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Spiderman
| | Posted on Monday, July 12, 2010 - 04:10 pm: | 
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I don't see a whole lot of marketing for any sportbikes.
OK let's take these two examples...
This is how Ducati sold their motard.
This is how Harley thought they should sell Buell's XB12TT motard.
They had a draw on the bike contest...
Yeah no marketing at alllllll... |
Jaimec
| | Posted on Monday, July 12, 2010 - 04:44 pm: |
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quote:So when H-D management dictates what you can and can't do with your engines it's not their fault?
Thank you George. You beat me to it. |
Jaimec
| | Posted on Monday, July 12, 2010 - 04:47 pm: |
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quote:there were still new 2008 1125's on the showroom floor, how is this H-D's fault?
Who made the decision that Buells would be sold ONLY through chrome and leather emporiums by people who wouldn't know the first thing about gearing, suspension sag or hp/weight ratios from a hole in the wall? It sure as Hell wasn't Buell, that's for damned sure. |
Spiderman
| | Posted on Monday, July 12, 2010 - 04:59 pm: |
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Who made the decision that Buells would be sold ONLY through chrome and leather emporiums by people who wouldn't know the first thing about...
Are you sure this guy doesn't know anything about sport riding???
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Ft_bstrd
| | Posted on Monday, July 12, 2010 - 05:32 pm: |
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I don't see a whole lot of marketing for any sportbikes. Most sportbike marketing comes from racing and magazines, Buell had problems with both. Wasn't H-D's fault that early Buells were unreliable and seemed to have problems on every motorcycle magazine test. Also wasn't H-D's fault that Buells were not competitive in top level racing for most of the companies history. Lets not forget the other problem with buell marketing, price. Does it suck that Buell is no more, yes but that is how the market works, there were still new 2008 1125's on the showroom floor, how is this H-D's fault?
For sportbikes, the single largest marketing strategy IS racing.
The denial of a true water cooled engine during the development of the V-Rod motor doomed Buell to ineffective execution at the "top levels" of racing.
Buell wins at the "top level" of racing, and HD pulls the plug.
Buell prepares to launch the B2 platform in an effort to further compete at the "top level" of racing, and HD pulls the plug.
Yeah, I'd say that HD had a lot to say about the success (or lack thereof) in the marketing of Buell.
On the magazine front, the release of the 1125 was hindered by HD not granting the funds for proper beta testing and time in development. The shoes string was clearly visible. The early reliability was hindered but quickly remedied. Virtually NONE of the issues that plagued the 2008 were present in the 2009.
The decision to go with the "pods" were specifically a styling decision by HD who refused to produce a "fully faired" motorcycle. The "pods" were a budgetary and design "compromise".
Again, I'd say that HD had a significant impact on the marketability of Buell.
Add to this the lack luster interest in cultivating a "sport bike" clientele of many of the Buell "dealers", and it's a wonder they sold 135,000 models in the first place.
I really can't wait to see what Buell as a company can do when it's running with the wind at its back instead of always in its face. |
Hootowl
| | Posted on Monday, July 12, 2010 - 05:35 pm: |
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"A kite flies highest against the wind."
-unknown |
Reepicheep
| | Posted on Monday, July 12, 2010 - 06:46 pm: |
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Actually the cake thread is right on topic...
Go play portal again. Picture Shell as Erik Buell, and GladOS as Harley Corporate. Comic, yet tragic, and Shell outlives GladOS. 
There will be cake. And you will be baked. |
Whatever
| | Posted on Monday, July 12, 2010 - 07:50 pm: |
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Crude but true !!! 
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Ratbuell
| | Posted on Monday, July 12, 2010 - 08:50 pm: |
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there were still new 2008 1125's on the showroom floor, how is this H-D's fault?
See my post earlier in the thread.
HD has spent DECADES conditioning the buying public to believe that the ONLY kind of motorcycle that's worth a damn is a chrome cruiser.
But...people expect buyers to come to an HD showroom to get a SPORTBIKE?!?!? And with HD having Erik locked in, he didn't have much of a choice, now, did he?
Seriously now. How did they THINK that one was gonna turn out? |
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