| Author | Message | ||
     Crusty |
Hmmm; Harleys built in India. Well, it worked for Royal Enfield. Sort of. I mean, you can still buy a brand new Enfield with 1950s technology. Of course, a Blast will leave it in the dust, and the Blast is more reliable (by an order of magnitude), but if you have to build bikes without using current technology, well, it sounds like a good idea. Or somethin'. | ||
| Palmer |
FWIW, this is the support of the Italian Board of PROUD BUELL OWNERS: Tribu6800. How can a man like this just stop laughing, dreaming and building badass motorcycles? C'mon. Just watch his face. No doubt, Buell will rise again!  " I always chat with MAX about possible new motorcycle. We play to propose alternatives motorcycles, as we must buy a new motorcycle on today, just the one that we like! But no way! We thought of everything but we always come to the same conclusion. I read your thoughts and we are all on the same line: there is no alternative. Yes, many beautiful things but nothing that pleases us. Dear guys, we are so intoxicated!. Intoxicated by this engine. We could drive any motorcycle, but we’ll always keep our hearts of "Buell riders”. But, with the events that we know, why keep an exclusively Buell site with the risk to look like an online antiques shop? I found the answer: It is a site of common passions and no one will ever change. We are unique with our beliefs. Get out of the curves at 2,000 rpm with the motorcycle that wants to bring up the asphalt ... just the thought makes me enjoy! I know, I look like a fanatic, but .... Hello to a new day buellisti. Hello Tribu'! Ps: court, soon or later, come back to join us! (Message edited by Palmer on October 23, 2009) | ||
| A10tankkill |
That is a good article. I liked the quote from Buell at the end on manufacturing in America. It's a sore point with me. The whole idea that we can outsource overseas all our manufacturing and be a service economy eats at me. I had an argument with a business professor from a local MBA program my wife was in a year ago. Academic his whole life, no real world experience. Manufacturing skills and capabilities are always critical for a country and to let them disappear is very dangerous. Besides look at the service world, businesses have rapidly thrown those jobs offshore also. Management and labor(in a lot of cases union labor, and even more so the union management) needs to get their heads out of their asses to keep production in the USA. Look at what Nucor steel has been able to do, working together as an overall team. A USA steel company, not many of those left, and it took a different view of management and labor to make it work. Anyway, small rant of the day done.  | ||
| Richsm2 |
this article is not something to be put on a get well or thank you Erik card,river bottom,smooth stones at best, a typical todays JOURNALISM , the reason I do not subscribe and have not for many years. In times like these we still have those that are saying "What are you talking about"? "smile be happy". all the while ignoring the world at large. That world for some here IS Erik Buell and the elves,we can still push our e button and ride. | ||
| Hughlysses |
Pittsburgh paper commentary on the closure: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/new s/columns/seate/s_649188.html Another nice article. Laments that they've never recognized the "home town boy" for his accomplishments. (Message edited by Hughlysses on October 23, 2009) | ||
| Swampy |
Outsourcing for America is not only an economic bad thing, it also has other costs. I saw an article a couple of days ago about Chinese made drywall that was used during the construction boom from a few years ago. The drywall was manufactured with too high a sulfer content and now it is causing all sorts of problems of home owners, from corroded pipes to smells you can't get ride of. There is no fix to the problem because your homeowners insurance won't cover it and China can't be sued. Suppliers and builders and homeowners are left holding the bag. Remember the childrens clothing with the fire retardant? I have seen brand new wheel lugs snap due to poor manufacturing. Now who do you go back to? Is it really worth it to have the least expensive part available on your motorcycle? Just think of that the next time you see a made in China manufacturing lable. | ||
| Jaimec |
Hughlysses: That article is PERFECT. Says exactly what I've been thinking. Trying to attract the crowd you're alienating makes business sense?? To WHOM?? | ||
| Cheddarheads4erik |
A year ago I was standing in the boots of our friends in the Buell assembly. Our GM Janesville factory was closing down after my 14 years there. Shock. Trauma. Upheval. Denial. All these adjectives are understatements for this process, but that was GM; they still kept the Renisannce building in Detroit with 23,000 white collar workers @ full salary. This is Buell. While I can throw down some pretty horrific tales of corporate manipulation via GM/Delphi/Opel/SAAB and my idea of where H-D might be going, I will not. This is Buell. A Corporation built on digging deep to head back out to the garage, and face that mechanical challenge again. Determination and positivity. This is where the Pirelli rubber really does meet the road, if we want a resurrection, and these great people of East Troy need our support if it is just in positive stories, relations, and photos. Leave the negative speculation to Wall St. crackheads and the speculators who thrive on failure-that's not who we are or where we are going with this Company. People are watching and listening to this process right now. If you cannot contribute something stellar at the moment head out to the garage and spin some wrenches, or pull up a chair and just appreciate your Buell in front of you. This is Buell. Keep it positive and burning bright.  | ||
| Midknyte |
Swamp' Don't forget the rash of pet deaths last year (or the year before?) from pet foods sourced from China - YET WE STILL SOURCE HUMAN FOOD INGREDIENTS FROM THEM!!! At the time, I was really quite glad that were skrimping along and feeding our dogs table scraps instead of dog food. Most recently at issue were poisoness ingredients found in toothpastes and candys. Also, of another side effect, remember how we were lamenting here about the new lead testing laws resulting from Chinese crap products and their impact on small domestic businesses that cannot afford the independent testing fees. | ||
| Midknyte |
Trying to attract the crowd you're alienating makes business sense?? Ya know, one must really question, are they really, actually after a younger market or not? | ||
| Jaimec |
They BETTER be. Their existing market is growing older and dying off. They're not getting any young blood to fill in the void. Those people are all over at the Japanese and European dealerships looking for their first (or second, or third) ride... | ||
| Gregtonn |
"The firm was a subsidiary of Milwaukee-based Harley-Davidson since 1983... Wonder where that bit of misinformation came from. G | ||
| Slypiranna |
Cheddarheads4erik has a very valid point or a few? Our country would not allow GM to go under, no way. Nor, IMO, would our country allow HD to go under. Again, No way. Whether the giants F**K up or not is irrelevant to what happens to the "little guy". Remember, NON OF US HAVE ANY FACTUAL DATA TO WHAT IS DONE AND FOR WHAT REASONS BEHIND CLOSED DOORS. If we "think" we know the answers...I'd wager we are wrong. How the "little guy" handles "himself" in the pool of Shit does matter most. Total Negative Input=total negative output and/or dead silence. Why not prove that the Buell Community as a whole is above what internet freedom allows us to choose. Why not then, reflect positively regarding what we do have to work with and be supportive for what might be...just a thought, mm | ||
| Hughlysses |
LA Times article mentioning Buell's closure. Also gives stats for Victory and Ducati sales. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-motorcycle-s ales24-2009oct24,0,7186144.story | ||
| Hughlysses |
Another article on the closure, from an Abu Dhabi paper: http://www.thenational.ae/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AI D=/20091024/MOTORING/710239960/1089/rss Not terribly complimentary to Buell, but less complimentary to HD management. | ||
| Rangeridn |
(My opinion) you are completely kidding yourself if you thing the fed gov't wouldn't let HD implode. You cannot compare GM with HD - not even close...GM did an IT outsourcing deal worth 3x the market cap of HD. HD is a rounding error on GM's balance sheet... | ||
| Jaimec |
Harley got their sweet deal ONCE from Reagan. Doubt they'd get a second shot. | ||
| Motorcyclemike |
Court, what do you have to say for yourself? We need a positive update, please. Thanks | ||
| Cheddarheads4erik |
Slypiranna- you are precisely correct pertaining to the pile o' dung metaphor. Rangeridn- No, if you read my post and a few others here, you'd see you have jumped the shark on your conclusion. Let me put this into the clarity of which a 4th grader might understand; Nicky Hayden would certainly be classified as another great American in Motorcycling, for different reasons obviously, next to Mr. Buell. It is not how you handle your self as a Champion standing on top of the podium, but how you handle your self when NOT on top of the podium. True Champions handle themselves with the same dignity and grace and respect for all, as when they're on the top of the podium or off the grid. With some of the responses here I can see why Court removed himself from the communications, if only somewhat. | ||
| Xbmacon |
Be patient Motorcyclemike... It wouldn't be smart of Court to disclose information about any positive/not-so-positive happenings until after it is complete. Think of it as a top-secret mission and we dont have clearance. We will see the results at some point. We just need to go on as usual knowing proudly that he/they are doing their best to complete it with the desired results. | ||
| Ponti1 |
Xbmacon, precisely. Only those with requisite "need to know" should be involved. Do I wish I knew what was going on? Sure, but if I were able to make a significant contribution, I would be doing so. Letters and cards are what I'm limited to providing, and I'm proud to be able to even have that much involvement. | ||
| Brucelee |
HD is not in any danger of "going under!" Just pull up their financials. Yes, I hope Buell continues and on American soil. Go Erik | ||
| Rangeridn |
Cheddarheads4erik...huh? I made a reference to a comment by Slypiranna regarding whether the our country would let HD go under again...I stated my opinion that HD would not get any gov't bailout - I never even suggested they need it. There were comparisons to GM...again my opinion...not comparable. ...the reference to Nicky Hayden and a Happy Days I just don't get...but then again I am a just a Wall St. Crackhead ...and a Packers fan... | ||
| Reepicheep |
Bruce... Hard to imagine that a company that feels the need to take big loans at 15% interest can be described as "not in trouble", especially with a failing economy. I'd be polishing my resume right now if my company depended on $50 t-shirts and $25,000 motorcycles to stay in business. | ||
| Court |
Thank you guys and gals very much for your help and support during the last week. In Indiana on the way to NYC but wanted to steal a moment to say "thank you". I also need to clarify something I said recently. It was brought to my attention that I'd indicated that HD would be taking nearly 100 Buell employees. It turns out that is NOT accurate. I apologize for the confusion. Court | ||
| Ponti1 |
Court, is that to say HD will not keep on any of the BMC team? If that's the case, I guess there is no soul left in HD. | ||
| Jaimec |
Not entirely true... I think they're keeping Erik on as a consultant of some kind or other... | ||
| F_skinner |
I guess there is no soul left in HD. True, there is nothing left at HD, at least for me. | ||
| Mikej |
Not 100 does not then equate to zero. Not 100 could equate to 175, or 25, or 2, or none. Not 100 simply means not 100. Some comments from a business broker person (according to my understanding of what that person said) in a different thread in a different section of the site here has led me to a question of sorts. If H-D in totality is in fact equal to little more than a rounding error on GM's balance sheet (relatively speaking) then how many out of pocket dollars would it take to successfully engage in a hostile financial takeover of H-D in totality? Several years ago as a classroom exercise and curiosity I ran some numbers for this sort of thing regarding a clothing company and came to the conclusion that it would not be economically nor fiscally viable even if it would have been possible (out of pocket costs would have been nickels on the dollar). My pockets were empty, emptier now, so it was just a mathematical exercise of a proposed potential business venture. But I am curious what bid level it would require to take over H-D. I do have a PowerBall ticket in my pocket, chances of winning that are slightly better than my launching a corporate bid against the H-D all inclusive empire. But it is fun to wonder. And with global markets about to go thru what they're about to go thru it is going to be interesting to watch who's dance steps can keep in sync with the tunes about to be played. I'll back back out of the kitchen now and let the folks herein do what they do. My thumbs just needed a little exercise I guess. If anybody needs me I'll be up the creek looking for wood to make a paddle from. | ||
| A10tankkill |
My dad was involved in freeing Harley from AMF way back when, hopefully someone will come along and free Buell. Don't need all of Harley, just Buell. |
