| Author | Message | ||
     Johnc |
I know he doesn't ride a Buell but the man is an artist on 2 wheels. Check out this video clip. http://www.yzf-r1forum.com/rossi.html | ||
| Court |
The internet is a haven for the nay-sayers and Buell elicits, arguably, more passion than any other marque. What other brand has a website essentially dedicated to the disaffected, who 18 months after parting with their Buells, ride one thing, yet reserve their "true passion" for the Buell they used to own. It speaks volumes for the emotions Buell Motorcycles uniquely evoke. Buell Motorcycle is indeed exceeding all internal goals and sales targets. The ones that are thre greatest cause of celebration started with prodcution means and methods that commenced with the Buell BLASTR and found their way into the XB family. I predict that by the time Blake buys Dyna's lunch this summer that Buell will have upset the motomunity on two fronts, innovative prodcut and unprecendented build quality numbers. Of course, that's just my PERSONAL opinion. Court | ||
| Dynarider |
I predict that by the time Blake buys Dyna's lunch this summer Sticks tongue out at Blake & says "told ya so"  | ||
| Grndskpr |
Do they call that a Freudian slip, or the truth that slipped out  Roger | ||
| Dynarider |
Like I have been saying for months Rog, wait till july & see the new 1200's from Buell. The actual motor size will probably be a little less than 1200 & they will just rd up. I have also heard that a slightly larger framed XB is supposedly in existence but nothing confirmed on that..yet. | ||
| Grndskpr |
my GUESS(because its always fun to guess, try not to take this the wrong way Court, this is in fun and in no way meant to undermine anything, just a fun guessing game) is the 2004 will bring a 1200 bolts/r and a replacment for an 883/powered by a blast engine, along with a sportster powered by the new 1200 just a game, all in fun Court, so dont take it wrong Roger | ||
| Lake_Bueller |
I'd have to agree with Roger. It just doesn't make good business sense to make 6 different engines. They currently have the 883, 1200, 88 ci and VRSCA in the H-D. Then there are the 2 Buell engines (492 & 984). | ||
| Mikej |
1. 883 and 1200 are virtually the same engine. 2. XB/Blast engine is a design evolution of the basic format. Basically the same thing from an assembly point of view (I said "basically" ). I believe the new Trevster rubber-sonic (rubberized vibrasonic) will be basically a variation of the Buell rubber mounting concept or the Dyna mounting concept. (Does anyone have any public info on the Trev Deeley rubber XL mounting concept?)(I think I have the names right, but it's a Tuesday and I don't count Tuesdays.) 3. 88 is the current non-water-cooled "big twin". The different renditions and variations come under the same umbrella. If these go away they will be replaced by an enlarged VR (Virtual Radiator?) engine (pure speculation here). 4. VRSCA is the water buffalo engine. New sizes may be in the works, especially if you look at history. So, air cooled could get boiled down to just the XB format engine, XL format engine will most likely be phased out as was done with the Buell line, the "Big Twins" could be phased out with water cooling since they have the volume to handle the radiator unobtrusively, and the VR engine can be reconfigured and resized to fill multiple design needs and desires. Boils down to two: XB format or VR format, air or water. I'm probably wrong, maybe next year will say for certain as they get past the 100th and expose their plans for the New Millenium start of their second 100-year plan. Their 100-year, 25-year, and 5-year plans should be documented already. Their 5-year plan may be available to selected investors and advisors. | ||
| José_Quiñones |
The Trevster (click on the picture for the story):  | ||
| Blake |
José, Seems Elvis was a bit optimistic, much so wrt BMW. Thanks for taking the time to scan and post the numbers. I cannot understand why Aprilia isn't doing better. They have some outstanding bikes. Must be the dealer network. It would be interesting to know the total sales ($$) too. Dyna has the beef. Blake eats crow.  Roger, Are you challenging Buellstradamus (José Quiñones) for BadWeB prognosticator status? | ||
| Blake |
Mike, No way HD is going to drop the big air cooled engines. They've even admonished so. | ||
| Pdxs3t |
Website of the frame manufacture of the way cool Sportster above. Rowe Machine | ||
| Mikej |
Jose, thanks. Blake, time will tell. And some may be very surprised. Question: Does Harley-Davidson have a recommended retirement age? | ||
| Aaron |
"No way HD is going to drop the big air cooled engines." Particularly in light of the V-Rod's less than stellar sales. | ||
| Elvis |
Arrrgh! Thanks José. Those numbers are disappointing. Let's just hope they're popular with the Iraqis. | ||
| Mikej |
Are the V-Rod sales numbers due to the bike design appearance or due to the engine performance? What do you think? Before you answer wait until you see someone riding one two-up on the street while you are thinking of the sales numbers. Then look at an FLH and think of it with a V-Rod engine, only slightly enlarged. I'm just playing with some thoughts I've had rummaging around my head for the last year or three. My opinion is that the V-Rod as currently designed is basically a bar-hopper concept. It is not a cruiser, and not a sport-tourer, and not a Buell/Sportster replacement. It is a concept bike with a market test currently underway. (Just thinking outloud.) | ||
| Dynarider |
Mike, I think its obvious that the V-rod is only the tip of the Harley-Berg to steal a phrase from Court. The motor is fabulous, but I still think the looks leave a lot to be desired. Have seen a few that were customized, differnt rims, paint, headlight & pipes & those looked pretty damn good. Harley still caters to a primarily nostalgia driven crowd. They want bikes that look & sound like Harleys & the V_Rod does neither of these. I have seriously considered buying one & changing the above items...I really hate the rims & headlight..but am waiting to see what Harley has up their sleeve concerning the whole concept. | ||
| Bomber |
it may be the tip of an iceberg, but I think Mike hit the nail on the head . . .it's a great bar bike, and the engine is far more capable that it's present application . . . .it would take a whole lot more thatn rims/headlight and paint to sway me . . . .. it'll be interesting to see what comes out after the 100th Boogaloo settles down, won't it? | ||
| Grndskpr |
Roger, Are you challenging Buellstradamus (José Quiñones) for BadWeB prognosticator status? No way, more looking at it from MY perspective, i am shure i will be told how wrong i am, but here goes(remeber Court this is a game ment in fun, try not to take it the wrong way) Why have an excess of inventory, in other words, in the current line there are way to many engines, for the crews, while i am sure they are up to the task, there seems to be no reason to have that many different style engines, hence extra inventory which may be needed from outside suppliers, in slimming down a company(when needed, and sometimes before) reduction of excess inventory can bean asset, plust it reduces costs which may become a factor after the 100th, so to reducestress on the company, you test(sorry Blake i still think it was partially a test) an new engine out in your smaller market, after it passes(and seems to have done so) you intro it in to one of the mother company bikes, detuned ortuned more for a cruiser, what you may end up with is a blast and a Harley intro bike(some people really want there first bike to be a harley, and if thats what they like more power to them) a XBR/S 1000 and a 1200(for a higher cost, really not sure about that, just a guess) and to replace an 883 you use the current buell motor, and for the 1200, you use the new one coming out, which i mentioned to Court last year not passing EPA at the time(i guess that is solved), so with 3 engines you have now produced 6 bikes, not counting the XB9 Slow. I realize that HD, has done an outstanding job in the sales dept. however after the 100th, it may be harder to sell due to the fact that numerous people i have encontered are buying bikes this year, so they can have a 100th aniv. bike, but again this is all guess work and more for fun than anything else, but think of the slogan for the sportster: A new motor for the next century, a newkind of harley davidson prognosticator at large, grndskpr for money Roger | ||
| Grndskpr |
That sounded better than i thought, how do i copyright that slogan??? Roger | ||
| Turnagain |
Norm! Havin' some technical difficulties opening up the NW section -- receive '<A HREF=' before the end of the page. click here for what was setup: Thanks, Steve(2) | ||
| José_Quiñones |
Vrod sales dissapointing? It's the old expectations game. If shipping 18,000 VRods world wide and selling enough of them in Europe to make it Harley's #1 seller is considered "less than stellar", then what would you call Buell's performance in the US (see above) and in Europe (from 2,171 units registered in 2001 to 1,808 last year) in 2002? | ||
| José_Quiñones |
Aprilia only has 110 dealers in the US, and all their bikes are above the "magic" $10,000 threshold that some people think is the key to selling bikes to the sportbike target demographic. For comparision purposes, Harley Davidson has 644 dealers in the US. Buell has 436 dealers in the US. How many Aprilias could you sell with 436 dealers and an AMA US Superbike team out there duking it out everybody else??? For that matter, how many Buells could you sell with 436 dealers and an AMA US Superbike team out there duking it out everybody else??? | ||
| Vmebarry |
Sunday was Eastside HD's (Bellevue, Issaquaha, WA) first day out on the XB9R race bike. The bike was classed with the 600cc four cylinders, and 750cc Ducati, which was out front. The bike handled very nice indeed in the corners, and faired in the middle of the pack. Both of our pilots said the bike was not controlable on the long stretches and they did not shift to fifth gear. If they did, the wobels where intolerable. They where running race compound tires, and had no steering Jeremy J. said his times from first lap to last went from 2 minutes 10 sec. to 1 min. 49 sec. by the latter laps. Scott Moon in the latter ran 1 min 45 sec. in the expert class. They both were very happy with a basicly stock bike, but feel it needs some stiffer springs up front, and a They both felt the bike has great potintial for the track, but needs refining and tuning to get it up to snuff. The only real change they made before racing, was to remove headlight, tail light etc.. and close off the holes left by the missing head light. I will try to get a picture next time. Barry | ||
| Rex |
The V Rod has a lot of potential... -Put that motor in a bike like the Yamaha 1300 and the Honda St1300...A Sporttourer. It would handle, have power, could carry two up. And would probably sound good too. -Some V-Rods look better than others. I saw one at Arlen Ness that was all white. Looked cool. -Vallejo has one, with the pegs moved back somewhat. It has the new chip, pipes, etc. and really runs strong... -I wish I had the motor and could build my own....Just my point of view. REX | ||
| Firemanjim |
Rex,I think Thom said that V-Rod was making 115+RWHP. | ||
| Rex |
And Thom said it was very reliable too....would run forever at high speeds on the road.....Very smooth motor, and understressed.......The only thing Is that I don't like to ride with my feet two feet in front of my body....I like my feet below me, or back somewhat........it will come.....Thom said that he has had a lot of people want the motor in their bikes, or set up more like a standard motorcycle.....I hope Harley uses it in a frame other than a cruiser...REX | ||
| Mark_In_Ireland |
Court, You have mail...or I hope you have.... | ||
| José_Quiñones |
Harley-Davidson Reports Another Record First Quarter
 | ||
| Bomber |
great news! good to hear up-beat info on an american company for a change, ain't it? |
