| Author | Message | ||
     Cityxslicker |
Anybody besides me notice that the Blast got totally slighted and left out of the brochure for 2009? Its our number one seller with fuel economy being the big point! wth? | ||
| Court |
I think the marketing folks are REALLY missing the boat with the Blast . . . | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
I think the marketing folks are REALLY missing the boat with the Blast . . . They aren't unique. How long did the Ninja 250 languish before it got a refresh? How often was it actually "marketed" to buyers? Most I've seen were stuffed in the back of the shop or not on the floor at all. Buying a Ninja 250 is like buying condoms at the drug store. The Blast isn't much better. There is a robust hunger for performance singles. Look at the interest in the XBlast thread. Why the HELL BMC doesn't work to make the Blast a high performance single ala the 690 Duke or even a MonoGP platform I'll never understand. | ||
| Badlionsfan |
The new ninjas are flying off the floor. Kid at work was wanting one, told him it'd be at least a month and if wanted one leave a deposit and get on the list. | ||
| Ezblast |
I've been trying to show this for years - even my performance Blast gets like 65 mpg on the freeway - a factory one would surely shine in all departments and would be soooo easy to do. Even if it was higher than current Blast prices it would sell - look at the price of new KTM singles here in Cali - you could buy a Buell Twin for that price. EZ (Message edited by ezblast on July 26, 2008) (Message edited by gearheaderiko on July 27, 2008) | ||
| Bikertrash05 |
My dealer didn't have them yet on Thurs, but I did pick up a 2009 HD brochure, which I have mixed feeling about. The 2008 Buell brochure was also lacking a Blast section. (Message edited by Bikertrash05 on July 26, 2008) | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Yeah, the NEW Ninjas are selling well, but the last model was a dark secret. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
Its our number one volume seller of the brand this year. I just dont understand it?!? Why would you have the bike in the line up, pay to ship it, pay to floor it, and not feature it in the brochure? Our list for the next one is four deep. That is qualified people; pre-approved for the bike, endorsed and ready to ride. Gas is hitting the market hard, and the Blast answers it very well. (how many times do I have to steal them from other dealers to get our customers their bikes?.... just once more again) And talk about owner satisfaction? NOBODY that I have sold a BLAST to in the the last 5 years is willing to trade in, consign or sell that bike. (its a list of 22 btw) | ||
| Ezblast |
Give up my Blasts? - No way! Even if I got an XB or 1125 - I'd still want my Blast for daily in-city commuting and errands - I could just see using an XB to run an errand and come out and find it on its side - I'd freak! If it happened to the Blast - and it has many times - I just grumble, pick her up, ride her home and just fix or replace the lever or mirror or signal damaged and get on with life. With the price of gas - a Blast makes cents. EZ | ||
| Cochise |
If it makes you feel any better, the catalogs for the 2009 accords arrived at our dealership yesterday. Anybody want one? | ||
| Zane |
I've had my Blast since April of this year. I generally ride her pretty gently (except for this evening). I consistently get 70 mpg and nothing goes wrong with it. I'm just short of declaring my Blast the 8th wonder of the world. Have I told you lately that I love my Blast? | ||
| White |
I just sold my blast (rode it for a year and a half with no problems) and when I was watching it leave I just thought to myself that I know I will just end up buying another one some day. There is something about the blast that people seem to just like. The guy that bought my blast has never rode a street bike before (like me when I bought the bike) and he was just ecstatic about the blast. That I was expecting but the guy he was with (my coworker) told me that he is looking for a blast now too. He owns a road-king! but said he was riding the blast around and thought it was just a fun little bike to have around. I would like to see a face-lift for the base model blast. I also think there should be a performance blast as well. Nothing extreme or anything but just a blast with more pep and better suspension and looks of course. If the base is 4,700 than the Blast-pro should be around 6,700. The in between point of the XB9s. | ||
| Ezblast |
Another point is how easy they are to sell - if you know about them - lol - my old parish priest was just talking to me the other day, he and his wife have a 2000 Dyna and a Sportster - both bought in Japan and imported to America when they moved back here - he starts asking me about small bikes and the Ninja 250 in particular - he wants to get a commuter for the city - I smile and remind him of my bikes - all of a sudden he's all ears - going to the dealership monday to check them out - lol easy sale. EZ | ||
| Prof_stack |
Hey Cityxslicker, I made the EXACT same rant last year about the 2008 Buell catalog where the Blast was slighted. Only the specs were shown. So is it ENTIRELY missing from the catalog? If so, maybe there is coming a 2009.5 updated Blast, maybe, hoping? Doubt it. And, heck, if it is selling that well, where is the need to advertise? I guess Buell has to work hard to convince us that monster air scoops on water cooled motors is the way of the future. Not for me. I bought the first Blast that Downtown Harley/Buell got in 06/2000. Put 10k miles on it in 2.5 years, with four months off for repairs after a high-side. Ouch. Anyway, it was a wonderful ride that always invited me for another ride. Sad to say that the XB9S which I traded the P3 for was not that way and last year I tired of it and sold it last month. Too bad that Buell didn't freshen the Blast for 2009. It looks like my next ride will be a new Moto Guzzi 750 Nevada Classic. With the HD/Buell dealer moving even farther away and the Guzzi dealer but 5 miles away, I'm set. But I'll be looking for another thumper down the road. | ||
| Igneroid |
Im thinkin mebey the Blast sells itself and Buell doesn't need to feature it, as from what Im reading here, Im damn near ready to buy one myself...No brochure required... | ||
| Reepicheep |
Stupid stupid stupid! If people understood, the Blast should be one of Harley's (not just Buells) best sellers. I was watching all sorts of vintage bikes running around all day long working a tent at Mid Ohio AMA Vintage days. Beautiful old bike after beautiful old bike. When a modern bike (lots of plastic inline four) drove by, or a modern dirt bike, they looked unspeakably booring and homogeneous. Utterly uninspired, and frankly, tedious and stupid looking in the face of all that classic rolling art. Then I saw a Blast ride by, and it was... for lack of a better term, both interesting and modern at the same time. As a simple bike that can be both a starter bike or a daily rider, it is one of about 5 bikes made new that I would strongly recommend today. My father in law was toying with the idea of getting into riding, and I spent a bit of time digging. All bias aside, the Blast was probably one of the best bikes he could have considered (he is too short to be learning on many of the dual sports). | ||
| Ezblast |
Testify folks - testify! EZ | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Hey Buell, please see:   Let's pretend you are in the business of making some of the most ground breaking, revolutionary, and unique motorcycles on the planet. Oh wait, you are. Why then would you leave a bike virtually unchanged and undeveloped for 10 years? I can't ride or own a Blast. It doesn't fit me well. I live near some of the greatest curves in the US that are just BEGGING to be railed on a super single. I can't be alone. | ||
| Reuel |
I think the Blast is probably responsible for a huge portion of Buell's word-of-mouth marketing. How many people saw a Blast and wanted something original like it, but didn't want a mere single, and ended up with some sort of an XB? If it wasn't for the Blast, I wouldn't be riding at all! I saw it, and my wife said I could get something for no more than $5K. I never even contemplated looking at an import. It just didn't occur to me. It's like they didn't exist! | ||
| Swampy |
They were the beginning of "Cool and Different" for me. I would have been riding some Honda or something. Even with the Horrible local dealership situation I have to deal with(or better put, don't deal with) Buell is still a very cool company, with a precious few great dealers. | ||
| Rainman |
I've had bigger bikes, "better" bikes and better performing bikes, but my Blast gets me there at 70 mph with 70 mpg on the highway and 63 mpg consistently in straight-city commuting. It takes a beating, it's quirky, it's fun. I may get an XB Ss someday or a CR, but I'll never get rid of the Blast. Hey, how about a touring Blast so I can go see Swampy in Michigan.... The P-3t..... | ||
| Swordsman |
The Blast needs an update of some kind. Here's what I'd like to see. A bit sportier, less "busy", and a bit more commuter-oriented. In the spirit of Buell engineering, I even used some bin parts!   ~SM | ||
| Court |
>>>>The Blast needs an update of some kind.
| ||
| Ezblast |
* Why? Because it looks like a Tuber - lol - which while great looking are dated. * Who is your new market - expanding existing or expanding to new? Expanding the existing and new - as done with the XB line. * How much would you invest - how many dollars would you devote to "freshening"? I would have my brilliant engineers look to what we already have in stock and adapt - much is interchangeable for upgrading and 'Freshening'. * What would you do to the price of the bike? - Have a base model - same price and perhaps a sportier model - with a raised invested price. EZ | ||
| Thumper74 |
The Blast is a guaranteed sell with Rider's Edge... It conforms to all EPA regs. It's not intimidating. I can't find one cheaply used. Why redesign when it's fine? I would like to see a watercooler version simply to deal with all of the idling they do in Rider's Edge. I think a revised Blast would be awesome, but it's doing so well now, why bother? Who know's, maybe there's something going on that we don't know. A dual sport Blast? A single cylinder Rotax? I'm sure that whatever it is, we'll be pleasantly surprised. | ||
| Swordsman |
Court, Because it's looking old. And it could be improved. Yes, I'm sure it functions wonderfully as is, but with that kind of mentality, we'd all still be riding tubers wouldn't we, and you wouldn't get to sing the praises of the XB's and the 1125R. I'm for progress, not leaving well enough alone. To be more specific: Why? Already stated. Who is your new market - expanding existing or expanding to new? I'd say both if it were a touch sportier (or a sportier trim level available). How much would you invest - how many dollars would you devote to "freshening"? My design above would only require a seat rail / footpeg bracket recasting. The flyscreen equip is obviously pre-existing. What would you do to the price of the bike? Up it just enough to cover the retooling of the seat rails update. ~SM (Message edited by Swordsman on July 28, 2008) | ||
| Rainman |
Hard cases, the Buell-offered performance add-ons, clubman bars and a small fairing: P3-ST.... Of course, they may only sell one..... | ||
| Darthane |
Up it just enough to cover the retooling of the seat rails update. ...amortorized over, say three years. The Blast is a consistent seller, as noted above. It's unlikely to see a large sales dip over a few years' period. | ||
| Ceejay |
new model-has to go through a bunch of DOT regs, epa certs, etc. The cost aren't just the nuts, bolts, and people designing/putting them together... | ||
| Court |
I confess to having a serious "Blast Jones" at present. Given the current cost of commuting and the amazing growth of scooters here in our little burg of 9,000,000+ folks I keep wondering about the BLAST as a V3 (Viable Vespa Option). The folks at the Vespa shop in SoHo are riding the wave, getting top dollar and gals all over town are cruising in heels, skirts, hats and cute helmets. By the way, they (apparently not realizing that a scooter is a "vehicle" not a bicycle and you have to stop at red lights) are being pulled over by cops all the time. I am wondering how the BLAST could be positioned as a "REAL" motorcycle with a "lower than a Vespa seat" (I do not know that is a fact), far lower cost, far superior brakes, acceleration and handling. Just thinking out loud. . . |
