| Author | Message | ||
     86129squids |
Just got my new Motorcycle Consumer News. They have a mention of the new 1125R in the front, but the article that really got me going was this one on page 38. Something tells me that Mr. Kerr has not seen the bike in person. Quote: "None of the mechanical components seem to reflect any love for engineering, in a way that would be unthinkable from an Italian development team. America leads the way on customs and cruisers, so why is it we seem to have so much difficulty with sportbikes?" And: "Front on, the Buell looks like a badly distorted Ducati with more than a little Suzuki TL1000S blended into the mix." What a crock of shiznit. This guy has NO idea how far off he is on the 1125R. It's interesting to watch the yakking about the bike's looks. IT IS DAMN SEXY. (I have seen it and sat upon it. I will own the first one that shows up off the truck at work.) He does have some interesting observations on the H-D/Buell biz, I must say- anyone comment? | ||
| Imonabuss |
Motorcycle Consumer News is off my subscription list over this. They claim to be the unbiased magazine, but this tells the truth. Glynn Kerr is a contract designer out of England who did the Fischer, but MCN never says that. Nothing could be more wrong than publishing something like this without identifying the contributor and his bias. He also designed the sad looking 600 four Triumph that bombed in the market place. A bitter little man, I say. | ||
| Jens |
.... Kerr told "underhand" last year people that he works (still) for Buell... From my point, that is pure business talk... | ||
| 86129squids |
Easy there on the subscription cancellation knee-jerk reflex- I have found that MCN overall is a first rate rag. No doubt there will be some variable quality in the submissions. Anyone read the whole article? I'm curious to know opinions on H-D/Buell market demographics and potential future strategies to maintain and expand the markets. How bout a CVO Sportster with some serious Buell cross-pollination? I'd love to see a hi-po Sportster with Pegasus emblems peppered throughout. Think Nightster with the muscle to run down the road.   | ||
| Anonymous |
Kerr has never worked for Buell, which is part of why he is writing stuff like this. We have used his arch nemesis John Keogh in the past, although not on the 1125R, and that adds to his road rage. We've never used Kerr because we don't like his work. He has a large ego and in our opinion, not much talent. I have to agree that Motorcycle Consumer News really dropped the ball by publishing this without explaining who he was! | ||
| Blake |
Integrity matters. | ||
| Mattwhite |
I'm sure it'll get straightened out when they get a chance to test the bike. | ||
| Sparky |
Mr. Kerr is a stylist and, I'm sure, only sees bikes from their aesthetic qualities. I hope that might explain his indifference to Buell's innovative engineering features. So I would take his opinions with a grain of salt, knowing his dim view of Buells styling efforts on previous models. On the other hand, I agree with what he says regarding the 1125R muffler (maybe a chin fairing would help?) but not his opinion of the fairing. I think the fairing is beautiful -- an RR for the street! Roll over Ducati! | ||
| Anonymous |
Have you guys actually read the stuff he said? Styling is indeed a matter of opinion. But to not mention that this guy is a stylist for other companies, not Buell, and then to let him rant about Buell's being a total failure and H-D missing everything by "not listening to his advice", well that proves that Motorcycle Consumer News is far, far from the factual and unbiased magazine they claim to be. Really, really poor integrity. | ||
| Mattwhite |
I did read his the article and I think he's crazy. I just don't think we should give up on the whole magazine. It's an opinion column. I haven't payed much attention to the names, but I've noticed that design column has had an ego problem in the past. Maybe some letters will get them thinking about a replacement for Kerr. Read the review of the '08 Uly by Dave Searle. That's an actual news article that provides a lot of info for potential buyers. It's a follow up to a somewhat negative article on their long term 06 Uly. They had several problems with it, but they did like the bike. I think they've been more open-minded about Buell than a lot of other magazines. | ||
| Court |
I didn't like the comments I first read, quoted here, in this thread and spoke out. Today I got the magazine and read the column. The guy is certifiable. His ramblings about Harley-Davidson and their business practices, past and present, lack basis in fact and his ramblings are at odds with reality. He sounds like a scorned lover. Of note, in the same issue. . . . Last month these guys gave the Ulysses the worst racking over the coals I've ever read. Last months long term review of the Ulysses had 6 bullet points, to wit:
and concludes . . . .
I'm reading that, shaking my head and thinking . . ."damnit, they just really had a lot of problems" but I never questioned their integrity. Ferris Bueller, on his FBRAT ride had some fairly scathing comments, but he was consistent and believable. Then this months issue comes and they tout their getting their hands on the 2008 Ulysses first and proceed into a royal PR kissing up. By the way. . if you want to further elevate your confusion read the article about the BMW 800cc Sport Tourer and tell me what the heck it says . . . . these guys should be politicians. Court P.S. - I tried to get my hands on that Ulysses that Motorcycle Consumer News used for the long term test. I was going to do my old test . . .start it at one ocean and shut it off at the other. Buell, unfortunately has all the demo and media bikes in CA. I've never ridden a Ulysses and the more I read the more interested I get. | ||
| Jlnance |
I've never ridden a Ulysses and the more I read the more interested I get.  You know, Buell has a great demo program. We can get you a ride if you like. | ||
| Unibear12r |
I can't speak about their bike but my 06 Uly sort of did your test twice over Court. LA to DC and back in May 06, three weeks, 23 states and 7700 miles. Nothing broke or fell off on the trip. I'll second the heat issues but there are a few easy fixes now. In all the time I've had the bike the only things that have broke were the license light (a known short time 06 issue) and the wire clutch cable support at the front of the motor. Both easy to fix. When I chatted with Ferris about the Uly his biggest problems seemed to come down mostly to comfort that I remember. Too much heat, not enough protection from the wind, not enough steering lock and too tall even with the short seat. All but the last have been fixed by Buell or have easy personal fixes now. | ||
| Mattwhite |
Court said a lot of what I was thinking a lot better than I knew how to say it. They had real problems with their Uly. Mine has been good to me. I knew I wanted a Uly and I was lusting over it all winter while my main riding buddy was telling me I should get a real sport tourer - he just recently said my Uly might be a better bike than his BMW K1200GT for our trip to the dragon. I said "Duh". I made it down to Daytona bike week for a quick stop on my way to visiting my parents in Sarasota. I walked up to the Buell tent and got a ride on a Uly. Everybody else was booked up except for the cruisers which I didn't care about. I knew I wanted to do long trips and still keep the character of my CityX. My only concern was the height. It wasn't a problem, so my decision was made. I got home and caught an unseasonably warm day next tuesday. I walked up to the counter at Detroit HD, said I wanted to buy that bike (pointing to the Uly in the corner) they sent me over to the manager - Everybody actually likes Buells there, they just don't try to sell them to much because they sell out so quick. Anyway, I got my Uly and I've been living on it all summer. I'm working in Kansas City, I rode it here the first week of July, got through all the the "Did you tow that here?" questions and I'm just loving living with the bike instead of some compact rental car. I took it over to Gail's HD and left it there while I did a scheduled trip home. No problems, I just didn't think I'd get a chance to get an oil change and tires between this work trip and vacation. Last Sunday my boss called and said the sky was falling so I rode over to the KC airport Monday morning and cried a little while I left my bike at the airport parking. I stole the little "Change my sheets today" coaster from the hotel to keep it from sinking into the parking spot. I got my mail when I got home and Buell suggested I go over to Detroit HD and buy a Uly - 5 months after I went to Detroit HD and bought a Uly. They must not realize how well the test ride works. Enough rambling for now. I've been living on the Uly all summer with no problems - about 5000 miles since march. Since I've been working in KC I've been doing a short commute that has to be bad on the engine, but it's been good to me. I got the bad review of the 06 before I left for KC in July. Their two biggest problems were covered by the sidestand and BAS recall. You can't fault the magazine for the real problems they had. I got both recalls fixed before they had a chance to become problems for me. The other things they had problems with were engine heat and steering lock. Motorcycle magazines complain about engine heat on lots of bikes. It never bothers me. If you read all the reviews it's not going to count against Buell too much if everybody has the same problem. The update they did on the 08 raved about the steering lock fix. My Uly has been great for me all summer. The more recent comments have been more along the line of "You really hot rod that thing, don't you." That's from the cruiser riders watching me leave the plant. Doesn't everybody bounce it off the rev limiter on the way out of work? MCN let the egomaniac rant about the Buells. The reader doesn't have to be a kuell-aid drinker like us to realize Kerr's got a problem with HD and Buell. They do a lot of reviews and opinion columns. The best magazines will let some odd opinions out there. Write the letters and let them know Kerr's an ass. Their reviews are still some of the best in the business. I'm sure they'll rave about the 1125R when they get they get a chance to ride one. I went to their web site to see if there were any comments about Kerr's article. They did a little intro to their staff a few months back that's enlightening if you look at the details. http://www.mcnews.com/mcn//staff/MCNStaff-Profiles .pdf That small staff they have includes 3 Buell riders. I think Buell made a good decision giving them an early look at the 08 Uly even with the negatives in their review of the 06. I'm looking forward to their review of the 1125R. As it is I should have a pretty good testimonial for Buell by the end of this riding season for us northerners. I'll be riding home from KC this Tuesday, then I start my 3 week road trip vacation Friday. I'll meet my BMW riding buddy at the top of the Blue ridge parkway, ride down to the dragon for a couple days, then over to Denver to visit my brother and see some sights in the west before we head up north through the Dakotas and Michigan's UP. (Message edited by mattwhite on August 18, 2007) | ||
| Thespive |
I haven't read the article, but whenever I have problems with vehicles in my long term fleet, especially those covered under warranty or recall, I make sure I mention it in the article I write. I only think it is fair that if you have a problem, you list the solution so that the manufacturer gets a fair shake and the current owners of that product know how (or in the case how easy it is) to get the proper repair. It also shows whether or not the manufacturer is aware there is an issue. I am here to report experiences, no to bash a company. --Sean | ||
| Jimidan |
To have had any credibility and maintained a shred of integrity, MCN should have labeled the "article" as an EDITORIAL by a competing designer, with Mr. Kerr's bio listed plainly for all to see. It also should have disavowed any connection between the opinions of Mr. Kerr and the magazine, stating that they were Mr. Kerr's and his alone. This is not fair and balanced reporting, but rather a cheap shot!  | ||
| Court |
I've read it a couple times and confess I'm at a loss to understand why he thinks HD has been doing so much wrong for so long and is the victim of such poor leadership. It's just as cheap, in my opinion, if I'd swing the "you can't argue with success" stick, but I confess that as much fun as it is to nit pick HD management from time to time, it'd be darn tough to take exception to how right or wrong Teerlink, Beals and some of the folks were and the path they followed. I'm unimpressed by folks, claiming commercial clairvoyance, who have never slipped on the gloves and into the ring . . . some of the best lessons I've learned in business were getting my ass kicked big-time. I absolutely agree that allowing that article to be run under the guise of some kind of "news" was sub-par for what we've all come to expect from MCN. Kerr comes off as a girl who didn't get invited to the prom commenting on the dress the Queen wore. Court | ||
| Diablobrian |
But tell me, how do you guys REALLY feel about Kerr and the article?   | ||
| Brad1445 |
I thought the Buell guys wanted this (different) press, that we did not want what everyone else had. It has been said over and over here form is not important. So dont let this guy bother you. | ||
| Rainman |
Let's face it: Buells ain't normal. They're funny looking by most standards and have weird tail ends and funny lumps under the engine and the brakes are all skee-hawwed. We get it. The rest of the cycling world is slowly getting it. It's sort of like those of us who bought the first U2 album or were blown away by "Immigrant Song." | ||
| Iamike |
Maybe he should have talked to the son of a coworker who rode his Uly from Minneapolis to Alaska all the way to the Artic Circle and back. He had a flat or two and lost a wheel bearing. Not bad in my eyes. | ||
| Jackbequick |
Mr. Kerr's article was not news. What is was is clearly identified and explained in today's (7 September 2007) Non Sequitur comic strip by Wiley Miller: http://www.gocomics.com/nonsequitur/ It was, simply stated, a hissy fit. Nothing more or less. Jack | ||
| Jammin_joules |
Interesting considering that Buell designed in service-ability and lower cost insurance features with input from both perspectives as well as from professional racers. eg. Dual over head cams are shimmed by sliding finger-followers out of the way instead of removing cams, half the service time and compared to Duc & Aprilia, a 12,5000 mile service interval instead of 6-7,500 miles. | ||
| Leatherpants |
This article wasn't just featured in MCN, it actually also came up in TwoWheels magazine over here in Oz. I would assume it's made it to other mags as well... Same issue of TwoWheels also had a review, which was also slightly less complimentary than it could have been, but not all bad. I have copies available of both if anyone's interested? | ||
| Diablobrian |
Hey Court, I was just thinking, scary thought I know, if the MCN test bike is still there you could start in CA and ride it the other direction....towards home instead of away from it. It could even offer a different perspective than your "usual test run". Also, since you'd already have the Uly at your place at the end of the ride...... Just a thought. |
