| Author | Message | |||
     Regkittrelle |
A constant complaint of mine has been the lack of P&A support for Buell motorcycles... any and all models. A few years ago a Buell dealer asked me to compile a list of what I thought should be appropriate items to support his Buell effort: I did, he passed on it (Too much $$). Given that the situation has yet to change, maybe it's time that Buell owners chimed in with their lists. So... waddya want? Break it into categories: 1. Buell-specific; Must-have (e.g. race exhaust) 2. Buell-specific; Nice-to-have (e.g. carbon-fiber front fender) 3. Generic; Must-have (e.g soft-luggage) 4. Generic; Nice-to-have (e.g. grip selection) | |||
| Spiderman |
I had the same and did the same with the same results LOL | |||
| Wolfridgerider |
I keep a certain amount of parts in-stock just in case the race bike wants to visit the dirt. Maybe we could have a area on Badweb that we could post what we have in-stock. Not for sale like the classifieds but "If you need it NOW, I got it" You/we could pay with paypal or just replace the part when you get done racing, back from your trip, when the one you ordered finally shows up at the dealer.... or something like that. | |||
| Jb2 |
Tip-over items. It never ceased to amaze me how a person could buy a complete Harley off the chrome displays but couldn't get a turn signal lens for a Buell. Pegs Shift levers Clutch and brake levers Turn signal units/Replacement lens Brakes pads Tires I think most folks expect some kind of wait on accessory items but shouldn't have to wait on anything from the list of above. It would take a sizable dealer to be able to invest in a full array of bolt on goodies. I know there's a few out there but I've yet to walk into a full line Buell dealer that had copious amounts of WOW and go-fast goodies. | |||
| F_skinner |
Good idea, I am thinking of the parts I bought lately: - Clutch Cable - Brake Cable - Throttle and idle cable - Carb re-build kit - drive belt - Detent Plate - isolator bolts (for the S2) for the other tubers I get them from American Sport Bike - Primary gasket - Oil drain plug o-ring or washer (I now get them at Lowes) - Shift lever (I am always breaking these) These are things I think should be in stock and I had to order all of them from Andy. The local dealer did not have them nor did Andy..... That being said I would rather have a web site to go to that I can put in a part number or description and order the part myself since I have to order it anyway through a dealer. Seems like I will be waiting 5 to 10 days so why not do it myself. Does any HD/Buell dealership stock a good supply of parts? | |||
| Toona |
You mean like This Thread that No Rice started? Only from a dealer standpoint. | |||
| No_rice |
i thought for sure that thread would get alot more response with all the bitching about bad dealers and dealers not stocking things. i ask, and i did get some good feedback. i just expected so much more on that topic. | |||
| Buellerthanyou |
We certainly try to have what people need when they need it. I have a list from the mothership of "Essential 1125R Parts" that I got off of H-DNet and it would be cool if there were other similar lists for the XBs, Tubers, and Blast (maybe there are, but I can't find 'em). They should all be together somewhere on H-DNet so they are easily accessible to dealers who care. If we don't have it, we'll order it in as fast as they need (often next day). My struggle is to get my Parts guys to learn how to find what the customer is looking for ('course I'm just a "receiving clerk", not to mention a Buell guy, so they keep me in a hole in the backroom). Harley dealerships seem to me to be largely quite conservative (in the sense of "maintain the status quo"). For Harleys, they know to simply turn around and look in the appropriate Harley parts book or Drag or Custom Chrome, etc., PRINT catalog. They're fairly good about the Buell parts books ('cause they're just the same as the Harley books, pretty much) but, for Buell Accessories (only on the Buell website) or aftermarket accessories (whose "catalogs" are also largely only available online), they seem to flounder (and then scream for me!). It's not like it's really difficult to go online (unless your connection is down/slow); it seems more like a reluctance to do so because "that's not how we do it". It's "different" (in every sense  and that seems to throw them off their accustomed pace. This is not an excuse, of course, but it might be a reason. Anyway, back on thread subject, call/email if you need anything.  Jay James M. Howze Central Texas H-D/Buell (Badweb Sponsor) Austin, Texas 512-973-8521 ext 120 jhowze@centraltexasharley.com P.S. Reg, if you have a good list of things we "should" carry, I'd love a copy! | |||
| Cityxslicker |
I think the number one thing is customer/service/parts attitude. You cant possibly stock everything that everyone will need all the time. But if you have the willingness to get it, if you dont have it on hand, welcome the Bueller in the store as a customer and a guest rather than some of the attitudes I have been hearing here; then I think you are on to building a better relationship. A place where they will buy their next bike, bring a friend down , a place to meet and ride from or to, and damnit have some fun, business will follow. On my days off I shop the competition, there are the good bad and ugly out there in every brand, dont fool yourself to thinking otherwise. | |||
| Regkittrelle |
No rice... Didn't mean to step on your thread; I was unaware that you started one. And, yes, I too am surprised at the small response. If this and yours get a decent response I'll compile the items on a spreadsheet. C'mon... this is an opportunity to let the good dealers know what you want. Use No Rice thread and this one. | |||
| Jb2 |
F_skinner, You bring up a GREAT idea that us Vic riders already enjoy. I can order all the accessories, riding gear and most service items directly from Polaris online, shipped to my door and at the same price I get at the dealer. I'm not sure about being able to obtain "all" parts online but my dealer is 85 miles away and I only go there about once a year. The rest of the time I have it shipped here. JB2 | |||
| F_skinner |
Thanks Jb2, I think it is unreasonable to expect the dealer to stock a lot of parts I need for my tubers. I would be happy with gaskets most of the time. The tubers share a lot with the Sportster of the same time period but those parts can be hard to find in a dealer as well. That just happens as bikes get older and the parts change. I have never had to get anything for my XB but did have to order XB neck bearings (I use them in my tubers) and thought that was a little odd that they did not stock them but maybe they do not need to be replaced that much in a XB. I really don't know. I say replace the clothing department with parts but that is just me. Even the aftermarket places do not have a lot. They can not afford to keep a large stock of parts that may not sell. If I can get it from ABS I do that. If not I call Andy. Since Andy no longer works at Appleton I guess I will have to visit my local dealership so they can order them. And when they come in I will have to go back and get them. Not so bad in the summer when I can ride but in the winter, in a diesel truck, I have to think about it. Who knows, maybe Buell is working on a virtual store front for parts as we type. Frank | |||
| Diablobrian |
I think normal tip-over parts as well as the normal expendables like batteries, tires oil filters, gaskets and up-graded oil pump drives should be the top priority. After that, patches, stickers, t-shirts, real helmets (not fancy pudding bowls) and proper riding gear, meaning vests, anything with fringe, conchos, or with friction areas removed ie. chaps and fingerless gloves are not real riding gear, but more like costume pieces. Brands like first gear, Alpine star, dainese would be ideal for gear. For the helmets: arai, shoei, shark, scorpion, schuberth nolan, etc would be good. Performance parts and cosmetic parts are not really something I would expect to find on the dealer's shelf except for (maybe) a race ecm or 2 and the "race" air filter. The demand for such items does not warrant the cost of stocking them. | |||
| Mr_gto |
They should have in stock at all times at the bare minimum footpegs foot/hand levers lights light covers belts oil filters gaskets/orings clutch cables brake pads wheel bearings fork seals | |||
| Hr_puffinstuff |
THIS: That being said I would rather have a web site to go to... <F_skinner would solve BOTH of these problems: I think the number one thing is customer/service/parts attitude. You cant possibly stock everything that everyone will need all the time. <Cityxslicker if you have a decent dealership near you, USE IT, and consider yourself lucky. | |||
| Sarodude |
I sorta feel that what Buell owners want is nearly irrelevant. The dealers just seem to want to do things their own way. Really, is it SO unreasonable to want tipover parts? If the dealers thought it was reasonable, we wouldn't have to ask. This is just another sort of "They just don't get it" area. My last visit to a dealer (wasn't even ordering Buell stuff!!!) I needed a Keihin CV main jet. Not in stock (185? 190?). Seriously? So they "ordered" it. It turns out that all they did was take my money. Nothing was ever ordered. The whole point of a brick and mortar business is for a local schmuck to be able to walk in and see / feel / try / BUY ON THE EFFING SPOT. If there's nothing is stock - especially when I'm ready to pull the trigger - then eff you, Harley Dealer Guy. I think I need to take a pill.... -Saro | |||
| Koz5150 |
I keep a pretty good supply of parts at the house that I have accumulated over time on eBay from dealers closing out and whatnot. Otherwise, American Sportbike usually has what I need and can get it to me in a few days. That being said, I don't ride my bike as my primary form of transportation. So what the dealer has and doesn't has really doesn't affect me a whole lot. If it was my primary mode of transportation, I would have bought a different bike. Personally I think a lot of dealer stock parts end up on clearnce tables or auctions anyway. Here is a list of things I have bought from dealers on clearance; -Buell Leather Jacket $150 -two packages of Volcano Grey touch up paint $2.50 each -Forcewinder for FI $185 -2 sets of aluminum footpegs $15 each eBay parts - two full sets of m2 bodywork $150 a set average - stock rims $100 each - Carbon fiber pully cover $50 - Pegasus saddle bags $125 (through fellow badwebber) - rear swingarm $65 - Two M2 seats $40 each So why do I need a local dealer again??? I have no problem supporting the ones here that will stock parts and companies like American Sportbike so when I call I can talk to someone who really knows what I need. If Buell were smart they would call American sportbike and have them be a licensed parts dealer! | |||
| No_rice |
Really, is it SO unreasonable to want tipover parts? If the dealers thought it was reasonable, we wouldn't have to ask. This is just another sort of "They just don't get it" area. i usually stock the majority of tip over parts. i personally know how easy it is to break the xb foot pegs. think i replaced 3 last season from BARELY bumping the door frame pushing the bike in the garage, lol. think i have 11 or 12 foot pegs sitting here. a few clutch cables. grips, frame pucks, levers, 03 belt, filters and some gaskets. odd bolts and such. and also a pile of shirts, a few styles of hats, garage jackets, tank bag... I have a list from the mothership of "Essential 1125R Parts" that I got off of H-DNet and it would be cool if there were other similar lists for the XBs, Tubers, and Blast (maybe there are, but I can't find 'em). i think there were some, but they have not been the best set up. we still have stuff that came in the original essentials kits for the tubers i believe. never been sold. they had one when the vrod came out and it included main bearings. wtf?! we still have yet to replace any of those. half of the stuff they say you will need is just ridiculous and doesnt make any sense. but that leaves the other half though that you actually might use. i have a few tuber parts on the shelf too, but it isnt very often that i get someone needing tuber parts. if i had more call for certain things i sure would try and stock it though. (Message edited by no_rice on July 18, 2008) | |||
| Doerman |
There's an easy way to solve this: Put a shopping area on Buell.com. Let me buy what I need there. Before the dealers get all upset. I would expect to share in the profit with my local dealer. The way to do that is to force the buyer on Buell.com (that's me) to enter a local dealer name so residuals can goto my dealer and I can get my parts/accessories/swag sent to my door. It has got to solve a major headache for all of us (dealers and Buell included). Of course, it does cut down on the coveted foot traffic in the stores. | |||
| Nxtr |
Doerman, It is a great idea, but instead of having your purchase shipped to your door, BMC should ship it to your local dealer. This will create the foot traffic for the dealer, as well as allowing the dealer should they have the desire and initiative, to create there own Buell parts inventory. No residuals for the dealer if you order it from Buell.com, but should the dealer start stocking such items (hint hint), they could turn a profit from the residuals, not to mention service as well... Just a twist on a thought, is someone at BMC listening? V/R, Nick | |||
| Diablobrian |
I like that idea nxtr! | |||
| Azxb9r |
footpegs foot/hand levers lights light covers belts oil filters gaskets/orings clutch cables brake pads wheel bearings fork seals Add frame pucks, exhaust clamps and straps, air filters, and grips to that list, and normal issues should be covered. | |||
| Buellerthanyou |
Nxtr wrote: Doerman, It is a great idea, but instead of having your purchase shipped to your door, BMC should ship it to your local dealer. This will create the foot traffic for the dealer, as well as allowing the dealer, should they have the desire and initiative, to create their own Buell parts inventory. Harley already has this on their website. They call it ECOM (electronic commerce) and dealers have to subscribe (for a fee) to it. Customer finds what they want on the H-D website and orders it, it is shipped to (for instance) our store and we then call them for pick up or forward ship it on to them. I don't know why Buell hasn't done something similar. In the meantime, I'm trying to stock essential parts and some cool performance/aftermarket parts. Here's an idea for the DEALERS that frequent/sponsor this fine forum: Let's do what H-DNet has failed to do and create a database that other (even non-sponsor) dealers could access to get a list of parts, with part numbers, that their customers are likely to need. I realize that we dealers are in competition to a degree on this, but a little cooperation could go a long way toward helping out Buell customers that aren't close to a good dealer. One of the stumbling blocks for a dealer trying to stock Buell parts is knowing what the "correct" parts are. With Harley parts, a dealer can effectively overstock (i.e. carry quite a few parts that he rarely/never sells) and still make a decent profit due to the large volume of Harley customers. Not so with Buell customers, since we are fewer and further between. If he stocks the wrong Buell stuff, it costs him (or her, Chellem  ). I'll start with a list of tuber parts I put together sometime back. I also have an XB list started, but it's not as complete yet. I don't know how this can be posted so that it will stay where it is easily findable. Maybe Blake or a moderator can help out, if y'all think it's a good idea. Another advantage is that a customer from this board could go into his local dealership and SHOW the dealer the list(s) online and introduce them to Badweb. Maybe they'd see that the Buell market is larger than they thought, just not as visible as the Harley folks. OK, I've opened my big mouth enough. Here's my tuber list in Excel format:
Whattayouthink? James M. Howze aka "HellBuelly J" Central Texas H-D/Buell Austin, Texas 512-973-8521 ext 120 jhowze@centraltexasharley.com "It may seem a strange principle to enunciate as the very first requirement in a Dealer that it should do the Buellie no harm." --Florence NightinBuell | |||
| Buellerthanyou |
P.S. You'll notice that this list is not complete. Feel free to "fill in the blanks"! Also, it's been some time since I created this. Some part numbers could have superceded since then. Talon or Lightspeed should be able to accommodate for this, though. So there.  HBJ | |||
| Deadduck |
I personally don't care what the dealers stock or don't stock anymore. I always assume that they will have to order whatever part I need, therefore I always look for an alternate buying source that will direct ship to my house. In the recent past I have been discouraged with my local dealer, a "Select Buell Dealer" I think is what they call it, you know the ones that are supposed to have the "Buell Experience", only to find that they aren't any better now than they were before. Their "sister" dealership is a sponsor here on this board, I have been helped there a number of times since I've owned my Buell, and have a great respect for the folks at the parts counter (you know who you are) , which brings me to ask a simple question, why in the heck did the moron store get designated as the Select Store, and the store that knows what is going on not? I have pleaded with management at the idiot store to get their personnel issues taken care of, and have even offered a solution, but they still continue to be MORONS! I have vowed openly that I will not spend another dime in either of this owners stores until they resolve this situation and the owner of the dealership gives me a written apology for my past experience as well as a solution to the same. Until that happens I'll just have to settle for getting my parts sent directly to my house as well as pay less for parts. A shame really. I'm waiting for the new "Buell MV Cagiva" store to open, I'm quite sure that they will GET IT! Deadduck | |||
| Daves |
I had a list, it worked out great  2 weeks before I started at the Appleton dealership I dropped of a list of parts I wanted them to have on hand, day one. It was only about 7000.00 worth. Ray, the parts manager had a fit when Terry (the owner) told him to order these in. I found out later that Ray's exact words were "this shit will never sell" Well I started on the 15th of april and sold a little over 10,000.00 the first 2 weeks. I think Ray was wrong! If Buell (the company) was smart, they'd have found a way to set me up as a Buell dealer.  | |||
| Buelldualsport |
Dave: Hope all is well tom Buells to Alaska ALCAN 5000 2010 | |||
| Daves |
Thanks Tom I don't hang out here as much as I used to, or would like to. Pretty busy applying the same philosophy and business practices that worked so well with Buell stuff to the archery industry. | |||
| Davefla |
One addition to the XB tip-over list: Mirror sets. I'm on my third... | |||
| Swampy |
The ordering parts from the Buell.com idea is great, but, the going to the local dealer to pick them up is not such a good idea, its just that I have had mostly poor experiences going to any local dealers, I would rather go to the dentist. I used to have a dealer close to me, (1 hour one way) and everything I ever needed they had to order. Then I had to wait for them to place the order(which I know was not that often) then I had to go back. Simple things like clearance lenses took weeks to get. That was only a few years ago, they are not even a single line HD dealer, they have a little of everything, Yam, Pol, Kawa. Its like it was a.....awh, forget it. I will just keep ordering from the internet dealers. | |||
| Easy_rider |
Nice tuber list. I saved it to my drive, do I owe royalties? Having a list makes me tempted to stock the garage "just in case"! I really don't see a reason for a dealer to sell tires, especially for Buell. The lack of qty makes it hard to compete with "generic" mc shops. Same with fuses, light bulbs, and O2 sensor that I can probably get cheaper at an auto parts store. I may be biased since there are plenty nearby that I can frequent. The speedo sensor, chain adjuster, and rocker gaskets may not be as necessary to keep in qty as they once were, but are still something to have a few available. I'd add a clutch cover gasket to the list. Many thanks for the time spent to put that together. |
Tuber Essentials