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Black
| Posted on Sunday, October 12, 2008 - 06:56 am: |
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Nice article under "Global Business" http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1 848757,00.html |
Dynasport
| Posted on Sunday, October 12, 2008 - 08:48 am: |
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The article still gives the impression that Buell is place to cultivate future HD buyers instead of a place to cultivate Buell buyers as an end to itself. I think that has been a mistake on HD's part that seems to keep going. I think most potential Buell riders have little interest in ever owning a HD and don't particularly like the atmosphere most HD dealerships try to portray. Ultimately, I think that thought process will continue to limit the Buell market. I wish somehow Buell could be sold through independent dealers not affiliated with HD. I wish my local BMW Ducati dealer sold Buell instead of my local HD dealer. |
Jpfive
| Posted on Sunday, October 12, 2008 - 10:43 am: |
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Speaking for myself, the opposite has been true. I came to Buell with little regard for HD and its products, but now find that they are growing on me. Yes, I was a practicioner of bike bigotry...and Buell has helped heal me. Jack |
Kravfighter
| Posted on Sunday, October 12, 2008 - 10:52 am: |
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In my experiences, the dealerships treat Buell like an unwanted step-child, with a small cornerspace, and the salesman inheriting the area, cuz he's the new guy and low on the totem pole |
Bikejunky
| Posted on Sunday, October 12, 2008 - 02:23 pm: |
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Here is a picture of the Buell section at Beartooth HD/Buell
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Pridayr
| Posted on Sunday, October 12, 2008 - 03:30 pm: |
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IMHO, it all has to do with $$$. $700 or so markup (I think) in a Buell vs. double, triple, quadruple that in a Harley, depending on model. Not to mention the crazy money the parts department makes. Follow the $$$. R |
Redscuell
| Posted on Sunday, October 12, 2008 - 04:44 pm: |
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My personal experience: I made the switch to Buell strictly as a result of a visit to one of my local Harley dealers to see the V-rods. They're A$29,000 here. When I happened to mention to the owner/salesman that I am an industrial designer, he said he would've expected me to be more interested in the 1125r, because of its innovative design and features. The R is A$17,500 here. You know what? I did the research, the same research that I'd done on the Hondas and the V-rods before my visit to the dealer -- and he was right, the feature benefits filled the bill for an i.d. who had also been looking at the CBR1000RR: me. So I was attracted to the fold by the HD, and brought into the fold by the Buell. |
Carbonbigfoot
| Posted on Sunday, October 12, 2008 - 05:50 pm: |
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I thought it was a good article. None of the backhanded stuff you usually get in Moto mags... Kinda nice. R |
Pariah
| Posted on Sunday, October 12, 2008 - 06:18 pm: |
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Rob, you gotta stop posting as two aliases in the same thread... makes my brain hurt... |
Carbonbigfoot
| Posted on Sunday, October 12, 2008 - 10:13 pm: |
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OOps... Sorry. On my wife's 'puter, and it had the pridayr saved... Rob |
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