| Author | Message | ||
     Ebrfan |
Sprintist, I was hearing this same thing about ride/seat height from a woman this past weekend and yesterday my gf had to be on tiptoes to straddle the SX. There is a viable market there for sure, with both men and women. | ||
| Hughlysses |
Larry- I don't think the City X bikes were low; they had a higher seat than a standard S model. At any rate though, Buell had a long history of making low models. Don't forget the M2L before the XB9SL and Scg came along. | ||
| Ljm |
I only rode a City X once around the block. Seems short to me, but then, I am old too and I clearly remember being much taller. Went out and looked at the pics on the web. The one I rode, translucent blue, etc. had a low seat on it like the Scg with the divot toward the front. Wasn't the stock seat. (Message edited by ljm on August 17, 2015) | ||
| Cyclonedon |
It's making the right motorcycle that sells your brand! How many people remember going to the 2006, 2007, & 2008 Buell Homecomings and seeing everyone riding their Ulysses to the event from all over the country because they were very comfortable motorcycles to ride and that's why their sales were so good! When Harley closed down Buell in 2009, I wanted to buy another Uly but there wasn't any in this area to be had! The dealers were practically giving away the 1125R's & 1125CR's! I saw those bikes going for the low $5000 range and still were' selling off that quickly so my question is why build you company around a style of motorcycle that is in heave competition with the Japanese inline 4 motors that cost less and outperform the V-twins? I could have bought a Suzuki Hyabusa for $10,000 but it wasn't a comfortable riding bike just a hot crotch rocket which is NOT my type of motorcycle! If I was going to buy a new motorcycle today, I think the Triumph Bonnieville would win hands down! But if they were to reinvent the Ulysses, that would be hard to pass up! Still riding and enjoying mine! Best all around motorcycle ever made | ||
| Reepicheep |
The CityX had the skyline seat, it was the tallest lightning until the Lightning Long's and the STT came out. I don't know if the Lightning Long's or STT's were taller or not, they were definitely longer. The 9sx was actually a pretty tall bike. | ||
| Airdale |
Why not give the bike a little adjustably for us short inseam people, a second groove on the forks. A lowering collar for the rear shock, some different rear spring rates an adjustable drive belt tensioner, Even if they were EBR after market products, would be better than none at all. I love my Uly,.....just my .02cents | ||
| Arcticktm |
The first thing Bruce should do is decide what he and Erik want the company to represent. I thought EBR lost many when they went squarely at the racer market, which doesn't seem to be that strong. More importantly, the competition their is BRUTAL, with big companies with deep pockets and lots of specialist employees. It's like starting a car company and competing in the 4 door family sedan market, and then wondering why you couldn't sell your $45k car that was almost as nice as a Toyota Camry, but with no track record (pun intended). Stake out your territory. Make it unique (not just to you but to the motorsport interested public). Ducati does this well. KTM does this well. Triumph did this well in their comeback. They made triples their thing, so they weren't directly matching the Japanese 4's. Now they even have Yamaha copying them (very well, in fact). The Uly sold well by Buell standards, but that still only means ~9500 bikes from '06 to 2010. Not exactly enough to support anything but a niche company. But it sold well because it exploited some niches: comfortable sporting bike, rising interest in Adventure bikes (again, for comfort+performance), and a desire to buy American (as long as I don't feel like a sucker in the process). Promote how you are different. Then, give as many folks as you can an opportunity to experience it for themselves. It's not easy to go grassroots, but if it were easy, we wouldn't be talking about Buell Part III... | ||
| Court |
D-I-F-F-E-R-E-N-T-I-A-T-e Which letter ...... Above ..... Do you recall? _________(whatever the successor firm is called) has an amazing opportunity ahead and within grasp. Navigating that road....keenly..... Is essential. There's one chance. | ||
| Lake_bueller |
From where I sit, it looks like the "standard" motorcycle style is the way to go. H-D looks to doing well with the "Street" and Ducati is killing it with the Scrambler. A nice comfortable bike in the 750-800cc range would be a start. Then maybe a lower powered "crotch rocket" for the beginner market (i.e. Hero 250). Lastly, a good combo bike that is between the BMW GS and a Uly. | ||
| Unibear12r |
Keep making and up grading the 1190 models though. Its a great flagship and represents the essence of Buell to the most people. Everyone I ride with, even the Ducati guys, think its a hell of a ride. | ||
| 2kx1 |
Ktm 1290 adventure is what they need to outdo. 1290 Superduke is the next target. Panigale is the next. They need to work with what they have. Which is a big bore twin which needs constant development. They don't need to make a smaller bike now. When they do they need to target the 390 ktms. Erik and Bruce could put together the best 300 lb bike with 70 hp in the world but it won't do them any good if no one sells or services them. If no one knows who they are then it won't do their dealers right either. | ||
| Ezblast |
Small displacement, medium displacement, then the all out balls to the wall bike. A tourer would be nice as well, and a dirt bike, an electric long range commuter would be cool as well. EZ | ||
| Reepicheep |
I haven't ridden the KTM 1190, but I've ridden 4 or 5 other KTM's. From a performance standpoint, they are awesome. From a demanding unforgiveness standpoint, they are even more awesome, and that's not a good thing. And from a needyness standpoint, they make my uly, now with probably a bad crank at 30k miles, look like the paragon of reliability. Which, again, isn't a good thing. I'd rather they take the new 1190 motor and detuned it to be a 100k drama free motor, with really long maintenance intervals, and 130 HP with torque everywhere, and put it in a light weight but capable and accessible adventure bike (upright sport touring) platform including really good suspension. Then sell it affordably (which sadly these days means $15k, when it should be $10k). I couldn't afford one new, but I might eventually buy one used. | ||
| Panhead_dan |
Don't de-tune it per se, re-tune it for much more low rpm torque. If it doesn't have to rev up to the moon, it will last much longer and be more reliable. Besides, big torque is addicting! | ||
| Johnnylunchbox |
Random thougths in no particular order. What does EBR/Buell/Belfer-Moto want to be? A modular platform with various states of tune would like be the way to go. The current 1190 motor architecture seems a bit too high strung to put in a sport-tourer as it tries to lope through downtown Wilkes Barre, PA. It may be a demon on the track, but on the streets we need something different. Do you want to build usable street bikes, or do you want to build racers? Both? Figure it out. Make it work. Make it reliable. Make it reasonable to maintain. Make me not worry about being 3000 miles from home. Separate the cutting edge from the workaday, but not too much. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Rememeber that high strung 1190 motor (which it is) also already gets 50mpg highway. I think it was already engineered to be applicable with a wide range of characteristics. | ||
| Johnnylunchbox |
I understand about the fuel mileage, but both driveability, and reliability are extremely important. Without those you have nothing. | ||
| Hughlysses |
The 1190SX I tested seemed more tractable on the street than the 1125CR I owned. I'd think with some very minor retuning the 1190 engine would be suitable for a wide range of applications. | ||
| Bsanorton |
Make a standard hot rod. A modern X1 or M2. HD missed the mark on the XR1200. My X1 was a better bike and I wanted to really buy the XR1200. My buddy who was a salesman now a service manager at HD called me as soon as they got one in years ago. I did the dumb thing and rode up on my X1. The XR1200 was under powered, taller, heavier. I rode away on my X1 with a smile. HD no longer makes the Sportster 'S' or 'R' model. I miss those. If they stuck a Buell engine in them, wow! HD stopped making the VROD Sport. To me there is a market for those type of bikes. I'm not looking for a bagger. As I get older I prefer a sportier lighter bike with some get up and go. No I don't like the adventure bikes thank you very much. Just a nice standard bike with rounded lines that doesn't look like something that should be in a Japanese cartoon! | ||
| Ebrfan |
2kx1 said it best with this quote: "Erik and Bruce could put together the best... bike... in the world but it won't do them any good if no one sells or services them. If no one knows who they are then it won't do their dealers right either." Advertising, with potential buyers having knowledge that the EBR brand has a good reputation for being a quality American Made product, and a good dealer base is what EBR needs. I witnesses several people walking past the EBR's to get to the KTMs and other more "popular" sport bikes at the dealership and even talked with a few of them about mine. The people I talked with knew a little bit about them, either that they were good running bikes or about the bankruptcy, but they weren't the "popular" brand people were there to shell out money for. Make the EBR name recognized and popular, and the bikes the most popular American Made superbikes that people want to be recognized as owning (a status symbol like owning a Harley, if you will) and EBR will survive. | ||
| Twobuells |
Dirt Bikes! Braap! 250cc & 450cc Motocross Enduro Dual Sport Super Moto Dirt Track Sport Quad, ATV One platform to cover many segments. My 1996 & 1998 S1 Lightning's were my favorite bikes, running a close second if not even, is my current Yamaha WR250R a great Dual Sport that's a lot of fun to ride. | ||
| Slaughter |
I want to see them ACCURATELY assess the market in order to SURVIVE as an American moto-manufacturer - and not only survive, but expand. Rider groups, dealer support, system reliability REGARDLESS of platform. Maybe support the Club racer rather than fielding a National or World team - discounts and contingencies but NO ATTEMPT should be made at high-end racing for a decade. | ||
| Jon |
Understand who the core Buell fan really is and what is important to them. It's rudeness well made. Don't go racing, don't chase the mainstream and come back to naked vision. I know I am right. Your move. | ||
| Sprintst |
Stick to naked bikes and you lose me I grew up with naked bikes, we called them motorcycles (aka standards) No thanks, I'll take the fairings please Dirt bikes seem pretty far off track to me, though I'm not in that world anymore Aren't dirt bikes a shrinking market? Less places to ride all the time. Secondly, they are totally different beasts than street bikes, not much cross over in the parts or tech I would take a very serious look at what is selling right now. Yamaha's lower cost, mid range bikes are smoking it (Message edited by sprintst on August 24, 2015) | ||
| Sdw |
For appeal outside the U.S. EBR need to get Guy Martin on one of their bikes racing in the Isle of Man TT as road racing could potentially be bigger than MotoGP in terms of world wide coverage and entertainment. You only have to watch "Closer to the edge" in 3D and all other racing seems lame. As Guy Martin is an engineer at heart it's a match made in heaven. http://youtu.be/QldZiR9eQ_0 | ||
| Northernthunder |
Online shopping for accessories and parts, a clothing line also available online. The ability to custom order a bike online utilizing an option sheet that offers bare bones cheap to loaded up with everything including race packs, custom paint etc.. Deliver these online ordered bikes directly to the new owners home and make it an experience. Be at the races doing demo days and selling tee shirts,you don't have to be racing but you should be there for the exposure and soliciting feedback Owner events, annual or bi-annually but make it an event worth traveling to and they will come- (factory tour?, concert etc.) Online and hotline customer/tech support Partner with AAA and provide roadside assistance with every new bike purchase The money may not be in selling bikes, will have to make it up in the accessories and clothing sales while making it all part of the bike buying experience. Harley and Ducati have this down to a science Build a new lightning to link past successes to the future | ||
| Fmaxwell |
Erik Buell Racing needs a web page. Now! Most motorcyclists think that Erik Buell Racing is permanently out of business. Google refers to Erik Buell Racing in the past-tense and reports it as "Defunct: April 2015." Among those who know that the assets were sold, many think they were purchased for scrap metal (thanks to an ill-informed article). The web site can be a single, slick-looking page: Erik Buell Racing is back! Sign up here to receive email updates! That would let people know that EBR is still in business and that EBR 1190 motorcycles aren't being melted down as scrap metal. It would also provide a way to gather email addresses of potential customers. The web site doesn't need any other content at this point. It doesn't have to provide a model line-up, beauty shots, specifications, MSRPs, parts and accessories, online store, dealer list, contact information, or anything else. It just needs to inform the public that EBR is alive and that visitors should expect exciting news in the near future. This could be done for as little as a few hundred dollars. It is the most cost-effective marketing that can be done at this critical stage. It should be a top priority. (Message edited by fmaxwell on August 26, 2015) | ||
| Court |
>>>Most motorcyclists think that Erik Buell Racing is permanently out of business. That, as I understand it is, correct. No one bought "Erik Buell Racing". The Receiver disposed of various parts, pieces and assets. Hero bought some, Belfer bought some and perhaps some others bought some of the other stuff. If a local business "goes out of business" and you buy some stuff at an auction . . . you have not "bought the business", the entity does not survive. I'll bet folks are scrambling to try to make the successor entity look as much like Erik Buell Racing as they can but I'd guess it will be a new entity. Hopefully some folks can wrangle the ability to morph some of the approvals and licensing, that can take up to a year and must be done in any state in which products will be sold, and be able to use the agreements already in place. I hope I am wrong. From the United States Patent and Trademark Office . . .  | ||
| Davegess |
They have a lot of stuff to attend to. sitting here we may think A or B is the most important but I am pretty sure that the boots on the ground have a far better idea of what needs to be done and how to assign the limited resources to get those jobs done. Sorta like when the Marines land. You gotta secure the beachhead before you start anything else. | ||
| Hughlysses |
Court- The date on that listing doesn't make sense. EBR was alive and well in October 2012. Bruce did post a brief update at ebrforum.com in response to a post of mine on August 24: Me-
Bruce Belfer-
Some other info of interest, I saw a post on the EBR 1190 Owners Group on FB earlier that claims you can now buy parts for your EBR from any Parts Unlimited dealer. According to the post, a lot of EBR parts in a warehouse had been on hold as a result of the receivership and they have just been released. Supposedly you do NOT have to go through an EBR dealer to get the parts. FWIW (Message edited by Hughlysses on August 26, 2015) |
