| Author |
Message |
    
Alchemy
| | Posted on Sunday, July 09, 2006 - 04:45 pm: | 
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Buckinfuell, yes, I could be quite wrong. What I was thinking was that Buell allows HD to bring in younger riders. Not exactly "young" but younger. HD has a challenge to broaden their demographic appeal and Buell is part of that .... I think. Cost is an issue for younger riders but we may not have seen all that Buell is capable of.
I would be interested in hearing your counter points if you care to comment. |
Buellshyter
| | Posted on Sunday, July 09, 2006 - 06:36 pm: |
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Buckin, you're spot on with your rider assessment. The chopper puds are absolutely the worst. I guess because they paid 30+k for their bike they feel it entitles them to act like an ass. |
Buckinfuell
| | Posted on Sunday, July 09, 2006 - 07:06 pm: |
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I get a big chuckle when I see the HD decals running around on some asian import car or truck.
Actually, I've got a big Buell decal on the back of my Nissan Titan truck. I have no conflict with that 'cause I don't buy into the whole "made in America" thing. So, if I were a big fan of HD bikes (which I secretly am), I would have no problem putting their logo on my Jap truck.
In my mind, to say you buy Buell or HD because it is made in America implies that you recognize there are better bikes out there, but you refuse to buy them simply because they have a foreign label.
I said it before, and I'll say it again, I buy Buell because it is the machine I like and the bike I wanted and it make no difference that it was made in America. That said, I do believe the bike is very American and that it has way cool American style. |
Buckinfuell
| | Posted on Sunday, July 09, 2006 - 07:25 pm: |
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Alchemy, Buells actually appeal to a very large demographic spanning all ages and socio-economic status. There was a thread going on a while back that was a survey of the average age of riders in this forum. I think it was in the mid to upper thirties and pushing close to 40 with many over 50. Most of the younger riders I know want the Jap I-4s. There are, however, many older riders, a lot of them ex-HD riders who opt for the Buell when given the choice. Just read some of the posts in this thread. I don't know of anyone who bought a Buell with the intention of "trading-up" to an HD product. In fact, you can get a Sportster for about the same price as an XB. Now, if we are talking about the Blast you may have a point. But I think that was created to introduce new riders to the sport period. I would be VERY interested which way most Blast owners go when they trade up... Buell or HD or other? Probably a good topic for another thread.
I think HD saw a very good opportunity to capitalize on the "American Motorcycles" theme and tap into a new market when they teamed with Erik. If they can do for sportbikes what they did for cruisers, then you will have a whole new culture of riders, and unfortunately, 'owners'. |
Samiam
| | Posted on Sunday, July 09, 2006 - 07:51 pm: |
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Hey I'm young (22) and I wouldn't trade my Buell for any Jap I-4.
Sam |
Buckinfuell
| | Posted on Sunday, July 09, 2006 - 07:55 pm: |
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Sam, I said most that I know, but certainly not all. Sorry if I offended you.
Ray |
Samiam
| | Posted on Sunday, July 09, 2006 - 07:58 pm: |
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You didn't, don't worry. I know what you mean though. Most people my age like to blend in, be like everyone else. Hence why you see so many GSXR-1000s. With riders that have never had a bike before. You get the picture.
I just like to stand out, be different.
Sam |
Lions
| | Posted on Sunday, July 09, 2006 - 08:03 pm: |
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Hey..I'm 46 and I traded my Buell for an I-4 and never looked back...no regrets whatsoever....nothing like moving up to an I-4 Holy crap...what a head rush..and don't even talk about dependability....Let's not even go there fellas..this coming from a die-hard Harley/ Buell owner...nuff said |
Buckinfuell
| | Posted on Sunday, July 09, 2006 - 08:18 pm: |
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A good friend of mine who is probably in his mid to upper 40s traded his Buell for a top of the line 145-hp Aprilia. He's totally into racing and often serves as an instructor for Keith Code's California Superbike School. |
Jaimec
| | Posted on Sunday, July 09, 2006 - 08:37 pm: |
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What's his name? Just took Superbike School a couple of months ago at Pocono Raceway... |
Ds_tiger
| | Posted on Sunday, July 09, 2006 - 08:37 pm: |
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Just for the record our non "Jap bikes"
Are almost completely Japanese and Italian manufacture components>
Are of content
Wheels/Swing arm AND frame = Brembo/ Verlicchi- made in ITALY
Instruments and controls = Nippon Sekki, Japan
Suspension = Showa, Japan
Brakes = Nissin- straight of a 1990 era GSXR > Japan
In reality- the bike has a Milwaukee motor and very little else except the time to put it together.
FYI |
Diablobrian
| | Posted on Sunday, July 09, 2006 - 08:43 pm: |
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Ds_Tiger, I guess the engineering and design don't count for anything? |
Ds_tiger
| | Posted on Sunday, July 09, 2006 - 08:46 pm: |
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Heck yeah they do
Great point
But my point is to keep it in perspective
and knock off the JAP or any other ethnic slurr- it is a global economy and your Buell is a showcase |
Buckinfuell
| | Posted on Sunday, July 09, 2006 - 08:51 pm: |
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Jaimec, my friend is a backup for the regular staff when they are at Barber Motorsports in Birmingham, AL.
Ds-tiger, thanks for the source breakdown. I once saw a Buell promotional ad that identified the broad-ranging International content of their bikes, including Italy, Japan, Taiwan, etc. If I can find it, I will post it here on BWB. |
Diablobrian
| | Posted on Sunday, July 09, 2006 - 08:53 pm: |
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Cool, the Buell is definitely a case of the whole being more than the sum of it's parts.
Not everyone sees it that way of course, or there wouldn't be any mutant choppers out
there, but that's a whole different thread! (and best left there) |
Buckinfuell
| | Posted on Sunday, July 09, 2006 - 09:05 pm: |
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Here it is... I found it in one of the "Buell in the News" articles on the Buell web site. It is from Cycle World:
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Molly_hatchet
| | Posted on Monday, July 10, 2006 - 02:14 am: |
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wow i heard that they outsourced some stuff ...but thats kind of an eye opener...so whats the part schematic look like for a harley cruiser...thatd be interesting to see. |
Corporatemonkey
| | Posted on Monday, July 10, 2006 - 04:17 am: |
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The only time I have gotten a strange vibe from HD owners is when I visit the dealer in full gear. All I have to say is "I have tender flesh, and I would like to keep it that way." I always get a chuckle when I say that.
It reminds me of that classic childrens song from Sesame Street
" One of these things is not like the others,
One of these things just doesn't belong,
Can you tell which thing is not like the others
By the time I finish my song?
Did you guess which thing was not like the others?
Did you guess which thing just doesn't belong?
If you guessed this one is not like the others,
Then you're absolutely...right! " |
Samiam
| | Posted on Monday, July 10, 2006 - 05:41 am: |
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Nice one Jamie! I think that just about sums it up!
Sam |
Buckinfuell
| | Posted on Monday, July 10, 2006 - 06:55 pm: |
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This just about sums it up: Harley 'owners' versus 'Buell' riders...
Watch as this idiot brags about having $39,000 tied up in his HD cruiser only to drive away and proceed to crash into a parked car. Huckin' filarious!!!
http://www.yinchiyang.com/HDPoserCrash.wmv |
Dongalonga
| | Posted on Monday, July 10, 2006 - 06:58 pm: |
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ummmmm ouchie!! |
Hattori_hanzo
| | Posted on Monday, July 10, 2006 - 06:59 pm: |
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Aw Ray...ya beat me to it!  |
Buckinfuell
| | Posted on Monday, July 10, 2006 - 07:10 pm: |
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Ha ha... it is just so appropriate. I was looking for the video earlier after having seen it on AFHV.
THANKS to HATTORI_HANZO for the video!!! |
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