| Author | Message | ||
     Jsimpkins |
This might be old news, but I just heard it. MV Agusta being bought out by Harley? Haven't seen any post on it yet. I did see however, a $120000.00 MV Agusta F4 at the local shop. I almost sat on it, unknowing that it was said gold plated "master piece". Looked like every other sport bike to me. It was quite comically as the sales slime and store manager come flying out of the offices...lights going off, sirens, panicked customers...."please step away from the bike..." Oh, I said, that carbon fiber is real...not just one of those stupid stick on fake things. If true, what is Harley going to do with two performance motorcycle lines? j- | ||
| P_squared |
Been covered here already. Quick links based on a quick search below. http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/406 2/376852.html http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/406 2/367634.html http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/348 043/376681.html http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/142 838/375383.html | ||
| Redbuelljunkie |
They are expanding their lucrative European market, and gaining well known stylists/designers. It's a smart move for them. Don't count on seeing H-D badged MV's. | ||
| Teddagreek |
I could see stand alone dealerships... MV Agusta Buell Cagiva | ||
| Swordsman |
I would love.... LOVE.... to see H-D say, "Erik, you've been very, very patient. MV Augusta is all yours. Run with it." I don't think it'll happen, but wouldn't it be AWESOME? ~SM | ||
| Redbuelljunkie |
Absolutely! That way, I'd finally be interested in an MV because it would have a V-TWIN! | ||
| Diablo1 |
I would love.... LOVE.... to see H-D say, "Erik, you've been very, very patient. MV Augusta is all yours. Run with it." I don't think it'll happen, but wouldn't it be AWESOME? ~SM In 2007, the MV Agusta F4 312 won the Masterbike competition against all other bikes. Maybe they should wait until one of the Buells wins a Masterbike before putting Erik in charge of MVA. Actually, HD already put one of their parts and accessories guy in charge of MGA.} | ||
| Kttemplar |
Interestingly enough, this is the second time Harley has owned MV Augusta, sort of. It took full owner ship of Aermacchi (Aeronautica Macchi) in 1974 and then sold it to Cagiva (later restructuring in 1999 to become MV Augusta) in 1978. Mike | ||
| Buellborn |
That would make little since to put Agusta under Buell direction. They are WAY different schools of thought. But, Buell could likely benefit from studying some of the Italian methods in design. | ||
| Doerman |
But, Buell could likely benefit from studying some of the Italian methods in design. Why? Buell is already a fantastic bike at 1/2 the price of an MV Agusta | ||
| Buellborn |
Price is not directly connected with style. The Italians seem to have a knack of making even the simple things seem like art with beauty. | ||
| Doerman |
There's the key word - style. There's elements of the F4 I like very much others I am less enamored with. I can say the same about my Buell or any other bike. When I am riding my 1125R the bike disappears under me. That says everything to me. | ||
| Court |
Interesting discussion. Never watch the hand . . . . (Message edited by court on August 16, 2008) | ||
| Reepicheep |
I think Buell could learn a lot from studying Italian design, and suspect they already have. And I bet they have learned a lot from Japanese design, American design, Austrian design, German design, French design, English design, etc. Buell could bring a lot to MV as well. Building a ultra high performance bike that costs a huge amount of money is a remarkable achievement. It has been not been done often, and seldom as well as MV has done it. Building a high performance bike for mass production that is both economical and revolutionary, and building a commercially successfully company around it, has been done even less frequently (ummm... maybe 10 times in all of human history?) MV *was* was making great bikes. But as a company, they basically failed. From what I understand, they spent more then they made, and were pretty much out of credit options. No shame in that, its insanely hard to start and maintain a business these days... | ||
| Xl1200r |
I don't see the big deal about the MV brand. When I first saw one, I was a junior in highschool. Since that time, I have graduated high school, went through 6 years of college, and been in the workforce for over a year. The MV sportbikes look the same still. I used to think they were beautiful bikes. They bore me now. | ||
| Doerman |
Are we talking style or design? That was my mistake when I first responded to Buellborn and I *read* design when he wrote *style*. A well designed machine meets or exceeds the criteria set out for that design. A well styled product attempts to create an appeal to a target audience through a blend of uniqueness and beauty. MV took the styling route and did it well when creating he F4 and not so well with the Brutale in my opinion. I must not be a "target audience", I've come to find out, since the Kaw Verisys is so lauded and I can't stand it. Buell held fast to their design objectives, and in my opinion, they also managed to make a bike that very much appeals to me (styling). It would be interesting to find out what Buell's intended target audience is for the 1125R is. I'm betting it is as simple as "the average Joe that wants to ride". MV puts a lot of thought into who the intended target audience is and if we are to believe our European BadWeB friends EU target audience is different than US. |
