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Buellish
| | Posted on Thursday, October 15, 2009 - 01:58 pm: | 
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"Shocked, stunned and even mystified-
And downright PISSED!"
+1000
I feel like I've lost a family member! |
Fishgutz
| | Posted on Thursday, October 15, 2009 - 02:06 pm: |
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What Happened?
The 2010's were brought out with much fanfare.
I hope that within a month that announcement is rescinded.
Does this mean HD will also shut down MV Agusto? Or did they shut down Buell to try to shift business toward MV Agusto? |
Riggd
| | Posted on Thursday, October 15, 2009 - 02:39 pm: |
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They're selling MV. |
Seeinstars
| | Posted on Thursday, October 15, 2009 - 02:43 pm: |
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from looking at this site, it says mv agusta got the boot too.
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/harley-posts-84-p rofit-drop-shuts-down-buell-2009-10-15 |
Seeinstars
| | Posted on Thursday, October 15, 2009 - 02:47 pm: |
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i take that back, looks like mv will be up for sale.
http://roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=3 8444 |
Fishgutz
| | Posted on Thursday, October 15, 2009 - 04:31 pm: |
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Why didn't they offer Buell for sale to investors rather than killing it? HD never really allowed much marketing effort for Buell.
You don't see the innovation and uniqueness coming out of the group think Japanese companies. They all look the same. Take the badge off and you can't tell who made it.
Now I will have no choice when my knees get too old for my Buell but to buy a Fat Bob. But if I still feel betrayed then I might have to go for a Victory. |
Fishgutz
| | Posted on Friday, October 16, 2009 - 11:14 am: |
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I'm still praying for an investor group to come in and save Buell. It is just too good to go out this way. |
Mikethebike72
| | Posted on Friday, October 16, 2009 - 12:22 pm: |
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FYI. The incentives are allowing us to drop the price of new Buells by several thousand dollars each. I have no details, but a call to our sales force could get them for you. I would ask for Rodney since Jordan is down in Daytona. |
Rubberdown
| | Posted on Friday, October 16, 2009 - 12:40 pm: |
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Hi all, weird times. After racing at VIR I decided I had too much $$$ tied up in the 1125 race bike. I sold it at a profit last Saturday.
Now this mess hits the fan. Garage looks a little empty without a Buell in it. Might stop by this weekend MTB ... ya'll cooking something?
On the bright side ....
Congratulations Kristie and Carlos!!!... and many many more! |
Mikethebike72
| | Posted on Friday, October 16, 2009 - 01:23 pm: |
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Nothing special going on, but the hotdog truck should be here. Hit me up if you do stop by. |
Rubberdown
| | Posted on Friday, October 16, 2009 - 01:51 pm: |
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You buying the dogs?  |
Mikethebike72
| | Posted on Friday, October 16, 2009 - 01:57 pm: |
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Sure, if you buy me a bike to match yours. |
Rubberdown
| | Posted on Friday, October 16, 2009 - 02:34 pm: |
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Which one .... |
Mikethebike72
| | Posted on Friday, October 16, 2009 - 03:04 pm: |
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If you buy a 1125r, you buy me one.
If you buy a 1125cr, you buy me one.
If you buy a XB12XT, you buy me one.
You get the picture. LOL. |
Rubberdown
| | Posted on Friday, October 16, 2009 - 03:24 pm: |
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Thanks. I'm a little SLOW.
I's like another 'bolt ....
but you already have one!
(Message edited by rubberdown on October 16, 2009) |
Oldog
| | Posted on Friday, October 16, 2009 - 03:24 pm: |
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Mike some dealers say that they are not getting incentives what gives? |
Fishgutz
| | Posted on Friday, October 16, 2009 - 04:49 pm: |
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Can I get a retroactive incentive since I just bought mine in April?
I might have to liquidate part on an IRA to get an XB12X or 1125CR. X would be more practical. Of course, that might be a sure fire way to make sure I sleep on the couch for a long time since my next vehicle purchase has to be a new Jeep for my wife. |
Mikethebike72
| | Posted on Friday, October 16, 2009 - 06:01 pm: |
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Mike, I could handle 2. That way they wouldn't get so dirty, just swap them out.
Oldog, I am not sure. I could hazard a guess, but I don't like to talk bad about other dealers.
Fishgutz, better to ask forgiveness than permission. But once again, that mindset is probably why I am still single. |
Fishgutz
| | Posted on Saturday, October 17, 2009 - 08:15 pm: |
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Greensboro HD has gotten some info. More to come Monday. Incentives and rebates. No go on getting a retro active incentive. |
Fishgutz
| | Posted on Saturday, October 17, 2009 - 09:46 pm: |
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Saw an XB12R at HD Greensboro that a Vance and Hines pipe. Nice tone. V&H does not list any Buell exhausts on their website. Anyone here ever heard of V&H making an XB exhaust? They used to make one for the Blast and the S&M#. |
1313
| | Posted on Saturday, October 17, 2009 - 10:19 pm: |
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So I took a Buell discontinuation depression alleviation ride (say that 5 times fast...) today and saw some interesting things.
First stop Shelton's in Goldsboro. The normal newest Shelton's greeter/salesman wasn't at the door when I came in so I was able to check out the significantly reduced (with these reduced prices right on the tags) Buell's still right as you walk into the dealership. Interestingly, the XB's (with the H-D produced powertrains) have higher prices than the 1125's. I check out the pathetic selection of Buell 'stuff' which hasn't changed since Buell came out with the Uly bags and then head back to the bikes. After the normal newest greeter/salesman comes back to his normal post he sees me and asks me how I'm doing. Since I can't fathom a response, he say's "I guess you've heard?". He begins saying stuff like "I hope it's not long" and "Maybe they'll be back up and running soon". Apparently he doesn't realize that nearly 200 of the finest and dedicated individuals are loosing their jobs over this. Since it would be just another fight that a Buell fan could never win in a H-D dealership I shrug, leave Shelton's and go have lunch before my next visit.
My next stop was at Ray Price. I walk in the dealership and make a beeline to the Buell's. A few bikes already have SOLD tags on them, like the white and blue 1125R at the beginning of the Buell section. Some new shirts are on the racks and I noticed some new accessories/trinkets that I wanted to get before they are no longer available. Just then I'm surrounded by 2 Ray Price employees who are Buell supporters. Friendly's, I call them. And good friends they are! Not that it's really amazing, but we were able to hold a conversation just like in days past. One of these friendly's tells me what the price is for a certain bike and I'm a little shocked. I exclaimed my disbelief by repeating the figure. It definitely got the gears turning. But with good pricing and Buell friendly's, how can you go wrong? After spending significantly more time at this stop than my first stop it's time to pay for the Buell 'stuff' that I collected during my time their and head for home in an attempt to beat the cold. Side note - I guess I wouldn't have had the chills so bad if I had turned my heat on last night rather than this morning.
I head towards home and as soon as I get 'out in the sticks' just before getting on 70 my low fuel light comes on. Perfect timing! No gas stations (or much else for that matter) for miles. Being a stickler for BP gas (Amoco Ultimate) I pass a 'lesser' gas station with the low fuel light on for over 20 miles. Up around the bend, just outside of Smithfield, appears a BP gas station. As I pull in the station I notice an interesting 2-wheeled contraption at one of the pumps. I pull over by it and pull up to the pump behind it. Before I can get off the bike the rider of said contraption comes over to check out my bike. Before I even fuel my bike I have to get some pictures of his wonderful 'scooter' which he said he wanted to make it "like an old H-D".
Using an 1985 or so 3 wheeler 4-stroke engine for power this guy (John Revell, he gave me a couple of his business cards...) built the rest of the machine as you see it above. The wheels are 28" and the Michelin tires were sourced from a bicycle shop in Raleigh. The tank, made to look like an old H-D, was actually made from semi truck exhaust pipe tubing. I don't ever recall seeing a motorcycle, scooter or any other 2-wheeled contraption being pull-started before being ridden away. Well now I have. We spent a good 10 minutes talking about the contraption and bikes in general with other people coming up and asking him about his machine. It blew my time schedule, which I never really have on weekends, but it was oh so worth it. He said he typically rides it at around 22 mph, however he says it will do 35 mph. And if I hadn't been stubborn about using BP gas, I never would have seen this wonderful contraption.
If there's a message or more than one in all this blabbering, I sure as heck don't know what it is. It is just an account of how I spent my day, and some of the interesting things I experienced. If however, you do get any message(s) out of what I've typed above please share them with the author.
I hope the posting of pictures of Honda engines is just a phase...
1313 |
Rubberdown
| | Posted on Sunday, October 18, 2009 - 07:33 am: |
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Cool 1313, very cool! I like the squeeze and pray brake.  .
I too went by RP HD yesterday. It was nice to see MikeTheBike.
I awoke this morning thinking of the folks at Buell. .... said a prayer. |
Fishgutz
| | Posted on Sunday, October 18, 2009 - 08:59 am: |
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Great pix of the Custom bike. The guy should enter it at Myrtle Beach.
I stopped by HD Greensboro yesterday so the service dept could determine what parts they needed for the recall service. Talked to the sales peeps. Rumor mill is working over time. Some heard that the story may not yet be over. I hope the rumors turn out to be true.
I picked a neck warmer. My Buell mesh jacket with the liner was warm enough yesterday but as fat as my neck is, it still got chilly.
Also decided that the next helmet I buy will not be a modular. Not much room to spare between the jaw and helmet. The neck warmer made it a bit too snug. |
M2nc
| | Posted on Sunday, October 18, 2009 - 05:23 pm: |
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Well my day yesterday consisted of being a dad. It was picture day at soccer so we had to be there early. It was cold and the kids were hesitant to shed coats and the only thing going though my mine was Walter saying, "We love it here!" It proved challenging being the coach of two teams. I had one team on the field and another lining up for pictures. I changed shirts at the side of the field still coaching the girls, ran over just in time to take the pictures for the boys and ran back to coach the girls. It was fun, the girls won and the boys, well five out of eight did not cry (5-6 year olds), so it was a successful day.
Back to the house to feed the kids and we were off again. Kristi and I took off to the local Chrysler dealership to look at a mini-van we saw the night before. We needed a replacement for our quickly fading van. I was ready to change it out months ago but when it went down on Kristi in the rain this week, its days were numbered. We get to the dealership to find the van we were looking at up at the sales floor with others buying it. Okay there are other vans out there, I thought. We wait for the salesman we were talking to and have to say if all Harley salesmen were that good, Buell would not be where it is today. We do not buy new vehicles but this quick thinking salesperson hears Kristi say, well maybe find something for you and I'll take the Suburban back. He tells me about a great deal on a new Jeep Liberty and it was worth my time to look at it. After test riding it we stop by our van and pull car seats out to try the back seat out in the Liberty. It didn't. The Liberty is too small for a family of five, so this quick thinking salesperson says, "If you like the looks of the Liberty I have another used Jeep that will probably work out." He walks me over to an '06 Jeep Commander that they already lowered the price $2K. The salesman tells me it qualifies as a certified used vehicle so it has the factory warranty up to eight years and 80,000 miles from new. Which means this vehicle had three and half years and 35,000 miles of factory warrant still on it. The vehicle is wide enough for three children across the back seat but why, it has a third row. I walk around the back of the vehicle to see the factory installed class three receiver hitch and about that time Kristi fires it up, V8! Other than a few scratches the thing looks new. Other than the gas mileage I'm thinking this is the ticket. I pop the hood and see it has the middle of the row 4.7L V8, not the big Hemi so I hope for the best in the fuel mileage department. We take the normal loop and both Kristi and I like it.
We get back and realize we have to get back home to the kids and take them to a birthday party. Being a wise and good salesman, he let's us take the Commander to get the kids and take them to the party. You should have seen Carlee's face when we rolled up in this Jeep instead of a van. All the kids are excited about the new ride, but I warned them the deal is not done. The dealership still had to tell me what they are going to give me for my van and the last dealership we talked to was out of line with their interest rates. We put the kids in the Jeep and two go into the third row. They are ecstatic with the rear air controls that are on the arm rest of the passenger side seat. On the ride to the party I turn up the radio and clued them into the 276W Bose sound system and we have a great ride to the party.
Leaving Carlee to look after the two little ones, we drive to the Kristi's work to check out Kelly Blue Book on the vehicle. The former owner of our old van turned us on to KBB private sale price. That is how he posted his asking price for the van. I thought it was the fairest way to buy a used vehicle. Lower than the retail price but over the trade in value, it is the closest way to determine actual cash value of a used vehicle. I was using KBB to set the price I would offer for used vehicles usually lower than the asking price on dealer's lots. Low and behold, the value of this Jeep is $500 more than the sale price. As far as price is concerned, negotiating is done. Now all that is left is trade in, payment and interest rate.
We get back to the dealership and the salesman meets us at the car. I try to hand him the keys to the Jeep but he is too good for that. He says keep them, everything is ready to go in the business office which means we are approved for the loan and everything is a go on their end. We wait a few minutes and then walk into the office. I had a KBB figure for my van and without discussion they were within $200 dollars of it. Considering I would have offered $500 more of their vehicle I called it a wash. Then I set a ceiling for the interest rate and it comes in .01% below it. I had figured out monthly payments and they were right in range. Without any discussion or haggling we sign on the dotted line and I have a new (to me) vehicle.
Yeup, if only more Harley dealerships had actual salesmen, we would not be in mourning today. |
Fishgutz
| | Posted on Sunday, October 18, 2009 - 08:48 pm: |
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HD sales approach is "this is what you are going to pay. Take it or leave it." Most of the time anyway. I did get my Red Buell for the price of the black.
Carlos, there are some really nice lift kits available for the Commander. Your kids will really love getting dropped off at school when it is up on a 6 or 8 inch lift and 35 inch mud tires.
http://www.aev-conversions.com/vehicles/commander. php
Congrats on the find and the deal. |
M2nc
| | Posted on Sunday, October 18, 2009 - 10:52 pm: |
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I love it Fish but the wife wouldn't. My buddy when I was in high school drove his brother's Dodge short bed truck with a four inch suspension and four inch body lift with 40" tires. When you passed a semi-truck you would look at the driver eye to eye. |
Rubberdown
| | Posted on Monday, October 19, 2009 - 10:01 am: |
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Took my Son and two of his friends to see Metallica last night in Charlotte. First top tier heavy rock show I've been to in a long while. It was really good. GReat seats. I'm suffering from sensory overload and a lack of sleep today but damn, we had a great time! |
Rubberdown
| | Posted on Monday, October 19, 2009 - 10:05 am: |
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CONGRATULATIONS TO JORDAN RICHARDSON!!!!!
3 TIME NATIONAL CHAMPION!!!!
RIDING OUT OF RAY PRICE HD IN RALEIGH!!!!
WAY TA GO MAN!!!!
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Jlnance
| | Posted on Monday, October 19, 2009 - 11:06 am: |
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Metallica
A favorite of Mikethebike I believe.
Very good for Jordan. That is really impressive. |
1313
| | Posted on Monday, October 19, 2009 - 11:12 am: |
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Jordan,
Well deserved congratulations to you!
I sent you a PM but I'm not sure if you got it, so please give me a call when you get back from Daytona and get things settled,
1313 |
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