| Author | Message | ||
     Union_man |
Well...are we going to hear some Buell news today? | ||
| Hughlysses |
I've seen that date posted as the expiration date for Erik's non-compete clause with HD, but I've also read an interview with Erik himself where he said last year (around November?) that the non-compete was already gone. I think I'll go with what the man himself says over what the internet says.  | ||
| Froggy |
The article in Cycle World that mentioned that date was possibly accurate at the time, but since its publishing has changed. I heard a rumor at the Homecoming 2010 that the non-compete was lifted, but then again I heard a lot of things that weekend, so we shall see.  | ||
| Ronmold |
Would this be the epitome of irony: HD folds & Erik starts building street bikes again! (Message edited by ronmold on February 11, 2011) | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Ronmold, Enough of the HD bashing. Buell was only able to accomplish what he did because of HD money. Harley isn't about to fold. We need every manufacturing job in the U.S.A that we can hold onto and you know it. Sure, we Buell owners wish things were as they were before Oct of 09 but that is history. I fully expect Buell to be selling us street bikes very soon and then you will all be glad that Buell is free to do as he pleases. Full disclosure: I own HOG shares, own 2 Harleys and 2 Buells. | ||
| Cyclonedon |
I agree with you Craig, enough of the Harley bashing. There are still a lot of good dealerships and people working for the American company. If Erik doesn't build a new motorcycle, my next bike will be a Harley. I only want an American made motorcycle, nothing else will do!!!! | ||
| Hughlysses |
OK, from Erik himself, here's confirmation that the February 11, 2011 date did not apply for some time (from interview with Erik Buell in the January 2011 issue Sport Rider magazine)
Complete interview here: http://www.sportrider.com/features/146_1101_erik_b uell_interview/index.html It would be interesting to know exactly what he meant by "that's actually kind of fallen by the wayside". | ||
| Ronmold |
Wasn't meant to be Harley bashing, sorry that it came across that way. It was just a twisted observation of a not-that-impossible scenario gleaned from some recent articles, like the ones about moving out of Milwaukee, parts being made in India & China, quality control slipping, etc. Decisions of the present management to consider things as such are, unfortunately, a result of this slow economy and the need (it is their primary job) to please the stockholders. I honor the legacy of that great American motorcycle company as much as the next person and would be saddened by it's demise. That legacy will only take you so far though, if you move outside our borders. | ||
| Johnboy777 |
""Enough of the HD bashing. Buell was only able to accomplish what he did because of HD money"" +1 ... | ||
| Court |
>>>Buell was only able to accomplish what he did because of HD money"" That's a tad inaccurate . . | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Court, That comment may be over simplistic but without HD cash I seriously doubt that I would have been able to buy the ULY because it would not have existed. Sure it was Buell's vision but HD's cash that made it happen. Could it have happened eventually without HD, sure, anything is possible. But with the economy hitting the crapper like it did, Buell still would have had a hard time of it. Anyways, even now Buell is probably looking for a cash infusion from somebody and that usually entails expectations of some sort. I wish him the best because I just love the whole Buell thing. AND we have only experienced positive karma with our two Buells. | ||
| Court |
Be mindful that in 1992 Harley-Davisdon was not the only suitor seeking communion with Buell. I'd agree that is was Harley-Davison's money that helped. I'd not agree that without Harley-Davidson's money it would not have happened. Without Buell's talent, the Sportster would still be a generation behind as well and the world would never have heard of the VROD. Everybody brings something to a party . . | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
++1 | ||
| Vecchio_lupo |
Bravo Senior Court. I always say "Good ideas make it to market" somebody would have gotten behind the engineering. I could sing a sad song all day long about H-D not seeing the future for the trees or the world was ready for a new Buell, but we were dealt a bad hand just like Mr, Buell himself, I only hope Erik is able to do what he wants to do without having t o put up with our whining. Erik Buell, thanks for a quarter century of great bikes, and I hope you are able to pursue your passions, and make a living doing it. | ||
| Court |
>>>>I only hope Erik is able to do what he wants to do without having t o put up with our whining. You will be pleased to know that Erik has never worked, harder, been more focused or more committed to the pursuit if bringing great bikes to enthusiastic people. | ||
| Skinstains |
Harley stinks on ice ! EB didn't need 'their' loot and surely regretted using theirs instead of someone elses. | ||
| Froggy |
Damn straight, if HD didn't get in the way, we probably would all be riding around on Buell Nuclear Hoverboards that can hit 200mph. Instead, we had years of aircooled <negative-adjective> while Harley twiddled their thumbs. | ||
| Hunn |
Posted on Friday, February 11, 2011 - 10:26 am: Would this be the epitome of irony: HD folds & Erik starts building street bikes again! Somebody voices their opinion and right away its "HD bashing"? I don't think this comment was that much of a negative towards Harley-Davidson. You HD riders should be more secure with your choice of ride. Free Eric Buell ! | ||
| Skinstains |
I'll refrain... | ||
| Zac4mac |
As long as you're freeing Eric, how about freeing Erik Buell too... Really, Eric should stay locked up with his brother Eddie. Sorry Z | ||
| Court |
>>>EB didn't need 'their' loot and surely regretted using theirs instead of someone else’s. Not really . . . it, for certain, has been a mixed bag. The "room to grow" came with a price. It wasn't so much the financial price as the petty personal issues from some folks intent on proving their chant of "you'll be sorry" when Erik left Harley-Davidson, came to be prophesy. In addition to the normal corporate hurdles to leap there were a lot of folks who, regardless of what was right or wrong, were intent on making certain Erik Buell had to climb an oiled mirror to get anything. The experiences during those years was certainly not all bad. How it would have been under the umbrella of another suitor is no more that retrospective speculation. Harley-Davidson is not going out of business. Their business is, perhaps already has, going to change in ways they couldn't, during the days it rained cash at 3700 Juneau, have ever imagined. This of Harley-Davidson as a loaded locomotive approaching a 90o turn at full speed. They'll end up someplace and it doesn't look pretty . . . but they will still be with us. The truly unfortunate thing is that it could be REALLY cool . . Harley-Davidson could be the world leader in motorcycles, innovative technology and spanking some ass on the world racing circuits . . . . . but for "we've always done it this way" thinking. All things considered . . . I'd rather be working for Erik Buell than Harley-Davidson right now. Erik is committed, personally and professionally, has a clear vision of what he does well, what he wants to do and a grasp of what he can't do. . . . he's got a plan. I'm not entirely certain Harley-Davidson has one beyond "hire expensive people, pay multi-million dollar bonus as profits plummet and do what we've always done" We will all get to see. | ||
| Ratbuell |
I'd rather be working for Erik Buell than Harley-Davidson right now. Absolutely. So...where can I sign up? | ||
| Buellerxt |
Quote: The truly unfortunate thing is that it could be REALLY cool . . Harley-Davidson could be the world leader in motorcycles, innovative technology and spanking some ass on the world racing circuits . . . . . but for "we've always done it this way" thinking. Unquote. Well said. What a shame, for all involved. | ||
| Swampy |
And it is a shame for H-D(spit) to not move into the 21st century, they are missing an incredible opportunity. For all they do they could be two separate motorcycle companies, one that caters to nostalgia and one the is focused on building world class motorcycles. The ironic thing about all this is that "back in the day" when H-D(spit) began making motorcycles, they were making world class motorcycles(for the day) and were experimenting with new and never been done before ideas..... The British Enfield thing has already been done... | ||
| Court |
It wasn't bad for everybody .... I suspect Erik and many of The Elves will soon be far ahead of where they would have otherwise been on a Harley constrained trajectory. I'd like to have seen HD carve out a place in the new order of modern motorcycles rather than a couple chapters in history books. | ||
| Hughlysses |
Triumph seems to have done a really good job of making that work. They have the traditional air-cooled parallel twins like the Bonneville and related bikes, and they have a pretty wide range of bikes with 3-cylinder water cooled engines in a variety of sizes. I still would like to see what Buell's version of the triple would have looked like. Maybe one of these days a photo will leak... | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Funny thing is, Harley still sells more motorcycles than anyone else in the US as far as I know. You'd think the nostalgia thing would wear thin but apparently not. Harley still has a die hard following and making fun of that demographic is a bit old also. I teach MSF and new riders want either a sport bike or a cruiser. Polaris builds cruisers because that is what they feel will sell the best. Honda, Yamaha, and Kawasaki copy Harley as best they can to get a piece of the cruiser pie. Triumph even delves into the cruiser business but at least they do it their own way. Kudos to them. Triumph also is taking on BMW adventure segment and that should be quite interesting. I figure the more competitive a bike segment is then the better the bikes will be and the more bang for the buck. I think Triumph is going to put a hurt on BMW. | ||
| Swampy |
I have a friend that owns a Hondakawasuzi dealership. The new Kawasaki cruiser looks like an incredible machine. I looks more like a Harley-Davidson than a Harley-Davidson. They only have a price tag of $16,000 sitting on the floor. All it needs is Dunlops....  | ||
| Xdigitalx |
Honda, Yamaha, and Kawasaki copy Harley as best they can to get a piece of the cruiser pie. And what/who does Harley copy from??? No one. I don't hate HD, I just hate what they did. Hopefully everyone that worked for BMC is doing ok. | ||
| Bttrthnwrk |
"... I don't hate HD, I just hate what they did. Hopefully everyone that worked for BMC is doing ok." Well said! Me, too. And even that only applies to the corporate level at H-D, not the dealership folks. I've never had any problem with them. Tucson H-D has always worked to my satisfaction (not always the first time, but at least eventually). Kudos to the dealership and service folks I've met. |
