just curious, did anyone get a free years HOG membership with their uly? i got my "X" brand new in the middle of july, when i picked it up the sales guy told me that i'd be receiving my HOG stuff in the mail. after a month with no word, i called the dealer and was told that they had made a mistake in telling me that and i'd be getting somthing called BRAG instead.
after a month with no word, i called the dealer and was told that Buell disbanded the BRAG program and thats that.
Buell did in fact discontinue BRAG. However, as a Buell owner you can join HOG. I believe you will have to pay for membership (unless your dealer springs for your first year).
I got both, believe it or not, when I bought my '06 back in '06.
6 months later, I bought a H-D and got an extension on the HOG membership (but not the BRAG - how discriminatory!), then BRAG went away.
I haven't renewed the HOG since it expired, but I'm thinking about it. The only real benefit of value to me is the roadside assistance. The magazine has nice pictures, but that's about it. The chapter meetings were colorful, and I enjoyed learning new roads from a couple of group rides, but I think I might be a little anti-social (and riding in formation like that, while exhilarating at first, gets sort of old after a bit).
im not a real big fan of riding in groups either. i guess its becaus i dont trust anybody else not to run me down if i suddenly have to lock em up. nor do i enjoy having to watch a brakelight all day in an effort to not do the same.
You don't need HOG or their stupid roadside assistance. You've got BRAN. Granted it is an amalgamation of freaks, anti-socials, and wierdo's in general but I would call them out way before calling a HOG to help me out. IMO Buellers are way into their bikes and probably know better how to diagnose and fix it than some dealerships.
I know this sounds different, but are there any kind of patches from Big,Bad and Dirty, or Badweather Bikers? That would be kind of cool to put on the road gear.
I have thought about inquiring about making some stickers. Bad web logo about 1.5"tall and 2.5"wide was my thought and then you could sharpie your "handle" on it so others know whom you are or just leave it blank. Haven't gotten any further than a thought though.
Patches would be neat, but with the sponsorship thing on this site the way it is, buying into the site would not leave any room to come out ahead on the patches. So I won't be offering any. Any other takers? Maybe someone with a sponsorship already?
I got told that I would get a year in BRAG by my dealer, Then found out it didn't exist. My only point of discontentment with the BUELL experience so far. I'd have been happy if they had gave me a BUELL t-shirt instead of the orange and black thing.
Part of the problem with the badweb logo is that its almost identical to the Buell logo. While I don't think it would be illegal to make the Badweb logo as long as you got Blake's permission, you run the risk of Harley Davidson's men in black knocking on your door.
I am no expert in trademark laws, so don't quote me
Posted on Wednesday, December 03, 2008 - 09:46 am:
If you ever go on vacation and want to rent a bike, HOG is a great way to go. Go on the HOG website and take a look at the "Fly & Ride" program. There are bunch of great locations and the rental rate is 100 bucks a day. Thats CHEAP!
Posted on Wednesday, December 03, 2008 - 01:04 pm:
Although Harley offers HOG membership when buying a new Buell, I have found it problematic actually getting the deed done. There are reasons HOG membership can benefit a Buell rider, beyond merely roadside assistance and many Buell owners are also Harley owners. But at the same time, Buell owners in their own right are contrary to HOG type owners in their needs and expectations of a riders group IMHO.
By example, we set up a loosely managed adventures riders group for Buell owners utilizing www.Meetup.com. It is a web-based board that gives you calendaring, photos, message boards and users can schedule their own rides and share ride & bike info. The dealer uses it to advertise in-store Buell specials, track days, events and new bike announcements as well as share its racing successes and efforts. With over 60 members out of the dealership, you would think the board would generate rides of interest up in the Rockies. Where as most members write that they look forward to some Buell riding, meeting other Buell riders and such. No one schedules any rides or meet ups except the dealer host.
What's up with that?
My theory is Buell riders tend to be lone wolf types. Nothing wrong with that either BTW.
Posted on Wednesday, December 03, 2008 - 05:48 pm:
Yep, they did give me a BRAG patch (and a HOG patch) - I slapped one on each shoulder of my summer mesh riding jacket, then realized I looked kind of dorky with them, and took them off. "BRAG" didn't seem to me to be the right kind of name for our little family. They also gave me a BRAG "reward" sticker - offering $$$ for anyone who helped return my Buell in case it was stolen. Anyone ever benefitted from this? I mean really...where do you stick that kind of sticker? I put mine on the back of my helmet.
I didn't realize Fly and Ride rentals through HOG was that cheap! I've been renting at various Eagle Rider shops and paying $150+ per day...that right there would make the membership worth it!
By the way, I would be ALL over some stickers/patches with some sort of BadWeb logo. I might spend some time on CafePress.com and see what we can do.
BRAG = poor name in my opinion also. I don't brag. Maybe a better name on the patch would have been BiteMe. Could stand for Buell Incites The Envy Motorcycle Enthusiast.
Where as most members write that they look forward to some Buell riding, meeting other Buell riders and such. No one schedules any rides or meet ups except the dealer host.
Dave, I think that is a common problem and you are dead on about your assessment of Buell riders on HOG events.
I am a member of your board but live 100 miles South of you, as you know. I think there are several factors that contribute to lack of interest in rides and one of the main ones, as I see it, is no one wants to organize the ride. It is just easier to get on your bike and ride rather than worry about how many people will show, planning a route, making sure everyone is safe etc...
No matter, your dealership is doing more Buell related things than any other dealership in this state.
The reason I started the CBR section on the BadWeb is because there are not enough Buell riders interested in riding with other Buellers in Colorado Springs but maybe together (statewide) we could have some good rides.
I was hoping that with the activities of the Denver group, the Colorado Springs group we could get some state wide rides going. It is starting to work, in the summer, and I have met the Denver group in Deckers a couple of times and we had a nice, windy ride down South last summer with people from all over the state.
Also, the type of riding Buell riders around here like to do most is about a half day event. I really got fed up trying to organize a ride every month with no one else to help out here in Colorado Springs. Lynn and I like to stay out all day when we have the time.
Next June will be the S2 Gathering, open to all Buells, in Buena Vista Colorado. Maybe you can get some of your Buell riders to come on down South. In May is the Gateway CO/UT ride that the Denver Group does. In Aug or Sep timeframe is the Taos ride that the NM group does. And of course there is Homecoming. I always thought it would be cool to have a dealership rep with us on the ride out to WI.
maybe someday buell riders will organize like bmw riders no official tie to the corp.riders tend to be independent but do come together for rally's that are mostly camp out affairs. If you are unfamiliar with them check out airheads.org or bmwmoa I dont think its anything like hog
I think a big part of Buellers not hosting group rides is that group rides kind of suck a little bit. They are fun and all but it's not like riding alone. Fundamentaly the group ride and solo ride are about as opposite as you can get. I also think that your average Bueller is a bit "off" if you will. Meaning that they may not be the social butterflies that a lot of the chaps and doorag crowd are. I don't know why I'm even typing this you all know you're wierdo's.
I think we're onto something...group rides kind of suck, in that Buellers are often talented riders who read the road conditions and push their bikes to the correct limit. I've done HOG rides - on my HOG - and was driven UP THE WALL following some guy in front of me. I'm sure he was a great guy and an experienced rider, but it doesn't mean that he's a BETTER or MORE TALENTED rider than I. In a big HOG parade, I find myself riding the brake, watching the guy's fender, wondering what he's thinking, and that sucks. On the other hand, I appreciated learning some new roads! I also loved meeting some new riders.
So, I think the idea behind Buell clubs should be to identify Buellers in the area, get them together, lead them down good roads, and then leave them alone - let them roll!
Sport bike NW & Dual Sport NW In August every year. 4 days of fun long twisties on pavement, 3 days of dirty mt forest service roads. ride one, the other, or both. You know the Buell is the perfect weapon for that rally. Usually 400-450 riders. And it is a camping event so it keeps the squidly factor down. y'all come ya hear. Last year there were only a handfull of Buells in the sea of Umphs, KTMs, BMWs, Yamahondzukawahachi.
Wow, that video is sick...at 2:30, the green Kawasaki going side over side over side, flipping sand in a spiral, and then erupting into a fireball right next to the rider.
Posted on Wednesday, December 10, 2008 - 02:11 am:
That bit at 3:02 has been nagging me for a while, too. As best I can tell from the swingarm and the bodywork, that's a 1997 Aprilia RS250. I've read on other forums that it was a Spanish rider at Jarana, but naturally nobody knows his name. For a while I thought it might be Jorge Lorenzo, because he started competing nationally/internationally riding Aprilias around that time and was fond of #1. I don't think he ever wore yellow, though. Chalk it up as one of the great mysteries of the internet, I guess. No question he's one lucky sonofagun, though.