| Author | Message | ||
     Buellerthanyou |
From HD-Net: November 17, 2006 Buell Celebrates Production of 100,000 Motorcycles American Sport Motorcycle Manufacturer Rides Racing Roots to Major Milestone EAST TROY, Wis. (Nov. 17, 2006) – Buell Motorcycle Company today celebrates production of its 100,000th motorcycle, a 2007 Ulysses XB12X model, at its factory in East Troy, Wis. Buell Motorcycle Company, founded by Erik Buell in 1983, is the only American manufacturer of sport bikes. Starting with Erik’s dream of building his own racing motorcycles, Buell has evolved into a leading manufacturer of performance street motorcycles, with a majority of its sales in international markets. While seven Buell XB models in three distinct families and the Buell Blast are offered in 2007, Erik Buell began it all with the production of the RW750 model in 1983. That 750cc, two-stroke machine was a pure race bike designed specifically to compete in the AMA’s then-premiere Formula One roadracing class. After the AMA dropped the class in favor of Superbikes, Buell incorporated his innovations into the RR1000, the first model in a line of performance street motorcycles. Erik Buell was inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2002. "We take great pride in knowing we’ve provided 100,000 bikes worth of fun and unique experiences for our owners and loyal enthusiasts,” said Erik Buell, Chairman and Chief Technical Officer. “Reaching the 100,000-motorcycle milestone as the only American sport bike manufacturer is a real tribute to the riders and employees who have passionately supported Buell motorcycles over the years.” Buell plans to celebrate the 100,000-motorcycle milestone with its employees and other guests at its facilities in East Troy, Wis. A special ceremony will mark the production of the 100,000th Buell motorcycle as it rolls off the assembly line. Highlights of Buell’s product history include development of the RR1000, RR1200 and RS1200 sport bikes in the late 1980s, launch of the S2 Thunderbolt in 1994 and S1 Lightning in 1996, introduction of the M2 Cyclone in 1997, launch of the Buell Blast in 2000, introduction of the Firebolt and Lightning XB models in 2003 and the launch of the Ulysses XB12X in 2006. Buell Motorcycle Company, a subsidiary of Harley-Davidson, Inc., produces sport motorcycles, motorcycle parts, accessories and apparel. To learn more about Buell motorcycles, visit your local Buell dealer today and experience the pure streetfighter attitude, style and performance only found on board a Buell. Pull into www.buell.com for the Buell dealer nearest you. HellBuelly J "First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win." M2handas Gandhi | ||
| Daves |
Congrats Buell! | ||
| Greenlantern |
 Ditto! | ||
| Crusty |
Very, very cool! | ||
| Diablobrian |
Should be quite a party! Very impressive Elves. Be proud! | ||
| Rich |
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| Typeone |
CONGRATS  BUELL | ||
| Xbduck |
  | ||
| Bodyshot1 |
Congrats All!!  | ||
| Italicus |
Grande Erik  | ||
| Blake |
A true milestone for sure. Way to go Erik and Company! | ||
| Djkaplan |
That's a lot of bikes to autograph. | ||
| Bads1 |
A milestone it is. I remember Homecoming 2000. Does anyone remember the raffle for the signed by the whole factory M2 that you got tickets at the plant?? Well that was the 25,000th bike. 75,000 bikes in 6 years. MILESTONE !!!!! | ||
| Buell920 |
X 100,000 = very happy customers congrats Erik and all dedicated Buellers | ||
| Tramp |
Here's to the next 100,000 | ||
| Trippsta |
Keep em rolling!! Congrats to all, Thats a lot of iron.  | ||
| Rex |
Wow, what an accomplishment! 100,000 is a lot of bikes in any world. Cool. when is the date projected to build the bike and have the party? | ||
| Bads1 |
Rex the bike rolled off the line today and I think they are partying...... right about now....its quiting time.lol | ||
| Jscott |
Congratulations! I bet when those nifty 08's come out you'll sell a boatload more. I wonder what the break down is on model numbers? | ||
| Snub13 |
Sweet! | ||
| Blake |
Thanks J! And... AND COMPANY! YOU ALL ROCK! | ||
| Jlnance |
Wow, I've owned .003% of all Buells ever made. Congrats. | ||
| Dtx |
Good job Erik! Do you think he ever imagined making 100,000 bikes when he was working on his first one in his garage?? Talk about following your dreams.  | ||
| M2nc |
Congrats on 100K! I still want to know how the models break out. The Uly at least around here was a big hit at a Buell scale. That was a totally different yet the same bike. Though I loved the handling of the XBs, they were too small for the type of riding I wanted to do. To pull out my money, especially new bike prices, I had to have a more flexible motorcycle. An ST1300 was in my sights and it would have been mine if the Uly had not come out. The Uly though the same had many new components including a new frame, new swingarm, a new suspension, new tail piece with 12v plug and unique and new triple tail, new seat, new tires, new console with 12v plug, new flyscreen & windshield, new transmission, heavier flywheel for slow speed off-road functionality, new luggage at least for the motorcycle line and reinforced wheels. Buell did their homework when the Uly was designed and it was a hit for them. I think it was the perfect marriage of the V-2 HD Lump and Buell designs. A bike that is not all out sport, but an adventure bike that can chase any sport bike through the twisties while still being able to load the bags, the pillion and head cross country over hill and dale. Knowing that Buell is a small motorcycle company with limited resources it is tough for them to keep hitting home runs. The XB12STT is a snore to me. Somewhere I hope they have a market, but it is nothing new. The XB9SX was a bigger change. We have plenty versions of the lightning and I can not blame them for slicing and dicing them to increase there appeal, but they need to look at the market and start focusing each model differently. The Firebolt needs a fire-breathing monster motor. It must have at least 125hp but really the mark is closer to 140hp. If the firebolt had such a motor, it could keep up with any 600cc opened up, and lose them around town with the torque of a V-2. Look at the Daytona 675 for inspirations. With competitive horses and a torque advantage, for the street there is no better Super Stock. The Firebolt needs to be there too, then it will gain market share. The Lightning needs a variant of the same Fire-breathing motor for it to compete against the Ducatis and Speed-Triple. If it had such a motor it would gain market share. Though the lightning should also retain the present V-2 motor as the less-expensive model. Tweak more power out of it and share the motor with the Uly. Both bikes already do well in their markets. Just some good old fashion improvements every 2-3 years. They should be looking at BMWs new R1200R as a target. That bike is a monster kill, well at least the motor anyway. Okay lets not forget the lowly Blast. As the BMW GS has the FS, so should the Uly have a Blast variant with 600cc single, FI, weighing no more than 400# Dual Sport. A stretched Blast similar to the stretched Xb Uly with competent on/off road suspenders. Larger but yet accessible to the shorter rider (ie female) and excellent all day ergos with wind protection at least to a Buell level. The engine should hit the 50hp mark and price point should be around $7K. On top of working on the product at least here in the US they need to work on the Dealership network. They are terrible. I am lucky to have a good Buell dealership in my neck of the woods but most parts of the country do not. Many HD Dealers curse the Brand and staunchly refusing to work on Buells. I have personally heard HD dealer employees making comments like "Harley Wannabees" and "Quirky bikes that are hard to work on" With Breath en in your ranks costing you sales like that you need to distance yourself from them. The is the flip side of this is no better. Your potential new Buell customer, especially the new ones looking hard at the Uly, are coming off Triumphs, BMWs, and Japanese brands. Most do not like Harleys and the "Lifestylers" They rather take a beating than walk into Biker Meca. When they finally do drum up the gumption to walk into a Harley dealership, they are ignored, sent on test rides with bike that are not set up properly and most have more information about the product than the "Salesman" that is somewhat if at all helping them. It amazes me that Buell has sold as many bike in the US as it has. Solution to me is either shape up the HD dealers or remove Buells from them and have other dealers carry the brand. I have often stated that Buell would do very well in BMW dealerships. They are less expensive so the two makes would complement themselves. I think around my neck of the woods Super-dealers like Britt Motorsports would do very well with Buell side by side other sport bikes. A well trained salesman that knows the strengths of the brand could easily seat any rider that wants a bike that can handle but does not want a crotch rocket because they do not want to go triple digits on the street and want something more streetable. Last problem is insurance. At least in my neck of the woods insurance is out of sight on all Buells including the lowly 34hp Blast. A "Sport Bike?" No, a good handling Naked bike that at least at my home dealership is very popular among women. But many end up on 883 Sportsters because the more expensive 50hp Sportster insurance rate is half to a third that of the Blast. Well these are my suggestions to lessen the time to the next 100K Bike milestone and it may be worth 2˘. Then again, maybe not. |
