| Author | Message | ||
     Outrider |
Interesting comment about the ad in Fuell. Wonder what the job is and who will get it? Another interesting point is that the event is a BRAG Homecoming, not a Buell Homecoming. Considering I know more Non-BRAG Buell owners, I wonder how the word is being spread to them? To be honest, I may have missed some email correspondence about the event. However, the only way I knew of it was from the BWB and later the club sections of the Buell and Harley websites and I am registered on both company sites. Just wondering how BRAG is promoting the event to Non-BRAG Buell owners. Can someone enlighten me? Perhaps somewhere in the responses may be a clue that BRAG may pick up on that might result in increased membership and participation at their events. The inverse is, if all they are interested in is the dedicated few, they have done their job well. | ||
| Bomber |
I believe they are not promoting it to non-brag members, at least, not expending a great deal of time doing so -- other than perhaps posters in some dealerships and the like) when you read BRAG (in this instance, anyway) think HOG, and sk if HOG is trying to reach non-members -- my guess (bolsterd, as per usual, with very little data!) is no | ||
| Outrider |
Bomber...Interesting point. I wonder if it is safe to assume that the majority of motorcyclists (all brands) know of HOG, but only a small percentage know of BRAG and how BRAG differs from HOG? Would also be interesting to know what percentage of Buell owners belong to BRAG and compare it to Harley owners that belong to HOG. Take that one step further and compare National membership to Club/Chapter membership. As a marketing guy I love crunching the numbers as well as developing and implementing strategies to meet or exceed the desired results. I think it is safe to assume that the folks at BRAG do as well. If not, perhaps it may be one reason for the employment opportunity. | ||
| BadS1 |
Looks like Peggy is leaving,getting promoted to something else or????The job description is hers none the less on page 15. | ||
| Outrider |
Glad to hear Peggy got promoted. I enjoyed the few times I had the opportunity to see her in action and talk with her. Incidentally, please don't take any of my questions, assumptions or comments as an attack against Peggy or anyone else that is visible to the public in BRAG. Typically, in a large corporate environment, things like this involve many levels and as we all know...Stuff rolls downhill and it is not a good idea to shoot the messenger. | ||
| BadS1 |
Peggy got promoted???Bill I didn't say that. | ||
| Outrider |
Dana...Gulp, you are right. It was an option in your post and I like to be optimistic concerning people's careers. | ||
| Court |
I joined B.R.A.G. within the last month and am still scratching my head at why, after 20 years of Buell riding, it wasn't soemthing I was itching to do. B.R.A.G., in my personal opinion, has been thrust upon us as "B.R.A.G. Lite" a watered down version of H.O.G. (which, by the way, I eagerly joined and have been a Life Member of since the week I bought the first of my 9 Harley-Davidsons in 1987). The idea of morphing a Halrey-Davidson employee, giving them the Harley-Davidson H.O.G. business model and expecting output that attracts and meets the needs of Buell riders and owners is pretty much a long shot. Interesting is the fact that when an event, say the recent impromtu with about 6 days notice, at Liberty drew more Buells than any "official" event the last 5 years, carries a sublte message. I'm not "anti-B.R.A.G." there's just little there that seems to cater to anything that interests me. Joining is pretty much the price of admission to Homecoming, where I'm looking forward to seeing old friends and taking a few days rest from a long ride. Mary, just like Leslie before her, has done a marvelous job of driving the screw with a hammer. Just so we don't go down the same road as last time, let me be clear that I think they are both wondreful folks, doing a wonderful job, just sent to the battle armed with the wrong tools. I am quite confused by what the need for "confidentiality" is surrounding B.R.A.G. Court | ||
| Outrider |
Court...My use of the term "confidentiality" in reference to BRAG has to do with internal management and has little to do with the folks charged with communications to the membership. In essence, Standard Operating Procedures for any business or corporation, regardless of size. Kindly do not assume that my posts are critical of the system. The only reason for posting them is to stimulate thought among the readers and that includes those from both Buell and BRAG. I realize the folks that are hired to fill these positions are well qualified, a good fit in the corporation and that they have promotion potential. I am not attacking any individual. In fact, I am not even attacking the corporation. I only mention topics that might stimulate thought in hopes that both BRAG and Buell will grow. In the event I have caused anyone any discomfort, kindly accept my sincere apology. | ||
| Outrider |
Dana...The apology is most applicable to you since I disrupted your thread with my miscellaneous ramblings that should have been posted elsewhere. | ||
| Rex |
I would guess you guys read that erik is going to have his band at one of the homecoming nights....rex and of course, court is going to tell us all of those stories that he said to remind us to ask him to tell us...ahahhaha. rex | ||
| Court |
Hey...wouldn't it be funny if I played guitar and Erik told stories?  Pick your stories carefully.....we've only got a week! | ||
| Davegess |
I would disagree that BRAG does not know what to do to attract memebers. First I think Buell owners are much less likely to join an officail club. More likely to "join" an unofficail one like the Bonenville efforts. Second I see the BRAG adventures as not only very attractive events for Buell riders but also way outside the "normal" corporate approved events. Organizing a trip to turn a bunch of adrenaline junkies loose on what might be the most dangerous strip of pavement in America (the Dragon) is not your usual "Corporate Event" Third, FUELL is a pretty nice little rag. They do some very nice tchincal articles and highlight Buell racing every issue. Fourth, I know nothing about the local chapters so I can't comment. Fifth, they are promoting track days in the latest Fuell. That said what else do you all want? What could they do that would get you to join BRAG? | ||
| Steve_mackay |
Fourth, I know nothing about the local chapters so I can't comment. Dave, it's not like you're REAL far from Hal's. If you're ever in the neighborhood on the 2nd Thursday of the month at 6:45. Stop by Hals You'll even get to say Hi to Erik, while they practice.(He's in Hal's "house" band now ). } | ||
| Newfie_buell |
What they could do to get me to join BRAG? For starters they (HD/Buell) could make the ONLY Harley Retailer on the island sell Buells!!!!! | ||
| Koz5150 |
I don't see tons of other sportbike riders joining Dealer/corperation sponsered clubs. It just doesn't fit I guess. Most guys want to ride with their friends, and they don't need to pay to do that. I think BRAG is cool though for the dealerships when they able to gather a good set of folks. But when it comes down to it, it is all about the people who join that make it work, not BRAG management. The Buell 20th get together was not a BRAG event yet I was there riding with 80 bikes that weekend. It was the fact that all the people here wanted to ride together. I could be wrong, but I don't think a BRAG event has gotten that large yet? | ||
| Koz5150 |
I think another reason this place works better is because we don't pay dues so if you act like a butt head, people will let you know it and you get treated as such. Can't realy do that at a BRAG meeting. | ||
| Daves |
What if all their friends joined? 50.00 per year, 40.00 for National BRAG and the whopping 10.00 we charge for dues isn't that much money. You get the Fuell mag,discounts some places,atlas(although it's only good if you ride the main roads)regional rallies,Homecoming(yes I know these cost extra but only if you go) I think one of the problems is that sportbike riders, including Buell riders are more likely to hang out with riders of brands other than theirs. This makes it hard for their friends to join if they don't happen to have a Buell. Most people(except HD riders it seems) will not buy a certain brand of bike just so they can join a club. I think they should open it up to all brands, that would attract more people, their friends and have great exposure potential for Buell. Why only have the club for people that have already bought a Buell? Wouldn't it be better to include those that might buy one someday? The scenario of "Gee, I guess I have to trade my Suzuki for a Buell so I can join this cool club" doesn't work. The scenario of "Wow, even though I ride a Suzuki, those BRAG/Buell riders are pretty cool, I don't see what the magazines are talking about, they make me work to keep up with them in the twisties, they actually leave town to ride! They are friends with me even though I ride a different brand bike.Maybe next time I(or one of my friends) am in the market for a bike I'll think about buying a Buell". See the difference? | ||
| Mikej |
Daves, I think you may need a visit to California and a stop in at one of the Sport Bike Night meetings they have out there. They appear to cross brand boundaries on a regular basis. Of course, in order to generate that sort of club business model you'd have to have the same sort of people running it. ===== It's Monday morning after a variable weekend, I have no idea if my comments are relative to the relevant discussion, so I'll sidestep out of here for a bit. | ||
| Steve_mackay |
Dave, that's an excellent idea. Open it up to other brands. Many of Brew City's longer rides have other brands ride with us. Last year's Slimey crud run had 4 Buell S3s(yeah, that bike that never sold well ), A Honda 929, a Ducati 748s, and Suzuki GSXR 600. Both the riders of the Honda 929, and 748 asked if they could join us on other rides, and were actually employees of one of the local Honda/Suzuki/Ducati/Kawasaki dealer. On this years attempt at the Slimey crud run(but gave up half way through, just wasn't having fun, too cold, too wet), we had RickyRacer on his BMW, and me, and Steve on S3Ts(yeah, there's that bike that didn't sell again ). He talked about the local BMW club "talking" about riding, but didn't do much of it | ||
| Davegess |
Daves, that is a good idea. I don't know how ar up the Juneau Ave flagpole it might get BUT how about a BRAG member can bring a friend to any club meeting or club ride regardless of what they ride? I suspect the local BRAG clubs could do this without any corporate OK at all. Just keep it very informal, can't stop people form riding on public roads, hanging out at a HD dealer can you? | ||
| Bomber |
Brag doens't have a lot of trouble getting riders to join, I think (based on personal experience and a very non-scientific poll) it does, however, have a great deall of difficulty getting riders to re-up (see above disclaimer) BRAG doesn't know what it wants to be -- Court's statement about screws and hammers above applies entirely -- the HOG business model is so well developed, I think the the local chapters would continue on for years, even without HDI's involvement part of the difficutly is scale, and the lack thereof in local BRAG chapters -- with the small numbers of regular attendees at a particular sponsoring dealership, the MC-related activities in many chapters shrink in size if one or two of the chapter sparkplugs stop participating for one reason or another --HOG chapters simply have a larger pool of talent from which to draw seems odd the Buell (the manufacturer) can so well target what their customers (potential and realized) want, while BRAG has so much difficulty that all said, I'm a member (have been since I bought my MaDeuece), and likely will be for the foreseeable future | ||
| Lastcyclone |
I'll be there. Please stay on topic. | ||
| Newfie_buell |
Off topic again, Dave, I could be wrong BUT can't a non-Buell owner be sponsored into BRAG by a Buell Owner similar to the HOG Rules. Isn't that rule designed to encourage to buy into the brand after they ride with the Buell/HOG people for a while? | ||
| Rex |
Several of our guys are HOG members, so if you are a HOG member, or if you are a BRAG member, you are welcome in both. I am a member of both. So some of the guys do their HOG membership, which entitles them to attend all BRAG events. They can pick up the Fuell magazine free at the dealer. This may be cutting back on some BRAG dues. Come on out to California to American Sport Bike Night, DAVE, when you get a chance. we consistently run 50-75 people at our events, the first monday of each month. We would love to have you as our guest and talk to us about your success selling buells. We are just a meeting place for people to connect with motor cycle enthusiasts...of course buells are our main thread, but others show up. We have one brag chapter, unfortunately only one, in northern cal, even with all of our dealers. We try to always give BRAG time at the meeting, put up signs, etc. to discuss upcoming brag events. WE have asked if we could have several dealers go together and form one large BRAG group called Bay ARea Brag. WE were declined the idea. They wanted each individual dealer to sponsor a group. We could have 40-70 brag members consistently each month, vrs. one dealer only having 5-10 folks show up at a local brag meeting. WE are all motorcyclists, and you will see a lot of brands show up. Most of the buell owners own other bikes too. Ducati, Honda, KTM, Harley, etc. The local dealers show up, give us items for door prizes, magazine reps show up, manufacturers show up, etc. We try to have somthing each month as a feature for the folks. Flat track night, Paris to Dakar night, Hill climb night, Ducati night, KTM night, Single cylinder night, Tire Rep night, etc. WE have a great time. In fact, vallejo buell had an event for us, and opened up the dyno. WE had more suzukis and hondas there, than other bikes. the owner was excited to get the other riders to his shop. rex | ||
| Court |
Dave is dead on. Over the years I've been invited to a couple gigs that were billed as "Buells Only". I didn't go, wouldn't go. Discrimination, be it women accountants or motorcycles, serves only to make the offending party/class comfy, by exclusion of others, that they are they are the alpha/omega in a given field. Besides...to GROW Buell, folks within the Buell community, be they diplomats, dealers or devotees, need access to the "target market". I have lots in common with all Buell riders, I have a great deal in common and generally enjoy the company of all motorcycle riders. Woz owns about a gazillion bikes....to me, he's ALWAYS THE WOZ. Court | ||
| Daves |
Mikej, I'd love to go t one of the American Sport Bike Night meetings! Now, just to find the time? Steve, How many of your S3s did you buy when they were new and 12,000? I know they are a great bike, I rode one my first summer as a Bueller, they just do not sell, new anyway. DaveGess, Been running BRAG clubs this way for 5 years now. All brands are welcome at our meetings and rides. Sold a Buell or two in the meantime!  So I know it works. Newfie, Yep, you can get signed up as an associate member with someone else's VIN and full membership. I just don't see that happening, actually I have never seen it happen. Kind of gets back to the "you really don't belong till you ride the right brand" mentality that for me anyway, would be a huge turn off. I do have HOG members in the BRAG club and I am a full member of both HOG and BRAG. Lastcyclone, Sorry, but I will be at the Homecoming! I'll buy you some Koolaid. Rex, You guys have it going on! I'd love to come to one of your groups get togethers! Kind of the inspiration for the Sunday rides to Dundee we are having this summer. Next one is the 15th PS, thanks for the order today! Court says "Discrimination, be it women accountants or motorcycles, serves only to make the offending party/class comfy, by exclusion of others, that they are they are the alpha/omega in a given field. Besides...to GROW Buell, folks within the Buell community, be they diplomats, dealers or devotees, need access to the "target market". I have lots in common with all Buell riders, I have a great deal in common and generally enjoy the company of all motorcycle riders. " Here, here!  | ||
| BadS1 |
One week until registration Deadline!!!} | ||
| Koz5150 |
Well, I am planning on showing up to the Battletrax. I am not registered though. If I am not welcome, I hope someone would please let me know before I make the ride out there. | ||
| BadS1 |
Koz you know your welcome at any dealer event man. |
