| Author | Message | ||
     Rocketman |
What I say here is really a British matter of concern but seeing as Buell, read Harley Davidson Motor Company, look here this has to be the place to say this. Recently one of Buell UK's staff members, Bernie Tiller, has been dismissed from their employ. It seems Bernie attended the Bulldog Bash, an annual event held at Avon Park (or whatever they call it now) drag strip. This event is organised by the Hells Angels and has become, over the last several years, one of the UK's largest motorcycling events. It is well supported by top name acts on two wheels and on the music stage too. The media coverage of this event is huge, and thus The Bulldog is an ideal place to show off what you've got. In Bernies case, that weekend he had a V-Rod. Well what an ideal place to take a brand new HD mo-cycle, and especially one that's been billed as the fastest street production Harley ever made. So what did Bernie do at the Bulldog that was so wrong, you might ask ? Surely the top brass at Brackley HQ knew Bernie was taking the V-Rod, so no problem there. No, the problem was, Bernie, in the spirit of things Bulldog, allowed the V-Rod up the drag strip, and for that, he was dismissed by the Co. What a guy. My hat's off to Bernie. This is just the ticket Harley needs. Here's a guy who recognises that Harley, as a brand and a motorcycle manufacturer, is in need of reaching out to ALL its many diverse lifestyle customers. The greebo biker type to the weekend cowboy, all Harley enthusiasts alike, but each with different attitudes and perspectives to motorcycling. Let me ask you, who is the target market for the V-Rod ? Is it the greebo biker who has ridden everything from custom Z 900's in the 70's to Streetfighter Gixers in the 90's, then finally stumps up enough coin to buy a Softail Springer whilst nearly bankrupting themselves, or is it the wizz kid doctor or dentist who has enough disposable income to fill his double garage with an SUV, Porsche, and a Road King Classic - which he uses on sunny weekends only, and he\she is not really a biker at all. I dunno who is really a V-Rod potential owner but I'd like to bet there were plenty of 'em at the Bulldog Bash the weekend Bernie Tiller gave 'em all the sight, sound and thrill of this marvellous and bold creation thriving in its natural environment. It's a pitty these days that some of Harleys corporate exec's are afraid to do anything so bold as what Bernie did, in fear of losing their jobs. Hell, even the Japanese big four let their "hair down" these days. There are other reasons too, for Bernies sacking, including him stating on UKBEG that Buell would not release the Firebolt to the public until the 'Bolt was 100% reliable. A comment it seems, Buell UK regarded as "inside information", which is strange really considering Court has been saying the same thing on Badweb for months, so hardly a secret then ? Anyway, for those of us that know Bernie, it will be a loss, and I doubt that he will be replaced by anyone as helpful and understanding, nor as generous, and I use the term "generous" to mean sorting Buell problems outside of normal warranty claims, because I belive many Buell owners would have "bailed out" long ago without Bernies input, given the unreliabilty issues surrounding the product Bernie has stood by and supported. On a more personal level, Bernie is an ex Suzuki and ex Automobile Association man too, at senior levels of employment, which equates to him been a damn fine mechanic, which is why his services were in demand at HD\Buell in the first place. I know he took a huge dip in his salary to take up the Buell post, which also included him moving house to be nearer to HD\Buell HQ, something he didn't do lightly as he has a wife and kids to consider too, never mind his mortgauge. The commitment to the HD\Buell product can clearly be seen by his personal "sacrifices". Whatever becomes of Bernie Tiller, it is to HD\Buell's detriment, and that's not just my opinion, it is the opinion of many Buellers in the UK. We have lost a stallwart of the Buell community, which I'm sure will become some other companies gain once Bernie is "snapped up" by the "oposition". Great luck Bernie, I'm sure Erik Buell will be proud of you, even if some of the corporate ass licking donkeys aren't   Rocket in England | ||
| Rocketman |
RE: THE ABOVE POST I would like to make it clear that what I said above is my opinion and that as a Buell owner who has been looked after by Bernie Tiller, I feel I have a right to speak out on his behalf. After all, it would be to every Buell owners benefit, mine included, if Bernie and like minded souls such as him, where in the employ of the Mother Co. This is not to say that I, or anyone else that I know of for that matter, has or have received anything from Buell that was not due or warranted. Whatever Bernie Tiller has done for me or my Buell S1W Lightning, has always been for and on behalf of Buell UK, and I've been shown no favouritism. I would further like to say that I have met Bernie on a handful of occassions, and spoke on the telephone several times, but I am not party to his personal phone numbers or cell numbers, and I am not a personal friend of his as such. What I wrote above I beleive to be true and the information I have included came from a very reliable source, perhaps part of the rumour mill, but never the less, the bones of it are the truth but NOT told to me from Bernie himself. Bernie is a tight lipped kind of guy especially when it comes to company policy. I can tell you, on several occassions whilst in negotiations over my own Buell warranties, I have nagged the man for inside info on the Firebolt, pre-launch date, and never, not even once, did he disclose any information what so ever. Not even when I told him I'd seen pictures of it and described certain features from it, all guess work with a hint of inside info from other sources on my part just to bait him a little and get his guard down, but the man would not waver, and consequently, the Firebolt remained secret from me until its launch, I digress. Point been, I understand not why Bernie Tiller is in this position. Anyways, I realise that what I might write here could have some bearing on someones negotiations of compensation, read, golden handshake, so I think it neccessary to state now that what I've written so far is from a reliable source I know, and even though she could be wrong, as it could be a rumour, I have been unable to get through to Bernie Tiller, regards some warranty work on my front cylinder head, and HD\Buell UK claim to know nothing of his whereabouts. Rocket in England | ||
| Roy |
Rocket - your posting on ukbeg was removed shortly after I read it..? People taking sides , censorship or mistake? The plot thickens... I've met Bernie several times on a proffesional basis and agree with the above about him - he was/is a real asset to Buell! RoyH | ||
| Robr |
Hey Harley, why always the strongarm tactics? Seems like the same coporate mentality that dealt with Choptop has now dealt another blow. The time may come again when you need all the freinds and supporters you can muster...Robr | ||
| Blastin |
Hey Rocket, Not to get off the subject, sounds like a good man was given the shaft, but what did the V-Rod run on the strip? |
