| Author | Message | ||
     Nevco1 |
Ice...Probably the same reason they don't make anything to compete with the larger displacement V-Twins on the oval. Quite simply, and this is paraphrased from when the foreign bikes hit the track at Del Mar a few years back, Willie G. likes the NASCAR Format of the existing class. I think you can translate that into HD only wants to fund the race effort for one model and leave the rest up to the dealers and privateers, much like they have done with Buell. I can understand the concept as the 750 class is a heritage thing and HD decided they had to continue in that class for both tradition and because they dominate it. Factory developed racers in the other classes and venues would just be too much of a drain on corporate. Evidence HD's failed entry into road racing. Just my never-so-humble opinion. Hope I am wrong!!!  | ||
| Iceracer |
Nev,Thanks for the insight. I can understand it. But...It's the one thing Harley knows how to do and do it well. Road Racing and Dirttracking are two completely different things. Seems to me they should have stuck with Dirttracking and helped the multitudes that follow it and do it. The money would have gone a lot farther. My guess is they would sell more dirt bikes than V-rods. Just my 2 cents worth. Thanks, Ice | ||
| Mikej |
Harley tried the dirt bike thing with Ameriachi (sp?) and sort of dropped out of the small displacement game before that with the Hummers back in the early 1960's. Walk out onto your nearest major metropolitan city street at lunchtime and ask various people the following questions: 1. Does Harley-Davidson sponsor any motorcycle racing, and if so what kind? 2. What is a blue groove? 3. What kind of a bike is a Jawa? (I've always wanted one of these some day.) 4. Is the Milwaukee Mile track paved or dirt? The answers to the questions may give a clue why Harley will most likely never fully offer a dirttracker. A modified special edition Blast may be the closest we see. Unless unspoken rumors of a modified XB/S see the light of day. That would be cool. Have you ever been here: http://www.vft.org/rouitopenhouse02.html/rouitopenhouse2003..html ? I never made it while in Calif.  http://www.vft.org/index.html | ||
| Dynarider |
1. Does Harley-Davidson sponsor any motorcycle racing, and if so what kind? I would venture to say 99% of the folks wouldnt have a clue. Just because those of us who are enthusiasts know, doesnt mean the general populace knows. Hell even a huge majority of the biking community doesnt pay any attention to whats happening in their own sport. They dont participate in rides or events, dont vist the web. Remember this. We have over 300 million people just in this country. HD sells 300,000 bikes & we make it seem like a big deal, yet thats only .1% of the population. Thats not a typo .1% Take all of the bike owners in this country & we wouldnt even comprise 1% of the population. | ||
| Mikej |
That's kind of my point. The current corp is profit/bottom line/public company driven overshadowed by that "Image™" thing. Don't really think you'll see a dirt tracker from them any time soon unless they buy out KTM or something. But then the clutch handle tassles will quickly kill that market off. Not to mention what will happen when they try to stuff a V-Rod engine into the place of the 500cc single engine in the Motard bikes. We be jammin'.  | ||
| Dynarider |
Harley see's no reason to do that. They pretty much sell every bike they make, they have the image marketed perfectly. They sell millions of t-shirts to folks who have never even sat on a Harley. A dirt bike probably wouldnt end up adding anything to their bottom line which is profit. | ||
| Mikej |
It's kind of funny to walk into a dealership and not see any bikes. Went into Suburban last week and they had about three bikes visible to the public up front since their normal showroom area was taken over by their annual Christmas clearance year end sale stuff. Oh, off topic side note, ... (oops, never mind, wasn't sure if that was supposed to be public information yet). edited by mikej on January 08, 2004 | ||
| Dynarider |
I'd ask what kind of shows, but seeing as how the door got slammed. | ||
| Mikej |
Sorry about that, think about the saturday morning car shows and current sales levels.... Might be attending their store functions and didn't want to get an engine case thrown at me. | ||
| Dynarider |
Ahhh... | ||
| Dynarider |
Shades of ole Bert Weiman Ford where you could get a brand new 72 Maverick right off the showroom floor in 1980  Sunday mornings used to be flooded with those type commericials | ||
| Iceracer |
Mikej, cool site, it's now on my list. I see your points Dynarider and Mikej. I can't help but notice that all the Grand Nationals draw (in most places) huge crowds,not all are Harley riders. I would think that Harley riders would buy a Harley (Buell)dirt bike rather than a rice burner if they were shopping. I also don't believe their attempt at it in the 60's is even comparable to todays situation. To see an xb or a blast for dirt would be awsome. The blast is still a boat anchor when it comes to comparing it to a dirt bike.There are very few if any other than Rich King riding the xr500. I'm not trying too start any arguments. I would like to spend my money on a Buell or Harley to go racing. I guess I'm asking for something better to start with than the Blast. It weighs too much and is too wide for the horse power it puts out. I'll quit my sniveling and wining. Thanks again. Ice | ||
| Mikej |
There is a woman flat tracker who was doing well on her Blast and semi-Blast (I think she had a Rotax engine in one bike, and both I believe were on non-Buell frames). I forget her name or where she rode or what team she was associated with. Made the discussions here a lot a year or three ago, haven't heard too much since. As a side note: last year we went to the Slinger races, short paved track car racing (supposed to be the fastest banked 1/4 mile track in the U.S. from what I was told). The stands were packed. Yet, when you get away from the track you'd be hard pressed to find anyone who knows much about it or even when the races are except for hearing them every so often off in the distance. Last weekend I was off looking at a 1947 Chevy. The owner recently had 50 Harleys in various stages of repair or restoration or completion. He sold them all and is now on one Japanese manufactured cruiser. Die hard American Hot Rodder, now riding a Kawasaki. Don't know what that all means except to point out that not all Harley owners would buy a Harley offroad bike. And many of them are migrating away from the image and are just into riding now. | ||
| Dynarider |
I would think that Harley riders would buy a Harley (Buell)dirt bike rather than a rice burner if they were shopping. Nope, not at all. You would be suprised to know what Harley owners own or would like to own. Sure you have a few of the old relics that wont ever buy anything but a Harley but more & more they are turning to Hondas, Kawis etc for a change of pace. They will fire up the HD for the weekend HOG ride or to putt down to the local show & shine, but thats about it. | ||
| Blake |
Topic.  | ||
| Dynarider |
TAOAT | ||
| Josh_ |
>It's kind of funny to walk into a dealership and not see any bikes. Last couple of dealers I went into in St Louis had multiple bikes from each model, incl VROD, FatBoy and RoadKing. My dad just bought an '03 Sportser 883 Custom all tricked out, with 4 miles on it from a dealer for $5300. He also bought a 94(95?) FXD with some extras and 10,000miles from the same dealer for $7000. What does this mean? I don't know but I think it's not the time to be "investing" in a hog. | ||
| Blake |
Topic! | ||
| Mikej |
For the Factory: Would it be possible to open up an "Insider's Newsletter" sort of deal. Would be great to hear early thoughts and considerations and be indirectly involved in bringing thoughts to the table such as a commerative flat tracker edition or something, or at least a formal offering of scale models of all Buells built over the years. Thanks. ==== Topic!  | ||
| Steveford |
At work today, the owner of "my" dealership, an astoudingly intelligent and astute woman in her late 70s, held up a Buell XB9S key and said, "THIS is the key to the future". | ||
| Court |
>>>astoudingly intelligent and astute woman | ||
| Court |
ask her if she remembers Miss Ellie? | ||
| Sportsman |
Court, A HD dealer not far from me has a Buell sign and that's about it. Now that most parts aren't interchangable with Sportsters and a stand alone Buell dealer wouldn't be a parts threat. IF, a person tried to purchase the franchise from them, would they be allowed to sell it? | ||
| Ara |
As I recall there are several stand-alone Buell dealerships that aren't collocated with a HD dealership. | ||
| Sportsman |
I don't know, I think there's only one and it has a HD dealer next door. Seperate but together. In checking the HD website they say HD/Buell dealership. The minimum requirements would make a Buell alone dealer almost as big as the factory (that was a joke) But 23,000 sq ft would be a monster Buell shop. I don't think a Honda only shop could support itself with the HD requirements. | ||
| Court |
>>>a person tried to purchase the franchise from them, would they be allowed to sell it? A: No >>>As I recall there are several stand-alone Buell dealerships that aren't collocated with a HD dealership. A: Symantecs. >>>I don't know, I think there's only one and it has a HD dealer next door. Seperate but together. A: Symantecs. | ||
| Sportsman |
Well then, I guess a grassroots type small dealer won't get a chance to spotlight a great product. Pity. Thanks Court, saved alot of time. | ||
| Court |
Sportsdude: As it stands now, your are correct. But, over the years Buell has, albeit sometimes at a seemingly snail-like pace, exhibited a keen ability to hear their friends/customers...listen and respond. Your idea is not without merit...mechanics of it are difficult, not impossible and well worth pursuing. My personal opinion. Court | ||
| Firemanjim |
So,anybody at Buell have any experience with Buells,turbos and F.I.--I really would like to add a F.I. set-up to my Bonneville S-2 for ease of tuning at different altitudes,etc.Sems to me I remember someone at Buell having an Aerocharged bike---- | ||
| Blake |
Was Mr. Buell himself not rumored to have toyed with a turbocharged test mule at one time no? Was it an X1? |
