| Author | Message | ||
     Pcmodeler  |
OK. So I've only had my bike for a week and have started looking at what's available for aftermarket parts. From searching the web, it seems that there is an odd thing going on. Why are the majority of aftermarket parts produced/available made oversees? I could see if this were a Honda, Ducati, Suzuki, etc., but gee, the bike is made in the US, is powered by a Harley, which probably has the largest number of aftermarket items available for any bike, yet the US market seems to almost entirely overlook producing items for the Buell. From surfing this board, I almost get the impression that Buell probably sells more bikes oversees. Am I totally off base on this? | ||
| Anonymous |
The US market is busy making chopper junk if it's an H-D company, or turning up there noses at Buell if it's an import type company. The overseas market loves Buells and appreciates them, and in fact more were sold in Europe alone this year than in the US, not counting Japan, etc. | ||
| Tom_b  |
No Pc your not off base on this. I've noticed this before myself. The Europeans love the buell while the big fad in states are choppers. You gotta think though the brits started the cafe bike thing which are old school street racer bikes and the euros were into road racing years before americans were. | ||
| Cataract2 |
Groan, some choppers are good looking, most are becoming cookie cutter designs. I'm sick of them myself. I can only see ape hangers so many times. | ||
| Pcmodeler |
I think even Jesse James is seeing the writing on the wall in that respect. I know he recently built a street fighter style bike for Honda. Beautiful bike. | ||
| Buells Rule! (Dyna in disguise)  |
I think the Chopper phase has really just begun, around here its getting bigger & bigger every month. Going to be awhile before the next big trend hits. I wouldnt mind a WCC type bike as a bar hopper ride. Wicked raked out front end, belt drive primary, ridgid frame, wild paint, etc. | ||
| Tom_b |
Don't get me wrong, I love a nice chopper. But they are getting so common and generic it takes a lot of the fun away. I'm building a 750 honda chopper/bobber. The reason I'm going with a honda because it was cheap and it will be different when finished. That is one reason I like my buell, it is different. When I get the honda to where it is a recognizable as bike again I will throw some pic's up. this reasoning is part of why I like the cafe racer style. Cool and different. | ||
| Brad_buell  |
Recently my HD/Buell dealer discounted all their Buell clothes and accessories with 75% off. What very little they had sold. When I bought a shirt there they gave me the Blue Buell hanger. I think that Buell days are numbered there. Also noticed two other Buell dealers in Michigan seem to be eliminating the Buell lines of apparel and accessories. I can't even find a Buell patch or sticker without resorting to ebay. Are some dealerships dropping the Buell franchise? Something is definitely going on. It seems that it goes beyond after-market parts. Is Buell in for a rough year? | ||
| Spike  |
Brad_buell, This post should provide some insight about the dealers that are no longer carrying Buell: http://www.badweatherbikers.com/cgibin/discus/show.cgi?tpc=4062&post=355434#POST 355434 | ||
| Buells Rule! (Dyna in disguise) |
The reason I'm going with a honda because it was cheap and it will be different when finished. Different now days, but in the early 70's that was actually a very common build. Harleys hadnt achieved the cult status they have today so nobody really had the attitude that it had to be HD or V-twin powered like the builders today think all bikes need to be. Japanese & British choppers were all over the place, still see a few of the old ones every year. | ||
| Imonabuss |
James' bike was a chopper in streetfighter clothes. "Pure pose, no goes." I HATE that junk. Give me real performance any day, not stylized BS. I want something that works. Europeans really ride their bikes, that's why they like Buells and not choppers. The whole OCC and JJ crap makes me vomit. None of those are real motorcycles. Makes me embarassed to be American. I mean everyone here sees JJ and that big mouthed father/son team as motorcycling, instead of Hopper and Edwards and guys like that. PUKE, PUKE, PUKE. | ||
| Jlnance  |
Spike - Any comment about your dealership? | ||
| Spike |
Jim, I have yet to hear anything either way about Ray Price. We're still getting '05 models, but only the XB9SXs and blasts. | ||
| Buells Rule! (Dyna in disguise) |
The whole OCC and JJ crap makes me vomit. None of those are real motorcycles. You gotta admit that the Teutals sure have the marketing gimmick down though. Between them & Jesse the armored cars cant haul the $$ to the bank fast enough. I will agree that the OCC bikes are $hit, awful build quality, horrible reliability, etc. However Jesses bikes are actually pretty well built & he has no issues with building one & riding it 1000 miles. Now im just trying to figure out exactly what is a "real motorcycle"? If it has 2 wheels & the owner enjoys it, shouldnt that be enough to qualify it? I know plenty of folks with "real" bikes who are lucky if they out on 500 miles a year, yet some of the owners of supposed "poser" bikes are racking up thousands of miles a year. Once again it all comes down to the owner, the person holding the title to the machine is the poser not the other way around. | ||
| Brad_buell |
Spike- Do you think that the Buell dealers that "lose" their Buell license/francise still service for a period of time? If my local dealer loses Buell, I'll have quite a ride for the next one. Also, my dealer has suspension parts on hold for me until the spring thaw in northern Michigan. Might they send them back? Of course all questions that I intend to ask them. Currently they're waiting for word from Buell on their license/francise for 2005. As of Friday, they had no 2005's in stock. | ||
| Buells Rule! (Dyna in disguise) |
Brad, there have been a few reports of dealers dropping Buells, either by choice or due to this new deal going around & some are dropping all service on the bikes as well. While others are continuing with service. It seems like perhaps the dealers who may not have sold a lot but were at least receptive to the bikes will conitnue to take care of their customers who purchased them. Or who knows, maybe once a dealership loses the franchise they have no ability to any longer obtain parts? | ||
| Pcmodeler |
I know that I called the Harley dealer closest to me to see if they could get Buell parts, which they can't. However, I asked them if they performed service on them, which they do. I do not believe they have ever been a Buell dealer. The closest Buell dealer to me is about 30-45 minutes away. There is also another dealer about 90 minutes away, which is a lot better than some of you have it. The one about 45 minutes from me had about 8 of them (Blasts, Lightnings and Firebolts) on hand when I was there a few weeks ago. | ||
| Charlieboy6649  |
Jim's Harley, who still has a Buell tech will still service em' but you're gonna pay. No warranty work. Oh, and they can't even order parts anymore. Thank God for Dave, thanks Dave... I'm enthusiastic about the overseas response. Maybe it'll take a foreigner racing our American Buell and winning a cup to throw it in the faces of non-believers? (Message edited by charlieboy6649 on December 26, 2004) | ||
| Rek  |
If it has 2 wheels & the owner enjoys it, shouldnt that be enough to qualify it? Too true. We don't want to get into that whole "better your sister in a ho-house than your brother on a brand-X" mentality. Just because your ride the best, most awesome motorsickle in the world doesn't mean you should rub it in everyone's face.  | ||
| Midknyte |
Back to the original question... Aside from our chopper fascination, it's hard to fault the US public. We're only what, 15 years late to the [sportbike] party? | ||
| Ftd  |
I like my Buell but I have owned my Bourget for 7 years now and like it just as much. Great bar hopper, virtually problem free, chicks love it and until you have ridden a big inch engine V-twin well, what can I say. Limiting yourself to one type of bike and/or dismissing the others is a mistake. Particularly if you have not experienced riding them and taking part in the culture that surrounds them. Frank  | ||
| Fullpower  |
Well I really like my XB12,it's a great long distance road warrior. But i have never had a rush like that of twisting the throttle on a high compression, 89 inch stroker sportster, nailing revlimiter in five gears. brings tears to my eyes every time i get 3rd gear wheelspin. for terrorizing the town a loud fast sportster is hard to beat. for a twelve hundred mile weekend, Buell is THE ride. dean said that. | ||
| Dago  |
3rd gear wheel spin?!?! How are you getting your rear wheel to break loose in 3rd gear on solid pavement/concrete? Just the thought of it makes my ••• pucker. From my experience, these things STICK. The front end comes up before the back end breaks loose. <Sorry for the off topic question.> | ||
| Buells Rule! (Dyna in disguise) |
He's talking about a sporty, lot more weight there. I know with my Dyna all I get is tire spin, the front end wont come up unless I have more weight on the rear end. | ||
| Buellriderm2  |
Couple of pics of my ride for old Imonabuss, aka Harvey Mushman to enjoy. Since he seems to dig choppers so much, I thought he'd enjoy seeing one that uses some familiar parts. Build and ride what makes you happy, period.    | ||
| Pcmodeler |
Now that's how I'd build a chopper. | ||
| Crusty |
I DARE you to ride that to Homecoming (not trailer it). I have a problem with trailer queens; even if they make good power. I'm funny that way- I feel that motorcycles are meant to be ridden. | ||
| Fullpower |
Dago, i think the wheelspin is result of the combination of a 4-5/16" stroke, 12 to one compression, 21:48 final drive ratio, and a cold 150 mm wide street tire. its a lot of fun for 15 minutes or so, then the noise and vibration gets bothersome. | ||
| Brad_buell |
Hey Buellriderm2- That's an awesome chopper! If I were ever to entertain thoughts of a chopper that would surely be IT!!! -Brad | ||
| Buells Rule! (Dyna in disguise) |
Crusty, I know guys who ride bikes a lot more radical than that a pretty far distance. One guy took a 750 Honda Shadow, replaced the shocks with solid struts, chopped the forks down, chopped the rear fender, pulled the front fender, & then finally when he had the bike low enough he threw the seat in the garbage & has a piece of diamond plate steel for a seat. He regularly puts on 600+ mile weekends with the bike. I think he's frickin nutz tho. |
