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Fmaxwell
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 26, 2015 - 03:08 pm: | 
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Court wrote: No one bought "Erik Buell Racing". The Receiver disposed of various parts, pieces and assets. Hero bought some, Belfer bought some and perhaps some others bought some of the other stuff.
It was my understanding that Hero bought only the consulting business, of which they were the sole customer, while Belfer bought the remainder.
Did Belfer not buy the name "Eric Buell Racing"? The Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal Sentinal refers to Belfer as "the new owner of the Erik Buell Racing motorcycle company." According to Auto Blog, "While Erik Buell will be kept on as president of the operation that bears his name, the company's new owner Bruce Belfer will serve as its CEO." Belfer said "Our first order of business at EBR is to..."
If he did buy the name, intellectual property, capital equipment, inventory, etc., it seems to me that EBR is in business (whether one considers it business interruptus or a new EBR) and very much needs a website to proclaim that fact to the world. |
Court
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 26, 2015 - 03:13 pm: |
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I hope you're right and I am wrong. It would save MONTHS . . . . . assuming the successor entity remains on a course roughly analogous as to the plan EBR was executing. |
Buelliedan
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 26, 2015 - 04:42 pm: |
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The ability for any parts unlimited dealer to order EBR parts has been going for over 2 months now. That is not new.
The report that parts unlimited was holding back parts waiting on the receivership is false. |
Buelliedan
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 26, 2015 - 05:00 pm: |
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"Online shopping for accessories and parts, a clothing line also available online. The ability to custom order a bike online utilizing an option sheet that offers bare bones cheap to loaded up with everything including race packs, custom paint etc..
Deliver these online ordered bikes directly to the new owners home and make it an experience."
It is illegal in most states for a motorcycle manufacturer to sell a bike directly to a customer. It must be sold by a state liscensed motorcycle dealer. |
Fmaxwell
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 26, 2015 - 05:36 pm: |
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Court wrote: "I hope you're right and I am wrong. It would save MONTHS . . . . . assuming the successor entity remains on a course roughly analogous as to the plan EBR was executing."
I am only going on what I read in news articles -- and it's likely that you have better sources of information than that. I sure don't have access to the legal documents governing the sale, so I could be very wrong.
Davegess wrote: "sitting here we may think A or B is the most important but I am pretty sure that the boots on the ground have a far better idea of what needs to be done and how to assign the limited resources to get those jobs done."
How many of those boots are on the feet of people who have a really strong understanding of marketing, branding, and PR? I'm asking because I really don't know. |
1313
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 26, 2015 - 09:07 pm: |
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Hugh,
I'm surprised with your sleuthing you did not research this further.
As Court revealed Erik Buell Racing is indeed 'dead':
However, not all hope is (or was) lost:
At some point the bikes themselves were labeled Erik Buell Racing, but then at some point that changed to EBR:
Even with the familiar Pegasus logo:
And even for merchandise:
It may have been a bit too subtle for some, but to me it clearly signaled the transition from 'racing only' bikes to 'race inspired, and race capable' street bikes.
If it wasn't a deliberate move, I'd sure like to hear the backstory...
1313
P.S. Of course with the hurdles the new owner has ahead of him the status of all the EBR trademarks might not really be 'live'... Time will tell and, unfortunately for me, I don't have much patience!
P.S.S. Davegess - I couldn't agree with your sentiments more! Thank you for vocalizing what has run through my mind quite often as of late!
(Message edited by 1313 on August 26, 2015) |
Readyxb
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 26, 2015 - 11:20 pm: |
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I wonder if the new company will have any presence at AIMExpo, or if that's even on their radar? |
Hughlysses
| | Posted on Thursday, August 27, 2015 - 05:36 am: |
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^ Good find, Brankin. IIRC, shortly after the company was started Erik said something to the effect of he wanted EBR to become a brand like BMW or KTM, so maybe the dropping of "Erik Buell Racing" was intentional. |
Buelliedan
| | Posted on Thursday, August 27, 2015 - 10:29 am: |
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1190 RS bikes were Erik Buell Racing. 1190 RX/SX bikes were EBR. |
Hughlysses
| | Posted on Thursday, August 27, 2015 - 10:56 am: |
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^ Interesting.
Dan- Can you tell us if you've had any contact with the new owner of EBR (or whatever it will be called) yet? |
Buelliedan
| | Posted on Thursday, August 27, 2015 - 11:38 am: |
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I talked to Bruce once right after he bought EBR but have had no contact with him since. It was basically just a social call introducing ourselves to each other.
Uunfortunately I am as much in the dark about his plans as the rest of you. |
Phelan
| | Posted on Friday, August 28, 2015 - 11:06 pm: |
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The change from Erik Buell Racing to EBR also had a positive effect on insurance costs and availability, if I'm not mistaken. |
Snacktoast
| | Posted on Friday, August 28, 2015 - 11:37 pm: |
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2012 1190RS models (100 bikes) were "Erik Buell Racing 1190RS" bikes.
2013 1190RS models (35 bikes) were "EBR RS" models
All 2014 models were "EBR" models.
2015 would have also been "EBR" models.
The transition was much like an attempt to build a recognizable "brand name", much like KTM, BMW, or AMG. I believe Erik said as much in a magazine interview at some point. |
Dave
| | Posted on Saturday, August 29, 2015 - 12:04 pm: |
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Valuable insight - thanks all. |
Readyxb
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 02, 2015 - 12:39 am: |
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I guess I'll answer my own question. I think part of the marketing strategy would be to have some company presence at AIMExpo in Orlando, even if it's just Bruce and Erik there to say hi. But I'm sure they could do (and possibly show) more than just greet. |
Midknyte
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 02, 2015 - 02:25 pm: |
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Even just getting the racewear site back up so we can buy and wear some swag would help keep us pumped, no?
(Message edited by midknyte on September 02, 2015) |
Hughlysses
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 02, 2015 - 04:48 pm: |
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^ I posted a question on their FB page a while back and asked if they had sold absolutely all of their inventory. They said they had not and that they were waiting to see what happens with the new owner before doing anything else. Hopefully that means they will reopen in the near future. |
Robertl
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 02, 2015 - 09:59 pm: |
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AIMExpo is where they revealed the 1190rx in 2013.
Last year, EBR had demo rides but I was too late to get a slot.
Not expecting they will make it this year but I do hope to see someone present next year at Bike Week in Daytona. I was happily surprised by Erik there in 2014. |
86bgn
| | Posted on Thursday, September 10, 2015 - 06:06 pm: |
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My only advise is....
1) Buell, and EBR had some of the best magazine ads, and video advertisements i have ever seen for a motorcycle company, keep that up.
2) Bikes like the Lightning, and my personal favorite, the Super TT, had so much attitude there was nothing else that compared. I loved the racing history, and the engineering masterpieces that were part of Buell / EBR, but the urban assault vehicle- street fighter image is what sold me over and over again.
3) Organize area groups of Buell, EBR riders. Places like Kansas City used to have a huge Buell following, now most have all disappeared into the cracks
Did I say bring back the Super TT? with that 1190 engine, man, that would be bad to the bone!
My 2 cents... |
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