Author |
Message |
Gjm
| Posted on Friday, July 11, 2008 - 12:55 pm: |
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"What is that?". I was out riding last night in Washington DC in different biker friendly neighborhoods. I counted seven "What is that?", two "Can I hear what it sounds like?" and three "Can I sit on it?". I love my bike! What are your numbers and/or questions? |
Buellinachinashop
| Posted on Friday, July 11, 2008 - 01:00 pm: |
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Because mine isn't badged with "Buell", I get asked alot. Probably 2-3x a month. Since I added the race can I get more people asking.."Is that a Harley?". I walked outside my work one day and saw three people pawing at the carbon fiber parts...."is that real cf??". I get that more than anything. |
Darthane
| Posted on Friday, July 11, 2008 - 01:25 pm: |
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You're too concerned with your bling, John! ...on the Firebolt I get more 'how fast does it go?' than anything, which honestly irritates the hell out of me. 'Faster than it should,' is my usual response. The XT has already had over a half dozen 'what is that?'s, though. Most of them assumed it was a BMW (despite the fact that, unlike my other two bikes, this one actually does have 'Buell' written all over it). |
Werewulf
| Posted on Friday, July 11, 2008 - 01:53 pm: |
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i think that some ask because they really dont know... some are just trying to bust your chops!... |
Buellinachinashop
| Posted on Friday, July 11, 2008 - 02:00 pm: |
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I bought carbon fiber before I had the bike that's how sure I was of getting one! |
Beachbuell
| Posted on Friday, July 11, 2008 - 02:38 pm: |
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Used to get all kinds of looks and questions about my XB12R. |
Ratbuell
| Posted on Friday, July 11, 2008 - 02:40 pm: |
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I only get "hey, your headlight is out" on my Uly...maybe it's just too dirty? <shrug> |
Darthane
| Posted on Friday, July 11, 2008 - 02:53 pm: |
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Heh...only gotten that one once so far on the XT, but I've lost count of how many people at stoplights and in parking lots have told me that a light was out on the Firebolt. |
Djkaplan
| Posted on Friday, July 11, 2008 - 03:08 pm: |
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I can't keep track of the times I'm asked that by people. What I find unusual is the second question they always ask, "Is it fast?". They always look disappointed or confused when I say, "No, it's the slowest motorcycle I've had in 20 years." It's like they look at it and they want it to be fast. I guess I can understand that. |
Firebolt32
| Posted on Friday, July 11, 2008 - 03:28 pm: |
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Had to let a couple guys into the pasture where our analog TV tower is so the could cut the grass. My bike was facing to where they couldn't see the badges. One asked, "Is that a Buellcati?". I said "HUH?". Good ol boy..."Buellcati, is that a Buellcati?". I bit my tongue from laughing, smiled, and said yup...it's a Buellcati. Never ever have heard that one. |
Rah7777777
| Posted on Friday, July 11, 2008 - 07:06 pm: |
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I was driving down a residential street last week, when A guy in this very established upscale neighborhood (I was cutting through to beat traffic) was checking is mailbox and yelled "is that a Buell?" as I was coming up to the stop sign. I was in complete shock!! this has never happened to me! I pulled over and we talked about buells and bikes for about 10 minutes. He has been bike-less for 20 years, but said he is currently rebuilding an old Honda (i think, maybe yamaha) but he said he has been looking into Buells for about 10 years now. |
Beachbuell
| Posted on Friday, July 11, 2008 - 08:03 pm: |
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Is that the new Ducati? I've heard that more than a few times! |
Gschuette
| Posted on Friday, July 11, 2008 - 08:07 pm: |
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Last night at a softball game I got back to the bike and some guys were gathered around looking at it. When they realized I was getting ready to leave. One of them says "That bike is badass!." I love this thing. I'm going to put one of those counters on the bars to keep track of how many stares the bike gets everyday. |
Lighting
| Posted on Friday, July 11, 2008 - 09:11 pm: |
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I ride my Lighting almost every day(Florida weather), and people had ask from what kind of bike is that, how big it's your motor, but for the most part: thumbs up & "whatever that thing is, it looks bad ass"...........love my bike, never experience that with none of my I4 japanese sport bikes. |
Firebolt32
| Posted on Friday, July 11, 2008 - 11:09 pm: |
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I4 japanese sport bikes. Way too many of those down here isn't there? |
Mr2shim
| Posted on Friday, July 11, 2008 - 11:28 pm: |
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I had one guy come up to me and say "that thang hittin like a HALEY" in a deep southern accent. Besides that, it's always fun to pump gas and someone pulls up after I've shut it off, when I click the starter the heads just turn in amazement. That always makes me smile. I've gotten "hey, you've got a headlight out!" more than anything. |
Buelet
| Posted on Friday, July 11, 2008 - 11:50 pm: |
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I've have a headlight modulator (Path-Blazer)and it's surprising how often well-meaning people comment that one of my lights is flashing. ...pretty steady pattern at that.. lol like I've got an electrical issue or something. Oh well, everything is new to us the first time we see it. Sometimes when my wife & I are out on extended rides and make a gas & hydration stop, we'll be sitting on the curb drinking our beverages of choice and watch people check out the bikes and comment as they come & go. Kids are the most fun. We grin at each other when the kids pick the "color" they like best. You win some. You lose some. (Barricade Orange 12X vs. Yellow XB9S) |
Hooper
| Posted on Friday, July 11, 2008 - 11:57 pm: |
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Hey GJM, where in DC do you live? I'm an '06 Uly rider in Silver Spring and am all over DC, VA, and MD. Here's what I get: "What is that!? Some sort of dirt bike!?" "Booo-elll? Never heard of it." "-blank stare with mouth agape-" (this is the best) The minute I mention that Harley owns a majority of the company makes perfect sense to some people. Except that the Uly is so tall. |
Cityxslicker
| Posted on Saturday, July 12, 2008 - 12:12 am: |
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Once a month the local BMW dealer has "Adventure" ride talks and slide shows, and all the BMW Beezers show up with polished bikes and club apparel. I love riding in , a good layer of mud, and parking right in front. I dont know how many times I got asked, Is that the new BMW model??!? Do you work for them over seas (I do love to affect a Russian thick accent on the group) and my all time favorite, Have you read/seen/done "Long Way Around?" |
Bigredwood
| Posted on Saturday, July 12, 2008 - 12:29 am: |
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My favorite was in the first week I owned the bike. A friend of the family (awesome classic car builder) expressed how much he loved the "lines" of the Buells. Then he added . . . "Them Germans can really build nice bikes!" I just let it go and continued to gawk at my 'new' bike with him. I almost choked, when he finished with, "I'd buy one if it was American-built." |
Hooper
| Posted on Saturday, July 12, 2008 - 12:55 am: |
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How do you insert an umlaut to this website? B-u/umlaut-ell! |
Jdemoxb9r
| Posted on Saturday, July 12, 2008 - 11:16 am: |
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i love it when im riding down the city streets and the 10 yr old kid in the car in front of me has his hands and his face pressed up against the back window and hes yellin something... cuz i used to do the same thing everytime i saw a motorcycle..lol |
Mr2shim
| Posted on Saturday, July 12, 2008 - 01:44 pm: |
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cuz i used to do the same thing everytime i saw a motorcycle..lol +1 |
Nillaice
| Posted on Saturday, July 12, 2008 - 05:51 pm: |
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should i be embarrassed if i...a friend still does? |
Snkkpr01
| Posted on Saturday, July 12, 2008 - 07:17 pm: |
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NOPE Nillaice, Hell I still do it. The bad part is I am usually driving and get whiplash..LOL The questions I get are. "what the hell is that thing" "that sounds really good" " Is it fast" For the is it fast I always say no it's quick..LOL ( there is a difference ) Darin |
Xb9er
| Posted on Saturday, July 12, 2008 - 07:21 pm: |
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I was just asked yesterday "so who makes those bikes?", I said, "buell". "who makes buell, yamaha, suzuki?". I said, "no buell makes buell". "Huh, never heard of them". I said, "thats to bad". |
Marko138
| Posted on Sunday, July 13, 2008 - 10:04 am: |
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I've been asked a few times if it's a Ducati. Sometimes when I say it's a Buell I get "I've never heard of them". One of my favorite things about this bike is the odd looks I get when people see it. I was on my way home from work last week when a family heard me coming. They probly expected to turn around and see a Harley...the look on their faces was priceless....followed by a nervous wave as I went by. Same day...guy at a traffic light is staring with his mouth wide open and he's got the "WTF is that" look on his face. |
Panhead_dan
| Posted on Sunday, July 13, 2008 - 10:49 am: |
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I think most of us get those responses from interested but ignorant folks. My favorite is "you have a headlight out". I say thanks and while they are standing in front of the bike I will put it down on low beam, flash the passing trigger twice which activates the driving lights, put it back up on high beam, then back to low and flash twice again, killing the driving lights. If it's dark enough I will then put the ign in park which activates the seven color rotating LED in the headlights. You should see the confused look as the walk away! Nice Ducati. |
Srwitt
| Posted on Sunday, July 13, 2008 - 12:51 pm: |
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I've had my 08 firebolt for 3 and a half weeks now. I've gotten more comments than I can count in that time period. A lot of your headlights out, a couple Nice Ducati comments a lot of thats badass, plenty of can I hear it, and my number one favorite from just the other night, two grown ass men, riding around in a Blazer with one of their girls driving, I pull up next to them at a light and both guys hanging out their windows screaming thats f***ing badass, do a wheelie over and over. I did a nice little first gear power wheelie for em and I was gone. |
Diablobrian
| Posted on Sunday, July 13, 2008 - 01:46 pm: |
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I CONSTANTLY get asked if my bike is the new Ducati. |