| Author | Message | ||
     Hooper |
Anyone know what the thinking was behind removing the "American Motorcycles" logo "sticker" from the airbox cover? My 2006 Uly has one, but I think the subsequent years (and the international versions) only have the "Buell" logo. I can understand why they stopped putting the "American Motorcycles" sticker on there, but has there been any official reasoning? Personally, I love having that extra bit of info - it provides an "underline" to the Buell logo and intrigues onlookers. People stare at the thing, wondering what the heck it is, and are surprised and impressed that it's American-made. I'd want that sticker on my next Uly (2012 model). | ||
| Metalstorm |
Buells are becoming more recognizable and popular than ever. In the past, promoting it as an American made bike was a great way of making the brand stick in the memory (ohhh yeah.. the American sportbike, I've heard of those) They can stand proudly on their own two feet now. They shouldn't have to play the American card anymore. I admit I like those stickers too but you don't see Ducati with an "Italian Motorcycles" sticker. or Honda with a "Japanese Motorcycles" sticker. Their brand name stands on it's own, as should Buell's. Just my $.02 On Edit: I'm 99% certain that you can order those stickers from your dealer of choice and apply them to your airbox cover yourself. (Message edited by metalstorm on August 18, 2008) | ||
| Cityxslicker |
or to the front of your flyscreen to hide that ugly piece of black foam under the translucents. | ||
| Metalstorm |
Ain't that what mud's for?  Every time I see a pic of your muddy crusty bike I say to myself "There's a man who's having way too much fun"  | ||
| Gschuette |
Erik addressed this in a video on the website a little while ago. He said what the others have already stated. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
He signed my dash gauge face. I got to talk to him for about 20 mins of face time about the bikes, and riding. Very energetic guy, it is contagious. He knows I ride it off road, I dont think I am coloring inside the corporate lines with the way I ride it. All he said it was a fun bike and that he owned one. But his grin spoke volumes. Got to do the factory tour, and they introduced me as CityXslicker, so I get the idea that there is at least a passing nod to what I do with the bike. I would love to add "Closed Course, Professional Rider" to my resume someday. | ||
| Irideabuell |
Don't the Ducati's have Italian flags on them though? | ||
| Miamiuly |
Not to mention that while it is assembled in the U.S. it's parts are sourced from around the world. I remember Cycle World calling it a world bike and showing where many parts came from. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Not to mention that while it is assembled in the U.S. it's parts are sourced from around the world. So are Fords, Chevys, and Chryslers. It isn't about any sort of Federal parts content nonsense. | ||
| Miamiuly |
Just lost my longer response.... I kind of liked when it did say American Motorcycle, just thought they might have dropped it to avoid the whole argument. I always look for the 1 in the U.S. car vin, not sure if it would sway me but 2 for Can and 3 for Mex, definitely would think twice about a 3 in the vin. The first three characters signify the make of the car, usually as follows: The first character of your VIN represents the country of manufacture 1 = USA J = Japan Y = Finland, Sweden 2 = Canada K = Korea 3 = Mexico W = Germany http://www.cardetective.com/vin-decoder.html | ||
| Buellinachinashop |
Fat, not starting an argument (but it probably will), but the Federal Trade Commission states that in order for a product to be called or badged "American" it must have its major components made here. The 1125's "major" component is its motor, which isn't. Coincidence that Buell starts marketing bikes with Austrian motors and dropped the "american motorcycles" from them? (Message edited by Buellinachinashop on August 18, 2008) | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
The American Made stickers were removed in 07. The 1125R wasn't a reality until 08. The engine for the XB line still came from WI in 07. | ||
| Buelltours |
I think the most american vehicle (for US content) is the Honda Odyssey... | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Actually the highest US part content vehicles are Isuzus. | ||
| Jaimec |
Used to be the GoldWing was the most "American" vehicle, till they moved it back to Japan this year. By the way, a "4" in the first digit of the VIN also indicates made in the USA. And the FRAME (which I consider a major part of the vehicle) of the 1125r is manufactured in the States. The XB frame continues to be sourced from Italy. | ||
| Buellinachinashop |
"The American Made stickers were removed in 07." But the 1125 wasn't thought up in 07, they knew it was coming well before that year even, which gave them time to get rid of decal inventory for the 08 and 09 model years. | ||
| Blake |
"Not to mention that while it is assembled in the U.S. it's parts are sourced from around the world." "it"?  A more accurate version of that characterization would be Buell motorcycles are designed, engineered, and manufactured in America; many constituent parts are sourced from around the world.Legally speaking, there likely is no issue. All Buell motorcycles are currently "made in America". Period. The only situation where a "made in America" status might not be appropriate is planned to kick off in Brazil in the near future, where they will actually be assembling the bikes in Manaus, Brazil to take advantage of huge incentives for in-country manufacture, especially in Manaus, which is way up in the middle of the Amazon. | ||
| Xl1200r |
The engine in my chevy was built in Germany. It's still an American car. I don't care who builds it or where the parts come (I do to an extent). I care about the dollars go. Everyone makes a fuss about Hondas and Toyotas being built here, so there just as American as an F-150. B.S. - Follow the money - it goes back to Japan. (Message edited by xl1200r on August 18, 2008) | ||
| Buelltours |
what about the Buells that are assembled in Brazil? I guess "South" America qualifies too... | ||
| Seanp |
Yeah, but I'd rather support blue-collar American workers and foreign white-collar fat cats than blue-collar foreign workers and American white-collar fat cats. All things being equal, a Honda built in the US would get my vote over a Ford built in Mexico. (Of course, all things are not equal...  ) | ||
| Jaimec |
Seanp, I agree. All the money does NOT go to Japan. It pays AMERICAN wages, the factories pay AMERICAN property taxes, and AMERICAN utilities, as well as paying for AMERICAN health benefits. If the white collar workers in Japan want to provide jobs and benefits to Americans, (something American white collar workers seem to find anathema), then more power to 'em!! | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
But the 1125 wasn't thought up in 07, they knew it was coming well before that year even, which gave them time to get rid of decal inventory for the 08 and 09 model years. Your logic is getting circular now. Why would they remove stickers from bikes BEFORE they were required to? Why would they remove stickers on bikes that they were NOT required to? Technically speaking, they could still display that sticker on the XB line but not the 1125R line given that logic. But then folks might start asking questions.  Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. | ||
| Buellinachinashop |
"Technically speaking, they could still display that sticker on the XB line but not the 1125R line given that logic." Exactly what I'm saying. If I'm reading what you said, Buell would have had to purchase two different sets of decals, one for the XB one for the 1125r, that's contrary to brand imaging though. I do this for my company everyday. We don't use different logos on different products, we do phase out the old before branding with the new. There's nothing circular about it. They never had to remove any decals from the 1125r...they used the decals they had in inventory BEFORE the 1125r came out or they simplay said...out with the old, in with the new..totally. My company is cheap and wont dump out anything, they use what we have first. Buell is probably alot different. (Message edited by Buellinachinashop on August 18, 2008) | ||
| Bbbob |
Jaimec, are you sure on the "4" in the Vin #? While working at HD/Buell dealer we were trained all Harleys for American market vin #s started "1HD1". I believe those sent for sale in Canada are "3HD1". | ||
| Jaimec |
Your assumption, however, is wrong. It's got nothing to do with any legal mumbo-jumbo. Buell corporate decided that Buell motorcycles could stand on their own without having to add "American Motorcycles." They've been out long enough that everyone KNOWS they're American Motorcycles. Not even Harley Davidson has "American Motorcycles" on their bikes. If anything, they say "Union made," not "American made." It's been over a two decades since BMW was marketed as "The Legendary Motorcycles of Germany" too. Why no conspiracy theories over that?? | ||
| Greenlantern |
Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. On this board it is a foreign manufactured terrorist contrived weapon of propaganda which will doom us all to tyrannic rule by our new Swiss Overlords!!  | ||
| Ducxl |
Yeah, but I'd rather support blue-collar American workers and foreign white-collar fat cats than blue-collar foreign workers and American white-collar fat cats. Wow,there's a tongue twister.An interesting perspective i'd never considered | ||
| Miamiuly |
Actually the highest US part content vehicles are Isuzus. HI...I'm Joe Isuzu and our cars have the highest content of U.S. made parts... I promise.  Sorry for the "it" Blake, 20 push ups done. And I kind of liked the American Motorcycle being on there to tell non-riders and the uniformed. Average people as well as riders tend to be way more curious about the Uly than my zx10r. (Message edited by miamiuly on August 18, 2008) | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
But by your logic they threw away the existing 2007 American Made stickers that they had in stock. Why would they have done that given that they were not required to even if they KNEW the 1125 was coming. Even if they were simply leaving the sticker off, there was no reason to do it from a parts content standpoint. I don't believe they were REQUIRED to do it for any parts content reasons. I believe they chose to do it from a strictly marketing standpoint. ChadHargis' Jeep Liberty has an Italian CDI diesel. It doesn't make his vehicle Italian. It doesn't prevent it from being called "American Made". | ||
| Bbbob |
"American Motorcycles" on my tank keeps most semi-literate people from asking if it's made in France. |
