My Public plea to HD and Buell for the 1125R

[boxjoint]

Please Willie G
Please, please please
allow these bikes to be sold at other dealerships than Harley. You and Erik could be sitting on a gravy train if you sell to the target audience.

I would hate to see all of the development and time Erik and co has put into this wonderful bike go to wate on a sour dealership expierience. I bought my HD superglide from a HD dealer and had a great expierence but of course-I was buying a Harley.

That all.

Thanks for tuning in.  

[Brad1445]

HD dealers give bad dealer experiences?  I get tailored customer service beyond my expectations and in particular when compared to the UJM dealers I have dealt with.

[boxjoint]

HD dealers give bad dealer experiences?  I get tailored customer service beyond my expectations and in particular when compared to the UJM dealers I have dealt with.

I did get great customer service myself (again, I was buying a Harley)
Go over to Badweatherbikers.com and read the horror stories. A lof of dealers out right dropped the Buell lineup. Plus, the target audienece for this thing probably would not want to set foot in a Harley Dealership. JMHO

[miles]

My local Harley dealer only floors a few Buells, but the times that I have gone in to window shop they have been exceptionally good in the (potential) customer service they have displayed.


miles

[Heath3n]

HD dealers give bad dealer experiences?  

Sadly, if you're looking for a Buell. they do. There are a few good HD/Buell dealerships out there that actually care about the fact that they sell Buells and they have some salesmen that have invested time in the product and know a thing or 2 about them. However in most cases, you're dealing with a saleman that sells Harley and looks at Buell as being a bastard child that it's forced to lived with. They don't care if they sell a Buell, they don't know a damn thing about them, and they could give a shit less about the person that is buying them. Once again though...so I don't get flamed...there are some good Buell dealerships out there, but unfortunately they aren't the majority.

[TheCloser]

I can understand the desire for better dealerships as I have to drive more than 60 miles of high density traffic just to get to my preferred dealer (San Diego Buell) but it is definitely worth it.   They have a great selection of Buells on the floor, all models, knowledgeable people and a great service department.  The dealer even supports a Buell race team!  Each time I have gone in there, I have been treated with courtesy and respect with the level of service competence being outstanding.  I have yet to find a UJM dealer who matches this level of performance in any area.

Just my two cents.

[nanbil]

When the Ulysses first came out I went to my local Harley dealer to check it out.  A very nice looking saleswoman approached me and asked if she could help me.  I asked about the Buell line (there were none in the store) she looked at me sternly and replied arrogantly "We don't carry those pieces of sh*t bikes anymore" and promptly walked away leaving me with my mouth wide open and in shock.  I'm not sure if this is that way most Buell customers are treated at HD dealers, but I was more than suprised by her reaction.

  

[1KPerDay]

HD dealers give bad dealer experiences?

Mine did...

It's the reason I now do my own maintenance and buy parts/supplies via the 'net. I finally got tired of being lied to, spoken down to, paying for incomplete/incorrect/not even performed work, and being flat out ripped off.

[keystonejenks]

If HD was smart about marketing Buell, they would team up with Triumph, Ducati, Aprilia, and/or BMW dealerships. I think if the Euro brands carried Buell, the Buells would sell really well.  

[R Doug]

When I went to test ride a Ully at my closest HD/Buell dealer last winter, they had all their Buells back in the service department not on the showroom floor.  And, you can ask my wife, I had two "why aren't you out here looking at the real bikes in the showroom" from some of the patrons.  

That's not the kind of experience I'm looking for.  I get enough of that shit out on the road.

Either way, that will not keep me from getting a Buell.  But let's face it, the bikes do not belong at HD dealerships (YMMV).  

[AV8OR]

Doug,

If you want any sort of quality dealer you should look up at Cerinis. They are really into them and had quite a few when I last visited. Triple S sucks dogs balls, and they are going under...stay away!!

[R Doug]

That's where I test rode the Ully.    

The staff was very nice, no complaints there.  But it was very odd to walk past the showroom floor and get guided back in the service garage to look at their Buells.  The comments I received were from patrons of the dealership after I got back from my ride on the Ully.  

[AV8OR]

wow...my bad then. They had a ton of bikes on the floor. Things change. Hope all is well!!

[bomber]

Sadly, the poor performing Buell dealers are in the majority -- ya gotta look for a good one -- as the Avacado of death states, the dealers are why so many Buellers do their own work

I'd LOVE to see Buells on the floor with Euro bikes, but, given the dealership contracts in force, I'd not look for that anytime soon.

[highside]

It's weird that people have such poor experiences buying Buell from HD dealers. HD dealers are typically the model of customer service, at least when they are selling HDs.

[1KPerDay]

I don't own a buell (yet). My experiences were with H-D stealership when I had my Harleys.

I had good experiences with another H-D dealer. My local one is full of morons and crooks, however.

[AusTexBueller]

I had a pretty good experience buying my CityX at the Harley dealership here in Austin.  Not once was I pressured into looking at a cruiser.  The sales guy was very enthusiastic and genuinely interested in selling me my Buell.  I think the big problem is getting people to come in and check the bikes out since the bikes are so different from the Harleys.

[jadziadax8]

Nate and I went in to our local HD dealership to check out Buells last summer.  When they saw us heading toward the tiny Buell section, we totally got ignored.

[R Doug]

It appears that as with all dealers, there are good and bad out there.

[Mini4x]

HD dealers give bad dealer experiences?  I get tailored customer service beyond my expectations and in particular when compared to the UJM dealers I have dealt with.

And you bought a Buell..

I went into 3 different dealer trying to look at Buells, XB12's in particular.

All three tried to talk me into a Sportster or a VRod..

They did me a favor because in the and I bought a Speed Triple..

[Kootenanny]

I went into 3 different dealer trying to look at Buells, XB12's in particular.

All three tried to talk me into a Sportster or a VRod..

They did me a favor because in the and I bought a Speed Triple..

I'm not gonna agree they "did you a favour," since I love my Buell, but yeah, I can understand where you're cpming from.  Many H-D/Buell salespeople don't seem to understand that when someone comes in specifically to look at a Buell, they are unlikely to be interested in a Harley--that in fact, the only reason they've entered a H-D dealership is because of the Buells.  They just aren't used to the mindset, the idea that some people might actually not want a Harley (probably because so many of their customers would ride nothing else...)

[naustin]

Buell is a tiny company.  Sales are the cure to the dealer woes.  I think the 1125R will deliver the sales to make a LOT of Dealerships start respecting the Buell Brand and entice them to improve their performance.  ANd having rotax powered dirt bikes in the pipe line a few years out will help too.

I'm SOOOO excited about the future of Buell.  They had 2 problems up to now.  1.) Dealers. 2.) motor.

Motor problem is SO SOLVED.  Dealers are greedy.  You watch, those jackles will not pass up a money making opportunity....  

[Lawn Dart]

Oh man, this bike puts me right back to questioning how bad I want an R12S!  

(Glad I'm not buying another new bike for at least another year!)

[OldSalt]

I can understand the desire for better dealerships as I have to drive more than 60 miles of high density traffic just to get to my preferred dealer (San Diego Buell) but it is definitely worth it.   They have a great selection of Buells on the floor, all models, knowledgeable people and a great service department.  The dealer even supports a Buell race team!  Each time I have gone in there, I have been treated with courtesy and respect with the level of service competence being outstanding.  I have yet to find a UJM dealer who matches this level of performance in any area.

Just my two cents.

  You forgot to add that in addition, it gives you a great excuse to rendezvous with a buddy and enjoy some kickin Mexican food.  That alone should make the 60-mile ride worth the trip!  

[st ryder]

I'm not gonna agree they "did you a favour," since I love my Buell, but yeah, I can understand where you're cpming from.  Many H-D/Buell salespeople don't seem to understand that when someone comes in specifically to look at a Buell, they are unlikely to be interested in a Harley--that in fact, the only reason they've entered a H-D dealership is because of the Buells.  They just aren't used to the mindset, the idea that some people might actually not want a Harley (probably because so many of their customers would ride nothing else...)

Or, it could be that HD salespeople have become weary of "Buell types" who probably know more about motorcycles and have far more difficult questions to ask than the HD prospect, therefore, they need to spend far more time, and exert far more effort into a sale that might very well result in a smaller commission, as opposed to waiting for the next  "real motorcycle" "up" to come through the door who's first question might be, "Where do I sign?"  

The dealership where I bought my HD is a "hold-out" from many decades ago and sells HD on one side, and 3 of the big 4 on the other. There is a definite demarcation between the two, and even some animosity amongst the staff, but the sales guy is more than happy to sell you anything, but will give you more time if you're buying a big ticket HD. They have been "asked" by the MoCo to relocate to a more typical HD location, ie close to the local highway, and become an exclusive HD shop. I'm sure they will continue to carry Buell and may have a great opportunity to keep their Buells at the old shop along side their Japanese offerings.

I get no "'tude" from the "lifestyle" crowd when I go to that shop to window shop riding my Ducati, but dread the rumor that HD might buy Ducati for the exact same reasons expressed in this thread.  It's really too bad about the "lifestyle" nonsense that happens with cruisers especially with the "real deal" crowd as HD should have a sport bike line to sell with it's cruiser line, but in all honesty, I would much, much rather see the VR1000 refined, mass produced and offerred at HD shops: the new 1125's "scoops" make me want to puke, and I can only hope somebody in Buell's design department will design a Buell 1125 ST with integrated, flowing lines.

But, this "oil and water"/cruiser-sport bike scenario is not exclusive to HD. BMW dropped its "cruiser" line. Ducati can't sell cruisers either, though MotoGuzzi does. Triumph's move into sport bikes raised no eye brows and seems to work well. Funny how certain brands can't wander too far from their bread and butter bikes due to customer demands/expectations.

[boxjoint]

Funny how certain brands can't wander too far from their bread and butter bikes due to customer demands/expectations.

Sooo true!
Look at the v-rod. It was a commodity the first year then sales slumped big time. I do see the Buell marque gaining momentum though. It used to be a rare rare sighting to see a Buell on the road. I do see them more and more often.

Like I said before, I will wait a year or two and get a XB12 to compliment my Superglide. I WANT the air cooled model. Gas, oil, and go. that's it.

[Kootenanny]

Or, it could be that HD salespeople have become weary of "Buell types" who probably know more about motorcycles and have far more difficult questions to ask than the HD prospect, therefore, they need to spend far more time, and exert far more effort into a sale that might very well result in a smaller commission, as opposed to waiting for the next  "real motorcycle" "up" to come through the door who's first question might be, "Where do I sign?"  

Well, there is that.  I certainly knew more about the Buell I was buying than the guy selling it to me (I was showing him things, he was saying, "Gee, I didn't know that!").

I...dread the rumor that HD might buy Ducati for the exact same reasons expressed in this thread.  It's really too bad about the "lifestyle" nonsense that happens with cruisers

This is kinda funny, coming from a Ducati rider.  I really like Ducatis, but let's face it--they market the lifestyle thing as hard as H-D, just haven't been at it quite as long.  One recent mag I got has a full-backpage ad for Ducati, done in a blue tone (to make it look like night), with a tough-looking male model wearing a Ducati jacket standing beside his Monster, with the slogan, "Rule the Night..."  

[sarjx1]

If HD was smart about marketing Buell, they would team up with Triumph, Ducati, Aprilia, and/or BMW dealerships. I think if the Euro brands carried Buell, the Buells would sell really well.  

I completely agree.  I have gone out of my way to go to an H-D dealer that gives a crap about Buell (Illinois Harley).  But it comes down to where are prospective sportbike buyers?  Going to H-D dealers to walk past cruisers?  No.  They are going to dealers with a few brands, whether they be Japanese or European.  In fact, they would look right at home at MCC, a Chicago dealer that carries Ducati, Triumph, MV Augusta, Aprilia, and KTM.  This is how Buell goes big time!  As good as a few of the Harley dealers are, many don't care about the brand and unless you really know about Buells and have to have one, probably are going to shop at those dealers for sportbikes.

[nanbil]

I completely agree.  I have gone out of my way to go to an H-D dealer that gives a crap about Buell (Illinois Harley).  But it comes down to where are prospective sportbike buyers?  Going to H-D dealers to walk past cruisers?  No.  They are going to dealers with a few brands, whether they be Japanese or European.  In fact, they would look right at home at MCC, a Chicago dealer that carries Ducati, Triumph, MV Augusta, Aprilia, and KTM.  This is how Buell goes big time!  As good as a few of the Harley dealers are, many don't care about the brand and unless you really know about Buells and have to have one, probably are going to shop at those dealers for sportbikes.

I agree here, although Eric Buell seems happy with the current dealership relationship...not sure why, perhaps he is happy with this situation the same way he was happy with the air-cooled engine...

[RedRocket]

I agree here, although Eric Buell seems happy with the current dealership relationship...not sure why, perhaps he is happy with this situation the same way he was happy with the air-cooled engine...

HE doesn't own the company any more.  He's an employee of HD.  They make the big calls.

[naustin]

Buell does not do enough volume to support stand-alone dealerships.  HD does have the biggest dealer network by a HUGE margin, and Buell, being a subsidiary of HD, belongs in the HD dealerships.  There is no reason that it could not work, and work very very well.  The problem is getting individual dealerships to respond.  

I guaranty you that if 20 guys walked into a HD dealer and wanted to put cash down on new Buell bike orders, the bikes would be there and that dealer would be tripping over himself to order up some Buell t-shirts.

Its all about sales.  My dealer tries.  That is all I can ask.  I don't expect miracles or a whole store full of stuff, all I really expect is honesty, respect, and a little effort.

And actually, I have been in a couple of Jap-Bike dealerships and I was NOT impressed at all with THEIR sales staff or service either.  In fact, it was much, much worse than any HD dealer I have been in.  Even if they don't have Buells, they have always attempted to help me.