| Author |
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Buelluk
| | Posted on Thursday, April 28, 2005 - 05:26 pm: | 
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Jeremy,
Gasoline prices would have to go through the roof to convince me and many others to use a bike as our main mode of transport in the North East - frostbite anyone.
Let's face it the bulk of us buy our bikes as a lifestyle statement ,perhaps not such a big statement as the local RUBs and HOG members, but to me , my bikes are just toys and nothing else.
Not that I care ,I work for a refining company anyway and I have a two mile commute -so it's not really an issue for me - so you guys - get out there and buy more SUVs and trucks. |
Scitz
| | Posted on Thursday, April 28, 2005 - 05:38 pm: |
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I miss the Buell TV ads I use to see, they really made me want one. It took me a few years but I finally got one. I find that when people see my bike a lot of them have never heard of Buell. I think if local dealers took more of an active interest in promoting the bikes they would have better luck selling them. Go to local motorcycle shows, car shows, and racing events and promote the product. I would like to see a Buell only dealerships but I don't think Buell has a large enough variety of bikes and demand for a Buell only dealership. None of the HD/Buell dealership in my area has any Buells in the show room or accessories, but they do have big Buell banners. |
Kowpow225
| | Posted on Thursday, April 28, 2005 - 05:46 pm: |
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I'd love to see Buell kick it into high gear, and become a cash cow giving birth to new and improved models more often. Then again if that happened, everytime I met a blue and white gixxer on the road I'd have to question if that's what I really want. Another fleet rider. |
Pcmodeler
| | Posted on Thursday, April 28, 2005 - 06:33 pm: |
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<<<<No dealership is going to carry a ton of overhead on a product that doesn't have as high of demand.>>>>>
There can't be demand if people don't know the product exists. I've lived in Richmond for over 6 years and didn't know there was a Harley dealership that carried Buells because I'm not interested in a Harley. I had walked into the local import bike dealers many times when I had felt the urge to purchase a bike. Harley needs to let folks know about Buell and let them know WHERE to get them. Otherwise their market is going to look at buying a bike from Yamaha, Honda, Suzuki and Kawasaki. The only reason I purchased a Buell is because I came across one on ebay that was about 100 miles from here. I didn't even know about the dealer (or the trouble I'd have to go through getting service). |
Scitz
| | Posted on Thursday, April 28, 2005 - 06:53 pm: |
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I got my Buell the same way as Pcmodeler. I was shopping on eBay for a classic sport bike, Yamaha YZ350, Honda NT650GT but found a used 03' XB9R that had a great price. I had to drive 500+ miles round trip to pick mine up. I bought it mainly because I wanted something different with more of a mechanical look and design. I never new I would enjoy this bike so much. I think Buell needs to travel with more Demo rides. I live in Oklahoma and a few weeks ago Triumph had a demo truck in town. I rode the Triple Speed and it was an awesome bike and now if I had the money I wouldn't mind purchasing one. It's a gamble when you buy a bike you've never ridden before, that I think turns a lot of people away. New riders can go to any bike night and find tons of Jap sport bike riders to get opinions from but not a lot of Buell or exotic bike owners to sway there decision. |
Ted
| | Posted on Thursday, April 28, 2005 - 07:06 pm: |
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I sorta got blind sided by the local dealer. They had Buells in a separate building, with its own service, accessories and sales people who had the know-how and great customer service.
4months later they merged into the Harley building, ...and you can guess the result.
While the employees at least try to help, its just not the same. |
Oneway
| | Posted on Thursday, April 28, 2005 - 08:06 pm: |
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i stopped in peoria IL to get a tank bag they had one they pulled off a shelf with a part # still did not know what it fit. other than that they had no inventory to speak of, had nice selection of buells,nice guys though.there are few buell riders around here i dont think i would stock to much stuff. |
Nevar
| | Posted on Thursday, April 28, 2005 - 10:33 pm: |
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I think the XBs are the most interesting, unusual-looking, elegant-but-simple bikes on the market. Reasonably priced too. It's why I bought one (03 XB9S - used).
This will probably get me flamed... but I don't even care about the performance aspects that much.
Tim |
Typeone
| | Posted on Thursday, April 28, 2005 - 11:39 pm: |
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I've been telling a friend of mine about my new 12S and how much in love I am with it. We used to race dirt bikes together back in the day, he's in the market for a new bike ... sooo he heads down to the local H-D dealer to check 'em out with his father (who also used to join us every weekend for the races) and is greeted by a friendly saleswoman. My friend mentions my new Buell and how much I'm into it... no response from the saleswoman. Nothing. Just a, 'we don't carry them'. I mean, come on, couldn't she at least say SOMETHING about Buell?? Direct him to a dealer that does carry Buells?? Very poor and disappointing.
I don't mean to add negativity, it was just kinda shocking to me. I haven't begun a relationship with my local dealer yet but I hear they are top notch regarding Buells. They (Sheldon Buell/H-D in Auburn, MA) have ALWAYS been extremely helpful and kind to me while I was visiting before my purchase. Can't wait to meet the techs.
Just a couple a cents from me. I was just very sad to hear his experience.
*one piece I forgot to mention... I first heard of Buell when the wife and I were up in Burlington, VT for soem down time. There happened to be a huge rally going on, man was the town LOUD that weekend.  There was a Buell tent set up at our hotel with a bunch of XBs. Holy crap I was floored. I couldn't stop staring. A few years later... I run into the BadWeb and DaveS!
(Message edited by typeone on April 28, 2005) |
Deerhunter17
| | Posted on Friday, April 29, 2005 - 08:56 am: |
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I am not sure who Buell is targeting, but it seems a lot of riders here on this web are older ( I know not all ) and have previous riding experience. I actually have been a fan of the Low Rider since it was introduced in '77. So for years, I would just stop by whatever HD shop I was near, just to look and admire, hoping to one day have enough disposable income to buy my dream bike. I came close in several times in the 90's, but was turned off by the whole "Waiting List" game HD dealers were pulling. So I bought a Honda. When it came time to try again, I was still turned off by the arrogant sales people. It was as if they had the attitude of "we don't need you, you need us". Well, the thankful part of all of this, is that during those visits I saw several Buells. Each time I looked closer. I was interested, but not totally into that style of bike ( I was on a cruiser mission ). I would have to say that on the introduction of the XB, I was converted. Two reasons: 1) I really liked the look, and 2). THE SALES GUY SOLD ME! This was the first and only time a salesperson at a HD shop actually took interest in ME, and took the time to "Sell" the special features, innovative design, all the aspects of what this bike is. My only question, "Could I ride it?", I didn't mean take it for a test ride, I meant I didn't think I would be comfortable. Well, this particular Dealership has a Monday thru Thursday 4 hour rental for $50.00. He suggested I come by and rent one for a four hour ride, and then I could see. But wait, it gets better. The day I went to rent one, it turns out the rental (a 9R) had been dropped on a previous ride, and was unavailable. SO, the salesperson I was working with simply said, which one are you interested in, and gave me the key to a 12R, put a tag on it, and said take if for an extended ride.
The rest is history, nothing but |
Midknyte
| | Posted on Friday, April 29, 2005 - 11:44 am: |
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I am not sure who Buell is targeting, but it seems a lot of riders here on this web are older
We simply tend to be a bunch that has outgrown (or never had) the horsepower is everything attitude & have settled into a desire for the holy grail of great all around bike.
Then too, with age, comes a little deeper set of pockets and desire for something exotic, not run-of-the-mill.
You can be sure though that Buell is courting a younger market now. |
Mikej
| | Posted on Friday, April 29, 2005 - 11:46 am: |
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I seem to recall my pockets being much deeper in my early 20's than they are now. Bummer. |
Midknyte
| | Posted on Friday, April 29, 2005 - 12:40 pm: |
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Mine are deeper now than in my 20's, but they're also inside-out...  |
Diablobrian
| | Posted on Friday, April 29, 2005 - 01:01 pm: |
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mine are deeper, but that's only to keep them in proper scale with my larger waistband!!! |
Blublak
| | Posted on Friday, April 29, 2005 - 02:42 pm: |
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How dealers treat you in a very big indicator of what sort of interest they have in .. Well.. You. Let's face it, do any of us doubt that while Daves is looking to make a sale, to make money, to feed his family or his cool-aid habit or whatever, that he won't take the time to talk, and know us, and help us with whatever we need? Do any of us that have more then just Buells consider calling him for our Harley parts.. Hell yes we do! Why, because of his attitude, his desire and passion for the product.
I was at this h-d (•••• poor) only dealer not far from where I live. I had my Harley in there for something minor and while waiting for it to come back to me, was chatting with the service advisor. Asked her if she thought this store would start selling Buell. She said that anyone stupid enough to buy a POS Buell should be taken out and shot so as not to poison the gene pool. I took my key back from her.. And told her I owned a Buell and thought it was one of the finest machines I'd ever ridden.. She said that's because I know nothing about riding or motorcycles and how glad she was that she wasn't my wife, or she'd have to hurt me for wasting all that money when a Sportster is twice as well built and three times as valuable as those plastic coated hunks of junk.
The only time I will ever visit that place again, is to get something from them for free.. Like a picture of my bike, or free food.. or.. Well.. That’s about it.
Some people would rather take the time to tear you or yours down then to compliment you, commiserate that they don't sell that here as well, and try to encourage you to return and give them more business. The problem is, for so long H-D dealer (not all, but a lot of them) have been operating on the 'You need us' principal of sales and customer service. As in, why bother, another idiot will be along in ten minutes to give me his money, we don't need you. Only a special few seem to understand that you need to foster good will with your customers, so that when the time comes that the market (as it's headed) is a little thin, your customer loyalty will bring them back, not because you are the only person that has what they need, 'cause your not, but because you are a friend, you care about them and what they ride.
Even if you didn't sell it to them. |
Kowpow225
| | Posted on Saturday, April 30, 2005 - 11:50 am: |
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Jeez! That's a testament to your coolheadedness Blublak. That pisses me off!!! |
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