| Author | Message | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
     Pushrodpete |
It may be the whiskey talkin', but the whiskey is none too impressed with the 2007 rollout. (Maybe it's bitterness that the Mothership has new engines/FI/trannies, and Buell has... color changes? Is this the Bizarro World? Get me a glass of sand...) Anyhoo, the question BE: Is there a single engineering pool at Buell that is spread between street and racing bikes, and does the new emphasis on getting the XBRR to work take away bodies and brainpower that could be used for cool street stuff? As a middle-aged person who has come to terms with his genital dimensions, I don't need racing success to validate my choice of streetbike. So win or lose, the XBRR effort means little to me. I want the smart guys at Buell working on bikes I CAN BUY, not improving the longevity of closed-course unobtanium... I know the standard response will be the "racing eventually improves the breed" party line. And? As Steve Jobs is so often quoted here, "Real geniuses ship". Give me something I can use... | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lost_in_ohio |
I liked the accessory adds. Far as new models I was underwhelmed also. I do like the cherry bomb red and I am glad to see an All black long. Wished I would have waited three months. oh well just cost me 800 bucks to fix the rim and tire problems. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rocketman |
I'm used to this from Buell. In any case it was pretty obvious nothing more was in the offing, otherwise some rather vocal gent would have been screaming "wait until the 14th" at the top of his voice, lol. When those real geniuses ship will be the day Buell catch up with the rest of the world, strangely enough in the category Buell all but invented, excepting the Monster is too main stream to be included. TNT's, Brutale's, Superduke's, Tuono's, all should be bettered now by a new 'modern' streetfighting Buell. Everyone of those models is a sale less for Buell. Rocket | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Buckinfuell |
I don't know about you guys, but I've been holding out for cup holders. I had really hoped the '07s would have had dual retracting cup holders capable of securely managing my Big Gulp on those long rides. Now THAT would have been an engineering marvel. Exciting news, however, I hear the '08s will feature interchangeable snap-on plastic bits, much like the Nokia cell phones so that you can customize your ride with anything from Looney-Tunes to a DOOM III theme. Just let your imagination run wild!!! C'mon guys, don't be so cynical. This is engineering at its best! | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Curtyd |
YEAH, I think they "blew their corporate wad" with the XBRR. The mothership probably doesn't allow very much discretionary spending there. Corporate Board/CFO says to Erik, "New models or XBRR, choose?" Guess which one the ex-racer picks? (Message edited by CURTYD on July 15, 2006) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jlnance |
does the new emphasis on getting the XBRR to work take away bodies and brainpower that could be used for cool street stuff? It does. Whether that is a good or bad thing is obviously a subject of debate, but doing one thing always means there is something else you can't do. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Glitch |
Did ya think that maybe they were working in 25th anniversary Buells? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Indy_bueller |
Man, you guys are hard to please. It's pretty easy to sit here and bitch that Buell doesn't come out with something new every year. In the last 12 months they have released 3 new bikes. Thats alot of work for a small manufacturer. Be patient, I'm sure they are working on new bikes. It's not an overnight process. If you want to do something about it, get an engineering degree, go to East Troy and show them how its done. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pushrodpete |
I hope this isn't taken too snottily, but no, I never considered the 25th anniversary. Most other potential buyers won't either -- I doubt they'll even know when Buell's 25th anniversary is. (To be fair, I don't know any other manufacturers' birthdays (aside from HD) either. It just doesn't influence when I buy a bike. And I'd like updates faster than 5-year "round-number" intervals.) Ironically, I bet the people most excited about the racing effort are those who ALREADY have Buells. Being out of the market, they don't care so much about new and improved streetbikes. Heck, they might even resent having their bikes displaced from the top of the Buell food chain. (or is that "food toothed belt"...?) On the other hand, potential buyers (like me) whom Buell is presumedly trying to attract with racing, would rather see streetbike innovations. Come on, Buell -- justify the love of a "loyal disaffected ex-owner".... BTW, I have a both a BSME and an MSEE. I'd LOVE to work for Buell if they'd open a Tucson Hot-Weather Air-Cooling Center (THWACC!!!) or some such thing... | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Crusty |
As someone pointed out, the V-Max is 20 years old, and is pretty much unchanged. So is the Kawasaki Concourse. A lot of other Japanese bikes have long production runs with very little change. Does anyone really believe that Buell can afford to come up with a radical new bike every year? Would the people who want that be willing to pay 50% more for the current offerings, just so it can be completely changed for next year? The current crop of Buells is the best in the short history of the company. There are much better bikes on the horizon, but it's going to be a while before they get here. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pushrodpete |
It's not that I want (or expect) new bikes every year. It's just that I don't want the updates available to the public delayed by having the engineers slaving away on a racebike. That's all. On a more positive note, there's an ad in today's paper showing $1500 discounts on 2006 Buells. Hmmmmm..... no need to wait for the '07's, I guess..... | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Johnnylunchbox |
BTW Crusty it's spelled Concours.  This may be blasphemy, but I think the Firebolt is one of those bikes that you could continue relatively unchanged for the next 20 years, and still have a good seller. A modern classic if you will. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Glitch |
I doubt they'll even know when Buell's 25th anniversary is. They will if they pay attention to the new bike to come. Well maybe not totally new, but you'll see. Buell is like any other when it comes to production. Yes, it's all about $. It's simply not financially prudent to try and create a new bike every year. The concentration on the Uly and the Ss is because you concentrate on your biggest sellers. Look at the 9s. They've stayed pretty much the same ever since the 12s came out. Also, give the RR a little time to trickle down for some pretty interesting improvements. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Crusty |
BTW Crusty it's spelled Concours You're right. Holy Schitte, I misspelled a word on an internet forum! How unusual! How disgraceful! What a rare occurrence! | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Blake |
Gee maybe what the Buell and H-D engineers learn working on the racing machine might soon translate into significant upgrades to the street machines? Ya think? GEESH! There just is no pleasing some folks. New models every five years?  
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| Glitch |
I wouldn't count that one. It was mostly just a name change. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| New12r |
If something new comes out every year than the bike you bought last year is junk. I want to see a bike become something, look at the Porche 911! 30 years of pretty much the same design reworked into a real performance machine. Or we can just devalue everything faster to have "something new" not Something Good. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Brineusaf |
I for one like the new color schemes of the bikes, and am glad a new model didn't come out; I would have felt like crap for buying an 06 and having an 07 model be better or vastly improved upon. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Johnnylunchbox |
Crusty - I hope you didn't take offence. It was a joke. The Concours jihadists are always correcting people, it's just an inside thing I guess. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rocketman |
I'm all for the 911 type 30 year thing, but Porsche have a shape and style that works for a very broad sweep of people from all around the world, despite the engine been in the wrong place <grin>. Buell, for me, don't have the spectrum the 911 enjoys. Yes the Buell does cater for a wide range of tastes by utilising its modular chassis concept, but it ends there. Buell don't need to bring new models to the market so frequently I'd suggest. There is nothing at all wrong with the (to be cynical, lol) different colour wheels for 07 either. What for me is wrong is what's missing. All I see is that bloody frame that fits every model in the line up. It is great for those models, but it is great for people that like the XB chassis - from an aesthetic point of view - I'm saying the XB chassis limits the choice of style though, and it's now a strong corporate image which typecasts the Buell brand. For me there has to be another chassis in the house because no matter whether it's a streetfighting S or a sportsfighting R or a tough terrain Uly, that chassis limits the customer choice to what is now seen as a Buell. It's all well and good stating V Max is 20 years old, but Yamaha don't build all their other bikes on the V Max chassis. If I tell a knowledgeable biker I've just bought a new Yamaha, the next question would be which one. If I tell a knowledgeable biker I've just bought a new Buell, chances are the knowledgeable biker won't ask which one. His head is already filled with the image of a XB chassis two wheeler. Buell needs a killer in the same vein as a Brutale, S4R, TNT, Tuono etc etc etc. That puts the company on a pedestal where the biking world sits back and pays attention. The comments amongst non Buell owners won't be "oh one of those quirky things with a Harley engine", it will be more like, "oh yeah, don't Buell build that Brutale killer with the drop dead stunning streetfighter looks? Is that the Buell you own?" Until Buell do that again, I'm not buying. Rocket | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mutation_racer |
Lets not forget if it were not for harley- davidson this thing we call buell would be gone. also as a racer and a salesman for a real buell dealer that also sells Harley-Davidsons. (liberty hd buell n.j.). IM so happy to see the bike that we will be riding on the street one day, i'll be riding on the racetrack first. so stop all ya crying and start thanking hd for what they have done for us buell lovers GO BUELL | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Maxbuell |
Rocket well stated. Would love to see a new tuber from Buell. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Odinbueller |
Let's also look at Buell as a company compared to the parent, Harley-Davidson: Harley-Davidson is by no means a giant corporation. In fact, compared to other companies that have been around as long, it is quite small. Buell is around 1/10th the size (Anonymous could let us know the proper ratio here) of H-D, and I think that's being generous. As a company that is so small, with much larger companies as its competitors (Japanese & Italian marques, along with some from Germany & England), they need to be pretty darn sure of a product before they launch it. Many direct competitors have literally dozens of 90% completed "projects" that are just sitting on a shelf, waiting for the market to swing in that direction. Once it does, the last 10% is refining production & rollout of the "project". Buell does not have this freedom, nor can afford at this time that luxury. Buell is manned by incredibly intelligent people that are passionate about the product they are producing. They also want to make sure that others will be as excited about it too. The XB platform is still ready for more models, and I am confident that Buellineers at East Troy are hard at work on something. Erik doesn't strike me as the kind of guy to rest on his laurels (he has this kinetic energy about him that you have to experience!). They are also listening to what customers want, i.e. the Lightning Long (more fuel capacity & comfy for those over 5'5"). I think the new colors are great, and make the Firebolts look sinister, and the Lightnings like hooligan toys! Also, I agree that we don't want to do new models every year. It would be a shame to think of a Buell like a computer, obsolete once it leaves the store. Anyway, I still think my 2002 S3T is THE best Buell ever created, and not one recall to date! HA! That's better that the XB track record!  Chris | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Buellshyter |
HD ranks 380 on the Fortune 500 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Col_klink |
I believe there's a lot of "built-in obsolescence" in the motorcycle industry these days. Buell seems to have only a minority stake in the practice, which is a GOOD thing. If I had my druthers, I'd like to see a year where Buell concentrated discretionary spending on fixing their dealer network. One rarely hears about a good Buell dealer. Klink | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Brucelee |
If GM can keep developing the small block Chevy engine, is it not possible to do the same to the Sporty engine? I am talking metals and materials, combustion chambers, etc etc. I am not the engineer here so don't jump all over me. I am just wondering if this engine couldn't get lighter and more powerful ala the small block chevy? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gibriguy |
I'm glad they did not roll out with something too different. It's nice being able to upgrade the bike with newer parts. If they made a radical change, I'm sure most of the parts wouldnt' change over. Imagine what would happen if the 03 belt boys wouldn't have an option to upgrade to an 04 or 06 belt because they went to a chain drive. Without the aftermarket availability like the rice bikes have, this is definitely not a bad thing. Just my .02 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rocketman |
Harley-Davidson is by no means a giant corporation. Last time I looked it was a giant amongst giants. Rocket | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Crusty |
Brucelee; wait a couple of years for the XBRR technology to trickle down. Ten years ago, the S2 was using a stock Sportster engine, and making maybe 60 horsepower. In only ten years, heads have changed a couple of times, compression has increased, flywheels have been lightened a couple of times; then the whole engine was gone through for the XBs. Now we're getting over 50% more Horsepower and torque in a reliable package. The RR is making really nice horsepower. once the engineers have the bugs worked out, we'll probably see a lot more HP in our street bikes. I wonder if any other engine by any other manufacturer has improved its power output by 50% in the past 10 years? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Eboos |
Just wait until model year 2012. I should finish my engineering degree by then. Look for the all new XB hoverbike. It runs off of corn husks and farts. |
