| Author | Message | ||
     Blake |
If it's a chopped bike, no matter the wheels and engine and other bits, it isn't a Buell, has no business being referred to as a Buell in any way shape or form. It's not "dramatically modified", it is transformed into a completely different class of motorcycle. But the simple answer to your question is that I really don't want to dilute the forum away from sporting motorcycles, and I'm just not interested in choppers other than as an oddity/curiosity of artwork. I think that drag bikes (for racing) and street-fighters, steet-rods are very cool though.  | ||
| Blake |
JB, Keep the Cyclone! Way more fun! Do a track day, I dare ya!  | ||
| Xblaw |
????????????????   | ||
| Jb2 |
Blake, I'd love to do a track day but I save all my free time to go on adventures. I'd be happy to sell the frame, bodywork and electrics to someone restoring one though... to keep another one in purist form. I love the purists as much as the customizers. It takes all of us to make motorcycling what it is today. Even the Harley riders.... OOOOPS!  | ||
| Phelan |
I think the point here is that Blake isn't banishing Mutant Buells, but not giving them their own playground here. Bert might give them a playground at the XLForum. That would be a place more inclined to do so as it is a Sportster and Buell Forum. While BadWeb is my favorite forum, it's not mine, so I abide by the rules of those in ownership and authority. This ain't rent-to-own. I don't have stock in it based on my years of membership. So if Blake doesn't want a Mutant section. I can submit to that . | ||
| Moxnix |
Jb2, When is the LSR portion of your site going back up so I can refer someone to it after the BUB speed trials? | ||
| Jb2 |
Moxnix, Very soon. We're building it "off line" and most of it is complete. Our son is currently in graduate studies for his doctorate in engineering so we're working around his schedule. Anxious myself to get the new site hung and running. We're adding a bunch of features like comments and an online store along with a new look. On the mutant page. I like that Blake is keeping the focus on Buells as sportbikes. While I like all kinds of bikes I come here for my daily Buell intake. Lots of great forums for choppers, baggers, dragsters, ratbikes and whatever ya have to ride. Let's keep BadWeB for the Buells. | ||
| Moxnix |
I just like the way people pick on Blake. You aren't far. Perhaps I'll approach you on doing something to some RR bodywork to fit another RS or S2. I've some none original lowers that I'd like to change the shape of to cover a turbo set up. | ||
| Jb2 |
Moxnix, We can do that. Just call me when you get serious. Ping me and I'll give you my cell number. Just getting my shop back up and in running order after staging remodel projects from it for the last 5-6 years. | ||
| Crazykcycle7 |
I love Wikipedia, full of win! From the 1998 10K: http://investor.harley-davidson.com/secfiling.cfm? filingID=1047469-98-12517 "In February 1998, the Company acquired substantially all of the common stock of Buell Motorcycle Company ("BMC"), a company in which it held a 49% interest since 1993, in a stock-for-stock transaction, accounted for as a purchase." | ||
| Court |
That is accurate. EDIT: Mom told me not to talk like that. I slipped. (Message edited by court on August 25, 2011) | ||
| 86129squids |
OK: Salvaging all usable parts from a wrecked Buell, making something unique. Not OK: Stripping parts off a completely usable Buell, disabling that machine to create some "Redneck Chopper" POS or something. It's a matter of opinion/sense of style in any case. The preponderance of jap bikes that have been ruined with extended/chromed swingarms is a similar phenomenon. F'in retarded if you ask me. All that said, I still want to get a 'scrip to The Horse- they always have some cool chops in there, of all types, always give the MoCo the finger, and always do their own thing. | ||
| Bads1 |
Yeah, but how does it make you feel, sad at least. It saddens me, on account of your a good friend and put a lot into that bike. Better to have sold it and bought another less special, less worked on Buell to make a chopper. Actually I thought he was stupid. But sad not at all. Stupid because he sold all the bits and pieces like that SPURGIN oil cooler for 100 bucks.lol I was so wrapped up in my XB at the time I didn't care. Got a new and I was excited about that. Hell I don't even know where my Last Laugh even is. State guy or gal. Don't care... i had my fun and its over.Now I have the CBR and enjoy it for what it is. Also because I no longer have to keep one eye on it over my shoulder. | ||
| Moxnix |
We have long been a nation of hot rodders, 4-wheeled or 2. It's okay to "personalize" a vehicle, just as long as it doesn't creep out my jaundiced eye. That's my rule. Bob, chop or mutate whatever you like. Just don't expect me to admire it. | ||
| Blake |
Dana, You have a great attitude. >>> Also because I no longer have to keep one eye on it over my shoulder. I'd not thought of that. That could get to be stressful. | ||
| Blake |
JB, Amigo, a track day is a MAJOR adventure. Squids, At least the lengthened swingarms do serve an actual performance enhancing purpose, improving drag racing performance. If that's what the rider is into, then more power to him. Not my thing, but I'd ride one for a quarter mile a time or ten. | ||
| Bads1 |
Blake I guess I'll take that for what its worth. Don't know if it was sarcasm or honesty. One thing I can say though. I'm riding 75% more then I did.... and that counts the most. | ||
| Mtjm2 |
What would Shellby do ? | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
"This forum is about Buell and Erik Buell Racing motorcycles, the products of Erik Buell and associates." if that is the case, then why do we have a Hardley Davidson section? Hardley didn't make Buells, or make anything like a Buell. It is corrupting the board having anything to do with Hardley, and yet, we have a section just for them... Why have a thread for anything that is NOT Buell? We have threads on politics, that have nothing to do with Buells. I'm no fan of mutants, but if you can have a thread for the bikes coming from the company that shut down the factory of our beloved bikes, then either let him have his mutant thread, or shut down the HD thread, and the politics thread, and every other thread that is not directly related to Buell or Erik Buell Racing... Bart, the Harley section on BWB was something I pushed through, after several attempts over several years, long before H-D shuttered Buell. It seemed like a good idea at the time...and it was. The H-D forum's original name - Critical Mass - was also my idea. When H-D shuttered Buell and Blake renamed the H-D thread the "Fag Forum" (or something to that effect), I spent a considerable amount of time trying, from my custodial position at the time, to change the name back to Critical Mass, to no avail, since only Blake seems to possess that particular key. Pissed me off then, pisses me off now, and will likely still piss me off a year from now. None of this matters a whit to the topic at hand, but perhaps it answers one of your questions. Plus, I've finally gotten if off my chest. BTW, I'm not a custodian here anymore, altho I recently obtained a pass key again(thanks Blake). Mucking around with the name of "my" forum is one of the reasons I resigned. In hindsight, the H-D topic was a mistake. It remains as a show of good faith. It would be petty to kill it in my view though at one time following the announcement of Buell's closing, I'd planned on doing so. You killed it a long time ago, amigo. Finish the job and be done with it. FB | ||
| Blake |
Dana, Not sarcasm, but only worth as much as you value a friend's opinion. Jerry, HDI killed-off Buell and their new-to-motorcycles CEO lied and insulted my friends; a few miserable souls at H-D were key successful players in a vendetta to punish Erik Buell and run BMC out of business. For a brief time I derisively renamed a discussion topic for Harley riders. Perspective? (Message edited by Blake on August 27, 2011) | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
Perspective? Perspective? Well, you and I are still here, amigo. Not sure what you want me to say. "My" thread is STILL not re-named "Critical Mass" is one thing that comes to mind. Doesn't matter, really; it prolly didn't belong here before, and for sure doesn't belong here now. I hate what happened to Erik, I hate much worse what happened to his employees, and what happened to Erik may prove to be the best thing that ever happened to him. Sure wish he'd post here once in a while... FB | ||
| Blake |
For me it's much more the how and the why than the "what" that shades my dim views of those involved at HDI & HDMC corporate. | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
I have the same dim view of those involved, Blake. I can, however, separate my feelings for them from my feelings towards the people who weren't involved in the decision, which is the overwhelming majority of the H-D nation, including corporate, manufacturing, sales, service, and all of us who enjoy riding Harleys. | ||
| Blake |
Me too! | ||
| Blake |
One other observation: Concerning the oft stated "the closing of BMC was the best thing that could happen for Erik"; having BMC effectively sabotaged then killed-off by weasles at H-D can only be considered the best thing to happen for Erik in light of how atrociously poorly BMC was handled by H-D, and also one must ignore the devastating angst Erik had to endure in his heartfelt concern for BMC employees and even customers and enthusiastic dealers. The best thing that could have happened would have been for H-D to allow Erik to purse his goal of producing a world class no-holds-barred superbike, instead of sabotaging it. That, I think, would have been the best thing that could have happened for Erik. He would have had a competitive superbike and a while family of offshoot bikes well over a decade ago. | ||
| Court |
There are some dishonest people at Harley-Davidson at this time. In addition, there are a couple folks who are truly just plain mean spirited. The business elements I can handle . . even the ones I don't agree with or like. The dishonest, and frankly illegal, elements anger me. They also bothered enough top executives that they rejected lucrative "please stay" offers and simply walked out. Some of the folks were fired, but some remain. It's a shame to see such an iconic American company become infected by a few bad people. | ||
| Cyclonedon |
It's a shame to see such an iconic American company become infected by a few bad people. I was at the Harley dealership on Friday and I was so turned off by the product they are offering these days. Almost every Harley that I have ever liked has been dropped by the company and I still can't see why they spent so much money to kill off the Buell when it could have been sold! At one time I wanted to own a Harley but after seeing what the company has done to various motorcycles and what they did to Buell, I don't see myself ever buying one now! With their current leadership and the direction the company is heading right now, I think they might be in seriously trouble. Wandell needs to go!!!! | ||
| Ducxl |
The quote that always got me was the one we Heard from,I think some Los Veagas convention. I think it was criptically attributed to Willy G. It went something like; "Buell will have something that Harley doesn't over My dead body" With that I swore off ever owning another Harley-Davidson. | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
The quote that always got me was...I think...I think it was criptically attributed...It went something like... Uh, can I quote you on that?? | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
Me too! Blake: Respectfully disagree, altho the smiley is a nice touch. Concerning the oft stated "the closing of BMC was the best thing that could happen for Erik" Agree, the best thing that could have happened for Erik while he was employed by Harley-Davidson would have been free reigns to go, erm, hog wild. However, even in early '96, when I got my first look behind the H-D corporate curtain, it was obvious that was never gonna happen. So, I submit, the best thing that could have happened to Erik...........did happen. He got set free. His employees took a powerful hit in the process, as most assuredly did Erik, but he seems to be a shooting star in the moto-media these days, with several hard-earned "Best of the Year" honors to his credit, which you and I both know wasn't gonna happen at H-D. According to Steve Anderson, Erik signed into "bondage" with H-D against his lawyer's repeated vociferous objections. Erik's a smart guy, and surely didn't need his lawyer to tell him what he already knew. And yet he signed the papers anyway. He must have really needed to do so. I hate how it happened, but Erik wouldn't be where he is at this moment if he were still bound and shackled by corporate H-D. It's a shame to see such an iconic American company become infected by a few bad people. Court, I couldn't agree more. In the meantime, my September 2011 issue of Motorcyclist proclaims Erik Buell as their "2011 Motorcyclist of the Year." Based on my observations for the past 15 years, this never could have happened without Harley letting him go. So far, I'd say Erik is getting the last laugh. FB |
