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Cityxslicker
| | Posted on Sunday, October 25, 2009 - 06:46 pm: | 
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If its a dirt bike capable of riding out of the baja peninsula, and tested doing such, then yes.
Mexico has long been the source for cheap VW parts, you could always tell what was made in Mexico versus Brazil. but hey, the germans werent building the beetle anymore, so you had to get the parts from somewhere. You knew going into it that the fit, finish and quality wasnt there, but it was still better than trying to find salvageable parts at the junk yard. |
Xb9er
| | Posted on Sunday, October 25, 2009 - 07:11 pm: |
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}Erik builds great motorcycles, but they have a reputation of being unreliable. Building them in Mexico would nail the coffin shut.
I dont think that is a accurate at all. My 08 GMC Sierra is the best truck I ever had. |
Uncleron
| | Posted on Sunday, October 25, 2009 - 07:26 pm: |
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There is absolutely no reason that a high quality motorcycle could not be built in Mexico. The problem is that operations are moved to Mexico (or China, or India, etc.) to 'cut costs' so that criminal executives and wall street thieves can pocket more money for themselves.
I would much rather see my money go to the skilled workers who build my bike (regardless of their nationality) than the financial parasites.
I will continue to buy motorcycles that meet my needs (performance, practicality, reliability, etc.) regardless of where they come from. Harley Davidson has shown us the folly of slavish devotion to a brand or country of origin.
I will continue to ride my Buells because they are great motorcycles and I enjoy them. I will consider any future Buell bikes on their own merits; their country of origin will not be a determining factor for me. |
Lemonchili_x1
| | Posted on Sunday, October 25, 2009 - 07:56 pm: |
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"Because thats what Erik is talking to BRP/Can-Am about."
Really? Were you there?
Any more comments from the original thread starter? Do you really think they're going to shift MV Agusta to Mexico??????????
There's *rumours* about talks with BRP, and BRP already make some products in Mexico (I don't know details), so 1+1=7 and the new Buell will be in Mexico???
I would've thought Erik Buell's current priorities would include the livelihood of the Elves.
Having said that, Buell produce around 10,000 bikes a year using what I've heard is a unique production system and only 200 employees. They also have design, engineering, R&D and manufacturing in the same building (correct me if I'm wrong on that).
*Maybe* in the future when production has grown they might want to introduce a lower priced product to compliment made in the U.S.A. product - designed and engineered in East Troy but assembled outside the U.S. from parts by suppliers around the world. Something along the lines of someone like Fender guitars.
(If I liked the bike and I liked the price, I'd buy it) |
Tnm2
| | Posted on Sunday, October 25, 2009 - 08:36 pm: |
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Numerous Asian and German car manufacturers get high quality cars built for them in the southeast U.S.
Hey Erik! How about Tennessee built Buells? |
Madduck
| | Posted on Sunday, October 25, 2009 - 08:43 pm: |
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Curious rumour, I was asked if I had heard anything about Erik and Henry Duga running a significant race program built around 1125s. Sort of the Dick Obrien plan but more orientated to amateur road racing in US only. All that survives of Buell is 1125s and racing parts bin but enough left to keep parts up for the next seven years.
Stranger things have come true in the last few weeks. I am not sure Harley is going to sell Buell to anyone for the near future. Long term money situation is potentially bad, next few years are good to better than good. |
F_skinner
| | Posted on Sunday, October 25, 2009 - 08:53 pm: |
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Because thats what Erik is talking to BRP/Can-Am about.
What is your source? |
Gohot
| | Posted on Sunday, October 25, 2009 - 08:53 pm: |
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NO I would not buy anything knowingly from mexico |
X1whitie
| | Posted on Sunday, October 25, 2009 - 09:17 pm: |
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Nada senior speedy !! The only thing I buy from Mexico is salsa, that I know of !! |
Mr1spd
| | Posted on Sunday, October 25, 2009 - 09:28 pm: |
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Canada pays there workers well. I wouldn't have a problem with Canada but Mexico NO!!! |
2008xb12scg
| | Posted on Sunday, October 25, 2009 - 09:45 pm: |
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I don't think it matters if we would. M<ost of us already have A Buell. Would the new customers want to? As stated above Buells have A rep of being unreliable (warranted or not) Mexican products have the same rep. A big part of Buells appeal is the man and the amarican dream. I think it would be brand (Buell) suicide. Oh to answer the question why not I can't find a darn thing built here anyway |
Slamber777
| | Posted on Sunday, October 25, 2009 - 09:59 pm: |
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"You lost me at "chain drive."
l love that!
l've had chain drives most of my life. l don't miss the adjusting and nasty chain lube at all! Give me the belt any day. |
Toronto_s3
| | Posted on Sunday, October 25, 2009 - 10:12 pm: |
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In regards to further speculation about BRP. This is what I know. BRP covets MV Agusta and believes that it is a marque with world wide cachet that has been under marketed. Top office believes that MV should be brought down market with a line of bikes that include 600's and scooters. So imagine large displacement bikes are made in Italy or Spain, maybe Austria, scooters and small displacement bikes to be contracted out to be made in Asia. The business model they want to replicate is Piaggio with Aprillia, Vespa, Derbi, Moto Guzzi and what ever else Piaggio is into.
So imagine Can-Am ATVs made in Mexico, Buell sport bikes and dirtbikes made in Mexico, MV sport bikes and scooters made where ever. Everything gets Rotax developed engines which is really the whole point for BRP to get more Rotax stuff out there in the world.
How do I know this stuff? I'm working on 2011 Ski-doo stuff being shot up in Huntsville again in January. The same agency does the Can-Am stuff. |
Jim_williams
| | Posted on Sunday, October 25, 2009 - 10:15 pm: |
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I'm a baker. Somewhere along the line, someone started calling us "Artisan" Bakers. I guess it means we make quality products. Honest ingredients etc. I've always felt it was the loaf of bread at the end of the day that was important. Not to worried about labels, or, how it got there.
Machines never worked to produce a loaf of bread. Thing is, machines are just to rough on delicate, highly fermented, wet bread dough. No way a machine could handle that dough like human hands.
Fast forward to 2009. There are now machines that will process bread dough in a way humans never will be able to. That loaf of bread coming out of the oven can be better than it ever was. Fermentation, which is really responsible for that great loaf of bread can be controlled and manipulated in a way never possible with humans.
In the end, the bread is better, but, it wasn't produced, "by hand".
At the end of the day, do we want the best motorcycle, or, do we want an American motorcycle? If Buell can produce the best bike in the world, in Mexico, why the hell not?
We live in a very small world. Everything is from somewhere else. It's impossible to avoid. I love the fact that my Buell is American made, but, what's more important is that it is a bike that stirs my soul. In the 2500 miles I've owned this bike, I feel a connection to it that I've never felt in another motorcycle. If EB can continue to produce bikes that do that, he can produce them in Mexico. End product is all I care about. Yep. QC may be an issue. Hopefully, that is on top of his concerns. Time will tell. |
Cyclonedon
| | Posted on Sunday, October 25, 2009 - 11:12 pm: |
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the question:Would any of you guys buy a Buell if it was made in Mexico?
I don't know right now but I wouldn't say no either. But having Buells made in Mexico just wouldn't be the same for me.
When I first heard of Buell was in 1998 and I had drove to Uke's in Kenosha to look into purchasing a Harley. He had the small shop down on Hwy 158 and there wasn't any new Harley's available at that time while I was talking to Keith, he suggested that I take a test ride on one of his Buells. He told me that they were made locally in East Troy Wisconsin. I test rode a 1998 Buell Cyclone and purchased it.
I loved that motorcycle because it was my first American made motorcycle and I proudly promoted it everywhere I went as being a locally made motorcycle.
Five years after purchasing it, I was out riding on a Saturday in Southeast Wisconsin that just happened to be the Harley 100th anniversary weekend. I was getting gas at a station when some motorcycles came in and asked me if I was going to the Buell factory. I hadn't even thought about going there but since I was so close I decided to go and check out the factory.
That day forever changed my feelings for Buell, the factory tour was eye opening as to how a small motorcycle company could build motorcycles like they did. All the people that worked there truly loved what they were doing and it showed. Everyone I met was friendly and asked what kind of motorcycle I rode, they kept trying to get me to test ride the new 2003 XB9R's & XB's, but I declined. Erik was there and I was amazed to see a "down-to-earth" type of guy who built motorcycles with his name on them. I then discovered that it's the people that work there that make Buell the great motorcycle that it is!
In May of 2006 I purchased a XB12X Ulysses and have been to every Buell homecoming since! For those who have never visited the factory, it's truly sad to think that it is closing and you may never get to experience another East Troy factory tour again. I certainly hope I'm wrong about that! |
Luftkoph
| | Posted on Sunday, October 25, 2009 - 11:48 pm: |
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not even |
Milt
| | Posted on Monday, October 26, 2009 - 12:02 am: |
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"Canada pays there workers well"
Agreed.
The only thing that "Made in America" can mean these days is "assembled in America". The only thing that made Buell "American" is that that is was assembled in Wisconsin by respected, valued, well paid American workers.
It's clear that all of us here put some value on "American made".
What is the next best thing to an American made product? Are there other values associated with "American made" that can be generalized to a world market?
Just asking. |
Dbird29
| | Posted on Monday, October 26, 2009 - 01:17 am: |
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What if it was made on the Dark Side of the Moon?
These are hypothetical questions no? |
Danger_dave
| | Posted on Monday, October 26, 2009 - 06:29 am: |
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>>What if it was made on the Dark Side of the Moon? <<
Time + Money + Us & Them = Great Gig in the Sky. |
Dfishman
| | Posted on Monday, October 26, 2009 - 07:16 am: |
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Years ago,,,,when I went to the dark side of the moon............Don't know if I could handle that factory tour at my age.hehe |
Crackhead
| | Posted on Monday, October 26, 2009 - 07:30 am: |
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If the bikes would be made in Mexico, we would all have to get passports for home coming. |
Crusty
| | Posted on Monday, October 26, 2009 - 07:47 am: |
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The people on this board represent the Buell "Faithful". If there's this much ambivalence here about building the bikes in Mexico, how well will the idea be accepted by the general motorcycling public?
Back around '83 or '84, Harley was selling fewer bikes per year than Buell has been.(I seem to remember reading numbers around 5,000 units) They recovered, and moved up to become a major player in the industry. And they've done it with American Labor. The whole reason that they're in this mess, is not because Buell wasn't selling enough bikes; it's because H-D got a little too greedy and gave out sub prime loans to deadbeats who aren't making their payments.
Buell can build a decent motorcycle in this country using Americans who take pride in their work. If the company moves to a third world country to build bikes, they'll stand as much chance of selling me a bike as Hyosung does. |
B00stzx3
| | Posted on Monday, October 26, 2009 - 10:10 am: |
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+1 Crusty. The appeal just isn't Buell being the only "American Sportbike", it's that it's made by the greatest labor force in the free world; the American worker. While I'm sure some of the components of the Buell were made out of America (electronics?), Erik and probably 99% of Buellers would prefer it be made here, in East Troy where those guys have been making them forever. But a Maryland plant would be cool to  |
Fast1075
| | Posted on Monday, October 26, 2009 - 10:48 am: |
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And if your head explodes with dark forebodings too....I'll see you on the dark side of the moon.
(In my best Stewie Simpson voice)...Damn you all for the ear-worm....now it's Pink Floyd in my head all day...make it stop...make it stop.
I would still buy a Buell, no matter where they would be made... |
Blks1l
| | Posted on Monday, October 26, 2009 - 02:30 pm: |
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I may be one of the few out there to evan say this, but I have never been fond of the XB's to begin with, as I am a huge tuber fan. But at this time, if I were in love with the new model whatever it may be and it was assembled in Mexico, and was still an acceptable quality I would buy one. |
Jstfrfun
| | Posted on Monday, October 26, 2009 - 03:09 pm: |
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Enough of this country has been out-sourced. It's time to find a way to keep production here, we need a GNP again. |
99savage
| | Posted on Monday, October 26, 2009 - 08:28 pm: |
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Yeh, but !!
EITHER
1. Really, really cheap, quirky machine like Ural or Enfield. We would demonstrate our affection for it by the amount of time we spent keeping it running. -
OR
2. Really Hi Quality machine that costs less than HD but is way better - Have not seen any hi quality come from Mexico YET - BUT - 2 generations ago Japan was synonymous w/ crap. |
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