| Author | Message | ||
     07xb12scg |
I doubt Harley is going to kill the V-Rod off anytime soon let alone this year. Buell could produce a competitive bike, but it would take more money than HD seems to be willing to invest in Buell and it would take a few years of R&D. If little companies like KTM and Ducati can compete, you know Buell could with HD's backing. HD has insane amounts of capital. Also look at Suzuki for example. They are tiny in comparison to Honda and Yamaha and they continually produce one of the best, if not the best, inline 4s in the business. Heck, they'd dominated AMA Superbike for years. So the moral of this story is that small companies can compete! | ||
| Thepup |
"Why couldn't they?" Have they yet?Does Buell really make a bike that is a threat to any other brand? | ||
| Indy_bueller |
You're right, the fact that they haven't done it is proof positive that it's impossible. What was I thinking? Excuse me, I have to call NASA and tell them that it's impossible for them to have landed on the Moon in 1969 because no one had ever done it before then. | ||
| Skully |
Heck, they'd dominated AMA Superbike for years. They still do! | ||
| Spatten1 |
If the new engine were an 1100cc higher reving configuration, it could match/beat the DS Ducati's power, and rev quickly like an XB9. Not an altogether bad strategy. Ducati is leveraging the daylights out of their upgraded air-cooled mill the last few years, and somehow keep making exciting models with it. | ||
| Thepup |
Indy,you do know that Nasa didn't go to the moon on their first space flight.Buell has a long way to go to compete in the liter bike category. | ||
| Buelltroll |
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| Indy_bueller |
Indy,you do know that Nasa didn't go to the moon on their first space flight. True. They took baby steps. Just like a motorcycle manufacturer might. Build chassis, then develop an engine and transmisson. Hm, Buell has a good chassis right now...... Buell has a long way to go to compete in the liter bike category. Define "long way to go". All they really need is an engine and transmission. As far as you or I know, they have been working on a 140hp engine for 5 years. I don't think it's a stretch at all to imagine that they could have a bike that can compete with a Ducati, and soon. I guess we will find out how soon next month. Buelltroll: LOL, ok maybe that's a bad exmple. (Message edited by indy_bueller on June 14, 2007) | ||
| Ridrx |
Buell is perfectly capable of producing a bike to run with the Duc, IF the finances will bear it. I'm not claiming Buell will dominate Ducati...not the first year anyway. Is there some magic formula Ducati has patented? Nobody else can build a twin to compete? I think that is a bit silly. I find it more likely that lack of competition in the twin sportbike arena is a player in Ducati's success. Were HD to fund the program, I have zero doubt that in 2-3 years time Ducati would be feeling the heat. Whether that can or will ever happen...I don't know. I do know that I would like to see a sexy, 1098 spankin', twin with all the Buell innovations it could carry. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
The Vrod will continue for 2008. The model being discontinued is the VRSCR StreetRod. It is the tall sport version of the vrod. The Night Rod special is selling faster than it can get in. They are continuing that bike. There are still 4 models of vrod to choose from. Harley is pairing down 7 other bikes as well. Just tightening up the selection to avoid overlap and inventory flooding.... R.I.P. XL883R, XL50, FXDWG, FXST, FXSTD, FLSTSC, FLHRS, VRSCR as dynawide glide and springers arent being produced next year we MAY also loose the FXDSE & FXSTSSE and it is the second year for the ultra screamer, so I am betting on no FLHTCUSE#3 but thats just me on the CVo's. Note to flamers, it was not on the memo, so I dont know. | ||
| Ridrx |
I wasn't sure about the V Rod staying or going, fun thought though. | ||
| Olinxb12r |
I've had my XB for amost three years now, and I think I'll probably be in the market for a new bike in the next year or so. I'm not sure if I'll be buying another Buell or not, but my decision will be based on what Buell delivers in the next two years. I won't buy another XB. I do like the bike a lot, but I always want to upgrade when I buy something new. There is no way I could justify the money for a new bike that is the same as the one I've had for three years. If Buell expects to continue gaining market share they need to continue progressing. This conversation comes up every year and lots of people get defensive, but the fact remains that it is time for something new. | ||
| Buelltroll |
Is it new plastic time of the year again already?? | ||
| Jkhawaii |
refining of the current platform would be fine with me, address weak points and fix them. | ||
| Rocketman |
Nobody else can build a twin to compete? In sportsbike terms Suzuki tried with some success, but fashioning a bike around an engine configuration proved tough. Fashion is the fickle enemy of any motorcycle. In Suzuki's case, their TL S and R's were great bikes but only whilst they remained fashionable. Honda plowed a huge effort into wrestling the WSB crown from Ducati, and succeeded with their SP1. The SP's were so race focused that only those hardened fans bought and stayed with them. But in the end, fashion once again proved that the sportsbike V twin market is a Ducati stronghold. I doubt such will ever change. Rocket | ||
| Kuuud |
It's only been a Duc stronghold for the last decade. It could be totally diff a decade hence. Bret | ||
| Nicozzzz |
I only would like to get an answers free from fantastic and mystic ideas what will have to do buell motorcycles company to increase their sells and reach more customers? I think when you get the answers you will get the future of buell models | ||
| Buelltroll |
Easy for YOU to say...... | ||
| Alchemy |
One of the "games" we ended up playing at Americade was to count the number of Vrods on the street. Boy, they are a bit rare. More than Buells but not that many. HD had at least 4 for demo rides but only a Blast and a Thunderbolt (sometimes) to represent Buell. No TT and no Uly. One Lightning was in the shop. Maybe Americade is not the venue for the Vrod. How many years have they been on the market? | ||
| Sarodude |
Man, is it SOOOO hard to believe that maybe Buell can release a roadgoing version of teh XBRR motor? Someone went through some pains to get some castings made for otherwise low volume production parts. Oh, and last I checked, that motor fits quite neatly into the (love it or hate it) XB frame. Buell gets to keep the Air Cooled Pushrod Common Crankpin thing - and Rocket will get a bike that he'll still complain about. What more could any of us want? I think a truly big bore XB (abandoning the Sportster case / spigot / stud spacing limit) most easily fits into things - except that it'd complicate the build on the Sportster engine production line.... -Saro | ||
| Blublak |
They had a THUNDERBOLT!?! As a demo? Does that mean the tubers are back? Or, did you mean a 'Fire-bolt'? To tell the truth, I'd drop my cash down in a heartbeat if they announced a 140rwhp, XB 'Long' framed 'R' bike. Perhaps something with a 3/4 fairing taking after the RR somewhat? Something that could be at home both on the street and on the track. Perhaps with newer, improved suspension (for us larger type riders). If for the 25th all they have is bold new colors and special badging.. (ala H-D's 100th) then I think that's a death knell for the sporting side of Buell and the elves will have to hang their heads in shame.. They've given up on the dream. I for one, hope they are still the driven, manic loon patrol that gave me my XB9R and are going to surprise me with the next generation of that machine.. something that can take on Ducati, BMW and anyone else that wants to play in the 'Sporting Twin' waters... Just a few more weeks.. until they tell us.. right? | ||
| Nicozzzz |
buelltroll say : easy for you to say ... the answers is easy for everybody .. have to build bike than people buy , seems a stupid answers but isn't. because that means that have to build bike in competition with the most sold bike, of course keeping this "think different " that we love so much .. but more larger quantity of enthusiast must be satisfaited, and this mean keep the big quantity of good thing realaized in those years and trash the limit of their bike .. if you drove a buell you can imagine by yourself the pros and cons of your bike | ||
| Davegess |
I for one, hope they are still the driven, manic loon patrol that gave me my XB9R oh I am pretty sure the manic loon patrol still roams the halls in East Troy | ||
| 07xb12scg |
Nobody else can build a twin to compete? Aprillia did it with their street bike. The RSV Mille was in the running with the Ducati the second it came out. In sportsbike terms Suzuki tried with some success, but fashioning a bike around an engine configuration proved tough. Fashion is the fickle enemy of any motorcycle. In Suzuki's case, their TL S and R's were great bikes but only whilst they remained fashionable. Unfortunately the TLs were fat pigs. They had an engine that most everybody praised, but it always came back to their heft. Suzuki's sport bike bread and butter is the Gixxer. And you have to give them credit for doing what they have with the Gixxer line. Take the 750 for example. They not only continued to produce that bike long after the rest of the manufacturers abandoned that displacement, but they updated it continually and made it what it is today. More than one magazine has said it's the best street/track bike in production. | ||
| Hughlysses |
Man, is it SOOOO hard to believe that maybe Buell can release a roadgoing version of the XBRR motor? You know, I can definitely see that as a strong possibility. Court has dropped several heavy hints that Buell is far from done with racing. This could be taken to mean they're developing a GP bike (or whatever) OR it could mean they have just started with FX. Maybe the XBRR was simply intended as a prototype for the REAL FX engine. It seems likely Buell has learned things from building the low-production XBRR engines that could be improved upon in a high-production assembly line, street engine. This engine would still be suitable for FX competition and would once-and-for-all bury the "they're cheating!" naysayers as it would truly be a production engine. Maybe the race version of this revised, production XB plant truly would be competitive with the factory 600's right out of the box. Hmm.... | ||
| Macbuell |
I agree Hugh. Since they put all that time and energy in making that v-twin pushrod engine produce 150RWHP, why wouldn't they want to use those lessons to produce a street legal, reliable version of the XBRR with 120RWHP. You talking about tuning down the engine by about 20% and still having 120HP at the wheel. That's about the same, or a little more, than an RC51 which is a very popular liquid cooled V-Twin. To me this seams like the most logical step in everything we've seen from Buell in recent years. This would also shut people up about the questions regard "Production" and the XBRR. That 120RWHP is obviously short compared to the Ducati 1098 but I would be ecstatic if I could buy a bike with the same character of my XB12R with 120 at the wheel. That would absolutely rock. | ||
| Cheesebeast |
I recognize I am pushing further into the wilderness, but Evinrude's E-Tec two stroke is proven. It works. It is "simple" and it produces a boatload (pun) more power and torque than a competing four stroke. Again, why NOT a Buell two stroke? | ||
| Cheesebeast |
Wasn't there a rumor that a new engine would be provided by Rotax? Rotax is owned by Bombardier, who also owns Evinrude. It is all coming together. Or maybe I am just insane. Or both. | ||
| Jiffy |
I have thought it would be a XBRR based street bike since the XBRR was announced. I just remember them having some problems with the longevity or reliability of the XBRR in races. I would hope those issues would be resolved for a production version. I look forward to July. | ||
| Rocketman |
It's only been a Duc stronghold for the last decade. Wrong. Ducati have been winning in World Endurance and in Formula 1 and Formula 2 long before the WSB series kicked off, of which Ducati have won all but 2 of the 16 years it's ran. The RSV Mille is a much softer less race focused bike than any Ducati sportsbike. It has not won any major race series either. That was the point of mentioning the SP1 in WSB. Honda at all cost built a V Twin powered winner, only to prove they satisfied the majority of Honda fans but a select minority with the production bike. My mentioning Suzuki's TL's was to point out they had no real success in racing, nor in long term sales. They have become a cult bike, and the term 'fat pig' is a little unpleasant considering how good a bike the TL's were given they were not of Suzuki's bread and butter GSXR lineage. Never the less, they didn't bode well for Suzuki in V Twin powered racing. Rocket |
