| Author | Message | ||
     Brad1445 |
I have seen a few places here where many have predicted the death of the XB Firebolt sales. While not scientific I have given up my #1 spot for the new 1125R and I have taken delivery of my 5th new Buell my second Firebolt. Still a Great Bike, now a good price.  | ||
| Glitch |
Sweet looking bike! I'm not sure if sales will dip or not, I'm sure some will say "hell yes", and some will argue otherwise. We'll just have to wait and see. | ||
| Trojan |
Worldwide sales will certainly dip, simply because the firebolt is discontinued outside the USA for 2008  | ||
| Glitch |
I had no idea. I knew the XB9R had gone away completely. Didn't know the XB12R had been discontinued over there. :-( | ||
| Anonymous |
XB12R will still be present in Canada and Japan markets... | ||
| Yohinan |
Well my part time employer who is a big time seller of used bikes said he has seen his sales on the XBR lineup drop drastically recently. I can only attribute it to the 1125 news. Good thing for him and me he doenst only sell Buell's. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
I think for the market who is looking for the top of the line Buell sport bike, the 1125R will capture the sales. For those seeking the unique experience that the 12R provides, I think the sales won't change that much. How could the 1125R NOT have an impact? It's a great bike for those of us who want the best, most advanced performance machine Buell has to offer. | ||
| Brad1445 |
Ft_bstrd Posted on Tuesday, September 04, 2007 - 08:01 pm: How could the 1125R NOT have an impact? It's a great bike for those of us who want the best, most advanced performance machine Buell has to offer. ______________________________________ I wanted all the above. That's why I also own a 999. It was the scoops that kept me away from the 1125R. I don't want a bike I have to walk-up to backwards so I don't have to look at it. Just kidding, I have had many ugly bikes including a Busa. I will still get a 1125r but only after aftermarket has had a chance to cover the scoops and the muffler.} | ||
| Ratbuell |
I think 12R sales will remain strong...but for a different reason. Sorta like the folks who wanted a 12R but ended up with a 9R for finance or insurance reasons...the 12R will now be the "economy" choice for people who (FINALLY!!!) want to buy the Buell name because of what it stands for...but for one reason or another (money / insurance / skill level / "domestic tranquility") don't "need" the top-line superbike model. You could option a Satellite just about the same as a Road Runner...and pay a whole lot less. I suspect a similar situation with the 12R from here out. | ||
| Unibear12r |
Sad, I didn't know the 12Rs were dropped for Europe either. But that would account for the lower expected production count I'd heard of. I would expect a large number of used Firebolts traded in on or privately sold to get 1125s to impact new Firebolt sales more than direct competition with the 1125 on the sales floor. It might be a real buyer's market of Firebolts by Christmas time. The new 12 upgrades will keep new sales alive but then again people are now trading up old for new Firebolts too, cutting both ways. It'll be interesting to look back on this in a year. | ||
| Unibear12r |
Oh, great looking bike Brad!! If I wasn't trading my 04XB12R for a 1125 I'd be moving up to a new Firebolt too.  | ||
| Mbsween |
I thought Buell sales in Europe were stronger than America , if thats true is the the Uly or the lightning series thats selling? Sweet bike brad, I love that color scheme (Message edited by mbsween on September 04, 2007) | ||
| 1313 |
All I know is what I've been told, by people that should know. For 2008, XB12R Firebolt production is not expected to reach VIN 1313...  I don't want to quote my source, but it somebody that definitely knows... The first model Buell to sell out in Germany was the XB12Scg. Told to me by the Buell salesman at Classic Bike H-D/Buell in Berlin, Germany. Why the country known for tall people would buy all of the lowest Buell they could get is beyond me... 1313  | ||
| Cityxslicker |
I know we have traded the 1125R's in favor for the XB12R's. We didnt order any Firebolts. If a customer wants one, I will go get it, but the cost difference and the excitement that bike is building, led us to get as many as we could, @ the cost of a firebolt or two | ||
| Lazyj |
huh......well has anyone considered what an 1125R might possibly cost the avereage joe to insure............pretty sure the added HP will have some effect on the cost........ | ||
| Coal400 |
So far I'm looking at $460 annually for the 1125R... but I have yet to have anything stick to my record (knock on wood), and I live way out west of chi-town. | ||
| Old_mil |
I'm guessing that the Firebolt will go away. I'm guessing that before too long, the lightnings will be Rotax powered so that they can go head to head with the Kawasaki Z1000, Triumph's Triplespeed, and the BMW K1200R. The Uly will probably soldier on with the existing powerplant, as it's more suited for the type of bike that it is. You can't make this kind of a move without having it affect the rest of your lineup. | ||
| Coal400 |
I think the Buell is going for a new market with the 1125R. Any cannibalic effect to the existing product line should be offset by the new comers to the brand as a result of the water cooled offering. I could see Buell continuing their air cooled line, that's their roots - and how else would explain the recent enhancements? Who invests in a house that is slated for demo? As for the 12R, maybe there's a new air cooled offering in the future there? I can think of a nice 1339cc power-plant that would fit in well with the existing line. | ||
| Paint_shaker |
I did my part to keep Firebolt sales from slipping!!! | ||
| Metalstorm |
The 1125R compliments the XBs. There's no way it can replace them. Whole different category. XBs are still in a class all by themselves. The rough & tumble, gnarly, hooliganishly fun to ride category  1125R is a unique super bike. It is a fast, sleek, sexy "I hope that wasn't a cop sitting there" good time on two wheels that lasts as long as the rider wants it to. | ||
| Buellnick |
Sales will probably slip but the lower price will help... I still think Buell needs an XB9scg for that gap between the Blast and a XB12scg... Basically a slammed CityX. | ||
| Bonjoxb12s |
They XB9R has ceased this past year, and now the 12R is slowly being phased out of the "international" market except for a few locations..... looks like the XB"R" is being phased out to me. They've subtracted from the Firebolt line-up, but continue to slowly add bikes to the lightning line-up..... my guess is Buells next project is going to be a rotax powered lightning model. (if it has a longer wheel base like the Ss, and possible a little more wind coverage, I'll have one in my garage!!!) | ||
| Doerman |
It is much better for a company to obsolete their own product rather than having the competition do it for them. | ||
| Buellnick |
Doerman... good line... | ||
| Steelshoe |
I'm thinking the XB12 engines will be used in the new XR1200R Sporty, this new Sporty will have inverted forks, better brakes and real sportbike tires, which will be a good competition on in the naked sportbike class like Bandits, FZ1's, 919's etc. (thats if HD keeps the price down to under 10K) Allowing Buell to develope more high tech stuff? |
