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M2nc
| | Posted on Thursday, January 24, 2008 - 01:49 am: | 
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Motorcycle News Blog.
U.S. Motorcycle Sales Report for 3rd Quarter 2007
October 24, 2007 - U.S. Motorcycle sales are down across the board so far this year, with one exception. The dual-sport category is up by about 4% compared to the same period in 2006. This may be due to the popularity of motorcycles like the updated KTM 990 Adventure or the popular BMW R1200GS.
The remaining categories, including off-road and street bikes, have suffered in 2007. Off-road sales are down about 15%, while street bike sales are off by nearly 5%. Even scooter sales are down by nearly 2%; the scooter market just can't seem to gain momentum in the U.S.A., even with relatively high fuel costs persuading many to find more efficient methods of transportation.
Overall motorcycle sales, including all categories, are down by 6.4% so for the first three quarters of 2007 when compared to 2006.
They forgot the Uly. Well it seems Buell is at the right place at the right time this go around. |
Barker
| | Posted on Thursday, January 24, 2008 - 09:49 am: |
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1125R, the hottie with big pods, that I lust over, she will get me in trouble and and run off with all my money.
XB12XT, the girl I should marry. |
Ft_bstrd
| | Posted on Thursday, January 24, 2008 - 10:25 am: |
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"Parts Bin" can be a very good thing.
I agree.
I believe the exact same phrase was used to describe the STT. In response to it, you became quite heated.
I'm just surprised to see you then using the exact same phrase in a positive light. Not picking a fight, just making an observation.
I like that existing parts and technologies can be combined in slightly different ways to create a unique solution.
Which suspension is the XT going to be equipped with? |
Rainman
| | Posted on Thursday, January 24, 2008 - 10:55 am: |
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If the parts are good and the bin is deep and the price is right and the bike fits, I'm happy. Now I just gotta get enough money together.... |
Metalstorm
| | Posted on Thursday, January 24, 2008 - 12:16 pm: |
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Which suspension is the XT going to be equipped with?
Why, the XT's of course 
It's sort of unique to this bike so it's not completely a parts-bin bike 
It's not simply a lowered Uly, I believe it's an engineered lowered Uly |
Dfbutler
| | Posted on Thursday, January 24, 2008 - 12:49 pm: |
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What seems to be missing in the debate is where Buells are sold - Harley dealers. Walk around any Harley show room and you may see a Buell or two, but you will see most of the Harleys have bags or the option to have bags. The ability to actually carry something on your bike, not on your back, can't be underestimated. Could Buell fill a niche for a sporty/high performance version of a practical bike like the current crop of cars with sport SUVs like a BMW X3/5s? |
Azxb9r
| | Posted on Thursday, January 24, 2008 - 04:23 pm: |
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The lower seat height may help attract buyers. Some people are intimidated by the tall seat height on the Uly.
The taller windscreen and bags are also a plus for someone that wants a comuter/weekend tourer. I guess it depends on where you live also. The twisties in Az. tend to be separated by long stretches of flat-n-straight. A "sport touring" type bike makes sense(and is quite popular)here. |
Crusty
| | Posted on Thursday, January 24, 2008 - 09:00 pm: |
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1125R, the hottie with big pods, that I lust over, she will get me in trouble and and run off with all my money.
XB12XT, the girl I should marry.
Ginger or Mary Ann? |
Bartimus
| | Posted on Friday, January 25, 2008 - 06:05 am: |
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this bike is a good start towards what I'd like to see.
I'm glad that stupid duck bill fender is gone, on this model, I agree a bigger front fairing is needed. |
Nevrenuf
| | Posted on Friday, January 25, 2008 - 06:23 am: |
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maybe al can come up with something. someone already came up with plastic for the 1125. no reason something coudn't be done for the t-uly. |
Steve_mackay
| | Posted on Friday, January 25, 2008 - 07:16 am: |
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The firebolt fairing on my ulybolt(basically an XB12XT, before Buell came out with it) works well, and even Erik commented on how a larger fairing would be a good idea. Then we talked about tooling costs on the current fairings(which is like $250K), I don't think he liked the fact I told him he was being ripped off for mold tooling.
We would have made the XBR fairing for almost half of that. |
Stealthxb
| | Posted on Friday, January 25, 2008 - 01:41 pm: |
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As long as they were already in "the bin" why did they leave off the fairing?
As much as they touted the "Quiet Zone" on the Eleven, and went on and on about how important still air is to rider comfort and fatigue - How could they leave that critical ingredient out of the XT package??
Naustin's insight should not be overlooked.
With all the r&d that went into the 1125 why did the XB12XT not benefit?
The Quietzone would have been an excellent feature to market on a sport touring model. And sunk costs could have been distributed over more products. |
Naustin
| | Posted on Friday, January 25, 2008 - 02:39 pm: |
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Thanks Stealth 
"We would have made the XBR fairing for almost half of that."
I'm surprised he didn't call you...
Nick
(Message edited by naustin on January 25, 2008) |
Steve_mackay
| | Posted on Friday, January 25, 2008 - 02:55 pm: |
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naustin, it's easier said than done. Usually a place like Buell only deals with certain custom molders. The particular custom molder that Buell uses, generally uses very expensive too & die shops to build their molds. And this is always a sort of "good 'ole boys" club. They've been dealing with these tool & die shops for ages, and don't want to deal with anyone else.
And on top of that, I'm sure the custom molder tacks on 10%-25% of the cost of the tool. |
Metalstorm
| | Posted on Friday, January 25, 2008 - 05:09 pm: |
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The "quiet zone" happens while in full tuck.
The 1125 fairing is still unbelievably good & awesome while sitting upright and would probably be great on the XT but I just thought it should be known that the perfect bubble is created when you're tucked in.
The wide bars of the XT might negate the 1125 fairing's amazing ability to keep the wind off the hands since the hands will stick out to the sides more than they would on the narrower clip on style bars.
I have no doubt that it would look very cool, work well enough to get the job done and have better lighting than the current H7 bulb setup.
There's an XT out there somewhere just begging for some one to try this mod out on her |
Naustin
| | Posted on Friday, January 25, 2008 - 07:41 pm: |
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Steve:
I hear ya.. I'm up against similar "institutions" all the time. None the less, I know buell changed its frame builder to a WI? (US anyway) company last year just like that, so I figured they had fewer "institutions" to worry about... |
Cityxslicker
| | Posted on Saturday, January 26, 2008 - 12:52 am: |
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Mary Anne in Gingers wardrobe, every time; no contest. Put some damn bags on the bike, and they just might not come off ;) The Uly is our Number 1 Buell seller
#2 is the CityX ( I am a bit biased toward that bike)
#3 is the Blast, beats the firebolt year after year, sorry guys; Ginger is still on the island. |
Court
| | Posted on Saturday, January 26, 2008 - 11:51 am: |
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Cost, as has been cited in numerous interviews, is but one of about a dozen factors that goes into Buell purchasing.
If "good ol boys" means "a history of proven performance" I'd absolutely agree.
Proven performance would trump low cost.
>>>>so I figured they had fewer "institutions" to worry about...
Actually, just the opposite is true. The 1125R frame, totally different and unrelated except in congruent appearance, actually involves, and for good reason, more vendors who collaborate.
Court |
Reepicheep
| | Posted on Saturday, January 26, 2008 - 02:47 pm: |
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I hear ya cityslicker... I got some Buell soft side bags for the 9sx... they were a fair price used, so I got them for my occasional long trips on the bike.
Put them on for a test fit 12,000 miles ago, and can't bring myself to take them back off. They are just too handy...
Truth be told, when I did finally test ride a Uly, I liked the idea of the bike, but all that fork dive seemed a big compromise on the street... and it still felt a bit on the heavy and expensive side for the dirt. My idea of a dirt bike is a $600 1985 KLR-250, and a fresh roll of duct tape
So I think the "street uly" is a good move. |
Cityxslicker
| | Posted on Sunday, January 27, 2008 - 04:05 am: |
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Funny, I traded my 96 KLR 250 & 96 Ninja 600RR to get my CityX. Making the Cityx do both duties; with a couple of limitations of course. I miss the dirt squirter, but really want something in the 400/450/500 cc range. (come on E Troy, help a dirt rider out) |
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