| Author | Message | ||
     Hughlysses |
Interesting development posted on the Quickboard; letter regarding payment of fees from the receivership: http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/406 2/770639.html?1443304321 | ||
| Skntpig |
Was it a big week? | ||
| Noone1569 |
Sigh, tab broke off my third airbox this last week. It's a revised version, strengthened underneath with additional plastic at the mounting points, still failed. Here's to hoping for good news. | ||
| Hughlysses |
A little news on EBR Europe's FB page this morning:
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| Ebrfan |
That is good news. I am sure EBR America will be announcing something over here soon too. | ||
| Buelliedan |
I wonder if the new EBR has contacted any of the old EBR dealers in Europe and confirmed if they still want to sell them. I still have not heard anything from the new EBR about the "status" of my EBR dealership. (Message edited by buelliedan on September 29, 2015) | ||
| Hughlysses |
Hopefully the US dealers, owners, and enthusiasts will all get some kind of update before the end of this week. | ||
| Buellerxt |
You have the patience of Job, Buelliedan. My dealer, burned twice, and 'big' this last time, and having suffered through silence, says never again. Getting dealers will be HARD, I'd say super hard, given the track record but if they do get some I hope they help and support them. I feel for the many dealers who took big risks with the brand and ended up taking big baths. I want EBR to succeed but they won't if dealer support isn't ramped up, big time, and attended to as a high priority. | ||
| Bjbauer |
Maybe they should put the bikes in the dealers show rooms on consignment. My local dealer is very unhappy and lost a lot of money. | ||
| Hootowl |
That might constitute a direct sale. Several states, actually, I believe it is a majority of states, do not allow that. | ||
| Buellmojo |
The Dealerships? I think that is thinking way ahead... Confident employees & quality parts suppliers will most likely be an issue, well before the dealer issue. Family and good business sense will most likely make the decision for most... | ||
| Reepicheep |
I'd love to see an EBR affordabe light adventure / naked standard bike, and all parts, available via Amazon Prime. | ||
| Hughlysses |
The Dealerships? I think that is thinking way ahead... Confident employees & quality parts suppliers will most likely be an issue, well before the dealer issue. Don't forget there are something like 250 completed bikes sitting in the factory plus parts to build some number (100?) more. EBR can't move any of those without some dealers to sell them. I guess ideally they'd have new supplier contracts lined up, employees ready to go to work, EPA & DOT certifications in place, dealerships, and a massive advertising campaign all ready to go about the same time. I can imagine it's a HUGE juggling act to manage, and it's hard to know which of these pieces is most important and which should be in place first. | ||
| Buelliedan |
I am waiting to see what they are going to offer dealers before I say yes or no. I will say if they think they are going to use the same methods as before the EBR shutdown then I am not interested in remaining a dealer for them. Just too much risk for very little reward. And the longer this "dome of silence" continues the less inclined I am becoming to still wanting to do this. I have never dealt with a major company that communicates so poorly with the sellers of its' products! It just baffles me how they seem to think this is the way to do business. (Message edited by buelliedan on September 30, 2015) | ||
| Airbozo |
I would be willing to bet that this "Dome of silence" is one imposed by lawyers until the final details get worked out. They could at least send something out even if it is as simple as a quick note asking for patience... As far as the direct sales, look at this Tesla graphic: http://money.cnn.com/interactive/pf/autos/where-yo u-can-buy-a-tesla/ I wonder if motorcycle manufacturers fall under the same laws since several states are passing exemptions for 3 wheeled vehicles like the Elio... | ||
| Court |
>>>Don't forget there are something like 250 completed bikes sitting in the factory That was built by ANOTHER manufacturer that dissolved and liquidated the assets of the firm in receivership. I suspect the bikes will end up as holiday gifts to friends and vendors but . . . absent some pretty fancy footwork with the feds, who must certify vehicle manufactures (here's hoping . . .) I doubt they'd be legal to sell. Again . . . dying to be proved wrong. But what if I'd gone and bought the lot of "unsold inventory" in the auction and tried to sell them? | ||
| Oddball |
Court, That's where i guess i don't understand bureaucratic bs. A machine already approved to meet a standard or standards in it's same unaltered form new in the box should be able to be purchased and registered by an individual. Unless they change standards since it's manufacturer and require it to meet new ones it has no certification for. Perhaps that "kit" idea may work to get around difficulties? Hootowl, Those are archaic rules that really should be done away with. | ||
| Buellmojo |
Oddball, I can only assume, the left over motorcycles were/are not finalized, never reaching the final stages. As Court also mentioned, built by a different manufacturer, one that no longer exists... forcing the remaining motorcycles to be registered as incomplete... the "standards", proper documentation, inspections, etc., all viewed as outdated, and no longer valid. | ||
| M2typhoon |
Sounds like there will be some future Super Sport 1000 bikes for sale if they can't register them. | ||
| Hughlysses |
It makes sense that they can't just re-open the factory and start shipping and selling bikes as if nothing's happened, but it does seem like it should be possible for "new" EBR to resume sales and production of the existing designs (if they still meet model year 2015 requirements) provided they get the appropriate approvals. Maybe they have to change the serial number plates with new info, but it doesn't seem like the bikes should be forever un-sellable. HOPEFULLY we'll hear something out of Bruce and/or Erik today. | ||
| Buelliedan |
If EBR is not allowed to sell the EBRs that are sitting in the warehouse I fear that the new EBR will be doomed to failure. At this time that is the only way I can see EBR getting enough working capital to be a viable business. Plus those bikes could be sold at a price that will entice dealers enough to be interested in carrying them on their floor. If EBR thinks they are going to be able to sell 2016 models at the $16,000-$18,000 price range and that dealers are going to be willing to floor plan them for only a 12% profit margin then I can tell you I will not be interested in selling them and several other dealers I have spoken to have said the same thing to me. (Message edited by buelliedan on October 01, 2015) | ||
| Hughlysses |
^ Dan- how are the Magpul bikes "branded" when they're sold? | ||
| Buelliedan |
Magpuls are still titled as Buells. They are sold as used bikes. | ||
| Reepicheep |
I doubt the capital from every bike in the warehouse, if sold tomorrow for full retail, would amount to much more than a rounding error in what it will take to get the new EBR launched. And I suspect Bruce Belfer completely understood this when he bought the EBR assets at auction, and has another plan. EBR got a bad deal, which is sad. EBR dealers got a bad deal as a result of that. EBR owners got a bad deal as a result of that. The new company formed from the assets of EBR will require a lot of investment to do right, and I don't see how rushing into anything is in anyone's interest. Ramp up staff (and expenses) as they become necessary. Start with a small strategy and planning team (Bruce, Erik, and maybe a couple other people), then get some engineering and sourcing talent online, then maybe start trying to figure out the retail angle while getting some facilities and manufacturing online. | ||
| Oddball |
Buelliedan, I doubt that 16-18 pricing range would entice buyers any better than it has the last two years either. I've seen an enticing price suggested on here after the sale happened that would effectively pay bruce back the EBR purchase price. Adding a 50% markup on top of that would put it at the limit of market interest from my minor view. Though it may achieve your desired margin. | ||
| Hughlysses |
250 bikes X $10k each = $2.5M, which is more than Bruce paid for the company. If the bikes were warrantied and dealers sold them for ~$12k each, Bruce comes out ahead, dealers make 20% profit, and customers get ~$15-19K bikes for $12k. Win-win-win! Or not... | ||
| Hughlysses |
I just had a thought regarding the apparent delay in an announcement from "new" EBR: The 2nd letter that went out this week was regarding payments to employees. While that doesn't have any direct connection to "new" EBR, maybe "new" EBR is waiting on that to finalize since it might play into re-hiring former EBR employees, and what kind of salaries/incentives "new" EBR offers them to come to work. | ||
| Buelliedan |
For dealers to be interested in selling the warehoused 2014/2015 bikes that the new EBR inherited I think even $10,000 dealer price is going to be way too high. My feeling is that it is going to take a dealer price of around $8,000 per bike or less for dealers to take that risk. I have a brand new 2014 1190 RX that I have been trying to sell for $12,000 for many months now with no takers. You have to understand that the dealer has to buy the bike from EBR as soon as it is delivered. If it sits for several months before they can sell it that can cost a dealer several hundred dollars in finance charges. And then let's be honest...what happens if the new EBR shuts its' doors again and burn the dealers and customers once more? (Message edited by buelliedan on October 01, 2015) | ||
| Readyxb |
Bruce's facebook post today:
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| Ponti1 |
Bruce's facebook post today "like" |
