| Author | Message | ||
     Odinbueller |
I've counted to 10 too many times since 7:30 AM on October 15th, 2009, when I first watched Erik put every fiber of his being into keeping his composure, and the subsequent "killer" deals that I've seen in the past 24 hours, but now, I have a slightly different view... As my wife, ChelleM stated here: http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/171 43/503741.html?1255631307 Liberty Buell is going to be around for as long as Buell is. Period. We've fought to get the original Buell dealer rights back in 2001, we fought to sell & market the superior machines to a young bunch of riders, we've fought to win every race we ran from the Lightning Series up to the MotoST series, we've fought all the way to bring Buell to everyone, against other sub-par dealers that would rather devalue the brand as opposed to selling the bike on its merits. And that's where we are now... Liberty is offering great deals on in-stock Buell models. I've posted a few times here in the past to muster some online help to support a devoted Buell dealer & BadWeb sponsor. We were not about to give them away like these dealers are doing now, but I'll get into that later. Our parts, accessory & clothing sales have been great, and I personally thank each and every one of you that posts or sends me a PM or e-mail requesting these items. I love helping out a Buelligan in need, as I have been there, and at times in a pinch away from home, so I can absolutely relate. But this is the proverbial crux of the biscuit... When I saw the posts after the news of Buell stopping production about the "killer" deals, I was at first angry at the buyers, but that, after counting to 10, was unjust. If the offer is out there, it's not the takers fault. It's the dealer making the offer. And that is where my anger lied for most of today. These "killer" deals are so far below what these dealers actually paid for these bikes, shows me just how committed they are to Buell. We never stooped to that level; we had too much respect for the product, the brand, and the namesake that appears on the bodywork. So what now? Let these dealers that leached sales from honest, hard fighting, committed enthusiasts like Liberty sell their inventory out. Fine. Take whatever losses you must to get rid of these machines, because there is an army of fans that have been waiting for this moment. And they should absolutely get while the getting is good. This is the thinning of the dealer heard that has been overdue for several years now, and it took the closing of Buell to do it. But why am I hopeful? First, all HD documents along with Erik himself said that they are "stopping production". I'll leave everyone to interpret this as they wish. I personally think that Buell will be back. I have no inside information, but I've gone over the scenario several times introspectively these past 24 hours. So let these dealers take the hit and get you a great motorcycle for a "killer" deal for the bikes you've been waiting for. These are dealers that will undoubtedly not sign up to keep supplying parts & warranty service for Buell, relinquishing their Buell dealership. That means dealers that fight to keep the Buell brand and support it will be in a stronger position in the future, when Buell will come back. I could be wrong in the face, but this is what I believe. The numbers published just point this way as far as I can discern. Please keep this in mind, as Liberty Buell has, and always will be behind Erik and the revolutionary machines that he designs. Erik, please do not give up. I don't think that you will, but take solace in the fact that there is a small, dedicated dealership in New Jersey that believes in what you've created, and what you will create in the future. Chris Liberty Buell Rahway, NJ (Message edited by odinbueller on October 16, 2009) | ||
| P_squared |
I think you're on the right track Chris. Or at least I hope you are. I have faith that there will again be bikes with BUELL on their tanks in the future again. It'd be nice if they only went to the dealers who are passionate about the bike, the brand, the people. | ||
| Rocketsprink |
keep hope alive, but my Buell engineer friend that I just had a few drinks and 3 hours of conversation with at Bads1's bar tells me it is done for good. No if ands or buts | ||
| Oldog |
Chris its Dealers like Liberty and Bumpus that will help keep the faithful riding, Thanks for your support, I have made my mind up to keep my bikes, and its good to know that support is there, I Hope that my local shop will step up, but if they dont you and Tom will get my business. | ||
| Ezblast |
Well said! EZ | ||
| Odinbueller |
We appreciate the support, guys. And thanks for the sales so far, the response has been great! | ||
| Xl1200r |
Chris - I think you hit the nail on the head - you can't get ticked at the people buying the bikes, but I 100% appreciate and support your commitment to the brand. My local dealer, while offering great prices right now, isn't even in the ball park of the $3,995 1125's that have been touted. That's a good thing for two reasons - 1, I don't need ANOTHER bike (but I am selling the Sportster to buy another Buell), and 2, they fully intend on renewing their contract to continue to service and supply parts for the brand. I'm grateful for dealers like this, making the ownership experience easy. | ||
| Swordsman |
I'm actually glad that the less dedicated dealers are shooting themselves in the foot with these insane deals. Let 'em bleed a little. And at the same time, people that were interested in Buell but simply couldn't afford a new bike can now easily do so. ~SM | ||
| Steve_mackay |
I'm actually glad that the less dedicated dealers are shooting themselves in the foot with these isnsane deals Umm, I just got an "insane deal" on an '09 1125CR from Hals. Probably one of the most DEDICATED Buell dealers there are. A Dealer that has hosted Homecomings for several years in a row. When Kirk(the owner of Hals) heard we're planning a Homecoming for this summer, he said we could count on them for support just like in previous years. He has NOTHING to gain from this. So please don't group all the dealers together. The fact is, Buell has kicked back quite a bit of $$ on 1125Rs and CRs, and a bit less for the other models. The $3995 was a demo bike at Ukes IIRC, And I THINK it was an '08. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Liberty has always been a supporter of Buells and Buell owners. We at Bumpus hope to be part of the constellation of dealers working to keep the lights on and keep Buells on the road. Thank you for your continued support. I have a feeling that we will see even more coordination of effort from these Buell "dealers" in the future. | ||
| Odinbueller |
There are some outrageous deals out there to be had, and those looking to take advantage should absolutely do so before the well runs dry. But the well will run dry soon, once production stops at the end of the month. Some dealers are being reasonable, others not so much, like those $3,995 deals. The AMA Daytona Sportbike Championship winning bike being sold for less that a Blast! Model, while stupefying, is still not an adequate punctuation on the Buell dealer situation. It's dealers like this that have been the thorn in our side for many, many years. When a customer comes in that has shopped around and has a better deal elsewhere, we always walk that customer through the entire store. Did the other dealer have the same selection of motorcycles? Clothing and collectibles? Accessories and parts? Factory trained technicians? Race team? Demo truck availability? Do they support Buell the way that we do? You may hear it referred to as selling the dealership and it is not a gimmick. It’s being honest with the buyer. This is sometimes an eye-opener, and sometimes, the eyes see what they want to see, and do not care about the support that is evident all around them. They want that bike at that price, and if we can't match it, then they'll go elsewhere. And many have, but most do not, because they see that most of our employees, managers, and the owner all own and ride a Buell! What better endorsement for a brand is there? When we went to Daytona with our XBRR in 2 major pieces to reconstruct in the pits, my father in law Tom, a long time motorcycle mechanic and owner of our dealership was there to help out. With a lot of help (Thanks Henry!), sweat, devotion, and cussing, we got the bike together and did our best to win. We were also there to race on the Moto-ST 8 hours of Daytona, and Tom was in the hot pits changing sprockets, getting tire warmers on the spare rims, basically, supporting us. That's where Liberty Buell stands. Supporting Buell. Again, I just want everyone to know, I don't blame you for taking the better deal. It's hard to pass up, but look at the track record of the people you deal with, and if you feel the extra cost is justified to stand behind the people that stand behind the Buell brand, then you're welcome to our family. It’s time to come home. I hope to see you all soon. Chris | ||
| Odinbueller |
BTW, the Bumpus 1125R/CR promotion right before the big announcement was a pretty damn good idea. Ride home on a properly broken in & serviced 1125 model? Genius marketing! | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
It was! Daves IS a genius! We just piggy backed on his good work. |
