| Author | Message | ||
     Court |
I doubt anyone is going to see this coming . . . . for three years . . . amazing folks have been working on amazing things. We get a glimpse, even if just the tip of the iceberg, in a matter of days now. Belt in . . . hold on.
Keen readers will already have Googled Gary Pietruszewski . . . . some of the best talent in the industry is beginning to show up in a small town in Wisconsin. Forget normal. This is gonna be good . . . . | ||
| Hughlysses |
Hey Court- glad to see you posting again! Keen readers will already have Googled Gary Pietruszewski . . . . some of the best talent in the industry is beginning to show up in a small town in Wisconsin. Guilty as charged. I came up with 2 guys by that name, and one of them is listed as "VP Sales & Dealer Development at Piaggio Group Americas". I'm guessing EBR made him an offer he couldn't refuse? Sure sounds like EBR is stepping up their game on all fronts. | ||
| Reducati |
from google ... Piaggio's Gary Pietruszewski Gets an Upgrade admin Gary Pietruszewski has been named VP of sales and marketing for Piaggio Group USA. Pietruszewski, who has led the company's Sales and Dealer Development group since 2003, also assumes U.S. marketing responsibilities for all Piaggio scooter and motorcycle brands, including Aprilia, Moto Guzzi, Piaggio and Vespa. His added areas of responsibilities include advertising, brand management, promotional events, affinity partnerships and marketing communications. Prior to joining Piaggio, Pietruszewski spent more than 15 years in the automotive and transportation industry, creating successful sales, service, marketing and retail development programs for leading global manufacturers like Bentley Motor Cars, Bombardier and Subaru. Under Pietruszewski's leadership at Piaggio Group USA, the company's U.S. dealer network has expanded to over 400 retail points and unit sales have increased steadily each year to current all-time sales and market share records. Pietruszewski is based at the company's U.S. headquarters in New York, N.Y. | ||
| Hughlysses |
Very cool- sounds like he's the ideal man to build a dealership network and SELL bikes. | ||
| Steveford |
About time you came back. I'm looking forward to see what Erik has been up to. Piaggio Group, huh? Sounds like a perfect fit. | ||
| Thumper1203 |
Outright exciting this is!.. thx for the post, Court. I remember back in the mid-90's how I fell in love with Eriks sportbikes.. Gettin' that wonderful familiar feelin'again  | ||
| Rocket_in_uk |
You can't keep a good man down Court. I should know. Give Erik my best wishes next time you speak to him. Rocket in England | ||
| Thesmaz |
I cant wait to see the AX! | ||
| Hughlysses |
We had another "ninja" post by Court yesterday afternoon. I took his post as a hint that this may be the most interesting part of EBR's press release last week:
This could be REALLY interesting. | ||
| Bluzm2 |
Waiting with abated breath... | ||
| Snub13 |
 Can't wait!!!! Hi Court... | ||
| Satori |
Only 20 more days....the countdown begins | ||
| Steveford |
Court, How would you describe the reception to the bike's launch? Just from looks and specs it exceeded my expectations by a very large margin. How refreshing it must be to build exactly what you want and not have to run it past the clodhoppers at HarLee for approval. | ||
| Hughlysses |
Awesome day for Erik and EBR. I only have one question: 6? | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
how that press release should have read... The new, street-LETHAL high performance motorcycle carries EBR’s model designation 1190RX the thought of that bike in a naked version scares me....  | ||
| Court |
Yes . . . . 6 bikes were frantically being prepared for the show by Elves working around the clock. I was entertained. With all the accumulated high technology, computers, project planning and schdeuling software and a gaggle of talent from all over the industry . . . somethings never change. The last couple days of prepping a new bike for introduction are the most frantic. Parts from vendors are sitting on loading docks, someone forgets where the boxes with the bodywork are, last minute "do we really want to sell that color" decisions and any number of things. The mad dash was reminiscent of the days before computers in a quonset hut. From another post . . . In all candor . . . the Elves were never gone. In fact, an amazing story had it's genesis within 48 hours of the call I got from Erik in the early morning hours of 10-15-09. Some of the things that took place in the following 4 years are nothing short of amazing. In addition, as the character, determination and resolve in Erik played out, some of them were damn near the ballsiest business moves you could possibly imagine. Like all things Buell, some of the most entertaining tales took place within the early days. Little surprise, in fact zero surprise, to me to see Erik show up at Daytona in a rented 22' Budget box van and the fleet of custom EBR/HERO Racing transporters the following year. The stories of the building, the Rolls-Royce and the engineering demo will need to be told someday. Until then, I am reveling in the celebration of what about a 100 (it's actually over as of about last week, I think) of the most talented folks in the world can do when they they are driven by nothing but "do the absolute best you can do" . . instead of "do whatever you want as long as it mates up to a Sportster air box" or "just don't do anything to make Buell appear more technically advanced than the Softail suspension". Erik Buell and some incredible folks have worked their asses off, mostly 14 hours days, often 7 a week, over the past 4 years. Fresh talent, incredible experience and a shared common thirst to do something that's never been done have collided in a rented building in East Troy. Toss in a group of Indians, who happen to be the largest manufacturer of 2-wheeled vehicles in the world, who have the same steely determination to be the best they can and you begin to see the amazing potential. Somebody as Juneau Avenue if going to loose their bonus over this and I'm sure it's little secret that, if they wanted, HERO could buy Harley-Davidson, lock, stock and barrel, with about 2 days revenue or 15% of last years profits. It's nice to know they'd never pour bleach on a fine meal. No, I think their plans are much bigger. What's occurring is a meeting of the minds and a melding of talent and focus that is driven towards providing the most exciting customer motorcycling experience in history. If you think the bike is cool, wait to you see what owning one is like. The bike is amazing. But . . . the amazing thing is that the company even exists. I expected, having known Erik and the Elves for going on 30 years, nothing less. Congratulations to all the people at East Troy who have worked so hard. You are everything the American Dream should be and I wish nothing but years of continued success. Now . . . I hope they get their butts back to East Troy. I'm looking at the release date for that AX and trying to make sure my piggy bank is ready. Well done to all the people at Erik Buell Racing. Court | ||
| Hughlysses |
Yes . . . . 6 bikes were frantically being prepared for the show by Elves working around the clock. I was entertained. With all the accumulated high technology, computers, project planning and schdeuling software and a gaggle of talent from all over the industry . . . somethings never change. The last couple days of prepping a new bike for introduction are the most frantic. Parts from vendors are sitting on loading docks, someone forgets where the boxes with the bodywork are, last minute "do we really want to sell that color" decisions and any number of things. The mad dash was reminiscent of the days before computers in a quonset hut And kudos to them for pulling it off. You know, that kind of thing is what gives you gray hair (or causes you to lose it), but sometimes that's what really makes a job fun, and I'll bet that's how they look at it too. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Pulling something off like that is months of misery... but that beer the night after the reveal... nothing else will ever taste as good... | ||
| Torquehd |
I only witnessed that sort of thing on a small-scale when I worked at the Harley dealership, setting up for shows, and the couple of nights I stayed up til daylight working on our company XBRR to get it ready for the track. Man I can kick myself for not going out of my way to make it to those races. I was so young and Harley-ized in those days. Man I would love to have the opportunity to be a part of setting up for something that big for EBR. (Message edited by torquehd on October 17, 2013) | ||
| Scott_in_nh |
I'm very excited for Erik and company! That said, everything EBR is still out of my current price range (except for the t-shirt), but one of the Hero bikes would make a nice little commuter to park next to my S3! | ||
| Johndb |
Court, so happy to see you posting again now that the horse is out of the bag! | ||
| Satori |
Now . . . I hope they get their butts back to East Troy. I'm looking at the release date for that AX and trying to make sure my piggy bank is ready. Court, care to share or at least give a hint when that is maybe? I need a new bike for this coming season, and if the AX was to say be ready this spring/summer I would wait, if its going to be a 2015 model, or later I need to pick up something to ride, just what that would be would depend on how it takes to get a AX. And Court, I appreciate you no matter the answer. | ||
| Court |
I'm neither in a position to know and. . . if I were. . it would not be my place to say. Frankly, having been through this for decades, there are a LOT of things that play into the development and release of a new product. What I DO know, and can say, is that there is a LOT of the world's best talent appearing in East Troy, WI . . . and the rate appears to accelerate weekly. That, alone, may not tell me what or when . . . but it does scream "worth waiting for". I actually, for the first time in a couple years, rode a motorcycle the other day and was reminded of how gosh darn fascinated I am with them. The ability to see the things I saw (I should really post some of the photos) and the freedom really takes one's breath away. I'm happy with the bikes I have now . . . .I'd snatch one of those HERO 250cc's up in a heartbeat . . . and will be eagerly waiting to see what peeks out of the West door next . . . . I confess that I have laughed at couple times as folks offer up these "unproven" comments about the EBR RX. I suspect that with the passage of time and tide folks will be impressed, on a couple levels, with how this bike got to the carpet in Florida. Amazing people doing amazing things. It's time. Court P.S. - and yes . . . I'd ride an RX from NYC to LA non-stop if I could get my hands on one. :-) | ||
| Satori |
Court, Thanks for the response, its good to see you back here posting. Your answer was exactly what I had expected. So I guess I'll pick up something to tide me over until the AX comes out. I agree with you about the people Erik has surrounded himself with. I also agree that I am sure it will be worth waiting for. One look at the RX confirms that. I was not one of the people that bet against you when you made your prediction about where Harley and EBR would be in 5 yrs. Thanks again, Satori | ||
| Madduck |
Court, Its been awhile since we sent Ferris off on my Uly for an adventure, are you angling to do the same on an RX?? Paul | ||
| Court |
I'd do it in a heartbeat . . . but I'm probably too old and in too ill health. It would be fun to just take one from Times Square to the Rock Store to let folks look at. I'm a bit entertained . . . and confess the same emotions that sat the first Lap of America off and gave me the honor of riding the first Buell to ever see many of the most gorgeous venues in America . . . by the folks chanting the "until it's been thoroughly tested". My sneakin' suspicion . . . knowing 5 or 6 dozen of the folks behind this bike . . . is that it's been beat, tested and tortured beyond your wildest expectations. | ||
| Court |
>>>>I was not one of the people that bet against you when you made your prediction about where Harley and EBR would be in 5 yrs. No worry . . . . I've got two steak dinners bet on my prediction and am already deciding on side dishes. I don't know much about some of the folks who are at Harley-Davidson now . . . I do know Erik Buell, and almost every person in that building in East Troy, quite well. I'm sticking with my bet. | ||
| Kenm123t |
Court if you asked nice I ll bet you could get a test rider job. | ||
| Ourdee |
Court, Okra. | ||
| Maximum |
"I'm looking at the release date for that AX and trying to make sure my piggy bank is ready." I'm with you Court! I'm getting ready for a trip to Afghanistan...maybe next October when I return the AX will be ready for me! |
