| Author | Message | ||
     Court |
Ulyranger: I apologize. Did you get your manual? If not, drop me a note and you'll have it this week. Court | ||
| Court |
P.S. - Please send me your VIN so we can see what happened and prevent it from occuring again. | ||
| Court |
There's a GREAT LESSON to be learned from this. Why . . . and my goal is positive, I really want to know . . . would anyone take a customer who'd just bought a $13,000 motorcycle to task over a $20 book? Dealerships often "toss in" stuff like a t-shirt or whathaveya . . . . and it's not so much the nominal sum as the very basic concept? "Right thinking" (you really need to read some Robert Townsend to "get it" would dictate that the person at the counters BIGGEST concern would become not getting it but HOW FAST he/she could get it. Here's what happens. . . . The earth's not really round . . . it's a odd sort of skewed parabolic thing. Systems frankly don't work perfect. The small of mind seize these everyday occurrences that "large thinkers" take in stride and expend great effort attributing blame and scurrying to support their conspiracy theory. If they would read THE BUELL VALUES they would instead ask . . . "what, from the position I am presently at, can I do to cast Buell and my own efforts in the best light?" To me . . . in "Courthink" I see a Buell owner with a problem as a playground for me to do something impressive. I've already screwed something up. . . why not make the recovery so dramatically impressive as to make the customer feel valued and appreciated? It's about mindset. If you are any Homecoming and want to see some real examples amongst The Elves let me know. The amazing thing about Buell is NOT the motorcycles. It **IS** that Erik and Jon Flickinger have created an environment in which people THINK this way. Look . . . I know I break a lot of rules. There are currently 3 people at Juneau so pissed at me that can't speak without stuttering . . . but I will NEVER let a Buell Customer be allowed to not know the TRUE way that Buell thinks and operates. It's essential. My constraint, like all Elves, is to carry out my mission while strictly adhering to THE BUELL VALUES. If I piss a couple folks off . . so be it. My goal is to make certain owners know how Erik Buell and the people of Buell intend for customers to be treated. Except I'm infinitely more tactful than Erik. Court | ||
| Court |
Ulyranger: Did you get the right manual? If not, I have spares. Thanks for your input. The "manual marries the bike" process got looked at and tuned up as a result of your report. New folks in crating. Thank you. Court | ||
| Blake |
If I were the guy at the counter, I'd have logged on to www.Buell.com and printed the entire owner's manual on the spot and handed it to the customer, then I'd have put in the order for a proper new one plus five more for each bike in the current Buell line-up. One of each of those owner's manuals would stay on file at the service desk and be accessible to anyone in the dealership including customers, you know, just like for the Custom Chrome catalogs and such. Most importantly, I would be sure to blame the whole mix-up on Court Canfield. This should be standard operating procedure. | ||
| Court |
>>>Most importantly, I would be sure to blame the whole mix-up on Court Canfield. Not a bad idea . . . given the shit-lists I'm currently at the top of . . . you might make some powerful friends. In the meantime. . . I always try to keep a couple spare manuals around . . dealers should ALWAYS have one spare of each. Then again . . . I'm a construction worker.  | ||
| Court |
By the way . . . you know you've done something RIGHT when you point out a flaw with the system and the person blames YOU for saying something rather than fixing the problem. Of note is that the moment the FOLKS AT BUELL learned of this it was a simple "how do we prevent it from happening again" drill with the guys doing the crating. The folks at Buell love to excel. BUELL attacks problems, not people. There are larger companies who could learn from this. | ||
| Dynasport |
OK, hopefully the manual thing is straightened out, I want to hear about your impressions of the BIKE. I am really wanting one. I wish I didn't. The economy and my excesses are not being kind to me right now, so I have to live vicariously through you guys actually buying new bikes. I know the XT is not perfect, but I haven't found a bike that is yet, and of the bikes that I have had the chance to ride, I like it the best. I'd like one in blue please, though I could probably be pretty happy with one in red as well. | ||
| Djm |
Red is way better. Faster AND better gas mileage. | ||
| Ratbuell |
I dunno, I like my orange 06 (becoming known as BigBird at work...might have to get a vanity plate, LOL) just fine. Our XT did ship with the updated manual. I purposely kept it in the top box of the bike instead of in the "manual drawer" - they're identical on the outside, I'd hate to give a customer the wrong book! What was mentioned above does hold true, though - register as an owner on buell.com and you can download owners manuals to your heart's content. Which reminds me, I need to add the Uly to my profile... <poof> | ||
| Towjam |
Red is way better. Faster AND better gas mileage. Not necessarily. Remember, mileage accrued while in the dealership's tow trailer doesn't count.  Don't ask me how I know. | ||
| Djm |
And the red ones have perfect side bags too... | ||
| Marks3tbillet |
Right on Court: It's what's wrong, not who's wrong. | ||
| Ratbuell |
...if I could just get my wife to start thinking that way, LOL | ||
| Court |
Anybody heard from Ulyranger? I sent an e-mail and posted here. Assuming he got it straightened out. | ||
| Court |
Apparently Ulyranger has dropped off the edge of the globe. Hoping all is straightened out. This is what you SHOULD get with an XT.  | ||
| Ulyranger |
Sorry folks, didn't drop off the edge of Court's parabolic globe. Still here...  Been tied up with NY's biggest wildfire since '95 for the last week. Back home now taking a little time to decompress. Had a nice conversation with Court this AM and I must say that I am extremely impressed with the whole Buell organization right now. Who'd have thought a silly little thing such as an Owner's Manual would have garnered so much attention. I now know I certainly made the right choice in my purchase of the Uly. If there are any non-Buell owners lurking here considering joining the family I think I can say you'll be well supported when you make the leap. Court, I'd like to publicly thank you for your time this morning. This whole situation really puts an excellent face on the company that I have become a customer of. In a day of Global enterprise and anonymous internet shopping dealing with a company that really cares about their product and customer's satisfaction is quite refreshing. I believe somewhere buried in my Verizon electronic voice mailbox amongst a week's worth of useless musings is a message from my dealer regarding said manual. All should be right in Buell-land now. I may have been a tad strong in my post before, but I was a little tweaked that someone would even question delivering the correct manual on a new purchase. Like I said before, my overall customer satisfaction with my dealer is still excellent and if my salesman wasn't off that day spending time with his family I'd likely not have had an issue to begin with. If Buell learned something about a very minor glitch in their supply chain through my web post/experience then all is right in the world. Well done Buell!! Oh, and thank the new folks in crating because my bike arrived over two weeks earlier than expected and in perfect condition. Who could ask for more? | ||
| Court |
It's about The Buell Values. The bikes have changed, the values have not. Don't miss the story about Dez and Nate in the book. I think you'll find it kind of special. Court | ||
| Ulyranger |
- "OK, hopefully the manual thing is straightened out, I want to hear about your impressions of the BIKE. I am really wanting one. I wish I didn't. The economy and my excesses are not being kind to me right now, so I have to live vicariously through you guys actually buying new bikes. I know the XT is not perfect, but I haven't found a bike that is yet, and of the bikes that I have had the chance to ride, I like it the best. I'd like one in blue please, though I could probably be pretty happy with one in red as well." Dynasport, I can honestly say after somewhere between 600-800 miles(I've been away for awhile and would have to check the Odo) the Uly XT is the best bike I've ever ridden. While I can't do a direct comparo to many recent sportbikes I have been riding for over 25 years and this bike fits the current niche I was looking for perfectly. That is a great touring machine with good power delivery for 2up, good handling and braking, ability to handle less than perfect roads(I'm not a slab rider), comfortable ergonomics and a bike that just looks badazz. It does everything I asked of it so far very impressively. My only less than satisfying ride was when I tweaked the suspension for a naked solo rip and did not take the time to readjust for a later 2up trip with the wife. But that is quite clearly my problem not a reflection on the bike. The suspension adjustments are in a word, awesome. You can set this machine up for any situation or ride. The engine impresses more and more with each ride. Starts easier and has been getting smoother, though I hope not too much. Power delivery is excellent, gobs of torque when ever you need it. I find myself just leaving the bike in either third or fourth gear, depending on openness of the road, and just ripping it through the curves. Fifth gear is just for cruising on open highway for me. The clutch operation is very smooth, excellent feel with two fingered operation. Gear shifting is very positive, a little notchy out of the crate but has been better with each ride. I personally like the positive engagement, never liked bikes that seemed to just slide into gear without much feedback through the foot....of course I grew up riding enduros. Either way, the Uly shifts very nicely IMO and the tranny has a stout feel to it. I have no need or desire to speed shift w/o clutch. Neutral finding can be a tad confounding at times till you figure out the right touch. I absolutely love the braking, best set up I have ever ridden. The controls, the feel and power front to back combined with supplemental engine braking makes for one of the most predictable stopping bikes in my experience. Initially I had a small learning curve on my first couple of 2up rides to modulate a bit so I didn't over-work my wife's hands on the grab handles. I don't share some people's critique of the rear's lack of power, IMHO it fits the bike's setup and my riding style nicely. I'm not a big ABS fan on either cars or bikes so a lack of that option in no factor for me. Handling is effortless. Don't think I can describe it any better than that. I'm not a knee dragger anymore but do appreciate a fine handling machine. The XT's lesser steering lock has not been an issue for me, I can turn 'er around in less than two lanes and parking lot maneuvers are not a problem. The engine and gearing don't exactly like to creep along but the chassis is the easiest bike I've ever had at slow speed rolling. Even with the extended suspension and ground clearance it has. Overall the engineering and use of materials in the bike is very impressive. The only place I would take a few points off the entire package is the control switches. While their layout and function is good, they don't have quite the same level "feel" compared to the other components utilized on the bike. This is completely a subjective thing though and considering the quality of construction in the rest of the machine I may be tad hyper-critical here. The bike rocks, now go get one.  | ||
| Nevrenuf |
now if you can get the rest of the dealers who are dealing buells, who don't try better to support them, on the band wagon, than you really would have accomplished a miralcle. | ||
| Crusty |
now if you can get the rest of the dealers who are dealing buells, who don't try better to support them, on the band wagon, than you really would have accomplished a miralcle. I've got a story, but it's too soon to tell it. I need a bit more time to calm down. This past week, I learned what happens to "Loyal Customers". | ||
| Nevrenuf |
I've got a story, but it's too soon to tell it. I need a bit more time to calm down. This past week, I learned what happens to "Loyal Customers". you turn to somewhere else that gets it, would be my answer. | ||
| Ratbuell |
DJM - I saw a red XT at the shop yesterday but was too overwhelmed (busy Saturday, two salespersons down - I had to help out on the Dark Side, working with HD customers...) to find the owner and say "hi". Was that you? Sorry I missed you (or whoever it was) - I try my best to say hi to all my Buellers when they stop in! | ||
| Redwing |
Just wanted to say hello. I've been lurking here for a couple of months and just picked up a new red XT yesterday. This board has been a great source of info and entertainment.That's the good news, the bad news....33 miles from picking the bike up at the dealer and about 1/4 mile from home on a residential street, the engine stumbled and stuttered a bit, check engine light came on, rolled into my driveway with the check engine light on and now the oil light illuminated. Shut down, took off the riding gear, waited for the fan to shut off (about 5 minutes), when I started to check the oil level the bike puked about 1/4 cup of oil out of the filler neck. Bike was sitting level and on the side stand. Call to dealer, and they came and picked up the bike. (after sitting of couple of hours the oil level was still at at top of filler neck) So a day starting out with a big grin ended with no grin at all... | ||
| Djm |
Ratbuell - Yep, no worries. Just shot you a PM. | ||
| Towjam |
Redwing, Congrats on the new XT and very sorry to hear that you've had a hiccup before you even got the bike home from the dealer. This will make at least the fourth BadWeb XT that has had to be towed back to the dealer within the first 1k miles. (If it's in any consolation, I also had "check engine light" issue on my new XT within the first 40 miles and had to have the bike carried back to the dealer for a new O2 sensor.) Keep us posted on what you find out. I've got a couple of theories but since I'm not a wrencher, I don't want to risk public humiliation and emasculation by posting 'em. Hang in there - once you get it back, you're gonna' love it! | ||
| Djm |
Redwing - Hopefully it is nothing serious. I was one of the 'towees' that Towjam mentioned, and my issues with the bike were all due to dealer negligence (my bike was supposedly prepped by another dealership and they didn't bother to verify). But the bike runs great and is a blast to ride. I am sure you will love it. | ||
| Nevrenuf |
congrats on the bike redwing and i hope you don't let a little incident like that mar your overall judgement of how the buells really are. i picked mine up in tampa on a friday(2 weeks ago) and rode it up to greenville sc the next day. by the end of the day on sunday i already had 800 miles on it. maybe my lights are broken like someone suggested(i really doupt it). so far though, the bike runs like a champ and no regrets. | ||
| Ulyranger |
"when I started to check the oil level the bike puked about 1/4 cup of oil out of the filler neck. Bike was sitting level and on the side stand. Call to dealer, and they came and picked up the bike. (after sitting of couple of hours the oil level was still at at top of filler neck) " - Redwing Could it be as simple as someone overfilling the oil resevoir?? I have had no engine issues with my XT, it has been awesome and getting better with every mile. | ||
| Redwing |
"Could it be as simple as someone overfilling the oil resevoir?? " Even after belching out a quantity of oil the oil level was still to the very top of the filler neck and it would not be possible to add any more. I don't know how the oil system works but my first thought is that there is some kind of restriction in in the system. Waiting on call from dealer. |
