harley has traditionally been more image focused than performance focused and the dealers reflect this. As Buell's Market share (hopefully) grows and more V-Rod based bikes hit this market I am optimistic for a shift in attitude. Maybe some day there will be such a thing as a Buell only dealer (we can dream). Elvis P.S. - I think most vehicle owners have experienced some sort of "horror story" if they have lived long enough. It might be Ford, Chrysler, Kawasaki, Ducati. It just happens that most of the people on this board spend a lot of time at Harley/Buell dealers. | ||
| Smitty |
Are there 2 different color gauge sets for the XB? I rode a blue one on sat,silver backround with orange numerals and logo and the litterature book has a white faced gauge with blue numbers and logo. | ||
| Elvis |
Smitty, I believe there was a change at some point from white to silver, so prototypes were white, but production bikes are silver. Does anyone know the reason for the change? I preferred the white. Elvis | ||
| Superbad |
If you look at magazine photos they also changed the markings on the speedo. It was every 20 MPH. 0...20...40...etc and now it is marked every 10 0..10..20..30. The easiest way to tell pre-producation bikes is the small belt tensioner. On the production bikes it is much larger and has several hole machined into it. Beautiful machining IMHO. Bobby | ||
| Court |
Not unusual. . . The rigors and, frankly, just plain experience, of testing reveal much. Some idea(r)that seemed, in the design stage to be an act of inspired genius, well just don't work well. As many times, something totally unthought of pops into a persons head or happens by accident (kill me for using that word Erik). Buell has some REAL motorcycle riders testing and the R&D process is one of being open to and receptive of change. The "Buell Basement" is decorated with an assortment of things like S-1 rotors from Kelsey-Hayes and and others in a spattering of various physical layouts (note the slot design changed in 1998 to have the slot "land" midway between the drive pins) that were "also rans". Also, on display were some of the ill fated attempts to produce the infamous M-2 Tach Kit to meet a committment that was blurted out inadvertantly, at the 1997 dealer meeting. Tach kit?.....we're developing a tach kit?....in 4 weeks?....EEECCCCK! We were suppose to learn, instead we simply announced we'd be introducing a Twin Tail option for the M-2. Buell is a motorcycle company peppered with and run by TRUE enthuaists! Court | ||
| Davegess |
Court, Enthusiasts, that for sure. and sometimes the enthusiasm steps all over reality, at least it did while I was there. "That's a great idea, we can make that work give us a month" Great attitude to have but it took a while for hte marketing guys to realise that we sometimes said we could do it when we only THOUGHT we could do it. Like that @#%$^&*(@#$% M2 tach kit. These days it seems that Buell has managed to have keep the enthusiasm and "we can do it" attitude (thats why we have the XB and the Blast) while gaining a much better method of ensuring that things get done right and without annoucing delivery dteas that can't be meet. Believe me this was a very painful process Dave | ||
| Johnnybravo |
NOt tru OLD MAN i used to lead and still do lead people into the Buell weather it be a 17 year old or a 100 year old. I had a guy at one dealer that was 55 years old and was looking at Harleys i started talking to him found out he used to ride Jap bikes and he was looking for more of a cruising model and i introduced him to the S3 and he loved it. But that is just me dedicated Buell Man | ||
| Smitty |
Thanks Elvis for the responce.I am more partial to the white faced gauges. My last 3 bikes had them im just kinda used to them. My friend did buy the s4 monster I was going for the 620ie but after riding the firebolt im leaning that way. It looks like the XB is in my future. My friend cannot believe i like it better than the Ducati. | ||
| Fox |
Hi, José The April 29 XB9R picture show some modifications. Can you tell us more about XB9R evolutions?  | ||
| José_Quiñones |
There are probably people lurking around here that know the full story, but I'll recap what we have seen: The most obvious change was the whole belt idler pulley setup, with the larger pulley and the added covers for the belt. The location/orientation of the oil cooler has been changed and it now features a scoop. The prototype fairing was larger than the final production version. The gauges have changed color/fonts/mph markers __________________________________________________ FIREBOLT ALERT!! FIREBOLT ALERT!! Buell lurker, I was looking at the FIrebolt we rode last weekend at HD/Buell of Ft. Washington, and I noticed that the way that the rear brake line is goes in front of the rear shock and towards the caliper, if it is not routed correctly, IT WILL RUB AGAINST THE SHOCK SPRING. The one at Ft. Washington showed some wear marks where it was nearest to the shock. YOu might want to consider adding a second hook to keep it away from the spring. Something to check out...... | ||
| Dynarider |
Dont worry about that brake line rubbing on the shock, it will be covered by one of the first recalls  As for the oil cooler. The bike I saw last year at homecoming had the scoop on it, thought it was pretty neat looking too. |
