| Author | Message | ||
     Mr_grumpy |
Those of you who were at homecoming may recall my asking the CEO of Buell about the european dealer network. Well at the beginning of the year in the Brittany region there were 4 there's now 1, one company with 3 dealerships has had their franchise withdrawn, for HD too I have to say. I don't know all the reasons, but I do know that if I want to visit an official dealer I have a choice of directions & round trip times of 2-1/2 to 4-1/2hrs depending on which of the 4 nearest ones I want to go to. It's quicker, easier & cheaper for me to phone Dave in Appleton, & have him send me stuff. It's a strange world,& that's the truth! | ||
| Lake_bueller |
Welcome to the wonderful world of Buells! Seriously, I was about 2 1/2 hours round trip before moving to Green Bay. It's a little better but now. Only about 1 hour. But it will be longer after I move. Looks like I'll be adding about 45 minutes to the round trip. BTW...looks like France is out for next year. The new house is going to put a short term crimp in my travel plans. On the bright side, I'll have a very nice work shop in the garage  | ||
| Wyckedflesh |
The fact that they had both their HD liscence and Buell liscence pulled, it sounds like the dealer was not all on the up and up...Maybe that means you will have a new and better dealer in the area soon. | ||
| Ray_maines |
No, seriously; welcome to the wonderful world of Buell! As far as I can tell it's that way in Tacoma Washington and just about everywhere else as well. It used to be Danny at Modesto, now it seems to be Dave at Appleton. There is always somebody somewhere but it's never anybody in your home town. Different in every sense. | ||
| M1combat |
I think it really comes down to the fact that fewer people ride than drive. I don't think it's reasonable to expect to have as many motorcycle dealerships as car dealerships. There's four different places within ten miles of me where I can buy a Ford. I don't expect that from my Buell... Incidentally, there's one place within 40 miles of me where I can buy a Harley/Buell... sounds about right to me in MY situation. Sure, a couple hours round trip sucks, but what about if you owned a Ducati or Aprilia? I'd have to go to Phoenix (about a three hour round trip if I haul •••). Guzzi, a little closer. Honzukawamaha... right here in town but they really •••• me off EVERY time I go there... | ||
| Ray_maines |
Oh, and one more thing......... God Bless the Internet! We would all be so screwed without the ability to communicate with each other. How would we even know about Dave in Appleton if not for the internet? I used to think I would like to invent a time machine and go back to the 1800's or something like that. Not anymore; I wouldn't go back in time any farther than broadband internet. The only two good things to have been invented in the last two hundred years are penicillin and cable modems. | ||
| Daves |
"God Bless the Internet! We would all be so screwed without the ability to communicate with each other. How would we even know about Dave in Appleton if not for the internet?" Amen to that!!!!!  And just think, I had to talk them into having internet in my office here. I think they are ok with it now?  | ||
| Steve_mackay |
See, there are advantages to living in Wisconsin  Lets see, for me there is: Hal's HD about 10 minutes Milwaukee HD/Buell about 20 minutes House of Harley/Buell about 20 minutes Wisconsin HD/Buell about 30 minutes, but I think they only will sell Blasts now according the Kirk. Suburban Motors about 45 minutes Hartford HD/Buell (not sure, never been there, but I think they are owned by the same people as West Bend HD, which I wouldn't call them a Buell dealership) Racine HD/Buell about 45 minutes Ukes about 50 minutes Kutter about an hour If it wasn't for the nice people at Hals giving me the same discount as Daves, I'd be buying my stuff from him. | ||
| Firemanjim |
Sorry to hear about your woes.I am totally unfamiliar with that as I have Buell friendly dealerships all over the area with (IMHO) the best right down the street from my firehouse.I have not bought a bike from these guys since they made the mistake of selling me my S-2 in 1995(bought 4 H/D's from them before that)and I am still treated like a king.Virtually everyone that works there will give a smile and a good morning when I walk through.I waltzed in the other day,plopped my S-2 motor on the bench in the race shop,bought a main seal from parts,looked up the proper installation tool and used it to put in said seal.Then waltzed right back out with no one raising an eyebrow.I get a ton of support for my racing activities,even got the owner talked into coming out to Bonneville this year.And they have put an incredible effort into their AFM Formula IV bike--which BTW took a first place finish this last weekend at Thunderhill. | ||
| Charlieboy6649 |
I'm also 3.5 hrs round trip to my dealer, but I have to agree with M1's sentiments. Can't wait till I can buy DaveS a beer for his excellent service...Thanks! Oh yea...Yay internet... | ||
| Hacksaw |
FMJ does Vallejo HD stock plenty of Buell parts, or do you have them order what you need? | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
I get what you all are saying but I live just outside the regional Capital, This is the 3rd most expensive city in France, business is booming here, if I lived in a 1 horse town in the middle of nowhere, I could understand it. As you say, " welcome to the wonderful world of Buell! "  | ||
| Trojan |
Hi Mr Grumpy, I think your nearest Buell dealer now is probably Dockgate 20 in Southampton, England! Mail order is the way to go (unless you need your bike servicing of course) (Message edited by trojan on June 23, 2005) | ||
| Kahuna |
that is so true! we are in the same boat here in canada. horrible dealer support. Dave is soon to be a VERY important Buell figure around the world  |
