Buell Ad's, I wonder if........

[jeeplite]

When I first saw the crushed Blast ad I thought, that's kind of stupid. Then the don't wave ad, that's funny. Then the AMA ad, we are winning races, to bad that came out after you got shut down. Now I look back and see, hey HD we're shit canning your training bike, then hey HD we don't wave like a bunch of Gay pirates, and to cap it off, hey this is what a performance bike looks like.....oops. What did Erik know and when did he know it?
How dumb can HD be, as dumb as the people that they market to. They had some great company's under their wing and now they retreat to the old market base like a horse running back into a burning barn.

[Brad1445]

I guess your right he may have been giving Harley the finger, that does make sense when I re read your post it explains the suicide type moves.

BUT! Why are you blaming Harley for all of it.  According to Court and Blake and Badweb Erik had all the power to pull all the strings.  He was in control. There would never have been a Buell without Harley  $$$$ and distribution.

Bad Marketing, Bad design, bad quality are all because Harley thought an engineer (erik)  could run a whole company. Bad idea.

Harley spent the money to develop the XB bikes who's only short fall to some was more high end power.  They acquire a engine from the Best Manufacture in the world. ROTAX RULES!

The dream bike turns into the nightmare plagued by quality control, reliability issues and low customer demand, bad reviews .   The should have been dream bike that will only sell when offered at $5 - $6,000 prices before demand  meets supply and the two year old bikes are brought out of the Basement .

How is that Harley's fault. Harley got Burned by allowing Buell to much power, giving enough rope to hang themselves.

How do you think the dealers felt having to deal with floor plan and angry customers.

[Squidbuzz]

blah, blah, blah.

Brad, go somewhere else.  We have heard you bitch for long enough.  Like it has been said before, go troll somewhere else.

And yes, there would have been a Buell without Harley.  There was one before Harley bought into the company.

But anyway.....

[sagerat]

Brad has a Buell demise fixation.  

[Brad1445]

Brad has a Buell demise fixation.  

Thats true, I enjoyed 5 of the Air Cooled ones along side other bikes like my Ducati's so I love twins and dreamed of the day there would be an American Sport bike that had it all.

I'm still shocked and stunned they rolled out the 2008 1125R in not ready for prime time state.  




I'm still blown away!

[st ryder]

The ads/promotion were questionable, that's for sure. Crushing one of your own bikes? Calling the 1125r a rider's bike, built around the rider, and then introducing it at a track let alone giving it an R suffix, and then saying you'll be too busy strafing corners on public roads that it's okay not to wave back? But the worst was racing against bikes 1/2 the size and then relishing in the win.  

Sorry to see Buell in its current state, and I do hope they're somehow saved or even resurected, but they need new management: get a real desinger, and a real ad agency. Oh, but don't hire BMW's.   ("Do you have a hair stylist?" Yes. His name is Helmet. Bhhhwaahaahaahaahaa...)

[kevin_stevens]

Sorry to see Buell in its current state, and I do hope they're somehow saved or even resurected, but they need new management: get a real desinger, and a real ad agency. Oh, but don't hire BMW's.   ("Do you have a hair stylist?" Yes. His name is Helmet. Bhhhwaahaahaahaahaa...)

Seriously, you can't do better than resort to ad nominum attacks?

KeS

[Squidbuzz]

Why is everyone so stuck on the Daytona Sportbike rules?  It is a horsepower/weight class.  The class was to make all equal.  The rules were not made by Buell, but by the promoting body.  It is basically the Grand Am formula that is used with the cars.  I just don't get everyone being so pissy about it.  It was not like they took the Superbike class and gutted the hell out of it.  

I guess some people just need to have something to bitch about.

[kevin_stevens]

Why is everyone so stuck on the Daytona Sportbike rules?  It is a horsepower/weight class.  The class was to make all equal.  The rules were not made by Buell, but by the promoting body.  It is basically the Grand Am formula that is used with the cars.  I just don't get everyone being so pissy about it.  It was not like they took the Superbike class and gutted the hell out of it.  

I guess some people just need to have something to bitch about.

Rulebooks exist for several reasons.  *One* of those reasons, and by no means the least, is so that sponsors and race teams can decide how much it's going to cost to develop to the rules, and thus pick a series they feel they can be competitive in.

If you've picked a series (or decided *not* to compete in one, either way), and the rules change significantly mid-stream, or are not applied consistently, you have every right to be pissy and bitch about it.  You, personally, I bet get pissy and bitch when your employer, bank or phone company changes the rules on you, because it affects your bottom line, livelihood, or quality of life.

KeS

[DogBoy]

Rulebooks exist for several reasons.  *One* of those reasons, and by no means the least, is so that sponsors and race teams can decide how much it's going to cost to develop to the rules, and thus pick a series they feel they can be competitive in.

If you've picked a series (or decided *not* to compete in one, either way), and the rules change significantly mid-stream, or are not applied consistently, you have every right to be pissy and bitch about it.  You, personally, I bet get pissy and bitch when your employer, bank or phone company changes the rules on you, because it affects your bottom line, livelihood, or quality of life.

KeS

But the Daytona Sportbike rules didn't change mid-stream other than added weight for the 1125r - which could never get to the minimum wieght anyway. The American Superbike rules changed halfway which was inexcusable. However, those rule changes to allow the 1125rr didn't affect the bottom line or finishes of any of the big money teams.


One can hate on Buell for any number of reasons but AMA roadracing rules, past and present, are the fault of the AMA.

[kevin_stevens]

One can hate on Buell for any number of reasons but AMA roadracing rules, past and present, are the fault of the AMA.

Oh, sure.  But you asked why people were bitching about the AMA rule changes.  (shrug)

KeS

[wbrisett]

Back to the original topic at hand...

I drink the kool-aid, so I'm sure Brad and others will disagree 100%, but...

The ads really aren't bad. Even the crushing of the Buell Blast. How many non-Buell boards and people talked about that clip? Nearly every board I frequent. It did polarize people, you either liked it, or hated it for various reasons. But, in the end, you talked about it. That's cleaver marketing. Same goes with the current crop of ads. Just yesterday I was zipping through a series of twisty and some guy waved at me, I was in no position to wave back, and didn't. I thought of the ad immediately. I wasn't trying to be a dick, or blow the guy off intentionally, but I was focused on negotiating a corner I intentionally took at a high rate of speed (I knew this 1125CR would get me into trouble). The helmet ads, spot on. Again, I've seen non-Buell boards and riders talking about the ads. When is the last time you did that with with brand X bike ads? It may have gone against what most riders who think they are marketing people and know how to fix everything in a company would use, but I've yet to meet a single person who has been able to market squat on these boards, or save a company with their brilliant ideas. Buell wasn't hurt by the current crop of ads, they were hurt by HD and having bikes in the HD dealerships. It would have been better if HD had allowed Buells to be sold next to other bike brands at other dealerships. Unless you could convince a person to go into a Harley dealership to buy a sportbike, it wasn't going to happen, and didn't. That's what killed Buell... well that and maybe trying to be too different for a bunch of riders. In my opinion, the 1125 was the first bike that I feel really could have broken Buell out of that funk (and yes, Brad I know you feel differently).

Wayne

[chornbe]

I absolutely love the one-page one about not waving.  

[Oilhed]

If only Erik had retained 51% ownership...
I remember when he sold I was like WTF.

[jeeplite]

I think it was good advertising to break away from the "its just a HD motor in a weird frame mindset". I had the XL883 till I traded it for the 1125R, I loved that little engine around town in the 2000 to 3000 rpm range. It takes a little getting use to using a gear that keeps you above 3000 where the 1125R is happier. I got back into bikes after forty years and the sportster seemed like a good place to start, as the skills came back I wanted something with a little more zing!!! I think just as Buell was making a break thru with the 1125R the plug got pulled. I agree they should have been sold anywhere but a HD big box store. After a couple of HOG rides with the local chapter I knew that's not the mind set I was after. I wanted a bigger bike to tour on so I bought a Springer Classic, probably not the best choice unless you want to tour like it was 1946, which at the time I thought I did! I still love the bike for the look but have moved on to a Concours 14 for real touring. The Duc Sport 1000S was just lust because it's a rush for 100 miles then a torture rack. I find the 1125R to slot between the two sport bikes very nicely, it runs like its on rails and is very comfortable. To bad Buell got the plug pulled on what was a winner to me.
P.S. I rode the other Buells and felt like I was doing a head stand on the HD motor bikes and the Uly was to tall for me. I went in for the slash and burn sale looking for a XT and rode out on the 1125R with side fairings and white wheels with polished rims. Happy so far......

[st ryder]

Seriously, you can't do better than resort to ad nominum attacks?

KeS

"ad nominum"    

[Brad1445]

Back to the original topic at hand...

I drink the kool-aid.......... It may have gone against what most riders who think they are marketing people and know how to fix everything in a company would use, but I've yet to meet a single person who has been able to market squat on these boards, or save a company with their brilliant ideas...........

Thats what I do for a living, MARKETING.  a parent company of 14 companies.  One of teh top rules

1.Never show your customers or products in a bad light.   (blast adds)
2 Not all press is good press.  Most the talk was very negative across the boards concerning recent Buell choices.
3.You need a good product, if it is not perceived as reliable thats where the marketing should have been focused.


If all you say is true than why were there so many 2 year old Buells sitting in dealers.  Cute adds about being different was not what was needed. You could tell the bike was different by the  Water pods hanging off the bike and clutch fluid left on the ground.  

What people needed to know is it the bike would start and bring them home safely.  They needed to know that the dealer could fix a problem in the RARE occurrence it happened.

EPIC fail on Buells part.
Eriks greed and ego to have his bruise colored 25th anniversary bike come out before it was ready killed a brand that had just recovered from the tubers and would now take another 6 years to rebuild.  Harley had no choice but to cut their losses for their mistake of letting the kids run wild without supervision.

[whodom]

Thats what I do for a living, MARKETING.  a parent company of 14 companies.  One of teh top rules

1.Never show your customers or products in a bad light.   (blast adds)
2 Not all press is good press.  Most the talk was very negative across the boards concerning recent Buell choices.
3.You need a good product, if it is not perceived as reliable thats where the marketing should have been focused.

EPIC fail on Buells part.

You do know that HDI was in charge of Buell marketing, right?  

It appears that you bash Buell 1125's for a living.

[nanbil]

Thats what I do for a living, MARKETING...

Harley had no choice but to cut their losses for their mistake of letting the kids run wild without supervision.

Brad, you seem to forget that Buell Motorcycles was profitable.  Buell was not disbanded because Buell was losing money; Buell was disbanded because Harley was losing money.    

[Rogue]

Jesus H Christ Brad, don't you have anything else to do other than bash Buell?  It's no wonder they've kicked you out of BWB!  It's time to bash H-D!  

H-D is a typical American Corporation--it is all about short sighted financial gain.  Anything within 5-years is all they plan for.  

Although H-D's motorcycles are pretty up to date as far as reliability and quality, they do not offer ANY innovative nor high performance products.  They are so focused only on their core market that they have chosen to blindly march ahead on a financial model that is stagnant and will soon flounder into the weeds.  They strongly believe that their core market will NEVER leave the brand.  What they fail to see is that their core market will soon die off and/or retire.  The next generation is not so enamored with buying American if it means giving up the performance and technology front.  They don't have to look further than GM to figure that out.  GM's failure is due to their refusal to release innovate and competitive models across the board.  Sure, they had models that were great here and there (Corvette & Cadillacs) and they have one good car (Malibu), and a soon-to-be innovative future car (Volt), and those are GM's only saving grace that will carry them into the future and into financial survival--which is to say GM does have the capability to innovate and produce world class cars IF they choose to do so.  Their problem is most of the time they don't even try, and THAT is the biggest difference betwenn H-D and GM:  H-D does not have that capability to produce innovative and world class motorcycles!  When was the last time H-D released a world class motorcycle?  The Vrod--and they had to go to Buell first, then Porsche to finish that job!  It's all about styling, sound, and image for H-D.  Their bikes have very little substance behind them.  Ever notice H-D's bikes make more noise than power?  It seems to me that the slower the Harley, the louder it gets!  WTF is that all about?  Now they have shut down the only area they can tap into to get some performance and innovation.  So what does this mean?  It means, H-D is going to pull back and "concentrate on their core products and markets" as their marketing hype is telling us.  What that really means is H-D will simply keep making and doing what they have been doing all along:  produce motorcycles that is just about image, style, and sound.  At least Buell was trying to go head to head with the competition.  Even if their ads were contraversial--it had a lot of substance behind it.  Their message was Buell was going to be about performance, so forget about the Blast!, forget waving, screw all that!  Let's ride and ride fast!  Now that's a message I can get behind.    

Go out and read H-D's latest ad.  It's all about how bad-ass their bike looks.  Oh yeah.  It's all flat black this year, and don't forget about H-D's long heritage.  Heritage!  That's it!  H-D gave up the performance standard decades ago.  I say let the aging Baby Boomers ride their Heritage and Geezer Glides to their graves!  It's time to let the younger, forward thinking generation to take over.  If H-D doesn't want to give us those products via Buell, then screw them!  I will buy from the Japanese and Europeans from now on.  

Here's to you H-D: