| Author | Message | ||
     Tod662 |
I got nothing to add, but we have moved into the resurrection stage so here is a new thread. | ||
| M1combat |
... Add more when you can... | ||
| Ourdee |
Shy of the Hero. It was like one of those settling out of court things. No real proof of wrong doing exposed. Just a this is the cheapest get on with life path for everyone. At least that was my take. Positive note: All I know of Erik's ethics is that he is above board in the honesty and high road department. | ||
| Firstbuell |
I'm so pleased that the term "Villain" has replaced "Hero" 'round these parts - fitting !! | ||
| Jon |
Corn dogs for everyone! | ||
| Hughlysses |
Well, I guess it's time that discussion moved from the "EBR racing to close" thread to this one! Autoevolution has picked up the story, but they're reporting it as a "rumor". It's not a rumor. http://www.autoevolution.com/news/ebr-rumored-to-h ave-been-bought-by-atlantic-metals-group-needs-con firmation-98530.html | ||
| Ferris_von_bueller |
This is reading like an episode of the Sopranos | ||
| Rick_fears |
I'm just here for the corn dogs. | ||
| Wymaen |
Somebody say corn dogs?  | ||
| 1313 |
The Courts approved: - Hero settlement - EBR sale Mr. Belfer - self-labeled as a fan and admirer of Erik Buell's work - seems to be just what's needed for a re-birth, or actually, continuing endeavor. I was pleasantly surprised by the lack of Hero objection! 1313 | ||
| Hughlysses |
WOOO-freaking-HOOOO!!!    | ||
| Hughlysses |
Further confirmation: http://www.jsonline.com/business/erik-buell-racing -assets-sold-to-metals-company-for-225-million-b99 551917z1-320916221.html | ||
| Pjd2ss |
So now my worry is do these folks have resources beyond the $2.25 million for the assets that it will take to get production and distribution going again? And what about resurrecting some semblance of a dealer network? Not sure what is really left out there and how many are still will to play ball? I really hope this works out, but there are still some pretty major challenges ahead... (Message edited by pjd2ss on August 06, 2015) | ||
| Court |
We stand ...... In the chronology of "things Buell" ...... At, what I call, a " hand grenade moment". Ya either toss it, with sufficient force, in the proper direction and do some good......or drop it in your foxhole. Simply having the grenade is the easy part. Cool stuff. I smell fun and know that some of the individuals involved knows that "enthusiast owned" businesses have a myriad of unique challenges. Enthusiasm is an element of, not a guarantee of, success. | ||
| Reepicheep |
From the article..
The books sound like they were a lot better than I expected. Somebody got a real steal on the company. | ||
| Pjd2ss |
Agreed. But it probably depends on how that $20.4 million in liabilities is structured. Once they get some cash flow going, they may be able to keep a healthy balance sheet. If "Atlantic Metals LLC" is someone with healthy reserves, it makes it much less of a perilous tight rope walk. But the bottom line is we still don't know much about Atlantic Metals LLC. | ||
| Moshaholic2 |
Working at a ski resort that has been bought and sold 3 times since I started working here... Ive seen this play out before. Initial investor/developer dumps a lot of $$$$ in to build the product up. Forced to sell, buyer pays half the original investors price and gets a great deal. The process has repeated at this resort over and over. With each new owner putting addition $$$ into the resort. Now, it could have been by design that Erik spoke to these people well before hand and it purposely sold for little $$ so it's easier to right side up EBR and get it moving. Or they got a hell of a deal. The Belfers have ties to manufacturing, recycling, electrics... so maybe they saw this as a minimal investment thing, where half the supplies they can provide themselves. So if the original suppliers get burned by the auction price... it doesn't effect new product from rolling of the lines. We're still all in the speculation phase. all we know is EBR sold for a hell of a deal. I just want a US made bike w/ switchable maps and ABS that is balls to the wall fast (like the 1190RX) that can take it to the competitors. | ||
| Whistler |
Pjd2ss is correct. 20.4 liabilities + 2.5 buy in + ? start up + short term game plan. Maybe 2.5 available on the floor in product. Money is moving around. It's a beginning. Going take some seriously focused folks to make it work. Got to sell and market bikes. | ||
| Hughlysses |
So, if you were Mr. Belfer, what would be your first order of business? -Hire Erik and as many Elves as possible? -Hire workers in East Troy to start assembling more bikes? -Whirlwind around-the-country tour to meet with dealers and try to make amends? -Update the website? | ||
| Tpoppa |
So, if you were Mr. Belfer, what would be your first order of business? 1. Send a communication to stakeholders (Dealers, vendors, EEs, etc) of what just happened. Better to hear it first hand then on the web. 2. Develop a SUSTAINABLE business plan. | ||
| Cyclonedon |
This is going to be a hard sell to get EBR going again! First: a dealer network to sell their product when they had such a small one to start with and most of those dealers lost a lot of money in the process! Second: getting supplies from vendors who have already lost money in the previous venture unless you purchase with cash up front! Third: trying to sell 18 or 19 thousand dollar motorcycles to the consumers when dealers were trying to sell off their inventory of EBR motorcycles for under $10,000! It's going to be a hard sell! I just wished Harley Davidson would have purchased them! I don't think I'll ever see the kinda sales that we saw when Harley owned them, at least not in my lifetime! | ||
| Bud |
nice.. a lean mean motorcycle company with top notch bikes, not for every bodies flavor where every set off sold wheels will count.. having a big bag off cash to spend is easy starting a company making it last is what is important in the long run | ||
| Whistler |
Ground up. Focus on in hand. Protect cash. Make what you sell and sell what you make. | ||
| Ourdee |
I'm glad Harley stuck to their core business. Now how about some kit bikes that you build at home for under $8000.oo? Why should Erik stay in the bike trap? I want to see the other stuff he has thought up. | ||
| Pjd2ss |
They have to do a better job marketing the bikes. Get them in the public eye. Need to have at least 20-30 enthusiastic dealers spread around the country and get those dealers to take a couple of bikes/display setup to local events in their area on a frequent basis (motorcycle and car shows, racing events, large club events - anything motohead that has a large attendance). EBR should support those dealers with nice promotional material. But it seems to me it has to be a joint effort of the corporate and the local dealers. | ||
| Nobuell |
Perhaps selling new bike just above break even will help move product for the duration required to design/provide innovation that will be perceived comparable to the European brands. Prices can be raised incrementally over time and/or perhaps production costs can be reduced by selling more units. I believe the EBR to be a very good bike but it must be less costly than the competition as configured or be reconfigured to be close to the competition on a dollar basis. The dealers must be able to sell side by side allowing a non-buell person will understand and appreciate the benefits. It will be interesting. | ||
| Jon |
Years ago at Laguna Seca we were fortunate to have Erik visit us at Rocky Point Restaurant. After our dinner and fellowship were concluded, Erik hung out in the parking lot and shared some things, one of which was the obstacle rich corporate environment of HD. Imagine then going to Hero and having your trust broken again. This new situation sounds like the best situation Erik could possibly be in. Now then...GET BACK TO WORK!!! I want a flat tracker and a couple of naked bikes like the S1 or the X1. All air cooled. And I want these things soon. Oh, and a cafe. Other people have been wearing your clothes, Erik. Time to load your six gun. (Message edited by jon on August 06, 2015) | ||
| Jon |
Nothing but American mustard on those corndogs, please. | ||
| Ferris_von_bueller |
So, since Mr. Buell is no longer an owner he becomes a consultant? | ||
| Firstbuell |
hey Jon, tho' I'm 100% on board with you, we'll likely never see air-cooled again in the segments you desire if I didn't love my M2 [& wanted new & a-c], seems like it'd have to be a Ducati Scrambler..... |
