| Author |
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Cityxslicker
| | Posted on Sunday, February 14, 2010 - 12:15 am: | 
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a contest where you get to work with Willie G on the design team of a bike.
I am afraid it would just be a parts been bike, and I am keeping it on the way back out the door. Court, where are all the remainder 450 Griffen parts ? We might just get the ol geezers to assemble it as apart of a 'contest'. |
Glitch
| | Posted on Sunday, February 14, 2010 - 12:15 am: |
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H-D believes in the "if it ain't broke don't fix it", they just haven't realized that the marketing their "image" is broken/dated. |
Ft_bstrd
| | Posted on Sunday, February 14, 2010 - 12:21 am: |
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You've got 5 frames:
Sportster
Dyna
Touring
Soft Tail
VRSC
The VRSC was rejected by the HD faithful as was the XR1200.
There are only so many combinations. ALL that there is for HD is parts bin. The HD faithful customer won't buy anything different.
Believe me. I've tried to sell them different. |
12x9sl
| | Posted on Sunday, February 14, 2010 - 12:23 am: |
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DD you are right, the bikes are good. I sat on a CVO Fat Bob at the Minneapolis IMS that was a sweet bike. However, the survey was enough to make me throw up in my mouth a little. My wife was in the room when that idiot was spouting that "Screw it, let's ride!" bs, and she goes "Seriously, what's up with this crap?" |
Ft_bstrd
| | Posted on Sunday, February 14, 2010 - 12:56 am: |
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I feel that the bike quality is REALLY good. Quality isn't the issue.
These are really good motorcycles.
That said, the marketing department appears out of ideas. |
Ourdee
| | Posted on Sunday, February 14, 2010 - 04:04 am: |
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It won't let me take the survey. |
Ustorque
| | Posted on Sunday, February 14, 2010 - 07:33 am: |
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Ya ever get the feeling the next book is gonna be a doozie . . . . ?
Without a doubt!!
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Glitch
| | Posted on Sunday, February 14, 2010 - 07:49 am: |
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It won't let me take the survey.
I reckon we gave them more than they cared for. |
Larryjohn
| | Posted on Sunday, February 14, 2010 - 07:51 am: |
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I wonder what their criteria is for sending out these surveys (and mailings)? Somehow all I have ever received in the mail is HD stuff, never Buell (maybe they didn't have any Buell mailers in the last 4 years?).
I have never received a survey e-mail in the past, that I am aware of, but I have seen posts here on BadWeb telling of previous surveys.
Either way it goes to show how much HD did not understand their full customer base. The have always treated me as an HD customer, not a Buell customer. I don't have a problem with the chrome and leather crowd if that is your thing, but you may as well try selling me ladies undergarments. You will get much further because at least I would look at the pictures.
I do enjoy the fun we get to have with this survey though, so there there is a bright spot with HD advertising. It gives us Buellers an opportunity to vent. |
Crusty
| | Posted on Sunday, February 14, 2010 - 08:10 am: |
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You now need a password to get into the survey.
I guess we killed it! (and I had just posted the link on the Guzzi forum) |
Mdoughten
| | Posted on Sunday, February 14, 2010 - 08:37 am: |
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i wanna take the survey.
anybody know a password? |
Ustorque
| | Posted on Sunday, February 14, 2010 - 08:40 am: |
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I answered three questions and it booted me, it said i wasn't in their target demographic. I'm curious as to what exactly that would be! |
Nevrenuf
| | Posted on Sunday, February 14, 2010 - 08:55 am: |
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maybe they killed it after i told them that i thought they were talking about the people in the corporate office when they were talking about the suckholes. i apologize to all who didn't get to have some fun if it was my fault. |
Swamp2
| | Posted on Sunday, February 14, 2010 - 08:57 am: |
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I managed to fill it out before they pw protected it, so yeah - they probably were getting a lot of REALLY NEGATIVE feedback in a really short period of time. Probably not the answers that the ad campaign creators were looking for...
I feel that the bike quality is REALLY good. Quality isn't the issue.
These are really good motorcycles.
I agree, they're very nice for what they are. They just don't appeal to me, and I'm 51 - probably right in the middle of their target demographic.
I guess we killed it! (and I had just posted the link on the Guzzi forum)
Hey Crusty, what Guzzi forum? I've been a Guzzi fan for years (have 3, but need to sell a couple to offset the Buell purchases). |
Oddball
| | Posted on Sunday, February 14, 2010 - 09:43 am: |
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Should have kept that link here for a while first. I filled out an HD survey a few months ago. That was before the announcement. I remember telling them I was considering the XR and was also considering the XB and their bike was not ahead in the comparison.
It was just before the announcement that I had one Buell's surveys pop up on their site. I answered I was looking to buy soon. I wonder how many others they had in the affirmative just before the announcement? Might have been looking bad if HD foresaw better numbers on Buell's ledger than their own.
Oh, and way better navigation, information on Buell.com than Harley-Davidson.com. Just like the system their dealers use is annoying. Way too many active graphics and vids all over the place at once. Sets the cooling fans off as much or more than HD's site. Which is quite an underachievement. |
Court
| | Posted on Sunday, February 14, 2010 - 09:55 am: |
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I just deleted by 2,400 word (with 9 photos) response. . . .I'm going to spend a little time on it and develop it into either a magazine article or a chapter. It's time you guys got to see some facts.
I'll leave you with this . . .anyone ever wondered why the motorcycle company with the first internet site in the history of wheeled vehicles (Buell was well ahead of Chrysler, Radio Flyer and Lawn Boy) never had so much as single e-mail address on the website? |
F_skinner
| | Posted on Sunday, February 14, 2010 - 10:10 am: |
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Lack of vision by HD. |
Glitch
| | Posted on Sunday, February 14, 2010 - 10:12 am: |
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Scene: H-D marketing board room
H-D Exec 1: We need to find out how our new ad campaign will do before we commit any more money to it. After all we just put in 1 Billion of our own money.
H-D Marketer: 1 Billion!? I've another point to add to the campaign.
H-D Exec 2: Man, this economy really sucks, we're not selling anything.
H-D Marketer: Another great idea! By the way, don't tell anyone our sales are suffering. We've got to make people think these things are selling like hot cakes, no one will buy something nobody else is.
H-D Exec 1: Maybe we should just ask for a bail out....
H-D Marketer: Are you kidding me! Just look at Chrysler. Hey...that's it...we'll act like we're rebels sticking it to the man. Even though we are the man sticking it to Buell...
H-D Exec 2: If you want to keep your job, you'll not mention that name again.
H-D Marketer: Sorry
H-D Exec 2: You will be...
H-D Marketer: The new survey is ready.
H-D Exec 1&2: Let's see it...
That is bad ass! Job well done.
Survey sent....
H-D Exec 1: Well, how's that survey going?
H-D Marketer: Well ... sir ... it looks as though we're getting a lot of negative feedback ... in a very short period ... something's not right.
H-D Exec 2: You'd better make it right!
H-D Marketer: It would seem by the looks of some of the comments, this survey got into the hands of irate Buellers.
H-D Exec 2: What did I tell you!
H-D Marketer: Sorry sir, it's the survey ... the comment section ....
I know, I'll password protect it, that way only the people that are loyal H-D riders will be able to respond.
H-D Exec 2: Great, now on to the new pipes and fenders for the newest H-D.... |
Ustorque
| | Posted on Sunday, February 14, 2010 - 10:22 am: |
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ever wondered why the motorcycle company with the first internet site in the history of wheeled vehicles (Buell was well ahead of Chrysler, Radio Flyer and Lawn Boy) never had so much as single e-mail address on the website?
My guess is while other like to give the illusion of accessibility, Buell actually was accessible and that they welcomed input from their customers. |
Crusty
| | Posted on Sunday, February 14, 2010 - 11:01 am: |
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Swamp2; it's:
http://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?board=1.0
There are some pretty nice folks and pretty nice bikes over there. |
Cityxslicker
| | Posted on Sunday, February 14, 2010 - 12:04 pm: |
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I posted a link up on our local regional sport bike road. They have a current running 12 page rolling manifesto of why Harley is DEAD to them. Before H-D killed BUELL, I was in their with some numbers and facts that disparaged the unedumacated. Now ? Meh, they can sink or swim for themselves. They aint gonna support my Brand, I see no reason to support theirs. |
No_rice
| | Posted on Sunday, February 14, 2010 - 01:01 pm: |
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Heck people do that all the time......on dirt bikes riding off road!
somedays i do close to that on my street bikes ridding off road!! |
Nevrenuf
| | Posted on Sunday, February 14, 2010 - 04:10 pm: |
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glitch, that was good. couldn't of been imagined any better. |
Wolfridgerider
| | Posted on Sunday, February 14, 2010 - 05:15 pm: |
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may as well get some more mileage outta this pic...
 |
Cityxslicker
| | Posted on Sunday, February 14, 2010 - 09:25 pm: |
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they should have 5 bikes, and customer upgrades to kit build the rest  |
Guell
| | Posted on Sunday, February 14, 2010 - 10:02 pm: |
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^^ dentists, doctors, attorneys dont have time to get their hands dirty wrenching on their chrome barges. |
Crackhead
| | Posted on Monday, February 15, 2010 - 09:06 am: |
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I have never understood why HD and Buell didn't do a custom order bikes. You start with the frame and everything else is options. Sportster frame, 1200 motor, fatbob forks, blacked out motor, ect. |
Oddball
| | Posted on Monday, February 15, 2010 - 09:14 am: |
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They would price the process so ridiculously that no-one would buy any or that process would cut out a major profit area of accessories sales/installation for dealers. Either resulting in that being seen as a bad idea.
Now if their giant palaces could be mini production lines in effect. hmm.... |
U4euh
| | Posted on Monday, February 15, 2010 - 10:41 am: |
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We tolerated your bullshit when we had to. We no longer have to. We grounded our children to teach them not to lie. . . now go to your room.
LOL HAHAHA |
Greatnorthrider
| | Posted on Monday, February 15, 2010 - 02:03 pm: |
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Swamp2: The Guzzi site is....Damn, I see Crusty beat me to it! If you are going to Homecoming, look for Crusty on his Norge,
I'll be on my Uly.  |
99buellx1
| | Posted on Monday, February 15, 2010 - 03:14 pm: |
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quote: Buell didn't do a custom order bikes
Oh, but they did.
I'll let someone with more info than me tell the story. |
Bikertrash05
| | Posted on Monday, February 15, 2010 - 03:32 pm: |
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Good post, Court. Can't wait to read your final draft.
It really said "We ride in the rain"? What, and get the chrome dirty?
No no, WE ride in the rain.
 |
Etennuly
| | Posted on Monday, February 15, 2010 - 04:33 pm: |
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Crackhead, They do accept special orders. My eldest son, against everything that enables me to breathe, ordered a new Ultra Classic Custom Limited(he spends way too much time with his father in law)three months ago. I don't know.....some where near $30,000.....and, like the sales man said "it will be exactly like the one in the show room only in your choice of color".
Now that is spending money on individualism in a world of sameness separated by price. But what the hell does that mean when 15,000 others have the same bike in 'that'(the most popular) color?
I still cannot decide on whether to choke back tears or laughter whenever he mentions it to me(the Force is weak in this one, he takes after his wife's side). |
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