| Author | Message | ||
     Ka5ysy |
Well folks, the party is over officially: http://www.buell.com/en_us/company/ | ||
| Froggy |
I take it you don't come on here much  | ||
| Ogritherat |
Here is my letter to Mr Erik Buell Mr Erik Buell Buell Motorcycles 2815 Buell Drive East Troy Wisconsin 53120 U.S.A. Dear Mr Buell BUELL XB RANGE AND BUELL FACTORY CLOSURE I sincerely hope you will find time in your busy schedule to read this letter. It was with extremely sad emotion and utter shock that I saw your announcement when I visited the Buell.com website a few days ago. In the 35 years I have been involved in motorcycling as rider, journalist, radio presenter and ambassador for motorcycling this was a first that I heard that large and successful company such as Harley Davidson could make such a HEARTLESS decision to close the most unique and ultimately eccentric motorcycle company in the word. A decision NOT based on LOSSES but on the fact the “HARLEY DAVIDSON did not MAKE ENOUGH profit. In the words of their own spokesperson. HD makes more dollars for every dollar spent in HD bikes than in Buell and MV Agusta and with a PROFIT of $237 million therefore decided to CLOSE Buell and sell its Italian interests”. Now I want to know how a company with a 105+ years old legacy with HD engines and quarter of a century of building Buell motorcycles of which 99% carry HD engines can make such a heartless, stupid, decision without thinking of the consequences. Are American people really that SHORT sighted ? Do they really NOT realize that the future of all vehicles lie with alternative fuels, lighter more fuel efficient bikes and better handling, ingenious designs such as what BUELL brought to the market ??? I am stunned that a big corporate company can be so OUT OF TOUCH with its own customer base. BIKERS ! What fat cigar smoking walrus takes such short sighted decisions ? As a rider I disagreed totally with your ambition to go racing and using Rotax engines. yes that must have cost a lot do fulfill that ambition. It could have cost youthe company? Was it worth it ? NO In stead of closing the whole factory, HD should have just dropped the Rotax engined bikes....They are NOT American at all and most riders must have felt that way from the start...or you would have sold more 1125's ! IT was not a Buell that took AMA Thunderbikes....it was a Rotax of 1125cc against 600's. Not much of a fair race....lets face that one ! If I wanted a Rotax powered bike I would have bought an Aprilia. The 1125 was ugly anyway. bad desing with UGLY looks and loads of plumbing to look at in stead of a nice engine like an LC8 or a Triumph Thunderbird...no just plumbing and weird radiator scoops....Totally un-American. Now the HD engined XB range....that was ooooozing sexiness, unique technology and that wonderful old push rod Engine ! Wow ! A visual feast that spoke to riders’ hearts. If a bike does not speak to your heart..even if it can go 350km/h...Its not a winner. Another mistake: Selling Buells in HD dealerships where salesmen are prejudiced towards sport bikes and much more into selling HD cruisers...BIG mistake. Those two do not mix well. As with HOG, there should have been BOG (Buell owner’s group) and separate outlets with people that want to sell SPORT bikes and Street fighters. They could share work shops but the outlets even with shared floor space should have been branded separately with much larger focus on BUELL’s merchandising....no but the HD fat cats sat back, counted money on a recipe that worked. No challenge here....just improve the 300kg+ fat slow machines....Forget about the young dynamic market out there ! and now ? Big mistake to close down Buell ! Alternatively, the BUELL name could have been dropped in favor of the HD name on the XB range. Just a name change. A nice sport bike and naked and adventure range...BUT please no Rotax engines ! The HD engined XB range had so much potential. The bikes could have been developed to have 6 speeds, better cooling, maybe even liquid cooled heads. Delivering 105bhp was at this stage more than enough. Development with fuel injection and maybe larger framed, more pillion friendly Lightning-GT range (sport tourers would have sold well. Lower seat height and more like standard nakeds that other manufacturers offer...or even a fully faired 12XT with 2 oil coolers to address heat problems. Different routed header pipes for the tourers hat carry heat away from rider’s legs....Why why why close a factory if HD is still making a profit ??? Yes, tell me its economics and I know nothing about that but ...... recessions and bad economic times means ONE thing only....Good growth and good times lie ahead ! That is a fact as old as the Roman empire ! I, as a rider own a Buell Ulysses as one of my bikes. Now worth nothing. An early 2006 model. One of the “original” XB12X models. I will keep on riding it as I love it to bits...Just sad that I will NEVER buy a Harley Davidson ever again. No not even a cruiser when I am 70 ! I will rather go with a company that is in touch with its riders, such as TRIUMPH. Now you can go learn something from the British ! All the best with selling out the 135,000 Buell riders that were and are and current riders that now sit with bikes that are extinct...not because of HD making a loss...no because they are not “making enough”...How greedy...inhumane and heartless....! And I have not even started mentioning the large industries of spares, parts, accessories and all that, that is built around a brand name ! No Erik, NO ! How could you. Orgi South Africa | ||
| Blackm2 |
So..you're trying to tell a guy that has raced, built bikes, the way HE has wanted, built a business for 26 years, what his mistakes were, and what he should have done? What exactly do YOU do for a living? Pretty ignorant letter I must say. | ||
| Toecutter |
I hope that this letter never makes it to Erik. | ||
| Masbuell |
Ogritherat I will start with, if English is not your first language I give you some slack. If English is your native language I have to call Good Old American BS on your post. You claim to be a Journalist in the MC industry. If true, your boss is vary lax and/or illiterate. Your post in nearly incoherent, and devoid of facts and misses the gist of what is going on here completely. Erik did NOT make the decision to shut down Buell. If you can't keep up take notes. I could go on critiquing but there is not enough correct there to correct. BTW - If your Uly is "Now worth nothing" please send it to me and I will give it a good home. I've been trying to save for a Buell for quite some time now. Thank you. | ||
| Trevharding |
I have no issues with whar Orgi says about HD and large companies, however it is the last 6 words that don't make sense. Like "Masbuell" says it wasn't his choice to do this. | ||
| Gohot |
Well cool....now you have an INSTANT CLASSIC... | ||
| Spiderman |
Way to kick a man when he's down Orgi! Now I see that you only have one post, why don't you go trolling elsewhere? | ||
| Tnxbrider |
Orgi... What a Freakin idiot... I had to quit reading about ramble midway into the story because your thoughts differed so very much from my own. I was with your concerns until you hit racing and Rotax motors... So Orgi, I can't spell it but if you'll put your tongue between your lips, clamp down and blow... I think it will come out something like... SPLIBTHthththt! Signed Sad & Proud Buell Owner, Rider and Racer. T | ||
| Court |
Orgi: If you have really been involved in motorcycling for 35 years and are really a journalist then you'd not have erred on so many facts. I now see why South Africa is considered a Third World Nation. Court | ||
| Limitedx1 |
ummm how can this guy say what american is???? sorry to point you out but your statements carry no weight... | ||
| Andymnelson |
lol @ "I now see why South Africa is considered a Third World Nation." |
