| Author | Message | ||
     Pwnzor |
Can someone or everyone explain to me how a BRAG membership has actually benefitted them in some way substantial enough to make the membership fee worth while? I'd do it just for the magazine, if it was more than 4 or 6 pages... but its really thin and lacks the ability to keep my interest. Just wondering if there is some unseen plus I don't know about..? | ||
| Slaughter |
If your dealer doesn't have an organized BRAG activity, don't bother. I happen to be lucky enough to have a dealer who has worked with us to do track days, fundraising BBQ's, and monthly races at Willow Springs - including sponsoring the Middleweight Twins series this year - not to mention our monthly group ride. http://www.glendaleharley.com I'd meet with your local BRAG group once before deciding. The national BRAG organization does organize stuff such as the BRAG paddock deal at the races, some national rides, etc. Check their upcoming events to see if it's worth it if you don't have any local activity. Since you live halfway between Glendale and San Diego - you could hang with either mob. Al Lighton at American Sport Bike heads up the other very active southern CA group. Come to Willow Springs on the 3rd Sunday of any month, there's always about 8-12 of us racing there - Glendale, San Diego and Bartels (though Bartels doesn't have a BRAG group - just racing) It's the LOCAL BRAG that you can benefit from much more than the national. | ||
| Dtx |
I do it for the sheer purpose of supporting the Buell Motorcycle Company. | ||
| Chainsaw |
Can someone or everyone explain to me how a BRAG membership has actually benefitted them... Every time my I get a bike towed.... I'm a HOG member, like BRAG with more assless chaps and poker runs. Buell owners are welcome, and they have more functions and patch n' pin earning opportunities, HOG Benies | ||
| Chainsaw |
I do it for the sheer purpose of supporting the Buell Motorcycle Company. FYI: BRAG and HOG have the same contact address and fax numbers. I suspect BRAG consists a cubicle or two in the HOG office. I was a member of both, and each card carried the same EXACT membership number. | ||
| Buellgirlie |
i'm actually a HOG member too. all the benefits are reciprocal, except i get hog tales instead of fuell magazine in the mail. that alone, wasnt enough to make me pay for 2 memberships, so when i bought my new buell, i just had them add a year onto my HOG membership. local BRAG is where its at, and some places are stronger than others. i'm quite jealous of slaughter's local BRAG stuff!  D | ||
| Davegess |
A local BRAG wuld be great. I don't have time for activiteis so I do for the free towing but mostly because it is well worth it at one of the national events. This years homecoming had really neat talks as well as a nice tent att he race track. I also do it to suppor the company AND to have some say in what BRAG becomes when Buell has 200000 motorcycles out there. BRAG is really feeling its way now. Sometimes it want s to be HOG sometimes they listen to owners. they will figure it out and us early members will be part of that. | ||
| Pwnzor |
I already have Good Sam and AAA for towing. I suppose BRAG is really for someone who wants to belong to an organization. Chainsaw hit it right on the nose "if you're into that sort of thing" I guess I'll just have to go without Fuell. Thanks for the input everyone. | ||
| Buellzebub |
in this day and age of internet groups and bulletin boards one shouldn't need to pay a premium to anyone to find a place/group to ride with. that being said, the yearly National brag event almost make the fee worthwhile... i'm off to the races (CDN Nationals) to see how buell is doing, hoping to see a RR and if there is a brag presence. | ||
| Steve_mackay |
Dora, all it takes is talking to Kirk, and askin'  He's offered to lend us Danny, and do some track days. | ||
| Court |
>>>>BRAG is really feeling its way now. You will soon be able to dismiss most the reasons, and they've not been without merit, for joining B.R.A.G. My advice would be to get signed up and beat the rush. | ||
| Buellgirlie |
steve - i know kirk would help. but if you were in business, how much can you really toss at a buell club, when the harley club at the same dealership has membership over 1000 (1300? 1400? maybe) and is so in demand that there's a "second shift" meeting? my opinions on what a dealer can realistically do for buell vary widely depending on whether i'm wearing my owner/enthusiast/racer/academic/business hat. i dont fault kirk (or you, as club director) at all, but we (as club members) need to make sure investments we ask of a dealership into buell and BRAG are positive for brand building, experience creation, customer loyalty, and cash flow. D | ||
| Lost_in_ohio |
The nearest brag club to me in ohio is near cleveland....bout a two and a half hour drive for me. Talked to the local dealer and they really have no interest in sponsoring one. Ashame. | ||
| Kdan |
Our local BRAG group and the perks and savings at various places. I belong to the AMA too. It's nice to support worthwhile causes and sponsor local events. | ||
| Steve_mackay |
Oh, I have no delusions how FAR Kirk will support things. A sponsored Brag group is a you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours type of deal. And there is only so much our dozen or so members can scratch Hal's back Which is exactly why I wanted as many members at the demo rides as possible. It's an event that we can certainly make a difference in their bottom line. It turned out, outstanding IMHO! | ||
| Diablobrian |
Homecoming made it worthwhile for me. Let's see, the whole tour, seminar, reduced price race tickets, and meeting a huge number of Buellers was..... good. Having a factory guy take interest in a broken part on my bike and providing a no cost replacement....very good Having the hospitality area with free drinks, shade, and oh yeah Erik at the table talking with us.... unbelievably good. Then there are those little side bonuses, towing, stolen bike reward, Fuell mag etc. are just kind of nice add-ons. | ||
| Doon |
Well I am still in my automatic membership for buying the bike, but I will be renewing. The discount I get on my Insurance is a tad bit more than the cost of a full membership, so it is a wash in the end. ALso The magazine is cool and I look forward to making it to homecoming next year. -Patrick | ||
| Buellgirlie |
actually thats a great point patrick. there's a special phone line to look for motorcycle insurance. i priced against geico and progressive in 2004 and 2005 - and quote from the member line was WAY less. the only reason i'm switching at the end of this year, is that state farm only writes policies on motorcycles when you have other policies with them. if i move my bikes over, then i'll have my 2 cars, condo, and 4 bikes insured with them -- and that adds up to some savings and the peace of mind dealing with a great company and local agent. D | ||
| Garp |
They paid $50 towards the cost of a MSF ERC course That is the only real benefit I have had from BRAG, and since the course is not something I intend to do every year, I really don't see any point in renewing. | ||
| Madgaz |
I have been discussing this very issue here in Australia for some 3 years now. I am certain membership is good for the consumer and the company. HOG has done a great thing for HD. In time I can see BRAG being just as good, be it with a few tweaks. Buell, not unlike HD, Ducati or even BMW has a passion factor that nearly all Japanese makes do not have. This is worth encouraging. Some of the benefits of membership may not be practical here (If we had BRAG) I have come to the point where I have drafted a survey to send out to get comment and signatures to present to Buell requesting BRAG for all Australian owners. This discussion is very positive and wothwhile but you may want to consider a survey as well and get an honest feel for what owners want or better yet, what owners need. MadGaz | ||
| Mmmi_grad |
well the map was cool too. Its only 40 bucks I mean if ya got the money you really should be a member. But like some say i mean your not going to get a whole lot out of the membership if you dont go to the events or dont belong to a Brag chapter. Van Wert OH just went down so the closet one for me is INDY or Chicago area. Thats along way from NE corner of Indiana. | ||
| Buellistic |
The reason "i" belong to BRAG is because "i" do not want to belong to HOG !!! | ||
| Bomber |
Homecoming towing (though I'll admit to only having witnesses the program used twice -- once was a complete and total bust, the other went like clockwork -- 50% ain't bad, I spose) Fuell arives sporatically, at best -- local clubs ar ejust that, local, and vary all over the map -- some are aces, some arn't, as is the nature of disparate groups I look forward to the expanded reasons to re-up with BRAG | ||
| Paulson |
I dig the savings on insurance. FUELL is neat (could use a little more substance though), and I like the yearly road atlas. I really have no need for the pins though.  The one time I tried to get my bike towed, it was going to take 4 hours for them to get to me (not BRAG's fault - it was drive-time in Seattle). Anyways, I am going to renew my membership probably for as long as I own a BUELL. | ||
| Rex |
I belong to both. Hog and Brag. REX | ||
| Djkaplan |
"Can someone or everyone explain to me how a BRAG membership has actually benefitted them in some way substantial enough to make the membership fee worth while?" It was the BRAG group I rode with that eventually steered me to a dealership that would address warranty issues with my bike. That totally transformed my Buell ownership experience from a bad to a good one that continues 6 years later. I also made friends and met some really interesting people through my BRAG membership. I don't live in an area that has a BRAG group or Buell dealer anymore, but if I did, I would rejoin in a heartbeat. | ||
| Edstevens |
I went to my first organized BRAG national event in Boone, NC. The "Running the Ridge" left a great first impression about who Buell riders are. The welcome I received was warm and friendly. The second BRAG national event I attended was the "Appalachian Adventure" in La Vale, MD and again another fantastic event including a Buell engineer. BUT I work weekends and local Buell clubs have the majority of their events on weekends. The National events worked well for me because I have to pick my vacation in the previous December. I could schedule vacation for events I wanted to attend. This year I will not be attending National BRAG events because they have chosen to support local club sponsored events. That's great for the club members but I'm betting there are way more Buell owners that don't belong to clubs than do. For me by not posting events with enough lead time to schedule vacation I can't attend. No, the front of my shirt is not tear stained. I've got great roads to ride till by butt can't take it anymore here in West Virginia, but I will miss the Gathering of the Clan. The Buell riders I have gotten to know are the best I've found in the motorcycle community and for that fact alone I will retain my BRAG membership. | ||
| Buellzebub |
Brag had a presence at the Canadian nationals, i must say they were much better than last time... i still ended up in the hospitality (upper mezanine, much better view) area with the Dukitty boys though. i think Deeley motorsports may have something good with the 14 year old racer they found (Bret/Brent? McCormick) who won the thundertwin race. |
