| Author | Message | ||
     Stevasaurus |
For so long I've been suffering on my little EX-250. I've been yearning for a Buell much longer, though. I finally bit the bullet, took the MSF course after MANY months with a permit, and now just got my new license in the mail, complete with M1 classification. "Look! Glendale is doing a demo ride this weekend," I say to myself last week. I FINALLY get my chance to experience an XB first-hand. Well, Saturday it rained and I had to work anyway. Which leads to today . . . Finish changing the oil on my car about 2:00, my friend comes by, we hop in my car and start from Oxnard to Glendale (about 60 miles). Exit the freeway, but my friend says to take a left instead of a right. We end up in Burbank, completely turned around. Long story short, we get to the dealer at 3:58 when the ride's over at 4:00. "Say it isn't over," I ask. Yep. I'm literally standing next to the demo bikes while I'm asking and being told no. I was so bummed and pissed all at the same time that I couldn't bring myself to plead my case, like it would've helped anyway. If any of you think I'm Glendale bashing, I'm not. I'm just VERY disappointed. Insurance costs may be forcing me to a Monster 620 Dark anyway, but this was going to sway me back. And for all of you: When you exit the 5 freeway Southbound at San Fernando Road, take a RIGHT.  Thanks for letting me vent. I needed that. | ||
| Seth |
You can't bash a dealership for actually being timely... Go back another day and give the the XB a test ride. I hope to soon. | ||
| Kdan |
I'd beat the hell out of your buddy if I were you. That won't solve anything, but it'll make you feel better. | ||
| Bomber |
in many delaerships, demo days are not the only days on which you can demo like seth sez - go on back and get a ride! | ||
| Court |
Steve: This is no problem whatsoever. Call the Buell dealership, speak to the Buell Sales Manager and tell them you'd like to schedule a demo ride. The name of the guy at Glendale escapes me at the moment, but if you have any problems, just let me know and we'll get you hooked up pronto. You buy that Monster, you'll be pissed at all of us, Glendale and your small puppy for the next 3 years. Court | ||
| Diablobrian |
Save a puppy, Buy a Buell!  | ||
| Jprovo |
Steve, I was standing right next to you when you walked up!!! I could see the look of disappointment in your face, but there was nothing I could do. I was going to say something to ya, but you looked so pissed off, that I don't think that there is anything I could say to make it better. The last demo ride of the day had left about 5 minuites before you showed up, and didn't come back for another 20-25. It was past 5:00 before we had everything outside put away, and when I left, they were still tying bikes down in the demo truck... Give Ernie Snair a call over at Glendale, he should be able to help you out. www.glendaleharley.com James Provencher Glendle BRAG Member By the way, you weren't the only one who showed up after 4:00 wanting a demo ride and not getting one. There were at least two more that I counted. | ||
| New12r |
You can test ride a bike whenever you want, you dont have to do "The Demo". Every bike on a Harley dealers floor is available to ride if you want to. Saturday I went to my local dealer and rode a Road Glide and a Street Glide. In case your wondering the Road Glide won hands down! Cant wait till the end of the year so I can get one now. | ||
| Jprovo |
I wish that was the case but not all Harley/Buell dealers will let you test ride a bike at any time. At least not the ones in Kalifornia. | ||
| No_rice |
we have 2 ULY's sitting on the floor. neither one is being demo'd so far. a few of us are trying to get that changed, but at the moment no one can take either one to try them out. hard to sell stuff if it cant get test ridden. especially buells since they seem to sell themselves well that way! | ||
| Skyguy |
Steve, Do yourself a favor and avoid the Monster. I have ridden it and here is my simple breakdown on several levels. 1. Cool factor? Not really, it is the baby of the bunch and other Duck riders will barely aknowlege your existence. 2. Cleaning, Pain in the ass. 3. Tune-ups! The money you save on insurance you will lose in maintenance. 4. Support, You think a Buell has a lack of qualified dealers? Try finding a Ducati dealer on the road. 5. Community, The Buell community is tight and not near as "uppity" as the Duck folks. Not to mention almost any Bueller will offer you a place on the couch, cold beer and any technical expertise they may have to offer should you need it. 6. The Buell riders network. On this site is a rather large listing of Buellers willing to help out if you get stuck on a road trip. This is non existent in the Duck world. 7. This website! Ask a question and wham you get an answer often in minutes, always with-in a couple of hours. 8. You can park in the middle of the Hells Angels Harleys and not get beat up. (I have a great story about this one but for now all I will say is that the guy that backed into my bike did not make it out of the parking lot............. 9. You can park next to a die hard Ford, Chevy or any other "Buy American" fan and make a new friend. 10. The only reason I can think of for buying a Monster instead of a Buell is the headlights. While adequate they still suck compared to the big beam of the Duck. The Buell requires aftermarket bulbs if you plan on riding in deer country, in the middle of the night. Around town and on the freeways it is fine though. Good luck regardless of the decision you make though. (Message edited by skyguy on March 13, 2006) | ||
| U4euh |
Steve, the great riding weather has struck and it is burning you bad. Take a break and do something like fishing, or etc, etc, and think about what everyone here has said. You should be able to get that demo ride you want, not that it is needed IMO. But Skyguy threw out some very valuable info, and should be considered very carefully. JIM | ||
| Seth |
A friend of mine bought a Monster last Spring; he has since spent $900 on maintenance repairs and he had to go to another state to get the work done. (Harleys aren’t the only bikes with leaky base gaskets) One more thing, his Monster is ridiculously slower than my eight year old S-1, a point that irritates him to no end  | ||
| Sandblast |
Every time someone buys a Monster, God kills a kitten. And the 620 really is pretty slow. But it looks cool (for a girls bike). It would be a huge mistake to get a monster before you at least test ride an XB. If you are going to pass on the bike you REALLY want, you might as well keep riding the Ninja and save your money. (Message edited by sandblast on March 13, 2006) | ||
| Chevysolid |
If Ins. is an issue I would take an X1 over a 620 or even a 750... Now the 900's or the S2r or S4r diff. story... Anyway... I considered the Duc before the Buell and I am glad I got the X1 b/c I would have grown out of the 750 monster I was looking at on day one... and really....which one sounds better?? My $.02 | ||
| Socalbueller |
I did the demo rides yesterday. To make you feel better Steve it was really a crummy day for a ride, cold, windy, looked like it was about to rain at any second, the route wasn't that great.  I'd be bummed if I missed a demo ride when looking for my bike though. They are a lot easier than asking the dealership for a demo ride. No pressure to buy and they have multiple models right there to take out. I think at Glendale you have to schedule one and they go out with you. I checked out the Monsters before I got a Firebolt. They didn't look put together as well as a Buell. Plus the cost of service and parts are retarded. And no valve springs?! WTF is that? Sounds more trouble than its worth. Have you checked out the insurance for both? Is it that much of a difference? I think the rate for my Buell is reasonable for living in LA. When I was 22 I went from driving a 78 Regal v6 to an 88 Mustang 5.0 and my insurance went up $50 a year. | ||
| Stevasaurus |
Wow, so many good responses. Let me address a couple. Seth: Like I said, no bashing on Glendale was intended. It's just that showing up one minute late stung a lot more than one hour late. Kdan: I was pissed at my buddy for about two minutes; but then I told myself that it was my fault for not Mapquesting ahead of time and I should get over it. James: If you were in the black jacket sitting against the wall, then I saw you too. Like I said, I'm not bashing anyone. And I realized when I went out front to go into the showroom that it wasn't like just the ride was closed, the STORE was closed. My mood did turn foul quickly, but a trip to Hooters in Santa Monica afterwards was just the attitude adjustment I needed. It's all good. Skyguy: All valid points. Some I'd already considered, some I hadn't. I wondered how I'd be treated by the Ducatisi for riding the runt of the litter, but thought the cost difference between the two would at least pay for the first couple of Desmo adjustments. Good call on the dealership network. I may not have much faith in the Buell dealer five miles from my place (due to their glaring lack of product on the floor) but it beats a 30+ mile trip to the Ducati dealer in Santa Barbara. Uppity community? Yeah the woman in my MSF class who showed up in her Cayenne Turbo with her Ducati jacket telling anyone who would listen that her husband collects Ducatis and was thinking about getting an MV Agusta didn't leave a very good taste in my mouth. (The fact that she scrubbed out of the class, and unknowingly backed into my bike as she left didn't help either.) And I'd STILL only be riding a 620. And as far as this website and the riders' network, all I had to do was read all the responses to my post to know which brand to buy, demo ride or not! I've got my own demons on the insurance front. As I zip up my flamesuit, let's just say that SR-22's suck, I learned my lesson, and now I'm dealing with the consequences. AAA said they'll raise my rates an ADDITIONAL $2000 per year for a 9R, Geico no-bid me, I got discouraged, and for that reason alone I was looking at the Monster. (Yes, its insurance was cheaper.) But for those of you who said I'd be kicking myself if I didn't get what I've been wanting literally for years, I think you're right. I guess I just need a better paying job. Thanks for listening. You guys are the best!  (Message edited by stevasaurus on March 14, 2006) | ||
| Skyguy |
Steve I would suggest looking for a low mileage used 9R. I picked up mine for 5,700 and I only bother with liability as I hate insurance companys. I figure I crash it I will fix it. Unless you wad it at high speed they are pretty darn durable. Heck all you gotta do is get through a year or two! Good luck, Hope to hear you find a bike! | ||
| Littlebuggles |
Check out different insurance companies Steve, they have pretty good prices at Fernet dot com. Good folks too. They'll make sure you get your discount for the MSF class plus discounts for years experience riding. Good luck on your Buell quest. | ||
| Oldguy |
Steve - Check with Glendale for a demo ride and also ask them if they can help with insurance. No telling what could happen if they smell a sale. Most dealers are hooked up for insurance and HD Finance sells it too. Also, spend an hour or so on the phone and call all the insurance companies you can find. Prices are all over the map, even for someone with a pristine record. Check with GMAC through Rider Magazine as they gave me a good rate a few years ago. Best of luck and enjoy the Buell. Glenn | ||
| New12r |
HD insurance told me they couldnt help with two speeding tickets on my record! I now have multiple reckless driving charges, passing in a no passing zone, and some speeding charges and progressive is still only $1600 year full coverage. Been riding my buddies 750 Dark off and on, lemme tell ya, the Buell is a WAYYYYY better bike. He will also tell you that he loves his Buell best out of a Ducati 750 Dark, Honda RC51, and a Honda 919! He bought the Buell Last and it gets ridden the most. |
