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Cgocifer
| | Posted on Saturday, July 21, 2007 - 01:38 am: | 
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Ha! Gettin' there. Was a fiance, now back to a GF. lol
She used to ride with a squid group, so to her, all sport bikes sound like buzz saws on crack. |
Curtyd
| | Posted on Friday, August 10, 2007 - 07:38 pm: |
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I am out today on the XB in 95 degree Fla sunshine and I notice several things that I'll list below related to the "styling" question:
1. I always wear a full face helmet and my field of vision is limited to basically scanning traffic, mirrors and occasional glance at the bike display to mostly see what time it is. I don't much pay attention to mph and just ride it and watch for LEOs.
2. I never see much of anything about the bike when I am riding it.
3. That air-cooled motor cooks me pretty good when stopped at the light.
4. The room in the legs to the pegs is pretty tight but since it is an S I at least am upright in my torso.
5. This things shakes pretty good at idle or low rpms.
Now I am thinking this, those so detested pods are going to be bringing some of that heat out away from me and into the airstream closer to the fairing, plus the watercooling should bring it down temperature wise.
HECK, the pods are looking downright "cool" to me now.
Smoother motor and the view though the mirrors may be a lot better.
Bigger display with a smart rev indicator that lights up and get brighter past a certain RPM. That will be useful to know at a glance when I am getting on it and may need to scan about for the "bad guys"
You know, so far the "look" from the pilot perch is starting to get better and better. I guess when it's sitting in the garage I'll just have to lament about how "funny" it looks.
Another pretty good reason to now keep riding the heck out of it instead of fretting over the "pods", don't you think that's a WIN-WIN proposition now?
It sounds like a tough job but I think I can handle it 
(Message edited by CurtyD on August 10, 2007) |
Brad1445
| | Posted on Friday, August 10, 2007 - 10:04 pm: |
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no, no I don't
More than anything else I think the pods will act as an anti-theft device. |
Fresnobuell
| | Posted on Saturday, August 11, 2007 - 12:05 am: |
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The pods are fine..and as time goes on, I like them more and more. I even venture to say when I finally see the bike in person, I will REALLY dig the pods. I already like the fact that they are going to be a very distinguishing feature saying "BUELL" loud and clear.
I mean how many times have you see a sportbike from a distance and wondered, "What the hell was that?" We won't have that problem on the 1125r, no cookie cutter for me (that would have been awful). Gotta love it. |
Molly_hatchet
| | Posted on Saturday, August 11, 2007 - 12:25 pm: |
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for me it was the blue frame and wheels..i still swear erik and comp are color blind...some may like it but it just aint my thing....the pods could be chopped but the blue...yike...just gotta wonder how that meeting went...yaaa blue frame and wheels great idea boss ? ....musta been the same guy that thought white wheels on a bike was good idea....the 1125 def has buell written all over it..good news is by the time my CBR is paid off the 1125 will prob look really sweet and il be all over it...cant wait to see the mag comparos and hear about first rides..some of u guys that have been floggin other brands on ur XB's will be so far ahead of the pack u might have to go back to ur XB's just so ur friends can keep up. |
Curtyd
| | Posted on Saturday, August 11, 2007 - 10:18 pm: |
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I guess my "tip for the styling department" is just stay away from the armchair quarterbacks and the 'peanut gallery' and just keep doing what you're doing now.
Designing innovative bikes that WORK!!!!
Maybe staying away from this website all together might be the best idea. |
Brad1445
| | Posted on Saturday, August 11, 2007 - 11:10 pm: |
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Curtyd
I guess my "tip for the styling department" is just stay away from the armchair quarterbacks and the 'peanut gallery' and just keep doing what you're doing now.
________________________________________
No customer feedback? Not a good business model.
In particular here where I would assume most are Buell faithful. I my self have purchased four new Buells so far. If you like the styling awesome because obviously the engineering is there. I don't know if I would discard styling criticism here as if their is decent within the Buell faithful guess what is being said elsewhere. |
L_je
| | Posted on Sunday, August 12, 2007 - 12:02 am: |
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Brad,
Styling tips from the owner of a 999 Duc? Ouch.
Hey, wait a minute, were you on CO Rt 7 heading from Lyons towards Estes Park on July 21st or 22nd?
Anyway, nobody at Buell is going to take your styling criticisms seriously until you ditch that Duc. So, send me a PM, and we'll work out terms of surrender for that 999  |
Brad1445
| | Posted on Sunday, August 12, 2007 - 01:48 am: |
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That's funny stuff right there.
I readily admit that if I through all the ugly out of my garage it would be empty. I had a yellow 1098 on order until I head of new Buell then I canceled it. Now I'm first in line for a 1025R but them scoops keep me awake at night.
I don't think that was me on hwy 7 you seen, I have been riding more south the last few weeks. |
Fresnobuell
| | Posted on Monday, August 13, 2007 - 02:21 am: |
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Brad, if you prefer the Ducks, then fine. If you don't like the 1125r styling, then fine-especially if you can't sleep at night. Seems to me like maybe the 1098 is the right bike for you?
(Message edited by fresnobuell on August 13, 2007) |
Buellshyter
| | Posted on Saturday, August 18, 2007 - 08:20 am: |
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1958
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Jimidan
| | Posted on Saturday, August 18, 2007 - 09:42 am: |
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Brad, pay no attention to the men behind the curtain. It is not like you are suggesting that Buell create a bike that runs on children's tears, or anything! . Erik himself has asked for customer feedback directly and in several company periodicals. It is the peanut gallery amongst us (including some of the Anony's, but not all) who try to characterize those who take their time to give feedback as "trolls", "naysayers" or even (and this is a good one) downright "anti-American"!
Think about it for a moment...what a marvelous resource these Buell sites are to the company looking for customer feedback. They are brimming with enthusiastic owners, potential owners, interested browsers and prospective buyers. Other companies have to pay huge sums of money to TRY and solicit feedback that is not half as good from its customer base through telephone surveys (that gets hung-up on), mail-outs (that are mostly sh*t canned) and other attempts to garner the opinions of those who already own their products or are interested in future purchases. Buell gets it for free right here! It is enough to make Reg "gag", but is it enough to make them stop?
Whether or not you like the air scoops is really just a matter of personal taste...some like red raspberry coca delight, and others like vanilla (personally, I like 'em both...since I have a 996R and plan to get a 1225R). All is not lost if you don't like the air-scoops though, as you can always go for an aftermarket fairing kit that will surely be developed for the race bikes. This will give the bike more of an RC51 look, and may appeal more to some folk's taste. These fairings will not work as well, but they will make the bike more palatable for some.
Me, I like the scoops, but I grew up when jet fighters had similar appendages hanging out on their noses, and we stuck air scoops on everything (I've seen them on Ford Pintos) so they conjure up different images of speed, power, performance. On the Buell they placed function above form (as it should be), but the form ain't bad either.
Perhaps they will grow on you. I have heard that some young women thought that penises were "ugly" until after they had actually 'used' one for a while...then they thought that they were sooooo cute. Maybe the same thing will happen to you and others who think that the scoops are ugly. Hey, it worked for the frog too, after he made out with the princess, he turned into Brad Pitt...the examples are all over the place if you know where to look! |
Firemanjim
| | Posted on Saturday, August 18, 2007 - 11:11 am: |
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1025? 1225? you guys need to decide which bike you are actually talking about. |
Brad1445
| | Posted on Saturday, August 18, 2007 - 11:26 am: |
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Great post Jimidan
I'm still laughing over the last paragraph. And I'm sure you are right that after I ride it the looks will be far less important.
I think you hit on a few important lessons for any business model.
As much as I enjoyed taking delivery of my 06 Ulysses some here praised the bike as untouchably perfect, yet the 20 or so changes that have evolved into the 07 now the 08 model make a much better product by far. Each improvement had to be discussed to be worked on and I congratulate those who put their egos aside for the sake of the product and thus the Brand. |
Jimidan
| | Posted on Saturday, August 18, 2007 - 12:17 pm: |
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Each improvement had to be discussed to be worked on and I congratulate those who put their egos aside for the sake of the product and thus the Brand.
And I will bet that at least some, if not all of those 20 changes were suggested by some anti-American naysaying troll, who somehow didn't have stars in their eyes so that they could actually see what needed to be changed, improved or whatnot.
Don't worry, all of you Kuell Aide drinkers, there seems to be enough of us who are 'on-the-wagon' who can submit thoughtful suggestions and criticisms, as per Erik's request, to keep these improvements coming year after year. This is one case where those that do nothing will benefit from these improvements as much as those who take the time to comment, but that is OK. |
Thunderheart
| | Posted on Saturday, August 18, 2007 - 12:26 pm: |
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Just go buy a MV then...
If Buell starts makin bikes that look like other bikes then you would start to complain too...
More like, if Buell made bikes that look like the other brands out there, I wouldn't be riding one.
Do I like the 1125 styling? To some degree, but I don't think it's ugly. I don't think you can call a bike ugly unless it's form is getting in the way of function. But that's just me. |
Ft_bstrd
| | Posted on Saturday, August 18, 2007 - 12:44 pm: |
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Thoughtful criticisms are coveted.
Thoughtless attacks are not.
I think people can be critical and still be tactful. Some simply lack the ability to be both concurrently.
Being critical doesn't mean that you hate Buell. Being critical without tact makes it hard to tell the difference. |
Jimidan
| | Posted on Saturday, August 18, 2007 - 02:30 pm: |
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Thoughtful criticisms are coveted.
Thoughtless attacks are not.
I think people can be critical and still be tactful. Some simply lack the ability to be both concurrently.
Being critical doesn't mean that you hate Buell. Being critical without tact makes it hard to tell the difference.
I think that you may want to re-read the 'rules' as the word "tactful" is not in there anywhere. Even though it is not in the rules, I still agree that one should be tactful when presenting comments and criticisms. But we need to keep in mind that "tactful" is a relative term, just like "good" or "ugly" for the scoops on the new Buell. Everybody has their own opinion about what is tactful (within reason) just like they have their opinion about whether the air scoops look cool. Obviously it is not tactful to use profane or vulgar language, or engaging in personal attacks, or malicious derision of other users of the board. It is also against the RULES. Yet there are those who break those rules to attack those who in their opinion are not being "tactful" in a criticism...all without fear of moderator reprisal.
But in the grand scheme of things, regardless what some folks think about the air-scoops on the new Buell, the ugliest and most un-aerodynamic thing on the new bike will in most cases be the rider! The air scoops will look positively ravishing by comparison.
(Message edited by jimidan on August 18, 2007) |
Ft_bstrd
| | Posted on Saturday, August 18, 2007 - 02:48 pm: |
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Tact is a tool used by those who wish their message to actually be heard (rules or no).
If I disagree with your point of view but want you to hear my point of view and potentially change yours, I will use tact.
If I want to merely show my posterior and guarantee that my point isn't heard, I will use a tactless approach.
Once someone has demonstrated that they don't care whether or not their point of view is heard, everyone then engages in conversations past one another and no understanding is achieved.
You can observe it in just about every thread that becomes heated. Sometimes the point is very valid. Sometimes the "tactless" words come from a "Buell Faithful". All are guilty.
I believe Buell does value rider feedback, but even the Elves are people too. They respond to tactless attacks the same as any other person would.
As far as the Custodians turning a blind eye, it usually happens after the line has been crossed and the personal attacks begin. At that point, turnabout is fair play. Many times the ire is carried over from thread to thread as well.
One can't hit another and then cry mommy when someone hits them back. You dish it, you take it. |
Jimidan
| | Posted on Saturday, August 18, 2007 - 04:42 pm: |
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Rules are rules, and should be applied to everybody equally. Tact is much more subjective, which is probably why it is not even mentioned in the rules. It is all too often pulled out of the hat when someone states an opinion that is not politically correct with the custodian's perspective.
You can try to talk around that fact all you want, citing the frailties of the human condition as an excuse, but there they remain for all to read and obey.
Mommy has nothing to do with it...custodians do. |
Ft_bstrd
| | Posted on Saturday, August 18, 2007 - 05:03 pm: |
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The list of the ousted is short. The most egregious offenders have to push the line pretty far pretty often in order to get black listed. I'd say that the rules have sufficient lea way to allow free expression even when it is without courtesy and tact. The majority of contra positions tend to be from non-custodians. Should those viewpoints be silenced?
Those who have been forced to leave are part of a separate issue than the one under debate.
We were discussing how to get BMC to hear and follow prompts from the "peanut gallery". Tactful voices of dissent get heard. Tactless responses get ignored. |
Nondual
| | Posted on Saturday, August 18, 2007 - 07:32 pm: |
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I like the scoops. They make the bike look sort of military - reminiscent of a fighter plane.
Honestly, I'm into Buell because of the technology. Trilogy of Tech, fuel in the frame, innovative brakes, lowered center of gravity, etc. Something else that excites me about the bike is the 'rider comfort zone'. Finally! As a guy who rode a naked as my only vehicle for a year (with an aftermarket fairing during winter), I can appreciate a bubble of less turbulent, warmer, and quieter air to relieve the fatigue of long distance rides. |
L_je
| | Posted on Saturday, August 18, 2007 - 11:38 pm: |
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"rider comfort zone"...that's sounds like "nap time" to me...
I was riding a friend's Duc ST3 today; it sure has a "rider comfort zone"; with my chest resting on the tank bag, I would have fallen asleep, were it not for my inner voice screaming "Oh My God, This Thing Doesn't Want to Turn!"
Soooo, I think I need something that's marketed as "We beat you up for your own good". |
Molly_hatchet
| | Posted on Sunday, August 19, 2007 - 03:28 am: |
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did anybody see that new victory in motorcyclist....wanna talk about weird looking...makes the rad pods on the buell look like xmas in july. |
Jmartz
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 22, 2007 - 09:02 am: |
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Its an ugly fat (wide) bike but thank God HD is finally modernizing. Having no top end sucks for nay bike. |
Blake
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 22, 2007 - 07:56 pm: |
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Not for mine. |
Tripper
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 22, 2007 - 08:20 pm: |
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He Lives!
Hello Jose. Didn't take long for you and Blake to butt heads. |
Road_thing
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 22, 2007 - 10:03 pm: |
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¡Jose! ¿Dónde ha estado?
rt |
Ratbuell
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 22, 2007 - 11:08 pm: |
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The part about the Victory that really bugs me is where they put the fuel. It's in a bag/tank mounted *ahead* of the triple trees.
I can't imagine what *that* does to the handling....nevermind the errant Buick that runs a stop sign. <whack...boom> |
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