| Author | Message | ||
     Crusty |
The squeaky wheel is the one that gets the grease, right? If I make enough irritating noise, then maybe EBR will be annoyed enough that they'll build my bike. Kinda like those asinine "Ring around the collar" ads that sold so much Wisk detergent. They bugged people so much that folks went out in droves and bought Wisk. Of course, if Erik and the elves are like me, then I'm just shooting myself in the foot. I intentionally won't buy a product if I find the ad obnoxious. I've never bought Wisk and there are even products that I liked that I stopped buying when I saw a very obnoxious ad for them. I used Right Guard deodorant until they ran a really insulting ad, and haven't bought it since. Anyhow, I just want it known that I want a Sport Tourer. It doesn't have to be a dedicated or specific model; just offer the accessories to make it myself. It doesn't need a lot of accessories, even. Start with an 1190 SX. It's as sweet a bike as I could ever ask for in the power, handling and braking departments. Offer the taller bars and lower footpegs that were on Erik's personal SX. Put on a windshield and handguards like were on the Uly, heated grips, a more comfortable seat, like Buell did with the S3-T back in 99 and waterproof hard saddlebags. I'd like a belt drive, but an enclosed drive chain running in an oil bath would work pretty nicely, too and would be narrower than a belt. I think such a bike would sell. Not in numbers to make H-D nervous, but I've talked to a lot of people who share my desire for such a bike. Offer it as a "Touring Kit", or offer the individual pieces or maybe both. I've been touring around the country on an 11 year old Sportster and having the time of my life. If I could do the same on an EBR, life would be even better. I'll make it a point to ride out to Missoula, Montana just to ride Lolo Pass on such a sweet handling bike (probably on my way to Fairbanks and the Arctic Circle). Erik told me, years ago that Sport Tourers don't sell. I think that if you offered an SX with the options I listed, you'd sell more SXs. I know one nut case who'd jump at the chance. Offer it in January, and I'll fly out to East Troy, or Denver, or some equally distant location, and ride it home in the dead of winter. I bet I'm not alone in wanting such a bike, or at least some of those options. The SX with the windshield drew a lot of positive comments when the photo appeared online, as did the bars and pegs on Erik's SX. If you build it, I'll buy one. If you offer the kit or just the parts to make it, I'll buy the bike and kit and build one. | ||
| Dannybuell |
can you source these items yourself? | ||
| Crusty |
Some of them, but not all of them. | ||
| Ebrfan |
I think a kit offering with sourced parts would sell, whereas a whole production bike would have to be justified. And therein lies the problem. With a dozen or two being in demand, the demand really doesn't make the numbers for manufacturing at this point in time. However, with the cost of a new unwarrantied 2015 SX being $8,800.00 anyone could easily build a fully outfitted AX and have it on the road for a grand total of less than $11,000. Here is an idea that has been shown to work on many a project in the Buell communities: Start a new thread dedicated solely to customizing an SX, converting it to the elusive AX. Members would happily contribute their sourcing of manufacturers' parts and listing of part numbers for easy ordering, take pictures of their build processes and share their knowledge along the way as the thread grows. It would be your one stop shop for everything AX. Start with everything listed so far: high bars, longer cables, heated grips and wiring, windscreen, hand protectors, lowered foot pegs, custom seat manufacturer, sport touring tires, hard bag sources and a how-to on fitting them to the sub frame, etc. Even if a member is not buying right now the thread can be started and happily contributed to for future reference. A little time now sourcing parts and listing their part numbers and cost will save time and effort in the build process. The forum mods may even "sticky" it to the top for easy access. | ||
| Clarkjw |
Apparently BRP is in the market for a motorcycle company. You may get your wish if they buy EBR and fund the AX. http://montrealgazette.com/business/bombardier-rec reational-products-to-break-into-motorcycle-busine ss | ||
| Surfsofa |
I too liked the idea of an AX, before I got my own SX. Now it seems like a waste of an ET-V2, at least with the tune it has in the current bikes. After 1200 miles it's clear to me what this bike is meant for. It's meant to be going fast. Very fast. It's the very opposite of relaxing to ride, and that's why I love it. It's an animal. OK, so I'm lucky enough to have a garage large enough for more than one bike. One of the others is a Uly. Personally I find it hard to imagine a better sports tourer. The Uly is a true all-day bike. It's low maintenance and has the ergonomics to keep me comfortable and the torque to keep me smiling. Sure, an AX would be a nice addition to the EBR lineup, and perhaps it would sell well. It'll be interesting to see what happens next in the saga - it feels like a saga, doesn't it?  | ||
| Figorvonbuellingham |
Well I just bought a new Vstrom so I'm sure they will release the AX now. That's what happened when I got tired of waiting for the RX. I bought a new BMW S1000rr and sure enough they released the RX shortly after. | ||
| Steveford |
Give it the looks of a modern S3, make it so it can hold two fat people without breaking anything like wheel bearings, add hard bags and do whatever is necessary to increase the valve inspection intervals to 12,000 miles, please. | ||
| Save_ferris |
Just bought a non-warranty 2015 SX. I bought a Uly in July. Beyond the immediate love affair with the Uly, I found that I wished it had a couple thousand more rpm and a sixth gear for when someone does a stupid on the freeway, where everyone is doing 85 now. At times like these, my response was always to twist the throttle and change zip codes, fast. They can do whatever they want "back there". After seeing Erik's bike at the EBR Reunion in Indy, the fuse was lit. I will be turning the SX into a sport tourer, and will share my findings. Erik told me he'd like to build the AX, but they have to grow the company the right way this time, to be sustainable. On a side note, I hope BRP stays at bay and Mr. Belfer truly has Erik's back as he said in the interview. I'm sure, like Figor, that as soon as I'm where I want to be with this project, they'll release it. Here's hoping.... | ||
| Hughlysses |
^ Bruce Belfer lost out on his attempt to acquire EBR. Liquid Assets is now the owner, but they seem to have the same attitude Bruce had. | ||
| Zac4mac |
Not so sure, Hugh. I've seen Bruce popping in to the EBR Facebook pages lately. Males me wonder... | ||
| Damnut |
This is going to give you some ideas........ http://ebrforum.com/showthread.php?909-My-2014-SX- 0145/page4 | ||
| Hughlysses |
Not so sure, Hugh. I've seen Bruce popping in to the EBR Facebook pages lately. Yea, I've noticed that too. Maybe he's participating somehow, but he didn't win the auction. Maybe we haven't heard the last of Bruce and EBR. |
