| Author | Message | ||
     4cammer |
So I was putting my 9R away for the winter (Chicago area, and 1st snow today) and I finally realized that nowhere on my bike does it state "Made in the USA" What gives? I know on the older XB's and all of the tubers the country of origin was proudly displayed on the tank and the timer cover. Why the change? Mr.Buell, you make the only bike I want, in the country I spent some time defending. Let everyone know where it comes from. | ||
| Xbimmer |
From what I understand, too many parts NOT made in the USA. Let's see: Frame, lighting: Italy. Suspension, various electrics, brakes: Japan. Wheels: CHINA! (for cryin' out loud...) Exhaust: Austria. Seat and lots of other stuff: Taiwan. Probably more but I'm getting bummed thinking about this. The bikes are made here, just not a lot of the parts, by our laws then they're not "American Motorcycles." BS... they're American as anything else. I hear the 1125R has an American-made frame, maybe like firearms if the frame is made here then it's USA all the way, regardless of the other components. | ||
| Ducxl |
  | ||
| Court |
Your Buell is made from the best parts in the world. Think of it as the difference between winning the Olympics and winning a race at a high school in Indiana. | ||
| Az_m2 |
My Uly proudly displays "American Motorcycles" right on the tank. | ||
| Hammer71 |
If the parts are sourced from other countries it should read Assembled in America. Long gone are the days when American hands build an entire vehicle... or anything else for that matter. It's as close as we're going to get and they have my loyalty so..... | ||
| Brumbear |
every time you start it ride it and or park it your Buell says it you are just not looking in the right places. | ||
| Ducxl |
Why are Honda motorcycles badged as "Made in USA"? Do they actually meet the FTC requirement of 70% domestic content? Why should we accept that parts are to be out-sourced and are somehow "good" for us? I know,i know,i'm a hater for never accepting Chinese rims over those fine PMs' (Message edited by ducxl on November 22, 2007) (Message edited by ducxl on November 22, 2007) | ||
| 4cammer |
The off-shore sourced parts do not bother me and I was already aware of their use. No big deal. Nice to see that the 1125R is using a frame sourced from my home state though. Going to have a local sign company cut me some "American Motorcycles" decals to put on my "tank" like the '95 Thunderbolts had. Anyone have the part number for a 2002 XB timer cover? And I agree, a new set of spun aluminum PM's would look so bitchin on my XB. Love how they look on the tubers and especially the older XR750's. | ||
| Jimduncan69 |
"Wheels: CHINA! (for cryin' out loud...)" don't worry they will be fine. just don't eat them they might have led paint on them.....lol | ||
| Jaimec |
DucX1: Depends on the model of Honda. For example, the GoldWing is manufactured and built primarily right here, with only a few imported Japanese components. The GoldWing probably has more American-made parts than any other mass-produced motorcycle you can buy (and yes... that includes Harley Davidson). The Shadows and VTX bikes may also fall into this category, I'm not as familiar with those models. This all goes back to the days of the "Harley Tariff" on imported motorcycles over 700cc. With the dollar falling as low as its done, it is now considerably cheaper to build them here than to ship them here. | ||
| Xb984r |
VTX engines are built in Ohio,although I was told probably for not much longer. | ||
| Kuuud |
Erik was asked that question at Homecoming last year. He responded by saying something like the following... Does Ducati say 'Italian Motorcycles' on the tank? Does Honda say 'Japanese Motorcycles' on the tank? He went on to explain that most everyone in motorcycling knew where Buells came from and the need for the extra lettering on the tanks had passed. | ||
| Xl1200r |
I almost think it's better that it's not brazened all over the bike. I'm proud of what I own because I like it, and I know what it's all about. If some guy walking down the street wants to know, he'll ask. If some kid assumes it's something other than American, what do I care? My bike impresses me, and that's all it needs to impress. And girls when I'm single. | ||
| Doughnut |
Do the new Buells not say, "American Motorcycles" , on the "tank"? | ||
| Xl1200r |
Do the new Buells not say, "American Motorcycles" , on the "tank"? No. | ||
| Doughnut |
BUELL SHIT For me that was a badge of honor!!!! Bring that shit back!!!! | ||
| Doughnut |
NOW !!!! (Anoy, read this!!!!!) | ||
| Rubberdown |
I'm thinking the "American made" label had to be pulled due to regulations requiring that a certain percentage of the the product must be from American origin. The newer Buells (XB and on) seem to be more of a world bike. I think such regulations were promulgated after Wal-Mart had a big "American-Made" campaign, a few years ago, where they were promoting many products in their stores as being American made when in fact the products were mostly foreign content (Message edited by rubberdown on November 23, 2007) | ||
| Ducxl |
Doughnut,to bring it back would be violating US trade law.You see,there are stacks of COSCO containers bound for BMC that prevent the "Made in USA" or "American Motorcycles". | ||
| Jaimec |
Now if only I could convince people the Jets and the Giants are NEW JERSEY teams, and the only team in New York are the Bills... | ||
| Ducxl |
The Meadowlands...yup | ||
| Anonymous |
It is gone for good. And it has nothing to do with content of US parts. It was there for a while to make the point of who we were, starting in the days when people thought Buells were "Eye"talian (to quote an astute observer who was explaining the bike to his friend) or German imports. But those days are gone. Kawasakis don't have "Japanese Motorcycles" on the tank, BMWs don't have "German Motorcycles" on the tank, and Ducatis don't have "Italian Motorcycles" on the tank. In 2007 we decided it was time for the brand just to be what it is, a Buell motorcycle. | ||
| Buellinachinashop |
I don't think the FTC would allow the 1125R to be branded as an American motorcycle. "It is gone for good." What about the logo that's on helmets, decals, apparel, etc.? | ||
| Court |
The FTC has no more to say about having "AMERICAN MOTORCYCLES" on the tank than they do Prego selling ITALIAN SAUCE or Toys-R-Us selling CHINESE CHECKERS. They, or course, could intervene is it said "MADE IN USA" and it failed to meet certain requirements. I am not convinced (not saying no, simply saying I DON'T know) that Buells run afoul of FTC branding on that point either. I presume it would matter how you counted content . . . does, for example, the "cost" of building a motorcycle include ratable allocation of advertising and promotion costs, amortized engineering costs. . . Again . . .I am not taking a position. But as an accounting graduate (albeit 1978) and a person with lots of experience in construction job cost accounting . . . I'd not be too quick to make any presumptions. I suppose some one has the time and interest sufficiently picqued to investigate. . . . I'd rather ride.  | ||
| Jaimec |
It's all ridiculous if you ask me. A Chrysler built in Mexico is an American car, but a Honda built in Ohio is an import. The bike was conceived and designed by an American who works for an American-owned company. The bike is assembled at a factory in America, and the VIN indicates it is American made. Or did you forget the first character in the VIN indicates the country of origin? Oh yeah... My "import" Subaru was built in Indiana... | ||
| Buellinachinashop |
"They, or course, could intervene is it said "MADE IN USA" and it failed to meet certain requirements." EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED are the two key words the FTC goes by. You cannot imply that something is american made any more than you can say it if the product isn't made here. "American Motorcycles" definately implies they're made in the U.S. "For a product to be called Made in USA, or claimed to be of domestic origin without qualifications or limits on the claim, the product must be "all or virtually all" made in the U.S. The term "United States," as referred to in the Enforcement Policy Statement, includes the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. territories and possessions. What does "all or virtually all" mean? "All or virtually all" means that all significant parts and processing that go into the product must be of U.S. origin. That is, the product should contain no — or negligible — foreign content."" (Message edited by buellinachinashop on November 23, 2007) (Message edited by buellinachinashop on November 23, 2007) | ||
| Buellinachinashop |
"VIN indicates it is American made" No, the VIN implies where the bike is assembled and shipped from, not that its American made. | ||
| Birdy |
Boeing has been out sourcing parts from all over the world for years, largest plane builders in the world, sorry Airbus. So parts for the Buell are made around the world BIG DEAL It was designed here and put together here. IF buell was building a 100% American Bike do you even want to THINK about what'd it cost? $20,000...$30,000? Remember, tires, shocks & Fork. All the electronics. I think Erik and his merry madmen have done a wonderful job of blending American design & world supply to brings us our toys myself at a price we can afford. | ||
| 07xb12scg |
Long gone are the days when American hands build an entire vehicle... or anything else for that matter. That can be said for virtually any product from virtually any country. It all comes down to the money and companies are fed up with overpaying unskilled workers, among many other things. |
