| Author | Message | ||
     Davegess |
"Oh ye of little faith" This is gonna be cool on so many levels i can't even begin talk about it | ||
| Naustin |
I think Court is saying that Harley Dealers are like Darth Vader. I wonder who that makes the Emperor? | ||
| Court |
>>>This is gonna be cool on so many levels i can't even begin talk about it That's an accurate statement. The world will be busy, consumed with taking what they "KNOW" about Buell and trying to execute a linear extrapolation. . . If Buell can think outside the box. . . can it's owners? | ||
| Court |
You are crying out for a serious lesson in Bryce Courtenay. I'd suggest you start with the Power of One. If Erik Buell didn't dream huge dreams. . . my life would be uselessly dull. | ||
| Jackbequick |
"..Sorry but I can't help but be cynical here..." I'm not surprised, does anyone else remember Joe Btfsplk?  Jack | ||
| Swordsman |
Based on what I've seen and heard, wouldn't the question be, "If Buell can think outside the box. . . can it's dealers?" That's what we're talking about. I have NO doubts about Erik's plans. It's the little people further down the chain I have my misgivings about, and that whole "weakest link" problem. To think current H-D dealers are going to embrace a line of dirt bikes sporting the Buell name seems a little far-fetched considering how resistant they've been to the sport bikes. Just my ignorant "logic", but it makes sense to me. ~SM | ||
| Anonymous |
Expect to see more Buell-only stores because of this. | ||
| Macbuell |
Anony, that would be great. And like some have said, I hard time seeing some of our current Buell / HD shops jumping on board with dirt bikes. Heck, I haven't heard of any off road poker runs. We should start the first. | ||
| Swordsman |
"Expect to see more Buell-only stores because of this." See? Now that sounds exactly like what I would expect. Not so hard to "extrapolate" after all, eh?  ~SM | ||
| Ulendo |
Your eyes can deceive you. Don't trust them. well, if I'm not supposed to trust my eyes, and dare to dream, possibly the best solution for everyone right now would be for the Buell 'dirt' line to follow its powertrain, and end up with the new Spyder in the Can-Am/ Bombardier dealerships.....with all of us hoping that the big bikes move that way shortly! good way for Bombardier to get back into the bike market, and a great way for Buell to move away from the HD dealerships, without having to build a dealer network from scratch. much as I love my Buell, I'm in the same boat as everyone else with regards to HARLEY dealers, parts net, etc.... I know Erik holds most of the relevant patents - are there any contractual clauses to get Erik & co 'out' from the HD partnership? | ||
| Typeone |
Macbuell, my old dirt bike club in FL (FTR) used to do treasure hunts. crazy fun with a dirt bike in the woods. little clues lead you to each 'treasure'. poker run would be even easier. | ||
| Court |
Quoting one of my favorite writers. . . ME . .  . . from Mid-January:
| ||
| Reepicheep |
It won't be a stretch for every dealer. My "Buell Dealer" (F&S Buell) is also F&S Suzuki, and has been racing dirt competitively for a long time. The owner of the shop is an ex dirt track racer, and when I had my 9sx on their dyno, it was right next to a stack of maybe 15 crates or XR750 motors. | ||
| Davegess |
Uke's in Kenosha has a KTM store next to the HD store AND a dirt track out back to play on. He will sell a ton. | ||
| Eboos |
Our service and parts department are filled with dirt riders. For the sales department to start researching the dirt market would just be a mark of professionalism, it should be expected. Those that do not take the oppertunity to learn about new markets deserve to be left behind. | ||
| Court |
Mike Patterson, owner of Topeka Harley-Davidson / Buell was a nationally ranked Grand National Dirt Tracker. Topeka has a separate (and very nice) dirt bike store run by Mike Kruger, one of the best Moto-Cross riders to come out of Kansas. Topeka will sell a TON. | ||
| Glitch |
The H-D memo
| ||
| Cityxslicker |
Dirty Bike? Fabulous! Bring on the bendy and the dirty. I dont know about the rest of the tradition Harley guys enjoying riding, but then I never was traditional. Bring me the bikes and I will sell them. I have already sold one MT-500 so far, if I had the inventory I would sell them. I am waiting anxiously for the new bikes | ||
| Jon |
Exciting times! | ||
| Davegess |
The things I read between the lines of that memo are "get ready or get left behind" I suspect there is a huge group of people who like to ride in the dirt who would love to "Buy American" | ||
| Eboos |
Even more reading between the lines... What event is right about 120 days from now? The summer dealer's meeting! I think we might see these bikes a little earlier then previously thought. | ||
| Court |
Don't see everything you believe. . . . the times. . . they are a chaaaaaaanging. | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
Quote: "Expect the best!" Courtney Canfield/ 2005 | ||
| Glitch |
I get all that, "the times they are a changing", "get ready or get left behind", "Exciting times!" etc and so on... I'm all for the dirt bikes. If you'll remember I'm always pro-Buell. I think this is going to be a great move. I see all kinds of things happening in the near future. I'd just like to know (I realize there's no one here that can answer this) how they plan to pull it off. If they're not going to use the existing (non)service network, it seems to me they're having to start from scratch...again. How? | ||
| Rubberdown |
Open mind here... will Buell build something that will entice me off my BMW HP2? It's a tall order but my checkbook is open and waiting. That would be cool. | ||
| Court |
I stand by it. | ||
| Court |
By the way . . . drawing folks off HP2's would be a tall order in a very narrowly focused sub-set. The HP2 is an amazing machine. I good friend was just hired by BMW to ride one for them as a photo bike in a major European race. When you start talking $21,000 motorcycles you are in that 3SD of buyers. The HP2 is an amazing machine. I've never ridden one but have never heard a bad word about it. | ||
| Madduck |
I don't think harley dealers will have any problems at all selling dirt bikes and racers. Their average customer age is in the high 50's. Very comfortable and thinking of retiring if not already. Most of the ones I know have children and grandchildren they are spoiling rotten. Dirt bikes are a natural. Sport bikes never were. I'm holding off on my 250 kawasaki for another year till I see what Buell is going to offer. | ||
| Nedwreck |
I only want to know one spec: What's the seat height? Bob | ||
| Lake_bueller |
Is it just me or does the original message read as being a little condecending? Seem like they're already trying to force the dealers into a mindset that just isnt' there. My "local" dealership still has AMF merchandise on their shelves at full retail price. No chance in hell they could sell a dirt bike. They haven't sold Buells since 1996. But they still have some untitled bikes for full retail in one of their "used bikes" shops!!! |
