| Author | Message | ||
     Buckinfubba |
I have of lately as you can tell been a lil on edge. Nothing new for me really pretty much where I reside most of the time. I've been pissed off at certain situations that have been going on for a while now and they are all coming to a head. long story short......... Fuck'em , I can not and will not ever sit on my hands and play stupid. If this means I can not play in their riendeer games so be it. I love buell motorcycles, and dang near everything about them and the people that ride them. You guys are a great bunch thats for sure. I gave up everything had for this stuff, house , business, lost a good woman to it, and make half the money I used to. But all that is ok, this is what I want to do. But I will not fight the powers that be to do my job. I sell the bikes with passion and I am the parts managaer, shipping and receiving, I sell parts, and occassionally I still turn a wrench when its needed. So I won't get chastised just because my t-shirt rack was a lil messy after a busy weekend. fuck last year they didn't have a t-shirt rack. and I won't ever shut up about what I feel is being done wrong by the mighty HD, towards these wonderful machines. Hey their big kids up there they can take it. Maybe I am wrong about what I think will work, but then again maybe I am not. anyway, If all this gets me chopped off at the knees so be it. But I will not be a shiny happy drone for no one, especially myself. sorry about running on and on, but this is better than going postal. I won't make the evening news and have my 15 mins, but thats ok. thanks ya'll for being a good group of folks | ||
| Glitch |
Fuck'em , I can not and will not ever sit on my hands and play stupid. Now there's my Bubba! You have and will continue to have my support. Me, I'm shy and don't always speak my mind, so when I'm pissed off or feeling mean, most of the time I just go away and hang out with myself. So when I meet up with someone that feels the same way I do, and ain't afeered, of speakin up and such, they get my respect and admiration. Yer one of the good guys Brian, I'm with ya brother! | ||
| Henrik |
Oh my, Bubba ... your T-shirt rack was untidy. Well no wonder you got a talking-to. Had it been me you'd been off to bed without dessert as well  Now you better be a good boy, or there'll be a belt swinging in your direction lickety-split. Henrik (aren't petty people a pity ... keep up the good fight) edited by henrik on April 07, 2004 | ||
| Reepicheep |
Be true to yourself Bubba! Motorcycling is about passion, and passionate people. If we wanted neutered bikes with neutered salespeople from a neutered factory, we would be riding hondas  The one thing we can do is make an effort to give credit where credit is due, instead of just always throwing darts. Harley has warts, but they do a lot of things right as well, and I doubt the XB9 would exist today were it not for a lot of money and help from Harley Davidson. Heck, Buell might not be here today at all without Harley. And my dealer problems (of which there are plenty) are just that... dealer problems. Every interaction I have had with Harley parts distribution, Buell customer service, or Harley Davidson corporate has been outstanding. I have been treated every bit as bad by my Yamaha dealer, and on top of that they charged me $18 for just a bolt, and it took them a month to ship it. So Harley dealers are just like other motorcycle dealers, but with a better distribution network behind them. | ||
| Glitch |
Harley has warts, but they do a lot of things right as well, and I doubt the XB9 would exist today were it not for a lot of money and help from Harley Davidson. Good point. | ||
| Spiderman |
WTF?!? | ||
| Mikej |
He's probably currently mapping a route to Appleton and possibly 35 miles up the road from there. Nothing like friendly competition in a small region to spurr sales. And nothing like an enthusiast to motivate sales. And somehow I think that might be a good fit, the one just up the road a bit. They got their own zoo too. | ||
| Buckinfubba |
nope not mapping a route that far north, I am apussy toward the cold!!!! I understand without harleys money maybe Buell wouldn't be around. And yeas harley has its good points.I wouldn't say they don't how sell product. Because the fact is they do. But the fact also lies that they can possibly be holding back the line. why we won't get into details but when the interest rate ona buell thru hd credit is higher than a sportster, just because its a buell. suppossedly because those millions of sportsters hold their value so much better than a buell, that makes no sense to me. They are a big enuff company to get a certain lending institution in line to help sell the Brand. especially when one only has to open up a magazine, or watch a commercial and see what the copetion is offering. Maybe I am saying if they really want the line to go they need to step up to the plate and swing for the fences. why just recently the interest rate jumped 4% points because it wasn't a sporster and it was a buell. Well fuck that and don't even try to explain that away. why is a person can get approved for a sporster and the same person be turned down credit for a buell......hhhhmmmmm sorry thats fucked. I will call every spade I see a spade. I ain't saying I am absolutely correct on all things because I don't have all the facts, and maybe my solutions aren't all right, but then again they ain't all wrong either. Maybe my veiw is different because I stand hear and talk to people that are comparing buells to other makes, and sometimes the only reason they don't buy the buell is purely a money reason, not necessarily price, but possible interest rates, possible insurance rates, possibly dealers with in a 50 mile radious that are willing to give the bikes away at cost, even before they have become and aged bike, trust me In my area I have went out and got dang near every bueller To come here once and then They are loyal for service and parts and acc. because they can't find it at the "other buell dealers". maybe its a lot of things and maybe theres some that I wish not to explain because if you can't say nuthin nice don't say nuthin at all. Maybe I care too much about these bikes to sit back and just stay fat dumb and happy. maybe when I see things that are wrong, You fix it, thats how I was brought up. do the right thing at all cost and be your own brain no matter who signs the paycheck. I come from a long line of self employed family memebers. Maybe I am just a bitch and like to stir it up. Maybe not, I ain't got enuff time to just create shit that don't exist. Maybe I refuse to let HD rest on their laurels. They are a great american company, and last time I checked that meant Pride in your job and product. They don't seem to display that attitude towards Buell. and when you have a guy that doesn't understand the bike, or the customers as your point of contact.....things are not going to go swimmingly. when you have folks that make the big decisions that don't understand the customer or the market of the sportbike world, making the final decisions things don't go swimmingly. Like I said I refuse to let a great american company rest on its laurels. I know they can do better and thats all I am asking is to try harder. Is that crazy or am I way off base here | ||
| Glitch |
Is that crazy or am I way off base here One thing I like about you is that I get a different view of things. And insight to things I don't know. Personaly, I don't think you're off base, I do however, think you are under-heard by HDcorp. Maybe I care too much about these bikes to sit back and just stay fat dumb and happy. Another reason why you are respected. | ||
| Dullorb |
Which reminds me, any update on those stepchild/3%patches Glitch? | ||
| Mikej |
I didn't know that about financing a Buell vs a "Harley". Interesting. Maybe I'll go do a little comparison shopping to see if it's the same around here in Harley-Hometown. | ||
| Glitch |
I didn't know that about financing a Buell vs a "Harley". As with cars, always go through your local credit union, my experience has been, they always beat in house financing intrest rates. Dullorb, they've all been sent out as of Friday the 2nd. Give 'em up two weeks or so. | ||
| Mikej |
A local dealership here used a local credit union for financing my Buell instead of the corp credit deal, don't know why but it gave me a better rate. As far as the credit union thing used goes I don't think I'll be using them again for anything due to some snafu's they made, but that's one specific company and probably not all cu's. | ||
| Roc |
You are right on 'fubba. I was at the parts counter of a local dealer once and watched a guy eyeball the xb's for a good 20 minutes, at least, and no one talked to him. The place was dead too. I finally went and talked to him for awhile and I'm sure I could have sold him the bike. I have seen probably 5-6 people looking the Buells over who seemed interested, and nobody ever talks to them. I have made it a point to talk to these people. It is not my job but the bikes are too good not to have someone speak up for them. | ||
| Fullpower |
welcome back bubba | ||
| Benm2 |
Do you think its coincidence that XB heads have a port designed for side-entry? The XB's are setup for top-feed, down through the frame. Why aren't the ports vertical? HD's a marketing company, and they sell a "product image". They don't appear to understand the sportbike market. Look at their decision to "go racing" in FX this year. Seems the money showed up a little late... Honda's are neutered? The RCV looks to have the package to me... | ||
| Spiderman |
BUBBA FOR PREZ!! | ||
| José_quiñones |
The reason the financing on the Buell might be higher than a Sportster is probably the same reason that the insurance rate will be higher for the Buell compared to the same Sportster. I.E. the Buell will be ridden more aggresively and will be more likely to crash and be written off than a "cruiser" Sportster. Therefore the interest rate will be higher to so the bank can get the money faster because the bike might not survive the financing period Not saying it's fair, just saying that's what I think is happening. HD/Buell knows the frame damage is an issue with the insurance companies, I hope they are doing something about it. | ||
| M2me |
I would guess the difference in interest rates would be related to the resale value on a Buell vs a Harley. Banks would take depreciation into consideration I'm sure. Didn't Buell have a promo recently where you could get some low interest rate for three years? Did you see the piece on 60 Minutes about car dealers raking people over the coals with high interest rates on their loans? | ||
| Socoken |
Bubba, if i was anywhere near your dealership, i would be there in a second bro. its people like you that keep the company going, dont ever forget that. fuck, its people like you that make America great, dont change, not for anyone. Pride and integrity, i have a newfound respect for you, you are my kind of people, and every bueller's kind of people. there really are two kinds of people in this world, wolves and sheep. keep being a wolf bro, and be Goddamn proud of it. | ||
| Opto |
there really are two kinds of people in this world, those that give a fuck and those who don't. translated from Oz to english: those who really care and those who don't. When a person cares they get kicked harder but they get results. Such is life. | ||
| Opto |
Don't give up the passion now Brian, you are already doing good work. | ||
| José_quiñones |
Yes, depreciation or resale value surely has something to do with it also, good point. Interest rates are a measure of risk. Low risk loans get lower rates, higher risks obviously get higher interest rates. | ||
| 800mxz |
Well, I know I am new here, but I see where this is going. It appears to be allot of emotion that is boiling over. I have applied to sell part time at a local Harley/Buell dealer in North Carolina (HD of Gastonia). Sales Mgr. will even say the Buells are great bikes, but they get beat up by the Jap bikes cause they are cheaper, easier to finance, and are easier to support. Even he says that in order to sell Buell's properly, they need their own dealer network. He isn't going to spend the $$$ on qualifying techs (you are talking several thousand each) on bikes that they have a hard time selling cause of the financing issues. They sell HD's to like 60-70% of the people who want them, but Buells are like 30%. They too have had people not get approved for $11k on a Buell, then get approved for $15k on a Sportster. For some reason it is OK to finance 140% (got to have some $$ for accesories ya know) on HD. It looks to me that it is time to move Buell off into their own dealer network IMO. This would require a much higher producitivity rate, to increase the sales rate. Will it happen? I doubt it. | ||
| Smitty |
Resale is dictated by current supply and demand of new product. Remember when there was a 2.5 to 3 year waiting list? Dealers made mucho bucks marking way over list (which is ok by me capitalism) but things are a changing those days are gone. Some dealers no longer have the financial comfort zone they once enjoyed and are cutting overhead and Buell is considered by some as overhead unfortunately. One dealer locally Hanums has had Buell since the late 80s. They just dropped them the salesman said we dont make enough to sell them plus they draw in the wrong people this is a Harley shop we dont want rice in our parking lot it dont look good. Sad. Tim edited by smitty on April 08, 2004 | ||
| Reepicheep |
Umm... Jose', do you have any solid facts to back this up? We have seen some XB's bounced pretty damn hard, and come back with negligable or no frame damage. Are you really saying you could bounce your typical replica racer (probably destroying fairing, tail section, engine covers, and tank) and get out of it for less $$ then an XB in the same crash? Seems to me a wreck hard enough to make an XB frame non repairable would be hard enough to total just about any bike built... I think the insurance is higher because more people are wrecking them. No suprise there, there is a new demographic moving over to the XB's and bringing their stats with them. | ||
| Buckinfubba |
jose yes we ride more agressively....but most of the time we do it stone cold sober. don't give me that bullshit...you sound like your are main lining with hd corp. fuck sportsters don't hold their value all that well anymore...there are too many on the road. yes their is risk...but eaglemark makes a shitload of money off hd...hd could do something about this....say threaten to take their business else where. lets not lose sight of the truth in the bullshit that has been shoved down our throats.... 800mxz good luck on that if you have any questions just call me....doesn't bode well tho if ol click won't splurge to get his techs certified....cost of doing business....if you are gonna put up the sign up do your damn job and do it right. I ain't mad at you but this is the shit I keep bringing up over and over. plus if you try to sell a buell that isn't an xb9s in the greatly fucked up state of north carolina to anyone under 30 years old.....good luck. in janurary something changed in this state...if they are under 30 years old the rates are gonna range from $2500 a years to $5k. last year for a 21 year old the xb9r and 9s was $950 a year....not any more and those numbers I gave earlier for the 12's you gotta add about a thousand bucks to that. there was a reclassification...the 9r and 9s are classified different...a 9s for some one under 30 will be $750 to $950 a years...same person on a 9r...now remember we are talking 2 pieces of plastic and a handlebar difference will be $2.5k to $5k....now the 12r and 12s are classified exactly the same...classified as a 9r but with more cc's. so some stupid redneck in the ol boy network down here is fucking looney toones and can personally shove it up there asses..... and then if you call hd ins. the stupid girl on the line will actually say....well you know if they bought a sportster it wouldn't be like that...fuck they want a buell not a sportster.... funny I see more wrecked fucking harley's compared to buells around here....and a lot of ins. claims on sportsters dropped by inexperienced riders in the parking lot..... fuck why not take experience into the equation and not age.... 50 year old guy buying a 20k dresser with absolutely no fucking experience...and thats a good risk....fuck that...I don't beleiev the hype because I ain't dumb enuff to believe their bullshit statitics and by the way...a buddy that sells yamaha's here in town...sold an r'6 to a 24 year old guy with 2 points on his license and the rate for full coverage....$800 ayear.....what the fuck...take the statistics and shove em up the ass of every dumb ass american that beleieves the insurance industry is not bought and piad for by our leading corps. alright lets continue this discussion with eyes wide open edited by buckinfubba on April 08, 2004 | ||
| Sbelleque |
Fubba, I love you man... Insurance is legal extortion. Count the number of people you know who have made a claim to insurance in the last five years. I will bet its less than 10% of the people you know. Now count the people who have had their insurance rates stay the same or drop because they have a clean record....It don't wash to me, never has. | ||
| Wyckedflesh |
Quote Progressive claims person "...the reason your Buell's insurance went up is because it is built by Harley Davidson, with the cost that Harley Davidson charges for replacement parts the repair of your Buell will be higher then that of the Ninja that you also own..." | ||
| Hootowl |
That's complete bullshit. Parts for Japanese imports are WAY more expensive than Buell parts. Case in point, the rotor (not floating, just a hunk of steel) for my shadow was $300. Buell floating rotor, $90 or so. I think (this may seem radical) that we should pay for liability insurance at the pump. Larger vehicles do more damage, use more gas and will pay more insurance. Smaller vehicles do less damage, get better gas mileage and their owners will pay less to insure them. And if you have multiple vehicles, as most people do, you'll only pay insurance on the one you're driving. Also, that pretty much would preclude someone NOT buying insurance. The plan would be federally administered and executed by existing insurance companies. Claims made against a policy would be processed by your local agent, and paid by the feds out of the "insurance tax" pool. Collision insurance, which is optional, would still be available through those agencies. Thoughts? |
