| Author | Message | ||
     José_Quiñones |
One more...
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| Aaron |
Seen on the Sportster list this morning, this oughta stir things up: The other day I posted about a friend of mine who works at the moco and what he said about Buell and HD merging some products into the HD line. I have been bugging him for more info and he agreed to tell me a few more things on a anonimous basis. He said the reason the Buell bike that have been discontinued is that the Vrod family would be getting new members. He said remember we told eveybody that the Vrod is just the first bike in the VRSC family. He said that a new frame with sportbike geometry had been designed and it is a modular design that could be made in several different configurations without huge redevelopment costs. He said that HD will be announcing new members of the VRSC family including a naked bike to compete against the Kaw/Honda/Yamaha bikes. He said that is because this category has become so hot that it helped speed along the changes at Buell. It was felt there was no way a Buell bike could compete with the big 3 in this category, but a HD could. Also he said there was a political fight over giving the Revolution (wet head) engine to Buell. I asked him what other VRSC bikes there would be and all he said is there would be something to fill in the gap left by the S3/S3T. He also said there will be a Blast powered bike added to the HD lineup. From what he heard, Buell is not going away but they are becoming more of a specialist again and there will be other Firebolt powered pure sport bikes from Buell. He said that HD has taken note of the intense following that Sportsters have on the internet and all the Sportster clubs (I guess that means us). There research says that Sportster riders put more miles on their bikes on average except for touring riders...more than Dynas and Softails! He has heard that there will be some changes in the Sportster lineupsome that should make people really happybut maybe some things that could offend purists. He saw some pretty cool concepts for new Sportster designs but they never go too far because HD wants to keep the Sportster a low cost bike but they had still managed to update the Sportster lineup. He said watch for some upcoming late 2002 and early 2003 announcements. Thats the report I have no knowledge or comments on the accuracy of this information, I'm just re-posting it. I did not write it, nor have I ever met or know anything about the person who did. AW | ||
| Al_Lighton |
"He said that a new frame with sportbike geometry had been designed and it is a MODULAR DESIGN that could be made in several different configurations without huge redevelopment costs." In my experience, this usually means something that does several things OK and nothing superlative. If you want something to be the best design for accompishing a task, you usually have to design it for the task at hand, not adapt it from something else, because the adapting forces too many compromises. Or not. Al | ||
| Court |
>>>I could give a rat's ass about a Superbike myself. I want that S1 Henrik just described! Can't add a thing to that! Court | ||
| Jima4media |
Yaaa, that's what I want too, a S1 with a 488" V-10 Dodge truck engine. Ohhhh, and a comfortable seat too. ;-) Jim X-2.5 | ||
| Pwest |
I for one am intrested in Superbikes and hope Buell does make a Race bike for the street. I know I could go buy a bike from one of the big 3, but I want a true American racer. I love my M2 and dont think they should get rid of it but I like the full faird bikes with there uncomfortable riding position. PAT02M2 | ||
| Davegess |
Just got the new RIDER mag in the mail. Mark Tuttle rode an XB along with everyone else at Las Vegas and his comments are instructive. First off he is a 220 pound six footer. He wouldl like more top end power just liek a lot of people have been saying BUT other than that he has high praise for the bike He said the power was satisfyingly strong and torquey. Surprisingly comfortabel somewhere between the Honda CBR6004 and the Suzuki GSXR600. He said he could see riding it from fill up to fill up perhaps two or three times in a day. (These RIDER magazine guys like to cover the miles.) He also says the Firebolt is aimed squarly at guys like him, "30 something or older guy who has touring bike or a cruiser but used to scrape a footpeg on occasion; he's inheritied some responsibility and slowed down a bit but would still like to wick it upo in the couners now and then. Although eariler Buells have come close until now there really hasn't been anything with which this guy could fulfill that desire and hold his head up with his Harley cronies... as well as the cutting edge sportbiek crowd. " He concludes with "Riders who aren't mainlining ego and testosterone will finde its power and handling a thrill especially since it makes class leading toruque and is so easy to ride briskly and the bike offers good comfort with excellant brakes and suspension." He does ask for more power at the end also. | ||
| S320002 |
JoseQ, Looks like I may have to eat some crow on that "Don't hold your breath" comment. Time will tell. Neil, Will you buy that 20K superbike you want if it says Harley Davidson on the side instead of Buell? Greg | ||
| Anonymous |
OneAnonymous to another, Don't confuse very active at posting and very noisy with "very Buell educated". | ||
| S2no1 |
Anon, Here now!!!. I resemble that remark. Arvel | ||
| José_Quiñones |
If I can toot my own horn, I'd say my signal to noise ratio has been very high.......... You're just mad that Buell is too predictable....... | ||
| Anonymous |
Yes Jose I can hear you tooting your horn and its the smell not the noise thats getting to me. | ||
| Blake |
We should all bow to the wise foersight of Buellstradamus. that is, as soon as he's done tooting himself  Does anyone here believe that HD, the cruiser king, really has the cojones let alone the abilities required to design and build a true sport bike? Whoever the heck was having THOSE feelings, I hope they get back on their medication SOON! | ||
| Ralph |
Blake, I don't know if Harley has the cohones. But I would like to point out that as far as abilities go, remember there used to be a guy named Erik who worked for them. I would bet there is more than one engineer in America who has a clue on how to design a sportbike. Not to mention, if it would make money HD would probably strip Buell of all its talent in a heart beat. bighairyralph | ||
| José_Quiñones |
By August of this year, most of what I have said will come up smelling like Roses. BTW, If you're going to write my name, please do it correctly. Hold down the ALT key, type 130 on the keypad and voila, you get an é! At least you learned something today, hey anon? |
