| Author |
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99buellx1
| | Posted on Monday, January 27, 2003 - 11:31 am: | 
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Dave and I do our best to be up on the products and all that stuff.
But the fact remains, we LIKE what we are doing. You cant just pick someone and change them into careing.
The bad thing is that our other salesmen, and also our sales manager dont really know anything about the bikes or the sportbike world. Its kinda sad, but like I said they dont care, and they have us here so then they just try even less.
Craig
HD/Buell Cycle Center
Waterloo, IA |
Bomber
| | Posted on Monday, January 27, 2003 - 11:34 am: |
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Craig . . . . .you hit the nail on the head, sir . . .you can't change someone into caring . .. .it's like legislating morality . . . .doesn't work so good |
Mikej
| | Posted on Monday, January 27, 2003 - 11:43 am: |
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If it wasn't for legislation and litigation there would be no underground and no underworld. |
Bomber
| | Posted on Monday, January 27, 2003 - 11:44 am: |
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izzat you Abby?
long time no hear |
Mikej
| | Posted on Monday, January 27, 2003 - 11:50 am: |
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Bomber
| | Posted on Monday, January 27, 2003 - 12:00 pm: |
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I can hear Bill Cosby as we speak . . . . . . |
Sarodude
| | Posted on Monday, January 27, 2003 - 12:18 pm: |
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Gotta say a few things here...
A few years ago, before I'd ever ridden a bike, I'd sooner be caught dead than ride a Harley. Loud, ridiculous, anachronistic pieces of poseur trash ridden only by those trying desperately to be seen.
Well, I'm still sticking to my guns about the loud, ridiculous, anachronistic thing... I have, however, come to ENJOY and APPRECIATE those things about our FXD - arguably not entirely a Harley in quite a few ways. I enjoy the crap outta flogging that thing through the twisty stuff and wish that it didn't bottom or scrape as much as it did - grinning the whole time.
However, some things happened this weekend that made me realize why I could never give the bikes a chance. Loli, currently a HOG member feeling out the waters, said that she's gonna allow her HOG membership to expire. This happened after a very impressive Golden State BRAG turnout at Glendale HD / Buell where, due to SuperBowl Sunday, the Brag group met on the same Saturday as the HOG folks did.
In short, her comments about the majority of the HOGs summed up something I think Court said a while back - something to the effect of Buells are about INCLUSION and (at least implicitly) that HDs are about EXLUSION. Forgive me, sir Canfield, if this was not you or not quite what you intended to say.
Loli still loves our Dyna. She can't wait till her Sporty gets out for its post custom maiden ride. She'd just rather hang out with the BRAG folks - and wishes her short legs didn't kill her chances of riding a XB9S. Mind you, she isn't interested in ditching the Sporty.
Sometime in late 01 I was riding the Lemon Blast home from Santa Barbara. We stopped by SB HD and soon to be Buell. We started talking to a very interesting character there. He mentioned how the dealership was being sold and how they unfortunately had to start selling Buells. Loli and I both started in on how that was the wrong approach to dealing with the whole Buell thing. He asked what we rode - so outside we went.
There sat my Blast. This dinky little one lunging plastic thing that apparently SCREAMED, "Jerry, please ride me!" I could see it on the sales guy's face so I gave him my keys. He're this MUSCULAR, SHAVED HEAD, TATTOOED, Chopper riding cat blasting down the streets of Carpinteria on my Blast with a ridiculous grin on his face.
"Man, that things a Blast!" He paused. He started laughing. He now rides a 97 S1 and is VERY happy to be selling Buells and Harleys - and was quite happy to sell our friend a used 01 Blast - her first bike.
I'm not sure what my point is - other than don't knock it just 'cause you don't get it.
-Saro |
Mikej
| | Posted on Monday, January 27, 2003 - 12:22 pm: |
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Saro,
Sadly the exclusion aspect of some groups doesn't exist only in HOGdom. |
Court
| | Posted on Monday, January 27, 2003 - 12:29 pm: |
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>>>I think Court said a while back - something to the effect of Buells are about INCLUSION and (at least implicitly) that HDs are about EXLUSION. Forgive me, sir Canfield, if this was not you or not quite what you intended to say.
Close....I can't take credit for the HD exclusion part. The source of that quote was when I was invited to be a guest at a major Buell event and found that a friend (Ducati 900SS) was not welcome. I asked they include anyone who "loved to ride" and they did. We had a great time. I REALLY like Buells but know enough not to limit my choice of "who I like" to a single brand. |
Road_Thing
| | Posted on Monday, January 27, 2003 - 12:48 pm: |
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Absolutely right, Court. If it has two wheels and a motor, I happen to think it's cool, and if somebody else happens to like it more than I do, well, that's cool, too! But if somebody thinks he's cooler than somebody else because of what he rides (or what the other guy doesn't ride), he's, uh, how shall I put this... missing the point!
r-t |
Dynarider
| | Posted on Monday, January 27, 2003 - 12:49 pm: |
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True Mike, even within the Buell/Brag culture some groups are more exclusionary & or clique than others are.
My local HOG group is real bad about looking down on anything thats not a Harley. They will let other bikes ride along, but they let em know "they should be riding american steel" LOL.
Thats one of the reasons I really dont have anything to do with them anymore.
Even within HOG you have various factions, now these arent hard & set rules but merely examples. Bagger riders that look down on the softail/chopper lookalikes, Fatboy owners looking down on sportys, etc.
Thats one thing I will give most Buell owners credit for. They dont look down on riders of other bikes. Everyone is welcome to come & partake in the festivities. Well almost all Buell owners are that way, did have 1 instance that really hangs with me & pisses me off but for now I prefer not to air the dirty laundry. The person is a member of this board. |
Joey
| | Posted on Monday, January 27, 2003 - 01:27 pm: |
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I was at Worth HD of Gladstone about 2 years ago. The bike I liked (it was purple) was about $17,000. I talked to a salesman about a bike for my wife, who is not quite 5 feet tall. He pointed at a black Blast!, which we both checked out. It was less than $5K. My wife told me that we could get me a bike, but $5K was the limit. Good thing, regarding my previous experience on motorcycles (KZ440 for a total of about 2 miles in the early 80's). I took a closer look at the Blast!, and decided I liked it. I called the dealer, and told him that his $4,660 was too much, but if he threw in two helmets, I would buy. I told him I had check in hand. He offered one helmet. I took it. My only regret is that I didn't shop around. Within a few weeks, I saw that a place in Nebraska was selling them at $1K off.
My point is, the salesman did know he had a Blast! for sale. I didn't know enough to ask any questions. It was priced right, and I bought it. Perhaps I should have at least sat on it once before I bought it. Someone needs to let the dealers know that the Blast! does not have a vacuum operated fuel valve! My new Blast! would not even turn over because gasoline does not compress. After rocking it back-and-forth, it cranked over, made a really gassy smell, and eventually started. I rode it about 10 miles, and put more than a gallon of gas in the tank. "Funny," says me, "it smells like gas when it is parked. Is that right?"
Court: "... skin a cat ..." Can I watch? |
Spiderman
| | Posted on Monday, January 27, 2003 - 01:40 pm: |
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>>>>>>>Loud, ridiculous, anachronistic pieces of poseur trash ridden only by those trying desperately to be seen.
LMAO I had milk shoot outa my nose and I am not even drinking milk. |
Sarodude
| | Posted on Monday, January 27, 2003 - 01:56 pm: |
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Personally, I look forward to the day where I have a stable of interesting bikes to choose from - be it Italian, British, Japanese, American, or a Russian / Chinese BMW copy thing...
Cool bikes - whatever their national origin or pedigree - rule.
-Saro |
Road_Thing
| | Posted on Monday, January 27, 2003 - 02:12 pm: |
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Saro--Right ON! Gotta get me a "Russian / Chinese BMW copy thing"!
r-t |
Mikej
| | Posted on Monday, January 27, 2003 - 02:29 pm: |
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Sounds like a Ural with an SKS in a scabbard and a BMW sidehack bolted on. |
Arbalest
| | Posted on Monday, January 27, 2003 - 02:36 pm: |
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Sarodude and Road_Thing, do your research before you take on one of those "Russian/Chinese BMW copy things". I have a 1983 Neval (Russian Dnepr modified by an English company to pass U.S. Customs, D.O.T, and E.P.A. If you thought Buells needed attention, the Russian/Chinese bikes make Buells look like sewing machines. Mine is a 2wd sidecar rig. It is just a blast to drive, OHV 650cc with a cruising speed of 45 mph, but I have not driven more than 300 miles without needing to pull the heads. The metallurgy is barely out of the bronze age. For an interesting read, check out the DneprHeads group on YAHOO. |
Bomber
| | Posted on Monday, January 27, 2003 - 05:49 pm: |
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Ar
My experience, while second hand, is similar .. . there are three of these rigs in my neck of the woods, and, through chance, I've stopped and help 2 out of the three at least twice each season since they've arrived . . .. . lots of electrical problems, as well . . . ..
the upside is, I've made a couple of friends (grin) |
Bluzm2
| | Posted on Monday, January 27, 2003 - 06:01 pm: |
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Cheryl and Kim B. in Colorado have a 2wd Ural.
What a hoot! I'm going to have one some day just to pick up stuff a nearby store.
Cheryl let me drive it last June. Made a beer run, you want to talk about looks!
Brakes sucked, shifting, well, you had to lift your foot off the peg for leverage.
Doesn't matter, I still want one..
Brad |
Court
| | Posted on Monday, January 27, 2003 - 06:30 pm: |
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Kim
| | Posted on Monday, January 27, 2003 - 06:33 pm: |
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Hey Brad, I got a better front brake cable form a place in England. Four times thicker than stock. I can lock up the front wheel now. As for shifting, of course you have to lift your foot, after first, your shifting with your heel. Don,t forget about the reverse. I get lots of looks for having that. Rode about 50kms today through all the melting slop up here in Summit County. Was 43 degrees here today.
Kim |
Kim
| | Posted on Monday, January 27, 2003 - 06:37 pm: |
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Court,
Good timing, its not that clean after todays ride. But was worth it, haven't been able to ride our two wheeled bikes since October. Ya start to get stirr crazy.
Kim |
Road_Thing
| | Posted on Monday, January 27, 2003 - 07:15 pm: |
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That is a clean looking sidecar outfit! I have to confess that I don't really want one, though. I satisified my curiosity regarding those rigs on a Jawa in about 1973. It took me about two hundred yards to learn several truths:
1) Countersteering is for real.
2) Conditioned reactions are hard to overcome.
3) Pushing a sidecar rig out of deep mud is a nasty, messy way to end a promising summer afternoon with a sweet young thing.
r-t |
S320002
| | Posted on Monday, January 27, 2003 - 07:41 pm: |
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The Blast! stories remind me of when DaveS and I put a Vance & Hines muffler on a Blast! in his office. Dave took it for a spin around the dealership lot. We hadn't rejetted it (Hey, we did it in his office!) so it was lean and loud. By the time I got back from my spin around the lot we had dealership employees lined up like kids waiting for a pony ride. When they got done every dang one of them was grinning. I think that was another turning point for Buells at that dealership.
Greg;-) |
Bluzm2
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 28, 2003 - 01:00 am: |
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Stop it Kim! You're killing me!
Court, you found your picture quicker than I did.
I've got to work on my filing system....
I really think my wife would go for a side hack. Hmm, a devious plan is forming..
Brad |
Daves
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 28, 2003 - 05:22 pm: |
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Sarodude,
They just introduced the XB9S Low. Maybe your wife can fit on one of these. They are 2" lower than the regular!!!!
Ride to the edge!
Dave
HD/Buell Cycle Center
Buell sales Mgr
Battlemaster
wannabe racer
go fast gear sales
HD sales
Buell junkie
BRAG club director
no wonder I'm so busy
1-800-342-7539 ext 14
dave@iowaharley.com
rdcapt@hotmail.com |
Sarodude
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 28, 2003 - 06:55 pm: |
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Dave-
I just called her up and told her! She's STOKED! What's the California Lottery at???
-Saro |
Daves
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 29, 2003 - 01:51 pm: |
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I thought you'd like that info. They should be hitting dealers in Feb.
Ride to the edge!
Dave
HD/Buell Cycle Center
Buell sales Mgr
Battlemaster
wannabe racer
go fast gear sales
HD sales
Buell junkie
BRAG club director
no wonder I'm so busy
1-800-342-7539 ext 14
dave@iowaharley.com
rdcapt@hotmail.com |
Peter
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 29, 2003 - 02:39 pm: |
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Daves,
What else is coming?
PPiA |
Dynarider
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 29, 2003 - 03:34 pm: |
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Chrome rear footpeg brackets for the XB's....seriously. |
Daves
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 29, 2003 - 04:22 pm: |
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Yes they have chrome for the XB!
Don't know any details on what bike will be next.
Ride to the edge!
Dave
HD/Buell Cycle Center
Buell sales Mgr
Battlemaster
wannabe racer
go fast gear sales
HD sales
Buell junkie
BRAG club director
no wonder I'm so busy
1-800-342-7539 ext 14
dave@iowaharley.com
rdcapt@hotmail.com |
Bomber
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 29, 2003 - 04:38 pm: |
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careful, Dyna . . .you've already got att over on scaborg agreeing with you . . .that CAN'T be agood sign |
Mikej
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 29, 2003 - 04:51 pm: |
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But what else is coming that you can't tell us about? Post it in white text, that way nobody will be able to read it. see? |
Dynarider
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 29, 2003 - 05:32 pm: |
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Att does make some sense every now & then. Sure he loves to stir the pot up, but you have to admit he is good at it.
Mike, I dont think they have anything else to offer at this time. Pretty much wiped the engineers out coming up with those chrome brackets. They might be offering up the dice valve stem covers in chrome by august tho |
Bomber
| | Posted on Thursday, January 30, 2003 - 09:12 am: |
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Dyna . . . . .att makes sense is like saying even a blind squirrel finds a nut every once in a while . . . . he posts enough, he's BOUND to say write something rational eventually . . . . as for being good at stirring up the pot, I lived with a high-school sophamore, and he's a rank amateur compared to most of them .. . . but, I've already wasted more keystrokes on his screed than they're worth (grin)
Mike . .. they already did . . . .. using white type and the little known "collapse your post under the previous one" formatting option ;-} |
Daves
| | Posted on Friday, January 31, 2003 - 07:28 am: |
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I would look for more new stuff in July. They usually don't introduce any new models of anything at the winter dealer meeting. Buell is trying to get ahead of the season(for once) with bringing out the XB9S a few months ago and now the low version so we have them for sale in our showrooms for the spring selling season. I do think that the days of introducing a new model in July and the not having any to sell till the following April after every magazine had articles on them(Firebolt launch that was totally screwed up,timing wise)are over. I am very glad they have figured this out and taken steps to insure that it doesn't happen again.
Ride to the edge!
Dave
HD/Buell Cycle Center
Buell sales Mgr
Battlemaster
wannabe racer
go fast gear sales
HD sales
Buell junkie
BRAG club director
no wonder I'm so busy
1-800-342-7539 ext 14
dave@iowaharley.com
rdcapt@hotmail.com |
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