| Author | Message | ||
     Bob_thompson |
I've been watching this thread and mostly laughing about all the posts and just had a profound thought. When I ride my slightly modified 2008 1125R absolutely none of these posts matter one minute bit to me. Just ride it, or do not. Free choice, Isn't America a great place?!!!!!!! | ||
| Spike |
28 I like the B.O.B. It seems to fit right in with what Buell has been advertising all along, just a little bolder this time. The other guys seem to advertise their sport bikes in one of two ways: 1- Ricky Racer wins on this bike, so you should own one. 2- This bike will earn you the respect and admiration of your friends (see Yamaha's "The R is for Respect" campaign). The reality is that far too many of those bikes end up being wheelied down the freeway or lowered and stretched and ridden to the local bike night so the owners can have spec sheet pissing contests. The Book of Buell rejects the typical sport bike stereotype and insists that Buells are engineered to be ridden and ridden hard. They are not engineered to win popularity contests. Also, they are meant to be raced. Not merely by paid professionals on TV, but by local guys who do it on their own dime for the love of the sport. The Book of Buell resonates with me. I don't own a sport bike to impress my friends. I don't own a sport bike so I can pretend to be the guys on TV. I own a sport bike because I love sport riding. I appreciate a brand that focuses on building serious performance motorcycles with real-world engineering. The only part of the Book of Buell that bugs me is the heavy emphasis on "ruthless" engineering during a model year with minimal technical improvements. What's ruthless about an oil site glass and new graphics? | ||
| Xb984r |
"The 1125s have the same limited appeal as the XB line?" Yes | ||
| Fresnobuell |
I own a sport bike because I love sport riding. I appreciate a brand that focuses on building serious performance motorcycles with real-world engineering. Great post Spike.} | ||
| Ezblast |
Always Bob, Always! EZ | ||
| Rainman |
Not getting pissy, here, but do you guys consider the XBSs and XT sportbikes? Why? I tend to think of them as well-engineered, who cares how you do it standards. | ||
| Easy_rider |
48 Offended by BOB. I've never ridden a Blast, but I was disturbed at how a significant part of their past can be tossed aside, albeit in a very useful coffee table. This ad didn't seem to be so much about bikes, but was focused at a limited population of riders (but maybe that segment isn't as limited as I think it is). Hey didn't HD jest buy some old sport bike company from across the pond } Nope, they bought a distribution network. Bikes were a minor consideration (YOMV). | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Sport standards. | ||
| Fresnobuell |
I was disturbed at how a significant part of their past can be tossed aside Buell is a business making a business decision, not some couple being divorced after 20 years of marriage. Any business making decisions based on the past is doomed to failure. (Message edited by fresnobuell on July 28, 2009) | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Erik isn't sentimental. About anything. It's not personal (to Erik). It's just part of the 200 year plan. | ||
| Steve_mackay |
but I was disturbed at how a significant part of their past can be tossed aside Why is the Blast a 'significant' part of their past? It's not even the bike Buell set out to build in the 1st place... I'm 41, and like DD, I liked BOB, but I can make my own social statements. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Buell Owners: Like Herding Cats | ||
| Eaton_corners |
I'm not sentimental about a bike. But, I was unaware that by riding a Buell, I was expected to portray a superior attitude such as was hinted at in the BoB. I thought it had a very demeaning undertone. I forgot to add; I'm 39 years old. (Message edited by Eaton_corners on July 28, 2009) | ||
| Vampress |
perhaps he meant this Raiders logo?  | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Tongue. In. Cheek. | ||
| Tom_b |
"xb9er.. Buell is the best sportbike" Yeah right.  | ||
| Mortarmanmike120 |
37, I was initially irritated with the BoB but have come to realize its significance to me - none. It has no impact on the bikes I like, the bikes I'll buy, or how I ride. FB, you summed up a little of the angst I've felt. It was a question I hadn't considered before BoB, and didn't like the implication once I'd realized 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've never made excuses about my bikes, street bikes are what I enjoy. Super sport race bikes drafted into street service are not what I like. The 1125s do not fit my definition of a street bike. The XB,Uly,XTs fit my needs to a tee. If Buell continues to shift it's emphasis away from awesome street bikes to awesome track bikes, they will eventually lose my business. It's nothing personal to EB, and it won't be personal to me. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
I have ridden the R and CR. I have my eye (and the money I can scrape together) set on an 06 SS. Why? I like the engine. If the XB line went away tomorrow, I wouldn't care. If Buell produces ONLY repliracers, I may or may not buy them. Others will. Suzuki doesn't produce a bike that I would want to own (except for maybe a motard). They are doing alright. Buell will probably move away from its original market into new markets. Some traditional owners will be lost. Others will be gained. It's the way of business. I took the BOB to be more tongue in cheek than a bible for Buell ownership. I took the cube issue to be a little comic interlude for the ending of the Buell association with the Blast project. I'm 37 and neither bothered me. | ||
| Buellinachinashop |
I'm 43 and pissed. Wait. I'm always pissed. | ||
| Niceguyeddy |
My scg kicks ass and I could give a f*** about the new ads. Spend less time looking over your shoulder and more time looking through your corners. | ||
| Metalstorm |
I took the BOB to be more tongue in cheek than a bible for Buell ownership. Same here. I am fluent in dry humor and sarcasm and I was able to read the BOB without any hangups  | ||
| Danger_dave |
>>I'm 43 and pissed. << In my parlance that means you are drunk. I'll have a double thanks. | ||
| Danger_dave |
>>Spend less time looking over your shoulder<< If I don't look back how will I see anybody??? | ||
| Pkforbes87 |
I'm 22 years old and find no fault with the BoB while viewing it IN CONTEXT. As others have said, it is an advertisement. When I see a Yamaha advertisement I don't really think that buying an R1 will earn me more respect. Maybe some envy, but no respect.. I spend >0.1% of my seat time at a 45* angle, but that doesn't mean that my senses aren't appealed to by a marketing campaign that focuses on the performance aspects of a sport bike. I've been trying to imagine what the BoB says to a current rider who owns a KaHoSuYa, and I think it appeals to that person in a way none of us Buell faithfuls fully understand. The book does a good job of explaining to the competition's sport bike owners that Buell is not just about streetfighters or unique ideas. These bikes are built to not only compete, but win when put up against the KaHoSuYa's, and in order to accomplish that goal, they utilize some uniquely American engineering principals and manufacturing techniques. You and I get it.. we know why these bikes are different. Maybe this ad campaign will make THEM understand as well. BTW since the BoB was unleashed on the public I haven't changed who I wave to, or how much I "sit" while riding to work. My passenger pegs still haven't been removed, and I still don't have any Buell stickers on my Civic. | ||
| Steve_mackay |
John, you certainly weren't pissed during our rustic road ride Phil, buying an R1 wont earn you any more envy than that gorgeous X1 of yours! | ||
| Barker |
BoB or not, "I'm not buying a Buell unless it's the absolute best sportbike I can get... I want the precision of a scalpel and the force of a sledgehammer... Give us our weapons, Mr. Buell. And engineer them without mercy." I agree 100% speaking of BoB and death of blast, do yall remember how quickly "Own all the corners" was retracted. | ||
| Danger_dave |
>> and I still don't have any Buell stickers on my Civic.<< How much is it going to cost us to keep it that way? | ||
| Cityxslicker |
Bring that race replicant out my neck of the woods sometime  It wont like it any more than the R1, CBR1000, ZX10RR, GSXR1000 that are stuck back at the trail head. | ||
| Danger_dave |
I have a Black Uly and that same KLR in the shed right now. http://www.davidcohen.co.nz/ | ||
| Pkforbes87 |
"How much is it going to cost us to keep it that way?" That's a freebie  I don't think it would be a very effective advertisement considering that a set of tires for the Buell is worth more than the car. |
