| Author | Message | ||
     Redbuelljunkie |
Here are a few words that express my opinion of this letter and the Book of Buell: heartbreaking, pitiful, lamentable, regrettable, horrible, terrible, distressing, disturbing, upsetting, grievous, sad, woeful and pathetic. I have owned a '97 S1 Lightning, an '02 X1 White Lightning, an '03 XB9R, and an '08 XB12R, and now I find myself embarrassed by the misguided braggadocio spewing from a company that I have been a proud supporter of for years. It's almost sickening. If this truly is the customer base that Buell is trying to attract, then good luck, good riddance, and enjoy your new job as a day care provider for juvenile delinquents. What a dark day in Buell's history. | ||
| Ceejay |
Is Buell trying/going to get themselves out from the HD umbrella? | ||
| Mortarmanmike120 |
Fresno: If/when Buell only offers detuned racebikes as streetbike that'll be my que to leave. I don't think that is going to happen overnight either. Last I checked Buell was still putting out pretty awesome street bikes. That comment was made in light of your previous hypothetical question. But by dropping the blast name, buell in effect dropped an entire market from their lineup. So the possibility of dropping the street bikes is not unfathomable. Once again I don't think thats gonna happen anytime soon. Streetbikez payz the billz. That is some pretty extreme speculation--especially since it is based on a marketing piece that is interpreted differently by each person that reads it. Instead of calling it extreme, I'd say ruthless speculation. /wink I think that speaks poorly to the marketing. It's not the audience's responsibility to correctly interpret the ad. It's the ads responsibility to clearly present the message. My opinion in regards to the message has changed about 3 times in 4 days. I still don't like the message that I'm interpreting. | ||
| Fresnobuell |
heartbreaking, pitiful, lamentable, regrettable, horrible, terrible, distressing, disturbing, upsetting, grievous, sad, woeful and pathetic. Jeez, I think I would rather you blather on about how bad the 1125r is...at least you are being critical of an actual motorcycle and not some marketing scheme. | ||
| Hexangler |
It's ok not to wave (on the race track)... | ||
| Spiderman |
All this whining and bitching it is like watching the View, jebus! | ||
| Slaughter |
If it's pissing you off, sell. If you're neutral, hold. If you're fired up, buy. | ||
| Blackm2 |
I'm with you Spidey. You bunch of girls, get on your bikes and ride! Then come back and see if you care. There are NO other bikes like these on the road, therefore the current marketing. Plus, the ad is not saying to NOT wave. It is saying it is ok not to, because you are a little busy riding your bike at mid-apex.  | ||
| Slaughter |
I wave because of bad personal hygiene. Keeps the flies off. Some people mistake it for friendliness. ...and who is Ruth? | ||
| Spiderman |
Hold on let me join the band wagon... I want my Buell to be the same ol thing Erik made in his barn 20 years ago. I do not want change! I do not want the company to advance! I want the wheel that is Buell to stand still! /sarcasm... | ||
| Gregtonn |
Wow! The BoB seems to have triggered episodes of Paranoid Schizophrenia in some individuals. Paranoid Schizophrenia's Three primary symptoms: -delusions of persecution, reference, exalted birth, special mission, bodily change, or jealousy; -hallucinatory voices that threaten the patient or give commands, or auditory hallucinations without verbal form, such as whistling, humming, or laughing; -hallucinations of smell or taste, or of sexual or other bodily sensations; visual hallucinations may occur but are rarely predominant. G | ||
| Slaughter |
You say paranoid and schizophrenic like those are BAD things! | ||
| Spiderman |
With my multiple concussions I am a candidate for dementia... | ||
| Gregtonn |
Just 'cause you're paranoid don't mean they ain't out to get you._Frank Wyatt G | ||
| Crusty |
Roses are red Violets are blue I'm schizophrenic And so am I. | ||
| Mortarmanmike120 |
If it's pissing you off, sell. If you're neutral, hold. If you're fired up, buy.  | ||
| Hexangler |
43 (**EDIT**) "...Senate approved on July 17 would expand protections under the federal hate-crime law to those attacked because of their ... or disability." Is paranoid-schizophrenia a disability? I wonder... (Message edited by hexangler on July 29, 2009) | ||
| Sayitaintso |
Hey didn't HD jest buy some old sport bike company from across the pond Similar thought crossed my mind...... rather than buy that "other company" take that money and plow it into the one you already own and let the ruthless engineering really happen. | ||
| Shot_gun |
Paranoid-schizophrenia aside, I think sending a letter to Erik is not going to do a whole lot for a company that he doesn't control any more. I'm not sad or disturbed they crushed the blast. I chuckled alittle. I rode a blast and it was a little well moped like. erik explained what the original intention was and said they don't want the riding publick to think that the blast is what Buell is about. He did after all make RACE bikes. It's the whole Ruthless engineering I don't get. I know it's the marketing team but... when I think ruthless I think Hitler, Saddam Husein, Fidel Castro ect.It doesn't make me think of state of the art engineering. I understand they are trying to get the younger riders by making it seem the motorcycles are state of the art similar to the Japanese and italian bikes. Just my 02 | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
I'd be interested in the average age of those truly distressed by the new marketing vs. those who have no issue or like it. I think the fundamental question is whether or not Buell is a streetbike company or a sportbike company. Are magazines kind to "streetbike" companies? Have they been kind to Buell in the past? Have we had to make excuses in the past for our bikes as being "great for the street"? I see the BOB as a statement of intention, to deliver top quality bikes. Bikes which are judged against the competition. With no excuses. Isn't that what we all want? Or do we prefer odd little bikes with limited appeal and no real market share? If so, Buell won't survive long enough to matter. | ||
| Xb12xmike |
>Just 'cause you're paranoid don't mean they ain't out to get you._Frank Wyatt What are you talkin bout?... What do you mean?? | ||
| Danger_dave |
In my opine, they are documents produced in support of retail vehicle sales (by a wholly owned subsidiary of Harley-Davidson®) Typically, If a big company's numbers tell them to bang a different drum to make more sales, so be it. This is agency driven. Flagpole, salute, cat, carpet, lick, focus groups, surveys, Class B recreational drugs. Mr Buell is still a nice man and the bikes still make me dance on the inside. Express your frustration, some of I don't like either, but chill, chillin' - it's just ad guff. And publicity is publicity. (Message edited by danger_dave on July 28, 2009) | ||
| Redbuelljunkie |
That's exactly my point, Ft bstrd: the BOB statement seems to refer to the 2010 models, which still are odd little bikes with limited appeal, no real market share, and are still not comparable to the competition without excuses- which only leaves intention and arrogant juvenile pap. Let the product speak for itself, or at least wait until you've accomplished your goal before releasing antagonistic and pompous marketing ploys- it's just sad and embarrassing. | ||
| Hughlysses |
+1 to what Dave said. That sums it up nicely. | ||
| Johnnymceldoo |
I'd be interested in the average age of those truly distressed by the new marketing vs. those who have no issue or like it. 31 years old. New ad doesnt bother me. Cubing the blast doesnt bother me. Like the improvements to the XB line. 1125 doesnt interest me yet but I watch the 1125R boards. | ||
| Boltrider |
I'm 30 and I have no issue with the marketing. And I thought the Blast video was funny. (Message edited by boltrider on July 28, 2009) | ||
| Bikertrash05 |
Maybe BOB is just an elaborate excuse for the ugly pods?  | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
odd little bikes with limited appeal The 1125s have the same limited appeal as the XB line? | ||
| Danger_dave |
50 The graphic style both pleased and frustrated me. Overall liked the style, typography and photo selection not what I would choose, but close. Blast didn't bother me. Amused. Like the new web site a lot. Range in economic climate makes sense. Making social statements on my behalf I can well do without. (Message edited by danger_dave on July 28, 2009) | ||
| Rainman |
51 Have no problem with the web site. Have no real problem with the Book of Buell. I'm in the news media so I understand hype. I'm not ruthless. I'm not a racer. I'm not into sportbikes. I will buy whatever the hell I want and ride it the way I want to and if that means buying a Buell and sitting on it, that's what it means. Felt like someone kicked me in the gut when the bike I've been using to hawk Buell and drum up support like some second-string apostle, was mocked, ridiculed and then crushed. Thought about bagging Buell bikes forever. Unfortunately, I love everything about them, from the Blast to the Firebolt to the 1125r and especially the XBSs. I also like the fact that the man who designs them and lives them is whacked enough to make a video that is likely going to pizz off some customers. Honda ain't got that kinda guts. Decided I would focus on the product and let the man do what he wants. As long as there's a bike available when I can afford it, I'll buy it. Oh, and I'll keep my Blast,thank you. It'll make a great chaise lounge as is. |
