| Author | Message | ||
     Gomo |
I just got the latest issue of Brag's FUELL magazine and have a question. Under the Buell history article there is a chart of model intro year & production amount. I noticed that under the S3T group there was no 1999 year listed. Now I have a 99 S3T and was just wondering if there was no offical S3T model for that year due to the fact that if you look at the 1999 model info, it lists the touring package as an option. 1999 was the year Buell tried doing custom color combos for ordering. With the new X1, remodeled M2, the S3(with the touring package as an option) as the only bikes available, would that be the reason the S3T was omitted for that year? Secondly, if that is the case, would it be worth a letter to the new FUELL editor to see if there is any info on record as to how many S3's were made with the "touring option". I guess that info and $2.03 will get me a gallon of gas - but what the hell. | ||
| Dave |
You hit the nail on the head Gomo. For 1999, there was no real T version as in past and subsequent years for S3s. The S3Ts do have a decal that says S3T. For 1999, it was all about the "Made To Order" program. I ordered mine with all touring options but it was still an S3. You sparked a good question. Curious to know if there was anything in the VIN to distinguish the ones that rolled out of the factor with the saddle bag option. What's really killer are the commercials/media clips for the 1999 Buell line up. The S3 section is patterned after a burger joint, have it your way feeling.   DAve Nuked Demon | ||
| Court |
>>>>Curious to know if there was anything in the VIN to distinguish the ones that rolled out of the factor with the saddle bag option. There is. | ||
| Gomo |
Ok Court, What would that be, if you know or is this some sort of message page cliffhanger - tune in tomorrow for the answer? | ||
| Dave |
I imagine it's the mega master Buell VIN database that holds the answers and not the actual alpha-numeric in the VIN. Court has some amazing 'ways' of producing answers...just don't ask about his methods.   DAve  | ||
| Court |
I THINK the question was "is there?", not "if so and how". The question called for a yes or no answer, which I provided to avert any confusion. Buell, like every manufacturer in the world, maintains a detailed record of each and every unit built. In the old days this was the paper "build sheet" that I have provided most of the buyers of "old" RR's and RS's of so they can see the intersting history of their motorcycles. During the period of instant concern Buell used a rather elaborate (at that time) Microsoft .xls spreadsheet wherein all data was consolidated and maintained. This, is as no guess to many of you, is how I have answered questions about "what day was my bike built and who ordered it", in the past. Today, I am pleased and proud to share with you, the system that Buell has in place (and, if you NEED a cliffhanger, I have previously dangled the acronym here) is as unique, innovative and technically advanced as the XB platform itself. The current system (and I qualify this by saying this is MY GUESS, I DO NOT KNOW) extends far beyond simple "tracking" and is an interactive tool to provide feedback and information about deviations and ranges in tolerances of materials and processes. My GUESS is that if you gave me the V.I.N. of an XB I could tell you every person who touched it, the lot from which each piece came, the statistical quality sampling method used and results and the number of turns that each fastener rotated prior to reaching touque and what that torque value was. Hell, I'll bet the temperature and humidity of the area in which the XB was stored, while awaiting shipping, is part of the system. I'll not belabor this further (I am wanting to do a rather comprehensive article soon) but I'll leave you with a simple observation that the quality that the XB's are exhibiting in the "real world" is impossible to acheive by simply crossing ones fingers and hoping. It is the result of a process where innovative Buell people were working on the "system" as the engineers were working on the bike. I expect some fabulous news as statistically representative samples of XB build quality and customer satisfaction become available. BOLD STATEMENT: My GUESS is that (prepare to quote me...) "the XB will prove to be "one of the most reliable and trouble free motorcycles EVER MADE" Court P.S. - as a follow up, I had a most interesting conversation with one of the Badweb "old timers" yesterday who has pioneered one of the current leading edge "best practice" manufacturing tools that has recently received rave reviews in the industry. CD's are on the way to me now for review. I'm eager to evaluate the means and methods for use in a customer care system. Buells, it continues to fascinate me, always seem to find their way into the hands of folks as intelligent, creative and innovative as the folks who build them. By the way, Dave Lorman's (1997 S3) master's thesis on Customer Service is still one of my favorites in my CS library. | ||
| Dave |
Holy tangents Batman!  Good info Court. I speculate Buell could be using Oracle or SQL database. It'd be way smart if it was all tied in with Remedy. Meanwhile back at the ranch.... DAve | ||
| Court |
Tangents? Gettting a glimpse of why I prefer to answer privately or (as in the case of XB owners_ personally by telephone.....? I gave you a full and complete answer "yes"...that was too little. I gave you the longer answer, that was too much. Tell ya what....many of the folks I write for prescrive "word count"...tell me how many words you'd like Go get'em Batman! Court | ||
| Gomo |
Court, To tell you the truth, I'm a simple man that loves my Buell and loves to ride it. The info you gave is more than I would propably ever need but, I do enjoy learning. So whenever you or someone else feels compelled to lay down all those words - please do. Only dumb folks turn away from information, and if one feels he has nothing to learn - he too may be one of them. | ||
| Dave |
It's great info about the XB and Buell's ability to record a multitude of data points and manipulate at will for trend analysis, mean time between failure rates, and whatever else they can dream of. I didn't know if the Courtmeister was delivering a filibuster while data mining was taking place. It wasn't an issue about dumb folks turning a deaf ear to Buell information. Reminds me of a time back when I was an E2 and my Sgt asked me if I could get over to HQ AF Reserve and take a look at a faulty communications link that was dropping out and garbling. Back then we were still working on teletypes and Western Union synchronizing equipment at a blazing 75 baud. Well I gave him the short answer of "yeah" and went back to what I was doing. After some loving words of personal motivation from him I found myself stripping & buffing floors that afternoon solo after I fixed the comm problem. DAve | ||
| Buelliedan |
I still haven't received a build sheet for my RSS.  | ||
| Paroyboy |
This is off topic but still sort of Buell history related (sort of). Is our fearless leader, Mr. Buell, married? Don't think I've ever heard anything about a Mr. Buell or little Buelligans! If there are kids, just wondering if they are following in his footsteps. | ||
| 99buellx1 |
Court, What info do you need to get one of those build sheets. I think my boss would really love to have the build sheet for his '91 RSS. Frankly, I like any information about Buell and its history, its just a really great story. Do you have access to any info on a '99 X1? Like build date, # off the line, things like that? That would be way cool! Craig Buell Cycle Center Waterloo, Iowa | ||
| Ravnos |
I belive I read something about Eric Buell being married and having kids, but I could be wrong. Memory isn't working to good after saturday night. Court what is the answer? | ||
| Buelliedan |
Mr Buell was married and has very beautiful daughters. I do not beleive he has any sons however. It is sort of an unwriten rule here that we do not discuss his personal life beyond that. | ||
| Spiderman |
yeah don't. | ||
| Paroyboy |
cool. just wondering as I've never heard even that much. subject dropped. :-) | ||
| Court |
>>>I've never heard even that much. subject dropped. :-) Thank you. It's a simple courtesy I've requested. Imagine yourself, or your family, having to read things on the internet and not being able to respond. I assure you Erik is a great guy and super proud Father....now go ride your Buell. | ||
| Josh |
>I have provided most of the buyers of "old" RR's and RS's of so they can see the intersting history of their motorcycles. In my best Sweat Hog impersonation "Ooh ooh Mr Court-er Mr Court-er" | ||
| Buelliedan |
Josh, You're not alone! |
