Been toying with the idea of getting an adventure bike. Was looking hard at the Triumph Tiger. All the good points. After continued searching, then the horror stories were found.
I have a Thunderbird 1600 that I got a great deal on, and still have a Harley too. I had to sell my 07 SS in 2012 because I couldn't ride or make the payments that year. I always thought the XB12XT(?) the 'lower version of the Uly', was going to go over big, but you never really hear anything about them anymore.
If EBR were to come out with something, if it was light weight and comfy, if there were spares for it, and if the powerplant was proven, I might consider one. We'll have to wait and see.
I'd rather buy American simply because normally, it's easier to get parts and aftermarket stuff.
Hugh, Not to be your buzzkill, but 3 people still working on EBR, one of which is Erik, is not exactly what I meant. It's gonna take more than 3 people, even if they all have the passion of Erik, to make all the details work. And most of those folks aren't going to be passionate enough to work for free.
I just wouldn't want anyone to "postpone joy" waiting for some EBR re-re-birth instead of moving to a back up plan that keeps you in motorcycling. I agree with Crempel (yes Charles, I wrote that) that motorcycling makes the memories and experience. The motorcycle is a big part of it, but it doesn't have to be THE motorcycle. If my situation dictated, I would certainly make due with a cheap fixer Japanese model over my current bikes if it allowed me to stay riding rather than dreaming from the sideline.
Most of us still have our Buell's running strong. In fact, I rode mine yesterday and it reminded me of the experience it can still provide over the fancy new (ish) KTM. But that will slowly change over time, and we'll have to decide (just like you did, Charles). Ride or dream? For me there is no doubt. I'm getting to old to put off the next ride waiting for things beyond my control!
I'm gonna take a screen shot of Jim agreeing with me and make it my wallpaper! I would have loved to been able to keep both bikes, but that is not possible for me. Lets also not wax too nostalgic and forget all the stuff that for years the forum has been filled with. Remember the heat emanating from the engine when sitting at a red light on a 95° day, the broken belts, the 77 connector melting, the TPS resets, the wheel bearings, the failed cranks, the hard starting from constant grounding issues, the VR problems, the pinging on a 70° day et al. They are great bikes in so many ways, but they're not perfect. This thread in spots reminds me of a funeral. People get up to eulogize a guy who was a jerk in life and only say good things about him. In many ways my Uly was the best bike I've ever owned, certainly from a handling and fun on a twisty road factor. We all know how much pleasure we derive from roasting past a bunch of leather clad supersport pilots on a tight road. Especially when you meet them later and they see the grey hair under my helmet. But, there were also lots of other times when I wished for a different engine that had more power over a wider rpm range and wasn't threatening to incinerate me. I doubt that I will ever own a bike that I think is perfect as is. To me, personalizing a bike is part of the ownership experience. I've done it with every bike I've ever owned and would miss that aspect. The new bike is not perfect but I do have confidence, misplaced or not, that it will start and get me where I'm going AND back. BTW, riding to New Hampshire in a month or so. Hope to have fun and make memories on the way.
I think this thread is making more sense of our affair with this bike. It's not just the bike but this forum. Without it and the members, we would still be "roasting our leg" or F'ing with bearings.
I will not start singing kumbaya, but the forum is what allowed us to keep these bikes viable options. And I think we hope to see an AX so that we can still keep getting our information from the forum and the people we have trusted in the past. I don't want to become a member of the BMW Douche club, or the Ducati forum, but I lust after their bikes.
Here is the deal, I bought my last Buell off the showroom floor new from my closest Buell dealer over 200 miles away. I also knew there was a dealer network, and I could get parts all over. I was also learning to wrench on it, and with the help of this forum was confident that I could do about anything if and when it came up.
If I buy a Ducati, or a BMW, I have a dealer within 200 miles, but not local. I have not looked at any forums, but I am sure they exist with great people. But do I want to start from scratch. (even though we all would be with a new engine)
Longer story long, if I buy a Yamaha, Honda, Suzuki, triumph, KTM, HD I have local support. But I would only use them for warranty issues. A BMW, Ducati, still have warranty support within 200 miles.
EBR, I have no clue where a dealer is, or if they will still be a service center when and if an issue comes up. Then I have to rely on a forum, that may or may not have members with much experience with this new bike and it's quirks. I have not hardly gone into the 1190 forum here on badweb.
So that's the issue, even though I got excited when I saw that 1190SX in another thread with bags and semi-dirt tires, would I buy one? I don't know, not in that form for sure.
As someone else pointed out, even through there were issues with some of the big OEM's, at least they had a track record of good bikes in the past, and a current owner with the stability to put them back on their feet.
EBR has no track record, and we don't know the history of the parent company. Please don't take that as a slam. I am treating EBR as a totally different entity than Buell as it existed under Harley and before as it should be. And of course now, we have to treat the new EBR separate as well, as support for previous EBR bikes is up in the air.
We all know Erik will do right by the owners, it's just too many question marks for someone on the fence. It won't hold me up until they get to my comfort level.
I would think that if the current "owners" of EBR were interested in a long(ish) term commitment to building motorcycles, they would be monitoring BadWeb. Maybe they are. If they have the long-term plans that some of us are hoping for, it would make sense if they chimed in at some point and let us know what at least some of those plans are. I only follow the Uly pages, so I don't know if anyone has seen LAP make any comments on some of the other pages, let me know. I'm not talking about secret rumor mill projects or trade secrets, just a friendly,"Hi, how are you guys? We are not just a bunch of liquidators like y'all think." I'm listening......Until then, after looking at their website my only conclusion is that if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it probably not a moose.
This forum has been awesome to me over the years. It/you guys have helped me out through many issues over the years and I am very grateful for that. Even though I have moved on from my Uly, I will continue to hang out here.
Here is some more current info that may give you a little better feeling about LAP meaning what they say when they say they intend to keep EBR in operation for the foreseeable future.
Here are a couple of videos shot during the press open house a couple of weeks ago. Note what Erik says about the 1190 platform:
Anyone that has been a part of a company that has been acquired for one reason or another knows the whole idea around image. To the employees and customers, as well as a potential future buyer.
If you are building a company to a viable point of resale and post it on the web, as they have done, you don't give off the image of a long-term commitment to customers or employees. LAP has done just that while marketing the products to customers, they market the company to potential buyers.
That does not work for me, and probably many others.
I messaged them on FB asking about the AX. Let them know that I like what I see in EBR, I've been waiting for a couple years now for the AX, am a current Buell Uly rider and that I'm looking to purchase a big twin ADV soon. I asked if it was still in the works, would it have a 19"+ front end, is there a timeline for expected availability or should I just go buy a KTM Adventure.
Mr. Buell has always been very closed mouthed about new models. Here's the perfect example: one day at Buell Motorcycles they called all of the employees into the cafeteria and there was a bike underneath a sheet. They pulled the sheet off and said here's what we're going to be building from now on. It was an XB9R. That's how the workforce learned about it SO don't be surprised if you don't get any information about new models in advance.
I hope EBR realizes they are only about 4 parts away from challenging the KTM Duke, BMW and Ducati for top adventure bike. This market is hot and Buell has proven they know how to build this bike.
Funny thing is, I have read more positive articles about EBR and the 1190 since it went into receivership then before hand. Hope the tide is changing and it's not a case of too little too late.
We are working on new designs, and also on accessories. One of our goals is to have parts/accessories that make the SX more comfortable for distance riding. Of course the light weight and huge powerband will make it useable for dirt road excursions. Longer travel suspension will be a longer wait, and we can say that if you want a 19" front wheel bike, that is unlikely to happen soon on an EBR model."
I guess I'll be going orange for my next bike . It's a shame, I REALLY wanted to spend my money with an American company, specifically EBR.
If I can afford it in the future...and they're still in business... I may get an SX sport tourer (I'm thinking Super Duke GT) because that sounds like a fun more practical bike.
I see EBR as a two bike company for the foreseeable future. Too bad, the only growing sector is Adventure. Sport and naked bikes are a spec sheet segment...as soon as someone beats your numbers, you have an outdated model, and pricing has to be extremely competitive to produce sales. I picked up a Uly thinking it would be a bridge bike to the mythical AX, but now don't see it happening. Unfortunately the Buell has ruined me for most of the ADV segment out there...they are too big and too heavy, relegating them to 95% street use. I think Erik COULD create a great bike in the ADV segment, and their is a potential for profit, but it's too big of a gamble for a fledgling company. First it's out of Erik's wheelhouse...I've seen lots of pics of him at tracks, not one on a fire road. Someone else would have to be saying, "this is what we need, this is what sells." Second, it would take retooling and inventory. A sub 200 mile range doesn't cut it, so a tank redesign is needed. 17" front wheels suck, so a 19" is needed. Gearing is needed to allow miles of riding in the 5-15 mph range without constant clutch feathering, so a transmission redesign. And handling, that edge of the razor precision that is great on tarmac, blows in dirt and sand. So it's not just put on a 19 and add two inches of suspension... It's a redesign with the accompanying addition of new parts. Pity, Erik's understanding of weight issues could place him solidly between the singles that excel in dirt and suck on road and the majority of twins that are overweight road bikes that look like they can handle some dirt. It's a growing segment with decent profits available, but too much for a start-up to bite off.
The right luggage options could make the SX perhaps the first true sport tourer that is really sport. Not sure how comfy the seat is, and you would have to give up 2 up riding (reasonable). But it could really work. The thing gets great economy when ridden "boringly" between twisty bits.
Reliability has yet to be seen when not ridden on the track as well. A sport tourer with a 35k lifespan is a doorstop.
Stock seat is very comfy, even after riding all day in the twisties. More comfortable than the stock seats on the Uly, Lightning Long, X1 and 1125s. I don't feel the need to get an aftermarket seat on my SX unlike most of my other bikes.
quote:
Reliability has yet to be seen when not ridden on the track as well. A sport tourer with a 35k lifespan is a doorstop.
While it is too soon to say, I don't see reliability being an issue. There are 50k 1125s out there, including some like Jdugger's who has had many of those miles on a track. I've been watching threads on here, Facebook, and EBR forum, and there are little issues like defective O-rings on the starter, and a bunch of dashboard issues, but so far nothing really expensive or hard to fix.
The biggest things keeping me from touring on mine are the chain and tires. The stock tires stick like shit to a blanket, but last about as long as ice cream in the desert. Obviously I can throw some ST tires and get reasonable mileage out of those, but the chain and service intervals are keeping mine a "special event" bike, I'll commute on my 1125CR.
. It's a shame, I REALLY wanted to spend my money with an American company, specifically EBR.