| Author | Message | ||
     Lemonchili_x1 |
CMG linked to an article in the latest issue of American Motorcycle Dealer. I'm guessing H-D Inc won't like this much. "H-D said no to BRP offer Written by CMG Staff on Monday, March 15th, 2010 The Canadian recreational products manufacturer BRP (Bombardier Recreational Products) made two offers to buy the Buell line from Harley-Davidson, according to motojournalist Alan Cathcart. In the March 2010 issue of American Motorcycle Dealer, Cathcart writes that Harley's management "rejected two attempts by Canadian" firm BRP that could have saved Buell. " See CMG here http://cmgonline.com/content/view/2226/51/ Or got to here and click to page 50 http://www.dealer-world.com/issues/amd128 | ||
| Elvis |
Since October 15th, the Harley apologists have been saying: "It's just business. Buell just wasn't selling enough." But this shows that Harley didn't just allow Buell to wither on the vine, but actively MURDERED them. This shows that Harley deserves everything we've given them and more. Hundreds of people (thousands when you consider the supply chain) lost good, US manufacturing jobs for no better reason than Harley was afraid of a little competition. Harley is showing that they don't, in any way, deserve the iconic, pro-American image they have worked so hard to create all these years. Harley Davidson is a villain in the American motorcycle community and they deserve nothing more than disdain from that community. We need to show them that they have lost far more through these greedy, selfish, short-sighted actions than they would have lost to BRP as a competitor. Harley management is a bunch of pathetic, spineless, cowardly losers and we need to continue to let the world know about it. If anybody wants to buy a bike that is a symbol of American pride and what America stands for, it looks like they'll have to go Victory Polaris from now on. | ||
| Lemonchili_x1 |
Well put. H-D's short sighted-ness continues to amaze me  I wondered whether we were going to hear more about this offer from BRP, and hopefully more will come out down the track and put more pressure on H-D Inc. The Cathcart article has been referred to on a couple of other sites: http://american-v.blogspot.com/2010/03/two-bids-fo r-buell-from-bombardier-were.html http://walworthcountytoday.com/news/2010/mar/15/tr ade-magazine-harley-turned-down-chance-save-buel/ | ||
| Steveford |
Harley-UGH!-Davidson. Just when you thought it wasn't possible to think less of them, this comes along. Bring back the good old days of AMF, ha, ha. (Message edited by SteveFord on March 16, 2010) | ||
| Reepicheep |
It showed up on Harleys facebook page  They haven't unfriended me yet, why I can't imagine. I'm trying... | ||
| Cravacor |
FUHD! | ||
| Transmaniacon_mc |
Harley-Davidson did not sell Buell because it was worth more to them to take the $245 million loss on there expense of closing down the company. BRP would not have paid $245 million for Buell. They closed and sold everything but they still own all the rights to the Buell name and manufacturing. H-D can restart Buell as quickly as they closed it down. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Yeah, Harley could restart Buell, in much the same way as that guy restarted his kid in pet cemetery... They would make a horrific and goulish abomination that looks "almost, but not quite entirely, unlike Buell". (Sorry for mixing book idioms  ) | ||
| Alchemy |
It can be started on paper but to get all supplies in the bin like the 1125 motor and all the newly hired folks trained and expertly managed would take many months in my estimation. It would work smoother for a new owner. Who would trust HD after the last 6 months. A lot of work would have to be done to re-establish any trust. | ||
| Doug_s |
Harley-Davidson did not sell Buell because it was worth more to them to take the $245 million loss on there expense of closing down the company. BRP would not have paid $245 million for Buell. not according to stockholders or business analysts; all who say h-d would have come out much better financially if they had sold buell. doug s. | ||
| J2blue |
I doubt HD could restart Buell for less than it cost them to close it down. | ||
| Sparky |
Don't forget -- The bikes are not the problem. H-D still wouldn't make any money on a restarted Buell venture unless they fixed the problems with the distribution channel & the many dealers' resistance to supporting non-Harley branded bikes. | ||
| Stirz007 |
The real story here is that apparently Erik has a 15 month non-compete. That means within a year from now, there could be a new backer for the Buell line. . . maybe. | ||
| Baybueller |
Just had a chat with a harley parts guy. I told him I would not buy another harley due to the kill off. Dude says no one wanted to buy Buell. I guess the moco lies to its own. | ||
| Doug_s |
and the h-d employees don't know how to read anything from the outside world?  doug s. | ||
| Usmoto |
I think a non-compete is the only reason we haven't seen a new bike from EB. Besides EBR, I personally don't think we've seen the last of Buell. | ||
| Toecutter |
We need a non-compete countdown clock. T-minus 10... |
