| Author | Message | ||
     Buell2001b |
http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/article/?artic le=39704 it just shows its never over | ||
| Just_john |
Triumph is certainly a success! Unfortunately it won't happen to Buell as Harley won't sell. If the name was for sale I guess Erik would have bought it? | ||
| Buell2001b |
well the way HD is going they will be out of business in 10 years. like that joke of a bike xr1200 or what ever it is | ||
| Transmaniacon_mc |
Buell may come back but I think it will be called a Harley-Davidson motorcycle when it does. It will be called a Buell Model named like Sportster, road king and V-rod are. It will use a H-D motor in a Erik Buell design sport bike frame with H-D logo branding it a Harley-Davidson sport bike. Buell's will be made as a new model of Harley-Davidson sport bike so they become a model of Harley-Davidson under the H-D brand name. That way it's all H-D Branding with Buell as a model name.I do not think we have heard the last of the Buell.  H-D spent $245 million,,way more money than was needed to spend to close down Buell. Harley was crashing hard as a company and was pushing union labor contacts and plant closings at the time so closing Buell and selling things is just business. They own the name and design rights and Erik is still working with H-D so anything can happen. Erik Buell is to H-D what Carrol Shelby is to Ford as he took H-D motors and made fast great handling sport motorcycles with them, something H-D and the new XR1200 sport racing bike will never do. | ||
| Toecutter |
"Erik is still working with H-D" ??? | ||
| Cravacor |
Transmaniac, is the post your opinion, or do you know something the rest of us don"t? | ||
| 9ustav0 |
I heard that 500 units of 2009 models are still waiting in customs here in Brasil. HD USA and brasilian dealer are in discussion about the price - those units may come back to USA or come to the dealers shops here... | ||
| Greg_e |
If they wanted to just stop producing for a year or so and then bring the bikes out with the Harley name, most of us would have just grumbled on gone on with life. It would have been an unfortunate change but not like what they have done to this point. I would consider buying a Uly whether it said Buell or Harley on the tank (as long as it isn't half chrome). That would have also opened up the market for high dollar signature machines signed by Erik, they could have gotten a good amount of money from this marketing scheme. | ||
| Buell2001b |
I would never buy anything with HD after what they did to Buell. They lost me as a customer. I will buy Ducati before HD any day | ||
| 46champ |
Buell2001b that is the wrong answer. The correct answer is "I would rather by a Star than a HD any day." They would expect a Buell owner to by a Ducati. | ||
| Captainkgb |
I'd buy a Victory over a Harley! Oh wait, I've bought 2 and never looked back. Erik will make motorcycles again, and it was him and his team that made the bikes what they were (GREAT MACHINES). If the new bikes have the old "Buell" magic, I'l que up to buy one, no matter what name is on the tank (or airbox cover)! | ||
| Buell2001b |
I see your point, but I am a young guy in my heart and i could never see myself in a cruser. I just hate seeing all thsoe fat bastards laying their belly on the gas tank its freaking gross. however my opinion for Harley is so bad now, I don't see them as an American company anymore. so i could care less if they go out of business. and any new rider that asks me about what to get a bike i tell them spotbike. so that is money they are loosing to the japs or itlians or british. there is also an Indian company that in 2 years should start taking money from harley. (Message edited by buell2001b on March 18, 2010) | ||
| Ljm |
This is sort of funny to watch develop. As one of those fat bastards who would like to have a smaller belly I still enjoy my bagger and I have to say that I can do 800 miles with only fuel and food stops on it and could never do that on my 1125. That being said, I own three buells too spread all over the place. I don't intend to sell them either but I am not sure what I will do when they die the almost inevitable death of miles and hard use. The reconstituted board of HD is making what they think is the best decision, re: Buell. I happen to disagree and told Wandell and Flickinger that. I suggested that if they believe that they will sell people like my son on heavy bikes they are probably mistaken and once those buyers are lost to the motor company they are NOT likely to come back when they get to be old and fat like I am. They are going to get a VTX (or something like it) and then a gold wing. They obviously disagree and politely told me that. I also suggested that the motor company is time limited if they are banking their survival on the survival of me and my age group. But unfortunately, the bottom line today is more important than the bottom line tomorrow. At the end of the day, I hope that there is another American sportbike company. In the best of all possible worlds it would be Erik's. If not, I can't really see myself on a ninja or a cbr. But who knows? Time will tell I guess. | ||
| Firstbuell |
ljm, we don't need no stinkin' Ninjas - not as long as there are S1000RRs & Tuonos & RSV4s & Super Dukes &...... | ||
| Captainkgb |
When on my 1125r I am able to wedge my fat belly between the fairing and the handle bars, thus protecting the airbox cover from sun fade. Just as Persephone returned from Tartaros, Erik's bikes will also return, though not just for a season. Seems it will not be called a Buell (disappointing), and it will not be associated with the MoCo (a very good thing IMHO), but it will be a "Buell". I don't want to but I will wait. Unlike Demeter, I don't have to grieve, since I can ride and enjoy my 1125 until then. I think I just found a name for my 1125 (Persephone). Keep the faith!, CaptainKGb | ||
| 4cammer |
I kind of lost respect for Triumph when I read the Bonnie is made in Thailand. That can not be correct, can it? And yes, I know my 9R wheels say made in China.....  | ||
| Charlies_s1 |
No, They are made in England, But I did hear some time ago that they may make them there for the Asian market someday. | ||
| 46champ |
Some of the Bonny's are assembled in Thailand. Some of the subcomponents are manufactured in Thailand. | ||
| Buell2001b |
I think when we buy a bike is more of that we are buying the design of it. like when we buy a house. we pay the architect for the design and we don't really care where the materials come from as long as the house looks like we want it. i like a buell becuase of the look and how it handles. to me that is the erik buell group and i am paying for that when i bought a buell. same reason why I would only buy a ducati next to a buell. the design. | ||
| Marc340 |
One of my rep at the shop tell me that a camry have more parts made in usa than a v6 mustang ? | ||
| Trojan |
The modern Triumph company is not related in any way to the company that used to use the name. The only connection is that John Bloor bought the Triumph name when he set up his new company. Since then he has cleverly bought into the 'retro' market and introduced the Bonny range that blatantly sells off the back of the old Triumph company models. Some parts are made in Thailand and I beleive that entire Tiger models are also constructed there too now. A friend of mine has owned every one of the Speed Triple models and recently decided to have a change and bought a Tiger instead. The build quality was so bad that after 6 months of constant warranty work they gave him a new bike well the way HD is going they will be out of business in 10 years. like that joke of a bike xr1200 or what ever it is I certainly don't think that will ever happen as the name is as iconic as Coca Cola. Somebody somewhere will either buy or at least finance H-D out of its current malaise and hopefully some new blood will get rid of the narrow minded vision of the current mamangement. By the way, I assume you have never ridden an XR1200? | ||
| Buell2001b |
no now i would ride a HD, I did once and it felt like driving a toyota camry. now I know why so many old people drive toyota or ride HD | ||
| Froggy |
Yes, it varies by year, but the American built Camry's have a roughly 80% domestic parts content (Japanese imported ones are much less), while the Mustang is around 65%. | ||
| Charlies_s1 |
Are we not over this yet, Management will change and Harley will live on. Lets not be haters of Harley just the dopes that run it. They have already sealed their own fate. And as far as Erik Buell making bikes again, Wake up, He never stopped and will be just like Carol Shelby and go on forever. I give it another year at most and he will be helping someone make better bikes. So put that in your pipe and smoke it, Chuck. Think positive guys. | ||
| Reducati |
nice s1 in your profile charlies! | ||
| Glitch |
I certainly don't think that will ever happen as the name is as iconic as Coca Cola. Coke ain't doin' so well either. Being from the inside (one of the thousands laid off) I'd agree...kind of. H-D ain't nearly as large as Coke. They'd like to be, and they'd want you to think so, but they're not. As big as in name? Brand recognition? Possibly, but far more fragile. Branding is one of H-D's strong points. It amazes me how many H-D products are sold to people that can't even ride. | ||
| Transmaniacon_mc |
Look at Ducati motorcycle company which bought itself back to a private owned company 3 years ago now building amazing(2010 Multistrada 1200)motorcycles. Buell and Ducati both racing based companies on the same level as far as size and motorcycle type. Ducati stands to gain most of the lost sales from Buell closing as this can only help sales to increase this year for Ducati. Watch Ducati as it becomes a leader now in sport motorcycles. | ||
| Oddball |
Though their sales ways and pricing is what marched me out the door. Much like HD, add a couple grand before you can get out the door. Just read about the 15k interval on that new Multistrada. Good job on that. | ||
| Doug_s |
It amazes me how many H-D products are sold to people that can't even ride. including motorcycles!  doug s. | ||
| Glitch |
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