| Author | Message | ||
     Mndwgz |
Court, any details yet on how much "Harley involvement" as pertaining to EBR, and can you shed some light on the ultimate plan? Any way you look at it, it's a hell of a lot better than what we all had yesterday around this time. Let's go racing!!! | ||
| Mndwgz |
I look at those numbers too and it makes no sense at all.  | ||
| Ulynut |
Given these numbers still has me asking WHY would you shut Buell down? I'm really confused about this whole mess. Erik being able to produce race bikes is a great thing, but will we really get another street bike like the XB or 1125? Screw Harley-Davidson inc. you guys suck big hairy naked anus for this mess. Let the man live the American dream and enjoy the fruits of his labor. SELL BUELL MOTORCYCLE COMPANY. | ||
| Skntpig |
Yesterday there was a blog at erikbuellracing.com. It had two entries and 470 hits. Today the page is new and blank and has 5700 hits | ||
| Ulynut |
I call dibs on the first edition EBR T-shirts.  Hey, it is realistic to believe we could have another championship this coming year! It would be nice to beat the whole freeking world two years in a row. | ||
| Rich |
Good news! And good luck to him! | ||
| Badlionsfan |
HD is the most bipolar company on the planet. Or my theory on another thread is correct about this being all marketing, which would be brilliant. The Suzuki deal with not selling 2010 bikes in the US this year makes me think this is all part of a master plan of some sort. Instead of just quietly saying no bikes for 2010, "pull the plug". Get people talking, create a stir. Then come back with a new leaner meaner line up of bikes around the helicon engine. The dirty work has been done on the motor, making larger and smaller displacements is the easy part. Let's face it, air cooled engines will need to be phased out sooner or later. By closing the company and laying off the elves saves a ton of cash. That money can be put into r&d. Late 2010, Buell is back with a new line of bikes for 2011, to much fanfare from the original customer base and all the new people that became aware of Buell from all the magazine covers and articles about them being shut down. Draws a lot more attention than a press release saying "no 2010 bikes." I'm probably way off base, but the more I think about it this is the only logical scenario I can come up with, as illogical as it may be. | ||
| Ferris_von_bueller |
Bad, I agree. | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
Or it could just be H-D is a house of tards | ||
| Rick_a |
That is incorrect.
That can still be found HERE | ||
| Geforce |
Bad, I agree with you... But something isn't right about the entire mess. This is like a giant connect the dot picture and we only have enough dots to make a really fuzzy outline. If this was a master plan... why wouldn't they at LEAST tell people like RMR and other select racers... "We aren't done yet, don't sign with another brand and hold on." I dunno. I'm just a silly enthusiast. Where's my coffee? | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
I think the backlash was about to hit H-D square in the face.... and they decided to give us a crumb of what used to be so we would shut the F up thats not gonna happen. | ||
| Rde48 |
With all that has happened including our displeasure with the MoCo I still wonder if this was the PLAN. We may never know, well not until Court gets his next book out or maybe his next next book, but I kind of feel that we as enthusiasts have just been used as part of the marketing plan. Ruthless For A Reason So Erik is going to be setting up EBR in the old factory so will we still see HD build the new facility for BMC and this has all been done to get more exposure and move bikes? For some reason I am always left with more questions then answers. That said I am happy that Erik has a plan that he is happy with. | ||
| Ferris_von_bueller |
I've always been a proponent that HD was going to bring Buell back in some form or fashion. My only doubt was seeing Erik Buell's heart breaking video. Surely they would't have kept him in the dark if they intended to revive Buell, right? I dunno, maybe. Perhaps, these moves ,by HD, are all part of some financial dance that work better with less people knowing what's going on - an attempt at keeping the stock value artificially inflated ??? The motorcycle industry is in bad shape. Suzuki won't be actively importing 2010 bikes into the U.S. That speaks volumes. Companies are hunkering down hoping to ride out the storm. If you think closing Buell was a bad decision how about selling off MV, at a loss. Desperate times call for desperate measures. None of us, including Court, know the full extent of the reasoning behind these moves. To the layman, it may look stupid but to MBA's it may be brilliant. There may be tax implications and other financial gamesmanship we aren't seeing. | ||
| Cyclonedon |
my feeling is that the Buell Motorcycle Company will be back, but I don't have any idea of when, or what shape or form! I guess all we can do is just keep our fingers crossed and wait. | ||
| Mndwgz |
This from Anony last night in a 1125 thread... ""under license from Harley-Davidson" The license is to give Erik the Buell name back for a brief while. He owns the parts and designs." http://www.badweatherbikers.com/cgibin/discus/show .cgi?tpc=290431&post=1655790#POST1655790 I'm still confused. | ||
| P_squared |
The following is my OPINION after cogitating over everything: This is a crumb thrown to the Buell faithful in an attempt to reduce the negative PR generated by their 10/15 decision. I still believe the decision to shutdown Buell was personally motivated by someone(s) attempting to sabotage Erik and his dream upon the arrival of a new CEO who knew nothing about the entire situation. I don't think EBR is the "end goal" of Erik. I still intend to keep the pressure on HD to release Buell the company for sale. I'm glad Erik has something to keep him busy that he enjoys, and I'm glad he'll be able to keep some of the elves with him. Now I'll sit back and wait for the rest of the story to unfold while not letting HD off the hook for making a STUPID "business" decision. Just my $0.02 & YMMV | ||
| Paw |
My opinnion...But first this is great new and yes baby steps. I think with the current situation...Erik will be in racing 100% the next 7 years while on the back burner and slowly simmering is a new line of buell street bikes...Why seven years? Because H-D has given that time table to continue to service and supply parts for Buell street bikes...This could all change if Erik can get H-D to change/make a deal with H-D on the seven years. Say maybe 5 years because of extended warranties that may have been bought...If Erik would be willing to take over any extended warranties bought on the 1125's. I could see new dealerships in two years when the factory warranties are up. 2 years for my new Barracuda...Wishfull thinking and I will be praying to the good Lord for that one to happen...But I believe Buell should call the next street bike the Buell 1125 Phoenix!!! Or if displacement is bump up for superbike the Buell 1199 Phoenix. | ||
| Bob_thompson |
My take on all of this: Just a thought from history: When gas prices went sky high in the late 60's and early 70's and the economy was hurting muscle cars were hard to sell and put to rest somewhat by the major companys due to the EPA and fuel prices. It was really hard to buy performance then and so a few independents like Carroll Shelby stepped up with a car from England, AC Cobra, added an engine from Ford and sold his soon to be Cobras to a select few to go racing with. Then came a limited run of "production Cobras", some with 427 engines. Fast forward to what Roush and Lingenfelter are doing with Ford Mustangs and Corvettes and many other performance independent limited car producers and you have somewhat of an idea of what I think just "might" be in Erik's mind right now. It seems we already have a prototype in the Barracuda, and similar bikes might be produced in limited quantities, to go racing as in the 60's and just maybe a limited run of licensable street bikes in the future. I feel these new bikes will be very expensive and as in the past, like Cobras and others, and probably for a select few who could afford them, but whatever the name Buell's will live on. Where it goes from there is anybody's guess. Now I'm sure there will be many who do not agree with my analogy and I'm just wishful thinking, but "what if"..........I'm staying tuned as Court has said, "This is very good news . . . it will take a few days, likely a couple weeks, as things come together . . but it's all very good news", watching closely, Bob | ||
| 46champ |
I have a question about the extended warranties. Are they written by Harley or just sold by Harley? The only extended warranty I ever had was written by an insurance company, when something broke the money came from the insurance company not Ford Motor Co. So what would Erik Buell Racing have to buy down the road say 3 or 4 years out if he decided to go independent. Or do I just have no idea what I'm talking about. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
The Cobra was done by 67, way before gas crunch hit, and before the traditional idea of the muscle car rage was begun. They only produced enough of the 427 to racing, only 425 of them ever saw registration in the US. The remainder were track only. The ones you see today are knock offs, The Cobra Replicars have been around since the mid 70s. Shelby is making brand new versions on a limited production... but they are the heavy chunk of change. I imagine the 90k to us today is what the 7k was to the working stiffs back in the 60s. Out of reach for a 'Toy' Pesonally, I always thought the 289 FIA was the one to get, lighter, nimbler, quicker lap times, and more manageable for the street. | ||
| Ratbuell |
HD didn't "give" us anything here. This is NOT an HD move. This is what I'm seeing: Erik quit his job Erik appears to be opening his own company. That company is NOT HD. Beyond that...I can't wait to see what he (Erik, *not* HD) comes up with. | ||
| Squidbuzz |
Can we get a race Uly out of this? | ||
| Buellinachinashop |
For you, training wheels. | ||
| Squidbuzz |
You think? | ||
| Court |
>>>Court, any details yet on how much "Harley involvement" as pertaining to EBR Yes. Harley-Davidson has ZERO involvement. There is a licensing agreement in place for a certain period of time with very strict requirements. E.B.R. will be located in UNIT C, a 14,000 S.F. portion of the former Buell Engineering building. Erik's employment with Harley-Davidson will conclude prior to opening E.B.R. >>>None of us, including Court, know the full extent of the reasoning behind these moves. That is perfectly accurate. >>>and can you shed some light on the ultimate plan? See the "none of us" above. The instant plan is precisely as stated, no more, no less, no hidden agendas. E.B.R. will be building no Cobras . . but donations cheerfully accepted at the shop location. If you do, consistent with your personal tax situation, decide to join the "Donate a Cobra" effort . . I'll take this opportunity to graciously thank you in advance. Plans . . as the saying goes are "in flux". Stay tuned for further updates. | ||
| Danger_dave |
Definitely a job for the Flux Capacitor. But where the flux is it? | ||
| Mndwgz |
Very Kewl! Thanks Court! | ||
| Bob_thompson |
Court, would you mind explaining this with a little more detail, I'm confused: "E.B.R. will be building no Cobras . . but donations cheerfully accepted at the shop location. If you do, consistent with your personal tax situation, decide to join the "Donate a Cobra" effort . . I'll take this opportunity to graciously thank you in advance". Thanks, I'm a little slow with this cold weather. Bob | ||
| Court |
Hahahaha . . . Bob . . . it was what we call a "joke" . . . a feint effort to inject levity. Many folks are thinking too much and when I saw the reference to the Cobras I thought of a while back when Erik and I stopped to get gas in his car and wandered upon a couple Cobras headed to a car show . . we, I'm thinking, would both like one so I figured . . what the hell. I went to look at the new SHO, Roush and Cobra Mustangs today and I will say this . . cars are becoming fun again! |
