| Author | Message | ||
     Catalan42 |
Erik Buell in Sport Rider There is a great interview with Erik Buell in the current (Jan 2011) issue of Sport Rider magazine. You should all run out and buy one! Teaser quote: "All the things that people know in Europe just seem to be unconsidered over here. You know, 'Motorcycles must be very big and loud and chromed, and must bark and smoke, and you only ride them on Sundays.' - Dear God, that's not what a motorcycle is!" www.sportrider.com | ||
| Hughlysses |
I understand the same article is in this month's "Motorcyclist" as well. | ||
| Hangetsu |
Sport Rider and Motorcyclist are part of the same conglomerate, so it makes sense. He forgot to mention the quintessential American motorcycle rider: thundering into town sporting the pirate doo-rag, gray ponytail, wrap-around dark sunglasses, and the gratuitous bad-ass frown. Hey, it's all about "freedom". We're not conformists like them dag bern European socialists over there!  | ||
| Union_man |
Why can't I find the article?  | ||
| Union_man |
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| Electraglider_1997 |
I received the January edition of Motorcyclist yesterday and found the two Buell articles which run from page 52 5o 58. Erik seems as fired up as always when it comes to making motorcycles. Pretty nice getting this magazine for free for a year and I'll most likely renew the subscription when the time comes. And by the way, Erik says that he is pretty much free to do his own thing in the motorcycle making industry now. | ||
| Easttroy |
Well, I see a lot of "conformists" in the United States these days. People don't want to be different, they want to fit in. They feel that they can't function unless they are within some group. if you go to a motorcycle rally, most times, people are wearing similar clothes and similar look. How is that not conformist? And yes, I'm generalizing. I do see the couple of people at those shows that are different, but they are so rare, it's like finding an albino white tail deer, very rare in deed. | ||
| Hangetsu |
I was just being a smarr-ass. Don't take me so seriously. On the other hand; -when it comes to motorcyclist groups, within a given group, all looking alike, is it because they are wearing "gear", which based on function & performance, just happens to all have a similar look? Or is it a "costume", carefully pieced together in order to achieve a desired look? Conformance to fashion vs. function & performance...? But what you ride, what you wear, and how often, does it really matter? "What ever floats your boat", I say. EB's comment, though I do feel the same way, more or less, does reflect a bit of an opinionated narrow mindedness; a quality for which he is known for (based on what i've read). But hey, it's typically stubborn, narrowly focused people who achieve great things - and what's wrong with that? | ||
| Tootal |
EB's comment, though I do feel the same way, more or less, does reflect a bit of an opinionated narrow mindedness; a quality for which he is known for (based on what i've read). But hey, it's typically stubborn, narrowly focused people who achieve great things - and what's wrong with that? Ja!  | ||
| Missin44 |
I followed the link but couldn't find the interview. All I could find was one from 2009.  | ||
| Union_man |
I read the article today. Sucks that HD is sitting on the Buell name! Why do they want it?  | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Why do they want it, I imagine because it cost them a small fortune while they used it. Not to mention the fact that Harley has to supply Buell parts for 7 years. It's like anything of value, you don't just give it away. | ||
| Vecchio_lupo |
America is a huge (And Great)Country with problems and treasures alike. I have been an American living in Germany for a couple of years now, and I've noticed a couple of things. Keep in mind these are very broad strokes and exceptions will abound. 1. The last 35 years I've been a rider in the US, I've found the cycle scene to be very segregated. As a Sport Tour rider with a history of BMW/Guzzi/Norton and a sprinkling of UJMs in between, before I stumbled over Buell, I've been on both sides of the "them and us" mindset. No Harley bashing either, Goldwing Guys can be brutal, and Ducatisti can be terrible if you don't have enough Rizoma Gear. The GSXRCBRRFZ1 race replica boys are irritating in their own way. I have been told to get my whatever out of the whatever else only parking lot. We also are very public in our disdain for ATTGATT, I've seen $600 helmets on top of Titanium armored riding jackets on a guy in shorts and sandals. I've seen Engineer boots and leather pants topped by a sleeveless T-shirt and a plastic chili bowl with a fake DOT sticker. Some times we are our own cartoon. 2. European's can be as stupid and goofy as us, maybe more. They do however seem to appreciate everything. You pull into a weekend hangout, and chopper guys are eyeing up the carbon fiber rangers on the Italian exotica with lust. The Sport Tours talk to the Cruisers and the Motards are everywhere, hell even scooters (Rollers) come around with no ridicule. European's also really, really, really get Buell, they love them. Nobody here ever came up to my S3 and said: "Why don't you get a big twin? that bike is only a tarted up sportster." It must be frustrating for Mr. Buell to see H-D pull the plug when he was profitable, and to hear our stories about the H-D dealer that hated the fact they were forced into Buell. Here, they had dedicated Buell Dealers in addition to standard H-D/Buell shops. A dealer near me in Stuttgart was a Ducati/Buell/Moto Guzzi store. That being said, America is the template, these guys over here emulate our "Cool" in everyway, even the goofy ways. Doo Rags, Half Off Gloves, and Chain Drive Wallets are everywhere. | ||
| Vecchio_lupo |
After further review; the call is overturned. I am full of sh!t and should be ignored in the future. | ||
| 7873jake |
VL, I don't see where you are entirely full of shiite. Several of your observations are spot on and having spent more than a minute or two 'over there' across the Atlantic (and elsewhere), I would have to agree with you. And I rather liked the "sometimes we are our own cartoon" observation. I've been to Europe, Asia and Latin America extensively and have seen the 'canned cool' biker-style export. It always makes me wish we (the U.S.) were known for something a little more than that but I guess it could be worse (Hello Kitty? ouch!) I was just happy to see the world embrace some form of broader-market engineering export in the way of Buell. When most of the rest of the world doesn't want your cars, at least a bike like the Buell proved that we had the talent and ability to build something other countries could appreciate and embrace for its true value and purpose and not its lifestyle marketability (read: H-D). Its easy to like a guy I don't know and whose only exposure I have to him is through potentially filtered interviews and quotes and not real life interactions but the more I read and discover about EB, the more I find that I can appreciate what his purpose and desires were/are. And the way he continues to diplomatically handle the incessant questions re: his feelings towards H-D, the more I think he has more style and grace than most at the Mo-Fo-Co ever will. | ||
| Vecchio_lupo |
Thanks 7873jake, I just didn't want to shift the subject too far away from the article by starting a "Who is the coolest" verbal brawl. I agree with you, I have never met Mr. Buell, and even if I had met him, you can't get to know someone during a photo-op. My impression of EB in interviews, corporate history and second hand stories is very favorable. I think he is a driven Engineer, who really loves motorcycles, and enjoys being around other riders. I can say that I have always received prompt, polite responses from any requests I've ever made to Erik Buell Racing, and a man's business reflects his personality. I also believe that history will view the H-D shutdown of buell as a truly stupid move that damaged the American Motorcycle Industry more than anyone could have imagined. Only time will tell, but there will be no winners. This is not the thread for predictions, so I'll leave all that where it is. Good Luck all, and we need to keep our Tubers and XBs out there flying the flag so that when EB starts building streetbikes again, we will all be Grandfathered into the MV Agusta style seamless change of corporate history. | ||
| Hooper |
"Chili bowl!"  |
