| Author | Message | ||
     Cash |
Rumors are wide spread of a 2 month closure. Is this the beginning of the end for Buell?? What are your thoughts on this shutdown in production of 2010 models till at least January of 2010? Will it further effect marketplace confidence in the company? (Message edited by cash on September 12, 2009) | ||
| Reepicheep |
Are you asking if we think consumers will now loose trust in Ford, GM, Chrysler, Honda, Toyota, Kawasaki, Yamaha, Harley Davidson, Victory, Suzuki as all these companies are dramatically cutting production in many ways due to the current difficult market conditions? Short answer? No. | ||
| Endoman33 |
+1 Reepicheep | ||
| Thespive |
Why would it? There is plenty of inventory at the consumer level. Most people won't know or even notice. --Sean | ||
| Trojan |
Most people will notice because it has been extremely widely reported. As you can see, people will inevitably draw their own conclusions from such announcements. http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/News/newsresults /General-news/2009/September/sep1109-Buell-shuts-d own-production-lines-as-sales-drop/ | ||
| Tortoise |
I guess this is what "Ruthless Engineering" means? I couldn't figure out what that meant until now as there are no new models or major changes to any bike for 2010. Laying off 50 employees is pretty ruthless. | ||
| Froggy |
I guess you never saw the XB12SX or the 1125RR, or the huge changes to all the 2010 bikes including dual O2 sensors, new cooling scoops on XB models, new comfort kit for Ulys, standard upright bars on the 1125CR, new color options or even the new shirts and accessories? Guess not, you seem to be caught up in the plant not having motors to even build the bikes. | ||
| Tortoise |
Froggy, You are correct. I did have not seen the XB12SX or 1125RR on the website or in local dealerships. In fact when checking tonight I still don't see them on the website. As far as the other changes you mention, those are minor in my opinion. | ||
| 1313 |
With all this 'doom and gloom' about Buell shutting down for 2 months I really have to reminisce and think back to the 2001 MY. Anyone remember how long Buell was shut down (i.e. not running production) for at the beginning of the 2001 MY? If memory serves it was closer to 3 or 4 months. And guess what? Buell is still around! And it will continue to be! Sure, it sucks for the 50 unlucky souls to be laid off on a temporary basis, but it's TEMPORARY... Amazing! For once I'm not Mr. doom and gloom... 1313 | ||
| F_skinner |
For once I'm not Mr. doom and gloom... Mr. 1313, maybe you have not heard. Buell is no longer making tubers!!!! The end is near I tell you.  | ||
| Froggy |
Hey! Get back to being gloomy! On a side note, I saw your bike at NJMP when Eslick won the championship a few weeks ago, yet you didn't even say hi! I feel unloved.   | ||
| Ezblast |
Shouldn't we be doing something for all the unemployed Buell workers during the holiday season - it is going to be a tight holiday season - for them it is now going to be tougher - is there no help for them? EZ | ||
| Tortoise |
Judging by the lack of response to EZ's suggestion I'm assuming we are all having a rough year. Personally it has been a rough past few months due to family health problems. Maybe we can do something non monetary to let the employees in Wisconsin know we appreciate their hard work and attention to detail that result in quality bikes? | ||
| Ezblast |
See the Quick Board - Buell Holiday! EZ | ||
| Saxon59 |
I hope Eric buys the company back and sets up dealerships that are interested in selling BUELLs.I was in South Valley H.D./Buell saturday to order a brake light switch and was informed they would no longer be a Buell dealership and may not be able to get parts any more.So,no dealer in Utah,I'll have to go to Id.Co.or Nv.for parts or that new Ully I wanted.One of the salesmen told me he only sold one Buell this year. | ||
| Slipknot |
Let's also remember that every year factories will shut down for usually two weeks or more for maintenance and retooling. Subtract that from time off for Buell and it is not so bad. And we are also discussing a small niche luxury item in one of the worst recessions ever. And there is the company of the largest and "best" companies getting squeezed. I just don't see how anyone can extrapolate from these facts and come up with "the end of Buell". Also with the end of the Blast and someone reporting on a new motor in the works (told by a guide on a factory tour) I would not be surprised to see at least one new model for entry riders and a new model using the Rotax motor. This is just my view but it seems that there is a significant market share to take from BMW, Ducati and Triumph if Buell puts together an adventure bike with the Rotax and substantially more fuell capacity as well as an ABS option. Unless the rear subframe and passenger seat were converted into another fuel cell, I'm not so sure the current frame would suffice. Perhaps a return to tuber frames and optional mega tanks, but with better style than the current GS. Just some mental wandering..... gotta keep the ball rolling, comments?? | ||
| Court |
>>>I just don't see how anyone can extrapolate from these facts and come up with "the end of Buell". If that were valid logic . . . then the same could be assumed of Porsche who have temporarily ceased Valmet supplied units. It's a smart business move. I'd have been concerned if there were not, today, 150 folks at Buell feverishly working on future products and programs. Folks are not buying motorcycles (surprisingly enough . .. Buells are selling better than many brands in the current climate) and to simply shovel product out the door is not good business judgement. It was a smart move. | ||
| Endoman33 |
+100 Court Same thing I was thinking | ||
| Court |
Intereseting discussion on the Porsche boards about special order allocations . . . this sounded germane.
The American car manufacturer, Ford, and the former ones, GM and Chrysler, are feeling the effects of making poor business decisions. There were suffering to begin with . . then the feds pulled that "cash for clunkers" stunt, accelerating purchases planned in subsequent months, and brought the whole industry to very quiet time . . . at least there are some killer deals.  | ||
| Transmaniacon_mc |
WOW looks like this was more than a little lay off planning going on. Buell 1125 wins AMA championship then Sept. 29 everyone working at Buell looking to the bright future, Oct.15 H-D says Closing Buell, Oct. 30 last Buell manufactured company closed. BAM BAM |
