| Author | Message | ||
     Robinpeck |
I have had more negative remarks directed against my Buell from Harley guys than from any Japanese or Euro sport bike guys...Why do you think so many Harley guys seem to dislike Buells?..after all, its basically a H-D motor. The Sport bike guys, in my experience, get a real kick out of test riding my Buell and are very impressed with its torque among other things...but the regular Harley guys can't seem to stand it. | ||
| Devil_car |
They're jealous! Can you blame them? After all, our bikes took their motors and made more power... Plus we can handle and stop, too! | ||
| Agusta74 |
I have had negative remarks on my Buells in the past from HD riders that were not based in fact.... ie the HD riders did not know what the hell they were talking about and quoted totally incorrect facts. I dismissed them as just ignorant people in general. Oddly the HD guys TELL me about my Buell (not in any way fact based) and other riders just ask questions of general interest. That's my experience.... Regards Gavin RS1200 (also had 4 Blasts) | ||
| Bbbob |
When I worked at an HD dealer my Buell would get negative comments all the time. My favorite was "the owner let's you park that "Jap Crap" in front of the store?" I now work at a BMW/Triumph/Ducati dealer were the bike gets much more respect... | ||
| Gmaan03 |
Yeah I just tell the HD guys, a Buell is what a Harley should of been...... | ||
| Hybridmomentspass |
its a strangers opinion, dont let it get to you Yes, some will assume its 'jap', but whatever. Surprisingly a lot of them also know about them and recognize the power and speed they produced. Personally, I've heard more negative comments from sport bike guys "its a 1200 and only makes a 100 hp at the crank??" etc | ||
| Ratbuell |
I used to work at a dealer, and parked my bike out front on a daily basis. One day, a guy was looking at the "new Buell" out front - my '95 S2! (this was in 2009) The fashion-show "bikers" dislike anything that doesn't have a bar and shield on it, but think they can speak on Buell specifically because it DOES have an HD motor. They think they know what they're talking about. There are Harley owners who actually RIDE, though, and without exception every single one of those who I put on a Buell for a demo...bought one. The reason we get more flak from HD owners than other brands is, no other brand on the planet carries the "holier than thou" attitude like HD. And as a result, the other brands have more actual RIDERS. Sure, there are quite a few BMW eggheads and elite Ducatisti...but NOTHING like the hordes of Wild Hogs out there. | ||
| Buellistic |
This mentality goes back to 1952 when the first K Model(replaced the WL which was a small BIG TWIN) showed up HARLEY-Davidson Dealers show room floors ... You have to remember it does not fit the WILD HOGS Biker mentality from 1952 until today because if it does not have foot boards or forward controls(DANGERIOUS AT ANY SPEED), it just is not HARLEY-DAVIDSON ... "AND" HARLEY-DAVIDSON technicians and HARLEY-DAVIDSON parts persons is also another story !!! "NOW" that BUELLs have been out of production for three years now and the HARLEY-DAVIDSON BUELL SERVICE CENTERS(technicians and parts persons), it is going to get very interesting soon ... That means you should get a FaCTORY SERVICE MANUAL and PARTS BOOK for your YEAR/MODEL BUELL and LEARN TO BE YOUR OWN "MECHANIC and PARTS MAN" ... | ||
| V74 |
A few years ago i parked my loud m2 outside Oakham HD dealer went in with my buell helmet in my hand my leather jacket undone showing my Buell tshirt,ordered something from them and asked if they could post it to me as did not have enough room on the bike to carry it home,the sales guy said "that's what you get owning a Japanese bike"i was not impressed. | ||
| Trojan |
The majority of sport bike owners are not anywhere near so 'brand loyal' as Harley riders, so tend to see a bike for what it is rather than what badge it has on the tank. Many will switch brands regularly depending on what is the 'hot' model that year, whereas a lot of H-D guys wouldn't ever look at another bike regardless of how sh*t their H-D is. I once showed a very nice new Victory motorcycle that I had on test to a member of our local H-D Riders Club, and he told ne it was a heap of sh*t before he even looked at it closely, because he could tell just be seeing the badge. He never rode it or even sat on it. However, the same guy also told me that Mobil 1 V-Twin was 'too slippery' for his H-D, so suffice to say I didn't value his opinion much  | ||
| Guell |
You have to remember it does not fit the WILD HOGS Biker mentality from 1952 until today because if it does not have foot boards or forward controls(DANGERIOUS AT ANY SPEED), it just is not HARLEY-DAVIDSON ... seriously, your kidding right? Dangerous at any speed? How about they arnt dangerous at all. And you do realize you can get harleys with mid controls right? | ||
| Preybird1 |
I have had a few Harley guys give me crap over my bike. Some people cant keep there mouth shut about other peoples bikes. I just made fun of his bike and the fact it has 80 hp. I said i dare you to race me in front of all your buddies.......He wouldn't do it. I have 114 hp at the back tire and 93 ftlbs torque. There wasn't a harley there that could even get close to the hp i was running. I had it at the Harley service shop for a repair i could not perform at home and there was like 12 guys\customers staring at it in the service shop waiting area. The HD special 100 hp club board on the wall next to my bike had like 10 bikes that actually had over 100 HP and they were all big ugly dressers and baggers. I just figured they are not real bikers, because a real biker would ride any motorcycle and not bitch about it or make fun of another bike based on brand. I have quite a few different style motorcycles and different brands. | ||
| Koz5150 |
I just look back at the Harley guys and tell them they have a pretty nice bike considering it was made by a T-shirt company. | ||
| Triman023 |
I go to Glendale HD for parts and once and a while to have work done. I have never heard a negative comment. The last time I came in, the parts guy was gone, he came back about 10 minutes later and apologized, he said " I had to go out and look at the bitchin S2T out front, I love those classic Buells". | ||
| Vecchio_lupo |
I've received a couple of negative comments, stuff like, "That's just a sportster with a body kit" or "that bike is so small, why don't you get a big twin so you can actually ride somewhere" I just ignore or sometimes say yeah it's just a Sportster, are you guys here for a parade? The vast majority of comments have been positive, I've been at several different dealerships over the years and always get the wink and wave from the techs, they all seem to have a guy who rides Buells. Only the salesmen are butt heads, but they have to make a living. Floorboards are cool, but sportsters rule, and Buells rule supreme. | ||
| Agusta74 |
I had a long time friend turn up last week on a 1997ish 1340 Superglide.... he was known for not liking HD's in the past. He was expecting me to give him shit about it. The funny thing was he didn't know I had a Buell in the shed so I said to him sarcastically outside "these people who ride 45 degree push rod V twins.... " Then in the shed 15 minutes later "wow you have a Buell!" Yes I say, powered by a 45 degree push rod V twin!!  But what I was going to say was that I ended up being more dismissive of his fast 900 Honda Fireblade than the HD! With the policing of speed being so big these days the HD just made more sense. I would rather enjoy a bike doing what it does well at 60mph rather than ride the Honda at 60 a feel it's power and handling is wasted.... that's not doing it's thing until 90. The older I get the slower the bikes I buy!! My favorite ride is a Guzzi Falcone 500 single. I would make room in the shed for a post 2007 Superglide Custom if I had the money. I just think it would be a nice relaxing ride. Regards Gavin | ||
| Sportyeric |
When Big Twin riders ask me when I'm going to "up-grade" my Sportster or my Buell for a Big Twin, I tell them I'm saving that for when I'm older and my reflexes start to slow more. (I'm 55.) But really, I agree to an extent with Gavin. I have just as much fun wringing the neck of the BMW R65LS as I do hitting warp speed on the Duc. They're all good. I just find the Buell is my "character bike." | ||
| Blackm2 |
I've never had a Harley rider say anything derogatory toward my bike. Even when I used to do Harley rides when my wife had her Sportster. Nothing but interest and questions. One time at one of the burger lunches at a Harley dealer, a large group of Buell riders were there and we had guys walking up and asking questions. Who would actually have the nuts to go up to someone and say shit about their bike anyway? You have to be a real a-hole to do that. | ||
| Jayvee |
I would love to have a Guzzi Falcone 500, or a Ducati 450. | ||
| Hootowl |
Would love to have a Guzzi some day myself. Neat bikes. | ||
| Agusta74 |
I have had both Ducati 450 and two Guzzi Falcones.... for me the 450 vibrated to much and the handling was twitchy and headshaky on rough roads. The motor always felt like the last guy at the factory "pulled the pin" and sold it quick before it exploded! Mine ran fine, but I sold it years ago but still have the Falcones. The most "fun" bike I have is a 350 Gilera Saturno... light weight, GREAT handling, huge cornering clearance and top brakes... but bugger all power. When you ride it you really have to RIDE it. Total concenration, perfect lines and perfect gear selection to keep up maximum corner speed. Their is no "just opening the throttle some more" to make up for mistakes. Not the kind of ride you would want all the time, but when you are in the moment their is little else better! Regards Gavin (seriously off topic!!) | ||
| Dave_02_1200 |
I had absolutely no interest in Buells. Then a friend insisted that I ride his S3 to see why he liked it so much. Th following week I bought a 2001 S3T. The next month I bought my 2002 M2L. If you like to ride, you will like a Buell. If you want to join in with the wild hogs for social reasons, buy a HD. That said, Honda VFRs are very good bikes. | ||
| Todsho |
I have owned many bikes over the years..Honda, Kawasaki, Susuki and Harleys. I now own a Buell and in my area I have never gotten negative comments from HD guys or from anyone for that matter. I will tell you this..A few times, I have been stranded on the side of the road for different reasons, some of which where my own fault (forgetting to check the gas and forgetting that I was already on reserve..uh um)and as I was sitting on the side of the road, I had guys on sport bikes ride by, guys on metric cruisers ride by..but..in the 45 min to an hour I was there, 3 guys stopped to make sure everything was O.K....all on Harley's! Funny thing is..I was on a Honda at the time. I guess thats why I started riding Harley's. In the few times I broke down, I never had to wait too long for assistance. It's ok to be brand loyal, just don't be an ass about it. If I told you that I was A Mopar man..you chevy guys would think I'm crazy..same thing. to each his own. Even though I own a Buell, I will stop for any bike that needs assistance...I learned this from the Harley riders. Maybe it's just the area I live in. End Rant (Message edited by todsho on February 21, 2012) | ||
| Hogluvr |
Well said Todsho! I have both Harleys and Buells, although most of my Harleys are antiques. HD left a bad taste in my mouth in 2009 and I seriously doubt I will ever own another new one, the last new one I bought (and the newest one I own) is a 1994 FXLR. I'll admit I am brand-specific with my tastes, but that doesn't stop me from riding with my neighbor and his old metric bikes. I give anyone credit who prefers two wheels to four, and dismiss the occasional a$$ clown who says something negative about any of my bikes as just another ignorant fool. Like was said before, to each his own. Nothing wrong with that... | ||
| Todsho |
Thanx Hogluvr...It just rubs me the wrong way sometimes when people start complaining about HD and other brands for that matter, and those who ride them and enjoy WHAT they ride. Who cares what you ride. I guess I should'nt mention that I wear my HD jacket when I ride my buell.(OH NOOO..Thats just not right!)I loved my old HD's, even though they where uncomfortable and rough riding...well, so is my Buell, but who cares. In my experience, those who get on you about what BRAND you ride probly has never been on two wheels to begin with. Enjoy what you ride nomatter what it is and ride with anyone that is safe to ride with and enjoy it. I dont care if your on a scooter..I'll ride wth you! (Message edited by TODSHO on February 21, 2012) | ||
| Hogluvr |
Reminds me of a few years back, I was starting a new job. The guy hiring me tells me one of the guys I will be working with rides a bike. I'm thinking "cool". Well, this guy comes up to me one day and says "I heard you ride, what kind of bike do you have?" When I told him, he said "F%^$ Harley, those things are nothing but overpriced junk, etc, etc" as I walked away. In the spring he comes in with his bike, happens to be the same day I ride mine in for the first time. He stands there looking all proud with his bike, I believe it was a Suzuki that looked just like a Harley! I'm thinking are you kidding me? You hate Harleys so much and you ride something that looks identical to one? Needless to say a bunch of people came out to look at the bikes and everyone had circled around my bike, he didn't look too happy then!  | ||
| Todsho |
People complain about how "over priced" Harleys are...and they are overpriced..not disputing that fact but look at the price of a comperable Victory..not too much different. I actually like the Victory and would not mind owning one. Some people diss HD because they cannot afford to buy one..hell..I can't either, so they get the next best thing,..something that looks like an HD which is pretty much any metric cruiser out there! HD must have done something right to have the majority of other manufacturers make there bikes look strikeingly similar. Thats how I came to own my Buell..wanted an HD but could not find one reasonable enough for me at the time and came accross my X1. Baught it off of a drug addict that needed money and pickrd it up reasonable enough to give it a shot. Still looking for a cruiser though. (Message edited by todsho on February 21, 2012) | ||
| Todsho |
When I first got my Buell, it kind of upset me when people would ask "what the hell is that thing?" Then it occured to me that I had one of a handfull of Buell's in my area, I've only seen 3 since I've owned mine. After that realization, I kinda like when people say that cause I have something different that they may have never seen before...and that makes it cool! | ||
| S1owner |
I have never had a negative comment i ride with HD owners and other sport bikes! I take it as a compliment when they have that dazed and confused look about them trying to figure out what it is. Is that not one of the reasons we own Buells right. I also love when they hear the high rev load ass Gxser my buddy has and then as i pull up here the low harley rumble confusion sets in quickly. It is surprising how many HD owners do not even know what they are! I have the freeman motorcycle "club" main club house right down the road they give me the thumbs up! | ||
| Court |
>>>>When I first got my Buell, it kind of upset me when people would ask "what the hell is that thing?" Me too. But then , . . there were only 6 of them in the world so it was kind of understandable. |
