| Author | Message | ||
     Dualbuells |
Perhaps I'm behind the times I've never read or heard the reason Asset Liquidators off'd Erik Buell and EBR Motorcycle Company? Can anybody offer facts on the situation? | ||
| Damnut |
IMO....... they were just bullshitting everyone. They were hoping to sell the company whole to someone for huge profits and knew that was highly unlikely. So what you have now is a liquidating company doing what they do best. They didn't care one bit about Erik or his company, just their own. Business is business and if you're in the liquidating business this is what you do. | ||
| Hughlysses |
Here's a recent interview with Bill Melvin. It sounds as if there's a chance they MAY keep EBR going at a much lower production level: https://mibiz.com/item/25077-melvin-translates-pas sion-for-motorsports-into-business-opportunities | ||
| Rsh |
Unfortunately unless the buying market completely changes, I do not see EBR selling a viable number of the current model bikes to cover employee salaries, benefits and on top of that the cost of insurance and utilities for the factory. Even the market for EBR parts is limited. Overall it doesn't seem to be a good business model. In EBR's whole existence did they even sell 1000/1500 bikes. And now with the huge storms that have hit or are about to hit, the buying markets priorities will be completely different, and that affects all manufacturers. The exception being the automotive market, cars and trucks will need to be replaced or fixed. | ||
| Hybridmomentspass |
Going off what was already stated by RSH - a weak dealer network (even at its strongest, it was WEAK) didnt help. Marketing. Dealer network. Debuting with a 40k bike (yes, I know they dropped DRASTICALLY on future models, but people always remember that high price and naturally shy away). Spending a lot of time and money competing in WSB and getting waxed constantly. None of these things led to high sales. And after the second (first for EBR) shutdown/mishap people lost confidence. Why would (new) people buy into a company thats already went to a liquidator, almost no support from a dealer etc? It sucks. So many great innovations/ideas from EB and the team. but the dream is over. | ||
| Dualbuells |
It makes me wonder if Bruce Belfer has any renewed interest in acquisition of EBR. It seemed to me he got the short end of the stick on the first go around when Asset Liquidators got involved, not knowing any facts, just random thoughts. From his initial interest he seemed better suited to get the ball rolling. I guess we will never know. In the meantime hoping I'll be able to get parts etc. for my 2014 Laguna Blue 1190SX for some time yet. Still love riding the beast! lol | ||
| Oddball |
Rsh, Something like 1071? made over the years. Last i looked there was 40 something left on cycletrader. Most of them were the 2014's the dealers have had all these years. | ||
| Hughlysses |
I'm a little skeptical of the total number listed on Cycle Trader. I know of at least three 2017 SX's that have been sold (mine being one) that are still listed as available on Cycle Trader, so I'd guess there are others. Of course there are likely other bikes which aren't listed on Cycle Trader, but I don't think there are too many. I do think you're right that the majority of the remaining EBR's are 2014 models, mainly because the asking prices are equal to or higher (sometimes MUCH higher) than the newer models which have several worthwhile improvements. | ||
| Court |
>>>I'm a little skeptical of the total number listed on Cycle Trader I'm a LOT skeptical of the numbers. But . . then . . . that's the $60,000 question. :-) | ||
| Phelan |
My understanding is that Bruce lost put because his financing fell through. If that is the case, I don't anticipate EBR's situation would have been any better. | ||
| Oddball |
Hugh, True, only as accurate as the dealer's employee's attention to detail. I think those 2017 RX were listed for a while after they were sold. I see no appeal to the leftover 2014s at prices no-one would bite 2 years ago. |
