| Author |
Message |
    
Rex
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 17, 2012 - 03:32 am: | 
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Thanks for the short history of the motor. |
Court
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 17, 2012 - 06:51 am: |
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Hahahahaha . . . yeah, I used to have a problem with getting on the RS and not coming back for a while.
I always think of what someone said when Fran Crane and I were riding somewhere . . . "it either of these folks asks you to ride to lunch, ask WHERE?" Frannie had just ridden from Scott's Valley to Louisiana for a Crayfish lunch and back.
The RS, which by the way shares identical geometry with the S1, has a very different ride from post 1994 Buells. I've written much about the differences and some old-timers recall my plumb bob story. Trust me, you will find the RS is a most enjoyable ride.
There's an elegance and grace in the RS, much of which found it's way to the S2, that never ceased to amaze me. I used to ride an S2 every Thursday to deliver paychecks all over Kansas and Missouri.
One of my favorites rides . . . . . still makes for a fun story.
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Greg_cifu
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 17, 2012 - 12:11 pm: |
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quote: Too bad the guys running the place spent money like they were a big company.
And therein is the conundrum of starting a big company: it's almost impossible to grow from a small one to a big one without outside money. Buell struggled (admirably) until Harley cash-infused them. Victory only weathered the storm due to the substantial backing of Polaris. Indian has tried multiple times to get off the ground with the 'start small and simple' mentality and failed each time. ATK had success as a niche manufacturer but, struggles today because the industry finally achieved all the things Horst Leitner was pushing 30 years ago.
There really doesn't seem to be a magic formula. EH incorrectly assumed that Americans would buy good American motorcycles, even if they weren't from the motor company. As I've written elsewhere: American's don't want good American motorcycles, they want Harleys.
Court: those are some great pictures...a few I hadn't seen before. Fran Crane...there's a name I haven't heard in awhile (since her passing). Shoulda' figured you ran with the IBA crowd.  |
Hogluvr
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 17, 2012 - 09:37 pm: |
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Nice pics Court! I hear I might have to hide my keys from you when I go pick it up!  |
Greg_cifu
| | Posted on Friday, July 20, 2012 - 07:08 pm: |
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So when do you pick this thing up? |
Hogluvr
| | Posted on Friday, July 20, 2012 - 08:01 pm: |
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Greg,
I PM'd Court last night to see if any weekend was better than another, haven't heard back from him yet. I'm taking my kids on vacation in two weeks, so I either have to do it next weekend or wait about a month. The guy still seems like he really doesn't want to sell it, I'm afraid if I wait too long he may change his mind! I think I'm gonna push for next weekend!
BTW, that is a real beauty you have there. I remembered reading about it a while back, went back and read about it again. That really is a rolling time capsule! |
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