| Author | Message | ||
     Steveford |
You've got to hand it to Erik Buell. Not too many people can have not one but TWO companies yanked out from under them and still be willing to give it another go. Most people would have said screw this, time to enjoy retirement. | ||
| Henshao |
It just irritates me that his PR department is so weak. Marketing for the 1190RX was weak, and his reputation has to have been damaged by this pseudo-bankruptcy | ||
| Ferris_von_bueller |
Does anybody have any idea what work Mito Tech and Porsche may have done for EBR? A motor | ||
| Ourdee |
Turbo. | ||
| Hybridmomentspass |
Any word on why the auction/selling is being pushed back? | ||
| Hughlysses |
^ Here's the quote from EBR's Facebook page:
Here's my wild-ass guess: maybe a prospective buyer talked to the receiver and said something like "We'd post a healthy bid for all the lots, but we're a little concerned about this one [debt, financial issue, patent question, tax liability, other??]. If we were more sure about that, we'd go through with the high bid." Since the receiver's job is to get the best possible offer for EBR's assets, he may have decided it was worthwhile to delay the auction on the chance that he could get a better bid for the company.  | ||
| Court |
More likely procedural and integration issues . . form of bid security, behind the scenes negotiation with creditors and the State of Wisconsin for future job creation tax abatements. In addition, I suspect there are intense negotiations taking place on Erik's role. . . . can he own all/part of the deal . . or can a contract be put in place (prior to the auction) with a potential bidder. Be mindful, he could cut deals with multiple entities on a contingent basis Potential bidders are in a bit of a conundrum . . . the talent pool is long gone. . . . they are staking a claim on the involvement and day-to-day presence of ONE person who is hitting 66 on the next b-day. If he . . . who is well able to retire very comfortably . . .decides not to come to work one day the value of your investment evaporates. In addition, a lot of the IP that those 120+ folks were entrenched in 6 days a week may have De facto become the practical product of the public domain. No one, regardless, would incur the expense and commit the resources to chasing offenders. Ergo, a HERO could take something, with their manufacturing resources, that was at the 90% stage and pretty much ignore the ownership constraints without peril. That's a wild ass guess . . . .likely not even in the ballpark . . . but there are LOTS of risk and pitfalls for both potential bidders (this is NOT simply walking in, flipping the switch and shipping bikes . . .be mindful the new owner has to do all those federal NHSTA, EPA and so forth filings and get registered as a motor vehicle manufacturer in many venues. There is also significant risk for the Receiver who has a high duty of care in the legal world and the fiduciary duty to protect lots of competing interests. One slip and he can have any, many or more folks chasing his/her ass right back into court. And . . any potential bidder has to look at "undoing" the disaster that was EBR marketing. Try picking up the phone and ringing 10 dealers . . you'll get the idea. A lot of those folks are buying into "we was just a joshing ya". It's gonna require $$ and making them whole to rebuild the trust. The upside is that the product that sits on the cusp could be a windfall to someone who can keep the Elves in check, has the marketing and PR poop and perhaps a dealer network, In my dreams, I keep thinking Matt Levatich . . . we'll see, | ||
| Ratbuell |
In my dreams, I keep thinking Matt Levatich . . . we'll see, ...what's Flick been up to lately...? | ||
| Court |
Golf and marrying off daughters . . . he's a guy enjoying his family and retirement. | ||
| Drkside79 |
So court are you buying EBR at auction or are we just hoping Polaris does | ||
| Henshao |
I got 40 bucks in my wallet! | ||
| Hughlysses |
As someone on another forum pointed out, people had until the 22nd to file claims against EBR; it seems like you'd have to wait until after that date in order to say with legal certainty what the company's debts are. Maybe the delay was just due to a reconsideration of that. | ||
| Ratbuell |
Good for Jon! | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
That is some good reading this morning. | ||
| Buelliedan |
And . . any potential bidder has to look at "undoing" the disaster that was EBR marketing. That right there is going to be a HUGE undertaking. | ||
| Tpoppa |
And . . any potential bidder has to look at "undoing" the disaster that was EBR marketing. Try picking up the phone and ringing 10 dealers . Wasn't someone brought in from Piaggio or somewhere to set up the dealer network? Did he lack the proper expertise? | ||
| Cyclonedon |
Court, I've been saying that all along that I hope Harley Davidson buys EBR and let a real motorcycle person like Matt incorporate it into the Harley Davidson brand of sport motorcycles. They would sell motorcycles like crazy! Dealer network is already in place. An 1190 Ulysses sure would be a nice bike to own! | ||
| D_adams |
Auction/sale delayed for "a few weeks" as of this morning. | ||
| Buelliedan |
No we do not want HD to buy EBR!! There were very few dealers interested in selling them the first go round and I am sure it would only be worse the second time around. | ||
| Hybridmomentspass |
Actually I'd welcome HD owning it again Say what you will about how KW ran the thing, before that things were pretty rad. Great marketing (aside from that whole "too cool to wave at others" crap) There were accessories and clothing FROM the dealer, not some 3rd party website Large dealer network. Sure, not all were Buell dealers, but there were a lot Dont look at HD being terrible just because of KW, a man who isnt at the lead any longer But, whatever, Im not a buyer at the moment anyway. While the 1190RX was cool, Im not in the market for a sport bike Get a new uly and you'll have my attention...and maybe wallet. | ||
| Jaimec |
Harley would have to agree to allow the bikes to be sold at non-Harley dealerships. They tried selling in Harley dealerships and (with the few notable exceptions we've seen here) most of the shops stuffed the bikes into a dark corner and the salesmen would lead potential buyers AWAY from the Buells to their more profitable Geezer-Glide models. | ||
| Ourdee |
HD dealer didn't have a clue what bike was the best fit for me. | ||
| Hughlysses |
Auction/sale delayed for "a few weeks" as of this morning. Dean- where'd that info come from? They haven't responded to questions about it on their Facebook page. | ||
| Tpoppa |
When HD was involved, even before KW...the dealer experience was by far the worst part of owning a Buell. Need new tires? Sure we have thousands of crappy D207s in a warehouse. What's that? You want Michelins or Pirellis? How about some D207s? Owning a Buell MADE ME rely on the internet for tires, gear, and accessories...and I would have supported the dealer if they carried anything I actually wanted. | ||
| Hootowl |
"and I would have supported the dealer if they carried anything I actually wanted." It's a tough spot. Their volume is cruisers and baggers, so that's the tires they stock. Every once in a blue moon someone wants a sport tire. They can't stock for that. Buells should be sold and supported by sport bike dealers. There's just no way a HD dealer could ever keep the tires you might happen to want in stock. They can't move them. | ||
| Tootal |
It's a tough spot. Their volume is cruisers and baggers, so that's the tires they stock. Every once in a blue moon someone wants a sport tire. They can't stock for that. Buells should be sold and supported by sport bike dealers. There's just no way a HD dealer could ever keep the tires you might happen to want in stock. They can't move them. All because of INVENTORY TAXES!!!! If you don't know what that is consider yourself lucky. It's double taxation and should be illegal! You buy something and pay taxes on it. You keep it for more that a year and you pay taxes on it again!!! This sucks for large or small businesses yet nobody seems to complain about it. Revolution I say!!!  | ||
| Airbozo |
I've always bought tires online and had them shipped to the installer, even for my Sportster. San Jose and Santa Cruz HD did the installs without an add on charge for the tires (like some dealers I have heard about). Saved a bunch of cash on tires too. My experience with HD dealers selling Buell's was pretty positive though, except in the last few years. At SJHD, I had to go get the owner to tell the parts guy it was OK to order Buell parts... In other dealers, it's like shopping at Fry's. You never go in to ask questions or have them recommend something. Go in knowing what you want and your experience will be positive. | ||
| Airbozo |
"All because of INVENTORY TAXES!!!! If you don't know what that is consider yourself lucky. It's double taxation and should be illegal! You buy something and pay taxes on it. You keep it for more that a year and you pay taxes on it again!!! This sucks for large or small businesses yet nobody seems to complain about it. Revolution I say!!!" This seems backwards since tax is not collected until the final sale is made (at least in my business). | ||
| Tpoppa |
It's a tough spot. Their volume is cruisers and baggers, so that's the tires they stock. Every once in a blue moon someone wants a sport tire. They can't stock for that. Buells should be sold and supported by sport bike dealers. There's just no way a HD dealer could ever keep the tires you might happen to want in stock. They can't move them. Completely agree. Selling sporty bikes at HD dealers is like mixing tooth paste and orange juice. | ||
| Henshao |
"Mixing metaphors is like killing two birds with a dog that won't hunt." |
