I wouldn't say that Rat. Bombardier here in my town just hit 60 blue color workers and 40 white color workers two days ago. This plant here employees about the same as Buell. This can hit anywhere right now.
I could see if things really got bad the Moco selling or scrapping it to save themselves. MV would also be on that list. Bet the Moco could use that MV cash now.
Here we use a kneeboard (designed to be towed behind a boat) and ski goggles and hit up the public roads. Regularly hitting 60/65 MPH's. It's great fun and we don't get to do it often enough.
Harley-Davidson has had plenty of opportunities to dispatch Buell and made a bundle . . . they are invested in Buell for the long run, are making money on Buell and making more money on the things that Buell has brought to Harley-Davidson.
Cutting off one's nose to spite the face has long been recognized as unwise.
2009 will likely be a tough year. HD sales are pretty good for 2008 BUT they book a sale when it ships to a dealer. There seems to be pretty much inventory at dealers so these dealers will want less bikes next year.
That said HD has a lot of cash and has already cut production and likely will do so again. The cash is the key, look at Ford they are losing money but don't want a bailout as they has access to CASH. Cash in hand will help H-D weather the storm in fine fashion.
As a result Buell, which would not be easy to sell in this economy and has been profitable (may actually have better numbers in 2008 that then H-D), will be just fine.
Of course all bets are off if we can't get this economy moving in the next 12 months.