| Author | Message | ||
     Tbenson |
I was just wondering what your true thoughts are on the future of Buell? I would think Buell, being around for sometime now, should be able to branch out without HD? With the number of dealers dropping the Buell line, HD has to have a close eye on this with their own sales being down? Will another company be interested in the Buell line? Who do you think will be interested, and what changes will take place in Buell? Just wondering myself? I am not trying to piss anyone off, or start a rumor on Buell leaving Harley Davidson! | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Who else has operating capital with sales that AREN'T down 91% for the year? THAT is your potential buyer of Buell. | ||
| Lastonetherebuys |
I don't think that buell would compleatly disappear, and I don't think that harley would drop it because w/o it they have no attraction to the sport market. if your sales are dropping why would you walk away from a complete niche in the market? I think that Buell has a strong enough following that even if harley did drop it that they could continue as their own thing or another make would pick it up Just my 2 cents | ||
| Tbenson |
When Kawasaki and Suzuki merged, they pretty much maintained their own identity. I would like to see Buell do the same, if placed in a similar situation! I will not argue your facts Last, but HD will maintain their own sales before they consider losing money with Buell. They are also branching out in their own way, by offering more sporty versions of the Sportster and V-Rod, by no means a comparison to the Buell, in my opinion, if that is what they are shooting for? | ||
| Rainman |
Buell has become successful in the race game and some in moto-sushi world are taking notice. Many of the sportbiker crowd I know have stopped badmouthing the brand and are digging the 1125r. My dealer can sell nearly all the 1125s he gets. I think H-D -- just thinking here -- would do well to keep the 1125r around and maybe a Lightning to build the profile. The economy will go up, at some point, and sportbikes are a big part of the future. | ||
| Chadhargis |
Somewhere, someone has to be accounting for the fact that Buell sales have been steadily rising over the years. I could see dumping them if sales were in the toilet, and they were losing money, but all I've ever read on here is that Buell has been profitable. Now with the DSB championship, and them running in AMA Superbike, they have even more exposure. Heck, when was the last time a Kawasaki won any type of sportbike race AMA, World SBK, or MotoGP....yet they seem to still be doing well. As time goes on, and the brand gets stronger, you'll have a new generation growing up where Buell is a player in the sportbike game. They may not equal Honda in sales, but they will be recognized as a "boutique" brand like Ducati, BMW, Aprilia, KTM, MV Agusta, etc. I mean, come on, when was the last time MV Agusta won anything....but people LOVE those bikes. They get stares wherever they go. | ||
| 4cammer |
Kawasaki and Suzuki merged? You sure about that? I think it was more of a development agreement, and that was shelved in 2005 or so. | ||
| Court |
Buell will be fine. 5 options. Always have a plan . . . Buell does. | ||
| Dentguy |
When Kawasaki and Suzuki merged, they pretty much maintained their own identity. As 4cammer said, it was only a development thing. It was only with the ATV and off road bikes and it is done. | ||
| 2008xb12scg |
I think the question would be, who wouldn't be interested in the Buell line? Sales in the moto industry are going down. Buell is steady growning. They have A niche, a big one if properly tapped. They are winning on Sunday, It's Monday... | ||
| Blake |
"I was just wondering what your true thoughts are on the future of Buell?" The future of Buell is bright. I wish I could purchase Buell stock. | ||
| Mainstreamer |
I think the Buell line might be a good fit with Victory, to round out their line. Previous attempts at Buell only shops didn't work .... don't think that's in the cards again. Perhaps No'Bama will make them the property of the U S taxpayers..... like GM!! | ||
| Court |
>>>The future of Buell is bright. I wish I could purchase Buell stock. That is a VERY accurate statement . . . Buell has a 200 year plan and is sticking to it. | ||
| Nadz |
Doesn't HD make a pretty big chunk on accessories? Maybe that's why most salespeople are indifferent about selling Buells. If there was ever a selection of accessories, they'd sell and HD dealers would see some Buell aftermarket money. I agree that the future of Buell is bright, tho... they got in on the ground floor of (actually sorta invented) streetfighter. Now HD wants in with the XR, and the Sporty motors are injected all across the line. Still, they can't market true 'fighters under the HD name (witness the short-lived Street Rod)... thus Buell will continue to sell, methinks! | ||
| Amrra12 |
My 2 cents HD will not drop Buell they are the future of HD, The problem is that HD sales are way down {year over year,} not due to the economy but rather there not growing new HD riders! As the old HD crowd get older and stop riding or dies off they are not many replacements filling the empty spaces! This IMO is part of the reason HD let Buell mill out the motor on the 1125R, they knew they could not build a good performance motor, And not being able to do so would only set Buell, and more importantly HD further back! I think the future in question should be that of HD, not Buell! (Message edited by AMRRA#12 on September 15, 2009) | ||
| Tbenson |
By no means was I making any suggestion that Buell is not successful, I am only concerned where Harley Davidson stands with the Buell Line? The Kawasaki Suzuki thing was an example. I am not certain on the exact details of what the two decided, I just knew there was talk of them maintaining their own lines and engineering ideas, once again, just an example. I guess I worded things wrong! I also think Buell has a strong future! Could the representation and support with the Dealers and Harley Davidson itself be stronger, I think so? But I am not in marketing, so there is a good chance I am missing something? | ||
| Billybob |
oboma is destroying the us economy | ||
| R2s |
Buell is going stronger than ever with this new Rotax platform, they are finally getting recognition in the ever growing sportbike world. Harley knows this and needs to branch out more in that direction. Like Amrra12 (+1)was talking about and I've stated before, the next generation of riders is moving more towards performance oriented bikes. | ||
| Usmoto |
I don't know if they could do it but I'd like to see Buell only dealerships. There has been only one dealership where I've had a Buell-friendly relationship. Most of the ones I've been to would rather not have Buells in the place at all. I like a couple HD models and would consider buying one but never understood the whole "HD's only" mentality. Sure I've owned 2 Buells and love 'em but I love many other bikes as well. Buell would do well to get away from them IMO. | ||
| Ridenusa4l |
+100 moto I believe if buell was sold next to other sport bikes (jap/italian/ etc.) their sales would grow exponentially, as well as having dealers who are devoted to their products, and can work on them with diligence. Not saying that all dealers are bad, but the few who aren't really give buell a bad name, due to their lack of competence and service, IMHO. Jake | ||
| Court |
The dealership problem needs fixed. Buell only dealerships would be a poor solution. There are good solutions, always have been. | ||
| 46champ |
How are the dealers doing that are selling Buells in a separate building like Rossmeyer's? Latus seems to be doing ok and there selling them in a separate room. No its not down by the toilets, it's in front of the service department/race department. | ||
| Chadhargis |
When did Rossmeyer move Buell to it's own building. As of last Christmas, they were in the same building (the HUGE building) as the Harleys. In their own section, but still the same building. I don't think standalone dealerships is the answer. But having them sold along with other bikes would work. There are some people who are going to buy a bike based on a spec sheet, and there are some who are going to base their buying decision on how fun a bike is to ride. I've owned a few bikes in my time, and Buells are just FUN. Plain and simple. Not going to win any roll on contests with a Gixxer 1000, but I don't find myself doing that too often (but I did pull a Gixxer 750!  ) | ||
| Crowley |
Chad, I'd imagine in a top gear roll on upto 3 figure speeds an 1125 would hold its own with a Gixxer. Selling Buells with other sports bikes would be an excellent idea for people like me who feel a little out of place in a HD dealership fulls of pretend outlaw 'Bros' fondling the latest chrome gizzmo and dressed up in their laceup leathers and cut off Levi jackets  On Sunday I swapped rides with my mate who has an RC8, a clear rival to the new Ducatis. Both of these bikes are a fair bit more powerful than the Helicon but both are harder to ride fast. Real world riding means if any of these bikes leave you behind, it's your riding that's the problem and not the bike. In fact, I'd say that the handling of the 1125 is considerably better that my new Ducati - especially the forks (in fact the Ducs forks are apart on my bench as we speak - the Buell forks worked out of the showroom) Road testing the 1125 back to back with other bikes in its class would sway a few customers I'd imagine  | ||
| T_man |
This would be my personal FAVORITE match for Buell to pair with: Triumph. Similar in many respects to Buell, not afraid to go thier own way and appealing to the same demographic. I think this kind of partnership could seriously take a huge bite out of the big 4's market share in the sportbike world. | ||
| R2s |
+1 Ridenusa41 I feel the same way. Buells need to be accessible to sport bike riders. My friends ride sport bikes and will never go into a Harley dealer, even to look at sport bikes. Not to mention the way they would feel if the did. Its a totally different scene that they want no part of. The best thing Buell could do is to put them in shops with same type of bikes geared towards that type of rider. I just hope that now with the purchase of MV Agusta this might happen. You see now these dealers that have multiple Japanese brands of bikes all under one roof, and it works. Buell could allow these dealers to carry their product as well right next to the other sport bikes where it belongs. I'm not into the whole Harley mystique, but I love my American sport bike. | ||
| Ruprecht |
Heh. "Harley mystique" smells like... tact. I do wonder whether Buell gets more new riders, riders coming from Harleys or riders coming from Jap bikes. I know personally, as a Jap bike rider, the whole Harley association is a negative. Not just my local dealer's lack of interest in Buell... shoving them in the corner... no stock (the same old '08 1125R demo. No 1125CR, I think they sold their allotted demo model quickly and didn't replace it)... the sales staff acting like I've accidentally strayed into the wrong area. ...but it's a different biker culture. Add to this the change in wreckers, aftermarket support, possible metric/imperial differences, the reputation of American vehicles etc. ...and my local dealer DOES sell Honda, Suzuki and Triumph. They just separate the sections, and it's a long, lonely walk from Honda to Harley. | ||
| Tbenson |
Concern confirmed, in the way I did not want to see! This will be the biggest hurdle Buell has faced, in my opinion, if they decide to move forward! We can only hope!!! Troy |
