| Author | Message | ||
     Boogiman1981 |
 nope | ||
| Rhard |
Bought my first Buell because it wasn't a ducati. I had been riding ducks for ten years before and then all my friends started riding them. Got to be different, and had sat on a Buell during one of the Cycle World shows. When they made the S-1 in '96 I really liked it, in'97 they made the M-2 I bought and still have it. The 1125R came out I wanted one so bad I could taste it. But two kids in college you know the story. Kids out of college, firesale and I'm sitting on my 1125R. Heaven! Even all my duck boys liked it when they saw it in person. Different,american thats why. | ||
| Georgehitch17 |
Price is perfect. Built in the USA. Nobody has them!  | ||
| S21125r |
I bought my first Buell 15 years ago partly because it was HD (they did carry some panache back then..), it was different, and it was American made. Over the years I realized it wasn't the HD DNA that I cared about, but it was the uniqueness and creativity that Erik infused into the Buell brand. Even 14 years ago I knew my next bike was going to be a Buell, and it was going to be liquid cooled - purpose built for the bike. By the time the 1125 came out, I had a completely different lifestyle (wife, 4 kids, mortgage, yada yada...), so had to wait for the fire sale for the dream to come true. | ||
| Bptex |
I bought my first Buell because it was made in the USA and had HD dealer support, well I thought it did. I bought the second one (1125R) because it was a good deal and American. Unless Victory decides to build something sportier I'll probably be going British for my next bike. | ||
| Kirb |
Then they pour in hundreds of millions of dollars to help you meet your goals. Erik said they dumped more into the shutdown than they did the whole time they owned it When the economy goes south and with their own survival in question (still is), they let go of the drowning man who was pulling them down. Not true. What would you call a $125 mil move to buy and invest in MV and sell them a year later for $1? No one is that short sighted, not even HD. They invested more in MV than they did in Buell. | ||
| Duphuckincati |
Allegedly the new CEO, after finally learning how to ride a motorcycle, said he did not understand why anyone would buy a sportbike. Guess he couldn't carry his sissy golf clubs. | ||
| Jaimec |
And right there, in that very breath, he flat out stated: "I have no idea how to attract the latest generation of motorcycle buyers." | ||
| Dannybuell |
Duphuckincati - Jaimec - A funny thing the wwII generation, they thought that laid back cruiser style was more aerodynamic. The last few generations want state of the art. Taking that technology step forward is what young people do. If you want to learn to use anything electronic go find yourself an 11 year old, chances are they will know as much or more than most. This generation of young riders could care less about the country of origin. Today's young riders are just technology hungry. There should be a v-rod, v-road king, v-dyna... In a soft economy dropping Air Cooled models one at a time might stimulate demand with 'last chance' buyers. A Rotax Sportster that is the equal of, or greater than a CR would work. | ||
| Ratbuell |
I confess, I did buy my first Buell because of the HD heritage, kinda. I grew up on musclecars. Mom brought me home from the hospital in a '70 Charger 500 440/6 - that obsession started EARLY, lol. Come time to drive my own, I had a slew of V8 Cutlasses, then moved into turbocars. Bracket raced a smallblock Satellite wagon throughout college (still have it). So, I like the sounds of a twin compared to the whinnnnny of an I4. But it was more the twin, than the HD, that got me on Buell. I did NOT want a cruiser. I did NOT want chrome (having showcars through HS and college taught me what a PITA it is to keep shiny bits clean!). I DID want American - dad was career Navy and I take pride in my country. No foreign cars, no foreign bikes, no foreign tractors - if I can buy American, I do. And then I got to know the company. And the philosophy. And The Values. They struck a chord with me, and I honestly could care less what happens to HD at this point. Sure, they're an American business icon...but this latest crew has made some STELLAR mistakes recently and I don't know if the end is in sight for their screwups. Erik, on the other hand, is an inspiration to me. To believe in something so strongly, to work so hard to make it happen despite the odds being against you at every turn, over and over again...and keep plugging away...just amazing. I wish I could find my Muse the way he has, so I could even ATTEMPT to follow it like that. And in my experience as a HD/Buell salesperson for six years - people do buy HD because it's a HD. Period. There is no other. Thus say the sheep. In general, though...people buy Buell for the BIKE, not the name. Buell buyers - present company excepted of course - in general are looking for a BIKE, not a NAME. Probably 9 out of 10 newbies that I sold to (new to Buell, that is) could have cared less what name was on the tank, they just wanted the bike to serve a purpose. HD buyers are the opposite - they want it to say HD on there so bad, they don't seem to care what it can or can't do. Does it sparkle? Make noise? Say HD on the side? I'll take it. (sigh) | ||
| Usmoto |
I first got interested in Buells because at the time, it was the only American motorcycle company that had a sportbike. I'm very patriotic and try to buy American whenever possible. With that said, the V Rod in the only HD bike I'd buy. You couldn't give me anything from the air cooled lineup. I don't dislike HD, in fact I kind of admire the fact that it lasted out of the numerous US motorcycle companies that closed since back in the day. Now what I think was a bad move on their part is closing Buell. With the recent success and attention Buells have gotten from racing, I think myself and many others can see the potential with having the Buells in the HD dealerships. The leadership at HD is completely out of touch in my opinion. I believe that HD could do very well with adding sportbikes to their lineup. You could say that they already did it with Buell but really they didn't. I'll compare it to going to a pool and only sticking your toe in. You can't get the full effect until you jump in, all in. HD didn't ever seem to embrace Buell and sportbikes and really didn't put their heart into it. With the HD name and their financial backing, Buell could have been a household name. When I'm out riding my 1125r, I still get people asking me what make of bike I'm on. In my opinion that would never happen if HD had embraced what it had. I don't want to see any American company fail. I just wish HD would wise up. There's a big market for many other types of non cruiser bikes. | ||
| Mickeyq |
HD management is totally inept. Who in their right minds spends $110Mill. to buy a company, spend unspecified money to revamp those manufacturing facilities. Then approx. a year later, sell it back to those same people for &4 and give them $35Mill. to take it back?? To top it off, the executive who engineered these transactions received millions in bonuses! | ||
| Jaimec |
Mickey: And here's the kicker, this isn't the FIRST time the Castiglioni brothers did that to Harley!! Those who don't study history are doomed to repeat it. | ||
| Dannybuell |
Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it. George Santayana 'The Italian connection' receives a transfer of wealth under the guise of business. Paying them to take back their business is so ridiculous it's funny. reminds me of: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ransom_of_Red_Chi ef | ||
| Mickeyq |
Man, if I did something like that where I work, I would not only have been fired; but, also prosecuted for mismanagement of shareholders funds. I can only think of how Buell/Erik Buell Racing would benefit from that kind of transaction. Let's see, Erik Buell Racing1190RR wins European Sound of Thunder and the Erik Buell Racing1125RR threatens AMA Superbike--all on a privateer budget. I can only image what the future holds... | ||
| Mickeyq |
I bet the Castiglionis laughed all the way to the Banco--and then went to pick out a Ferrari or two. | ||
| Kirb |
It's fun to read the responses here and then go to a harley forum and read those on the same topic. I've seen 'Buell crap' more than once. I think someone actually put a positive spin on the MV sale and how HD didn't really lose money. Wow. | ||
| Mickeyq |
I know of several ivy business schools that are now using the HD-MV deal as a case study of what not to do! I really like the HD shop that I got my bike from. They are a great bunch of people and real all-weather riders. It's a certain person from a tool biz that is clueless as to what motorcycling is all about. | ||
| Zac4mac |
I guess I did. My first bike was a 350 Honda in 1974, got my first Harley in '79, a Bicentennial Sportster(1976). I spent 20 years hot-rodding that Sporty to make it handle better and spin-up faster. My first ride on a Buell was a 2003 XB9R I was looking at while waiting for a clutch cable for my Wide Glide. Dealership was still in the rear-view as I was trying to figure out how to pay for the Buell. When I banged 2nd gear and the front wheel came a foot off the ground there was no turning back, I HAD to have this bike. Two years later I hear about this NEW Buell with a European motor. I ordered my 1125R in August, my brother came up and got the XB in September and I was on pins and needles until my 1125R was delivered December 18th right after a blizzard. I've put almost 26k miles on Loretta and she has rewarded me like no other machine. Last May, I picked up an 09 Ulysses with 12k miles on it. It has 19.3 on the clock now. Erik knows how to build the perfect motorcycle, I have two of them! Zack | ||
| Ridenusa4l |
Alright..ill admit it...the reasons i bought a buell INITIALLY was A) it is AMERICAN MADE! B) becuase of all the engineering that goes into the bikes, and the function of everything is amazing! C) Becuase its a V-twin and has a SOUL!! ( i hate how IL4's sound) D) insurance prices compared with anyone else E) I had been raised on HD -spit- my entire life (I was only 17 at the time i bought my 1125r) so that was a huge selling point for me as well...but after what they have done with buell and the entire company i will never by an HD for the rest of my life...unless they do something miraculous. I admitted it....but i never planned on owning anything else to begin with...EVERY vehicle I own(ed) has been made in the USA and im gonna keep it that way, unless i get ALOT of money, then some Italians and Germans will be welcome lol. Jake | ||
| Ogobracing |
I found Buells interesting from the first time I came across one many years ago. I than did a little research and learned about EB, the company, etc. I truly became intrigued by the Buells a couple of friends I met at the track have, both street bikes and track bikes. However, as much as I liked them, the HD-based motor in a sport bike largely held me back. When the 1125r was introduced, it changed everything: Unique, different, modern, etc. When the white with blue came out, I was a gone. It became my aspirational bike. When the fire sale happened, I thought I had to act not only because I could suddenly afford it, but because I was afraid it would be my last chance. | ||
| Milt |
I bought a Buell because:
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| Jandj_davis |
I bought my buell because it has everything to make it a perfect street bike. - Lots of torque, for fun at moderate speeds - Belt-drive = no maintenance - pushrods and hydrauylic tappets = no maintenance - Air-cooled = simple and easy to work on - Looks great, sounds great. - 0-60 in 3.5, 50 mpg. I really couldn't care less who made it. If Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki, Triumph, KTM, Ducati, or ANY other manufacturer made a bike that matched those criteria, the Buell would have competition. BMW came pretty close with the belt-driven F800S, but it lacked the character of the buell, and I am not fond of the sound a parallel twin makes. But, for now, Buell is the only one in the game, so I will happily mod mine (aiming for XB9RT) or buy another (XB12Ss) when I am ready for a change. | ||
| Xoptimizedrsx |
got mine cause It was cool to me... plus no adjustments on the valves... plus air cooled... | ||
| Weatherman |
i first got interested in buells after seeing one at the motorcycle show in javitz center. the essence of a motorcycle- motor, 2 wheels and not much of a seat (s-1). took a test ride on a m2 cyclone and just had to have it. got sold on trilogy of tech- loved the way it handled.- love that torque!!! it turns out that the h-d motor(as modified by buell) is a really good motor for the street. it even got me feeling kind towards hd (instead of put off by the bs that can go along with ownership)as they have a long history of touring and racing. last year before the fire sale i got a 1125cr, but my neck and back screamed for the higher bars and 1" drop pegs. now it fits great. | ||
| Mickeyq |
I got hooked on the Uly. I was so impressed that a Sportster could run and handle like that and the Adventure concept combined with the Buell innovation was awesome. If I was the power at HD I would have said: Erik, we're gonna let you have your company. We're keeping the XB/Ulysses/Blast line and rebadging them Harley. HD would have had a win-win. True Sportster based "sportbikes" (not the pretender "dirt tracker"), an adventure bike that was actually competing with BMW and an HD entry level bike that had garnered a great following and reputation as a bulletproof beginners bike. I just keep thinking of them giving MV back with $35 million thrown in--after they bought it for $110 million and revamping their factories. Why not with Buell... | ||
| Captainkgb |
I'm sure I can't add much that has not been said previously on this post, but I always loved my buddy's HD sprint, when I was a kid, much more character than my yamaha ujm, I guess I've always been the odd guy out. I don't like seeing myself coming and going, but don't like difference for difference sake, there has to be a purpose or advantage behind the oddity. I have always loved Buell's form fallowing function philosophy!, since I fist saw and road another friend's thunderbolt. Saddly when I went to purchase a thunderbolt, the HD dealer jacked the price up so high above msrp, it was out of my price range and told me he had another buyer coming in that afternoon, "so take it or leave it.". I stood up, walked out, drove across town and bought my first Victory, a great bike, but it would sadly be another 9 years before I finally got my big Buell, already had a used blast. BTW that Bolt sat in the showroom another six months. Was planning on buying my 1125 in april with tax refund, but when HD announced the end of Buell, I was forced to move my purchase up a few months. After warranty is up, I will never have to deal with HD's dealers again I am just a guy who loves riding great motorcycles, not a biker: I don't just ride it bar to bar on saturday nights. I Don't dress like one of the village people. Never smuggled drugs in my engine case or been in a bar fight. (Message edited by CaptainKGB on November 18, 2010) | ||
| Zane_t |
I really thought Buell XB models were ugly when I first started looking at them. A deer strike with my '07 Yamaha FZ1 3 years ago inspired me to shop for an adventure tourer bike, which would be a little more resilient to an animal strike, and the '07 Ulysses caught my eye. Not only it had the best price out of all the adventure tourer bikes I looked at, but I figured the Harley-Davidson Sportster derived engine would make me fit back in with all my old Harley riding friends. So, I could say YES I bought a Buell because it's part HD, and the new Ulysses I bought then totally exceded my expectations. I was looking at Vrods when a '08 1125R with only 650 miles on it caught my eye, which I almost stole from my local HD dealer. I couldn't afford to pass that one up. | ||
| Milt |
XB ugly? I think the XBxS (particularly in yellow) is the pretties bike ever made. Just the eye of the beholder, I guess. | ||
| Dannybuell |
When I saw my first Buell it was at a summer festival down by the river. There was this Bright yellow crotch rocket with a Harley motor, a 1996 S1. It was 18 months before I was in a position to buy one. I still have it. We should all do our best to buy American. Buying American is especially important with larger purchases. |
