| Author | Message | ||
     Buellnuts  |
It's to bad that HD and Buell can't swallow a little pride and make a good business decision. If I were producing a Sport Bike for profit as I'm assuming they are trying to do, I'd outlet them in the right demographic. Who knows? Bob | ||
| Trolldaddi  |
I've been talking with the local HD shop where I live and they are happy to help me out as much as possible. I do most of my work myself, but when I can't do the work, it's nice to know that they will support Buell. By the way, they were just listed as a Buell service dealership and had nothing to do with Buells in the past. My dad has been taking his HD to them for years and they always give great service. Hopefully it will continue with my Buell. Steve | ||
| Pcmodeler  |
I agree. I think Buell's would do better in a Sportbike shop, even if it means being sold alongside Honda's, etc., just as long as the service were also equally available. | ||
| Cataract2 |
I think they can do well in HD shops also, just that the HD shop has to support us well. If they don't carry the accesories, at least give us a way to order them and have them there in at least a week. Also, we need to be treated like we're customers and not problems. I've been lucky so far in that my local dealer is planning on keep the line from what I'm told and that I've not been treated like a problem there. | ||
| Reepicheep  |
I have found that with regards to the Harley guys that actually *ride* their bikes, instead of just parking them in front of bars, I actually have a bunch in common. I loved sitting at the counter of my Dayton dealer talking about rebuilding the tranny on my Cyclone with a guy that was putting new jugs on an old knucklehead. We were two peas in a pod. | ||
| Loki  |
Not to hijack the thread. Buell is spending marketing dollars, just not where we would look. The other night I picked up a stunter magazine. Something I do not normally scan. There were at least 7 half page adverts in the first half . | ||
| Budo  |
"I think they can do well in HD shops also, just that the HD shop has to support us well" That may be a large part of the problem. I needed an ignition switch for my 1998 S1W, the parts guy tried for three months to get one and could not. He told me to try to find on somewhere else because he could not get one and did not know why. Now a three wire sporster switch would work but either he did not know that or did not care enough to ask someone in service about it. And then there was the guy who was looking at a Buell and the sales person came over to him and said 'why are you looking at these things for? Come over here and look at this Dyna, it is a real motorcycle'. As always YMMV | ||
| Cataract2 |
Never had that problem at mine. I can't believe they would do that. That's BS. Well, like I said, they can do well in HD shops that support us. Ask yourself this, if they were in Honda, Yamaha, etc shops would they do any better? The same sales guys there could stear the customer over to a jap one just as easily. Just MHO. | ||
| Ceejay |
The local one in this place has lost out on another customer, not that they care too much considering I just bought gaskets and the like, nothing compared to the guys blowing half a grand on chrome. If you are in the Columbus area don't go to A D Farrow for parts unless you want the wrong ones, been there three times and have gotten the wrong stuff every time, and then they tried to sell me more stuff and charge me for a restocking fee! Centennial Park seems much better albeit a longer drive. Since I am on the subject I need the headlight brackets for a inverted fork, anyone looking to get rid of some? CJ | ||
| Spike  |
Not to hijack the thread, but the comment about Tilley's and NC Buell insurance got to me. Bubba used to complain about the insurance prices in NC and I never really took much notice since I wasn't in sales. I've since considered jumping into Buell sales, but the insurance scandal scares the •••• out of me. We have a new tech here at Ray Price who really wants an XB12, but he can't find a single reasonable price for insurance. He's 23 with a clean driving record and the lowest quote he received was $4400/year. Many quotes had the annual premium near the MSRP of the bike. Progressive quoted me $3600/year. How is anyone expected to sell a vehicle when the insurance payments are more expensive than the vehicle payments? Mike L. | ||
| Reepicheep |
*sigh*... we just had to have a 100 RWHP Buell, didn't we  The factory could do us XB owners some favors and install the frame pucks before they go out the door... | ||
| Mikej  |
Has anyone done any in-depth (or at least ankle-depth) studies or comparisons on insuring different bikes? I'm wondering how the Buell XB rates compare to rates for Honda RR's, Yamahas, and other "SportBikes" with similar demographic markets. For example, take one 23 year old rider with 5 years licensed riding experience in NC and get quotes for an XB12R, XB12S, XB9Cx, Hayabusa, Suzuki GSXR600, Honda CBR600, Yamaha ZYF600, and so forth. Just curious about direct comparisons of insuring bikes the XB are marketed against directly or indirectly. I'm not sure frame savers are the answer. | ||
| Glitch  |
I'm not sure frame savers are the answer. Maybe not THE answer, but it sure would help. Especially if you own an S and the first thing to hit in a spill is your $1300 frame. | ||
| Mikej |
Do Harley or Buell communicate with insurance companies about the ratings of bike models, or are insurance ratings considered in the development and marketing of new bike models, and are ratings analyzed for past bike models when concepts are considered for future models, and a multitude of related inquiries. I would hope I know some of these answers, and would assume vehicle insurance is a large consideration, and would especially hope insurability didn't hit Buell as hard as the rules changes did for the first Buell(s). | ||
| Davegess |
Do Harley or Buell communicate You bet they do. Part of why 1000's are always less than 1000cc is insurance. | ||
| Bomber  |
not dis'ing anyone or their postings, but I find it odd that the culling of the Buell Dealer group (bitterly called for for at least as long as I've been on this board -- likely longer) seems to generate almost as much negative postings as the previously unqualified dealers used to do -- can't have it both ways -- me, I'd rather have a strong local dealer (local defined as an hour or so) than 5 or six dealers that don't know what they're doin with buells . . . but that's just me the insurance thng IS scary, aint' it? yikes -- I'm sure it's not just Buells being hit, but we could all find ourselves on either 10 year old sport bikes or brand new cruisers, if we ain't careful shop for insurance, carry what you need, and join the AMA -- they helped, big time, the last time the insurance industry tried to bring it's slightly doubtful knowledge of motorcycling to bare on pricing | ||
| Josh_  |
MSN occasionally does insurance comparisons and did a big write up... just over a year a go if I recall correctly. My FJR insurance just went up to $450/yr for year-round full coverage, 250/500 deduct. | ||
| Reepicheep |
I think the frame is the third thing to hit, but I have not dropped mine yet. I think you have to break a footpeg and bend a bar first... but thats virtually trivial to accomplish. The cost is the thing. It's a $35 part that makes a frame vitrually invulnerable (meaning that if you hit hard enough to significantly damage the frame through that puck, I would bet you hit hard enough to totalt the bike regardless). Note to self: Get some axle sliders. Every one of those $1800 claims for what could have been a $250 crash is another bit in some computer somewhere that is about to trigger the insurance on my 9sx to double. | ||
| Davegess |
The big hit for insurance is still coming. Last years death numbers for us old guys are scary. Way worse then the 20 somethings on sportbikes. | ||
| Daves  |
Insurance issues are being worked on. Hopefully it will get better. Dave | ||
| Outrider  |
Last years death numbers for us old guys are scary. Drunks and folks that don't know what they are doing is the big problem. Perhaps the MSF and Rider's Edge programs are too lax as indicated on another thread here a few months ago. Additionally, putzing around in a parking lot for advanced training doesn't make a whole lot of sense as it isn't quite reality which is probably why not many sign up for it. Having finally joined the Harley Cruiser crowd two years ago (then age 54) I am exposed to folks my age that are still arguing whether or not they should start using the front brake or how to cut a corner. They don't even know words like apex, decreasing radius, ad nauseum. All most of them really care about is riding in parade formation and to the next bar. The really interesting part is when you join in the conversation the big shot with the buzz on tells you that you don't know what you are talking about. Needless to say, these are just more reminders why I won't join a riding group anymore and only ride with folks I know how they are going to react to adversity. Of interest, I know one guy that lays his Ultra down at least three times a year because he either can't get to the rear brake in time or low sides due to panic rear braking. Funny thing is he isn't a drunk. He is just stubborn 49 year old German. Remember: You can always tell a German, but you can't tell him much! LOL Would like to see more detail statistics concerning all accidents. However, due to certain privacy laws, much of the details are not available and what can be retrieved is just lumped into general categories. Thus the conclusion is, we will be up a creek eventually thanks to a bunch of BoneHeads exercising their rights at the expense of ours. | ||
| Charlieboy6649  |
Is insurance regional? My devil is on my shoulder saying, "Hey stupid, of course it is!" but I don't know for sure. My insurance company, Dairyland, just told me this year that the XB was re-classified and my price dropped $400. (Arizona) Could it be that each state has it's own set of rates according to how riders fare? That's how Dairyland explained it to me. They said that because statewide, accidents have fallen, the rates dropped, even though I've totaled a bike! Sweet for me! | ||
| Pcmodeler |
Yes, it is regional. As for the older deaths, according to the article a lot of the older guys were previous owners when they were younger. Much of it was blamed on slowing reflexes and buying vehicles that were too powerful. Essentially, midlife crisis is kicking in for all of the baby boomers. | ||
| Lastcyclone  |
Does anyone have access to a list of current or former Buell dealers that have recently dropped or are planning to stop selling our bikes? Dave? I think that is where this thread started, maybe not. | ||
| Outrider |
Pcmodeler...Yeah, like I needed to be reminded of that.  Just wait. Someday, when you are old and treacherous, you will look back at all this and laugh as well. | ||
| Daves |
The main reason more of us old(I think I qualify  )riders are crashing is that there are more 40-60 year olds riding now than ever before. It's a numbers thing. On the drinking and riding issue, is that regional? I see/hear lots more of it here in Wisconsin than I did in Iowa? What's it like in other areas? | ||
| Outrider |
Having spent way too many years under the water tower at the Lookout Restaurant on the Ortega Hwy overlooking Lake Elsinore, CA, I can honestly say the Harley riders consumed almost all the beer each weekend. Same applied to Cook's Corners. Hey Dave! How do you like the new Avatar. I figure if HDI won't do it, perhaps Triumph will. Well, as soon as the new avatar shows up. Gulp... | ||
| Ethanr  |
>The cost is the thing. It's a $35 part that makes a frame vitrually invulnerable (meaning that if you hit hard enough to significantly damage the frame through that puck, I would bet you hit hard enough to totalt the bike regardless). Most of the time, maybe. But I learned the "fun" way that a damaged frame doesn't necessarily mean a total loss. Note the damage right where pucks would've helped...  >Every one of those $1800 claims for what could have been a $250 crash is another bit in some computer somewhere that is about to trigger the insurance on my 9sx to double. Like Charlie I'm in AZ, and in spite of this crash (other driver was faulted) my rates dropped. The bike is being fixed with $0 out of my pocket since the other guy's insurance picked up my deductible...and my rates still went down. Point taken, though...I'll be "pucking" my XB as soon as I get it back. If I'd had pucks on when I was hit I'd have had it back much sooner instead of waiting (still) over two months for parts to come in. | ||
| Court |
Is insurance regional? You bet. Court New York City  | ||
| Aydenxb9 |
Here in NC the problem with insurance has nothing to do with the construction of the motorcycle, but has everything to do with an insurance commission that is not on the ball and legislators who believe in social engineering. The other manufacturers have have come up with ways to move their product without requiring collision. Things such as manufacturer credit cards or bonding the customer to cover damages to the vehicle. The customer only has to carry state minimum to keep their tags. The other component that's skewing things is that insurance companies are now using customers credit scores, their Beacon Number to determine premiums. Have a low score for whatever reason and your rates will be higher. It's nuts! |
