| Author | Message | ||
     Tramp |
Reg is, and has been, a tremendous asset to the motorcycle community for a long time. Josh said: " I don't mind big words, tho c.v. is usually a lawyer or medical professional thing." ??? Actually,Josh,in most any industry, these days, we deal with a person's CV. The well-known french "resume" was supplanted by the commonly-used latin "Curriculum vitae" many years ago, in professional circles, at or about the time when the "personnel" department became "Human Resources". I'd be shocked that any 21st century professional were unacquainted with the term. (although, once when I was asked to send in my CV, I asked if the wanted my Keihin or my Bing  ) (Message edited by tramp on October 23, 2009) | ||
| Jaimec |
Met and spoke to Reg on a number of different occasions, most notably several Battletrax events at Danbury Buell, and Daytona Bike Week. I've always been a big fan of his writing. I don't expect to agree with EVERYTHING anybody writes, so that is a minor complaint. That was an excellent tribute. I've sadly only met Erik twice... once at Daytona (when he diagnosed a friend's handling issue with her Thunderbolt) and once again at Liberty's Open House (where he signed my Lightning Long). | ||
| Gregtonn |
"The author claims to be acquainted with Erik Buell. Not so much." "I'm also not much of a fan of writing that employs words that I have to look up in the dictionary to understand, words like "inexorable"..." ??? In addition to having a limited vocabulary you obviously have little knowledge of Reg Kittrelle. Sorry if I've offended that famous ego, but hackneyed phrases like "not so much" or "you no read good" do nothing to improve your perceived intelligence. G For your edification: hackneyed –adjective- made commonplace or trite; stale; banal | ||
| Bads1 |
In addition to having a limited vocabulary you obviously have little knowledge of Reg Kittrelle I think Blake probably knows Reg fairly well. You have been here just a couple years. Blake must of read into this differently then others. | ||
| Gregtonn |
Bads1, Actually I've been here almost since Badweb started, some where around 1997. At that time I had already met and talked with both Reg and Erik. G | ||
| Tramp |
 | ||
| Bads1 |
Your profile shows different... sorry. You must have been under another name. What would of that been??? I've been here since 2000. Maybe I'd remember a different name. Actually because you have Met the two back then doesn't make it that you know someone any more or less. I think this Web site has made it so Blake knows many. | ||
| Gregtonn |
Bads1, Yes, I was also here under a different web name. I have not just met both men, I have spent significant time talking with both of them on several occasions and both have ridden my Buell. G | ||
| Daves |
Dana, Greg knows both. You two have probably met also at Homecomings. Greg with me to the 2000. My first Homecoming but not his. | ||
| Ferris_von_bueller |
my font is bigger than your font | ||
| Bads1 |
I bet we have met then. 2000 was my first. I was one of the officers for the Ukes Brag Club. Man I wish I could find that pic of Erik riding Keiths Pocketbike in the parking lot that I took. Greg didn't mean to sound snooty to ya. | ||
| Bads1 |
Ferris is that what you call it??? | ||
| Tramp |
Gentlemen- We're ALL in the same boat, here. although ferris' font is bigger | ||
| Jb2 |
From: Reg Kittrelle I very much appreciate the comments; good, bad, and otherwise. Unfortunately, there is this undercurrent of Reg vs. Blake. Blake's comments are valid because they mirror his opinions; you can't argue with that. That I might not agree with him is irrelevant. What is relevant ...to me... is that his comments cause me to think about what I say, or write. And that's the worth of a good critic. Josh brought up a reference that I think I need to clarify. What I wrote: " Certainly he initially built motorcycles that should never have seen the light of day." Josh responded with: "I don't like the comment about some of the bike should have never seen the light of day." I was alluding to the X1, and I should have written: "Certainly he initially built motorcycles that were released prematurely." The X1 was a star crossed machine that suffered significantly from a less-than-perfect fuel map. It was Buell's first effort at fuel injection, and was introduced to the press in St. George, Utah. Ambient temps during the couple of days we were there hovered in the 110-117 degree range during the day, and with only a slight drop off at night. Conditions were so miserable that Harley set up misting tents for us to drive through periodically. I recall the motorcycles being a bit of a shock to us, particularly so as they replaced the much-loved S1, and were so radically different from it. I asked a Buell exec why the S1 was replaced, and received this answer, "Because there aren't enough nut cases like you out there." (He was smiling... I think.) As techs with laptops hovered about each motorcycle before we even rode them was a hint that things were not perfect. I don't recall any serious problems at the time... just some low-end issues. I do remember they ran like a scalded chicken. One ride in particular was led by Erik. He took us off into the desert area south of St. George at a pace that stayed above 100 mph for an extended period. I recall thinking, "This could hurt me if I screw up!" Once the X1 hit the dealers, somewhat regular mapping problems popped up, and then a series of recalls (swingarm, shock absorber) further damaged the bike's rep. In fact, I'll go so far to say that the problems with the X1 are at the root of so many still-existing negative opinions of the marque. The problems did get worked out, and later models worked just fine. Buell was under a tremendous amount of pressure to bring the X1 to market. This fact, I believe, caused it to be released too soon, thus, my comment. I resisted liking the X1 because I believed... and still do... that it was a marketing response to someone's focus group; it was not Erik Buell's idea of what a motorcycle should be (Remember, this is my opinion). There is another aspect to the X1 saga that should be noted. Jerry Wilke and Scott Miller were the two top dogs at Buell during that period (Erik was CTO). These men struggled as hard as I've seen at working through the problems not necessarily of their making. I was particularly impressed by the ethics shown. I remember instances where an official recall was put in place that could have been avoided. Wilke and Miller, however, were adamant that full disclosure was Buell's stance. Ironically, this probably hurt, rather than helped, the bike's reputation. Btw; I eventually did come around to liking the X1. In particular, the "Millennium" model (More often than not that name was misspelled in the press). Thanx, Reg | ||
| Jaimec |
It was reviews of the X1's fuel injection woes that caused me to make my first Buell purchase the M2 Cyclone. I never regretted that decision; if the bike were more reliable I'd probably still have it... but it spent more time in the shop than any other vehicle I'd ever owned. I was fortunate that Bellmore Buell took it in on trade for my XB12Ss. I'd probably still own the XB12Ss, but after seeing photos of the 1125R in red, well... it was lust at first sight! | ||
| Tramp |
Reg is ALL class. | ||
| Hughlysses |
Reg seemed to be pretty active here about the time the Uly was introduced. His comments (not all favorable) had a lot to do with me purchasing one. He seems to pretty much carry the flag for Buell in hostile territory when I've checked in on SacBORG recently. | ||
| Josh_ |
Thanks Reg | ||
| Woody1911a1 |
Reg seemed to be pretty active here about the time the Uly was introduced. His comments (not all favorable) had a lot to do with me purchasing one. might explain why he's looking for one right now . Reg's post elsewhere "I have entered the feeding frenzy that a Buell purchase has become. I want an Ulysses XB12XP. I've found there are/were three in CA. Two have been sold, the other is damaged with a ridiculous price tag. Know of any out there? "  | ||
| Blake |
An obituary of Erik Buell as motorcycle entrepreneur is sorely pre-mature. That is my main complaint. I also appreciate reading a point of view that is less authoritative, more humble. That's just me. If anyone imagines that the history of Buell and sporting motorcycles is now written and closed, they are dead wrong. | ||
| Bigdaddy |
"Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated." Mark Twain. Fitting for Erik Buell? I believe so. | ||
| Court |
>>>>If anyone imagines that the history of Buell and sporting motorcycles is now written and closed, they are dead wrong. That's an accurate statement. | ||
| Panhead_dan |
Now yer talkin. I heard what he said on the video. That's all I need. | ||
| M2me |
Some read that literally. As if Erik Buell himself was lost. I read it metaphorically. "Erik Buell" is a metaphor for the entrepreneurship within HD that is lost by HD's decision to shut down production of Buell motorcycles. It doesn't necessarily mean Erik Buell the man. | ||
| Tramp |
"I read it metaphorically. "Erik Buell" is a metaphor for the entrepreneurship within HD that is lost by HD's decision to shut down production of Buell motorcycles. It doesn't necessarily mean Erik Buell the man." Exactly how I read it, as well. Until you posted this, I was unsure as to what folks were referring to when they complained about the piece implying that Erik's own legacy and work is dead. Now I see the disconnect. Reg's use of metaphor was simply lost on some, understandably. } | ||
| Tstorm96 |
Reg hit everything dead-nuts on. I first met Reg at my first Buell event, a BattleTrax at the H-D 95th at Pilgrim Road; it was 5 months after I started at Buell. Reg and Scott Miller amazed me with their riding abilities at quite a few of these events over time, with others such as Paul James joining in now and then. Reg tells it like it is; mercurial is a very good description of the man who had a dream, and persevered to make that dream a reality for himself, and many, many others...until now. I, too, keep my fingers crossed, for the loss of what that man still dreams of would be a great loss indeed.  PS - Erik signed that very shirt for me yesterday - thanks, man!! | ||
| Tramp |
" Reg hit everything dead-nuts on. " "Reg tells it like it is; mercurial is a very good description of the man who had a dream, and persevered to make that dream a reality for himself, and many, many others...until now. " } | ||
| Ezblast |
I have that pocket bike pic - lol - its buried on the BADWEB somewhere! EZ (Message edited by ezblast on October 27, 2009) | ||
| Spiderman |
Erik said the best thing I have ever heard yesterday and this may not be 100% accurate but it stuck with me... "I'd like to think of the ending of Buell like a puffball (he held his one hand up with a closed fist and blew like you would a dandelion that has made it's seeds) as sad as it may be all these people are leaving Buell the seeds will end up in other companies and small shops and hopefully the Buell work ethic will help all these other companies take off"  | ||
| Reepicheep |
I hope they do. Time to put those Buell values up over my desk at work... |
