| Author | Message | ||
     Jaimec |
Just something I was thinking about the other day. The last two demo rides I've taken with Buell have been FAR from convincing, in terms of showing what the bikes can be capable of doing. My last two times were 2005 Biketoberfest and this past Spring's "Buell Demo Days" right here on Long Island. In both cases, the demo route chosen were pretty much straight and flat. Worse, the demo ride itself stuck strictly to the posted speed limits. That means 30 mph in Florida, and 55 mph here on Long Island's parkways. In case anyone is paying attention, this is NOT what will highlight what makes Buells fun. I'm not saying flagrantly break the law, but geez Louise, show some thought when planning the demo route!! I actually had MORE fun at Biketoberfest demo riding a Suzuki Burgmann (that's a SCOOTER for those who aren't familiar with the name) than I did the XB12X Ulysses. That's just WRONG! | ||
| Court |
Big problem and the folks at Buell, at least when I was working demos, go to a lot of work to find a "fun" demo route that will allow folks to at least get a glimpse of what the bike is about. There are problems. First, some of the venues do not have particularly attractive routes nearby. At the Honda Hoot we used to have a route that was a blast ridden well within legal limits. Second, there is the "lowest common denominator" to deal with. I've spent days at Daytona convincing drunk people they REALLY weren't going to be allowed to ride. I've followed folks who graduated MSF class on a TW200 3 days prior and figured a wheelie couldn't be "that hard" (note: it's not; controlling it however can be) and folks who think that the demo ride is a defacto "race" with the leader. Finally, Rules of the road are commonly violated, but much less frequently than in the past. The days of "sneaking outta sight" and running a demo group up to triple digits speeds are long gone. Buell, and soon thereafter HD followed by other folks, were really gutsy to start the demo program. No manufacturer, big or small, is going to paste up a sign that says "come try our demos, we go well over posted speed limits". The idea of the demo is to "present" the bike not to showcase the outer limits of it's capabilities. Yes.....like most folks here, I've been on some DANDY demos. HINT: If you think you are faster than the guy who runs the Buell demos, you need to meet him on a track.....you're not. STORY: Gary taught the HD Law Enforcement riding course and has some of the funniest stories you can imagine. There is no requirement for motor cops that they have ridden in the past. Many novices turn into great motor cops by learning in a controlled enviroment. HINT: Hitting a steep incline on an FLH at 40MPH is a bad idea. TRIBAL KNOWLEDGE GAINED: An FLH suspension is not up to a landing from 12' in the air, neither is a cop. | ||
| Bomber |
a local to Dealer (to remain nameless to protect the innocent employees!) have had a number of "experienced" sport bike riders some in to demo XB series Buells -- they've had a number of these experienced pilots ground loop the bikes, both on solo jaunts and as part of group rides -- several of these experts were heard to say they were buying something else, something with more power (yikes!) if I was a dealer, I'd be very reticent to offer demo rides -- of course, as a customer, I demand them gotta love irony! (remind Court to tell you about the demo that was yanked out from underneath me when the dealership owner realized it was run waht ya brung at the local 1/4 track! i think he saw the glint of something or other in my eyes!) (prudent move on the owner, I'd say) | ||
| Glitch |
Too bad you live so far north. We hold March Badness in Suches GA. The demo route goes from T.W.O. up HWY60 north for about five miles, and then back again. The speed limit is 35 or 40. Doesn't sound very fast, or fun. But this is a very twisty road with a lot of elevation changes. The route is so popular that March Badness has grown so big, we tend to break or hold records for demos held per day, and per weekend. Not to metion all the goings on that come before during and after the demos. I cna't wait for March Badness IV! The route starts at the yellow square marked "2", and runs to half way to the white "160"  Best Buell demo route I know of. The road is more twisty than the map makes it look. | ||
| Jaimec |
Don't I know it. For four years running I led the demo rides for Yamaha at the Lake George Americade. We used to have people coming up to us after the ride was over saying "Thank you for treating us like adults." If we saw ANYONE acting irresponsibly, we'd pull them over, park the bike, take the keys, and ride them back to the Roaring Brook on the back of OUR bike. That only happened ONCE (on someone else's tour, not mine). We used to have a GREAT time till Yamaha switched to demoing ONLY their Royal Star line. That's when they, too, switched to just riding up and down the Northway. | ||
| Court |
Well, for darn sure tootin', there are areas of the country and areas within areas, that take little more than pulling out of a parking lot to make a good ride. Some of you may recall that the first Buell Owners Group was in Marietta, GA. The folks were kind enough to invite me down (4th trip to the Atlanta area for Buell) and show me around. Another local Atlanta riding group hosted a BBQ for me when I was down there once and the roads (in fact ALL the roads from Asheville to Atlanta) are spectacular. Another that jumps to mind were Reg Kittrelle's office in Scott's Valley, CA. In that area, you are never more than 172' from a GREAT road! Court | ||
| Sanchez |
Track days are another great way to demo bikes. Buell sponsored one at Barber over in AL a couple of weeks ago and held demo rides on the track. | ||
| Jlnance |
I did the demo ride at March Badness. It would have been nice to be able to run a little faster. Then later that afternoon a girl ran the demo Blast into a tree and I realized why they keep such tight reigns on the group. | ||
| Ratyson |
Then later that afternoon a girl ran the demo Blast into a tree Did anyone ever find out how she was?? By the way, just a minor hijack, I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL MBIV!!!! ONLY 8 MORE MONTHS!! } | ||
| Sanchez |
> a girl ran the demo Blast into a tree Here's that very same Blast earlier in the day before its unfortunate demise.  I wonder how the rider is doing? Reports varied, but I heard she was trapped under the exhaust and burned, and she broke either a wrist or an ankle. | ||
| Vanvideo |
It was the Buell demo ride at Biketoberfest '05 (aka Harley Trailer Days) that convinced me to buy an XB. That quick demo ride made me a believer in Buell. I seriously doubt I would have purchased a Buell if I didn't get to experience that wild torque and awesome braking for myself. I had too many misconceptions of Buells as slow, unwieldly, Harley sportbike wanna-bes. That one demo ride changed my whole outlook on biking. Interestingly, after demo-ing the XB12R, I climbed back on my ZX-7 Ninja and was shocked at how poorly the brakes felt when compared to the Buell. I actually stopped my bike, climbed off and inspected my brakes to make sure they were still functioning! Yup, they were, but not nearly as well as the XB. | ||
| Steve_mackay |
I've helped run the demos at Hals HD for the past two years. Both times, I've not had *ONE* person complain about the route, nor the pace we've gone. Hals doesn't have much in the way of curvy roads surrounding it that aren't part of rural subdivisions. But I picked a half way decent route this past ride in June. The demo coordinator wanted to meet with me on Thursday afternoon to "test" the route. So I on a CityX, and him on a Uly, we took off. We easily doubled the posted limit on part of the route. When we got back to Hals, we got off the bikes, and he smiled, said "nice route". He then proceeded to tell me he is a Milwaukee county motor-cop...  That guy could ride! He was one of only 3 people out of over 100 that made one sharp corner without running over the yellow line. | ||
| S2pengy |
Back in 94 it was a demo in Deland FL that hooked me as well as meeting and talking with Erik | ||
| Mattwhite |
I took a demo ride when the fleet was at the Toledo, OH shop. There was a little section that was like steps set down sideways surrounded by an open field so you could see forever. It was enough to play with the turns a bit. At least one SV650 owner was convinced. The leader threw a big twin back and forth through it like he was on a sport bike. | ||
| Diablobrian |
Hey guys, don't complain about the Demo rides. Imagine if you demos were not available. I had to buy my Buell strictly on word of mouth, and sitting on one while stationary. Complaining about the demos is looking a gift horse in the mouth. IMHO | ||
| Court |
>>>>Back in 94 it was a demo in Deland FL that hooked me as well as meeting and talking with Erik That was kinda a "famous demo ride"...can yoiu say "all star staff"....  | ||
| Rich |
I remember that. | ||
| S2pengy |
Even Bill Davidson was there.... Willie G's son... Been working Demos every chance I get ever since |
