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Buell Forum » Storm Fronts: Buell Groups, Clubs, & Events » 150 NEBO (New England Bike Owners) » NEBO Archives 001 » Archive through March 22, 2007

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Author Message   Damnut Posted on Friday, March 16, 2007 - 02:48 pm:        Sure....... be there between 5:30-6:00   Damnut Posted on Friday, March 16, 2007 - 02:54 pm:        Due to the present weather conditions, ADE will close at 3 o'clock WOOHOO I'm outta here!!!!!! Gregg call me on my cell.   Eboos Posted on Friday, March 16, 2007 - 03:33 pm:        Where is Wendell's? If I can get out of here, I'll try to make it there.   Firebolteric_ma Posted on Sunday, March 18, 2007 - 09:02 am:        Wazzz Uppppp!!!!!!   Firebolteric_ma Posted on Sunday, March 18, 2007 - 09:37 am:        I am heading out for some breakfast if anyone is interested. I will check back in a few before taking off if any of ya'z want to meet up.   Firebolteric_ma Posted on Sunday, March 18, 2007 - 09:50 am:        later!   Glitch Posted on Sunday, March 18, 2007 - 10:36 am:        Excuse me for butting in...But... I feel your pain with regards to Buell support at a Harley dealership. Stone Mountain has come a very long way since I bought my bike back in 03. They had an S3T a Firebolt, and a Lightning on the floor, nothing else. They had no interest (seemingly) in selling me the Lightning. Strange, they had a sale in the bag, I was going to buy the bike regardless, but they showed no interest what so ever until I had cash in hand. This was very strange to me because the salesman was none other than World Champion Buell rider Scott "Z-Man" Zampach. After I bought the bike I wanted a 12 airbox, trying to get that was like pulling teeth. I finally got one from Daves. I hit the 1000 miles and took it in for the service, and everyone in the service department looked at me as if I was speaking Japanese. I met a fellow Bueller that was having the same issues with SMHD, and we decided to ask them to start a BRAG club. We figured if they had a BRAG club they'd have to serve us better. Again, no interest what so ever. I didn't go back until I heard they had fired the service manager, and that the new one was more in tuned with service. It was better, but not by much. Well, that was a few years ago. Then I hear the General Manager was fired along with a few of his staff. In comes Cameron Ayers (Clown), and Pete Anziano. Cameron finds out that we're not happy and have been ordering parts from Daves he's insulted, and wants to make amends. Pete was a real sport bike rider, tire shredder, didn't even own a Harley, but loved the XB, and bought an XB12S. Once we found out about Pete we started trying for the BRAG club again. Things start turning around. Cameron finds out that Buellers aren't like HD riders, and we love to ride and have fun, plus he's attracted to the hooligan nature of Buellers. Things start getting even better. We had seven Buellers in our BRAG club, and Cameron decides to try something he calls March Badness. The seven of us break a 10 year demo record the first day, and almost double it the following day. March Badness is born. Stone Mountain takes us seriously. We still have a few quirks here and there, and the labor costs are way out there IMHO, but there is support. This did not happen over night. It took a lot of doing on Cameron's part, and it took us to support them as well. Yes it seems backwards for us to have to buy from them before they stock anything, one would think if they have it we'll buy it, but the Buell world is a bit different, mainly because we're a niche market. We are supported now. Cameron has gone out of his way to help us. Pete did everything he could while he was there. Those two turned SMHD into SMHD&Buell. If you guys show that you are serious about supporting your dealership, they will support you, they should at least. It takes a GM that gets it, and someone else on his team to come up with ways to get more interest, it ain't easy, and sometimes it looks as though you're going nowhere. Right now Stone Mountain has Cameron and Phil (Smokescreen) for Buell support, the service guys have a couple of racers that get it as well. None of this would have happened if we hadn't "insisted" on it. If Cameron had done all that work and we didn't come back to buy things (a dealership is after money, it's a cold hard truth) he couldn't justify supporting us. Now that March Badness is a tradition, and Cameron and Phil have reputations, their Buell business is hard to beat, again, it didn't happen over night, but it did happen. We're thankful for it. If y'all want your dealership to support you the way ours does you do have to support them in some kind of way. Get to know the GM, make sure he gets it. Get to know all the employees that get it. Get them to have events, and y'all help them make them a success. If they show no interest at all (some dealerships just don't want to get it, and don't know what they're missing) move on to the next one until you find that spark of interest. Stone Mountain has Buellers coming from as far away as Alabama, and does mail order all over the states now. They get it, and they're glad they put forth the effort. There's still some things that need to be addressed, but nothing no one is perfect. I'm really sorry this got so long. I just feel for Eboos. He's all alone in his dealership trying to change things, it ain't an easy thing to do. HD makes very slow changes, and they seem to be against it. But don't give up Eboos, you can do it, with help. Y'all give him a hand, he's on an uphill battle.   Signguyxb12 Posted on Sunday, March 18, 2007 - 12:54 pm:        good points glitch. The problem with this dealership is that they don't get it... and i can agree with some of thier mentality ... If i have a product that yields me a certain amount of profit ..why would i make an effort to deal with a low profit margin like buell. what they don't get: Being in business for a while i have learned to sell/stock some items that have low profit margins because i want to service my customers and make them happy. It just good business. believe me the major profit for dealerships is not buell or even the big twins...it's the gift shop then comes the accessories and then it's the service department ( maybe not in that exact order but it's close .. BUT.... when i pay premium for a product i expect a reasonable return for my investment... i have received that from Sheldon's ..beyond that ... a big fat zero why they don't: What has happened with harley dealers is that they don't need to work hard to sell here product. They aren't selling a product they are selling a lifestyle...it doesn't really fit in the hooligan mold...hooligan is more of the old-school biker mentality... Ride!!!! History of NEBO and Sheldon's: Back in 04' when i started NEBO Sheldon's broke my heart. Myself and Jay Hawley, Nate Eric, and the rest of the original crew wanted to get a brag club started... it was useless . What showed me was when i wanted the name of ALL OF THEIR buell sales to mention the club so they could make more money!!!they refused and they refused to make NEBO an official Brag club .. btw they were already sending them news letters... they were scared...they even told me that off the record...of what, they didn't even know. Conclusion: So now i treat Sheldon's like a mistress. I like what they offer but i will not invest any effort in the relationship and she is there when i need her.... i like the people that work there and what they offer but i don't expect much ... Count your blessings: 1. just think if Sheldon's had their hands in NEBO.. it wouldn't be like it is now 2. The lack of support has made the group stronger.. "It's not about the bikes it's about the people. Buell people a different them any other group of motorcycle enthusiasts. They care about each other. " Jay Hawley (Message edited by signguyxb12 on March 18, 2007)   Signguyxb12 Posted on Sunday, March 18, 2007 - 12:59 pm:        before i forget: i sound like a windbag.. all the credit goes to Eric for this club you rock   Damnut Posted on Sunday, March 18, 2007 - 02:53 pm:        OK here's the deal....... I have done business with both Appleton and Stone Mountain. When I called and placed orders from them they sounded more than happy to help with my order. I have also done business with Precision and Sheldons. They don't act like they enjoy my business. It's just a job to them. ROBOTS!!! This reminds me of a time.................. I got into a pretty serious crash on my bike couple of years ago. I bought just about all of my replacement parts through Precision. One day I go in there with one of my buddies that owns a Fatboy. I place an order for ~$1000. After I'm done my buddy asks for a PRICE for V&H short shots. Person behind the counter asks if we ride together, we say yes. Then she asks me "How can you ride that bike??? Doesn't your back hurt? That can't be comfortable!" I almost canceled my order right there and would have if I knew about Appleton/SM back then. They just don't GET IT!!! I now compare my local dealerships to the way I get treated by Appleton/SM. They're not even close. I can't really speak for Sheldons as I've only had one transaction with them but Precision really needs to wake up. I don't think it's Richie the owner so much but the people working for him.   Eboos Posted on Sunday, March 18, 2007 - 07:12 pm:        Well, hopefully everyone in the parts and service departments will start getting excited about Buell when they enter the dirt market. That is what everyone here rides. Until then, I will keep pushing.   Firebolteric_ma Posted on Sunday, March 18, 2007 - 07:45 pm:        Man I can't wait to get out and ride again!! all the credit goes to Eric for this club Thanks Mike!...But it is ALL of us as a GROUP that makes NEBO what it is today. If not for you pulling me over my friend, I would have never met you, nor all the cool guys I have met in the last few years. Thanks goes out to all the NEBO crew! Mike I believe you started this club before you left for IRAQ....I just helped keep it going while you were protecting our FREEDOM...THANKS!!!!! Thanks to Glitch for posting over in NEBO.... Erik..Keep pluggin away, one day it may change for the better. Once THEY FIGURE IT OUT, things will just happen naturally.   Eboos Posted on Monday, March 19, 2007 - 02:36 pm:        Damnut, incase you didn't get the phone message... Your dampener is here.   Damnut Posted on Monday, March 19, 2007 - 03:10 pm:        I'll be there after work. What time are you there till? I should be rolling in between 6-7.   Eboos Posted on Monday, March 19, 2007 - 04:16 pm:        I will be here until 9 (closing). I will be at lunch from 5-6.   Damnut Posted on Tuesday, March 20, 2007 - 03:59 pm:        WE MOVED!!!!!!!!!!!   Firebolteric_ma Posted on Tuesday, March 20, 2007 - 08:58 pm:        yea i had to actually look to see where we went... I'zz get cuntfused easy whats going on for this weekend? we meeting up or what?   Firebolteric_ma Posted on Tuesday, March 20, 2007 - 09:01 pm:        hey check out up top...new sub threads!!!! KEWL!   Ducxl Posted on Wednesday, March 21, 2007 - 06:06 am:        Bad news.....The Ducati has lost a base gasket.I knew it last year,it was a little weepy.But it has failed.Ducrappy....The whole top end must come apart now.   Firebolteric_ma Posted on Wednesday, March 21, 2007 - 08:10 am:        And you didn't change it out already? Now you get to tear that one down to nothing and rebuild it OR the 1098 would be a GREAT addition to the garage...   Ducxl Posted on Wednesday, March 21, 2007 - 11:28 am:        So,when is the meeting to finalise travel plans/expenses?   Firebolteric_ma Posted on Wednesday, March 21, 2007 - 11:55 am:        i guess we should wait for jim to be there. sunday would be a good day for it. Jim when are you planning on being back home? Maybe change breakfest to a lunch/dinner meeting?   Damnut Posted on Wednesday, March 21, 2007 - 12:04 pm:        Sure that sounds good. I'm leaving Friday night and should be back about noon on Sunday. That is if Liz doesn't want to go skiing on Sunday as well. If that happens I won't be back till mid-late afternoon. Depends on her mostly. She just started skiing and may want to go out again on Sunday. If so we'll probably only go out for a half day skiing on that Sunday cause she works nights and will have to go to work on Sunday night. She will need to be home kinda early to take a nap before work. I'll give one of yous guys a call on Sunday to let you know what is going on. I probably give Livnlo a call and meet up with him on my way up Friday night to discuss his plans for the trip.   Firebolteric_ma Posted on Wednesday, March 21, 2007 - 12:11 pm:        any of ya got a couple of them bolts for the rear brake rotor?. i couldn't find my good torx bit yesterday when changing the rotor and used my no name one....bad mistake. trashed the first one i tried, and if that ain't enough i went for another. after that i went and found my good one and all was good...like i needed a lesson on this, i knew it was going to do that...lol but now i need 2 bolts, and they are kinda unique and may need to get them at the..... D-D-D-Dealership....there i said it!   Damnut Posted on Wednesday, March 21, 2007 - 12:17 pm:        Yep your f*cked. those are specialty bolts. Dealer item only.   Ducxl Posted on Wednesday, March 21, 2007 - 12:26 pm:        i got a few....the t45 ones.. Whatever happens,we need a meeting to finalise plans...preferably before next tuesday.   Firebolteric_ma Posted on Wednesday, March 21, 2007 - 12:54 pm:        do we need a trailer? ducxl..T-40's i need. Them T-45's are for the rear sprocket. Going to paint the new headers right now and rotate the motor so i can switch them out. get the exhaust back on. ********Any youz know if you can just "T" into the fuel system or do you need to make "hard" connections when tapping in to the fuel line? This is for the Nitrous. It is a high pressure system...50 psi. I believe. So i am not sure what to do here. May be time for a new Thread.   Damnut Posted on Wednesday, March 21, 2007 - 01:43 pm:        Here's a post on the bolts http://www.badweatherbikers.com/cgibin/discus/show .cgi?tpc=32777&post=851492#POST851492   Ducxl Posted on Thursday, March 22, 2007 - 08:04 am:        do we need a trailer? YES! We need the most robust trailer we can find.Chances are,it'd be MY bikes' riding on it.Please....let's get a robust trailer.....   Damnut Posted on Thursday, March 22, 2007 - 12:32 pm:        No worries mates, I gots ya covered!!! I got the Ford last night and secured me a 6X8 trailer as well. I'm going to check out the trailer tonight and will take pictures to see if it meets the princess' requirements. LOL