| Author | Message | ||
     Mikej |
Browsing around other sites I came across a Suzuki gixxer board that mentioned a deal from Suzuki corp. regarding the RoadAmerica races:    http://www.suzukicycles.com/Events/ edit to add clean link: http://gsxr20.suzukicycles.com Some folks state that BRAG puts on a good show, and I'm not disputing that. Some folks talk about how rich Harley-Davidson is, and I'm not disputing that. But here is an example of a motorcycle corporation giving out free passes to the weekend races at RoadAmerica, an invite to run the parade lap(s), a t-shirt, and food and beverages. This only is/was available to GSXR and 'busa owners, so not all Suzuki owners get to participate. Just looking and noticing and comparing. And speaking of comparing, a local shop is having Ducati demo days this upcoming Friday and Saturday, so maybe I'll finally get to try out a Ducati just for grins and to get some first-hand personal experience of what it's like to ride one. Oh well, sorry for the meander, back to the regularly scheduled programming. And tonight I go back to fishing around looking for an errant chunk of primary shoe that slivered off on the M2 before I put it back together this week. The original "thin" steel tensioner looked good except for one corner of the teflon/plastic that appears to have chunked off or was never there, but putting in the newer thicker one anyway. At least it didn't smell like a questionable stator, so that's good and will hopefully remain so since I don't have a need to do anything else in there at this time. I'll stop typing now and go back to lunch stuff. (Message edited by mikej on June 06, 2005) | ||
| Bomber |
the Zook folks were greatly in evidence at RA over the weekend, Mike -- they did it up nicely, it would seem. If one would blank the rather embarressing memory of West Bend HD from one's mind, the Homecoming gig was aces, too -- the demo ride trucks were pretty busy, it seemed, and lotsa folks were drooling over the XBs linee up waiting to be ridden . . . . . | ||
| Mikej |
Where'd they have the demo trucks at? I was only able to make West Bend for an hour or so on Friday afternoon while you were out playing tour guide, and for a few minutes Thursday night in the hotel parking lot while folks were looking at a broken motor mount bolt. Sorry I missed you there, Thursday night we had the relative's boxer pup with us in the pickup as we were also dog sitting over the weekend amongst other stuff going on. | ||
| Bomber |
set up at turn five, bigger'n life. Very noticable display, which is, of course, good. Sorry I missed you too -- you should be insulted -- at least two fellas came up to me and said, "are you Mike Jay?" even thought is' clear that I'm not nearly as fast as you . . .. don't know what they were thinkin ;-} LOVE boxers! great pooches! | ||
| Daves |
I know I handed out quite a few business cards to people test riding Buells! | ||
| Buells Rule! (Dyna in disguise) |
Bomber, after the b-trax at West Bend a couple years ago it was very apparent they didnt give a rats @ss about the brand. I was very suprised when they were announced as the "host" dealership for this year but I bit my tongue & really havent said much about it because I thought maybe they had changed...obviously they have just gotten worse. | ||
| M2me |
Isn't it an apples to oranges comparison? Did the Suzuki owners get to sit at the same table with Mr. Suzuki, or whatever his name his, for dinner on Friday night? Did Mr. Suzuki bring his band and perform some tunes for the Suzuki owners? Did the president of Suzuki participate in events and take questions from the owners? I doubt it. The bottom line is that I'm not going to buy a Suzuki, or a Honda, or a Yamaha, or a Buell for that matter to get "free" tickets to Road America plus beverages and snacks. I'm really not interested in comparison shopping the various frills. My West Bend H-D/Buell fantasy: ME: I need an oil filter for my bike. WB PARTS GUY: What bike you got? ME: 2001 M2 WB PARTS GUY: We don't have any Buell parts in stock. ME: Anything for a 2001 Sportster? WB PARTS GUY: Sure, the oil filters are on the shelf right over there. ME: Thanks for your help.  | ||
| Thepup |
For me,I could care less if i ever meet Erik Buell,no offense meant,I care that I can depend on service and parts when I need them for my XB.I cannot believe ppl just don't seem to care about the level of service you get when you buy a Buell,of course there are exceptions,i just wish they dealer network could be forced by H-D to do the right thing. | ||
| Mikej |
Apples and Oranges, both taste good, both In the last 18 months or so an attempt was made to look at BRAG as a separate entity from Buell, I didn't really understand the motive behind that, but that's just me. And I don't buy a bike based upon the user group perks even though some do (I do wonder at times if Harleys would sell as well if there were no HOG aspect and the immediate self-adoption into the family of it all, but no matter as it's all good). Oh well, in the end a bike is a bike, each different, each the same in various ways. I was just noting a comparison is all. Have a good ride. | ||
| Reepicheep |
I can't *depend* on service or parts for my XB. Nor can I depend on service or parts for my Saturn, my Toyota, my cell phone, my dishwasher, or my television. Nor my old Yamaha, nor any of the Honda dirtbikes I used to ride. I can *get* service and parts for all of the above though. I have to shop around, make some calls, ask some questions, and do some research, and try some transactions and adjust my decisions accordingly. I'm sorry people have dealers that suck. It sucks to have dealers that suck. I hope the dealers get better. I don't think the problem is unique to Buell though. | ||
| Whodom |
M2me- that story sucks, but I can imagine it's pretty typical. I think Mr. Canfield would suggest that you missed out on an opportunity there. We have no obligation to help out Buell, but most of us REALLY like the bikes and would like to see the company do well. You could have educated the parts guy; you could have responded: "Well, you know that some Sportster parts, such as those oil filters, also fit Buells". Just *maybe* he'd have retained the information for a future, less-educated Buell customer. For what it's worth... | ||
| Mikej |
Whodom, I believe the dealership is question is a Buell dealership who should know this stuff, which is possibly why they are shortly to no longer be a Buell dealership. Nice building, but it's what's inside that counts. | ||
| M1combat |
"i just wish they dealer network could be forced by H-D to do the right thing." Vote with your wallet Pup... Go somewhere that they have what you need. Is it really that bad to have to drive somewhere to get a bike worked on? Not when you realize that if you don't, your ENTIRE Buell experience will be tainted and quite possibly even bad. It's not much better (and sometimes worse) at local yamondazukisaki dealerships. I had an '82 CB750F-SS. It's a classic superbike. It was VERY nice. The engine ran very well other than the fact that it idled rich and would foul plugs if you weren't having a particularly good time with it. I took it to the dealership to get the carbs synched. They didn't. They richened it up all over the rev range and then told me "This engine has been ridden hard and put away wet... I'll tell you what though, I'll trade you a PERFECTLY good CB750-K (the touring model) engine for this one. Straight across....". I flipped him off and walked away. I've been back a couple times but only when I can't find what I need on-line. EVERY time, the guy asks me if my Buell is still running. I say "Yeah, 14K miles and only one little problem fixed under warranty in less than 45 minutes...". He typically shuts his bitchy little mouth and walks inside. I think this weekend I'm going to just go sit outside his shop with my Buell. When customers ask about it I'll hook them and send them to Mayer HD. That'll •••• him off  . I'll tell them they have a demo bike that you can actually ride . | ||
| Thepup |
I have gone to a different dealer and it has been night and day.Reep I understand some parts are going to take longer than others,but my local dealer who just got the pegasus award for sales and service din't have an airfilter in stock and said it would take 7 days to get,same with brake pads.thats the kind of things I am talking about. | ||
| Gjmcmanus |
I noticed a lot of "bad apples when it comes to "Buell" dealers. I will not name them but midwest area... Dealer #1 Buell stuff all over the store, but not a single bike. salesman "Buell's are not selling, we sold them to another dealership. To make room for product that are selling" I looked around and saw Valkyre (sp) Rune, 4 V-rods and 4 Goldwings (2 of them with trike conversion). I thought to myself I must have went to the wrong place, I meant to go to a Harley/Buell dealer not a Harley/honda dealer. Dealer #2 Walked in, no Buell stuff. Walked along the showroom and found 1 03 XB9R (used) and 1 04 XB9S. The "salesman" walked up and asked what I was looking for and I told him. He promptly told me these are the last two they have. I asked him about a demo ride, "sorry no demo rides, we have no demo bikes... how about a sportster??" Dealer #3 Yes they had Buell stuff and a decent selection of bikes.. BUT the "salesman" was less then interested about selling the bikes (btw I had cash in hand ready to buy). Asked him about a demo, he ho-hummed around and then quickly went though what sounded like a script. Didn't adjust anything or set up the bike.. Needless to say it rode and handled like crap.. I was not impressed.. Brought the bike back (no sling bag), no attempts to try to close the sale.. Dealer #4 Very good dealer, good inventory, actually too the time to set the bike up. The test ride was wonderful, but only to be disappointed when I return to the dealership. To have the "salesman" do everything to sell me a HD and steer me away from Buell.. "I can get you into a HD, I can discount the HD more than I can discount Buell's" Walked away again... Each time I had cash on hand to buy a new bike. A little voice in my head told me "if the sales was crappy the service would be also". I am wondering if this "bad taste" of Buell sale/service that turns people off to Buell? It is amazing the difference in the bike if the settings are not right. Some of the "anti-buell" attitudes come from people who have had the same experience with rude and uncaring staff?  I'll get off my soapbox... Thank you Daves for your help... And thank you Clown for the sling bag that I got "cheated" out of by the other "dealers".. -Greg McManus (Message edited by gjmcmanus on June 09, 2005) | ||
| Daves |
You should've come to Appleton! | ||
| Kdan |
I love my Buell dealers. Both of 'em. Them what sold me the bike and them what work on it. Stone Mountain Harley Davidson/Buell. | ||
| Dbird29 |
WOW! You have 4 dealers in your area. I have 1 in the Salt Lake City area and thank goodness they don't suck. It would be great to have a DaveS type dealer but we take what we have. | ||
| Gjmcmanus |
That was the bad thing... 2 of those dealer were 200+ miles away.. Luckily, going to those dealerships were not the only reason I drove that far... | ||
| Bomber |
Dyna -- yer right, of course, and I was surprised as well -- ah well, next year, mebbe Appleton will host ;-} Pup -- dealer networks are the bane of every manufacturer of good -- there are some that are aces, some that ain't, and like the man sez, vote with your wallet -- the "stuff aint selling so we dumped it" is an interesting chicken or egg problem, yes? but at the end of the day, ya spends yer dough where they are willing to make the effort to serve you I once tried going to my local Ford store to talk about performance upgrades to my gt stang -- guess the reception I got? |
