| Author | Message | ||
     Xb984r |
Sorry Usmoto,I see it a little different than most on here.I see a person curious about Buell and checking out the race results and seeing Yamaha 600, Suzuki 600 Kawasaki 600, Buell 1125,and them saying to themselves "Why is the Buell a 1125 and getting beat by 600's" Sorry I don't see this race as positive as most here. | ||
| Mainstreamer |
"Sorry Usmoto,I see it a little different than most on here.I see a person curious about Buell and checking out the race results and seeing Yamaha 600, Suzuki 600 Kawasaki 600, Buell 1125,and them saying to themselves "Why is the Buell a 1125 and getting beat by 600's" Sorry I don't see this race as positive as most here." Then they read a little further and realize those "damn ugly" pods fell off. Most folks I know have chuckled at the sight of those things and now they laugh out loud.... Good publicity, me thinks not. Only those who have gotten beyond the eye sore could perhaps find something positive about the event. Yes, that would be 1125r owners. | ||
| Spectrum |
It's funny how those that have criticisms about the looks use a completely unrelated incident to pile on. I respect the fact that there are those who do not like the looks of the bike. To each their own. However I continue to be amazed at how these folks think they are in a majority. Most folks I in counter like the looks of the bike. From my personal experience, less than 20% I've talked to have less than positive things to say about the looks. As for the race, most folks I've talked to were impressed by the Buell showing at Daytona. The only negative comments I've heard were around it being unfair for the Buell's to be in competing in this class and fear as the season progress the 1125R will be beating up on the little 600's. | ||
| Redbuelljunkie |
Most folks I in counter like the looks of the bike. I work in the industry, and my experience is exactly opposite- about 95% of the people I encounter think it's one of the ugliest bikes ever made. Other than this forum, I hardly ever hear a kind word about 1125's other than "yeah, the Rotax makes good power". Given Buell's (mostly undeserved) bad reputation with the motorcycling world, combined with challenged aesthetics and coverage of "parts falling off", I don't think Daytona was more positive than negative. When you factor in the displacement discrepancy, I believe only viewers unfamiliar with motorcycles, Buell, and AMA racing are likely to be open-minded about Buell's success (present company excepted). I wish this were not the case, but unfortunately the 1125's seem to be a little too "different" for the general public to warm up to. I sincerely hope that a solution to this problem is in the works. | ||
| Boltrider |
It will all work out when the Helicon hits the podium. | ||
| Spectrum |
Redbuell again lack of recognition that your or my population samples my not be scientific or accurate. I respect your dislike for the looks of the bike. Just wish you respected that there are more than a few of us who like the looks and voted with our dollars. | ||
| Mainstreamer |
"I wish this were not the case, but unfortunately the 1125's seem to be a little too "different" for the general public to warm up to. I sincerely hope that a solution to this problem is in the works." Well said Red, and does not show any disrespect for those who have overcome the appearance of the pods. From a sales standpoint there is always the question of perceived value. YZF-R6 = $10,190 msrp, $2,309 less then the 1125r. If ya gotta be different, the Triumph Daytona675 at $9,799 msrp is available. | ||
| Redbuelljunkie |
Spectrum- I agree with you completely- different experiences, different reactions. I also understand that the people who like the bike (and have the ability) have purchased them. As I have stated many times, I want to like the 1125's, but for me (and many others) Buell dropped the ball design-wise. I think it would be a stretch, however, to believe Buell has designed a winner... it seems to be it's own worst enemy- and that was a choice, not a defect. (Message edited by redbuelljunkie on March 13, 2009) | ||
| Nivek |
I'm young (22 yr) and hold little life experience probably, sorta... but so for most people i have showed the bike too, loves it. I guess i will have to see what i hear mostly by the end of this season to have a better image of what people around here think of it. It has a supertrapp and sounds great. For myself, it doesn't matter what people tell me because i am straight up addicted to it!!! I have also only been starting to ride it for a week or two now, the weather is finally starting to get better (this morning, riding to work / school it was sunny and 29 *F). (Message edited by nivek on March 13, 2009) | ||
| Court |
>>>but so for most people i have showed the bike too, loves it. Your age demographic will be more likely to see Buell ads in video game and skateboarding magazines as well. The 1125's have been well received for the most part and their performance is drawing attention. The "pods" require a "warm up" period like the Porsche "Whale Tail" or the Speed Yellow color. It's a matter of folks either really like them or really don't. In the world of marketing it's far better to evoke emotion as opposed to indifference. Much of Buell added exposure comes as a result of the folks who vocally don't like them and spread the name around. This began with the flip-up seat in 1990, continued with the S-1 seat in 1996 and at this point Buell has raised the art of evoking passionate responses to an art form. Your comments sound like an echo of pre-production focus groups. | ||
| Xb984r |
"The 1125's have been well received for the most part and their performance is drawing attention" Sorry to disagree Court, to many 1125's are sitting on showroom floors or priced 1000's less than MSRP to make me believe that. | ||
| Court |
Some dealers can sell them, some can't. That was true when I bought my XLCR and my XR-1000. | ||
| Redbuelljunkie |
Your age demographic will be more likely to see Buell ads in video game and skateboarding magazines as well. Nail on the head, Court. I'll never forget in 2007 when a young customer came in the Suzuki shop where I was working(next door to H-D/Buell). He was so excited about the 1125R he'd just seen, and I asked him why... he responded that if he could get some leathers made to make him look like like Batman- it would be "totally sick". This experience reinforced two things for me- products are being marketed to the video game/Transformers generation, and I seem to be getting old. I don't think, however, that the whale-tail argument is as appropriate. Yes, some like them (me) and others don't... but to make a more accurate comparison you would have to mount two, smaller whale-tails on the front fenders of a 911, and then see how many people like it. I'll go out on a limb and say- not too many. I so wish I had the photoshop skills to do a mock-up of that... | ||
| Mainstreamer |
" but so for most people i have showed the bike too, loves it." and.... if they don't like it they're too kind to tell you so. Most folks wouldn't want to hurt the feelings of an owner that's sporting a toy they love.... and you wouldn't do that either. Court, One look at the show room floor and the reduced pricing on many leftover '08's seems to indicate, for the most part, they were not well received but the general buying public. Of course the faithful here will embraced all things buell. | ||
| Court |
Good point. I suppose some of it is age . . . if you GAVE me a Yamaha or Suzuki (my riding partner has both) I'd swap them for a Buell or a Ducati. The Japanese bikes. . . . hyper performance as they are. . . are the 2-wheel equivalent of double knit slacks. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Speed Yellow color. One CR in speed yellow please! | ||
| Carbonbigfoot |
double knit slacks Man. I can see the flipfloptanktop squid crowd turning purple if they heard that! R} | ||
| Helicon |
Rob, don't you have work to be doing?????? | ||
| Nivek |
I actually have a chunk of friends that would love to have a 1125r or maybe cr, the reason why they dont and will buy (if they havnt already) a jap bike is the price. But on the other hand i think some of those people i know are the type that gives motorcyclist a less than favorable name. (I might have seen them pass double lane trafic in break down lanes; test what top speed is, etc). | ||
| Redbuelljunkie |
The Japanese bikes. . . . hyper performance as they are. . . are the 2-wheel equivalent of double knit slacks. Again- nail on the head. I do so enjoy working at a Yamaha dealership while being the proud owner of a Buell and an Aprilia. In fact, on any given day the employee parking section has a mix of Buell, Aprilia, or BMW bikes... employment provides the resources to support one's passions. | ||
| Reepicheep |
How funny would it be to have the geccko in an add in the pits, using a bolt to crack open peanuts, with the team in the background busily trying to get the pod taped back on. It could end with "Oh, I'm sorry, should I have left this on there?"... Not very many people would get it, but those that did, would be rolling on the floor laughing... | ||
| Georgehitch17 |
I am 19 when i first read about this bike i was like why the heck did they make a amazing bike so ugly? even when i went and and saw the bike for the first time i was thinking "man this is goofy looking" that same day i purchased the bike though and i've loved it ever since. I wasnt fond of the looks but it has really grown on me and everyone i talk to at first its no and then they warm up to it. Its almost like its a piece of art work. I also love the fact that many people have no clue what it is. | ||
| Spectrum |
One look at the show room floor and the reduced pricing on many leftover '08's seems to indicate, for the most part, they were not well received. Common miss conception that 1125R's are not selling well or that Buell has missed the mark with the looks because there are left over 08's at reduced prices. Sales have been far from disappointing. The left over 08's are more of a product of the 09 upgrades being preferred by customers which consequently slowed sales on the 08's that were left over in the channel when the 09's appeared. This is common to any brand that has good sales. The manufacture has to keep products in the channel to sell. But when the new year model comes out, this strands a lot of the older year models that were left in the channel. Wait and see what happens to the prices on the old R1's now that the new big bang engine is starting to hit stores. The other thing that seems to be missed here is the 1125R has broke a demographic barrier and thus opened Buell up to a new younger market. In the past Buell's sold mostly to older riders with the younger riders going to the Jap bikes. Prior to the 1125R, I never saw a Jap bike rider at my dealership. Now almost everytime I go in theirs a young kid on a Yamaha or Suzuki demo riding a 1125R. All my Buell riding friends are middle age or older riders, but the two other local 1125R owners I've meet are both in there 20's. | ||
| Fresnobuell |
Can't count how many times absolute strangers--both riders and cagers--have complimented the bike out of the blue. These are totally unsolicited comments by complete strangers. If the general public dislikes the bike so much, I venture to say people would pass without comment. From my personal experience with the 1125r, the general public DOES like the looks of this bike. | ||
| Mainstreamer |
"From my personal experience with the 1125r, the general public DOES like the looks of this bike." I always do my best to find something nice to say about another's pride and joy, even though it might not be my cup of tea. No one wants to hear they married an ugly woman... would you??  | ||
| Crackhead |
"How funny would it be to have the geccko in an add in the pits, using a bolt to crack open peanuts, with the team in the background busily trying to get the pod taped back on. It could end with "Oh, I'm sorry, should I have left this on there?"... Not very many people would get it, but those that did, would be rolling on the floor laughing..." Reepicheep that is an awesome idea! You think having the 08 1125r left on the floor is bad, look at the 07 250 ninjas. When the 08s came out no one wanted the 1980's looking 2007 ninjas. | ||
| Mainstreamer |
""How funny would it be to have the geccko in an add in the pits, using a bolt to crack open peanuts, with the team in the background busily trying to get the pod taped back on. It could end with "Oh, I'm sorry, should I have left this on there?" Nice, just like that missing dollar bill, Dumb Geccko! | ||
| Bikejunky |
The funny thing is that the look of the 25R seems to get all the attention every time I roll up with my buddies on their jap bikes. In fact they rarely get any comments other than "oh thats a gixxer" or "oh, My brother has an r6" while the 25R gets "dude what kind of bike is that?" or "damn that things sounds Mean", or "Dude check out that front brake" The truth is, beauty is in the eye of the beer holder, and that really is all that matters... | ||
| Fresnobuell |
I always do my best to find something nice to say about another's pride and joy, even though it might not be my cup of tea. No one wants to hear they married an ugly woman... would you?? If you will READ what I posted, I have never solicited a comment from anyone about my bike. The POINT is that I have received many, many UNSOLICITED comments from RANDOM people, both riders and otherwise. I get that people are generally nice to your face. However, when they approach you and compliment the bike, it's likely they do like the bike. If you owned one, you might have a clue. | ||
| Fresnobuell |
While my 25r is down with cluster problems, I am riding a generic Honda 600cc. The Buell has SO much more character it's unreal. I can't wait to get it back up and running. |
