| Author | Message | ||
     Justin_case |
It's long been founder Erik Buell's dream that his range of around 20,000 Buell sportbikes currently produced each year should be topped by a full-on liquid cooled V-twin superbike comparable to anything produced in Italy or Japan, as a modern update to HD's abortive VR 1000 60 degree V-twin. Now, more than one U.S. source insists that Buell has been working on just such a bike for the past two years, and is set to launch it in the marketplace as a 2007 model-with a race ready spinoff for privateer purchase. Whether this is a 1000cc bike comparable to the existing Ducati 999R, or has been designed from the start as a 1200cc model set to take advantage of the expected change in Superbike rules both at world level and, most crucially, for the AMA series, is unclear as of yet. But the chance of an all American motorcycle racing competitively in both the AMA and World Superbike series in the future will surely add luster to the category,as well as providing both american and overseas buyers with an appealing alternative to European V-twin sportbikes for the customer dollar-or pound, or Euro, or yen. That will especially be the case in Japan, where Buell has established itself as a trophy brand whose strong selling products are esteemed by Japanese sportbike customers. Watch this space for more details as they become available-but from the number of different sources all outlining the same scenario, this one looks to be a runner.-Alan Cathcart Cycle News | ||
| Bads1 |
Your a funny guy. Did you read that in line at the grocery store in the national inquirer??? | ||
| Justin_case |
Not the Enquirer, CYCLE NEWS Alan Cathcart | ||
| Bads1 |
Don't believe everything you read. | ||
| Spatten1 |
I would certainly hope that it is Erik Buell's dream to build a world class sportbike/superbike. I hope Buell gets the opportunity before Polaris does it. | ||
| Rr_eater |
Or Can AM!!! LOL Bruce | ||
| Bads1 |
Why would polaris do it?? | ||
| Teddagreek |
Because they can! Victory Sportbike is coming. Just like they took potential customers from harley with last years models.. | ||
| 1313 |
I hope Buell gets the opportunity before Polaris does it. Awww, come on... Logically who has the upper hand here? A company with a track record for unique, innovative and inspirational sport motorcycles, or a company that can't seem to break out of the 'if it don't move - chrome it, or put a 240 mm back tire on it' brigade? My money's on Buell...as always...but with the 2007 models already out...I ain't gonna hold my breath quite yet... As a matter of fact, the first posting does read like something from the National Enquirer... 1313  | ||
| Barker |
FYI: all XB's are liquid cooled, that liquid is oil! Ok, if/when Erik makes a water cooled bike. What will we say he is up to next? What will fill Badweb with repetitive treads after he makes a water scooter? This just in, form a double secret source, Erik Buell has been testing a electric superbike. This new "Buell Lightning" sports a single side front fork and under slung battery pack. This electric bike will produce tons of low end torque instantly. | ||
| Bads1 |
Victory Sportbike is coming??? Does it mean it'll sell??? They took potential HD sales with there new models??? HD's reported sales don't show that. | ||
| Bads1 |
And it'll have a Flux capacitor. | ||
| Barker |
Victory/Polaris might be able to pull it off with a little help from their new friend KTM! | ||
| Bads1 |
KTM is still a stand alone business. Polaris didn't buy in to KTM after all. I read though that there is still some type of relationship though. | ||
| Mainstreamer |
Who is buying Victory's if not potential H-D customers? It will be interesting to see what comes from the Polaris/KTM relationship. | ||
| Glitch |
 is set to launch it in the marketplace as a 2007 model | ||
| Trojan |
Cathcart is a serious journalist, and Erik did sort of say he would be interested in doing Superbike (if the conditions were right) in a recent interview with Racer magazine, so don't discount anything just because you read it  Go for it Buell  By the way, don't write off Polaris/Victory just yet. Polaris are currently working on a large capacity, high power fuel injected two cylinder two stroke motor! Primarily for their snowmobile market I would think, but you never know Anyone ever seen the Tularis race bike? (Message edited by trojan on October 19, 2006) | ||
| Trojan |
 http://www.motorbyte.com/norton/Tularis.htm Old news but still very impressive Apparently the bike is in England now, as the designer/builder works for Renault F1. | ||
| Barker |
The XBRR was an 06 that came out late. Maybe there will be more 07 model(s) coming out like the XBRR did. | ||
| Whodom |
Someone posted here back in ~June of this year that Motorcycle News (MCN) reported that a water-cooled Buell had been spotted testing in Europe and that they expected it to be released in 07. | ||
| Whodom |
Of course, MCN evidently reported basically the same thing back in 1999: "Buell Developing VR1000-based Sportbike Motorcycle News of England reports Eric Buell has admitted that a sportbike utilizing Harley-Davidson's VR1000 engine is in developement. As you may know, the VR1000 is a V-Twin motor utilized by Harley-Davidson to power it's AMA Superbike - currently ridden by Scott Russel and Pascal Picotte. The VR1000 motor is actually quite impressive, as confirmed by racer/journalist Alan Cathcart, who has ridden all of the major superbikes (both WSB and AMA), and reports that the Harley motor is not only competitive, but powerful enough to win races. Picotte has put the Harley on the podium this year in AMA Superbike. Harley produced a street-legal VR1000 several years ago in limited quantities. The streetbike was extremely torquey and fast, but ungodly expensive ($50,000+). Only the minimum number of bikes required for AMA homologation were produced and sold. We'll be sure to keep you posted when we hear more. " | ||
| Daves |
Who buys the Polaris bikes now? I think it is more the Honda Shadow and the like, buyers. Yes, I am sure they sold a few to people that really wanted a Harley but didn't want to pony up for the one they wanted so they bought a Polaris instead. Those same buyers will be in a Harley showroom within 1-2 years getting the bike they wanted all along. Would've saved money by just getting the HD the first time. It is the same with the metric cruisers. I LOVE THEM! they are a great source of business for HD dealers(well, smart ones anyway) If anyone cares, I'll tell you why I feel that way later. As far as the Tularis, that bike rocks! I saw one run a few years ago at MAM and it screamed. I think it held the track record there and may still. I'd love to ride one. | ||
| Ratyson |
And it'll have a Flux capacitor. and it will produce 40,000 JIGAWATTS!} | ||
| Mainstreamer |
Daves, perhaps the question s/b then who is buying Shadows? I do understand the marketing strategy that plays on "more expensive is more better" and "welcome to the family". H-D IS the master of marketing. Victory pricing has moved up and is now very close to H-D pricing. I don't think most folks are buying Victory today because of their price point. I think people buy them because they like the Victory look. I to like the look. Injecting some Arlin Ness DNA into the Victory line was a big benefit and a very smart marketing move for Victory. Should be good thing coming from Polaris M/C in the future. It will be good for all of use no matter what we ride. Heck, if it weren't for the BIG metric cruiser and the Victory 6 speed do you think H-D would have made the engine improvements for the '07 line? More competition = better bikes! Bring it on. | ||
| Jscott |
Alan Cathart has been crying wolf on this for years. While most would probably welcome it and see it as the logical progression for Buell, it aparently doesn't fit into HD or Buell's current business model. | ||
| Yohinan |
Call me a newb or whatever you want but I find it hard to fathom with the amount of knowledge, experience, and those with the ability to think on your own here that there is such skepticism about going to liquid (water) cooling with the Buell name. Look at history, specifically motorcycles, and how can you say that it's not going to happen. When it does you can try to live in the past and refute what is out and say I will buy nothing new or you can come into this day and age. Either way the choice is yours and thats why we have this great country. How can you think for one second that Buell would not go to WC? Do you think they have more of a chance at resisting (or insert whatever word here makes more sense to you) this type of technology then the HDMC who has gone to WC in some of their motors? For anyone here who thinks that I am trying to start a flame war please ignore my post. Anyone that has met me in person knows that I am not that type. I just like to put a spark in someones head that may flick a switch or get them to think from the other person's point of view rather than being so one tracked. In conclusion I just ask that you think deep down in your head if you honestly think in 5, 10, 15, or even 20 years from now the same air cooled technology will still be in factory production from BMC? Things that make you go hmmmmmmmmmm. | ||
| Olinxb12r |
I would buy a Victory. One of my friends has a Vegas 1800 with all the bells and whistles and that thing is awesome. I think he bought his used with 2,000 miles on it for about $12,000 (about $15,000 new)! I don't think Harley makes a model comparable to the Vegas 1800 that costs under $25,000-$30,000. No offense to you Dave, but Harley's are way overpriced, overproduced and for the most part unoriginal. I love the sound, but I'm so tired of the same bikes coming from Harley since I don't know, 1960. Put a different fender, headlights and a 6 speed in a turd and it is still a turd. | ||
| Swordsman |
Yeah, don't be dissin' Victory. Considering the very short time they've been on the market, I think they're doing pretty well. I've even seen a few around here, which is crazy (Rome seems to be the last place to catch on to anything). Not to mention, every Victory in production is already twice as sporty as any stock Harley. Victory likes sporty. Picturing the leap to sport bikes isn't hard. ~SM | ||
| Lake_bueller |
I also heard a similar rumor from a number of "good sources". Based on the location in Europe that Erik has been hanging lately, my guess is they picking up the pieces on this machine...  But that is strictly a guess on my part. Even if its not the above, it sounds like Buell is going to set the racing/motorcycle world on alert with their new bike. | ||
| Xring |
Cycle World magazine claimed that Polaris purchased 25% of KTM and Victory's PR guy insists that a sport bike isn't that far-fetched; the engine would most likely be a collaboration with the KTM tech guys, not a re-badged KTM engine. Just think, if there are any sportbike guys in the design works at Victory, basically waiting to be turned loose, and the factory supports them? It would be like if Erik had Harley's full support back in the day. Victory's time to market and initial product quality could be very good. It could happen. Not saying I'd buy one; I don't care for the Victory styling so much, so don't know what one of their sportbikes might look like. But competition is good! Bill PS From the horse's mouth regarding merger with KTM: http://www.polarisindustries.com/en-us/OurCompany/AboutPolaris/PolarisKTMPartner ship/InvestorCommunity.htm |
