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Redbat
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 22, 2011 - 10:24 am: | 
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Jdugger, I suspect you're correct.
My intent is not to turn this into another political post, but I don't understand why americans are so critical of american products. Especially motorcycles and cars. You would think that american people would at least want to express a sense encouragement to people like Erik Buell in his quest to build a dominant race motorcycle. What ever happened to American National Pride? Even concerning american motor products? Yeah, I know, they want to see "their preferred brand" win, but this constant "america bashing" is......for lack of another term. Unamerican. |
Trojan
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 22, 2011 - 10:26 am: |
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I'm already hearing "homologation special" cries.
Which is exactly why Erik Buell should take his time and make sure that he sticks to the homologation procedures already in place for ALL manufacturers to stick to. That way there can be NO accusations of favouritism, rule bending etc etc. It may take a little longer but the last thing Buell needs to do is give these people ammunition to use. |
Paint_shaker
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 22, 2011 - 10:32 am: |
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Just goes to show that some people in this world believe if it isn't an I4 or made by "established" companies, it isn't a motorcycle.
When Buell puts out the street version with better perfomance and handling in the price range of the same class of the other bikes, people will either ride them or chase them... |
Court
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 22, 2011 - 12:58 pm: |
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>>>Which is exactly why Erik Buell should take his time and make sure that he sticks to the homologation procedures already in place for ALL manufacturers to stick to.
He had.
It's a done deal.
Sweet.
Headed to the races.
It is, I agree, nice to see Buell not have to play the tricks that BMW did last year. |
Ratsmc
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 22, 2011 - 01:19 pm: |
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I don't believe there is any "America bashing" going on in that thread. No one there has actually expressed anything but hope that an American brand would succeed. Most of the issues have been with Buell directly and I think most of that comes from the association with H-D. Yes, those opinions are uninformed and even juvenile in thinking but that is a part of being a rider: many of the choices we make are based on emotion rather than information or fact.
That said, there have been a lot of positive comments made over there.
This one comes from a guy with the name HRCrider so this should have even more meaning:
"I can't believe I am actually going to say this, But that Buell is one of the best looking bikes I have ever seen in my life. I will see how it does, but the #'s look promising. I will have one in the near future. Red of course"
And this from another member:
"It's a beautiful, innovative bike, built out of the shallow pockets of a guy who clearly just loves motorcycles and wants nothing more than to build them. How there can be so much malice towards the endeavor on a motorcycle forum is staggering to me.
The guy spend 20 years under a collection of myopic, disconnected overlords who continually crushed his ambitions, yet he still has the passion and energy to spend his last pennies rebuilding NOS engine blocks to try to realize his dream. That's inspirational in any context; we, of all people, should understand and applaud that."
I think that emotion and passion run so high over here that we tend to focus far too much on the negative opinions and not see the positive. For the most part, the 1190RS has impressed a lot of people who previous hadn't considered Buell - that includes a lot of Japanese and European bike riders. Many of them aren't passionate at this point but they are interested. That is a good thing and we should be excited about it.
Don't write off the mildly positive as negative - engage them and remain positive.
(Message edited by RatsMC on February 23, 2011) |
Kenney83
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 22, 2011 - 03:08 pm: |
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I think some of the hate/dislike towards Buell Motorcycles comes from being under Harley. I have a friend that I ride with who has never been a Harley fan, ever. Always liked sport bikes. So he automatically didn't like Buell because of the Harley motor. When the 1125 came out he liked to power plant but not how the bike looked. When I showed him a pic of the 1190RS he said that is a bike he might actually ride. Coming from this person it is an improvement.
It will just take people time to forget about Buell being under Harley and now being its own company.
GO ERIK BUELL RACING!!!!!!
Can't wait to see the races. |
Trojan
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 23, 2011 - 09:27 am: |
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It is, I agree, nice to see Buell not have to play the tricks that BMW did last year.
Not exactly true Court. BMW had the bikes built and homologated in time for WSB in 2009. They were released for sale later the same year in Europe and complied with every FIM procedure on homologation. If they hadn't then they simply could not have raced in the face of opposition from Honda/Yamaha etc.
What Buell NEED to avoid at all costs is any move by the AMA (regardless of their reasoning behind it) to allow the bike to race in a class where it really shouldn't natually belong or to otherwise 'bend' the rules to allow it to compete. Each time this has been done in the case of both the XBRR and the 1125R in DSB the negative reaction in the general motorcycling press and public has completely overshadowed the actual achievements.
Only when they race toe to toe with the other superbikes with no special favours/dispensations by the AMA/FIM/Whoever will they be accepted by the wider motorcycling public as a success. Until then it is far too easy for them to point to rule changes or 'special dispensations' as the reason for winning rather than the bike itself.
I am holding my breath in excitement waiting for the 1190 to race in Superbikes, but I would rather it didn't race at all if they have to change even one small rule to accomodate it within the class. |
Elvis
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 23, 2011 - 10:50 am: |
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Matt, I've told you this before, but you don't seem to believe me here are the 2009 FIM rules:
http://www.fim-live.com/fileadmin/alfresco/Codes_e t_reglements/SBK_SS_SST_Eng.pdf
Go to page 168 and read.
"The manufacturer must have produced at least a quantity of 125 motorcycles prior to the homologation inspection. The motorcycle must be on sale to the public at that time."
As I've said before, the BMW was racing months before the public had even SEEN the bike, so how is it even vaguely possible that it was available to the public as the rules clearly stated it needed to be?
Those are the 2009 rules. I'm not making it up. They're available for anyone to read. |
Court
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 23, 2011 - 11:50 am: |
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Matt:
Your information is inaccurate with regard to BMW. Read Elvis' comment above.
In addition, your statement:
quote:the negative reaction in the general motorcycling press and public has completely overshadowed the actual achievements.
. . is also inaccurate.
Buell did not make the rules. Buell did not "bend" the rules. The AMA has a body which is responsible for rule making. Changes and deviations are allowed as they see fit to enhance competition and improve, quite frankly, the business model.
Regardless of any personal predisposition you may have about Buell the media coverage was spectacular.
If . . . I am on the cover of 3 magazines in a single month . . well, I could care less if they say "the gorgeous bike in the glossy 8"x10" cover photo that astounded crowds should not have been allowed to run".
That's akin to a photo of a gorgeous model on a Victoria Secret catalog with a disclaimer that she's not all that smart.
ANY publicity, when your entire company is smaller than the clerical staff at even Ducati, is good publicity. Be mindful that Danny Eslick, now a household name, was not known far beyond the race circuit before he saddled up a Buell. Like it or not . . (And I am thrilled for him, he's fabulous guy) Buell made him a household name and launched him right out of the stratosphere they could afford. Same thing happened with Geoff May last year but he's passed on offers to "dance with the one who brung him" this year and I hope we gets all our support . . the guy is not only an amazing rider he's a wonderful ambassador for Buell and motorcycling.
The 1190RS needs no special dispensation, is fully approved for sale to the public, is being built (I'm not sure if the actual production line is running . . I sent all my leftover flat screen monitors to help that along and I think it's ready. . just awaiting Elves) for sale.
The Buell will be as legal as any motorcycle it races against this year. |
Buelldyno_guy
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 23, 2011 - 08:36 pm: |
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What are the "Haters" going to say when Erik Buell Racing does well? I dare not write what I think. least I give their empty minds something like "Well you know he really was not born in the US and the engine was made in Europe and the XB was really not made here either.
Dumb people say dumb things and I just don't care any more. My Blast, my S3T, my ULY and our 1125 have been more fun than any other bikes I have ever owned. If I had the money one of those Carbon Fiber toys would be mine, so Go Erik Buell Racing Racing We Love Ya.
terryparsley@jtsperformance.com |
Kenney83
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 23, 2011 - 09:51 pm: |
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I still cheer for danny when he races. He is an amazing racer. Of course i cheer for all the buell racers. I can't wait to see Geoff to pick up where he left off last year. The more races he had the better he got. Should be fun to watch this year. I am so exited.
GO Erik Buell Racing!!!!!!!! |
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