| Author | Message | ||
     Rocketman |
As daft as it might sound, you have to apply common sense to the rule book. It matters not what bike is on the grid against what other bike, it's up to everyone involved to make ANY race series fair. This I beleive is the basis of any race organisation. Whatever politics come in to play, for whatever business reason that involves any manufacturer, at the end of the race day we all as spectators or competitors alike, form opinions as to what we saw which leads us to any number of conclusions, but would we be interested in a race series that was obviously "fixed" so as one manufacturer had the upper hand ? To put it another way, how do we compare multi-cylinder, multi-valve o.h.c smaller bore screamers against large capacity under achiving dinosaurs ? Answer : Like minded souls knock their heads together to make 2 wheeled entertainment. Now can we quit the conspiracy theories and get back to Buell building a world beater, please ? Rocket in England ps, there are no VR 1000's in Poland  | ||
| Blake |
Jose: You're almost as opinionated as some others on this board  . Don't look now, but there are two black sedans pulling up accross the street from your house. I thought Ducati simply did not want to campaign their 748 in AMA. You are saying they were denied? So let's review in AMA SBK, Duc and all the Nip bikes are very competitive, so... the AMA is protecting who from Aprilia? Sorry, I just don't see the logic suggesting that the AMA is playing favorites, especially wrt HD. Two weeks and counting... | ||
| José_Quiñones |
I thought Ducati simply did not want to campaign their 748 in AMA. What Ducatis race against Buells in PRO THUNDER, then? Ok, enough of this. _________________________________________________ Back to the new model: Why doesn't Buell take a page out of Aprilia's book and come up with something like this: BUELL LURKER, I MADE THIS UP! Los Angeles, CA (July 15, 2001) - Recognizing that customers tend to stay away from first year production models, BUELL is developing a new program to involve these first year "pioneers" in the refinement and futher development of the new XXXX model, introduced to the press today. The Buell Product Development - Field Pioneer Division is a special program that will allow an unprecedented level of interaction between the customer and the BUELL Motorcycle Company. Customers of the new XXXX will get the following benefits, included in the price of the bike: * Free roadside assistance for the first TWO years * A special 888 BUELL Customer Assitance number only for owners of the XXXX, so they can share their thoughts or ideas when they are not on the bike. Also, a part of the NEW AND IMPROVED BUELL.COM will have an exclusive area for XXXX owners to chat, share ideas, post photos, and interact with BUELL PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT ENGINEERS, and ERIK BUELL himself on special ocasions. * The bikes will come with free NEXTEL direct connect phones to be able to comunicate with the product development engineers at all times. The new and improved DDFI diagnostic software will allow the product development engineers to view real-time data from each bike via the NEXTEL phone connection, and change the fuel injection mapping ON THE FLY. This will be done while the bike is on a DYNO, not on the road. * Built in GPS systems so the factory knows where to pick you up in the event of a malfunction. * A digital camera to document problems or customer ideas. * Free oil changes/maintenace for the first year, with a video conferencing link so that BUELL can view how the work is going and take note of dealer practices and procedures. "With this program, we truly are making Buell and the Customer one," Erik Buell said during his opening statement while introducing the new XXXX. "We want the customer's experience with the new XXXX to be seamless and fun, and this program will give them the piece of mind that will let them have fun!" As a subsidiary of Harley-Davidson Inc., the Buell Motorcycle Company produces motorcycles for the sport/performance and sport-touring markets. Buell motorcycle sales, marketing, communications and distribution are handled at Harley-Davidson's worldwide headquarters in Milwaukee, Wis. Its engineering and manufacturing facilities are located in East Troy, Wis., which is 35 miles southwest of Milwaukee. | ||
| Rocketman |
Jeez Jose, you just described the MUNCH MAMMOT Not bad for $80.000 Rocket in England | ||
| Court |
Jose': Pardon my laughter, it's not directed at you. Many, ok MOST, of those things have been suggested in the past. Someday I MUST show the video I have to some of you. In cleaning out some stuff the other day, I wandered upon a couple MS PowerPoint presentations I prepared and sent to Mike Hilman, President of Buell Distribution, in 1995. The end result was a 85 minute telephone call on Christmas Eve in which they opined they had "grown weary of correspondence from a lunatic (the precise word) in Topeka". I agree with you. In the words of our UK Correspondent, Sir Rocket, Buell is tetering on the edge. I'll be honest. I am a huge Buell fan, having owned as many as 6 at one time. But, I'll tell you what, glitz... oil in the swingarm, fuel in the frame... all the goodies in the world won't overcome the reality of the last couple years of compromise. I need SOMETHING more than a shiny brochure and the assurance of a Harley dealer telling me "don't worry, they've got it right this time". Your idea (and for the benefit of those who are unaware, this is pretty much what Aprilia does) is as gifted now as it was in 1995. Court | ||
| José_Quiñones |
That's the biggest problem. What should be BUELL's greatest strength, sharing HD's worldwide dealer network, is actually it's greatest weakness. I have literally been told "don't bring this bike here, we don't work on those things." This must change, NOW, or we'll be riding around in "collectible" HD's (like the XR1000) in five years I'm going riding, doing the last three Dealers of the Mid-Atlantic BUELL DEALER CRAWL, Gettysburg, PA, Frederick, MD and the new BUELL dealer in Dumfries, VA. | ||
| Airborne |
Quote: That's the biggest problem. What should be BUELL's greatest strength, sharing HD's worldwide dealer network, is actually it's greatest weakness. I can second that motion. I broke down for the 6th and last time just 5 blocks from a H-D dealer and walked to the shop to see about getting it fixed. I was basicily told to leave and don't come back. The front desk person told me "We don't deal with those bikes and never will unless H-D shoves them down our throat". I never made it past the guard dog to see the parts guy or service manager. The end result is I sold the bike last week to a rich guy that just wanted the motor off the frame and put it in a Sportster. Back to riding old faithful my 20 year old Yamaha XJ 750. Not as much fun as the X1 but for a tweenty year old bike that had been wrecked and rebuilt twice it never went to the shop for maintiance problems. Don't get me wrong here I still like Buell for the performance and handling and the replacement parts are cheaper to buy than Jap bikes are but the service and relibilty sucks. I'm holding out for this new model and then I'll carefully scrutinize it before buying it. | ||
| Rocketman |
I've said it before and I'll say it again............ Buell as a company should do what TVR do as a company. I own both and recognise the similarities in both products, the good and the not so good, though I might have a hard time explaining it to some of you, but Buell should go forward totally independant of the Mother Co except for the paperwork. I've never beleived that Erik Buell , Honda step-thru dream. A realist, and an extrovert one at that, would streamline his product to suit a smaller more dedicated market, like TVR do. Again, put simply, if you build a bike like a Buell, and it's your intention to sell it to a wide audience, you're gonna get owners who are not satisfied because they bought it for what they thought were the right reasons, like reliability, and touring the world, because the hype implied it could. Truth is, I see Buell as a much more focused piece of kit that requires a certain breed of owner to understand it before it (your Buell) achives what you would consider to be reliable and capable of touring the world. TVR will sell one of their sportcars to anyone, but anyone who buys a TVR pretty much understands what they are buying first. There are only two types of TVR buyers, the die hard sportscar enthusiast who is armed to the teeth with the neccessary knowledge, and the yuppie who only wants one for the summer before he trades for a 2.9 Boxer for winter. Smaller production run bikes, like Buell's, are more difficult. A bikes physical size, and price, determines that lots of purchasers see bikes as a long term relationship so they want and expect higher rewards from them. If you f u c k up this plan by producing a product that proves troublesome, such might be considered the case with Buell, you can only expect to keep customers who are dedicated fans of the marque. All the others who saw the marque through rose tinted spectacles, and wanted to share in the dream, will quickly fade away. When they do, you can be sure, like Cecil, they won't go quietly. TVR have succeeded in producing near on 200mph supercars for less than fifty thousand pounds, and whilst they have had their fare share of reliabilty and quality issues they are forging ahead a fantastic reputation as a world beating sportscar manufacturer because they've given the majority of customers what they wanted. They stuck at it until the product was right. What makes this possible is TVR's ability to build what it needs to survive. No more and no less, just enough. Profit without greed and the sense to regenerate the profit back in to the business rather than fill a bunch of stock investors slimey paws. Rocket in England who should have a job at Buell HQ (I'd teach 'em a thing or two) | ||
| Court |
You guys spent any time on the new Aprilia website? Geeesh...owner's profile....owners's photos of "my bike"....2,500 word stories by new owners...they are BEGGING owners to "partner" with the company and talk among each other. Go on..keep reading...lists of upcoming track days, events, how to reach R&D folks with ideas & concerns. What I think we have HERE (www.buell.com)is a failure to communicate. I sometimes get the feeling that somebody (not sure about the black sedans Jose') would prefer that a Buell owner in Arizona NOT know about it when a throttle sticks in Holland. The day (I refer you, once again, to Patricia Seybold's "The Customer Revolution") of keeping the customer in the dark started fading with the invention of the P-N-P transistor. It is now as faded as the ignition advance on a '29 Model A. Harley-Davidson....KNOCK FRICKIN'KNOCK....You have backed yourself into a corner with Buell. Use your corporate mite to do good. Buell, Erik and the design, is a gift of genius that the world clamors for. But....another 17 month wait for a shock that implodes and the concimmitant lies ( I use the word LIES rather than deception or misinformation because in my PERSONAL opinion there was intentional misrepresentation of material facts) will see the faithful dealing in Lira, Euros and such. We WANT to buy Buells. We WANT to be PART of Buell. When you wouldn't get off your dead asses and start a group, we did it. Wake up and inventory the strengths you have while the cards can still be played. Stop firing GIFTED people for political reasons. I truly hope the "secret Buell" is what it's cracked up to be. Call me an "optimistic skeptic". Court | ||
| Grizzlyb |
Court, Ears need a brain to LISTEN. I never got the impression there was the intention of thinking out in the direction your pointing. Call me a "realistic fanatic" Grizz | ||
| Grizzlyb |
Red flag for this one? | ||
| Court |
That would be "red star". I saved the e-mail from when Buell was considering "tagging" owners who said less than complimentary things on the internet. Trust me....this is one case in which they REALLY screwed with the wrong person. You're safe. Court | ||
| José_Quiñones |
I not only have a RED STAR, I'm the DCBRAG Treasurer, soon to be grand poobah. Black Sedans can't find me if I'm always out RIDING MY BUELL. Well, at least until it breaks down again....... Which it hasn't in the last 4000 miles, praise the LORD! I think that BLESSING of the Bikes I went to in May really worked! 6 out of 7 dealers down for the DEALER CRAWL, one more to go. | ||
| Choptop |
Ahhh, Court-san, you are now singing the song that eeeeek and I have been singing for some time. You are on the road to the TRUTH. Seriously though, Doesnt the Aprilia site ROCK?!?! Ducati!?!?! they rock. Yes, it is only a website, and NO the website isnt the company. But you know what it does? It makes the Brand-X motorcycle owner feel like they are a part of something. Whether they REALLY are part of hte company or not, eh? Who knows. But the owners feel that way. And that makes for happy owners. Having said that. Buell does a pretty good job with this in other areas. Its still a small enough company that every now and again you get a "personal" response form someone at the factory. Whether its a call about some parts, or an email about some problem you have, or an anon. topsecret message about something. Thats cool. I like that, it makes me feel like I'm part of something. I've owned my Buell for less than a year, and in that time I've met some of the most dedicated people in the motorcycling world, owners, riders, and Company people. If HomeComing werent at the wrong time, I'd most likely meet The Man himself too. Not bad, not bad at all. I could even live with Buell not doing this on their website. That take alot of effort, trust me, I know. But how about having your local dealer provide some of the same services? A place to hang out and talk sport bikes. Let you know about up coming Track Days, be a funnel to send ideas to R&D, ....hmmmmm, let me think....is there a Buell dealership out there that DOES that now?...hmmm.... MODESTO BUELLLLLLLLLLL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm lucky, I live nearby. Dont want this to turn into ANOTHER Modesto Buell Rocks thread (can you have too many of them, really :-). But you get the picture. A good portion of my positive Buell experience comes from my dealer. oh, and Court, if you work the spark advance on a 29 Model A just right, you get the most wonderful backfire... BOOOOOOOM !!! | ||
| Blake |
Whew! Good heated discussion. Sure would be nice if the factory could chime in and let us know what they think of all this enthusiastic discussion. Court: Who would be the person to interview to get the real story and the real attitude governing the Buell recovery scenario? Any chance a hack BBS moderator would have a chance, on the record, to run twenty questions by that esteemed person? José: You know as well as I that the Pro-Thunder bikes are NOT held to anywhere near the same restrictions/requirements as the SBK and supersport machines. Are you thinking of running for congress or what? |
