| Author | Message | ||
     Dalefranks |
Mostly hogwash . . . . . I know better than to take this bait. So, if you don't mind my asking, why did you erase it here, then come over to my blog to re-post it? | ||
| Crusty |
I've been listening to this kind of shit for over a decade. You have your head up your ass. | ||
| Aptbldr |
Change is consistent in Buell motorcycle's financial history. Wonder what it'd cost to buy H-D's 49% ? I'd want to own that Buell, too. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
"Small minded" is to have the idea that in order to be a "real" sport bike it must be a race bike first and a street bike second. Most 600 and 1000 race derivatives are garbage for the street. Great track bikes but they suck ass for the street. So by your estimation, the ONLY legitimate bike Buell should have built would have been an IL4 600 or 1000? You DO know the history of engine of development with Buell, right? You do know that the original intent was to use the VR1000 motor but HD moved a different direction with its development. In that, I guess you could say that HD "throttled" Buell's development. You might also say that it was HD who granted permission for Buell to look outside of HD for a new engine as early as 2005. They didn't grant Buell the ability to go find a stock engine someone else produced but rather design their own from clean sheet. Given that freedom Buell elected to produce a V-Twin, the optimal engine for Buell (in Erik's own words). BMW is a "successful" motorcycle company and until the S1000RR didn't have a "real" sport bike. Triumph had a "real" sport bike and didn't race. A "real" sportbike isn't one that is designed for the track and then de-tuned for the street. A "real" sport bike is one that has adequate power for it's intended purpose with handling and braking to match. I doubt those thousands of folks who have owned, ridden, and RACED XB platform bikes for the last 8-9 years feel their bike isn't a "real" sportbike. I doubt those thousands of folks who have owned and ridden the Ulysses feel their bike is "throttled". Your narrow viewpoint is that the only "real" sportbikes are those that start for the track and are converted to street use. Your narrow viewpoint is that the only "real" sportbikes are those that contain an IL4 600 or 1000 engine. If Buell produced an IL4 powered bike as their ONLY bike, I'd stop buying Buell tomorrow. I bought a Buell because it WASN'T just like EVERY other Big 4 offering. Most people who own Buells feel the same. So the key to Buell being successful is for Buell to try to out Japanese the Japanese? I applaud you defending your article, but I don't think you'll find many buyers for what you are selling. It's the equivalent of describing the benefits of the KKK on the NAACP website chatboard. | ||
| Steve_mackay |
The Thunderstorm motor WASN'T EB's first choice Nope, and it was his 2nd choice either  It was actually the Suzuki TL1000 motor(that is, after HD kinda killed the VR1000 motor for sportbike use). There was a test mule tuber running around East Troy with a TL1000 motor back in '97-'98 IIRC. I know the guy(and so does Bads1)that ended up with the TL1000 motor from that bike I think Buell threatening to use a Suzuki engine helped push HD to buy the majority shares of Buell back in '98. | ||
| Damnut |
Most 600 and 1000 race derivatives are garbage for the street. Great track bikes but they suck ass for the street.  You didn't write that with a straight face did you? | ||
| Buellinachinashop |
In all honesty, I've heard the same things this guy has. Almost exactly. We've all met EB at some point, had a chance to speak with him on occasion, Court being an actual employee of his will obviously know more than us. He seems nice, but we don't work for him, I've been told that if you disagree with Erik Buell, be ready for proof to back up your argument or pack your bags. I've been told he's a very difficult guy to work with and a very difficult guy, in Harley circles, to deal with. I've been told by folks at HD that the money has nothing really to do with them wanting to dump Buell, and that Erik Buell is the main reason they want out of the relationship. There's alot of folks both in upper management and in the ranks who look at him as a "wacko". Those aren't my words, they're what I've heard. I say this, that "wacko" has built one hell of a bike in the 1125r and it would be a huge mistake for HD to drop the Buell line now that its a proven race winner. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
You didn't write that with a straight face did you? Compared to the ease with which even a novice rider can draw performance out of a Buell platform (V-Twin), yeah. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
 Wacko? OR  Wacko? | ||
| Buellinachinashop |
One helped to bring a company back from the dead, one brought a company to life. Sad thing is, HD is probably looking to get rid of both. (Message edited by Buellinachinashop on September 09, 2009) | ||
| Firebolt020283 |
I like and respect both men. Also I think both have had some cool ideas when it comes to motorcycles. I mean Willie G did come up with the cafe racer sportster. I hope that "if" H-D does get rid of Buell that Buell continues to make motorcycles. I believe in Buell whole heartedley, I think with out H-D buell would not be around today but now that they have done the things they have if need be I believe Buell could survive on its own today, the only problem I would see if they left buell is finding a replacement engine for the air cooled bikes. Say what you will but there are people who like the air cooled Buells and probably do not want to trade them for a liquid cooled bike. I personally like both and would love to own both for different reasons. If Buell could find someone to produce a good replacement for the xb engine I do not see any reason they could not exist on there own. If Buell does go solo I will be trying everything i can to become a dealer. All this said I do not believe that H-D is fixing to get rid of Buell anytime soon. | ||
| 4cammer |
Erik Buell did in ONE year what HD could not do w/the VR1000 program in what, seven or eight years? And his bike is sold here, not (only) in Poland. That has to really hurt.... As for Willie G, his last original design in my eyes was his best. The XLCR. | ||
| Buellinachinashop |
the VRSC wasn't original? | ||
| Cyclonedon |
One helped to bring a company back from the dead, one brought a company to life. Sad thing is, HD is probably looking to get rid of both. their names are written all over their product so I can't believe that Harley-Davidson would even consider getting rid of either one! I still think that Buell Motorcycle Company could be sold because there could certainly be a nice profit in the sale for Harley-Davidson and for companies today, it's all about making a profit! | ||
| Bill0351 |
"So the key to Buell being successful is for Buell to try to out Japanese the Japanese?" I think the key is to have Buell outperform the Japanese, or at least outcool them. Harley dominates the cruiser market because they outcool anything the Japanese throw at them. I don't have any statistics or research to back this up, but it seems to me that perceptions about potential performance sell more motorcycles than the actual needs of the rider. Image sells bikes, and right now Buell hasn't established an image that sells a ton of machines. With the current ad campaign, it's obvious that Buell is trying to change that. I hope they do. | ||
| Buellinachinashop |
First thing that came to mind when I heard that Buell could be sold? Bombardier. | ||
| Firebolt020283 |
I think the biggest thing that just happened that might make them seem "cool" to people now is the fact that they are NATIONAL CHAMPS I mean look at how many squids ride gixxers and were Mladin replica gear because of him being a champ. When I was ridding jap bikes I do not know how many times people would say suzukis are the best because of his success, so this could be a big marketing boost in the eyes of the squid crowd. | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
Bombardier.... now that would be something! | ||
| Firebolt020283 |
BRP Buell. That could be cool, I mean they do not have a sport bike company of there own. | ||
| 4cammer |
"the VRSC wasn't original?" Yeah, kind of forgot about that line of HD's. The exterior frame is pretty cool. And my comment in regards to Willie G was not meant to be a slam. HD does what it does as they know anything different will most likely not sell too well. They have ample history to prove just that. | ||
| Buellinachinashop |
"BRP Buell. That could be cool, I mean they do not have a sport bike company of there own." They'd most likley martket it as Can-Am Buell. Put it in the Spyder family of performance machines. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
The V-Rod has NEVER been embraced as a Harley. | ||
| Firebolt020283 |
I don't think they would do that BRP is good about keeping there companies apart from each other except rotax which all of the other companies need to be able to run. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Watch the S1000R and see how well BMW is able to out Japanese the Japanese. The sad thing is that the Big 4 don't been see the US as a primary market. How many models do the offer elsewhere that they don't offer here? | ||
| Liquorwhere |
The V-Rod has NEVER been embraced as a Harley. I am just curious, I got my first Harley in 1974, my dad got his first in 1952, I was raised on them, my uncle was a 1%er and my grandfather died on a motorcycle in Colorado, I have never been without a Harley from that time to now, I even sold the product for a while......when did you become such a expert on HD?......from a few months of working at a dealership? I have personally owned 42 HD products. 42. I still own, not counting the X1, three. Right now. I am just curious..... | ||
| Bads1 |
Bombardier???? I doubt it very much. They are hurting big time in the Marine Industry. The Plant here in Racine has a skeleton crew and they got rid of 80% of the work force here with no call back. My next door neighbor has been off 9 months now. She has been there since they dropped anchor in Racine. | ||
| Buellinachinashop |
Actually, it would make even more sense for BRP to buy Buell now. Diversify away from soft marine sales. | ||
| Firebolt020283 |
The good thing is they already make half of Buell's engines already so I do not think it would be too hard for them to make a replacement engine for the xb bikes. I have been reading about BRP just now and they use the word "innovation" a lot and that is something buell is all about as well. I think buell would be a perfect fit with BRP. (Message edited by firebolt020283 on September 09, 2009) | ||
| Fast1075 |
Buell-AM? Can-Uell?? | ||
| Bads1 |
I don't know. We'll have to see what materializes first. It could all be bad rumor and speculation. |
