| Author | Message | ||
     Ulendo |
the subject came up with the dualsport crowd I was running with last weekend. where are the various Buell components actually made? Tried KV, and got 51k answers, without being able to refine it down.trying to string together a bunch of things I've heard / read. where ARE the frames made? IIRC the engine/tranny cases are made in Italy (?), and assembled in the Harley plant in wisconsin(?) where do the electrical components come from? mostly just curiosity on my part at this point,but could be informative for debugging purposes & looking for crossover parts (Message edited by ulendo on June 29, 2006) | ||
| Tramp |
my engine cases were not manufactured in italy... | ||
| Ulendo |
ok, I'll clarify - on XB models, where are the above mentioned components manufactured? | ||
| Whodom |
Download this Cycle World article on the Ulysses from last year. It has a photo of the Ulysses with the country of origin of most components called out: http://a1264.g.akamai.net/7/1264/1354/8473aa47d07296/www.buell.com/en_us/news_ev ents/pdf/CW092005.pdf | ||
| Diablobrian |
Doesn't Aprilia make the XB frames, or at least the company that makes their frames too? http://www.badweatherbikers.com/cgibin/discus/show.cgi?tpc=32777&post=591055#POS T591055 | ||
| Diablobrian |
Aren't the XB and sportster motors built at the H-D plant in KC? | ||
| Crusty |
I'm pretty sure that Verlicci makes the frames. Italian craftsmanship at its finest. (I just got back from MotoMarket, where I was in the company of an MV Brutale, a Moto Guzzi Centauro, assorted Ducatis and a Confederate Hellcat. My Ulysses was right at home.) | ||
| Blake |
The frames are manufactured in Italy by Verlichi. Not sure if I spelled "Verlichi" correctly though. The engine and transmission are made in America. | ||
| Ulendo |
whodom's link gives the list ( as promised). the article is on the Uly, but I'd imagine 90% are the same across the line. ( handrails/triple tail, might be different, etc) japan - alternator system (denso), brakes (nissin), swingarm china - wheels ( enkai) italy - frame by verdicchi, headlights, turn signals Austria - exhaust headers by Sebring Taiwan - seat USA - dupont bodywrk, HD engine, goodyear drive belt, dunlop tires. muffler, grabrails, headlight mount. scratching my head as to where / what I thought the reference to the engine castings was referring to?!?! (Message edited by ulendo on June 29, 2006) | ||
| Ducxl |
Huh..i heard once in passing where the engine cases were cast in Pakistan.Dunno the facts 'bout it though. | ||
| Interex2050 |
Well the "first generation" swingarm was made by brembo... so that would make it Italy. The flasher relay is made in spain, or at least mine is... frame pucks - US traction grips - US The "R" magnesium front support - Germany (Message edited by interex2050 on June 29, 2006) | ||
| Skyguy |
Wow a bit of this a bit of that. I guess our bikes really are American! Gonna have to get tme one of those "Asembled in America" stickers.................... | ||
| Ulendo |
actually, Bill Murrey's line from Stripes comes to mind (and I mean this in a positive, albeit humerous way, so don't anybody get too upitty) 'americans are the mutts of the civilized world .... and you KNOW how everyone loves a mutt..' a bit from here, a bit from there...sounds about right for the description of a mutt. ( hey, mutts might look a bit funny, but they're the HEALTHY dogs, right?) | ||
| Court |
The frames are manufactured by Verlucci. Verlucci also, and has for a couple years, ,makes after market frames for other bikes including the Aprilia Pegaso which is identical to the BMW F650 and was manufactured (shook some folks up) in Germany starting in 1992. The BMW modle appeared in the US in 1997. The F650 is a fitting example, and was before it's time, in "global sourcing". It had an Austrian Rotax motor, was designed by Englishman Martin Longmore (who was living and free lancing in Bavaria at the time), built by Aprilia form Noale, Italy and started, under the name "Projekt E169". Production was later moved to BMW in Berlin. The design of the current Buell frame is most assuredly homegrown Erik F. Buell. The patent (#4,951,774) was filed on January 6, 1989 and granted August 28, 1990. The keen eye will note those dates pre-date both the birth of many badwebbers and Verlucci. To truly understand the power of the intellectual element that Americans brign to the global mix you'd have to know a lot about the background of a former military officer with a keen mind. The Buell frame is exquisite and produced, as do most things Buell, some incredible stories going from "wild idea" to innovative product. Calling the Buell anything other than a sterling example of American engineering would be . . . well "an inaccurate statement". Remind me to tell you what else Erik was patenting in 1989. Court | ||
| Jlnance |
The patent (#4,951,774) was filed on January 6, 1989 and granted August 28, 1990. So it expires next year. Will be interesting to see if it shows up in as many places as the Buell exhaust has.  | ||
| Diablobrian |
I'll bet Erik has something in store for next year (25th anniversary) that'll knock our collective socks off. | ||
| Tramp |
Who's this "Court" Character, anyway? Thanks for referencing the F650. It was truly the ford escort of the 1990s two-wheel world. I got to beat on one before they were released for US distribution, and always loved them. I developed the idea of using F650s as service loaner fleets, it really took off, and lead to a HUGE spike in F650 sales. My service customers (on F650 loaners)used to call in saying "oh, take your time with my LT...No hurry"... they'd come back with big grins, and head right over to the sales bld'g. You took the woids outta me mouf, "People's Court"! | ||
| Bake |
Great to hear from the expert.WB | ||
| Xlcrguy |
FYI - The Firebolt magnesium front fairing mount is not from Germany, but from Good ol USA (Wisconsin, in fact!). | ||
| Brucelee |
Good to have Court back. | ||
| Court |
>>>The Firebolt magnesium front fairing mount is not from Germany, but from Good ol USA (Wisconsin, in fact!). That Magnesium mount is one of the most gifted pieces of engineering that's ever gone on ANY (please feel free to quote me) motorcycle and there is some significant history connected with it. It broke ground that no auto, aircraft or motorcycle manufacturer had ever attempted. | ||
| M1combat |
Would you mind telling us exactly why so we have more methods to use in our quest to enlighten the masses  ? | ||
| Jima4media |
I am really surprised that no one has spelled Verlicchi right yet. http://www.verlicchi.it/It/english.htm | ||
| Sweatmark |
Very good to hear from Court again! BadWeb is privileged with his insight & info. So Court, I've read/heard a couple times now of that magnesium mount and it's special character... anything you can share with us without divulging trade secrets? Examination of the mount makes me wonder (in awe) at the process of molding such complex surface curvature and negative spaces. How'd they (whoever "they" might be) do it? Mark Oregon intrigued Mechanical Engineer | ||
| Mountainbiker90 |
All i know is that it is magnesium and when it contacted that immovable object it snapped like nobody's business. so, off to the dealer we go.. Anywho- I too am glad to hear from you Court. Thanks for the info and hopefully upcoming followup. | ||
| Ulendo |
+1 welcome back court. knowledgeable input is always appreciated. you bring up an interesting side debate on this - concept & design vs points of manufacture & assembly. where is a bike 'made'. no doubt, the entire concept and design team deserves massive credit for rethinking just about every aspect of the XB. if it wasn't needed, out it went. if it was required, can it do double duty? and everything left is pared down for size, weight, and balance. then ( presumably?) the bean counters get involved, and source parts from bidders, resulting in a 'world' bike ? my point in asking whats made where, other than simply being an info junkie, is that it gives a point of reference for a lot of other posts. for example, the Uly guys want to know about the fuel tank lining, and what options are realistic for expanded capacity - via this thread, one possible answer is 'see verlicchi.' ( I found my prior mis-spelling in the cycle world article, btw) not to say verlicchi would have any hard answers, but you never know till you ask... | ||
| Blake |
"All i know is that it is magnesium and when it contacted that immovable object it snapped like nobody's business. so, off to the dealer we go..." Sounds like you view that to be problematic. Sport bikes could easily be made more robust and more resistant to impact damage. But then they wouldn't be sport bikes anymore would they? | ||
| Dbird29 |
Good gosh Not the old Engineering for Engineering's sake thread again! | ||
| Spiderman |
And it is a you-know-what to weld too WHOOOSH | ||
| Ducxl |
Court is good,and will never get the audience(good for all)that he'll get at badweb.We'll all benefit from him,yeah.And as far as global sourcing,forget Verlicci,soon Buell will be sourcing frames from North Korea as,they'll come in below Italy on price.And that's ALL that matters to Buell,price hoars as they ARE! |
