| Author | Message | ||
     Reindog |
Tom, I'm seriously out of the loop: What happened to your first Uly?? My 06 Uly is with his brother, my 09 XB12XP and they make a handsome pair. The 06 has 20K miles on it and I am going to sell it as soon as I get off my butt. The 06 made the trek to the Dandy Cabin last October in the virtual Oktoberfast V run (aka The American Sport Bike Customer Appreciation Event). I bought the 09 Police version hours after HD dropped the BuellBomb because I figured Ulys were gonna be snatched up real fast. I beat Reg Kitrelle by 24 hours (sorry Reg  ) | ||
| Reindog |
The 06 Uly is yours for the riding if you come visit our way but you gotta wash it when you're done with it. Al and I can scrounge elevator platform riding boots for you to get back up on the stock seat. (Message edited by reindog on April 21, 2010) | ||
| Oddball |
Swordsman beat me to it. Born in 1880 & 1881. | ||
| Nevrenuf |
granted, if it weren't for the fire sale i would still be at 3 instead of 5 buells. or at least 4 because eventually i would have had to replace the scg for the wife. so outside of the ultra and the 83fxrt, there isn't another bike in the line up that does it for me like anyone of the buells. and no two of our buell are the same. each capable of doing it's own thing as far as riding position goes. right now the only bike i would like to ad is the cr because imo, it's the closest thing to my m2 that i've ridden. other than that, i truly hope that nothing else sparks my interest to want and go out and buy another one. not even everything that i've heard about the new fl's makes me want to go get another to replace my 04 because my 04 sits just right for me. if i'm able to make it to franklin this year,i'll be on the ultra. hopefully i can get you to school me on it. | ||
| Swordsman |
Their historic sales run - we're talking over 80 quarters of record-breaking profits here - was ONLY made possible by the fact that Harley once again started making very good motorcycles. That, and their marketing department hit several grand slams over the years. It isn't that I totally disagree with you, or anyone else that is critical of H-D these days, but the picture is larger than you think, I think. Oh, no doubt, all of the above. My theory was a total shot in the dark. As a matter of fact, I don't remember Harley's crap quality days. I have to look it up. My whole point is: trying to convince today's bleeding-edge kids that they need need a slow bike that looks 50-60 years old is a lost cause. And as those kids age, there's not one reason in the world that they would start seeking them out, certainly not en masse. ~SM (Message edited by Swordsman on April 21, 2010) | ||
| Glitch |
My whole point is: trying to convince today's bleeding-edge kids that they need need a slow bike that looks 50-60 years old is a lost cause. My son and I were just talking (he's 19) and he agrees with you 100%. H-D is destine to sell niche motorbikes, to a niche market. Unless of course they come up with something different. Too bad they murdered something different in every sense... | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
Al and I can scrounge elevator platform riding boots for you to get back up on the stock seat. Tom, thx for the offer. BTW, I can get up on the stock seat just fine (kinda hafta get a run at it...), it's just that once I'm up there I can't reach the damn kickstand.  Swordsman beat me to it. Born in 1880 & 1881. Oddball, it was just a matter of time before I stuck a foot in my mouth. Thx for the catch. if i'm able to make it to franklin this year,i'll be on the ultra. hopefully i can get you to school me on it. Neal, dunno what you're talking about - everyone knows Harleys are too heavy and too underpowered to do anything but cruise slowly around town hoping someone will be impressed. My whole point is: trying to convince today's bleeding-edge kids that they need need a slow bike that looks 50-60 years old is a lost cause. SM, I can't argue with that (besides, you'd do a quick Google and find a Wiki factoid to back up your contention... ) It'll be interesting to see what tactics Harley takes to position itself for the next 20 years. SM (and anyone else interested in playing): What would YOU do if you were Mr. Wandell? Serious question, and please don't use this as an opportunity to take a cheap shot at him. What would YOU do, right now, tomorrow, next week, next month, next year, to help insure that Harley-Davidson prospers for the next 20 years? Take care. FB | ||
| Swordsman |
Unless of course they come up with something different. Too bad they murdered something different in every sense... And see, I think that's a pretty good indicator of how far Harley has to go. Even as cool as Buells are, they STILL didn't meet the criteria that the younger generation demands. ~SM | ||
| Road_thing |
Well, today's beeding-edge kids are tomorrow's middle-age guys (and gals). Some will mellow and look for comfort and reliability, even at the expense of absolute performance. I know I did. I'm almost 59, and if you had told me in 1970 that one day I would want a 700-lb garbage wagon, I'd have said you were crazy. But here I am. Partly it's a nostalgia thing. I'll freely admit that I can remember watching guys kick-start brand-new panheads. In my eyes, a fat 16" front wheel in a deeply valanced fender topped by a chrome headlight nacelle just looks right. Call me a traditionalist. But if my RK didn't work as well as it does (and has) I wouldn't still be on it. For the last 20 years or so HD has built machines that work well, with a high level of build quality. I value those attributes. Call me a functionalist. It remains to be seen how many of today's bleeding-edge kids will become "functionalists" in the future. I tend to agree that many if not most of them will probably fall outside of my "traditionalist" box. That's the conundrum that HD faces. rt | ||
| Reindog |
BTW, I can get up on the stock seat just fine (kinda hafta get a run at it...), it's just that once I'm up there I can't reach the damn kickstand I bring my own oxygen as that seat is way up there where the eagles fly. Lucky I have dirtbike experience as the seat height doesn't really bother me at all. | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
RT, very well said. Tom, the seat height didn't bother me, either. OK, yes it did. | ||
| Blake |
Harley abandoned the high performance market four decades ago. Buell was their ticket back into that market, but they chose to sabotage and then kill off Buell Motorcycle Company. Then in spite they refused to sell even just the water-cooled portion of Buell's product line to interested buyers. Yeah, real savvy people. Not. Idiots! How anyone could count themselves a friend of Erik Buell but maintain respect for HDI is beyond me. I'd rather ride a Yamaha. In fact, I cannot think of another brand I'd not rather purchase ahead of a Harley-Davidson. | ||
| Blake |
Jerry, Did you read Steve Anderson's report in the current issue of Cycle World? If not, I can send you a copy. | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
Looks like it be time to head back to my hole. | ||
| Gunut75 |
All hd shirts that I own, from all over the world, since October, have become work shirts. They wont last 6 months between bricklaying and machining. Oil or mortar. Choose your path of destruction.....................even the one from Beijing.  | ||
| Swordsman |
besides, you'd do a quick Google and find a Wiki factoid to back up your contention... Damn straight! Wikipedia makes me look smart whether it's accurate or not!  This has been a really great thread so far! I like the game idea... let's see. 1.) Begin steering away from tough guy biker marketing. Instead, begin to focus on adventure and socializing. Fewer chaps and tassles, more full face helmets and lightly armored jackets. 2.) Like the Asphalt & Rubber article stated, there's way too much "parts binning" going on in an effort to stretch the model lineup. Unless you're a Harley fanatic, is IS virtually impossible to tell all the various models apart, which really begs the question "why bother?" Pare down the lineup to the most distinctly different models, and add all those other bits back to the accessories catalog. 3.)Update the Blast's styling, rename it, and market it heavily. Sell it for $4500. Offer a slew of sport and light touring accessories. Don't forget a few factory performance bits. Let the new Blast soak in for awhile, so the public could adjust to seeing customized sport-styled bikes with the bar-n-shield. 4.) Release a new V twin version. Just slap the 883 Sportster engine in this considerably lighter bike. Offer it for $6k. Now you have a true entry level and a sportier option than the Sportster, for those not interested in the cruiser segment. 5.) Create a new VRod-based performance tourer with updated styling. 6.) The V twin sport Blast has soaked enough. Develop a modern V-twin engine, 750-900 cc, and slap it in an all-new cafe' racer. Beyond that, I'd have to see how my other plans had panned out first! ~SM (Message edited by Swordsman on April 21, 2010) | ||
| Hootowl |
If I were CEO of HD (to answer your question FB), I'd beg Erik to come back, give him 51% ownership of the Buell-HD JV and complete control over the company. Then I'd sit back and watch the AMA and WSB wins roll in and the bikes roll out of the show rooms. Then as those bleeding edge kids age (gracefully, like RT of course) they'd stay in the HD-Buell family and buy HD cruisers and touring bikes. | ||
| Glitch |
Then as those bleeding edge kids age (gracefully, like RT of course) they'd stay in the HD-Buell family and buy HD cruisers and touring bikes. Before I knew what a Buell was, I said "if H-D make a sportbike, I'd buy one" I never saw myself riding an H-D. The S1WL was born, WOW! I could see myself riding one of those, still can. I never saw myself riding an H-D, besides, I had been bit hard by the sportbike bug, and Japanese bikes in these parts are too easy to find and afford. Turned 40, the XBs were born, I had to have one, and one I had to have. I could see myself riding an H-D some day... then... Oct 15 2009 I don't see myself riding an H-D | ||
| Swordsman |
Well, today's beeding-edge kids are tomorrow's middle-age guys (and gals). Some will mellow and look for comfort and reliability, even at the expense of absolute performance. Oh I agree. BUT, I believe these grown-up kids will be much more likely to purchase sport tourers than what H-D is currently offering. I suspect the Victory Vision may be the style of the future. But that's just me. ~SM | ||
| Reindog |
FB is a troglodyte and a fresh water pirate. | ||
| Reg_kittrelle |
Jerry, make room in that hole ...I'll be there with you. | ||
| B00stzx3 |
+1, I'll buy Victory before HD. At 21 years old, I wanted a sportbike. Got the Firebolt. Thought maybe in 10-20 years I might be on a cruiser. It will NEVER be a Harley Davidson. They have lost my respect for gimping and then killing the only viable American sportbike. I don't drive imports (Fords and Buells only!), but I'd break my strong redneck trait and drive an import before an HD. | ||
| Road_thing |
Bladefellow, I agree with your points #1-6 100%. As to the future, I just hope to be here and still riding when it arrives! rt ...aging gracefully, my ass... | ||
| Blake |
I was strongly in the market for a big Harley. Not anymore. The Uly is as comfortable a bike as I've ever ridden, especially for some of the roads I like to ride. I'll probably do whatever it takes to keep it going for decades to come. | ||
| Hootowl |
I didn't say your ass was aging gracefully. You spend too much time on an S1 for that to happen. | ||
| Nevrenuf |
i definitely like the idea of the retooled blast sword. just changing the bars with the city-x bars along with the tuono mirrors changes the way it looks and feels. already changed out the cams in it and gonna be changing out the top end in the not to distant future. can't wait to see what that does to it. | ||
| Ratbuell |
I sold my FLHP when I got my Ulysses. Sport-touring, methinks...will be a BIG wave of the future for motorcycling (it's no slouch right now...). The Ulysses proves to me that a bike doesn't have to be slow and heavy, to be comfortable and carry a ton of crap. And I know I'm not the only person in the market who thinks that way, either about the Uly, or offerings from BMW or Ducati or Triumph or...... And screw aging gracefully. Just 'cause I'm growing old doesn't mean I have to grow *up*! | ||
| Road_thing |
I quit growing *up* by the time I was 20. Since then I've mostly been growing *out*!! I was looking at a new Triumph Scrambler yesterday. Lotta bike for $8K... rt | ||
| Dynasport |
I have come to realize I am just not a mainstream guy. There are two mainstream motorcycle segments in the U.S. today (ok, maybe three, but I'll get to that in a minute). They are sport bikes and cruisers. The third, I suppose, is touring bikes, in which I include the Goldwings and Harley's baggers. I suppose the Victory Vision and their new Cross Roads and Cross Country also qualify, as well as the Vulcan Voyager and Nomad and some other metric bike cruiser touring versions. Anyway, back to my point. While I find I am attracted to sport touring bikes like the Yamaha FJR and dual sport bikes like Suzuki V-Strom (and my Uly XT), those are really niche markets in the U.S. Those bikes often languish for months on the showroom floors and dealers really have little to no interest in them because they are such slow movers compared to the cruisers and sport bikes. So, while the vast majority of folks on here may not be interested in cruisers, a very large percentage of the U.S. motorcycle market is. And, like it or not, HD is still seen by most Americans as a desirable brand to own. As much as I have tried to sing the praises of my Buell to my riding buddies, they simply aren't interested. They either want a "cool" cruiser or a cutting edge sport bike. Period. The HD name still has a lot of cache in the cruiser world and I think still has a lot of potential for success. I agree with the suggestion to pare down the lines a bit and make the differences part of the P&A catalog. Maybe put the V-Rod motor in a touring bike. Maybe reduce prices a bit, or hold the line on prices anyway. I wouldn't cut them too much, though, to keep the high end perception of the market. Oh, and sell Buell to Bombardier (too late for that one I suppose). | ||
| Patches |
"Oh, and sell Buell to Bombardier (too late for that one I suppose)." How much is Buell MC worth? How much should Harley Davidson sale it for? |
