| Author | Message | ||
     Electraglider_1997 |
I know that I read here that Buell Demo fleet was elsewhere but in the past they have always been with Harley at Sturgis. Not this year. Pretty lame if you ask me since last year lots of folks took advantage of Buell ULY demo's. Buell didn't even show 2010 models at all. I did see a Barricade Orange ULY parked in downtown Sturgis and it had large ammo can side bags. Didn't see the owner. The ammo cans looked real nice but must have been a bit heavy since I'm pretty sure they are olive drab painted steel. Also spoke to a guy at a Sturgis gas pump that said his brother let him borrow the ULY he was on for the trip. Said it was quite snappy. We rode 1482 miles in 4 days. My 06' ULY, wife on 07' XL1200R, our son on his 89' Yamaha Radian, and friend on 07' Road King. Rained everyday we were there but good weather mixed in also. Camped in tents each night in forest. Large elk ran through our campsite one morning. Wheeze when they are hauling arse. Needless to say that the ULY ran flawlessly during the trip. Full disclosure: Coughed once during heavy rain storm coming back to Sturgis from Devil's Tower but that was it. Ran gasahol the whole trip and got near 50 mpg with it cruising at 65 to 75 mph usually. Radian got 50 to near 70 mpg. Original fan still singing on bike with 21,126 miles. No bearing problems. Road I90 from Rapid City east to Kodako, SD and the trailer queens were thick on that interstate. That highway just sucks. Riding is great in desolate western Nebraska, especially so on the Indian Reservations. The wild west. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Maybe Buell is attempting to market sportbikes to the sportbike crowd rather than trying to market sportbikes to the cruiser crowd? | ||
| Bartimus |
Yea, you would have to be RUTHLESS to try selling a sportbike during Sturgis... | ||
| Charlie_zulu |
Maybe Buell is attempting to market sportbikes to the sportbike crowd rather than trying to market sportbikes to the cruiser crowd?  What he said.. | ||
| Itileman |
If they made that heat shield on the 2010 chrome, they might have had a chance at Sturgis.  . I spent the week before Sturgis with the Advrider crowd in Colorado and there was one other Buell there (an 06XT). Go figure. | ||
| Panhead_dan |
there are no '06 XT's | ||
| Vwsinner |
"there are no '06 XT's" Add paniers and a lowered seat, instant XT! | ||
| Froggy |
Also add a lower suspension, different tires, different rims, different plastics, different fenders, no headlight grill, different windshield, different VIN codes then instant XT!  | ||
| Jphish |
...47mm forks & 74* lock to lock. | ||
| Chadhargis |
Mabe Buell should have sponsored a ride in the weenie bite race. The Uly is so tall, it would have done well. Might have sold a bike or two. I prefer a trials bike....but that's just me. LOL!  (Message edited by chadhargis on August 10, 2009) | ||
| Froggy |
Not in 06 Jphish | ||
| Bjbauer |
Lots of better ways through SoDak than I90. 2 people killed on bikes in the same construction zone on 2 consecutive days the 1st weekend of Sturgis. I avoid all interstates when possible and I live on I90. Riding off of the interstate is a whole different experience. Didn't make it out this year. Had to go Salmon fishing. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Only 100 miles on or so on I90 and the rest through Indian country. As for marketing to cruiser crowd being ridiculous, just how many of you guys switched from cruiser to ULY or have both? It's probably sportbike guys that would never buy a Buell since they are so enamored with smooth jap bikes. I have both ULY and Electraglide. In my estimation it would be easier to sell a Harley guy a Buell than to sell a metric guy a paint-shaking Buell. So yeah, I think Buell screwed up by not demo'ing out a Sturgis. Come to think of it, I decided I eventually would buy a Buell years ago when I demo'd at the Kansas City Harley manufacturing plant. That was before the XB bikes existed. I still think of Buell as a Harley sportbike. Erik was a Harley engineer and used Harley motors. Harley owns Buell lock, stock and barrel. Erik works for Harley-Davidson Corporation. That may be sacrilege to many of you but facts are facts. Buell was going to build a new factory but Harley put that on hold. | ||
| Cyclonedon |
Electraglider, I agree! Buell will have more success marketing their brand to the cruiser crowd than to the younger sport bike group. The Japanese liter bikes are faster and cost less which makes them more attractive to the younger generation. The older riders want American made products and aren't as concerned about the speed as much. I've been to the last three Buell homecomings and Buell riders are NOT the younger generation of motorcycle riders! Judging by the homecoming crowds, I would say that the average Buell rider is in their late 40's. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
The air-cooled engine's days may be numbered. With each successive year, the path of Buell and Harley grows more divergent. Buells CAN be sold to the "cruiser crowd", but given limited marketing resources this year, they probably elected to strike out more toward the sportbike crowd most likely to become interested in the 1125 platform. Would Harley people, who largely rejected the V-Rod, really embrace the 1125? I doubt it. | ||
| Charlie_zulu |
As for marketing to cruiser crowd being ridiculous, just how many of you guys switched from cruiser to ULY or have both? It's probably sportbike guys that would never buy a Buell since they are so enamored with smooth jap bikes Well call me odd but my first streetbike was a R-1 and I bought a Uly..? I ride a cruiser to. Like you said they were always there in the past maybe they just wanted to branch out  Economy? | ||
| Atoms |
I've been to the last three Buell homecomings and Buell riders are NOT the younger generation of motorcycle riders! Judging by the homecoming crowds, I would say that the average Buell rider is in their late 40's. This may be true, but it may be skewed by the "cool" factor (or in this case, the lack thereof) of events like the homecoming. I rode in my late twenties and early thirties, but never had any interest in rallies or anything like that. Now that I'm crusty and 47! I can't get enough of the rally scene (at least the fat old white guy type rallies of the BMWMOA and their ilk.) | ||
| Chadhargis |
I've been to a few BMW rallies. They are pretty sedate. Our local club hosts one every year in Burkesville, KY although it's billed as the "European Riders Rally". Back in my BMW days, I used to help organize it. (Message edited by chadhargis on August 11, 2009) | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
The thing about Sturgis is that there is more than just the cruiser crowd attending. Last year when Buell made the effort at Sturgis they showcased all their 2009 bikes and had lots of demo bikes to ride. Plenty of folks rode the pi.ss out of those demo bikes including me. Its claimed 600,000 bikers show during Sturgis week and for Buell to be a no-show with that many motorcycle lovers in one area is just plain nuts. Bikers buy bikes that impress them when demo'd. That's why I always wanted a Buell after I demo'd one. Took a few years but I never forgot that original demo down at the Kansas City Harley Plant. | ||
| Itileman |
I can only afford one bike, and I dumped my Road King for the XT. I think Sturgis would have been worthwhile for Buell. To correct myself (as others have so kindly done), the other Buell at Westfest was an 06 XB12X in Barricade Orange. I will admit that it was faster than my Racing Red XT (although age may have been a factor since its rider was about 40 years younger than me). | ||
| Cyclonedon |
Would Harley people, who largely rejected the V-Rod, really embrace the 1125? FB, does your dealer sell more V-Rods or Buells? I've never been in your area but around here the V-Rods outnumber the Buells BIG TIME!!! but then again, so does the motor scooters. | ||
| Edgydrifter |
Well, let's assume for the sake of argument that the elves didn't simply forget to put Sturgis on their calendar. My hunch is that a Buell presence at that particular rally doesn't mesh with the new marketing strategy--too traditional, too middle-aged, too chains-n-chaps. | ||
| Methed |
I wouldn't be on a Buell now if I hadn't had the opportunity to ride the demo fleet hard up and around Skyline Drive a couple of years out at Rapid City. I honestly don't know if I'd have given them the chance had I not been able to put a couple hours on 'em. Seems a shame, especially considering the number of sport bikes and other manufacturers who make an effort, and given this year's racing headlines... Well, now I guess I don't mind that I couldn't make it this year. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Really bummed me out. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
FB, does your dealer sell more V-Rods or Buells? Buells. I think I've only see one or two VRods leave the floor since I've been there. Probably 4 or 5 buells in the same time. I'm not saying it was a good move for BMC not to be at Sturgis, but given limited marketing budget it would seem that selecting the few track day events that they sponsored this year instead of going to Sturgis might have been the choice that was made. | ||
| Cyclonedon |
I think I've only see one or two VRods leave the floor since I've been there. Probably 4 or 5 buells in the same time. Jeremey, that's a good ratio of Buell sales for your dealership. I've never asked any dealers around here what there ratios of sales were comparing the V-Rods and the Buells but from what I see our riding on the roads, I feel it's most likely double V-Rods over the Buells around this area. I'll have to ask the dealer next time I'm in there. I would have purchased a 2005 Street Rod if the dealer would have given me anything for my M2 Cyclone. They had new 2005 Street Rods for $12,600.00, but wouldn't take my Cyclone in on a trade. So I kept it until the Uly came out. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
I know our dealership sold 5 2010 CVOs in one day. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
While out at Sturgis we stopped at Rapid City HD. They had 08' 1125R's on sale for 10,000 bucks. I told them the same bikes can be had in Omaha at Dillon Brother's for $7,999. It looked to me that Rapid City HD was getting out of the Buell business. No mention of Buells on or for sale on their website at all. (Message edited by electraglider_1997 on August 13, 2009) | ||
| F_skinner |
It looked to me that Rapid City HD was getting out of the Buell business. I noticed that as well. I did not stay long at the Rapid City dealership but I thought the same thing. As much as it pains me to agree with EGlider I think Buell should have been there. Buell does not fit well in any motorcycle market so the more exposure the better. If you think Sturgis is nothing but cruisers then you have not been there in a while. I saw just about every brand as well as about half a dozen Buells (mostly tubers, cool). It has changed a lot since I started going in the early 80s and for the better in many respects. I enjoyed chatting with people that rode to Sturgis. No matter what they rode, they are enthusiasts. Test rides and talking to the Buell engineers was always the highlight of my trip to Sturgis. | ||
| Slaughter |
Look at the typical pictures of Sturgis, look at the typical pictures of the Homecoming at Road America... or any AMA racing... notice a difference in TYPE of people attending and typical activities at each event? You think that maybe one crowd might appeal more to Buell Marketing than the other? (just asking) |
