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Buell Motorcycle Forum » Quick Board » Archive through January 31, 2010 » Sportbikes can be sold out of Harley dealers « Previous Next »

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46champ
Posted on Wednesday, January 27, 2010 - 01:05 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

and I have again seen the proof.
I stopped by the H-D Buell Ducati dealer in Missoula Montana. Like most Harley dealers it has mostly Harley stuff but they had a whole area of Ducati bikes and gear. The salesman I talked to was very knowledgeable about Buell and Ducati. It was a pleasure being there. They only have 3 XT's left then their out. The service department put together an XR with a different seat and an Adrenalin-Moto pipe very nice looking pipe Matt it improves the bike immensely. If I lived in Montana I know which dealer I would be taking my business to.

Now that the sale of cruisers has reached saturation levels and Harley could use a sport bike to bring in new customers they pull the plug not on the customers but their dealers how sad.
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Edgydrifter
Posted on Wednesday, January 27, 2010 - 01:22 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Montana HD in Missoula is also Montana Ducati, with both brands sold side-by-side. Over the years, I've seen a few other dealerships like this, which kind of surprised me. I expect we'll see more like them in the future.

EDIT: Ha! I'm a retread with ungood reading comprehenshun. I should have sussed that the reason your post reminded me of MT HD was that it was right there in the first sentence!

(Message edited by edgydrifter on January 27, 2010)
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Paw
Posted on Wednesday, January 27, 2010 - 01:31 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Spitie's in Albany sells Aprilla, Moto Guzzi and now after dropping Buell before they were closed, Triumph too. They were a H-D dealer 50+ years ago first and for most. H-D can't stop a dealer if they want to get into another line a bikes. Think about this one. A Triumph Thunderbird being sold next to a Wide Glide...That's not going to help sell the H-D any easier.
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Fahren
Posted on Wednesday, January 27, 2010 - 02:12 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

"A Triumph Thunderbird being sold next to a Wide Glide...That's not going to help sell the H-D any easier."

Maybe HD should come out with 2 new models to compete: The Mad Dog 20-20 and the Night Train.
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Gohot
Posted on Wednesday, January 27, 2010 - 02:56 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

It would appear that Harley Davidsons 'Core' Bikes have such a limited audience that it is certain to affect their possable sales and ability to continue business as usual. While Buell was a completly different breed, along with the Vrod, the sales have reached a saturation point. You will have noticed last weeks unveiling of the '48', and it was being touted as 'the' new Sportster to have, it was offered sort of as a sporting ride. Not everyone wants a big expensive slow underpowered cruise/tour bike, and thats where the Buell fell in the scheeme of things, allowing Harley to soak up both markets, or at least be representative. Harley Davidson appears to be trying to ignore what the public wants, in the hopes of educating them into what they need instead. It all seems remenisent of the failure of British bikes in the 70's and 80's. To not bend to the public demand will surely mean falure in the long run. and that 'long run' may not be as long as they would hope for. Alot of people are disgusted with HD, not only because of Buell, but also their mentality and arrogance. There are so many better offerings available out there, than just having to choose between some re-dressed form of a Harley, which in essence is the same old bike, just a different color and piece of cromework. Harley appears to be using a mindset of ignoring the competition and content in their false sence of market dominance. I don't think their board meetings are getting 'it'.
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Court
Posted on Wednesday, January 27, 2010 - 03:50 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

>>>The salesman I talked to was very knowledgeable about Buell and Ducati.

As were they when I was there 15 years ago . . . Buells have ALWAYS sold best next to Ducatis.
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Paint_shaker
Posted on Wednesday, January 27, 2010 - 08:20 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

The harley dealer in Rockville, Md also sells import bikes(or did last time I was there 10 years ago).
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Gregtonn
Posted on Wednesday, January 27, 2010 - 11:33 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Kingman,AZ
Harley-Davidson, Honda, Polaris and Yamaha all in one dealer. They sold Buells for awhile but dropped them.

First time I was in the Missoula H-D dealer was about 26 years ago. Not a Buell in sight.
Last time was about 9 years ago. Buells, Ducatis and H-D.

G
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B00stzx3
Posted on Thursday, January 28, 2010 - 01:50 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

The harley dealer in Rockville, Md also sells import bikes(or did last time I was there 10 years ago).

There's a Harley dealer in Rockville??? Battley?
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