| Author | Message | ||
     Ft_bstrd |
I, like most here, have felt this event in the sacking of Buell personally. I don't know why. I have owned their products. I've sold their products. I've believed in their products. I've participated in and supported the community via BW. I'm not Erik. I'm not an "elf". I don't really have a financial dog in the hunt. Somehow, though, I've felt this personally. Really personally. From this point forward, I await the future. We cannot change what HD has done. No amount of venom poured out on HD's head will fix this. No bashing of HD owners will complete the vindication I seek. Willie G isn't sitting at home wondering how Ft_bstrd is feeling. HD doesn't care whether I buy their product or not. Someone will. Again, I await the future. Erik is one of my heroes. He has been able to successfully challenge nearly EVERYTHING we know about motorcycles and execute upon his ideas. He has brought ALL of us the joy of being part of his creations. He's done all of this while at the same time remaining ONE OF US. He is as excited about the people who love his bikes as he is about his bikes. I admire him for that. I WANT him to succeed. So much so that I worked to be on the floor and sell his product. I didn't make much money doing it. It wasn't even about the money. It was about being there to try to bring just one more over to Buell. To introduce just one more person to the world that I have come to love so much. It's one of the reasons Erik is one of my heroes. He is infectious in his enthusiasm and if he can turn the light on, you are hooked. I expectantly await the future. Buell will continue. We will see the phoenix rise from the ashes. We got a glimpse of that in the creation of the 1125. We saw, for just a brief time, what could be created when at least part of the slate could be cleaned and something could be created with intention. We saw that creation take the world by storm and scare the bejesus out of the motorcycling world. Buell was able to call down the thunder and the world shook. We as prophets of Buell have seen our city walls fall. We've seen our city on the hill flaming in ruins. We know what is at stake and what losing what we hold dear feels like. The next time around will be different. I excitedly await the future. So I am now looking toward what comes next. I count the days until I am able to be reunited with the current production of my hero and those for whom the light has been switched on. Our numbers are legion. We await the call to follow the brave 200 into the fight. That said, is the entity who will become Buell ready for us? | ||
| Odie |
I can't believe how I feel either..... This is far from over, I'm sure..... The future will be good I feel though.... I'm going riding............ | ||
| Woody1911a1 |
Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light. Though wise men at their end know dark is right, Because their words had forked no lightning they Do not go gentle into that good night. Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay, Rage, rage against the dying of the light. Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight, And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way, Do not go gentle into that good night. Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay, Rage, rage against the dying of the light. And you, my father, there on the sad height, Curse, bless me now with your fierce tears, I pray. Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light. Dylan Thomas' and my feelings on this subject Cheers Woody | ||
| Hex |
Thanks for your post Ft. I feel exactly the same. Most times opportunity lies on the other side of the door. I should know, I've quit or been fired more than most here, I reckon.  | ||
| Etennuly |
Very well said. I too have found a Hero or two. This thing that has become Buell, from Buell, and the rest of you who believe in it. It has been important to me and some good friends of mine, whom I would have never met otherwise. It is what has dug me out of my mental slump nearly every morning, as I face each day with another one of my customers failing or falling down. Blake, BadWeB has become a lever, with which tough times become easier, and good times more great. Being a Buell customer has become so much more than just about riding the best fitting machine I have ever been matched with(given some pretty good race cars that were close). I never expected that when I bought my first Buell. As a matter of fact, if it had been promoted as such, I would have probably walked away thinking that has to be some kind of absurd sales pitch. Not so. Being a person with a pretty full life, I am amazed at what Buell has come to mean for not only me, but my family also. My wife now rides, because of Buell. My kids and grand kids proudly wear Buell shirts and hats. And now, by a really indirect route my mother-in-law is on the back of my 80 year old Father-in-laws Goldwing trike. She had no interest in being there, but for the enthusiasm shown by my wife with her Buell. I want to make the Oct 26th run to the factory, but I cannot as these good people are coming to our home for a couple of weeks, so that we might escort them around the Smoky Mountains on their trike. Buell did this. Thank you Erik and family, for bringing people you will never even meet, closer together with your dream. I will be there when you get your grip back, and we are here for your support during these hard times. | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
Nice post, Woody. You too, fat man. | ||
| Ezblast |
You guys know that a part of Erik's separation from HD will include a non-competion clause that can range from 5 to 10 years - that means that for a specific amount of time Erik will be unable to legally start another motorcycle company, though that should not stop him from working with another established company. EZ | ||
| Trevd |
Buells don't compete with couches for chromosexuals.... The market for Buells is different than the market for HDs, so I don't think it would be an issue. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Most non-compete contracts aren't worth the paper they are written on. I wouldn't count on Erik being out of the light for 5-10 years. | ||
| Fast1075 |
"Should not stop him from working with another established company"...Hmmmmm...isn't there a small established company that builds high end motorcycles whose owner publicly stated his admiration for Erik's accomplishments and his skills following the assassination of BMC??? Maybe said manufacturer could take a step towards small production lines for a more affordable, but highly capable bike in addition to the current offering? Doesn't Erik have a who's who list of manufacturer's and suppliers to draw upon (funding permitting) for a reach in a different direction? Imagine the possibilities  | ||
| Court |
>>>You guys know that a part of Erik's separation from HD will include a non-competion clause that can range from 5 to 10 years - How . . . I am dying to know . . . do "you guys" know this? I have a pretty good handle on things and this is news to me. Think forward. | ||
| Fast1075 |
I was thinking forward in my previous post  And a non-compete is pretty much standard fare...easy enough to assume it is there...Hell, I work for a tiny little small town contractor....and I had to sign a non compete when I came to work as well an intellectual property waiver...and I'm just a lowly high school educated wrench turner | ||
| Ezblast |
My cousin could not publish a word for 7 years under his name - after leaving Peterson's Publishing - so he sat down and designed, built and had backing for three different publications ready to go as soon as soon as the contract expired - Cycle Guide, Chopper Guide, and Road Test magazines - lol - he did alright with these getting them all into the top 50 of sales in their particular category, and finally sold them to a Texan Publishing group and retired. I loved hanging out with cousin Bill as a teenager, I met a lot of cool motorcyclists and road racers, and mfgrs., customizers, writers, etc. EZ | ||
| Woody1911a1 |
hey at least HD has an email addy . would like to see you guys sending snail mails to the meriden triumph factory for the past 30 years only to get them returned | ||
| Madduck |
Why is everyone assuming that Erik Buell wants to separate from Harley Davidson. They are a huge corporation that loves racing, has a passion for motorcycles and pretty deep pockets of anyone in this economy. Buell Motorcycle Company has accomplished a lot but real growth involves pain and destruction. Look to Californina housing buy a pretty good house in a wonderful location, destroy it to build what you really need. Its is hard on those of us that work for a living but I have been through 8 mergers/acquistions in the medical field and none of them had the goal of making my life better. They did all want me to be more "productive" tho. As a new owner of an 08 1125 R I beleive in encouraging the local dealer to continue to support the brand. | ||
| Davegess |
Of course noncompetes lose what little credence they have when you fire the guy. The Feds do not take kindly to restraint of trade. | ||
| Rocketsprink |
I heard from a source that better and more exciting things were in the near future. Of the likes we couldn't imagine. No more specific than that. I hope it still sees the light of day. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
The only thing that gives me solace in this is HDs track record on cancelled models 03 XL883R Buy it now we are cancelling it 06 XL883R Buy it now we are cancelling it 07 XL1200R Buy it now we are cancelling it Hopefully it is like that and not the XLCR, "nobody" bought it we are cancelling it for good. or the Dirt MX250 "nobody" bought it, we couldnt race it, we are not building dirt ever again. | ||
| Madduck |
As a long time Harley fan, some of this reminds me of the Wide-Glide cancellation. 2009 was the last year and only the one color. The 2010 wide glide is completely differnet but somehow a lot of what I liked made the transition. Long live Wide Glides. |
