| Author | Message | ||
     Grndskpr |
Blake wrote: After killing Pro Thunder after fives years with the last three sponsored by Buell, they come out and do exactly the opposite. They add another class to Daytona and it is a single brand race, exactly opposite of what the AMA Pro Racing said they would do This again is an honest question, is this event, the Boxer cup, and entire series, or is it a Daytona only exibition???What i mean is they have in the past used this event to bring in some of the old superstars, and put on a good show for the people, but it has never gone much past that, is it now an entire season long event??? just wondering Roger | ||
| Madduck |
Court, Love your cloud talk. My favorite rides most often have a little rain in them. The feeling you get when the rain has passed and the sun lights up the rain slicked highway is so neat. Well said, take care Paul | ||
| Nevco1 |
Can anyone explain why a beautiful new Ducati was in the middle of the pack in Harley's 2003 new model parade here in Milwaukee during Harley's world wide dealer meeting conducted here this last summer. Was in a position of honor and not contested like the all brand wannabee's that sort of just accumulated at the rear of the parade. Just wondering. A lot of us attending the event got a good laugh at the Clingon's crowding the parades Uranus, but were really wondering about the Ducati. It surely had significant eye candy appeal, really stood out among the 2003 models and was parked for viewing along with the new Harleys. Probably nothing more than an honored dealer or guest, but it sure was interesting. Especially since the Clingon's parked elsewhere. Anyone have the answer??? | ||
| Jima4media |
Roger, Yes, the BMW Boxer Cup is a one-off exhibition race at Daytona. Then they will say, hey, that went pretty well, we should do more of those, look at all of those BMW owners with their BMW flags waving in the stands. That is more than owners than Harley had waving their Harley flags during the VR-1000 years. All of a sudden, before you know it - it is a sanctioned event, every year, and then at every race. I guess that is why we have water ballet in the Summer Olympics. And tube snowboarding in the Winter Olympics. Jim X-2.5 | ||
| Mikej |
Bill, Are you sure it was truely a Ducati? Got a pic?   Probably just a dealer's bike who also happened to sell Duc's and rode it to make a statement to someone. | ||
| José_Quiñones |
The BMW Boxer cup is a Daytona only event. The rest of the races are in Europe. The record is pretty clear that the AMA lied to Erik and the rest of the Pro Thunder participants by adding the BMW's to the Daytona schedule. I'm sure the AMS and Munroe Motors Ducati teams are not happy either. Had the BMW cup been added to the whole 2003 AMA schedule, I would certainly understand Erik's anger. But to blow a stack for a one time only race is blowing it out of proportion. Grass roots racing? I'm all for it, but unfortunately that's not where the AMA is at right now. If Buell likes "grass roots just plain FUN racing" then they should put their money where their mouth is and continue to sponsor the PRO THUNDER class as it moves on to WERA and continue to sponsor the BUELL ONLY Lightning Spec Class in FUSA and their multibrand "Thunderbikes" class. My point all along is this: If they want to go AMA racing, with all the prestige and TV coverage that comes along with it, then design, build and sell something that can compete at that level. Which is why I quoted Mr. Baker, if you are not in it to win at that level, get out, and HD did. | ||
| Nevco1 |
MikeJ... No pic, but it was a for real new Duc in the higher CC range but not one of the race replicas. Just that wonderful classic Eye-Tie Red. | ||
| Nevco1 |
MikeJ... Perhaps someone at Hal's knows as they hosted the next days events for the dealers. | ||
| Jim_Sb |
Speaking of fun, I saw a brand spanking new XB9S yesterday. That bikes screams *FUN* at you... Jim in Santa Barbara | ||
| Court |
Well....I may have tipped the "ride "X" to a "Y" event" the night I rode the Buell M-2 to the black tie Grand Opening of Ducati of Manhattan. Seems the snow that night scared alot of folks off their bikes. I arrived in a spiffy new Armani Tux covered with a black Aerostich. Quite a sight as I parked at the front door. Mark, the owner and a good friend, laughed as the local TV cameras caught the Buell with snow flakes gently falling on it. It was warmer next Friday afternoon, when I parked the M2 amongest all the limos on Wall Street and had the Chauffeur's holding the "Funnest American Toy" sign......  | ||
| X1glider |
I wholeheartedly agree, JQ. I even feel they'll make more of an impact there. Let's face it, those who watch supersport will most likely buy the RRs. If Buell creates a huge presence at the local level and other amateurs are having to claw their way ahead of a Buell, Buells will gain more respect and notariety. Perhaps privateers will even consider buying a Buell for the fact that Pro Thunder or Lightening class looks like more fun. I see this as a better way to get dealers interested in racing at this level than AMA Pro. If a dealer were interested in competing at AMA pro level, who's going to pilot the bike? Anyone who is competent enough to race at AMA pro level won't be interested in Buell anyways. | ||
| Grndskpr |
Hey Court, i think you have a recall shock on that bike???maybe you need to get hold of the local dealer  As far as Buell in Wera, maybe something to consider would be an endurance bike, win in the endurance event, and i think some of the issues with reliability may go away, heck this year AOD found out the hard way about GSXR's keepers, maybe this would go a long way to help the rep, but thats JMHO And is it really an issue to have a one off race a Daytona???or did BMW pony up the cash, the AMA is cash poor, so some times you have to go with a cash cow to get ahead, i will not bash the AMA till i have read the entire story, i would like Ulrich's opinion on all of this, and i would like to see where he stands later Roger | ||
| Blake |
Daytona is THE biggest biking event of the year. It is where all AMA roadracers want to showcase their talent. Why would Erik be angry? AMA Pro Racing: Buell thank you for sponsoring Pro Thunder for three years running but we want to concentrate on the other racing series, we are killing the 250 GP series too. And again, we are totally against running any kind of single brand racing series, so while the Buell Lightning series is interesting and a great grass roots effort, no thank you. Buell: Okay, sorry to hear that but I respect your reasons, good luck. AMA Pro Racing: Hey, BMW, would you like to put on one of your single brand BMW Cup races at the biggest and best attended, most prestigious moto roadracing event in America? We told Buell that we would never do that, but to hell with them, we'd rather have a German manufacturer represented than an American one who has faithfully sponsored AMA road racing. Hey Erik, thanks for sticking your neck WAY out for us and for helping to fatten our bank account, SUCKER!!! The rest is history. | ||
| Nevco1 |
Blake... Great analogy. Too Funny and Way Too True. | ||
| Bomber |
Blake . .. . like Nev said . . .. AMA hasn't had the whole-hearted support of it's racers for as long as I've paid attention . . . . splitting it's pro racing into a separate organization was likley the best course to foolow, but they seemingly could even do that cleanly and without rancor . . . . . as I've posted elsewhere, I'm a member, because, so far as I know, they're the only game in town in terms of national representation of scootertrash, but they really don't understand the basic facts of life when it comes to racing at the professional level . . . .. | ||
| Duck |
Help........... Why do people that don't own a Buell or make payments on mine care so much about what I ride? Why do they have so much trouble with the fact that I own a Buell? In the latest issue of MCN they practically call any of us that own tube framers idiots. I don't get it. My problems with this bike have been many and well documented, but I love the damn thing. That shouldn't really bother anybody who isn't paying for it. I rode the bike up to Pittsburgh (from Norfolk area) in near freezing weather on Thursday to pick up a van my brother found for me. Loaded the bike in the van and started home on Sunday. Made it 60 miles before the tranny went. DAMN! Got AAA to tow the van back to my brother's. My brother was understandably upset and felt terrible because he had found the van for me. I wasn't nearly as upset because he had another tranny for my van and I got to ride my Buell back home to Norfolk. It was a cold wet ride all through PA and I was smiling the whole way. Sure hope the boys at MCN can handle it. | ||
| Freyke |
Just got my race kit installed and added the grips and bar-end mirrors... more in photos section...  kk//kef | ||
| Madduck |
Duck, I have not had any trouble with any of the Buells I own, but I get that sort of attitude from lots of riders. Harley riders in particular seem to resent it more. I am buying another tube frame myself and trading in a wide glide to get it. Talk about really pissing off harley riders. Needs the buck to go racing tho. I love buells and the people crazy enough to buy them. We haven't reached cult status yet but those of us "tube framers" are inching closer. Paul | ||
| Grndskpr |
Maybe it was more like this: AMA Pro Racing: Buell thank you for sponsoring Pro Thunder for three years running but we want to concentrate on the other racing series, we are killing the 250 GP series too. And again, we are totally against running any kind of single brand racing "series", so while the Buell Lightning series is interesting and a great grass roots effort, no thank you. Buell: Okay, sorry to hear that but I respect your reasons, good luck. AMA Pro Racing: Hey, BMW, would you like to put on" one "(not a series only one event)of your single brand BMW Cup races at the biggest and best attended, event in the US, make it an exibition, and invite former pros out, allow fans to meet and get autographs from there idols of days gone by, i realize we have distanced our selves from the buell motor company and RICH OLIVER(yamaha, he was the reason yamaha sponsored 250gp in the US) and more than likely distanced ourselves from some of the fans, however BMW was willing to pay as much for one race, as Mr. Buell was for a series, and since we at the AMA are rebuilding and have elected pro road racers to the board we first have to become financially sound before we can expand and help out at a grass roots level, we feel at this point there are several avenues for competition, at the lower levels and we would like to bring the competition to a world level, the way we did with MOTOCROSS and arena cross, sorry to offend you, but when you can compete at the level with Aprilla ,Ducati and Honda, we would be more than happy to welcome you back, until then maybe helping sponsor your riders in ccs or wera with money,similar to yamaha would not only help sell your product but would help your R&D, not that you need it, but there is always some thing to be learned, sorry again, but we did what we felt was best Funny thing is i am a Buell fan, but even i realize they are not ready to compete on a world level, and when they are i doubt anyone will keep them out, and i will say it again, if aprila can win races in 2 years anybody can do it, hell they dont even build the engine, and i dont think aprillas are mundane, and they are not like every other bike JMHO | ||
| Nevco1 |
Grounder... Good but try this one... AMA Pro Racing is faced with fans that won't leave their seats due to the nonstop excitement. The EMT's and vendors express their concerns. So AMA Pro Racing decides to drop two events that are growing in participation and interest and substitute them with one boring event so the fans get restless and take a break for food, pit stops and souvenirs. I know...It doesn't make any sense. It wasn't supposed to. Just provide the Humor Factor!!! | ||
| Kerryx1 |
The AMA Pro Racing officials should take a walk around downtown Daytona during bike week. Never in his wildest dreams did Erik Buell think that he would see his name and Pegasus logo tattooed on arms, shoulders, legs and various other body parts of his hooligan followers. I have yet to see someone with a Honda, BMW, Aprila or whatever tattooed on them. The S1 street fighter, asphalt eater, torque monster and raw naked kick-ass nasty bike spurned those tattoos. All those bad-ass people want to see their namesake thundering around racetracks and dragstrips. Bring back a limited production run of refined 1200cc S1's in all their naked glory, to hell with the AMA Pro race officials. Kerry  | ||
| Iamike |
I have been an AMA member for about 10 years now. I have told them repeatedly that I won't donate a dime more than my dues until they start naming the political party that is hell-bent on taking away the rights of both on and off-road cyclists. They are so worried about offending all of the Harley type union guys that believe that crap that their union bosses send out in the union publications Oops, have to go, my wife says they're two guys named Vinnie & Louie at the door to talk to me. | ||
| Blake |
Grndskpr, BMW is paying a full seasons worth of sponsorship for one race? Really? This forum is a great place to debate issues and stuff, but when you start making up stuff, make believe stuff, it serves no purpose. The AMA could have just as easily put on a Buell event that featured a bunch of famous racers, probably a lot more famous names than BMW could hope to dredge up. Buell deserved that chance. They didn't offer it to Buell. They lied to Buell. You can paint it any way you want. That fact is not going to change. When you look at the history of AMA Pro Racing there emerges a clear preponderance of evidence... 1. Create Pro Thunder as a grass roots rider oriented AMA Racing series, but against strong advice of series creator/author allow Triumph triples to compete. (Not good for Buell) 2. Triumph triples totally dominate series, against very strong advice of series creator/author allow Duc 748's. (Not good for Buell) 3. Only Duc 748's and Buell Sponsored Bikes are competitive. So much for grass roots, rider oriented racing. 4. Get Buell to sponsor series for three years running. 5. Cut # races in half. (Not good for Buell, good for UJM's) 6. Eliminate the series. (Not good for Duc/Buell, good for UJM's) 7. Offer BMW the Cup race at Daytona. (Not good for Buell or grass roots racing). 8. Disallow Duc 748's and Buell XB9R in Supersport class. (good for UJM's, not good for Duc or Buell) 9. Allow Buell in Superstock. (Silly, not good for Buell, good for UJM's) 10. Disallow Aprilia from SBK. (good for UJM's/Duc, not good for Aprilia) 11. Allow 1,000cc IL4's in SBK. (good for UJM's, not good for Duc or Aprilia) Notice a trend? Notice how many of the actions/decisions made by AMA Pro Racing seem to benefit the UJM's. I smell a rat. Get the damn UJM factories off the advisory board, or put a Buell/H-D, Ducati, BMW, Aprilia, Triumph, and Moto Guzzi rep on the Board too. Buell would have been happy to sponsor a single Pro Thunder race at Daytona. The AMA didn't give them the consideration, and violated past statements by even doing so. | ||
| Cyclone1 |
I hate to do this here again....could anyone tell me what size Torx on the rear isolator bolts (02') 60? 65? In the process of pulling frame off...time restrained once again  Thank you, and sorry bout spamming this page up again, hehe Frank | ||
| Danny |
Can anyone explain why a beautiful new Ducati was in the middle of the pack in Harley's 2003 new model parade here in Milwaukee during Harley's world wide dealer meeting conducted here this last summer. Was it a red Monster S4 with Termignoni Carbon fiber high pipes? If so, it belongs to the owner of my dealership. He and the wife took their Ducs back to the dealer meeting (she had a 620 Dark). Danny 95 S2 02 V-Strom Part-time parts & sales; Modesto Ducati & Buell No Harleys, they're another mile down the road. | ||
| Blake |
Cyclone1, Torx fasteners on the rear isolator bolts???  You mean allen head right? I cannot recall the size off the top of my head. | ||
| Jst |
Cyclone1, I do believe it's a 1/2". I just pulled my frame this weekend. JT | ||
| Court |
Link to: Link to: | ||
| Grndskpr |
BMW is paying a full seasons worth of sponsorship for one race? Really? This forum is a great place to debate issues and stuff, but when you start making up stuff, make believe stuff, it serves no purpose. So you can make stuff up in your post, but when i do it its a no no???Of course if you read the entire post you would make out the JMHO(just my humble opinion) Please do not put words in my mouth, i was just following and exersice you started, and of course gave my opinion, maybe BMW did not pay that amount, but i am sure it was a pretty penny The AMA could have just as easily put on a Buell event that featured a bunch of famous racers, probably a lot more famous names than BMW could hope to dredge up. Buell deserved that chance. They didn't offer it to Buell. They lied to Buell. You can paint it any way you want. That fact is not going to change. Maybe just maybe, BMW came to the AMA, and the Buell company did not go this route, in other words, BMW offers this one time race, and the AMA agrees, Buell never brought it up, i dont think its the AMA's responsibilty to bring this idea to Buell, BMW did come up with it, so why would they share it with Buell, maybe, just maybe Buell wasnt interested in this style of advertisment(thats really all it is, not really a race)Maybe you could ask the man him self on the 8th 1. Create Pro Thunder as a grass roots rider oriented AMA Racing series, but against strong advice of series creator/author allow Triumph triples to compete. (Not good for Buell) Why should the AMA even be involved in grass roots racing, isnt that what wera, ccs and fusa are for, i dont get this whole statement, i mean if you want world class racing, then you can not have grass roots racing, they are not compatable, ask pro riders about what the woorse part of daytona is, back markers who can screw up a race for a pro, seen it happen, but again this is my opinion, and of course it is wrong 4. Get Buell to sponsor series for three years running Did they get them to do this or did buell offer to set up a race series??come on 10. Disallow Aprilia from SBK. (good for UJM's/Duc, not good for Aprilia) This is a numbers game, and if you are not aware of it, there is a requirement for bikes sold in the US(thats why honda brought in the 600rr, and kawi brought in zx6rr) Aprilla at a world level races a bike not sold in the US, there are several differences between that bike and the bike sold here, at the world level the rules allow for more modifications than in the AMA(thats why ducati wins more often than say honda or kawi here)So this is really a flase statement, please if you are going to call me on my statements at least tell the truth concerning the particular argument 11. Allow 1,000cc IL4's in SBK. (good for UJM's, not good for Duc or Aprilia Again another false statement, it may not be good for Ducati, but if that is the case, it will not be good for honda either, they are after all both v twins, another that may be hurt is Aprilla, the third v twin at the world level, maybe it was done to help improve competition, and maybe it was done to align itself with the world level, i dont think its bad for anyone, if you use this logic, then when the AMA went from 750 to 1000 on the v twins it was bad for the UJM, so at least be fair in your statements Notice a trend? Yes the trend is to COPY rules at the world level, why so they can improve the sport hear, and increase revenues to help cope with past law suits and improve saftey, shouldnt that be the most important thing at this point in time?? Air fence isnt cheep, have you contributed, if so good for you, if not maybe if you are that concerened about the racing comunity you should Buell would have been happy to sponsor a single Pro Thunder race at Daytona Are you sure first hand, or were they late, and BMW swept in and took over, ask on the 8th, if you dont want me to make assumtions, dont do it youself What i find the most interesting, is that people are willing to slam the AMA race orginizations, and in the past they deserved it, however as you should know there is a new board, they have not been in office long, maybe you should give them a chance, you have asked several on the board to give Buell a chance, maybe you should take youe own advice, Mr. Ulrich is faced with an AMA race program that borders on bancrupcy, yet you want him to cater to buells needs, it may not have been fair, but he needs to do what needs to be done to insure the viabilty of the AMA which in the long run is more important than any one series, no matter who sposors it AGAIN THIS IS MY OPINION | ||
| Ccryder |
Cyclone1: The bolts on the new style isolators are Torx. I was able to find this driver at Autozone. It is the same size as used for many seatbelt to floorboard bolts. Unfortunately I don't remember the size, I have 2 at home. I just looked at the SB (Thank you X1 files) and it doesn't tell the size either. Best I can do is check when I get home this afternoon. Neil S. |
