| Author | Message | ||
     Gregtonn |
We've had enough of both you kids fighting!  Now  before you both get  ed! G  | ||
| Bikejunky |
This is the same ole buell we know and love. I doubt buell wanted to get rid of the blast, but most likely had no choice. So because buell is made of people like you and me they probably figured well lets try to have fun with this and get a laugh even if we are crying inside. I agree! Hughlysses - Good Point. I think that the innovation card is getting old and the new card should be "Check Out Our Track Proven Performance" Also, Drunk Elves. ROCK! | ||
| Geforce |
To me the BOB is a challenge. If/when a new customer picks it up and reads it and gets a glean of the sarcastic and "dare I say ruthless" approach. They are going to see that as a challenge. I didn't buy a Buell to go hang out with people. I sold my "in crowd" bikes because I wanted something that I would go out and ride the seat off of it. I bought my 1125r to scrape my shiny new knee pucks down to the velcro. To go through sets of tires and unintentionally I probably have the strongest smile muscles in the county...Thanks Buell! No other bike has given me the biggest SEG ever. I do stop when I see a rider on the side of the road. I wave when I am slabbing or riding nice and straight. I do take the time to admire other's motorcycles. I do NOT consider myself a racer, or even the best thing out there. I will never stop learning and my greatest challenge I have ever had is trying to improve my riding skill at the track to better USE the motorcycle I bought. FOR that REASON. I truly think this is what the BOB is trying to say. To sum it up...this is what went through my head when I read it... "Do you want to ride a motorcycle, or RIDE a motorcycle? Are you more concerned with fancy accessories and trying to impress your buddies or innovative and well designed/engineered sport bikes? While your deciding, we have a set of keys waiting with your name on it, unless your afraid to push your limits that is." I will never be able to out ride my bike, I like that...a lot. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
It smacks like the flock of black sheep that Harley had for their Sturgis ad.... at the end of the day, youre still sheep. I dont need a primer on how to behave on the road, ride the way I do, congregate with who I associate with, or care to follow any pretenses monikared by brand, trade marked and restricted. I love my bike, I will ride it where ever I can, when ever I can. I dont care if I am alone doing it, or if I have people runnning with me; but I dont need a little black book to tell me the code of being a Bueller. I have a key for that, and the riding gear that stands on its own to show my distain for fashion. Silly yuppy marketing, they want to paint lines around everything, you are either this or that... really? Meh, keep your lil book, I got the bike. | ||
| Lonewolfnavet |
I totally agree with you Cityslicker! I love my XB9SX and I know I will keep it, but this whole BOB machismo stuff about how we should roll sucks! Oh I do wave back when folks on other bikes wave at me so I guess I do not meet Buell expectations... | ||
| Ratbuell |
How many of the folks here have MET Erik? Granted, I've only met him (all too) briefly...but "Willy Wonka" is a VERY apt description of him and his rabid, overpowering love and enthusiasm. He's not spouting a party line, or reading a script. It's just who he IS. Period. The only change, as far as I can see, is the fact that he's not only being allowed to say these things in public, but the company is capitalizing on it. Go to an event. Talk to the man for five minutes. You might hear an audible "click", as it all falls into place. To me? It all makes perfect sense. I can't wait to see what's next. | ||
| Danger_dave |
It's a brochure. A nice looking one. If I was a potential customer I would prefer clearer shots of the bikes from different angles to drool over - rather than pages of mood and blurry shots. Punters can take them themselves. The attitudes also put me off slightly. I could do with less posturing and more facts about the machines. But then I only glanced at the copy. At first glance the large blocks of unspaced and run together monotype type I frankly wouldn't and didn't bother reading beyond the first sentence. I assume it's more legible in print than on screen. I returned and read them more carefully a second time. They remind me of the David Ogilvy quote. 'Designers seldom make good advertising men - they get so caught up in the beauty of the picture they forget that goods must be sold.' Nice looking thing though. Edit: 'A marketing guy didn't split the radiators because it looks cool.' I laughed out loud. (Message edited by danger_dave on July 25, 2009) | ||
| Fast1075 |
FB...I admire your logic...I never really thought about it until I read your post, but yes...Blastards are Elitist...very much so. We ride bikes that are rare...you pointed out how few have been sold...we take a bike that could have been...and each to his or her own have made it OURS to as much a degree as possible...WHY? because there was not another starting point towards the end goal. One of the reasons I bought a Buell was because it was unique. The first time I ever rode a Buell...it was a new XB9...I was offered the ride by Donnie Huffman if anyone recognizes the name. My thoughts were...WOW, this thing is different...it looks like it is built to perform, not to be pretty. I really liked the idea...when I rode it, I was astonished, completely mind blown. The motor was absolutely gutless compared to what I was used to....but the fit and feel were perfect (except for the seat height)...the brakes were unbelievable, and I had never felt a more planted stock streetbike chassis. I was so impressed by that one quick ride, that when years later I decided to buy a street bike, I went to Buell. I didn't realize that I was buying such a rarity when I bought it. Do Buell owners have the right to be a little elitist?? You bet. Ride down the road and see how many other Buells you see. | ||
| Leatherneck |
I spent a better part of the day with a Buell enthusiast. I just ride a Buell but this guy is crazy about them. We talked a bit about the web site and the Buell Book and he thought it hit the mail on the head. He said any time he can read about Buell it is good. Even the negative stuff about Buell just confirms his enthusiasm. I agree! I think the things that are on the web site are fluff. The proof is in the people. That is all they are trying to convey. I have a little experience with people and I think this spirited debate is good, it shows that all of you really care about what comes out of East Troy. Continue Doc | ||
| Danger_dave |
>>Ride down the road and see how many other Buells you see.<< They are reasonably common here. Suit the environment. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Agreed completely Fast. Blast owners DO have to "endure" a different ownership experience compared to even the rest of the Buell universe. The Blast is so COMPLETELY out of the box of what is available out in the rest of the motorcycle world that it is hard to appreciate by the non-owner. I don't think I have met a SINGLE owner of a Blast who wasn't simply smitten with their steed. Having read the responses from die hard Blast owners and supporters, I understand WHY the new advertising campaign is distressing. Each Buell owner serves as standard bearer of the brand. Blast owners even more so. The company's response feels basically, "don't bother. We don't need you representing us any more. Your enthusiasm isn't needed." I believe that there will be Blasts available to continue to feed the RE programs. They are simply too well suited not too. I just believe the numbers will be limited. The oddity of terminating the 2010 model year Blasts AND having 2010 Blasts already sitting on dealer floors seems to bear this out. I posted this in another thread: We had 5 new Blasts last weekend. ALL were slated for the RE program. Dealers had them, they just didn't sell them. They were spoken for. RE programs charge $250 per person per weekend. Most dealers run 40+ programs per year. That's $10,000 per year per bike. Even if your classes were only 50% full, you would pay for a Blast every year. If you sold them for 50% of MSRP, you'd make $12,500 per year per bike if fully employed. The profit for the SALE of a blast was less than $750 at full MSRP. If you sold 17 Blasts per year, you would equal the profit made off of one Blast bought in January, used all year in RE, and sold at the end of the year for 50% of MSRP. Why the hell would a dealer want to put them on the floor? | ||
| Mortarmanmike120 |
We'll that was a pleasant Saturday afternoon ride... Damn it's nice out there. Think I'll grab a bite and head back out later. Blake. I'm sorry. I'll clarify my position so you don't just accuse me of having poor reading skills. That's an excellent argument tactic btw. Don't talk about the issue, just accuse the other guy of poor read'n. Page 3: There is no World Champion of Sitting. No Governing body to ensure that when two people try to out sit each other, they do it by the rules. Because sitting is not a sport. So, any type of riding that doesn't have a champion, rules, or governing body is not a sport. So commuting, 'adventure touring', or just recreational spirited riding are not sports. Ok I can live with that. A self-propelled platform upon which a sport takes place. So exactly what sport is taking place under a Uly, or XT? Are they sportbikes? Not according to the previous quote. Page 4: Got it. Eric only likes hanging with engineers that happen to have AMA licenses. Page 11: Racing and race pic Page 12: Racing and race pics Page 13: Race pic Page 17: Messing up all that great ruthless engineering with a superflous human being is more then they can bear. Sorry all you 2up adventure touring guys. Page 21: And there's Erik Buell. Cross pollinating among engineers, racers, and technicians. Open to ideas from anyone in any department. Except for lowly regular ole riders. Page 22: The world famous blast-cube. Page 23: Supstitute the HD logo and it sounds like any ole crap from the mothership Yes there are pictures of streetriders. Doesn't matter. The general tone I get from the BOB is that racing or pretending to on the street is the only thing that matters. Will it be effective? I predict wildly. Do I like it? No. I love every buell I've had the privilege of riding. I talk buell up to all my riding friends (and strangers.) I'm not a buell basher. That being said, I'd be embarrassed for one of my friends to think that was the attitude toward bikes and riding that I had. It looks like City and I are the only ones who think this new marketing is hogwash. Thats ok, I'm used to being an outsider. Bash away... | ||
| Rainman |
It's not that Blast owners were elitists. We're just proud to take a bike people mock, designed by a company that is different and innovative, and prove that a small beginner's bike can rock down the highway, tour thousands of miles and assault urban traffic without needing 103 to 150 hp, not costing $12 g and not requiring 93 octane. Then, when The Creator crushes it and mocks it, you feel as if you have been told the small place you had in a community -- the book of buell concept -- has been shut off and you're on your own. It's enough to make you grab the automatic weapons, ice down a 6-pack and cruise around town. Yeah, I guess I'm bitter. I'll get over it. I doubt, however, that I'll feel the same pride now that my bike is being sold by model name with no company affiliation, either Buell or H-D | ||
| Fresnobuell |
Oh I do wave back when folks on other bikes wave at me so I guess I do not meet Buell expectations... Crist...people really do read what they want to read...or maybe it's just American educational system hard at work... Go back and read it again. [someone]... "waves at you mid-apex it's okay if you don't return the gesture." MID-APEX is the operative phrase here. The point is that some riders are out to ride/wave and Buells and Buellers are in their element strafing the canyons or twisties... I try to wave at everyone, however when things get serious "my hands have better things to do." Just like what the BOB states. | ||
| Fast1075 |
I never realized how much money the dealership made off my bike BEFORE I bought it. | ||
| Danger_dave |
I don't wave at anyone unless we are over 200 miles from a town. | ||
| Fresnobuell |
Yes there are pictures of streetriders. Doesn't matter. The general tone I get from the BOB is that racing or pretending to on the street is the only thing that matters. Will it be effective? I predict wildly. Do I like it? No. Except for lowly regular ole riders. Oh woe is me. If you haven't figured it out, Buell is putting up on the AMA Pro circuit in a big way. If you expect Buell not to have a slant to capture this successful venture, you are in lala land. Buell is also a SPORTBIKE company, so if you don't expect to have guys tearing up the corners, you are in double lala land. Did you buy your Buell for it's touring abilities? If so, there are alot better bikes for that. Looking at your profile, you have some RACE oriented stuff on your Buell. Gasp! Newsflash, the only reason you have: Buell Race Pipe Buell Race ECM Chain Conversion is because Buell races!!! We'll that was a pleasant Saturday afternoon ride... Damn it's nice out there. Think I'll grab a bite and head back out later. I also noticed from your profile you have 8,400 miles in 3 years on your Buell...not exactly a riding maniac you are posing to be here. Good day. (Message edited by fresnobuell on July 25, 2009) | ||
| Mortarmanmike120 |
I also noticed from your profile you have 8,400 miles in 3 years on your Buell...not exactly a riding maniac you are posing to be here. Yeah, you're right guess I should update my profile. Which mileage are you concerned with genius. The kawasaki has 42,000. The buell has I think around 16,000 and the ironhead hasn't had a speedo/tach in a couple years. It's probably around lower 30,000s. Anymore shit you know nothing about you'd like to spout off about Fresno? Did you buy your Buell for it's touring abilities? If so, there are alot better bikes for that No not this particular one. But the XT I'm gonna buy, yes. | ||
| Geforce |
Yep. I was just about to say the same thing. "Go back and read it again. [someone]... "waves at you mid-apex it's okay if you don't return the gesture." MID-APEX is the operative phrase here. The point is that some riders are out to ride/wave and Buells and Buellers are in their element strafing the canyons or twisties..." Even in the picture the rider is leaned over and focusing on the corner... the opposite and waving rider just cruising along. Nothing wrong with either rider. After reading the entire thing a couple of times, I don't see anything that is truly negative about it. It's very well written and communicates what Buell truly is about. That's the funny thing about writing and communication. Regardless of how much time you spend or how well you write something or speak it. Someone always finds the icky poo side to poke at. Some people only read what they want to read, and never stand back from it to take in the entire picture. Makes perfect sense to me. That being said, maybe they should have offered a tin foil hat under the rider accessories for current owners who are nervous about this little book. Or maybe the new "Buell Thick Skin" riding gear. Thank God Uncle Sam did a good job of showing me how he feels about feelings on the battle field. Play hard, live hard, die hard. Maybe Buell should have released a book of poems, and played some fairy music in the background. No thanks, where's my coffee at? Oh that's right, black, no sugar. I'm not trying to attack anyone who feels awkward about the book, I just find it funny that some people feel so upset and relate this to a new "Buell Riding Style" It has always been this way, just never in words to this extent. I truly don't think it was meant for current owners. It's more of a snapshot and comparison for someone who rolls in LOOKING for something different...in every sense. Seriously, where's my coffee...mmmm. | ||
| Spiderman |
All I wanna know is how do I het a Blast Cube! It would look greta in my new living room... | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
I never realized how much money the dealership made off my bike BEFORE I bought it. If you bought it used from a RE program, they probably made the cost of the bike in RE fees BEFORE you bought it at some factor of MSRP. Again, why would a dealer put them on the floor when you could use them for a season in RE and sell them at the end and make money on them being in the program? I'm surprised that ANY get sold straight up. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
Ive met him, had a very spirited and animated conversation with him. He does love the City-X, and that I am out there pushing it off road, outta bounds, function testing the limits of a 'street' bike in an off pavement adventure setting with His name on it was very cool. He signed my dash gauge face. I was glad to have has some of his time from his buzy schedule. I cant think of another company that would let you talk to the head guy like that. Its a very neat and impressive factory that does have its own magical creation persona to it. Everybody seems to enjoy what they do and go ride afterwards. Lots a fun; which is why crushing a Blast seems that exact opposite of the creative process that goes on at E Troy. I am still really upset about it. Its on par with kicking a puppy. I cant get any grasp of my mind around either. I do find it funny/ironic/odd/peculiar that they banter "There is no world championship in sitting" but turned their entry level bike into an Ottoman.... cue that whiney Alanis Morissette | ||
| Danger_dave |
>>It's very well written and communicates what Buell truly is about. << But some of us feel alienated by it because it doesn't represent what *we* are about - maybe - ie the things that attracted me to my machine. I bought me XB12X because it is an extremely sensible and practical bike. Being an anti-social loner wasn't part of the deal. I also appreciate that it is advertising guff. | ||
| Gregtonn |
...How many of the folks here have MET Erik?... Never met him riding through a corner, but I know he wouldn't have any trouble waving. He was dragging his fingertips while riding through corners at Blue Groove II. One of the nicest guys you could hope to meet. Dedicated to the customer too. You should have seen the two of us holding down a metal-framed canopy, in a lightning storm, to keep it from blowing into a bunch of bikes in a parking lot. I believe it was the 1999 Homecoming. The rest of the riders inside the restaurant had no idea what was going on. G | ||
| Danger_dave |
>>All I wanna know is how do I get a Blast Cube! << They should put it in the Guggenheim Museum. | ||
| Fresnobuell |
Yeah, you're right guess I should update my profile. Which mileage are you concerned with genius. The kawasaki has 42,000. The buell has I think around 16,000 and the ironhead hasn't had a speedo/tach in a couple years. It's probably around lower 30,000s. Anymore shit you know nothing about you'd like to spout off about Fresno? Hey, YOUR profile is outdated, big guy. Congratulations if you really have those kind of miles on your bikes and you personally put them on.  BTW, when are you getting rid of the race parts on your Buell? I mean a guy that that is so taken aback from Buell's new found racing focus ("@#$ anyone that doesn't race") would never have parts developed for said racing, right? I know there are guys here that will buy 'em in heartbeat. | ||
| Lemonchili_x1 |
I went to bed last night wondering what BOB was really about, the "won't make any friends" bit having stirred a not so positive reaction in particular. But I fell asleep with the thought of "meh, it's just a brochure". Having slept, had coffee, read BOB again, watched the video again, read everybody's thoughts and reactions, read BOB again, and again... It's page 3 that put me off, and it shouldn't have. "World Champion of Sitting"! That's some funny sh*t! The problem is that I don't hang off the bike when I ride, even though I know the seat on the X1 is really nicely shaped for hanging off... Honestly I'm embarrassed by my lack of riding skills sometimes... And then I read "They just bought the wrong bike." and I wondered, is that me? I don't have full leathers, I've never scraped my knee (though I'd love to and will one day!)... So that thought set up a negative tone for reading the rest of BOB last night. Maybe this is the "negative closer" stuff that FB mentioned? Anyway, after some HTFU about that bit, reading the rest of BOB is pretty cool. And yes, I had to re-read the waving bit too, I get it now. And no other company would poke fun at "skulldanas" and chicken strips!  I am curious to my non-Buell owning friends reactions to this. I have a friend who rides a SuperDuke and races a TZR250 and he loved the Blast ad. I'm very curious about Vamps reaction to it when she gets home from work too. Overall though, it's just "advertising guff" and hearing EB talk about things in the videos makes more sense than the ad copy to *me*. I'm looking forward more to action than words from Buell, and expect to see some pretty cool stuff coming out of Buell even if there are no new models for 2010. cheers, chili (aka Graham Mansill on facebook) | ||
| Gregtonn |
..."I also appreciate that it is advertising guff."...  You hit the nail precisely on the head. But I expect the nail will keep popping back up. G | ||
| Lemonchili_x1 |
"But I expect the nail will keep popping back up. " Lol! It's all cool, just realised the "Book of Buell" isn't on the Australian buell.com page, so none of it applies to me anyway! Hehehe! | ||
| Riding_tall |
As advertising I thought it was effective. It sure got us talking, big question is how does a non-buell rider view it? Will it draw them in or push them away ? As a statement of personality it's way over the top for me but most adverting is. Like Ourdee said I'm still going to stop on the side of the rode when I see a bike stopped, to see if they need help. My 77-Connector fried on the way home friday and left me stranded. I was there about 40 min on the side of a busy road. 5 people stopped to see if I needed help. 1 car and 4 bikes and I waved off 2 bikes that were slowing down. All different types of bikes and riders. Only one bike went by without even looking at me ( a full dress Harley ) My thought is the best advertising for buell is the return to racing, that's how it all started after all. |
