| Author | Message | ||
     Jima4media |
Nice try Blake, but no, I took those pictures here in Monterey California THIS year. Court, I agree with you, this is but a small bump in the road for Buell. Once people have ridden this bike, all else will be forgotten. Jim | ||
| Eeeeek |
...and I'll bitch and whine and moan until then! | ||
| Rocketman |
So those Firebolts that were road and track tested at Valencia in Spain the other week, some were photographed with British registration (tag) plates. What's all that about then ? Buell went to the trouble of registering the bikes for road use in the UK, which is obviously legal for road use in all other countries, but why not just fly 'em in from the States ? Surely they must have a whole bunch of Fireblolts sat in Europe and waiting for the go ahead to launch and those at Valencia were some of them ? Surely they can't have been pre production models can they ? Rocket in England | ||
| Imonabuss |
At the dealer show, Buell announced the Firebolt for Spring 2002 delivery, H-D announced the V-Rod for Fall 2001 delivery. Now how come V-Rods are in people's garages and Firebolts not? OH I GET IT! Fall has passed and Spring has not! Wow, isn't that amazing! Firebolts will be in dealerships this spring, just like V-Rods were in the dealerships in the fall. Betcha Firebolts start appearing at the dealers soon, too. And, BTW, I really do know that no production bikes have been shipped to California, and that the dealer who said there are 235 impounded by CARB is utterly full of it. Food for thought the next time that same dealer tells you something... | ||
| José_Quiñones |
Anon,  Imonabuss, Did you see and read what I scanned from FUELL July/August of last year? I think this is only a "big" issue with us Buell Geeks. Most people will never know about this "delay" and once the bikes hit the road, all this will be forgotten. | ||
| José_Quiñones |
MikeJ Cool start, looking forward to the rest of the story.... | ||
| Anonymous |
The Bussman should be the first inductee into the BWB posters hall of fame. He knows of what he speaks! The Bussman does not post often, but he always hits the nail on the head! R | ||
| Jima4media |
Harvey, I thought for sure you were dead!  We haven't heard from you in a while. I found a good story about you over here... http://www.caferacer.com/steve2.html I'll take your word on CARB certification. The dealer I heard this from has been known to be wrong on a couple of things in the past. Anon R - Thanks for the confirmation. Jim | ||
| Turnagain |
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| Mikej |
Ya might want to see an opthamologist there, your pupil looks a little abnormal.  | ||
| Turnagain |
try here for the full effect. speakers off or on - your choice. | ||
| Rd350 |
Hey everyone, I finally found the REAL reason the new Buell Firebolt XB9R is getting the push back.. It seems that the belts on the new bike keep breaking. The company who makes the belts for Buell decided to make a new tooth pitch on the belts. They are trying to figure out what they can do about changing the whole drive belts and pulleys. And yes someone is going to be looking for a new job for this mistake. That is why Buell cannot tell when the new bike is going to be shipped.. | ||
| Blake |
RD: Gates just up and changed their belt's pitch?  That makes ZERO sense. Every other user of that same belt cross section would also be in big trouble. Tooth pitches don't just get changed; they are dictated and standardized based upon tooth size and load rating. Sorry, I'm very skeptical. Can you list a source please? And who would supposedly be looking for a new job, the Gates Belt guy, or a Buell procurement guy? | ||
| Rd350 |
Hey blake, Yes, the tooth pitch was changed only on this belt. It is a new design and is only used on the XB line up. Everything was working fine for a long time and then one by one all the belts on the test bikes and fleet bikes started to just snap in half. Gates was trying to make a stronger belt that was lighter weight and smaller for Buell. The new design was suppose to work just fine. And it did for a while. There were also other problems with suppliers. But all of this was fixed not to long ago. But now the belts are the new problem. That is why they are not telling anyone a new date on the release of the bike. They really don't know. You should be happing they are trying to fix this problem. Buell at this time cannot have anymore recalls. If this happened after they sold them to the public the company you know they would be through. And this could not happen at a worse time. This is peak bike buying time. And they are missing out on a lot of money. Yes, there is still going to be some showbikes out and some test bikes for the public but nothing sold directly to the public. As for who is getting fired I will tell you it will be someone in Buell.... | ||
| Anonymous |
Someone out there is having lots of fun feeding incorrect information to unsuspecting BWB posters. Next rumor please. R | ||
| Anonymous |
Yeah, this misinformation stuff is pathetic, and soooo incorrect. It is especially sad when it erroniously points fingers at people from Buell making mistakes. Reality points: Firebolts will be at the dealers VERY soon; noone at Buell is going to be fired over the "delay"; Rd350, you are dropping into the league of the "235 Buells impounded in Califonia" dealer. | ||
| Jima4media |
And the correction information would be???? A word from the wise, would end all speculation. | ||
| Henrik |
Anon R: no worries  We're not that unsuspecting. Fun reading until it warms up enough for people to go riding and rid themselves of the "cabin fever". Henrik | ||
| Buellzebub |
could be a rumor... but heres my opinion on the belt situation in general. toothed timing belts really aren't designed for high torque low speed applications, so this may be a valid concern from the factory. i thought that the belt on the xb9r looked overly skinny for the proposed application. this is just an observation, ymmv | ||
| Rd350 |
Anonymous, Put out or shut up. You seem to know everything about Buell but never seem to step up to the plate when someone askes you too. Can't handle the truth..... | ||
| Court |
Rd350: There are LOTS of people who know LOTS more than they can say and, justifiably, are saying nothing except to say that those who are saying LOTS, know little. If I were REALLY telling the truth about the Firebolt, I'd say "you guys are the ones who DEMANDED an early "peek behind the curtain" saying that Buell should give us a glimpse as to what they were working on, even if it wasn't ready. You may recall that when the starry eyed dealers reported "November 2001" delivery that I said "late spring, early summer...at best". The FIREBOLT is a system. In addition to the motorcycle there are a myriad of things, literature, tooling, training, etc. to be produced. The bike will be sitting in dealers with hang tags when the team at Buell is done with that work. Frankly, the most accurate thing someone from the factory could say now?...."it's none of your damn business". That would be an accurate statement. If you can do a better job of running a motorcycle company, do what another friend of mine did, walk in quit, go to your barn and start one. Court | ||
| Davegess |
"If you can do a better job of running a motorcycle company, do what another friend of mine did, walk in quit, go to your barn and start one."  Court, couldn't agree with you more. I am still betting that each dealer will have a bike on the 27th. This sort of last minute firedrill happens on a regular basis at all the auto/bike manufacturers but since we are not so emotionally involved nor nearly as plugged in to the info pipe line at other manufactuers we don't realize they are happening. I recall a story about a FORD launch that was incountering dificulties with things slippping behind schedule. One morning the manager in charge announced that the salaried people on the project were going to be staying at work until the project was back on track. As he was making this annoucement the cots were being set up in the lunch room. The launch happened on time. Now things are different at Buell, no one has to order the staff to put in tons of extra time. Folks out there are in full "Damn the torpedos, full speed ahead mode". If it can be done it will be done. And it will be right. Everyone from the CEO of H-D down to the guy cleaning the toilets in East Troy is committed to making the bike right. Let's all just relax, hope it warms up soon, and when it's ready, ride the dam things. dave | ||
| Court |
Who took my job anyway? Court (Laughing.....we only have 30 years Buell experience twinxt the 2 of us.....and I am trying to remember the last time either of us ACCURATELY guessed the date of an actual Job 1) | ||
| Sarodude |
Court- You'll have to forgive those of us who are just plain dying to get our slobber on one of those bikes. I think you're just hearing the voices of frustrated, ANXIOUS future XB riders. I think most Buellists feel that BMC needs to put out a finished product. We all just wish they'd finish sooner! To the various Anons... Thanks for dropping some corrections our way as time and info permits. -Saro | ||
| Buelliedan |
I keep seeing all the references to East Troy. Is the Firebolt assembled/manufactured in East Troy even? Or is it being made in Kansas? | ||
| Lsr_Bbs |
If I were REALLY telling the truth about the Firebolt, I'd say "you guys are the ones who DEMANDED an early "peek behind the curtain" saying that Buell should give us a glimpse as to what they were working on, even if it wasn't ready. Life's a bitch when you get what you ask for [with unanticipated results]. Neil Garretson - and not saying a word X0.5 | ||
| Court |
Now THAT I'll accept as dead accurate...add my name to that list. Court | ||
| José_Quiñones |
 When life gives you lemons, make lemonade!! Thanks to the cool folks at Battlefield HD/Buell in Gettysburg, PA. I guess April 26th........ | ||
| Davegess |
Buelliedan All buells are currently assembled in East Troy WI. Parts come from pretty much every continent except Africa (and I wouldn't be surprized to learn that something came from there!) Dave | ||
| Buelliedan |
Dave, So what is being made in Kansas? Just the V-rod? Thanks!! |
