| Author | Message | ||
     Lemonchili_x1 |
In the latest issue of AMCN they state that according to sources in Austria, Bombardier "made an offer to acquire the design and manufacturing rights and production tooling of the two Buell-Rotax models and continue them under the Can-Am name". When the offer was turned down they returned with an offer to purchase the entire Buell operation "which Harley-Davidson once again rejected".  I'll post a scan of the article later on. | ||
| Oldog |
FTF  Will be interesting to read, better yet get Courts comments | ||
| Firebolt020283 |
HD is a bunch of idiots. They refuse to sell a bike we all want and yet they refuse to let anyone eles make it. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Does tend to add credence to the idea that this was much more than just a financial move. This was personal. | ||
| Firebolt020283 |
I hope the person who done this has there lifes work ripped from under them as well. | ||
| Danger_dave |
'Someone else' making Buells will rob Sportster sales. | ||
| Lemonchili_x1 |
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| Vampress |
has generated negative publicity detrimental to the companys image Damn straight it has and is being questioned by Harley stockholders And so it should. | ||
| Firebolt020283 |
I am almost positave no one looking at a 1125 is considering anything in the sportster line. Now if they was asking to buy the xb line maybe that would hold true. | ||
| Danger_dave |
Still comes back to they don't want their sales shot with their own ammunition. Gimme a better theory and I'll buy it. | ||
| 46champ |
Except if Harley were to sell the XB line they would have made money as the engine supplier and they possibly could have gotten rid of a large percentage of the warranty costs. | ||
| Indy_bueller |
Dave, I'm sure you are right. I'm sure they believed Buell would become a future competitor if they let it go. Think about it, how many people bought Ulys instead of some Harley cruiser? It may not have happened right now, but eventually Buell would have built something that competed against at least part of the HD product line. | ||
| Ulynut |
The whole thing sucks big hairy moose nuts. It's going to be interesting to see how Erik turns this around. | ||
| Woody1911a1 |
wondering if release of this info could possibly have legal ramifications for HD ? | ||
| Xb1200rick |
wondering if release of this info could possibly have legal ramifications for HD ? GOD I HOPE SO!!  | ||
| Elvis |
I think this is something that Harley absolutely did not want to become public and that's why there was so much secrecy immediately following the decision (with the lame excuse that Buell was "too integrated" and that's all they would say about it). Harley recognizes the PR ramifications of killing US jobs because of their fear of competition, so that gives us some, small amount of power. Raise this issue whenever people are talking about Harley Davidson. Let your friends know. Post it on forums and in the comment sections of online articles about Harley and Harley models. Remember how much damage opponents to DMG's management of AMA racing did by being vocal. If we can continue the drumbeat of how wrong it was for Harley to do this, we could tarnish their image in way that could force them to re-think their decision. If we can stay loud enough, the harm to Harley's image could cost them more than they would lose to BRP as a competitor. It's too late to keep the factory up and running, but they can still sell the rights and people can be re-hired and assembly can get back up and running in some form. | ||
| Elvis |
. . . and keep in mind to push the idea that this can still happen. Just venting frustration will not have as much power as saying, strongly and clearly, that you still expect Harley to do the right thing and you will continue to air this issue until they do. | ||
| Birdy |
I keep wondering why Erik only has a one year deal with H-D to build 1125s. Could H-D be looking to take a BIG tax write off this year and find a way to sell Buell next year? | ||
| Elvis |
Anyone on facebook? http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/photo.php?pid=1 03853&o=all&op=1&view=all&subj=20060875764&aid=-1& id=100000400354182 | ||
| Mtch |
why HD could not sell off the Buell factory with staff, stock, and a working production line is a puzzle. to say Buell is "too integrated" is crap in my opinion. (maybe wrong though). the 1125 models and their successors were the bikes that would have made Buell a bigger success i reckon. | ||
| Crackhead |
I have a feeling that Court will stay away from this topic. | ||
| Lemonchili_x1 |
"saying, strongly and clearly, that you still expect Harley to do the right thing and you will continue to air this issue until they do." Sounds good. Folks, if you're on facebook - post the image of the article up and share it around  | ||
| Oddball |
The NEW Can-Am Barracuda II. Bet that would have caused an increase in Pepto, Tums and any other antacid sales in the stores near Juneau avenue. | ||
| Diablo1 |
There is another way for Buell to get back in production. Rotax could buy HD with a hostile takeover, then sell off the HD part and keep the Buell part. Rotax probably would rather buy a bankrupt HD, because of greatly reduced legacy costs to the union and a wiping out of debt. | ||
| Ferris_von_bueller |
I don't believe it was a personal vendetta to scuttle Buell. If there were, why enter into an agreement with EB Racing ??? There can't be any money in it for HD, relatively speaking. Furthermore, EB isn't locked into HD forever, so; eventually, he will be free to do as he chooses. The end result will be the same as if HD had sold Buell to BRP, just delayed. I have a gut feeling we don't have all the pieces of the puzzle. Rest assured though, it all boils down to money. | ||
| Oddball |
Diablo1, With that vision you could see HD as the little brother afterward. For those that just have to go retro you keep a couple models around in limited production. "HD? HD what? I think you want the Best Buy down the street. They have lots of HD products. Oh, those old things? Right over there in the corner. Don't mind the dust, nobody's sat on them in years." | ||
| Just_ziptab |
BPR/Buell would be Harley's competition and they would loose Sportster sales. Competition is good. It brings us better products. Harley is too incompetent to compete. I was a dyed in the wool Harley guy for 30 years. Never bought into the lifestyle aspect of it. I'm not weak......I made my own lifestyle. I've lost respect for h-d in the last ten years. Lost it all in the last couple of years. FUHD! | ||
| Jasonnennig |
From what I know, the agreement with HD is only for one year then ?????? HD will still own the rights to Buell, so...If they want to sell it off or not, it is still totally up to them. I think unloading it to Bombardier would have been a good move for no other reason than PR and to save some jobs. Maybe HD will wise-up and do it, but....... (Message edited by jasonnennig on February 07, 2010) | ||
| Metalrabbit |
I just wonder if H-D thinks they can get under the "too big to fail" bailout umbrella. They are obviously going against they're own stock holders. This all smells too familiar,,,and sounds like that "Look for the Union Label" song. (Message edited by metalrabbit on February 07, 2010) | ||
| Aptbldr |
H-D discontinuing Buell seems a bad-move from multiple perspectives. H-D choosing not to sell the asset is not so obviously flawed: 1) Buells are good motorcycles with untapped development potentials. Holding is not a "zero" move. 2) Given its obsessive care of image, if H-D sold Buell it risks appearing 'weak'. What if buyer was from Dubai, or worse yet: Canada? |
