| Author | Message | ||
     Mikej |
How about regional track days and Rider's Edge courses, set up for a Saturday, or On Any Sunday, with multiple sessions of the various levels of classes, and on-track riding sessions for participants, maybe with some video or photo shots included to show folks what they look like in various curves and apexs and showing just how much clearance they still have in the corners. They could probably get everyone in attendance through a beginner or advanced rider course in one afternoon or morning time slot. Just another thought or two.  | ||
| Daves |
How much would you be willing to pay for such a day? Dave | ||
| M2me |
I like #8. I have thought that it would be cool to have Buell techs setup a tent. They could do some simple stuff like adjust primary chain, adjust belt, change oil, etc. People could watch and ask questions. It could be educational. I believe there has been track days at some BRAG events. I think I read that in Fuell. I got an invite but I'm not sure if I'll go. The only one that would make sense for me is Sauk. I'll think about it but I'm guessing probably not. | ||
| Mikej |
For the full boat load and certificate of completion? The standard $100 track day fee would probably work if I have enough time to plan for it. I'd bring my own lunch if that would help. The only three reasons for my not having done a track day yet are available cash, bikes not track ready, and date/day of event. Oh, plus the need for a zip-together riding suit, I still need pants (re: available cash function as well). | ||
| 99buellx1 |
By the way, where was Doug for the track day? Lots of stuff going on around here, he's ben a hard person to track down lately. You guys coming on the 4th? I really hope so, we'll have to see what my cash looks like after the cruise. Doug has mentioned that he wants to go. (and if I have a bike to ride) Craig | ||
| Signguyxb12 |
mike j. #7. yes yes yes yes | ||
| Signguyxb12 |
roger did you get my email about how to improve brag? | ||
| Cj_xb |
CJ, CJ, CJ, The point is Hey, I've been known to be wrong before, so I'll concede !!! CJ | ||
| R1DynaSquid |
I ride with my friends or my group, people I know and like. Even group events I go with my buds and ride with the group, so long as I know someone and enjoy riding with them !! I own a Toyota Corolla, love it, but could care less if Mr. Toyota rides his with me or my friends when we go somewhere. Have never written a letter to "Dear Toyota, thank you so much for my car, I really love it!" !! I would love to ride with Erik if I know him and just want to ride with him, but not because he makes Buell's, he just can't be everyone's best friend because they ride a Buell, I'm sure he has a life of his own !! Damn straight & well said. | ||
| Glitch |
What about the South East? | ||
| Grndskpr |
did you get my email about how to improve brag? printed and saved, see why i was asking the questions i was??? Track days i doubt will happen, liability you know Mike if Brag is not Buell and Buell is not part of the dealer network, what does warrenty and some one at the dealer have to do with renew??? Person on the phone i understand, dealer i dont #7 is what i would call a self guilded tour, some people hat those, and want more than a map and meals, i did hear this from several concerning the RA event #8 if Buell is not BRAG and BRAG is not Buell how does this happen, ie i dont see tech's from WI working at HOG events Perhaps that is something they should work on then as well. Eh? Been mentioned, i belive it is being worked on | ||
| Daves |
Mike, Most track days run between 140-250 and generally don't include lunch(I bring my own too now) I really like the idea of the "tech tent"! Dave | ||
| Daves |
Oh, and you have two #11s  Dave | ||
| Mikej |
"so I'll concede " You gave up too easy.  Roger, Perhaps my point is that Buell and BRAG shouldn't be so separate. HOG was a separate entity then became merged with the mothership. BRAG and HOG are somewhat under the same umbrella as far as financial and organizational controls go from my understanding. So if BRAG and Buell are not directly connected, but if BRAG and HOG are directly connected, and since HOG and H-D are directly connected, where does that put the connection between Buell and H-D? "ie i dont see tech's from WI working at HOG events" I do to some extent. I also see both Buell and Harley employees working at the events doing various tasks, not sure if they're volunteering their time or not but suspect there is pay involved. "Buell is not part of the dealer network" Huh? Perhaps we've diverged on specific definitions of terms here somehow. Anyway, the dealership employee was just one factor in my non-renewal decision, as was the telephone hassle was another factor in that decision. Perhaps I'll just bow out of this discussion at this point. I'll be out in the corn field looking for corners. (oh oh, bad pun alert, warning warning Danger Will Robinson) | ||
| Daves |
Don't bow out Mike, you have some great ideas. I'd like to see you back in BRAG in the future. Keep your thoughts coming! Dave | ||
| Mikej |
At $250 I'll be out wandering the countryside and hanging out in the parking lot perhaps. At $150 I may or may not be there depending on work and bill considerations. The old price/demand economic and manufacturing/marketing graph/curve thing, from what I recall when I was a business major. Last time I tried to bow I hit my head on the bow of a boat and ended up repeating repeating myself a lot lot. Which reminds me I need to get out my bow and find a place to go practice my archery some. Basically, in a nutshell, they/BRAG, whomever they are affiliated with, just simply needs to spend some time with Buell owners and speak with them and listen more than they talk. If that's what these latest meetings are about then perhaps, just perhaps, they are beginning to get back onto track. Are these things being conducted nation or world wide, or just in the Central region on a test basis to see how it goes (unless it's financial reasons they aren't being held much beyond driving distance for the Roger does bring up in interesting point though - exactly what is the organizational relationship between Buell/BRAG/Harley/HOG, and who's bank account are the BRAG representative's pay checks drawn from. Is BRAG now a sub-set of HOG, or is it a separate entity? Just curious, probably more rhetorical than an actual question. MikeJ#11 | ||
| Coolice |
Good ideas/suggestions. I can add to; 1) As for events,weekends please(I have to work to pay for the events AND the Buell I ride). 2)Events- I have been to a few now, staffing- I have made this comment- have volenteers who are familular with the surroundings HELP Peggy and Mary-(reduced entry, special event shirt (free),other incentives to make the event better for all)-things like showing people where to park or the nearest gas,etc.,etc.this also gives us all a chance to meet each other as we "help" run the event. And not work all the time just one or two tasks IF you want. 3)The tech thing is great idea, I have been to BMW events and there is tents/tech area where you could get repairs/upgrades done. This is NOT a way to cut out dealers. Perhaps local dealers could "share" the event suppling the techs. Hey look at the riders coming long distance that would like a oil change, tire, small repairs that we "band-aid " to get back. Or a specialty-fork rebuild would be neat but then the bike would be tied up for the event time. Maybe during demo rides or a race we watch (Road America?) 4)Advance notice to events and being able to sign up for segments or only a day(like this year a local person could do just the Sat stuff) 5)At the national level (I was at Daytona) just a little better detailed information (times,location,parking) . BRAG held a GREAT event at Daytona and only a handful of Buellers were there. This is the way to improve and attract/maintain members-communication. | ||
| Uwgriz |
Peggy is the manager of BRAG and she works closely with Mary, who I believe is affiliated with both (her title is Something Something Riding Groups - I don't remember, the card's at home). Both have HD business cards. I have no idea what any of that means though. | ||
| Daves |
Mikej, You're a bow shooter too? You hunt with it? Back on topic, Yes, the 250.00 is steep but that is usually for Road America and that track is waaaay expensive to rent, like 10,000 for the day! Other tracks like BH Farms are the 140 range. I think the reason for these meeting is exactly what you are wanting. Buell owners input on how "our" club should be done. Good for them for setting this up. This will also be a great chance to network with other clubs in the region so we can set up destination rides for next summer. The idea is to have a central meeting place and BRAG members(and their non member friends) can ride to, meet up, have a bite to eat or not, kick tires, maybe go for a short ride together and then all take their own groups route back home. Be kind of like mini rallies. I can explain it a lot better with a chalkboard or piece of paper to draw on but you probably get the idea. Kind of like the PDC run that Marty started years ago and still lives on(I missed this years). Coolice, I like the idea of "helpers" Dave | ||
| Grndskpr |
exactly what is the organizational relationship between Buell/BRAG/Harley/HOG, and who's bank account are the BRAG representative's pay checks drawn from Thats the point i have been trying, while being nice(i dont like being mean to Peggy) to express to Peggy, however you have to remeber that her hands are tied, BRAG is closer to HOG than BUELL, she will not discuss bikes, but she is happy to talk about BRAG and there events, she reads the board for input from time to time, but can not stay and watch every post that is made, an example that was given to me was that she is so far from BUELL, that she didnt even get a back pack, and she wanted one so when she was traveling she could show HER colors, just an example SO if BRAG people are being paid from a HOG account, which is considered seperate to some degree from HDI, and BUELL is not really part of the equation, out side of the bikes, how do you deal with such a situation like that For example: DO you need to own a Buell to be part of BRAG???? Where would you like to go What would make you want to join BRAG if you are not a current member What do you like/Hate about FUEL What perc's would you like to see What about the cost???to high to low See, the few events put on by BRAG, have always been outstanding, very worth the money, the RA trip had a lot of what Mike was talking about, but with great food(I was told that, while many people will not remeber the event they will always remeber the food that was served, i kinda think that comes from the HOG side) I do feel we as BRAG members should be treated equally as HOG, ie have full ability to update membership and have acess on the internet to our chapter I would like to see a tech tent, but think thats some time off And mike some of the people you see at the HD events are there because of union rules reguarding who gets to go where, it was explained to me like this, if there is an event coming up, or planned, everyone from the factory or HDI for that matter can go, but can only go a set number of time every X year, so if its a great location, you may get people out there who want to be there for the trip as opposed to the passion, hope that makes sence Please keep the ideas coming, when these question have been possed to others all i got was huuu or i dont know, and the realyy does no good only you can improve BRAG if yuou really want to R | ||
| Mikej |
Been too busy with school and life in general to do much with my bow transition from rifle. Next year I'll be out there beating the brush, and not being a bird I'm not about to sit in no treestand. So this "new format" will be akin to the Crud Run, or the various MITM's various marque groups have. A form of "gatherings", sort of like the SEWER thing was somewhat supposed to be - gather from the four corners, ride, chat, eat, ride, go back to our respective corners sort of thing. | ||
| Daves |
Yep! Dave | ||
| Mikej |
oh oh, you said the "U" word. If she's not allowed or doesn't want to talk about the bikes then she's kind of missing the whole point then isn't she? Or is that your point? Sort of like saying we're all chefs but we won't talk about stoves or functional cooking techniques or recipes, but let's all get together and make a stew anyway and enjoy the experience. Trying hard to not be sarcastic or rude since there may be lurkers amongst us. | ||
| Mikej |
I still like the idea of a flip-over magazine format to further merge the mindsets between HOG and BRAG. Both sides end up meeting in the middle. (How's that for melding two concepts into one thought?) (Message edited by mikej on September 02, 2004) | ||
| Grndskpr |
If she's not allowed or doesn't want to talk about the bikes then she's kind of missing the whole point then isn't she? Or is that your point? Not at all, its just that her job is to grow BRAG, not sell bikes, she is interested in the needs of BRAG, as opposed to what anyone thinks the bike should be, or is Her job is to make BRAG better and better, which in turn does not mean she needs info reguard how bad this is on my bike or how good this is on my bike, she just wants to make us happy inside of the BRAG club, now while i understand what your saying, but you should be able to see her point, she want to grow BRAG, make it better so that every Buell and maybe NON-Buell owner will want to join, the question is how do we do that???? Answers so far have been great, but i would like to hear from more and more people, especally non BRAG members, what would it take for you to join R | ||
| Outrider |
Seems nobody has yet mentioned either BattleTrax or BracketTrax. Intentional or oversight? Appears any concern I ever had about the organization had already been addressed. Glad to see others of "Current Significance" are carrying the torch. | ||
| Kandie |
D, I think your official invitation came in the mail today. Kinda funny your brother got his first. Oh and I don't know how it happened but I broke the lawn mower today.  | ||
| R1DynaSquid |
Seems nobody has yet mentioned either BattleTrax or BracketTrax. Intentional or oversight? Because aside from a core group of diehards B-trax doesnt mean squat. Too many others are afraid of either not being very good or dont want to risk dropping the bike. B-trax seems to attract the type of person thats going to ride & meet up with others even if there is no Brag involvement. Live for the thrill of riding, not for some type of odd poseur value which is what a lot of Brag seems to be about. Rides tend to be too structured. Pre plan the ride, then pre-ride the route, etc. Whats wrong with just meeting up & saying "head west" & when we get tired we stop? Fuell tends to be too self promotional, although not nearly as bad as HOG tales is. All they have in that one is articles telling you how to sign up & pay for the next event. Non-Buell owners should be allowed to join. How else do you expect to show "outsiders" what the bikes are about unless you allow them to join you in meetings & on rides? Currently I dont belong to either HOG or Brag. Havent felt the need to re-sign up this year. I go on the rides I chose, have even planned a couple & led them as well. The whole concept should be around getting people with similar interests together & enjoying a nice ride & possibly dinner or what have you. The whole meeting deal once a month is a bit of a turn off because in a lot of clubs it turns into a power trip for some folks. | ||
| Daves |
What broke on the mower? Is it fixable or am I buying a new mower this weekend? Dave | ||
| Kandie |
I don't know. I saved some pieces. Anything else you need at Sears?? I have good news, the hedge trimmers still work! |
