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Firstbuell
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 11, 2006 - 03:00 pm: | 
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from the "Roadracing World" site:
Buell XBRR Production Delayed to Enable Product Enhancements
EAST TROY, Wis. (April 11, 2006) – Citing ongoing investigation into the causes of the mechanical failures that forced the early retirement of four first production-run Buell XBRRs from their competition debut at the Daytona 200 in March and the development of upgraded components, Buell Motorcycles announced it will delay full production of its Firebolt XB12R-based race bike until late-April or early May.
“We believe we’ve identified the root causes of the failures at Daytona, but we need to do more development and testing before we’re ready to go forward with the production run,” said Erik Buell, Chairman and Chief Technical Officer. “We want to make sure these bikes are turn-key reliable for privateer race teams.”
The delay means the delivery of XBRRs to privateer race teams will not happen in time for the upcoming AMA Formula Xtreme rounds at Barber Motorsports Park and California Speedway in April. Buell said they may use the American Sportbike Racing Association/Championship Cup Series races at Road America held April 21-23 in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, for additional testing.
“Daytona was a real test for the XBRR and the dealer-sponsored teams that entered the race,” Buell said. “We learned a lot and we’re refitting those bikes and developing solutions to the problems we encountered. We won’t begin final production of the XBRR until we’re confident we’ve got these issues sorted out.”
The Buell XBRR is a limited-edition production racing motorcycle based on the Firebolt XB12R and designed exclusively for closed-course competition. It offers private racers a professional-level, race-ready, production-based platform. Buell will be producing a total of 50 XBRR motorcycles this year. |
Aeholton
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 11, 2006 - 03:04 pm: |
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Test them at Barber!!! |
Spike
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 11, 2006 - 04:47 pm: |
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Perhaps an anonymous can shed some light on this? |
Blake
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 11, 2006 - 08:27 pm: |
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They are fixing the broken clutch hub and primary issues. Other than that, we know nothing. |
Sgthigg
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 12, 2006 - 11:23 pm: |
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LOL I guess it wasnt "family time" causing them not to run..
Im glad to hear that wasnt really the cause.
Still I am wondering how much does this effect theyre overall point standing. |
Cluckcluckpush
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 12, 2006 - 11:31 pm: |
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Too bad they can't find sponsors to support the full season, then they could test on the track, like every other team with a new racebike. Instead it will go back to engineering....darn shame....you cannot prepare for racing by not racing. |
Blake
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 12, 2006 - 11:55 pm: |
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"LOL I guess it wasnt "family time" causing them not to run.. "
Please explain your logic on that conclusion?  I don't see it. The teams that ran at Daytona each already have their bikes. Certainly Hal's does. |
Blake
| | Posted on Thursday, April 13, 2006 - 12:01 am: |
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Good news cluckerhead. Buell tests on the track, a lot. Now that you are placated, you can return to your coup. |
Sgthigg
| | Posted on Thursday, April 13, 2006 - 01:36 am: |
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"I sincerely doubt that the state of the machines has much to do with the decision.
Mike Cicotto put one of the Hal's XBRRs through its paces at TWS back in February to the tune of 200+ miles.
My guess would be that team finances are simply tight, very tight. And possibly some key personnel are needing some long overdue, well deserved family time?
Skip the Barber race, or divorce? Skipping the Barber race is the correct decision on that kind of question I'm sure."
Pure speculation on my part. Just imagining what might have caused the change of plans is all."
This was what I was refering to. I found it a good thing that "family time" was NOT a issue. As one of the speculations above. God forbd if it was then the whole season would of been a wreck. I seriously dounted this to begin with. Man I so hope they get this R&D done and worked out. I want so bad to see them be competetive. |
Rocketman
| | Posted on Thursday, April 13, 2006 - 05:27 am: |
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The teams that ran at Daytona each already have their bikes. Certainly Hal's does.
Buell's statement suggests those dealers no longer have their XBRR's
“Daytona was a real test for the XBRR and the dealer-sponsored teams that entered the race,” Buell said. “We learned a lot and we’re refitting those bikes and developing solutions to the problems we encountered.
Rocket |
Mutation_racer
| | Posted on Thursday, April 13, 2006 - 01:40 pm: |
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just to let everyone know that when we get ours here at liberty hd-buell i will be racing it in ASRA&CCS that means you can see it race all over the east coast |
Blake
| | Posted on Thursday, April 13, 2006 - 03:11 pm: |
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The truth is that none of us know the details as to why the XBRR won't show at Barber and any speculation is just that, speculation.
Go Anthony!  We WILL be watching! |
Crush63
| | Posted on Thursday, April 13, 2006 - 03:44 pm: |
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Buell has already admitted in print that missing the next two race weekends is due to wanting to properly diagnose and correct the problem/s that caused all the bikes to DNF at Daytona. I guess we just need to cross our fingers and hope for a good fix.
BTW the needing "family time" theory was a bit silly. I can't imagine Duhamel's crew chief telling him that they would have to miss a round (and lose championship points)because some team members needed to spend quality time with their family.
I think too many of us had the unrealistic dream of seeing a XB-RR rider/team in the hunt for the Formula Extreme championship this year. The bike will get better and races will be won (I hope) but this is a development year and problems are to be expected. I just wish the anonymous insider would give us some details. |
Reepicheep
| | Posted on Thursday, April 13, 2006 - 04:49 pm: |
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Things still sound consistent to me. Having just gone through a year long engineering death march, I can absolutely see a company saying
"We made the first deadline, gave it an excellent shot, found a problem, but we are going to slow down and fix it. Everybody go spend the next month going home on time and seeing your family".
Then they would fix the problem, but at a rational pace.
I have yet to meet an elf in person, but I would bet dollars to donuts that they did and continue to do the vast majority of the XBRR work on their own time.
Duhamel's crew chief is paid to be just that, and nothing more. He probably got more in travelling expenses last year then the entire "factory" XBRR team get paid in salary.
I look forward to a competitive XBRR race effort, but am not willing to sacrifice the quality of Buells next street bike, nor even the quality of any Buell employee's family life to get it. |
Court
| | Posted on Friday, April 14, 2006 - 06:16 am: |
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>>>they did and continue to do the vast majority of the XBRR work on their own time.
That is an accurate statement...and they did it very well. |
Mutation_racer
| | Posted on Friday, April 14, 2006 - 09:22 am: |
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things like these happen when you race . BUELL will get the bugs worked out, and the bike will win more races. LETS remember the first weekend at daytona the XBRR out motoring a DUC999 around the banks and then down the straight for its first win in its first race.
I think the bike is on the right track, and i can't what to ride the $hit out of ours |
Bud
| | Posted on Friday, April 14, 2006 - 03:23 pm: |
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word is that a Xbrr is going to show up on the ducati club races here in holland Assen ( 5-6&7 )
who's bike, the german one or the english one |
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