| Author | Message | ||
     Hughlysses |
The 2010 KTM 990 SM T. Sure looks like it's aimed right at the Uly/Multistrada contingent to me:  More here: http://www.motorcycledaily.com/16november09_ktmsm. htm | ||
| Babired |
How about this bike  | ||
| Hughlysses |
Yep, the Tiger would be right in there too. | ||
| Alchemy |
With ABS and a belt drive it would be more compelling. | ||
| Highlander51 |
I like it! Kinda looks like a Versys on steroids. I had a Versys and was a great bike except for the suspension, but it was half the price. This new KTM is very interesting. | ||
| Xbimmer |
That one, that one , or this one:  ... for my next new bike, unless Buell resurfaces. | ||
| Froggy |
Well I guess I am adding the KTM to my Uly replacement list. No worries for me in the future  | ||
| Johnnylunchbox |
That Guzzi is pure adventure porn. | ||
| Mluds0379 |
Wish they sold the Yamaha Tenere XT660 in the States. | ||
| Mikef5000 |
The first two bikes in this thread look good and all, but that Guzzi looks frickin badass! | ||
| Jackfis |
gotta luv those Italian bikes...   | ||
| Jlnance |
Xbimmer - I like that bike. What do they go for? | ||
| Sperz1 |
That KTM is sweet. I actually went into the KTM dealer when shopping for the Uly and they didn't even mention this bike. Kept pushing the Triumph Tiger they had on the floor. Their loss. | ||
| Hughlysses |
The KTM just came out- it may not even be available in the US yet. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Kinda makes you wonder why we American's think we are the greatest country in the world. Healthcare sucks, fed government is at the whim of the corporate lobbyists, and they are constantly meddling in every other country's affairs. And Italy just makes American motorcycle designers look like GM rejects. Buell was on the right track but Corporate American made sure to squash that. WTF gives anyway?? It is no wonder we are fastly becoming a second rate economic power. | ||
| Johnboy777 |
""Kinda makes you wonder why we American's think we are the greatest country in the world. Healthcare sucks, fed government is at the whim of the corporate lobbyists, and they are constantly meddling in every other country's affairs. And Italy just makes American motorcycle designers look like GM rejects. Buell was on the right track but Corporate American made sure to squash that. WTF gives anyway?? It is no wonder we are fastly becoming a second rate economic power."" All of your old guy rants aside - Buell wasn't making any money - it was HD's money pit.  | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Buell is what happens when you have to beg, borrow and steal money from your corporate parent to try to run a business. The differences are mainly cosmetic, but when you can't spare the $$$, you get scoops instead of Italian beauty. Do you REALLY believe that we are incapable of producing a motorcycle to compete? | ||
| Swampy |
The Love of my life asked me the other day "What are we going to do when we have to replace the ULY?" Now I know, though they don't have the fuel in the correct location, nor do they have the brakes right yet, nor does the passenger seating look as comfy..... I hope Buell returns soon. | ||
| Johnboy777 |
Both Enzo and Carroll Shelby sold cars as a means to continue racing. Racing victories inspired customers, and sold cars, which in turn created a cash flow, so that they do more racing - and so on. This concept seemed to have been lost on HD - which is understandable. HD is about a lot more than selling motorcycles these days, they have to move a lot of the pirate crap on the shelves, as well.  Buell was on target w/ the 1125 and gaining mainstream popularity w/ the Uly. And don't forget, the XB frame was NOT designed around/for the air-cooled engine, but rather a water-cooled V that got taken away from Buell to be used in the V-Rod. The air-cooled engine ended up in the XB frame as an 'Oh Chit' afterthought, actually. Hence all of the heat issues. . | ||
| Hangetsu |
Ft_bstrd If we CAN, then why haven't we? Do you think Harley's going to pull it off? I think not. Vicrory? Who needs another F'n cruiser? The Canadians are on the right track, though it has three wheels - and they are Canadian, aren't they? Not American. Just who is going to produce something even close to the Duc, or KTM, or any of the other Euro big trailies and when? Buell was the only company that had a chance. Without them, I don't see it happening, not in my lifetime. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
There are many reasons why we haven't. The primary isn't, as was inferred, that we as Americans are incapable. Buell wasn't "non-viable". Buell was killed due to very old and very deep personal vendettas. I feel the entire motorcycle industry will soon recognize this fact. "Buell" may be dead, but Erik is not. The man's only 60. There's still fight in the old bird yet. PS. There isn't a Japanese bike in the same space or at the same price as the Uly either. The VStrom is below the Uly. The KTM, Ducati, MG, Aprilia, BMW, and Triumph variants are all more expensive than the Uly. Take the difference in cost between the Uly and those models, and you get a whole lot of "pretty". HD never gave Buell the funds to make that leap. Had the new Barracuda been the 2008 1125R with money available for a proper launch (where Buell didn't step on their own dick), I believe we would be talking different numbers and a different outcome for Buell. I love the R and CR, but an additional $500 per bike in styling improvements would have radically improved its overall market appeal. | ||
| Hangetsu |
Ft- I wasn't inferring that we can't; just that for some reason, we don't. When it comes to making quality consumer products, the US has been practically lethargic since the 60's. If a technology has a military or industrial application, the US spares no expense, but as far as products to the consumer goes, we suffer from a severe "If it works, don't fix it" mentality. We may have invented and exported many technologies, but it's our foreign competitors who have made them work, last, perform, and appeal. BMW, Ducati, Moto Guzzi, even the Japanese giants could have easily remained in the rut of 30's & 40's engine architecture, but they didn't. And those that did at least improved on those architectures in very significant ways. Maybe I’m wrong, but it seems US companies just seem to feel it’s worth the expense. Our one great US motorcycle company seems quite content selling apparel with a freshly manufactured antique motorcycle as an accessory. In keeping with our "if it works, don't fix it" culture, as long as that formula brings in the $$$, I doubt they will ever change. | ||
| Xbimmer |
Xbimmer - I like that bike. What do they go for? $15K+. http://www.motoguzzi-us.com/en_US/ Looks like Hughlysses' thread's pretty much hijacked now, eh guys?   | ||
| Hangetsu |
Oops! Sorry. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Buell's muffler should have been stainless steel but at least they knew where to put it. These huge cans clear to the back just don't work for me. Especially the ones that interfere with luggage like the Guzzi in the above photo. I've never been burned by my ULY muffler. | ||
| Xbimmer |
There are peeves with the undermuffler also, mainly, no centerstand...  | ||
| Hangetsu |
That is somewhat of an issue on a bike with any touring aspirations. | ||
| Swampy |
I saw an 07 KTM up close today, I, a'um kinda like it, granted it does not have all the nice things the Uly does, doesn't look quite as comfy as the Uly does, but if a Uly absolutly-positivly is not available anymore, it sure beats having to buy a BMW... | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
There could be a centerstand with the Buell muffler. It would just have to fit around it. Just because Buell didn't provide one doesn't mean it was because it was not possible. Buell didn't provide a decent side stand until the 08' model year. I'd bet it had more to do with weight and cost than anything else. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
That is somewhat of an issue on a bike with any touring aspirations. Why? |
