| Author | Message | ||
     Kellaupat |
Anyone check out the Hot Shot section on page 20 in this month's C.W. A couple of negative letters about Eric crushing the Blast. I might have to agree a little bit with the authors. I am not sure how I feel about the Cube, hope the P.R. about it gets a little more positive.  | ||
| Murraebueller |
Everyone seems to be forgetting that the Blast is still being made by HD for the Rider's Edge program and just being called Blast. Parts will be available for some time. Don't know if they're going to retail them or not. With the direction that Buell is going it's not really a good fit. Too bad the mags can't seem to get all of the facts. | ||
| Crusty |
With the direction that Buell's going, I'm not sure if I'm a good fit any more. | ||
| Johnboy777 |
""With the direction that Buell's going, I'm not sure if I'm a good fit any more."" The new marketing strategy is called 'selling motorcycles through alienation'.... the idea is to alienate your current customer base in favor of a cooler, younger, hipper crowd that can relate to the in-your-face, let's pi$$ 'em all off if we can style of advertising. Sure it's risky, but it's hip ...real hip - so hip normal buyers just don't get it...god! normal buyers are so lame!...  Let's face it, great motorcycles don't sell motorcycles - crushing one of your own motorcycles in front of the whole world, yeah, that sells motorcycles. . | ||
| Murraebueller |
So nobody has a sense of humor anymore? I worked with the Blast on a daily basis as a Rider Coach and it's a great training bike. It's also not a bad standard street bike but should have been built by HD in the first place. It is most definitely not a sport bike and presents maintenance issues as the miles pile up. As far as alienating the current customer base, I'm 60, I have five Buells and plan to buy an 1125 in 2010 livery. If you don't like the direction they're going, you should buy something else. You might also want to try taking the knots out of your underwear as well. | ||
| Johnboy777 |
""If you don't like the direction they're going, you should buy something else"" So let me see if I understand this - I should buy 'something else' (other than a Buell) because I don't like the direction their marketing is going. So you're a love everything about Buell and their marketing, or hit the road kinda guy...very funny! . | ||
| Murraebueller |
You just don't get it, do you? I don't care about their marketing because I don't run the company, but I do understand their need to continually seek new customers regardless of what I do or don't think about their marketing. I have a bigger problem with their "it's OK to not wave" campaign due to being somewhat old school than I do with the Blast crush but it's their choice. Doesn't change my opinion of the product. How many more Buells are you going to buy? You have a right to your opinion but you shouldn't judge what a company does unless you own stock. Put another way, sometimes it's just better to shut up and ride the motorcycle. | ||
| Crusty |
Back in the '70s, I used Right Guard Deodorant. Then Gillette came out with a Right Guard ad that I found particularly obnoxious. I stopped using Right Guard, and started using Old Spice. I'm the type of person who will not reward offensive ads by giving the offender my money. If Buell feels they need to attract new customers by alienating their existing customers, that's their privilege. If I find their attitude offensive, I will look elsewhere for my next purchase. This Saturday, I plan to test ride a Moto Guzzi Norge. | ||
| Johnboy777 |
""you shouldn't judge what a company does unless you own stock."" What about 'owning' one of their motorcycles? Tell me something ... how is it that you arrived at these rules of yours? ...are they rules that you and everyone else here must follow? I'll be honest, I wasn't aware of any of these rules of yours, about when I can and can't comment on crappy advertising. Thanks for pointing out what I should or shouldn't do. Very Funny! . | ||
| Frito |
Everyone seems to be forgetting that the Blast is still being made by HD for the Rider's Edge program and just being called Blast. Parts will be available for some time. I had wondered about that since I've seen 2010 models on ebay. As far as the crush add goes, I thought it was a novel way to discontinue a model. A contrast to the HD way of letting the sales guy say we don't have that model this year. | ||
| Dentguy |
"I have a bigger problem with their "it's OK to not wave" campaign...." I get the point they were trying to make, but I thought that ad was kind of weird myself. Especially because I have a Buell t-shirt that was handed out at the IMS by Buell with a (hello) and a hand sign on the front. Not to mention a 2006 Buell brochure with the same picture that says "Categories aren't important. What is important is that we remember to wave at each other on the road". I guess now it's not as important to wave and time to go in a new direction? | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
I wouldn't get too bent out of shape about the Buell marketing. The great thing about marketing is that if you don't like it, wait 15 minutes. Some new marketing campaign will be coming around the corner. Leaving a brand because of a temporary marketing campaign is like divorcing your wife because you don't like the dress she's wearing. You'll sure show her a lesson, but in the end you do more harm to yourself than to your wife. | ||
| Cyclonedon |
The great thing about marketing is that if you don't like it, wait 15 minutes. Some new marketing campaign will be coming around the corner. I think it's already 14 minutes too late!!! from what I'm seeing here on BadWeb, dealers are dropping Buells, other dealers are discounting all models they have in stock to record low prices, and now they are closing the factory for a couple of months. Is that the kind of marketing you want? I think the best thing that could happen right now is for Buell to dump their marketing program and go back to the basics, Selling "American Motorcycles"! | ||
| Mnrider |
I think the best thing that could happen right now is for Buell to dump their marketing program and go back to basics,Selling "American Motorcycles"! Yes and after winning the Sport Bike Championship they have more to talk about than cubing the Blast! | ||
| Hangetsu |
I personally felt no offense to the campaign, but I’m still not sure how wise it was. Nobody ever looked down upon Honda for making a CB250 not any other manufacturers for manufacturing and standing behind entry level bikes. I doubt anyone ever thought twice about buying their CBR-RR because Honda also serves the entry level market. How much damage Buell caused themselves by doing this – who knows? Maybe none. The part of their campaign that does bother me however is the statement, “Racing and sport bikes are officially all that matter.” Now I’m sure Buell will continue to offer a variety of models, including the Uly, but I found that statement particularly alienating. If I was new to motorcycling and looking for a bike like the Uly, that add would immediately have me looking elsewhere. Even I, who currently own and love an XB12X, wonder if I will need to be considering a different brand when the time comes to look for my next ride. I honestly don’t think this campaign was very smart. | ||
| Chrisrogers3 |
Im curious, but does Buell have control in its own marketing or is that something that is controlled by Harley? The reason im posing this question is IIRC Erik wasnt too pleased about the marketing of the TT which ultimately led to its unfortunate demise.....I also remember hearing Erik say "I think they learned their lesson".....with a comment like that makes it seem like 1. he didnt have much say in the matter and 2. Im not sure if "they" did learn their lesson. | ||
| Choyashi |
I'm in a "catch 22"! I don't want to wave if the other guy isn't going to wave. So by the time the other guy waves I can't get my arm out fast enough, and he thinks I'm a snob! So, I wave at the next guy and he dosen't wave back....the snob! The other day I gave every bike a different type of wave. Even stood up and stuck my butt out at one guy! As I exited the freeway, a passenger in a car that was behind me stuck their butt out the window as it went by! What a blast! Now that would make a good commercial for Buell! | ||
| Froggy |
Go into the archives, this isn't new. All that changes is the names and dates.
The marketing campaign is working. Buell is one of only a handful of motorcycle companies that sales aren't in the crapper right now.
Honda isn't a sportbike company. It is a motorcycle company that sells sportbikes along with cruisers and everything else under the sun. Honda wasn't founded by a privateer racer that struggled to get by in a barn. Oh, and the Uly is a sportbike, just ask my insurance company. About the wave thing, I am surprised so many people cannot read, it said "Its OK not to wave", not "Don't wave!" | ||
| Wbrisett |
It is most definitely not a sport bike and presents maintenance issues as the miles pile up. I know several Buell Blast owners that would prove the maintenance "issues" as incorrect. Maybe on the course bikes because they never get out of 2nd gear, but on the street this isn't the case with the proper recommended maintenance. Wayne | ||
| Court |
>>>""With the direction that Buell's going, I'm not sure if I'm a good fit any more."" I understand. The new campaign is "befuddling at best". We have a Vice President who told me in a recent meeting that his wife had just given him the "green light" to buy a motorcycle. I contacted my pals at HD Marketing who sent a box of HD catalogs and a box of the "Book of Buell". I gave him the HD catalog but, after reading the "Book of Buell" I just couldn't do it and stuffed it in the desk. I blame my age and I understand I am not the market they are seeking. But I do miss the "connection". I enjoy my Ulysses and . . .well . . just ride. I hope it works for them and I hope I come to understand it. The new "target" market seems to be the street racer squid wannabe. I'm just gonna keep on riding my Ulysses and S2 and enjoying myself. I've seen a lot of generations of Buell rides come and go . . . eager to see the next. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
The new "target" market seems to be the street racer squid wannabe. Yep. Love them or hate them, they buy motorcycles. They also watch races and make buying decisions based upon the race results. Additionally, they also bang on bikes they don't understand and have never ridden. These are the same people who slam HD for being oil leaking, uncomfortable, pieces of crap without ever having thrown a leg over. The wise, experienced rider will buy the best bike for their needs regardless of marketing campaign. It was a risk. I'm not sure of the dividends, since I'm pretty sure the only people who actually saw the marketing were current Buell owners. I don't believe the marketing campaign has any real impact good or bad on bike sales (or dealerships dropping Buell). | ||
| Bienhoabob |
quote: The marketing campaign is working. Buell is one of only a handful of motorcycle companies that sales aren't in the crapper right now. Now that's funny, maybe they could shutdown for three or four months and become the leader in cycle sales. | ||
| Bikerjim99 |
I agree with Court, that we of "a certain age" seem to be left out of the "BOB" image. You know, it does matter to some how your company advertises. I felt quite foolish after highly recommending the Blast to several friends who wanted to learn to ride. I also like to wave. I enjoy talking to fellow riders in the parking lot. I usually "sit my ass off" as the BOB says. I guess I am not Buell material anymore. I needed to buy another motorcycle this last summer after my 1999 S3 finally became too unreliable to travel anymore. I was just on the edge of purchasing a Ulysses, but the Book of Buell pushed me just a little bit over to look at other bikes. I finally purchased a FJR, which I am very happy with. I hope someday to return to Buell. | ||
| Nvr2old |
"Leaving a brand because of a temporary marketing campaign is like divorcing your wife because you don't like the dress she's wearing." I love this forum, lots of good stuff here and free marriage counseling.  | ||
| Rainman |
I have a 2003 Riders Edge blast that I bought from the dealership where I teach RE courses. In the last 9,000 miles there have been no issues, even riding 80 mph up a Blue Ridge Mountain pass. I loved the fact that Buell design is all over my little bike, from the "Trilogy of Tech" to sporty rake-and-trail . The bike handles better in the city than any other small bike I've tried. I was proud to wear my Buell t-shirt and talk about my little bike -- the only Buell many around here have seen -- and about the bigger bikes. I convinced three people to buy Blasts, one a City X and another a Ss. Now the joke's on me as most folks who ride have seen and heard of the crush. Even Erik hates that POS you're riding, I'm told. I don't wear my Buell t-shirts to keep down the jokes. When they come, I just go "ha-ha" and move on. Yeah, it pi$$ed me off. When the kids are out of college, I'll get a new, bigger bike. Previous to the crush, I planned on a Uly or Lightning Ss. Now all options are open. | ||
| Xbimmer |
I didn't like BOB, reminds me of HD (and others') tough-guy ads designed to convince someone they're somebody they're not, by riding a certain kind of motorcycle. I like ad material like this:  (Message edited by xbimmer on October 07, 2009) | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
I've never been a fan of the Blast. Too cheap looking and looks like it was designed for a dwarf. I remember when they first came out and one of our local HD (non-buell dealer) was forced to carry them. I looked down on the handlebars ( cheap bicycle looking things ) and wondered how they could design such a crappy looking motorcycle and expect folks get interested in Buells with such a bike. Even Erik apparently is embarrassed to the point of cubing it in an ad to finalize its demise. Sure some people are po'd because they own one but if they like the danged thing then why get so upset. It's not like the darned thing cost them a fortune and it's not going to affect the resale value of it because they aren't worth a plug nickel to begin with. Fact is, at least from my experience with two of them in our MSF fleet of bikes, the friction zone is practically nonexistent, and shifting into first sounds like the transmission will self destruct. If you twist the throttle whilst starting it up it will blow something up in the carb area that will then need fixing. If you like them then what do you care what I think. Heck, I think all Japanese Harley clones are a waste of money. Why by something pretending to be a Harley when you should just buy the real McCoy and forgo the embarrassment. | ||
| Thunderbox |
Hey Crusty, that Norge is a nice looking well thought out bike. When you test ride it you may find the handle bars are at a weird angle. There is a replacement bar for them that corrects that problem. The only thing I don't understand about the Norge is, why didn't they put a cruise control on it? I have looked at the Norge many times but have not been able to pull the pin on the Uly. | ||
| Murraebueller |
The fact remains that Buell builds an excellent motorcycle that uses cutting edge engineering and is one of the few products that I have purchased that actually works as advertised. Regardless of the advertising that I do or don't like. As some above have stated, I buy things that meet my needs as a consumer and don't pay a lot of attention to how they advertise. I will continue to support and ride Buell motorcycles as long as I am able to throw a leg over a bike and they make a product that floats my boat and meets my needs.It's also very cool that they're winning races, but that's an entirely other thread. My perspective on the Blast comes from an intimate relationship with the bike on the training range and through the service department. An excellent training bike but some units have been problematic for some customers- more so than the other Buell models. If your works well, that's great- I always thought that one would be a great around town bike. I just think that HD should have made the bike from the beginning since it was pretty much originally designed to be used in the Rider's Edge program. I think that rather than alienating their customers, that Buell's point is to more closely define who they are as a company, for better or worse.They do need, after all, to sell motorcycles and guys my age are only going to be good for a few more new ones at best.If they don't sell enough bikes to be viable, they go away. As far as rules go, mine are just for me- I simply get tired of listening to people who buy motorcycles (any brand) and feel that they have to immediately re-engineer them because they're smarter than the original designers or continually whine about the product. By all means, do what you need to to make the bike work better or more comfortably for how you use it. Just don't complain and expect me to warranty it if you screw it up. If you think you can do a better job of running the company than the current folks, why don't you just step up and buy the company from HD, fire the people you don't like and then run it yourself. If you're really alienated by something any company does, then choose to not deal with them- I stopped taking photos for cigarette manufacturers when I made my living that way because I didn't like what they were doing, even though they paid incredibly well. I'm sure they got over it and I know I did. I deal with the folks at the factory several times a week and there is still plenty of support there for current owners. Things are more complicated than they appear. | ||
| Cyclonedon |
The marketing campaign is working. Buell is one of only a handful of motorcycle companies that sales aren't in the crapper right now. Froggy did you miss the article about Buell going to shut down the factory for a couple of months? If you ask me, that sounds like there sales are also in the crapper or else the dealers wouldn't have their showroom floors loaded with Buells that are being sold at a huge discounts and now with the factory closing, that sure can't be good! I've recently went to several different Buell dealerships and nobody has any 2010 models and aren't planning on getting any until they get rid of some of there overstock they are sitting on now! I doubt if I will be seeing any new Buells until I go the the Chicago IMS next year. |
