| Author | Message | ||
     Socalbuellriders |
Harley-Davidson, Inc. has just announced today that following the company’s recent decision to discontinue the Buell motorcycle product line, Erik Buell, Chairman and Chief Technical Officer of Buell Motorcycle Company, will leave the company to establish Erik Buell Racing, an independent motorcycle race shop that will specialize in making 1125R-based racing motorcycles and parts. http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/news/erik-buell-le aves-harley-davidson-for-erik-buell-racing/ I'm so happy!!! | ||
| Socalbuellriders |
Also at http://www.buell.com/en_us/racing/racing-news/deta il.asp?news_id=1507 | ||
| Ferris_von_bueller |
How does that work? Doesn't the AMA require motorcycles being raced in Sportbike and Superbike to be production based??? | ||
| Americanmadexb |
Great News! | ||
| Hughlysses |
Maybe they allow motorcycles produced in previous production years to be used. I remember (WAY back when) NASCAR used to have rules like that- car could be up to ~3 years old or so. | ||
| Xl1200r |
Ummm.... he's going to be selling 1125R-based race bikes? Is it just me, or can't you not sell race bikes based off of a dead platform? Could there still be hope for some 1125-based street bikes? Maybe the Barracuda II isn't quite dead yet? | ||
| Ferris_von_bueller |
A lot of questions come to mind. It's very odd. Looks like this new Erik Buell Racing LLC will be based in the current factory. Maybe there is some truth to possibly bring Buell back at some future date. (Message edited by Ferris_von_bueller on November 20, 2009) | ||
| Americanmadexb |
baby steps my friends, baby steps! | ||
| Hex |
Woot!  | ||
| Xl1200r |
It says he'll be selling race-only 1125R based bikes under license from HD. To me, that reads like HD still needs to produce (either themselves or through EBR) 1125R-based bikes. I'm envisioning the Barracuda II as a HD-badged street model with EBR being responsible for taking it to the race track.... | ||
| Not_purple_s2 |
Baby steps indeed.... Sounds like he's starting all over again. Erik started out building race bikes. I can see the sunrise on the horizon... just be patient. | ||
| Hughlysses |
Remember HD said in the "customer FAQ" regarding Buell's closure:
But maybe this wouldn't preclude a new design like the Barracuda (which is technically not a "Buell motorcycle"- yet) as a Harley. Hmmmmm.... (Message edited by Hughlysses on November 20, 2009) | ||
| Hex |
From the Buell link above: "Erik Buell Racing will be based in East Troy, Wisconsin and will be staffed by Erik Buell and a veteran team of personnel. For more information, after December 1, 2009, contact: Erik Buell Racing, LLC 2799 Buell Drive, Unit C East Troy, WI 53120 www.erikbuellracing.com info@erikbuellracing.com | ||
| Cataract2 |
Oh Court.... | ||
| Anonymous |
Harley will produce nothing of the Buell product line. EBR will do their own production of racing only bikes. | ||
| Capital_g |
I'm envisioning the Barracuda II as a HD-badged street model with EBR being responsible for taking it to the race track.... Surly not under the HD name!?!? That's the only thing that would make me not buy one.. | ||
| Speedy818 |
"under license" That means that the Motor Company allows Erik to build his own bikes, on EBR equipment, to the specifications that Buell Motorcycles had before. The MoCo would have nothing to do with it except to collect their license fee. If the Barracuda was produced, it would be an EBR motorcycle, licensed by Harley Davidson. | ||
| Hex |
I feel a whole lot better now! This is no longer injustice, it is PROGRESS! Good luck Erik, we believe in you, you'll do fantastic! Erik Buell Racing is NUMERO UNO! | ||
| Tnxbrider |
Fan-Friggin-Tastic!!!!!!!!!!!!!! +1 on Baby steps. | ||
| Americanmadexb |
Hopefully most if not all the 200 will be saved! | ||
| Hughlysses |
Well- Anony's post above puts us back to the question of where can you race "race only" bikes that aren't based on street bikes. Not in Daytona Sport Bike, AMA Superbike, or WSB, right? That would seem to preclude a race-only Barracuda from being raced. | ||
| Chellem |
Coming soon... http://www.erikbuellracing.com/ | ||
| Not_purple_s2 |
This is awesome. Eric can build the race bikes using his own designs. Unfortunately, he has to pay rights for HD to use his past designs and patents. However, this means that from now he can start with a clean slate and develop a new bike. I'm sure he's already got a 100% Eric Buell Racing motorcycle forming in his mind. | ||
| Not_purple_s2 |
It'll take a while | ||
| Tbolt98 |
KICK -ASS!!! | ||
| Americanmadexb |
My guess on the AMA is that these WHERE production bikes. They weren't one off race built bikes, so therefore can still be raced in DSB. | ||
| Chadhargis |
And if the bike is sold as "not street legal", I'm wondering how hard it would be to put a headlight, tail light, and such on it and ride in on the street. A friend of mine did that with his CRF450R he made into a supermoto. We have no inspection here in Tennessee. | ||
| Not_purple_s2 |
This raises all kinds of questions. Not least of which is; what race series will he be able to build bikes for? Will AMA continue to allow Buell to race? I assume so, otherwise I doubt this would be happening. Now will be even more howling and gnashing of teeth if Erik Buell Racing is given more concessions to stay in the race. Will AMA loosen their constraints on all manufactures allowing race-only motorcycles from other manufacturers? I really hope so... | ||
| Ferris_von_bueller |
We’ve got some exciting race development projects in the works and it will mean a lot to me personally to see Buell racers competing for wins and championships in the 2010 season and beyond.” That would suggest to me more than just tinkering with the existing 1125RR race bike | ||
| Americanmadexb |
Is it too late to get Danny Eslick back??? |
