Let's put it to rest for once.

[chornbe]

My point was that the HD dealers missed out on the $$ that they could have made by not having gear, accessories, & tires.
 

Not trying to be argumentative, but I think your experience is in the minority. The half-dozen or so Harley dealers near me stock gear and accessories in floorspace easily 2/3 and bigger of the floorspace dedicated to bikes.

The dealer where I bought my bike has a helmet selection that will rival the Jap-4 dealer I go to, too.

They sell lots and lots of gear and accessories... but it's geared towards the core buyers and their chosen "style".

[bomber]

Count the entire states of Illinois and Wisconsin in the minority, as well, and some of Missourah, Indiana, Ohio, California *states I visited Buell dealers in) == while the HD dealerships all had many parts and accessories, even the most rapid Buell dealer had stuff that would fit Buells that MIGHT fill your cube at work (and NO, count em, no non-OEM tires, again, for Buells) . . . .

[Tpoppa]

Count the entire states of Illinois and Wisconsin in the minority, as well, and some of Missourah, Indiana, Ohio, California *states I visited Buell dealers in) == while the HD dealerships all had many parts and accessories, even the most rapid Buell dealer had stuff that would fit Buells that MIGHT fill your cube at work (and NO, count em, no non-OEM tires, again, for Buells) . . . .

Exactly.

[falconati]

Count the entire states of Illinois and Wisconsin in the minority, as well, and some of Missourah, Indiana, Ohio, California *states I visited Buell dealers in) == while the HD dealerships all had many parts and accessories, even the most rapid Buell dealer had stuff that would fit Buells that MIGHT fill your cube at work (and NO, count em, no non-OEM tires, again, for Buells) . . . .

Same experiences for me in: Iowa, Minnesota, Tennessee, Florida, and you already mentioned Wisconsin, which I would agree with.

I think you just have a good HD dealer, Chris!

[Tpoppa]

I realize that HD dealers have tons of gear and accessories, just none (ok, very little) that is useful to sport bike riders.

I buy lots of gear.  I have 6 helmets, 5 armored riding jackets, race boots, armored riding pants, way too many pairs of gloves, etc, etc.  I go through 4-5 tires every season and like most sport bike riders, I have very specific tire preferences.  I would have supported the dealer where I bought my Buells, but they didn't carry any of the stuff I wanted.

I am not blaming the HD dealerships.  I understand that they are geared (pun intended) toward the chrome and leather crowd.  It just illustrates that HD distribution is/was a bad fit for Buell.  It would be a bad fit for any brand of sport bike.

[chornbe]

I realize that HD dealers have tons of gear and accessories, just none (ok, very little) that is useful to sport bike riders.

I buy lots of gear.  I have 6 helmets, 5 armored riding jackets, race boots, armored riding pants, way too many pairs of gloves, etc, etc.  I go through 4-5 tires every season and like most sport bike riders, I have very specific tire preferences.  I would have supported the dealer where I bought my Buells, but they didn't carry any of the stuff I wanted.

I am not blaming the HD dealerships.  I understand that they are geared (pun intended) toward the chrome and leather crowd.  It just illustrates that HD distribution is/was a bad fit for Buell.  It would be a bad fit for any brand of sport bike.

Gotcha, I thought you meant they didn't stock gear/accessories at all.

Ok, then I fully agree... they didn't carry non-HD stuff from what I saw most. Sorry for the confusion.

[Brad1445]

And you argue they did not really sell sport bikes, but "sporty bikes" for a older demographic than the big four japanese sport crowd.  

I loved my Buells, but they were not 'true' sport bikes

[chornbe]

I loved my Buells, but they were not 'true' sport bikes

  Why not? What's the difference?

[falconati]

Liquid cooling  

[Brad1445]

  Why not? What's the difference?

Top end power.  But that did not take away from the fun factor.  

Just a little embarrassing on the long open stretches when everyone else in the group is doing 130-150. I still beat them in the hairpins.

I love the torque in that old engine, and if the came back in a harley reorganization, I'll buy another.

I always wanted a water cooled Buell also, I just pictured imagined it more Ducati'es in my own head.  I think sexy bikes and cars are a joy! I would have bought the 1125 in a heartbeat if it was just not so hard to look at.

[tankhead]

Yes Brad we know.  BTW what are you and your friends doing 130-150 on public roads for?  Squid?  Not responsible at all.  I hope you are talking about track days.

[st ryder]

HA.  I couldn't disagree more.  Plenty of sportbike riders are turned off by the whole HD scene.  Among sportbike riders there was a big anti-Buell bias, that seemed to melt away once HD shuttered Buell.  I think  the bigger issue was related to traffic.  Not that many sportbike friendly riders wander in the local HD dealer.  The folks who bought Buells were there to specifically buy a Buell.

My point was that the HD dealers missed out on the $$ that they could have made by not having gear, accessories, & tires.

...Hey, here's  $1,000 I'd like to buy some CRG Bar End Mirrors, some Pazzo levers, an FMF exhaust, and a set of Michelin Pilot  Powers.  Hmmm, I can't seem to find them anywhere in the Screaming Eagle Catalog...



 

That's what I'm talking about: The "superior" attitude of sport bike riders is not the fault of HD dealerships. I love sport bikes, but I'm turned off by the "squid scene." I go to "big four" dealerships all the time, and usually find nothing I like, but I go to look just in case I do see something useful, tires of course. But I have to put up with "racer" sales staff, and know nothing parts staff. I go to HD dealerships for the same thing, for a look-see, because I love HD bikes too. If I wear my sport riding jacket and leather jeans and riding boots, I don't have to deal with sales staff. That's a plus in my book. Parts staff in HD dealerships? IMO: Wayyy better than squidville that's for sure.   IMO: So are the techs. But the same can be said for Ducati, MG, TR etc. I do not confuse the so called "scene" that's associated with the bike, with the bike/products/service. If prospective Buell riders couldn't do that, it has less to do with pirates, than it does with haters.  

[falconati]

Gotcha, I thought you meant they didn't stock gear/accessories at all.

Ok, then I fully agree... they didn't carry non-HD stuff from what I saw most. Sorry for the confusion.

Well then, you have an average dealership  

[macdiver]

 I do not confuse the so called "scene" that's associated with the bike, with the bike/products/service. If prospective Buell riders couldn't do that, it has less to do with pirates, than it does with haters.  

It was not the scene that bothered me.  Two of the local "Buell" dealers did not have turn signals or footpegs in stock.  These are the sacrificial items when you drop your bike.  I found a Dealer close enough that stocked the basic parts and had a good technician (he rode a tuber).  While having some service done, I was walking the floor.  The sales rep could not tell me anything about the buells and even tried to tell me that the iron 883 had the same engine as the xb's.  I asked would that be the 984 cu in or the 1203 cu in motor.  He stuttered, murmured then walked away.  A little training could have went a long way.

[Tpoppa]

I had a sales person refer to the 1125 as a beginner bike becuase the motor is smaller than most Harleys.

Yep, it's a beginner bike allright, with twice the HP, half the weight, and 10x the riding capability.  To be fair, there were a few good Buell dealers (one of the best in the country is about 40 miles from me), but most didn't have a clue.