| Author | Message | ||
     Charlieboy6649 |
I wonder how long it will be till someone circumnavigates the globe on one??? | ||
| Kevinfromwebb |
I"m very impressed with the new bikes just from what I"ve read and seen here so far. That flip up rear rack is a very cool idea. I don't know the older buell models very well but didn't they have one with a flip up passenger rest? It does seem that Erik and Co. listen to their customers.Hard luggage and 2 power outlets,cool, like I said before, I'm very impressed. My '04 12R fits me well but I"m only 5'7". A friend of mine is over 6' and he said he didn't feel comfortable on my bike. But he's looking for a 'dual sport' type bike anyway, hmmmmmmmmmmm... I"m also looking at the cutout air filter cover. If that would fit on the previous models, cool. Cutup air box and not have to reroute any lines... There are going to be MANY questions relating to the interchangeability of '06 model parts to the previous XBs... I"m a subscriber to Cycle World and I want my new copy NOW!!! Congratulations to Erik and Co., as we say in Texas,'Yall done good!'...  Kevin (Message edited by kevinfromwebb on July 23, 2005) | ||
| Buells Rule! (Dyna in disguise) |
That you prefer the look of conventional dual disk brakes over the appearance of the ZTL brake with zero regard for significantly improved performance is understandable. I'll bite, improved how? I think the perimiter brake is trick looking but it doesnt offer any more stopping power than the brake on the M2....hmm didnt we already have this brake topic complete with stopping distances recently? | ||
| Charlieboy6649 |
Yea, the XB didn't make the top 10. That doesn't mean I don't like the ZTL better. On a rough surface, the ZTL feel is better simply because the tire stays in contact with the road. My Opinion. | ||
| Blake |
Sir Oldroadtoad, Smiley added. Yes, was s'posed to be there. I like your insurance policy. I use the same agent myself. Thanks for joining in. Try not to be so darn self-centered. Enough about you, you, you... I'd like you to start impressing upon folks what kind of bike I want and that Erik Buell should then design and build.  Greg, More stopping power is unnecessary and in no way desirable. Buell ZTL offers... Mucho reduced weight. Thus improved acceleration, stopping, handling. Less unsprung mass. Thus improved suspension performance. Thus improved road holding ability. Thus improved safety. More simplicity, less parts to fail. Thus improved reliability. No not necessarily better stopping power. Yes we already had this discussion. | ||
| Court |
I like, as a simple person, the simplicity. A fraction of the parts of those silly complicated brake systems others use. All I know is that I can briskly squeeze the lever and the rear wheel lofts airborne.....more? No, this is fine thanks. I'll bet some of the other manufacturers are kicking themselves for not being able to see or think outside the rotor. Court | ||
| Whosyodaddy |
I like, as a simple person, the simplicity. A fraction of the parts of those silly complicated brake systems others use. If you have an afternoon to kill, go up to the some of the BMW forums (i-bmw, bmwsportouring.com, pelicanports.com, etc.) and check out the love/hate relationship BMW riders have with BMW's EVO-assisted ABS system. They are a bitch to service, have significantly reduced braking ability when the ignition is off (be careful when unloading the GS from a trailer) and there are allegations that BMW is "covering up" known cases of brake failures with the system. (It's a long story for another day/another forum.) To it's credit, BMW provides a switch on the GS that allows you to disable the ABS system when off-road. (Personally, I like BMW's system - but then again, I don't do my own service work. I'd rather pay someone competent $$$ to bleed and adjust the brakes.)  | ||
| Court |
Look for an in-depth study of this later this afternoon. What the heck...let me share with you now since I no longer need to waste time explaining the ULYSSES personalized tag on my BMW F650. Imagine yourself in the middle of the motorcycle smack-down world championships in which companies compete for the loyalties and business of customers. It's up to you to ratchet your way up the food chain a step at a time. . . and like my close combat instructor taught me in the USMC, you look around and find the weakest of the group to consume. Buell saw BMW in the corner. . . . struggling like wounded prey. David Robb, fresh from a car background, came to BMW, which at the time was already dazed and confused, and has further succeeded in blurring the "what is it" lines. To quote upstart Amos Lee "have to know what you are and what you are not". Take a minute and go look at the BMW (yes, you have to go through the car website to get there) website. Tell me what their "sport-tourer" is? What's the cruiser...the one with the refrigerator, the regular R or that goofy new thing? You don't know and neither do they. Imagine yourself in Buells shoes....you look around the field.
Who's left? Look over there in the corner? The yuppies from New Jersey, nestled at the North end of the Garden State Parkway in tony Bergen County is BMW USA. Notorious for having feuding owner groups who camp on two sides of a line at the annual gathering, folks who start fist fights over oil vs. air cooling and are still, after 5 years, waiting for the company to even acknowledge the problems with the fuel injection. The waning dealer network pretty well seals the deal....those folks on BMW are fair game for Buellversion. On a STRICTLY PERSONAL note, I have a beef with BMW North America for two reasons. The most public is the stunt they pulled by nixing the dedicated area that Erik Buell was going to have at The Guggenheim. It wouldn't have been related to THE Buell products, but to the FUTURE of design...pure design. The deal was solidly in the works when BMW, the corporate sponsor, dropped the hammer on it and the top gallery was quickly stuffed with a collection of circa now Ducati's. So, here we are faced with the folks presently in the BMW camp....looking closely at the ULYSSES. They are going to like it. It's just weird enough and unique enough to draw their interest while at the same time holding the promise of making their current dealer nightmares go away. I'm thrilled. Dave Stueve (spelled correctly) said this move (the Ulysses) will be the impetus to the biggest changes we've seen in the Buell dealer network. Dave won't be able to get enough of these Ulyssi while the "old timers" will be staring at it, looking like a 3 month old puppy tilting his head at an oscillating fan. Congratulations Buell and welcome to the former BMW owners. Court | ||
| Odie |
Guess that girl with the pink fur on her XB from months back riding in the dirt getting some air will be getting a new ride soon!! | ||
| Buells Rule! (Dyna in disguise) |
Buell saw BMW in the corner. . . . struggling like wounded prey. I dont think thats quite an accurate description of BMW. Their sales are rising & they are selling a hell of a lot of bikes here. Obviously it would make sense for Buell to emulate them & go a completely different route then they were. The hp war race is one thats very hard to compete in, but with an adventure style bike hp isnt the key....I dont know why folks are bemoaning no increase to hp right now though. Look at the diferent bikes in the "adventure" group, BMW's, KTM's, Triumphs, etc. Most are right in the upper 90's area for rwhp so the Buell is definitely a player there. | ||
| Odie |
Dyna, I agree. I think the plentiful torque the 12 has would be perfect for a woods bike.... | ||
| Court |
>>>>I dont know why folks are bemoaning no increase to hp right now though. For the same reason the small minded argue "bigger breasts". It's obvious, fun and spares them from having to think about the real issues. Do I have a keen sense of this or what? Court | ||
| Buells Rule! (Dyna in disguise) |
For the same reason the small minded argue "bigger breasts". It's obvious, fun and spares them from having to think about the real issues. The analogy is kinda weird but makes sense, the only problem I have with it is you never hear anyone arguing for smaller breasts. Its America & bigger is better so the biggest must be bestest right?  | ||
| Whosyodaddy |
The waning dealer network pretty well seals the deal....those folks on BMW are fair game for Buellversion. Court, Even though BMW does have a relatively small dealer network in the US, it’s light years ahead of Buell’s. (apologies in advance to DaveS – he’s the bright spot in the dealership sea of darkness.) BMW has a service loaner and demo program, standalone dealers and sales/service people motivated to sell BMW and not treat BMW product as the redheaded stepchild when customers walk in the door. /rant My experience with Buell dealerships in the Dallas/Ft.Worth area (now down to 2), have been far less than satisfactory. I bought my XB12R last April during one of the Buell factory demo days and the sales experience was absymal. The bike had to sell itself because I got absolutely zilch from the dealer's sales staff in the way of product info and follow-up. And lest you think things might be different a year later... Yesterday afternoon I called and visited the largest Buell dealer in this area ... <TOWJAM's NOTE: sordid details deleted. Suffice to say the sales experience was unacceptable> ...I will try the other dealership Monday and give them an opportunity to earn my business. I know there are some good dealerships outside of my local area but that's not much help from a service standpoint. If a dealer doesn't want to sell me a bike, I don't have the warm fuzzies he's going to deliver world-class service either. Erick and this team have done their part - building a bike that can catapult Buell's branding and credibility into a whole 'nuther league. Now it's time for Buell's dealership network to step up and support those efforts. /beating_dead_horse my $.02 (Message edited by whosyodaddy on July 24, 2005) | ||
| Court |
Good points all, except....
They are NOT done, they are beginning. Stay tuned. Recall the other day (hinting at the oil pump gear and more) I said "expect more than a motorcycle". Quote me. Court | ||
| Whosyodaddy |
They are NOT done, they are beginning. Stay tuned. You're killing me Court! C'mon. You can tell us. We promise we'll keep to ourselves.  | ||
| Charlieboy6649 |
I think the BMW crowd will be enticed. They don't know about past dealership woes and from Court's previous posts on other threads, sounds like Buell has a reign on it. It better happen quick though because they (BMW crowd) are used to being treated a certain way. Call it what you will. I was considering a GS and am VERY happy Buell made this bike... | ||
| Metalstorm |
BMW can only dream of creating a bike as cool as the Ulysses. We have the bikes. Soon we'll have the riders. As our numbers rise, the service will follow. | ||
| Charlieboy6649 |
"expect more than a motorcycle". Buell snowmobile? Buell airplane? Buell car company? Another Buell Bicycle? Eagerly Staying tuned... (Message edited by charlieboy6649 on July 24, 2005) | ||
| Cataract2 |
Court, when you say "expect more than a motorcycle". your not talking about Buell moving outside of the motorcycle business I hope. | ||
| Spatten1 |
Maybe Court means that, like Harley, we can now get a Buell F-150, Buell underwear, and Buell t-shirts with wolves and eagles and stuff. | ||
| Court |
No. Court means you're gonna get precisely the BETTER, and improving, motorcycle company YOU ASKED FOR. Example: The "pre-release" teaser. Sure, not a big deal, but it's been nice for Buell to play along with our excitement. Example: You'll be seeing more online capabilities and resources. Example: The oil pump gear. Buell reacted, and more importantly in a timely fashion, to customer concerns. You may not see it, I see this as HUGE. Getting this to happen, within Harley-Davidson, is tougher than pushing a piece of plywood through a swimming pool of syrup in January. Example: The "long" bike. That's no "stroke of mechanical genius". The American Dreamer (some of you know what that means - Kevin Cameron) didn't dream "longer", again YOU asked for it. Making it work and WORK RIGHT was where Erik and The Elves applied their skills to your needs. Nah....no trucks. We'll get a guitar this year, but if you don't like that, too bad. There are things that must be done, in the name of simple sanity, to keep it together at work. I am eager to see the Ulysses t-shirts. I am hoping that Buell took the opportunity, or as the Latins say Carpe Shirtum, to get the apparel out of the hands of Motorcolthes before it's too late. Coolest t-shirts: Circa 1997, take me back. This is gonna be a banner year....due simply to Buell listening and being involved with their owners. Jon Flickinger is showing his hand...I like it. Court | ||
| Court |
By the way....read CAREFULLY the WORLD BIKE part of the article. This didn't just happen. | ||
| Bigeasy |
Well I was hoping for a ST real bad for the long hauls and riding 2 up. Buell not only answered my prayer but took it one step further with a all in one bike. I had even started to look at other brands for a ST to add to my xb12s. Yep my lightning and I have been having long talks about getting a bigger brother to sit with him inside the garage. So I've made up my mind and a xb12x he shall have!!! I am in Detroit now and will be riding back home to New Orleans Monday with a little jog to the east to face the Dragon. Then the day I get back I'm riding to Baton Rouge to see a man about a bike!! My first big trip on my new ride will be up the pacific coast hwy. Can't wait! Art  | ||
| Charlieboy6649 |
I like the revised site already. It get's better? Great! I'd like to see online ordering of motorclothes and accessories...(even if the merchandise is drop shipped from the closest dealer that has it in stock. That would be nice for consumers that aren't near their dealers, and good for the dealers who still ship a sale...Good for the MoCo. More volume of sales... | ||
| Spatten1 |
Court, I agree about the Long. My buddy wanted an XB, but it was too small for him. That new version looks perfect for taller riders. I'd love a flatish seat like that for my 9S, it would make moving around on the bike much easier. Buell is listening, and taking action. | ||
| Dbird29 |
Charlieboy has a good idea with the online ordering. Order anything you want from the website and have it drop shipped to your home. The local dealer gets a spiff and a chance to try to sell you on visiting their dealership. If all they want is the cut of the online sale so be it, if they want to make you a returning customer even better. | ||
| Kowpow225 |
We were hurting for a touring machine... I think this'll work.*smiles* | ||
| 2hogs |
"expect more than a motorcycle". ???? You guys are killing me. I think the new XB12X and the Lightning Long are major strides, main reasons I'm thinking a Buell should be added to the garage, but there's more?? Should we be watching the Buell website? The XB12X looks great, and it could be awhile until I can ride it and now this? I'm getting more grey hair by the minute :-) | ||
| Court |
2Hogs...see my post above. |
