Customer Service at Buell Dealerships

[desert_rider]

Ugh, you're killin' me.... it's snowing in beautiful (TIC) northeast Ohio.

85F and not a cloud in the sky  the car hasn't  moved in 2 weeks!

[PlayWithGravity]

In a few short weeks I'm movin' to Raleigh, NC     Not quite SoCal, but MUCH better weather.

[roadrailer]

Roadrailer - hey no problem.... if you're willing to help out with the payments.

  Can't help with that (I've got my own to worry about), but how about some nice, free visual encouragement   :



You know you want it.....  

[roadrailer]

I'll have to give Badweb another chance, the format of that site is so hard for my feeble mind to grasp....

I HATE the format of that site. There's lots of great information there, but finding it is almost impossible. God forbid you have to use the search function.  

[AngelDeville]

I HATE the format of that site. There's lots of great information there, but finding it is almost impossible. God forbid you have to use the search function.  

The site does suck, but the info is great, I joined a few months ago, and while I may not end up with a Buell I do check it out from time to time.

[naustin]

BWB takes some getting used to.  It works best to specify your "favorite topics" in your profile, and then use the search function to see posts for the last day or whatever in just those areas.  The more selective about what you read and get sucked into on that board, the happier you'll be.  Its a great resource as long as you stay out of the BS threads.

Erik Buell does post there.  He has an alias, and there are frequently anonymous posts containing technical descriptions and familiar discussion about racers and other connected people in the Buell world that you can pick up on it pretty fast when somebody from East Troy is on the board.  There are even pictures somewhere of the inside of the factory with BWB on the computer in the background.  

As far as the Dealer mentality - I can't explain it or understand it.  There a culture of intolerance for anything that isn't an 800 pound chrome hippobike made in Milwaukee.  I really think a lot of Harley people actually hate Buells.  They treat sportbikes like an inferior race, and a Buell is like the one that snuck through the back porch and knocked up their daughter or something.  I really have no time for the "lifestyle crowd" as i call them.  It just burns them that Buells even exist.

My local HD dealer is not really a "buell" dealer, but they have a few Buells around - in the back shed with the used stuff...  Check out my profile over at BWB to read about my experience with them.  I will never trust them with my bike again.

There are some good Buell dealers out there.  Just don't expect your local HD shop to be one of them.

[Rogue]

I've only been to 3 HD dealerships, and two of them supposedly sold Buells.  Yeah.  I didn't like their attitude either.  They were NOT unfriendly but weren't helpful either.  

I can't understand the attitude really.

This is why I'm willing to ride 120 miles to San Diego for a REAL Buell dealership.  I agree with a lot of people's opinion:  if Buell had MORE good dealers like SD Buell, they would sell a whole lot more bikes!

[BigHoss]

I have been wanting an XB12 since they came out. Problem is I have to sell the XX to get it.

I plan on a test ride this week or next and I'll see if it's impressive enough to part ways with the XX.

Here in NM we have a lot of great unpaved roads and I'd like to get on them.

[CBRXXBLACKBIRD]

I have been wanting an XB12 since they came out. Problem is I have to sell the XX to get it.

I plan on a test ride this week or next and I'll see if it's impressive enough to part ways with the XX.

Here in NM we have a lot of great unpaved roads and I'd like to get on them.

Parting ways with my XX was tougher than I thought it would be.

[Asphalt_Carver]

I have to second Rogue's opinion regarding San Diego Buell.  Not only are they are truly monstrous in size H-D dealer, but their Buell department is excellent!  They have a wide selection of bikes on the floor and a truly knowledgeable staff.

They had a XB12Ss on the floor with my name on it and after discovering that it had a scratch on the fork, they went and procured another bike to replace that one!  After that, they even took the time to proplerly adjust my front and rear preload for me.  Truly a first class dealer with a great attitude.

I would definitely buy another bike there without question or hesitation!

[Kootenanny]

They had a XB12Ss on the floor with my name on it and after discovering that it had a scratch on the fork, they went and procured another bike to replace that one!  After that, they even took the time to proplerly adjust my front and rear preload for me.  Truly a first class dealer with a great attitude.

I've only heard about this kind of service...when I picked up my new Buell, the salesman spend 20 minutes showing me where the controls were ("This is the throttle, this lever is the front brake...) even though he knew I could ride (hell, I'm a former motorcycle instructor).  Told me it was required for insurance purposes.  But not only did they not set the suspension for me, they never even mentioned it (and to be honest, I don't think I'd trust them to set it up anyway...).

Beyond that, the Buell I bought had some peeling plastic on the front fender--this was a known problem on some of the early plastic parts (my bike is an 03), but even so the dealer refused to do anything about it at all, and Buell Canada couldn't help me either.  I've since bought a new fender on my own dollar--I still have the peeling one.

I wonder if they wonder that I've never bought any parts from them (I get all my parts online).  It's weird, I love the bike, but dammit I simply can't recommend that dealer.

[Flingit1200S]

I would love to replace my Bandit with a Uly.  We have a new HD dealership in Wichita with a new multimillion dollar building that just opened.  Was close by today so I stopped to see if they had Buells.  They had one Uly which was used for 900mi by the dealership owner.  They priced it at new retail price.  The sales guy was nice enough but knew nothing about the bike and had no literature.  He said they were just "trying out" the Buell thing to see if they wanted to be a dealer.  Gosh.......I wonder why that bike hasn't sold yet.......

[Yankee Dog]

I am a litttle confused by this thread.  I mean, what dealership of ANY brand motorcycle give good customer service.  Heck, I walked into the local Howasuki dealer the other.  Walked around and looked at bikes for 20 minutes.  The salesmen were all sitting around one of the desks and shooting the shit.  After 20 minutes I left.  

Yankee Dog

[CBRXXBLACKBIRD]

This is true I had this at other shops.

[PlayWithGravity]

I am a litttle confused by this thread.  I mean, what dealership of ANY brand motorcycle give good customer service.  Heck, I walked into the local Howasuki dealer the other.  Walked around and looked at bikes for 20 minutes.  The salesmen were all sitting around one of the desks and shooting the shit.  After 20 minutes I left.  

Yankee Dog

Guess the grass is always greener.  Sometimes I prefer to go drool over the latest rides w/o Joe Salesguy trying to get into my wallet.

The gripe I started this thread with had less to do with getting NO attention at a Buell dealer, but getting Negative attention.

I think someone mentioned already, as long as I can get parts on-line and continue to not need much factory authorized service, then I'm good to go.