| Author | Message | ||
     Anonymous |
I just heard an inside scoop from the factory that Erik and the Buell band are going to be playing this Saturday afternoon at Surdyke's H-D/Buell in Festes, MO. Also that Erik is doing a tech seminar there Saturday late morning. Something about raising funds for MDA. I'm not in that area, but hadn't seen anything about it on BWB. Is anyone from that area on the board here, and has this event been publicized at all? | ||
| Henrik |
Anony; Josh mentioned it earlier (today or yesterday), but otherwise no word on Badweb. Just a thought; a lot of these Buell events all over the country would likely benefit from some advertising on these Buell boards. They do get a lot of traffic. Henrik | ||
| V2win |
Yep, I called Surdyke yesterday and even the folks there have different ideas as to what the events and times would be. They knew nothing of any seminar. Just a meet and greet on Erik's part and then a "performance" of some sort later was the info I received from them. Times were vague. I also think Buell could do a better job of getting the word out on such events. I dont know if I will attend. Any info would be on those pretty, aluminum framed, little bikes they now sell. John (who still rides one of the hand made, tube framed SPORT TOURING motorcyles of the past) | ||
| Josh_ |
They do have nice ads on the radio starting today with all the times and activities. They also sent informative post cards - I received mine last Sat. I plan on riding my 91 RS1200 tho I bet the tech seminar won't be very applicable  I hope there is Buell parking as the HD guys tend to be snobs down there. | ||
| Racerboy |
"I hope there is Buell parking as the HD guys tend to be snobs down there." Wanna bet and Agree...Okay, I'm going in my Buell persona as opposed to my red rider one...Josh doing the same and leaving the tuning fork in the garage... What time do you want to go Saturday, Josh?...I'm working on John...Neil, are you going to be in town?... Bob | ||
| Josh_ |
Josh is still waiting for the tuning fork (and remember you can tune a piano but you can't tune a fish). I'd like to be there a little early for the tech seminar as I'll need to leave early (which sucks cause I haven't seen/heard Erik play before). Say 10-10:30. | ||
| Kevyn |
Think the Buell riders will be snobby if I show on a Duc? | ||
| Josh_ |
I speak quack  . strategically place a tank bag to cover the logos and tell the HD faithful it's the new Buell | ||
| Kevyn |
well, at least it's an air cooled V-twin still! Remind me to tell you the story about Progressive insurance the great Buell-Ducati riff. | ||
| Court |
Good news. . . . It looks like Erik and the Band are on the way!  | ||
| Kevyn |
Dairyland insurance rules! POI in hand, the S2T is rollin' again. Josh, lucked out, couldn't get the panniers to cover the fairings... | ||
| Bads1 |
I thought Eriks band was called the Firebolts according to what he called them during the 20th. | ||
| Firemanjim |
So if Erik and band can go to this dealer in Miss(who doesn' even know he's coming!!!) how about sending them out to a real live BRAG event.Ya know,like the one in CA in a couple of weeks.I guarantee we would know who he was and that he was coming!! | ||
| Rex |
Yep, we would have 100 plus folks there to visit with him then, huh Jim? REX | ||
| Xben9r |
Anon, The local HD/Buell (Heartland in West Burlington Iowa) had said that Erik will be here for the grand opening of the new store. I asked them when it was and they acted kinda secretive about it. I was just really curious because I have a lot of people here that would like to see that(borderline Buell buyers) thanks for any info if you can. Ben  | ||
| Josh_ |
Had great fun at the event. Several HSTA (ie rocket riders) showed up for the tech seminar - which was nice as none of the HDers came in. Had several SlABers (RacerBoy, V2Win, Kevyn, myseld) riding the complete RS family (RS,S2,S3) plus a speed-walker (hi John!) Erik was in fine form talking up the new bikes and describing their cutting edge attributes. He's really a great spokesperson, believable, knowledgable and passionate. If you get a chance do not miss seeing him. We got a snipet of info on the '05s - no major changes except they're dropping the sidestand switch and have a new ECM program. Talked to Erik, he liked my license plate (WESTWND) told him again the XBs would look nice with a flipup backrest... Erik spent time with anyone who asked, I know he went over the XB9SLow differences with Dee (who's all fired up to get one) Dyno'ed my RS for $20. Made 77.1HP@6200, 73.7ft/lbs@3800. Nice flat torque curve. I think the operator cut it off early tho (unless the revlimit kicked in?) as the power was still climbing at 6200. If I get to a scanner I'll put it inthe dyno section. At work now (Active Directory migration this weekend) so I didn't get to hear the band. Hopefully Kevyn will be checking in with photos and a concert update. Someone remind me to keep a closer eye on the RS at Harley gatherings. I caught several people trying to move the backrest and otherwise handle the bike. ("So how much did it cost to put that on?" Court sighting this week -> signature on Erik's guitar case. | ||
| Kevyn |
The 'concert' was really good, Erik is a fine guitar player and invited some local 'well known' musicians on stage for a jam! It was an incredible day, the sun was blazing, the sky was clear, redbuds and dogwoods were popping out on the hillside and there were lots and lots of bikes!! Ya, HD was prominent, but all the Buells looked great and were getting some deserved attention---from the target market, young riders who have an understanding and appreciation for technology, and strangely enough from some 'technical' riders who 'got a clue' from Erik's tech seminar! The XB's are way under-rated! Pictures need to be re-sized, busy day, I'll let everyone know when they're up. | ||
| Jima4media |
Kevyn, What were the clues that Erik gave out at the tech seminar? And, the XB's are way under-rated compared to what? Jim | ||
| Kevyn |
Jim, the XB series is largely glossed over in the American motorcycle media. It would have been nice to drag a couple of the Japanese bikes in and sit them next to the XB's but that wasn't the point Erik was trying to make. The XB's are clean, not a lot of extraneous hoses, clamps, tie-wraps or clutter. Why is it an advantage to have the fuel in the frame? Erik told us several advantages. Why put the oil in the swing arm? Erik explained that, made perfect sense. Why the short wheel base? Why the particular rake and trail? Makes perfect sense now! AS you would expect, Erik can name every part of the newest XB engine that differentiates it from the Sportster series motors. And why. I'm glossing over a lot here, but the new Sportster motors are going to be one of the most reliable and longest lasting motors HD has ever produced. Why does the XB line get special Dunlop tires? I know why now. And if I were to move up to racing an XB, I know which tires to choose and which to stay away from for the XB's. We even had a real basic physics lesson in unsprung weight dynamics and how it affects handling on the street versus on the race track. Erik was to say the least, passionate about the XB's. He is also a fantastic spokesperson, extremely knowledgable(well duh!)and an engaging personality who seemed to really enjoy being in Missouri on a beautiful Spring day! XB's under-rated? How do you blend cutting edge technology into simplicity? Ya, you can buy big horsepower numbers. How often can you bring them to potential? I think the XB's are great street bikes, not race bikes--although they can become race bike with a few changes. It's harder to utilize a 'race bike' to it's potential on the street than to utilize the XB's potential on the streets where it was designed to perform...although the Honda CBR1000RR is getting just rave reviews as are the Yamaha, the Suzuki and Kawasaki liter bikes. | ||
| Bomber |
I lusted after Buells from afar until Erik spoke at the Art of the Motorcycle dealie here in Chicago . . . all bike upgrade funds, from that time on, went to the Buell coffee can . . .. . . he his the best spokesman for the bike, no doubt | ||
| Kevyn |
alright, admittedly I have not 'piloted' and XB, the ergonomics just weren't comfortable(6'4", 220lbs...) But I did find the seminar informative and know more now than when I went in.  | ||
| Jima4media |
That Erik Buell is an excellent spokesman for Buell motorcycles goes without saying. But to say XB's are under-rated compared to Japanese liter bikes that for the same price, weigh less, and have twice the horsepower, .. well you just have to wonder if the ratings aren't justified. And that is just the liter bikes. 600cc Japanese bikes are just as competitive, weigh less, and are thousands of dollars less money. Special Dunlop tires that you can only buy from a Harley dealer? That is a dubious achievement. If they are so great, why aren't they available for all bikes? Then there is the fact that Buell no longer has a sport-touring model to compare with other companies sport-touring models. Next month I hope to hear Tony Foale speak on chassis design, and suspension in Redwood City, California, and I'll be sure to ask his impressions of the XB, compared to the competition. http://www.tonyfoale.com/ Jim | ||
| Kevyn |
My personal 'Signature Series' S2T  edited by Kevyn on April 19, 2004 | ||
| Kevyn |
Jim, ask about suspension geometry. His latest writings were pretty interesting. Sorry, I'm not an engineer. Just enjoyed the seminar. | ||
| Jima4media |
I should say by the way, I do really like the ergos of the XB-S models, and don't really like the ergos of the Japanese liter bikes. If Honda were to put a RC51 motor in the Interceptor frame, I would probably be all over it. Jim | ||
| Bomber |
the sport touring question is, I'm sure, being beat to death elsewhere on the board . .. . if I owned stock in Buell, I would agree with their decision to pass on a marginal (for them) niche . . . . I've ridden both XBs, and a few of the liter bikes, and 3 or 4 600s . . . . .number to number, the Buells come out second best, no doubt . . .. but I don't ride a spec sheet, I ride a motorcycle . . . . I loved the "test" that stated that the tester wouldn't like the XB9 before he'd been on it cause the chassis dimensions made him doubtful . . . .and, lo! he didn't like it after he rode it either! I'd LOVE to hear Tony Foale speak! Take note, please, and share wht you learn (btw, we are in agreement on the tire issue, although you COULD make a rational argument that the XB-specific tires were deisgned for the bike, and their availability does seem to tie into the HD marketing stance) |
