| Author | Message | ||
     Sethbuchbinder |
I'm sure that BMC is well aware of the potential impact/strain these new products will impose on the current dealer network. I'm also confident they will adapt the current network to best accommodate new products and markets. That may require putting product in "motorcycle malls" rite next to the competition. I'm confident we will see great things from Buell. Getting back on topic. Rotax makes some great engines. That being said, I would like to see Buell design and produce there own proprietary engines for all future product lines. I believe they are more than capable of doing so with as much ingenuity and forward thinking as we have seen through out the history of the company. If there are partnerships being made in the engine technologies department, I think this is the company Buell should be working with. http://www.dieselmotorcycles.com/ This would be a great way for Buell to enter this/these (off road, hypersport???)market/s. These engines are producing equal power to there gas counterparts at given displacements and weights while maintaining far greater fuel economy.(could come in handy if one were limited to the fuel that fits in a frame...) Plus, it would be just plain cool!! just my .02 Seth | ||
| Jon |
In my mind, whether Rotax or a Buell made engine, the goodness of the news doesn't fade. That being said, a new Buell engine that pulls out the living guts of their competitors and uses them to grease the treads of their tanks is a right impressive thing. | ||
| Cyclonedon |
"Dealer ships are going big... Putting in restaurants, places for events,God know what's next maybe a starbucks" MAYBE!! IF IT SELLS, WHY NOT? who is against a dealer making some money? My dealer has a very good deli and I enjoy grabbing a sandwich when I'm there looking at the motorcycles! btw, BADS1, Ukes already has a dirt bike store across the parking lot from his motorcycle showroom so I feel he will be able to put the new Buell dirt bike models right next to the KTM's and the 4-wheelers.} | ||
| Teddagreek |
Easy Cyclone... I have no problem with dealerships making money... Making a Dealership a destination makes great business sense... Its a great model for others to follow I've actually have took the family to a dealership that is more than a good bit out of the way just to eat at the Restaurant and check out the newly remodeled dealer.. Hell when I go to Daytona I want to see the Worlds largest dealer ship everyone is talking about..  any ways To reign this back in this is my dream... | ||
| Court |
>>>Keeping in mind that we were given the slightest of hints at this meeting. I told someone, on the phone yesterday, . . "take a can of spray paint and write EVERYTHING you KNOW WITH CERTAINTY about the new Buell products on the inside of a package of matches. Now you have all that remaining room to keep notes." | ||
| Jlnance |
In my mind, whether Rotax or a Buell made engine, the goodness of the news doesn't fade. That being said, a new Buell engine that pulls out the living guts of their competitors and uses them to grease the treads of their tanks is a right impressive thing. To flip that around, if a new Buell engine didn't pull the living guts out of it's competitors, there wouldn't be much reason to build it. There isn't any sense building things in house that you can buy off the shelf. | ||
| Bads1 |
Btw Cyclonedon, Ukes I referred to as a Super Store and they are not the ones I'm speaking of. | ||
| Reepicheep |
When I was in Germany a few years back, I went to several "destination" motorcycle shops. Lots of brands on the floor, lots of gear of all types, restaurants with OK food (like sandwich shops). It was neat. It would be a nice perk to have wireless internet and food available at my local Buell dealer for when I am having them mount a tire or something. My local dealer is also huge into dirt bike racing already. In fact, they used to have (don't tell the factory) the "extra" Buells right next to the "yellow" dirt bikes, and right beside "green" hyperbikes. And now that I think about it, the sportbike and dirtbike guys sold them just as badly as the harley guys did. Eventually they got a guy in there that knew Buells (on the Harley side interestingly) and made some decent progress. They have a service guy that "gets it" as well, and we had a fairly entertaining conversation about the first things that will break when you jump an S1 over railroad tracks, and what parts go numb first on a 25 degree 60 mile commute. I think it's more about the people at the dealer then the dealer. What's interesting is that the Harley "riders" were much better to talk to then the import guys... whenever I talked to the import side of the shop, I started smelling squid... they sold SV-650's just as badly as they sold XB's. Now talk to a guy on the Harley side that had done dirt track or wrenched on an old sportster in the day, and they *totally* got the Buell thing, even if they rode a Road King. But that's a tangent  | ||
| Lake_bueller |
Everybody is talking Rotax as the next Buell motor. Kinda like saying the V-Rod has a Porche motor. Why not have a motor that was DESIGNED in CONJUNCTION with Rotax, yet built by Buell. That's just a guess on my part. But see the correlation? | ||
| Jlnance |
Why not have a motor that was DESIGNED in CONJUNCTION with Rotax, yet built by Buell. I guess they could, but they don't build motors now. It's probably a large investment to tool up for that. | ||
| Ceejay |
I guess they could, but they don't build motors now. It's probably a large investment to tool up for that. I don't know, those XBRR cases looked to be in house, would that be the reason for the 56 number. Probably not, more along the lines of 50 or so would give them good pricing on materials and still pay for it. on the buell/HD/food store thing, the one nearest me has ice cream, seems to be a good idea. cept for I can't take my kids there, ice cream, greasy fingerprints and harleys usually don't make for happy salesfolks I always wondered why Honda supposedly sells 1,000,000 items a year, and harley only sells 350,000, yet there are six HD shops(not all sell buell anymore), and only four import(less if it is honda) in a 1 radius...Could that right there be the reason that Buell is moving into the dirtbike realm? | ||
| Holling |
What happened with the Cannondale motocross bike that was to go into prodution several years ago? They build mountain bikes. I remember seeing pics of it. | ||
| Spike |
I'm a little stumped at this. The 450 MX class is wildly competitive, maybe even more so than the current 600 supersport class. Buell would have to launch an absolutely outstanding product piloted by an equally outstanding rider just to be a runner-up in this class. | ||
| Lake_bueller |
Found this posted on SACBORG today by Peter from Amsterdam (the Dakar ralley guy) When I googled before, I found this; That 450 V2 motor is Rotax sourced, they design and build the Aprilia 990 motor as well. This new 450 v2 Rotax is part of a new family of motors ranging from the 450 all the way to an 800 cc version, all sharing same case designs, varying only in bore and stroke. The other versions displace 550cc and 700cc. They are liquid cooled, 72* V, using chain driven dohc and bucket tappets. The 450 and 550 versions have 14500 rpm redlines, the larger mills can 'safely' rev to 12500 rpm. What is very unique and brilliant in their design is that each motor utilizes a separate oil sump for tranny/wet clutch and motor. This should DRAMATICALLY improve oil service intervals making these potentially ideal adventure touring bike motors. However further searching provides; The 450 develops a staggering 60 bhp at 13,000 rpm. The engine was developed from scratch at the Noale factory, as opposed to the usual Rotax mill from Austria. Aprilia wanted to enter the off-road market with a bang, and has done so with the usual displacement, but in V-twin configuration. | ||
| Dave |
"I'm sure that BMC is well aware of the potential impact/strain these new products will impose on the current dealer network. I'm also confident they will adapt the current network to best accommodate new products and markets. That may require putting product in "motorcycle malls" rite next to the competition. I'm confident we will see great things from Buell." I can't argue with that but simply point out things do not change overnight. Many of us are still waiting for the dealerships who are authorized to sell the Buell marque to embrace the line and take ownership. You'd think they'd master that before adding on more to a Harley boutique. I'll keep clickin' the ruby reds and hope for a separate dealership void of chrome. These are exciting times indeed. Heck ... I think it's cool to have an announcement like this and have the hundreds of people brainstorm topics that important to the customer base. It's a win-win situation. Smart Tom ...very smart. DAve | ||
| Xbolt12 |
Nice motor, but if that is the one used in the new Aprilia Super Moto, I am hearing stories of them grenading and multiple bikes being cannibalized at some recent AMA races. The reason I say this is that I was very interested in those bikes. | ||
| Court |
>>>if that is the one used in the new Aprilia Super Moto No worries | ||
| Jimidan |
One of my buds has the little Aprilla with the little v-twin, and it is a hoot. I am telling you that on a twisty road, he can walk off and leave me on my 88" Buell. Just to show that it was not a fluke, we switched bikes and I ran off and left him on my Buell. The thing feels like my mountain bike in the turns...soooo light. It is a good engine so far. The new Buell could do a lot worse, IF all of this speculation comes to pass...and that is a big if. | ||
| Tenracing |
Keep in mind that Buell did say competitive off road motorcycles and the v2 aprilia motor by rotax is not legal for motocross/supercross/or enduro/ only supermoto. so I doubt we will see that. | ||
| Tenracing |
somewhere back in this thread some one eluded to a atv/watercraft additions and Buell could be a stand alone franchise. let me clarify something. HA! NO FREAKIN way. ATV and Water craft are almost as much a money losing proposition as the snowmobile market. they would have a better chance without them. | ||
| Blake |
Why isn't the 450cc twin legal for motocross, supercross, or enduro? | ||
| Ebear |
Hey Court...!!!!I just finished the Archives and I liked that comment!!!! "LOADED for BEAR..."....funny!!! So Now maybe the masses know WHY I RIDE A TUONO..!!!!!!!lolololololol???? ...Ebear Out..!! | ||
| Ebear |
OH Yeah........American Sport Bike AL...I've been thinking about your belief that there will be a 750 XB.....Or how about the 800WC-XB and a 450/550 W/Blast. Guess we could call it an EXBUFFALO-8...... | ||
| Mcgiver |
"Why isn't the 450cc twin legal for motocross, supercross, or enduro?" Very simple, the big four do not make one.  Brian | ||
| Blake |
Yep. S'what I figured too. When an American version comes out though, heheheh. | ||
| Reepicheep |
LOL! Wait until the Japanese singles start complaining about the unfair advantage a twin has over their singles for a given engine displacement | ||
| Danny_h__jesternut |
Think a/that 450 rotax thumper motor would be fun in a little tiny road race 125GP chasis?  .................................................. ...............................I do. I think Apprila should shoe-horn one of their vee-twin dirt bike motors into an RS250 chasis. Kick azz little track bike it would be. | ||
| Tenracing |
MOTO and Supercross specify single cylinder. AMA would be the one to ask that question. | ||
| Xbolt12 |
I just read on the Aprilia site that the 450 and 550 are their (Aprilia's) design. This must mean the Rotax is a different engine and from all the Aprilia teething problems I am hearing about, that is probably a good thing... | ||
| Adrian_8 |
As a current ULY owner, Aprilia Tuono Owner and KTM 450 owner this very interesting. I test rode the 450 RXV which is the dirt bike version..This bike is too high strung for the woods/enduro riding. Fun to ride but the power is intense, sort of like a 125mx on crack. I have heard the 550 will destroy a knobby in one day. A solution might be a heavier flywheel. I believe the first year Aprilia put it on the track in Europe, Aprilia won the Super-moto championship...Honda and the other Japanese manf. about had a heart attack and since they have big pull with the AMA got V-twins banned. Now they can run in some sort of unlimited class...it think. But the 450 and 550 Aprilia motors are FAST and very light..The RXV is the best looking, most powerful dirt bike on the planet, but I bought the 450EXC. This will be interesting, but who will go to a Harley dealership to buy a dirt bike? Its going to have to be real good and have very attractive price to compete in the present market place, I hope it does. |
