| Author | Message | ||
     Froggy |
Nice interview with Hero regarding the future of their partnership with EBR. http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/arti cle3251567.ece?ref=wl_opinion | ||
| Lemonchili_x1 |
Interesting stuff. I saw recently they bought into AVL too, who I'd never heard of until I read about the deal. | ||
| 86129squids |
Very cool article- thanks Frogs! Ducati eh? It'd be funny down the line if they bought MV/Agusta! | ||
| Glitch |
It'd be funny down the line if they bought MV/Agusta! Funny because I believe it's within the realm of reality.  | ||
| Rex |
The more I read about Hero and the tie in with EBR, this could be exciting. We might be able to get Buell type motorcycles at lower prices. Erik would want to make sure they are producing bikes that are up quality standards, plus producing the bikes in India could give us some Chinese Motorcycle type pricing. Maybe even some single cylinder bikes, some even small in cc size. Maybe even an 1190 S2 or S3 sport touring bike.. What would be cool, would be able to buy an 1190 bike in the price range that anyone could afford. Just hoping. Hero motorcycles, engineered by EBR..... | ||
| Firebolt020283 |
this to me seems like a double edged sword though. Do you really want EBR to turn into another run of the mill jap bike or for it to remain an american bike with awesome fresh ideas built here? I like that he went with Rotax instead of doing like Fischer motorcycles and going with a cheap crap engine. Have you guys looked at what Hero puts out as a motorcycle? they look awful and/ or out dated. http://www.heromotocorp.com/products | ||
| Court |
Sigh . . . so much to say. No place to say it. Read, study, know. >>>EBR to turn into another run of the mill jap bike Where the hell does that sort of internet gibberish come from? | ||
| Lemonchili_x1 |
If I'm understanding correctly what I've read in the articles, EBR will provide services for Hero, and AVL will do something similar hero-motocorp-partners-avl-engine-design-ponders-g lobal-domination, but I don't believe Hero is taking any financial stake in EBR. I guess this is not unlike the way Porsche and Lotus provide design and engineering services for other auto manufacturers. So I don't think you'll see any EBR's coming out of India, but there is a high likelihood that you'll see some Buell-like features in future Hero models. I'm guessing the most likely features will be parts that reduce weight and/or perform more than one function. The benefit for EBR? By taking on the design work for Hero, whether as a long-term contract or on a project by project basis, it will among other things allow EBR to increase their design staff numbers/payroll, and contribute to overheads, and allow EBR to grow that little bit quicker (or maybe a lot quicker). There might also be some benefits in buying power for components through Hero, but I'm guessing here. While EBR will have direct input into Hero products, I don't believe the opposite will be true. Have you guys looked at what Hero puts out as a motorcycle? Oh, come on, the Splendor NXG is pretty sexy with it's blacked out engine and wheels  | ||
| Doerman |
About AVL Steyer.. This company is the worldwide subject matter expert on development of power train and tooling for manufacturing. The most costly and highest risk in developing an automotive platform is the powertrain. This is why automotive and aviation manufacturers all over the world turn to AVL Steyer (with 75 years of experience) for successful delivery of concepts, prototypes and tooling of engines, About EBR. Recognized worldwide for innovation in developing and producing high performance two wheeled transportation. This expertise, coupled with a well connected worldwide component supplier network makes EBR uniquely poised to efficiently bring superior products to market. So when Hero parted ways with Honda, AVL and EBR stepped in to fill the void. It is as simple as that. Hero impresses me. They have ambition and seem to be agile for their size. Bringing Hero models to market in 12-18 months is a challenge (current models are Hondas). So they haven't screwed around and engaged the best of the best to meet their goals. What the future brings in terms of joint marketing and manufacturing with EBR, who knows. That would be speculation at this point. | ||
| 7873jake |
Wouldn't this give EBR the chance to bring lower cc bikes in to their lineup without having to R&D the heck out of a budget line item or develop a new "bleeding edge" department? I'm not familiar with the history of the Blast and what it cost (or took) to bring that to production but it seems to me that at this point, anything outside of the scope of the 1125/1190 Rotax-derived mill would be easier to develop/sell with Hero's help. Maybe I'm way off here (not unheard of) but I'm seeing entry level bikes, MSF fleets and smaller cc grassroots racing programs (in much the same way karting feeds 4-wheeled motorsports). And wasn't there an enduro or dirtbike on the drawing board(s) at Buell MoCo before things went dark there? We know EBR can't open shops as a stand-alone manufacturer with only a handful (or less) of models so wouldn't it stand to reason that a more well rounded product line that still allows East Troy engineering to focus on racing and the "Buellista" models (core product, larger cc models you or I might buy) while leveraging engineering, production and buying efficiencies of someone with a healthy grasp on an enormous economy of scale (Hero) to handle the lower end of the cc range makes sense in an attempt to become more than a secondary/tertiary brand in a larger dealership? | ||
| Rex |
Seems exciting to me. with the backing of Hero, Erik can do some neat things. Yes, with their buying and production power, individual parts can be accessed at a lower price. That can help EBR. Yes, with EBR helping Hero, their bikes can be better and more desirable. Yes, the money will help EBR in their development of their 1190 and other bikes. Yes, who knows, the 1190 motor might go into some bikes and sell in quantity, which would help with any EBR bike. You never know. Hero might like the 1190 motor, and want to work out a deal to help build street versions. Yes, and Erik and crew could work more on the Racing end. I think it is a positive. The roll out of the Hero name is in the marketing stages. Hero is not a bad name. I think it is a positive name. Some of the smaller Honda type motors would be welcome in todays economy. The chinese are trying to copy these. I think it is exciting and could help complete Erik's 200 year plan. Yes, a Car? hummmmmmm..... Low price machines coming into America could sell well, during these high gas prices. It may take the Japanese a while to catch up, if Hero is already ready to move. Just interesting. Love to watch the business and marketing end of this. | ||
| Barkbuster |
The biggest motor Hero produces is a 230cc single, hoping the EBR Hero deal can build the offroad enduro and a new Uly sooner than later! |
