Author |
Message |
Hughlysses
| Posted on Thursday, November 17, 2016 - 12:13 pm: |
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Major update to the website: http://www.erikbuellracing.com/ Includes more details on the new Black Lightning, there's a store with apparel now, plus many more changes. |
Buelliedan
| Posted on Thursday, November 17, 2016 - 01:49 pm: |
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I only see 13 dealers now listed. Did they lose a few? |
Hughlysses
| Posted on Thursday, November 17, 2016 - 02:24 pm: |
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Looks like they lost 2; they were up to 15 at one point: http://www.badweatherbikers.com/cgibin/discus/show .cgi?tpc=253912&post=2555121#POST2555121 |
Buelliedan
| Posted on Thursday, November 17, 2016 - 02:28 pm: |
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I was thinking it was 15. |
Hughlysses
| Posted on Thursday, November 17, 2016 - 03:07 pm: |
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So the New Jersey dealer dropped out; not sure who the other was. |
Buelliedan
| Posted on Thursday, November 17, 2016 - 03:53 pm: |
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I just don't see how they are going to make it with so few dealers. |
M1combat
| Posted on Thursday, November 17, 2016 - 04:44 pm: |
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They need to sell bikes in other ways... Also... did anyone get a cert error on the site when they visited? I did and sent an email to tech at ebr. |
Reepicheep
| Posted on Thursday, November 17, 2016 - 05:00 pm: |
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No cert error, but our corporate web filters are blocking http://www.ebr.store/ for some reason (they get stupid sometimes). |
Froggy
| Posted on Thursday, November 17, 2016 - 05:24 pm: |
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Yea the New Jersey dealer was the one I noticed missing as it was slightly closer to me than Big Boyz in upstate NY. |
Hughlysses
| Posted on Thursday, November 17, 2016 - 05:34 pm: |
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The other "missing" dealer is Whites Harley in Chester Springs, PA. The other Whites in Lebanon, PA is still listed. |
Buellerxt
| Posted on Thursday, November 17, 2016 - 08:19 pm: |
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One of the Texas dealers, Goe Kawasaki in Angleton, Tx., really isn't. They have no EBR bikes, haven't since the fire sale, and show no sign of being a dealer. Perhaps if someone reads the EBR website and sees they are a dealer they can go to Goe Kawasaki and order one but there are no signs or advertisements at Goe. How many of the other 12 dealers are similar? I'm pulling for Erik but like Buelliedan I don't see how it's going to happen. (Message edited by BuellerXT on November 17, 2016) (Message edited by BuellerXT on November 17, 2016) |
Hughlysses
| Posted on Thursday, November 17, 2016 - 08:40 pm: |
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Perhaps if someone reads the EBR website and sees they are a dealer they can go to Goe Kawasaki and order one but there are no signs or advertisements at Goe. You can actually order the bike on-line at EBR's site; then you have to go to the dealer to pick it up. |
Thumper1203
| Posted on Thursday, November 17, 2016 - 09:40 pm: |
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NICE :-) ^^^ ..bring on the AX! |
Buellerxt
| Posted on Thursday, November 17, 2016 - 09:53 pm: |
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I understand that, Hughlysses, but how many bikes will they sell with only 13 dealers and at least one of them shows no signs of an EBR affiliation? Where do customers go for warranty work or service beyond the basic stuff when there are no dealers? Hey, I'm on their side but quite frankly I'm surprised they are still in existence. |
Buelliedan
| Posted on Friday, November 18, 2016 - 01:21 pm: |
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Until the new EBR takes steps to entice dealers to carry these bikes I do not see it getting any better. I really tried to work with the family but the terms they were offering to me to stay a dealer were just not practical from a business standpoint. It would be really interesting to know just how many 2016 bikes have actually been sold? Most of the bikes I have seen being sold seem to be left over 2014s and 2015s. (Message edited by buelliedan on November 18, 2016) (Message edited by buelliedan on November 18, 2016) |
Sparky
| Posted on Friday, November 18, 2016 - 02:51 pm: |
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There's a new Financial arrangement for dealers now mentioned in the News section and here. |
Buelliedan
| Posted on Friday, November 18, 2016 - 03:49 pm: |
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I am getting anonymous hate mail from some cowardly puke so I will not say anymore. In the end it doesn't matter what I feel, it is if EBR can survive. (Message edited by buelliedan on November 18, 2016) |
Buellerxt
| Posted on Friday, November 18, 2016 - 07:17 pm: |
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That is a shame, Buelliedan. Your input has been good and appreciated. Don't let a cowardly weasel turn you away. Don't read his crap. Just delete it. To me, the goal doesn't appear to be to build an ongoing prosperous company, it is to hang on long enough to lure a deep pocketed buyer. I could be wrong, of course, but there is no way they will survive with 12-13 dealers. It's a shame but . . . |
Crusty
| Posted on Friday, November 18, 2016 - 08:14 pm: |
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I also agree that you should not let one yahoo drive you off. I've met you and I've been to your shop and I think you have a lot to offer this forum. Your opinions have value; they're born from your experience as a dealer who took a heavy financial hit. I hope that one of these days, things will turn around and you'll be a dealer again. But whether or not that happens, you're the guy in the ring and that, all by itself, deserves respect. |
Airbozo
| Posted on Friday, November 18, 2016 - 08:32 pm: |
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Post up the email address and headers. Trolls don't like the light of day and we can turn the searchlight on... |
Hughlysses
| Posted on Friday, November 18, 2016 - 08:50 pm: |
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I'd think Froggy or another of the mods could identify the culprit. What a jackass. |
Court
| Posted on Friday, November 18, 2016 - 09:32 pm: |
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>>>Your input has been good and appreciated In addition to accurate. At this point . . EBR is pretty much at the "hobby' stage. I hope it gains traction but investors have looked and walked as have customers. The dealers I've seen in this area (the largest metropolitan area in the United States), have seemed luke warm, at best. The largess dealer in the Northeast had dispatched the EBR lineup before the disruption with Hero. Lately I've tried to randomly pick dealers off the EBR website and explore the dealer's websites. Many have no mention, not a single word, or EBR on their sites and it you call and ask you get a confused response. It does not inspire confidence. Like Dan, I've asked a number of times "who has bought a 2016". While I am sure there are some out there, I'm concerned that I can't seem to find them. The leftovers, ar below fire sale prices, still linger on various websites. The EBR bikes are engineering marvels. . . . or at least were when the 1190 motor was rolled out. You owe it to yourself to take a close look at one, the fit and finish is absolutely amazing. But . . part of the problem . . . is that so are Triumph, Ducati and BMM. It really is a tough world. In addition, the elephant in the room is getting an investor to queue up with >$50M USD to launch a company that is ENTIRELY built on one truly talented engineer who is approaching the age one is required to take minimum required distributions from retirement plans. It's great yarn . . . . but damn tough to spin into sweaters. Shame that whoever is sending the nastygram hasn't the balls to pitch in here and defend something . . . . I've been around Buell since 1987 and I, for one, would love to hear their opinion. Court |
Adrenaline_junkie
| Posted on Saturday, November 19, 2016 - 07:58 am: |
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I love EBR and Buell motorcycles. As soon as I get done on Bad Web this morning I am going to order a hat from the updated web site. What I'm not going to do is order a motorcycle. The current lineup doesn't really meet my needs. At my weight I need to be able to move back and forth to change the pressure points if I'm going to ride all day. But that is only a small part of the problem. The main problem is that I live in Belleville WV (go to BFE and turn left). It's a long way from Belleville to anywhere that has somebody qualified to work on the electrical system of an EBR. (East Troy is 568 miles). I'm finding the three hour each way trip to my Aprilia dealer to be a pain. That being said, I still think that Erik Buell builds amazing motorcycles. Somebody at the WV Buell Rally made the comment that they thought Erik was really only interested in racing motorcycles. I've thought on that a lot. A whole lot. It may very well be true. That is where he started and that passion for the ultimate race track performance is what drives his designs in my opinion. IF that is the case and Erik is really only interested in building enough bikes to keep him legal for racing, well, more power to him! I'll ride something from one of the mass producers and cheer Erik Buell at every corner. John Britten never built anything for me either, but he is still one of my motorcycle heroes. |
Hughlysses
| Posted on Saturday, November 19, 2016 - 12:04 pm: |
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Somebody at the WV Buell Rally made the comment that they thought Erik was really only interested in racing motorcycles. I've thought on that a lot. A whole lot. It may very well be true. That is where he started and that passion for the ultimate race track performance is what drives his designs in my opinion. I've heard that too, but I don't think it's true. EBR spent the last 2 or 3 years prior to closure mainly working on designs for small-cc motorcycles and scooters for Hero, and they developed some really innovative bikes. They've shown they're interested in and capable of designing and building bikes at the opposite end of the spectrum from racing. The main reason they're building only 1190-engined bikes right now is that's what they can build. While they were cash and people flush for a while during their partnership with Hero, their efforts were concentrated on working for Hero. Now they just have a few employees and limited funding, so it's going to be a slow process to develop other new designs. That said, notice what the updated page on EBR's website says about future models:
quote:...we are making real progress on expanding the range of models of the 1190 platform, as well as developing and delivering accessories that our EBR riders want. There is a bright future for EBR, and as part of that work is proceeding on a sub-$10k platform for 2018.
Source: http://www.erikbuellracing.com/futuremodels They clearly have plans for things other than race-based bikes in the near future. |
Glitch
| Posted on Saturday, November 19, 2016 - 01:29 pm: |
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Post up the email address and headers. Trolls don't like the light of day and we can turn the searchlight on... True that. I'd do just that. I'd think Froggy or another of the mods could identify the culprit. Froggy maybe, I can not. What a jackass. Be nice, I know some really nice jackasses! |
Sagehawk
| Posted on Saturday, November 19, 2016 - 01:46 pm: |
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Ditto on Buellerxt comment as I liVE in angleton. I've seen one time on goes sign of ebr and that was 4 or so years ago. Wife n I took a trip to Boston two years ago, and visited a dealer south of boston, same type attitude. 5 ebr bikes on floor , but not one of three salespeople in that place even got up to at least say hi, can I help you. Look what we got. I've struggled with how this site has such a huge following of buell enthusiasts and how dealers just can't get it up for these brands. Anyhow. Time will tell. Also poo on trolls, get a line on them and we'll introduce them to some 1300's poppet technology! |
Hughlysses
| Posted on Sunday, November 20, 2016 - 03:23 pm: |
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Judging from posts on EBR's FB page as well as several motorcycle magazine sites, EBR's booth at the Long Beach IMS is getting a lot of attention this weekend. That would seem to be a very good thing! |
Johndd
| Posted on Sunday, November 20, 2016 - 10:27 pm: |
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Near as I can tell, the dealer network grew to from the original eight in April, to sixteen in September, and then shrank by three to thirteen (see nerd graph below). It looks like the following three dropped off: NE: (1) Dillon Brothes MotorSports NJ: (2) Wide World Powersports PA: (3) Harley-Davidson of Chester Springs
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Newmans3
| Posted on Sunday, November 20, 2016 - 11:35 pm: |
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Just checked HD of Chester Springs in PA, and the website still shows EBR as a current line of motorcycles that they sell. |
Johndd
| Posted on Monday, November 21, 2016 - 12:06 am: |
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The EBR site isn't showing that dealer. Maybe this is just a glitch in the new web site. |
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