| Author | Message | ||
     Hughlysses |
This video was posted today. Melvin looks really happy and enthusiastic, and promises many good things are in the works. | ||
| 89rs1200 |
Where is the link to the video? | ||
| Hughlysses |
The video should show in the post above. In case there’s an issue, here’s a link to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQ2fUgLgEFA&t=16s | ||
| Mnscrounger |
I'm excited for the company and the people who work there. This makes me hopeful, but this was little more than a teaser about "what I did last weekend". There was no design or production info presented. I don't expect details that completely open the kimono, but I would have been thrilled to hear something like, "Our smaller displacement trail bike frames are off the design board, and preproduction testing versions are in the fab shop" or "the build order is in for 1190SX touring kits. We should have X units available by X date". Those are the kind of statements that inspire confidence in the brand's future. Even something like "We had a minor delay setback due to a supply chain problem from our contract manufacturer for X parts." would let us know that real production work on new models is happening. Disclaimer: I have ZERO inside information about any of the current offerings or future models proposed. The above statements are pure conjecture based on rumors and past press reports. | ||
| Figorvonbuellingham |
Just show me the adventure bike so I can decide which new bike I’m going to get. | ||
| Tpehak |
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| Jaimec |
Just saw this on Roadracing World: https://www.roadracingworld.com/news/buell-hammerh ead-production-begins-november-1/ | ||
| Hughlysses |
Here are a couple of photos they posted to Facebook this week. Good to see that Geoff May is involved.   | ||
| Jaimec |
Test rider? | ||
| Hughlysses |
I’m guessing so. They also posted this track photo.  | ||
| Zacks |
Can anyone tell me what's different from my 2014 RX other than the BNG (Bold New Graphics) and secondary muffler delete - which would be typical of any race version? How about anyone on the forum that lives in GRR and has insight into the factory, development, seen any spooling up road miles etc.? | ||
| Crusty |
I bet there's a proper sized o-ring on the starter... | ||
| Figorvonbuellingham |
Having never been on one of these I wouldn’t be inclined to reserve one. Are they going to have demo bikes available anywhere? | ||
| Hughlysses |
Article at motorcycle.com: https://www.motorcycle.com/features/buell-hammerhe ad-production-begins-nov-1-but-thats-just-the-begi nning.html | ||
| Wcbrracing |
I like how this article states the obvious, it’s 99.2% the same bike as it was back it came out in 2014 as an EBR… FINALLY a writer who sees it and states it— even the webpage is the exact same, just photoshopped for the new logo placement and other “updates”. Decals, muffler tips, side gills, colors…And “Buellvana” ordering website?!? Not too original ideas there either. if you are a car guy, maybe we are watching another TVR, rich guy comes in to “save the brand” yet drives it into bankruptcy again…. Especially when I do believe the future is electric, at least for mainstream buyers, not hardcore motorcycle enthusiasts. https://jalopnik.com/the-new-buell-motorcycle-is-s tarting-production-with-sp-1847802160 | ||
| Lew360 |
I'm surprised she isn't on this site as she owns a XB. She definitely knows what she is talking about | ||
| Wcbrracing |
Very cool, she is one of the better writers out there for car and motorcycle articles— hands on mechanical, knowledgeable, and adventurous too. I must say, the new Buell Public relations department definitely sent out a mass release to every magazine-newspaper-website… I saw links to probably 10 different web articles. Some got it right, others didn’t! Definitely are some “reporters” and “writers” in the webverse who are seriously clueless. What I’m questioning is the “completely built in Wisconsin”… . Isn’t the ROTAX motor fully built in Austria and then shipped to Buell to be built around? Or is it designed by ROTAX and then manufactured here under license by Buell? | ||
| Zacks |
Originally - correct. When HD pulled the plug in 2010, they hadn't met the contract commitment to Rotax for the number of units. So, the EBR was able to acquire the IP and started building them in East Troy. Essentially hand built. Not sure if they were somewhat blueprinted. Other's may chime in. That's all as I understand it. | ||
| Figorvonbuellingham |
I saw a post to an artical from someone claiming to work for LAP. They stated that LAP has enough parts on hand to build 200 motorcycles. They then poised the question what would really happen after the last one is sold. | ||
| Mnscrounger |
figorvonbuellingham: "..what would really happen after the last one is sold." It's a fair question.. First, let me say I am enthusiastically rooting for this company's success. I want more American manufactured products for the good of our economy, and jobs for our hard working, wage earning Americans. I also would love to see American motorcycles be the envy of people around the world, in all market segments. Given the history, and Erik's lack of involvement, it's natural for even the most rabid Buell enthusiast to give the current company the side-eye. But Buell/EBR claims to have hired a number of people from the manufacturing side of industry, not just marketing people. In traditional product launches, to maximize the buzz in the press, and avoid depressing current product sales with customers "holding off for the new model", its customary to keep your products under wraps until debut day. But this company isn't just any company, and the products they sell require a certain amount of emotional buy in from the customer. I doubt anyone is going to buy a new Buell based on a "value judgment". Other than the 1190 models Buell has no current product offering to worry about depressing current sales. The community of current Buell owners are their best hope for success, and also their harshest critic, and they have to know it. Buell/LAP also knows how much skepticism there is in this community. I think It would be in their best interest to share a bit more information than usual product development with this community to help build confidence in the commitment they say they are making. I wouldn't expect full spec drawings, or even photos or renderings of full bikes. I do think they could post images of parts for models yet to be built or comments with regard to the component sourcing for the new models on the board. There isn't much new IP risk in a photo of water pump. Examples would be: Style option sketches for wheels on an upcoming model. Press announcement: " XYZ brake company will be supplying the brakes for our upcoming ____ model" Or, "the first batch of triple trees for ___ are here" Teaser photos for those would also be helpful. It might be worth the time to give a few of the influencer and "old guard" in the Buell community an opportunity to look in on the development side, (after signing an NDA). If people WE trust say good things, I'm more inclined to be optimistic. The SX touring pack is the supposed to be the first "new Buell" manufactured product out. My thought is that will be the first "tell". If the kit looks well engineered, and manufactured with the same attention to detail as the EBR subframe, there is hope. If it looks like something I made on my bench, managed enthusiasm with a healthy dose of skepticism is in order. (Message edited by mnscrounger on October 07, 2021) | ||
| Mad_max |
I saw the vid a few months ago, watched it again today a couple more times, read all the comments. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQ2fUgLgEFA&t=16s Other than the super touring and the dirt bike I’m really not hearing anything new. New executives, core team, leadership team, advisers, cool stuff, product advancements, new product development, great improvements, yada, yada, yada. I have yet to hear one specific improvement about the Hammerhead. The cosmetics are obvious to any RX owner…the shark gills, fairing louvres, tank louvres, new graphics, pinstripes, and carbon fiber all over, though none of that made it look better imho. https://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/buell/buel l_hammerhead_22.html It weighs 5 lbs less in the specs….that’s all I noticed, maybe that’s the carbon version and for how much…$25K? Of course 414lbs happens to be the same weight as the SX so it could have just been a misprint. Is that everything…the cosmetics? 3+ years, all the talent they hired and they couldn’t do some minor stuff like fix the clutch pull, throttle travel, lower gearing (44t), a quick shifter option, and maybe ABS? In the text. “The Hammerhead is now powered by an updated Rotax Helicon motor.” So what is updated…or are they talking about what Erik did over 8 years ago? That what you mean by is now powered? | ||
| Ducbsa |
“Updated” can be a flexible term. |
