| Author | Message | ||
     Cityxslicker |
They can build that dirt bike now. I went and bought Honda. Two years was too long to wait. | ||
| Crackhead |
x2 cityxslicker except i don't have the $, i had to replace a car instead of getting a enduro | ||
| Spiderman |
think the whole cloak and dagger thing is a pain. Not pointing at Buell here - all manufacturers. The main reason for this is simple. Imagine them announcing an all new model with options A,B,C,D and E well engineers, bean counters or other have found out that option C doesn't work quite right, cost too much ETC so Option C is no longer available on the new model. New model is released with option A,B,D and E NOW a great majority of folks who wanted the bike for option C or are pissed that option C is no longer available don't want the bike. Or many other factors that can not be seen. Look at what happened with the dirt bike. You had a ton of people just on this board that wanted it and when the project was cut got pretty pissed. Imagine that times 100 or more... | ||
| Court |
It also happened when Buell "partnered" with owners, media and industry folks and handed them 100 1125 R's in the final stages of development. Buell was, and continues, to be crucified for that. It won't happen again. I was, before that, an advocate of involving owners in the development process. Kinda like Harley-Davidson tried to do with the BLAST (and it failed miserably when a couple dealers got drunk in Phoenix and shot their mouths off) I thought it would be cool to have like 3 owners, representing a wide demographic, for instance looking at the 2011 models about now. I've since come to believe that the folks who study us perhaps know our wants and needs better than we do. Imagine, for example, trying to get a consensus on a producible 2011 product. Not gonna happen. | ||
| Lemonchili_x1 |
I know that the timing and the manner in which new models are released is a crucial issue, but it's fun for me trying to find out snippets of how Buell might be going to surprise me next  I've seen the taillights and full fairings on the pace bikes... nice I find it interesting that while most companies keep a very tight reign on new model info, some companies choose to trickle feed info, sometimes over a very long period, eg Porsches new 4-door. | ||
| Danger_dave |
Yebbut - some of them have virtually had the machine on the production line and were still denying any knowledge of its existence. I'm not talking about concepts. The way Triumph have done the Thunderbird is most refreshing. We've known about it for 18 months and the first 50 to arrive in NZ are all deposit taken sold, spoken for. And part of the second shipment too. That's 50 people who haven't bought a Harley or a Suzuki recently - because they wanted to wait for the new Trumpy - because they knew about it. (Message edited by danger_dave on July 06, 2009) | ||
| Spiderman |
Yebbut - some of them have virtually had the machine on the production line and were still denying any knowledge of its existence. What if those real bikes on the line that have a feature or part that everyone is all geeked for. Bikes are lined up ready to go. There is a call from the supplier that said part is faulty it self destructs after 42.8 miles. Now said part has to be replaced.... The list goes on and just cause it worked with one company doesn't mean it will work with all OR that the one company didn't just get lucky... | ||
| Barker |
"We've known about it for 18 months and the first 50 to arrive in NZ are all deposit taken sold, spoken for. And part of the second shipment too. " IIRC, an interesting note, Buell does not make a bike until it is sold. | ||
| Mortarmanmike120 |
Yeah, but sold to a dealer, not necessarily a customer. That is the same method toyota uses. Absolutely incredible system to follow a car through the assembly line. I wasn't aware buell followed the same model. | ||
| Barker |
IIRC, an interesting note #2, a car manufacture visited BMC and is now using the same system. I am not sure if the visitor was Toyota. | ||
| Court |
>>> a car manufacture visited BMC and is now using the same system. You are correct. There have been several other foreign visitors who have toured Buell and left amazed. Some in industries other than transportation. General observation is that "it's impossible to maintain this level of quality using humans, you need robots". This is their first exposure to Elves. There's lots more and it's nothing short of amazing. | ||
| Oddball |
hmm, 1. Was it not stated once that "No one but Buell knows (excluding court) what next years models are, not the dealers and not the public" ? (can't remember an exact quote but close enough) 2. "Buell does not make a bike until it is sold" Then the dealers do likely already know of new production. Perhaps only euro dealers since product for them was supposed to be first. Hasn't next years production already started and thus well before the dealer show? I'd like to see more reveals like Dave, but doubt it'll happen. The "leaked" photos or spy shots are all a nice PR tease to get the hype going before an official reveal. Such as that new VFR or whatever they call it. I'll wait around to see various manufacturers 2010 models. | ||
| Xl1200r |
Dealer's order a new model number without knowing what that model will be. Dealer's had orders in for the CR before the details, pictures, or specs of the CR were known to them. | ||
| Barker |
Soooooooo, Dealers had document saying 1125CR and the did not know what is was? What do they have now. Maybe we could guess what a 1199RR or a 450MX might be. | ||
| Court |
We probably need to get a dealer in here . . . this information is not entirely accurate. No one "orders blind". | ||
| Barker |
I always assumed a dealer committed to an allotment of bikes. The possible allotment varied on previous years sales and the need to support a riders edge program. Just me guess'n | ||
| Greenlantern |
No one "orders blind". Stevie Wonder does.  | ||
| Ratbuell |
This is my understanding, as a salesperson who pays too much attention to things I can't do or have an input on  As always...I could be wrong, but this is the way I understand it: Existing order capability is for existing model nomenclature at this point. For example, orders are currently being accepted for 2010 Blasts. They specifically do that model early to compensate / accomodate Riders Edge orders as well as retail orders. (a note - they do NOT specify if there are any changes to the bike that's called "Blast"...so that's technically still up in the air if you want to dream about running updates to an existing model!). Also existing XB lines are available for ordering and planning. All is done through existing allotments and market forecasting by the dealership and regional numbers. I.e. a dealer may have ten XB-X bikes "available" to them in their allotment. Depending on market trends and the possibility of leftover/existing stock, they may opt to get six. Or eight. Or if they want 12, they can talk with other dealers and bargain/horse trade. Existing models with model-year-specific updates/upgrades/running changes (i.e. 2008 DDFI III changes) are processed as if nothing has changed. A running model 'update' with the same name is treated exactly as prior years' units (an 08 XB12Scg was ordered just like it was an 07 XB12Scg). Updates are announced/explained at the dealer show. Dealer show in Denver is in what, 2 weeks? 10 days? Not sure exactly because they aren't taking me  But, "live" ordering can be done, by dealers, at the show for new models that have not been announced, anywhere, yet. That was how we got our first 2 XR1200s. One, we ordered at the winter dealer show. One, we took *with us* from the dealer show (bought an actual display bike). Hell, at this point it's not even "official" that there's a new Buell logo. It's killin' me, too, because I just had to get new business cards. If I "knew" the new logo was official and "real", I'd have put that one on the cards. As it is...guess I'll get a bunch of little stickers made to put on my new cards, LOL. | ||
| Court |
>>>Hell, at this point it's not even "official" that there's a new Buell logo. Don't get me started. . . . .looking like a PR stumble. I just took the one I had and had it digitized. I sent my black Aerostich in for work and wanted to have one put on but couldn't get one and the Ducati decal cost me $9.50! | ||
| Ratbuell |
Don't get me started. . . . .looking like a PR stumble wait...meaning, they're *not* changing it? Or PR dropped the ball and hasn't done the announcements in time? Damned expensive trailer and pace/safety bike setup, if they're not changing it. I shoulda grabbed that hat off Flick's head at Homecoming after all, LOL (j/k, Jon...although I *did* think about it. A couple times.) Guess I better digitize my remaining sticker and one of my patches, before they get applied to something... | ||
| Court |
>>>>wait...meaning, they're *not* changing it Never mind . . . personal sore spot. Yes. It will be deployed soon. (Message edited by court on July 06, 2009) | ||
| Ratbuell |
ah....ok, gotcha You should send me a note sometime, or give me a ring, so I can keep up to date on this stuff lol. I'm off this weekend recovering from surgery - call me then, you can pick on me while I'm on meds! Now to figure out where to get leeetle tiiiny steekers for my cards.... | ||
| Crackhead |
Just tape your old cards inside all of the HD booklets with a sticky saying "When you want to buy a real bike call me" All of the geezers are so old they can't see the logo anyways. (Message edited by crackhead on July 06, 2009) | ||
| Ratbuell |
I get enough questions when I hand out my "Buell Sales, Service and Parts" cards from Buell of Frederick as it is. "uh....can you *do* Harley? Or should I ask someone else?" Nevermind the 45 minutes I just spent going over every single feature, gadget, fitment option and handling/riding dynamic for the HD you were just looking at....sigh....lol I *tried* to get my cards done like the corporate cards I've seen from some folks - Buell on one side, HD on the other...no go. Yet. | ||
| 46champ |
Deployed boy isn't that a term from the FMF. | ||
| Hughlysses |
Court- if you can comment- do you expect any changes in the 2010 release process as a result of Buell's new ad agency? I was kind of hoping we'd see another teaser video (remember that with the Uly in 2005?) or something like that. | ||
| Court |
I do not know. I expect some really cool material forthcoming from CPB however. These guys are very talented. It will be an exciting year. | ||
| Doerman |
it's impossible to maintain this level of quality using humans, you need robots". This is their first exposure to Elves. I'm crushed! I thought the Elves were human and Elvis was a robot | ||
| Court |
>>>I thought the Elves were human and Elvis was a robot Common mistake . . . | ||
| Sanchez |
> There have been several other foreign visitors who have toured Buell and left amazed. Neat. What does Buell do differently? |
