| Author | Message | ||
     Court |
with Harley-Davidson set to announce 3rd quarter earnings . . .
This is very exciting . . . . they, and Buell, have made some tough decisions. It's looking good. Kind cool . . . this this economy . . . when you can report POSITIVE EARNINGS. . . . . yeah, a profit! Fingers crossed. | ||
| Endoman33 |
I feel alot better hearing good news for a change. Thanks for the update | ||
| Court |
There is more good news to come. | ||
| Froggy |
A guy posted in the news section that he heard from a "fairly reliable source" that "Harley will anounce they will no longer be building the Buell Motorcycle" Whatever happens in the next few days, it sure will be interesting!  | ||
| Hughlysses |
Court- tell us something. Please. The news this morning is NOT good. | ||
| Crackhead |
Court wtf is going on?????? | ||
| Court |
>>>The news this morning is NOT good. That is inaccurate information. I just got off the phone with Erik. Harley-Davidson will be announcing this morning that they are returning to their core business. Both Buell and MV Agusta will be closed. While there is indeed much to be sad about I think this is going to be yet another of the milestone events in the history of Buell. Imagine Erik Buell and The Elves unconstrained by either the Harley-Davidson motor, dealer network or bureaucracy. This will take a few days of decompression. If you have questions, I'll answer them as honestly and full as I can here. I won't argue. Needless to say . . there are no worries for current Buell owners. There are laws requiring parts and support for something on the order of 10 years. My concern right now is with the employees of Buell Motorcycle Company. Many of you know them and they are all fine people. Sine 1987 I've been through lots with Erik, Buell Motor Company, Buell Motorcycle Company and many of the Buell employees. I see tremendous opportunity. Court | ||
| Maddiemsu |
Court, Let me know when and how I can become a Buell (or new name) dealer!!! | ||
| Bri |
Court, I agree this is potentially a great opportunity. From my own experience Harley did a horrible job promoting and supporting the brand. Understandingly, from this experience I am worried about future support of my bike. My prayers are also with the workers, any look into their factory shows them as caring and passionate about what they do. | ||
| Crackhead |
So, is their talk about HD going to sell off Buell? If Buell is going independent of HD, then it might just be change Buell needs. Dealerships can be located with other sport bikes and away from chrome and leather tassels. | ||
| Hughlysses |
Court- thanks for a glimmer of sunshine in this gloom. The first question that pops in my mind regards this statement from HD's news release: "Harley-Davidson, Inc. expects to incur approximately $125 million in one-time costs related to the discontinuation of the Buell product line. " Who are they paying the $125M to and for what? Employee severance pay? Broken building leases? Helicon development costs to Rotax? | ||
| Tpoppa |
I would also be interested in starting an independent Buell dealer. | ||
| Slaughter |
This is a time of "opportunity" (sorry about the cliche') - I'm just hoping the best employees get picked up. Arrrrggggghhhh. Gotta go have lunch with the staff at Antelope Valley HD/Buell today. Heck, they JUST installed their Buell "Store-within-a-store" (not a small investment, I might add) - there WILL be much hand-wringing. (Message edited by slaughter on October 15, 2009) | ||
| Chadhargis |
I am hopeful that Erik has something up his sleeve. Watching that video didn't lead me to believe he had any optimism at this point. The man looked to be near tears, and I can't say I blame him. After years of hard work, to finally reaching a point where you are winning championships and becoming competitive with the rest of the world in terms of power (handling has always been top notch). Heck, even magazines are giving the 1125's good reviews lately. When I owned a Ducati, I became familiar with the background of that company since my particular Duc had "Cagiva" all over it. Surely some company (maybe BRP/Rotax??) will see the upside to Buell. I'm sure Erik and company have non-disclosure agreements and no compete agreements and such. I know the lawyers have them sewn up tight. But with all the people out there like Court and other friends of the brand, the true story will come out somehow. I wanna know what happened in that boardroom. I know Erik didn't take it laying down. I wanna know he went down, standing up. | ||
| Buelltours |
independent Buell dealer? I would like to know more!!! This could be grand... | ||
| Hughlysses |
Given Court's post above, this is a very appropriate comic for today, cross-posted from advrider:  | ||
| Easyrider |
Court, Good thinking... | ||
| Court |
This is a VERY busy day for me in my day job with a new power plant just starting construction. I've got a lot to say. I'm going to try to confine my remarks to this thread. I'll try this evening. I see wonderful things ahead. In the meantime, I hope folks will be mindful that there are about 200 folks who this is impacting. I hope, to the extent we can, that remarks remain kind and supportive. Court | ||
| Steve_mackay |
I've already expressed my condolences to the fine gentlemen I've been working with the past 5 months on a 2011 new model Buell. I really feel for them. This truly is a sad day. | ||
| Rocketsprink |
I don't believe anyone here would say anything but GOOD things about Buell. H-D is a whole other issue. A suggestion on a race web site was made that Buell should pursue a dialog with Penske. I personally think that would be a good start. | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
Bombardier!!! | ||
| Dano_12s |
Maybe employee owned-employee proud time is coming.Sure seemed like too many good things were happening for this to evolve.The new/old logo still has me wandering!? | ||
| Rocketsprink |
Wolf, Bombardier has a large plant in Racine, WI and they're laying off people left and right. I doubt they're a viable option. | ||
| Randomchaos |
Even if Buell can come back with an all rotax lineup or something, it will never be the same to me. I prefer the H-D vtwin over the rotax. | ||
| Hootowl |
They can still buy HD engines from HD, just like they buy Rotax engines from Rotax. | ||
| Rocketsprink |
well, that's no longer an option now. Time to forget the past, and look to the future, which doesn't include H-D engines. BTW, not putting you down for you opinion. | ||
| Trackdad |
This is a copy of an email I just sent to the President and CEO of Harley. Copies sent to Milwaukee Sentinnal, WSJ, Minneapolis Star and St. Paul Pioneer Press... Trackdad Mr. Keith Wandell President and CEO Harley Davidson Co. I've been a a Harley motorcycle owner since 1995 and a stock holder since 1993. My family and I currently have 2 harleys and 2 Buells parked in the garage, of which one is "Big Chief" now "Mohawk" XB12 racer which was purchased recently from James Gang racing. Our family motorcycle interest will grow in less than a year when my daughter will turn 16 and get to choose her own ride. I'm happy to say that we enjoy motorcycling as a family. To continue the family, my son and I began our search in 2003 when we purchased a XB9 Lightning for his 16th birthday. He was able to break it in the Black Hills, SD that year. Soon after that, the talk of attending "The Buell Homecoming" next year and soon we were headed to East Troy. I was the only guy on a 2002 Harley Deuce that came to celebrate with them. Our extended family now includes friends from New York, Wisconsin, Iowa, Texas, Michigan and new friends from our home state of Minnesota. Homecoming has become a tradition, we still meet at homecoming to celebrate BUELL. Our little group even met at the HD Museum a few weeks ago to celebrate the AMA Championship, again I was on my harley. I really was happy to see the leather and fringe crowd show up as well to celebrate this proud occasion. As I write this email, my emotions relating to todays' news of discontinuing MV Agusta and Buell is a terrible way to start ones day!! I watched Erik Buell on the Buell website and can't imagine his feelings along with all the other employees of this fine company. I truly wonder what the intentions of Harley was when they purchased MV Agusta roughly one year ago? I again wonder what Harley's intention are for discontinuing BUELL after 26 years? As an engineer, I have recognized the technology transfer from Buell into the sportster line and again wonder how this type of transfer will take place within HOG in the future? Or will harley as a whole, ride the chrome wave and settle on the mundane hoping for sales to improve? I see loosing MV Agusta and Buell as a terrible business loss and a very unwise decision and poor corporate vision. I was really hoping that MV Agusta and Buell would join forces and take on the worlds motorcycling forces with the blessing and support of Harley. I believe the world saw that start at the AMA Championship. I have met Erik Buell many times and I can understand how this one person could and should do battle with management and challenge them to think outside of the box creating the "Best" products possible and not just a chrome wonder. Why didn't Harley's management invest the MV Agusta funds in Buell a year ago and continue the world class tradition when they had the chance? My confidence in management has been shaken. I now must evaluate your performance as a leader for Harley Davidson Co. As an owner of your products and shareholder, I need to decide if I have any confidence in you, the management of Harley and your products. If I maintain my shares in HOG I will be at the shareholders meeting next year expecting answers. Thank you for your time. Sincerely, Greg Casura Product owner and Stockholder 612-720-8807 | ||
| Ratyson |
Very well written Greg. Bravo. | ||
| Rocketsprink |
Nice job | ||
| Chadhargis |
Court, I'm anxiously awaiting your remarks. I don't know Erik other than the few times I've casually met him, but just being around him, you can sense his enthusiasm and zeal for what he does. I can't imagine he'll let his dream die. |
