HD profits have dropped 84% frm last year. They are killing Buell and selling MV Agusta. Sucks--I really liked Buells. The other thing that sucks is a lot of HD dealers are dumping their Buell bikes for up to $7k off new bikes, and I'm broke (or else I would totally jump on an 1125 for $6k!)
Geof
It does suck. I've been reading about it on various sources today.
There seems to be some speculation as to why HD shut it down, instead of selling it off. Perhaps they intend to revive Buell when the economic climate improves.
Too bad though. I do like the Ulysses.
I saw this this morning. We should start a couple of pools.
How long will Erik stay with HD? I bet less than two weeks.
When will he launch his new brand? Three weeks tops.
Just my .02. :lol:
Eric Buell seems to be a very dynamic and determined guy. With his links to other engine makers now, I guess it won't be too long like you say.
Wonder if he can still use the name since it's his?
Might have been better if they had done it the other way around, running for cover :oops:
Buell - Indian
Buell - Victory
He will probably have some large restraint clause (and the $$$ to go with it), about climbing into bed with anyone else in the industry... but I guess he could argue he ain't work for them if he's just using an engine. In which case, and with his name and knowledge, he'd be more likely to end up in Custom row.....
Oh crap. We own one, and I almost bought a Uly instead of a tiger last year. At least we only spend $2k on the Blast, so there's not too far the price can drop :D
Sad video by erik buell http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5i7JDNA ... dded#at=87 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5i7JDNACtI&feature=player_embedded#at=87)
well my tiger will always have a bit O buell in it. Since I installed Buell Ulysses foot pegs on my bike. Lower,longer,wider.
I have a 98 Buell S3T. It is a little crude but its a fantastic bike. It is so easy to take into corners fast. Very confident to lay it way over in turns. The motor makes lots of power down low, I just love it. Wheelies in 1st and 2nd. It has 57,000 miles and has been more reliable than my 98 Tiger.
I am just numb that HD pulled the plug on Buell. Buell makes some great bikes. I would never consider buying anything Harley makes, but I was strongly condsidering selling both the Tiger and Buell for a new Uly. Guess I will keep riding both. I don't like the new Tiger model, I will keep my Steamer going as long as I can and ride the Buell for the twisties.
Shame to see an American bike maker go down the tubes, along with the folks that work for them. Never fully understood why HD bought Augusta
I think it's nasty that Buell is going down and HD is continuing. Have you guys ridden an HD? They are loud, vibrate like jackhammers, have crappy handling geometry and their engines are very little evolved from what they were 75 years ago: they aren't even DOHC engines, they are still pushrod. HD is the ultimate poseur machine. I am sick to my stomach.
I've ridden a 2003 Buell Lightning and many other Buells since then, including the new AMA Supersport champion bike, the 1125r. All of them are awesome, some more than others. Looking at a Buell is like looking at a motorcycle for the first time all over again. It's totally unique and non-conventional.
Erik Buell has said that the only reason he went with Harley motors is that it was the only company that would sell him a motor in a crate. This sealed their fate as being captive of HD. The big problem with selling Buell is that they have no dealers that are not HD. And the people buying HDs are not going to buy a Buell. Seems obvious in retrospect, but Buell should have sold at the Ducati dealers. If they did they might not be where they are now.
Quote from: "TallRob"Sad video by erik buell http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5i7JDNA ... dded#at=87 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5i7JDNACtI&feature=player_embedded#at=87)
That really is tragic.
But so is my being laid off in January and not having found another job yet this year. :cry:
That's very sad news indeed, in many ways Buell were easily the most interesting American automotive manufacturer of any sort. I really admired Buell, but I feel that in all honesty using Harley engines the game was always gonna be up sooner or later. Innovative, modern bikes with new ideas and er.... a heavy, ancient, under-powered tractor engine that the whole non-Harley motorcycle world just laughs at. Outperformed by every other sport bike, tied to the image of Harley, which is not universally liked....
Erik Buell must have know all this when he signed up with Harley.
Imagine Buell sportsbikes with proper engines.... fast, agile, innovative AND light and powerful....if only they had teamed up with Triumph.....a 1050 would have been :shock:
I agree with nickcalne, I rode a Uly a year or so ago at a Buell demo ride and just loved the chassis and layout. The only thing I didn't like about the bike was the paint-shaker sportster motor. I couldn't help but think that if one would graft my Tiger 955 motor in the Uly chassis then you would have something!
When I heard that Harley was buying Augusta, I was hoping to see some new engine options for the Buells. Sadly, it is not to be. Still keeping my eyes open for an older used Uly with a blown motor, hope to find one cheap for a project.
I always felt that some of their 'innovations' were gimicks, but they were one of the few companies willing to try somethnig different.
I'll miss them
Quote from: "Advwannabe"I always felt that some of their 'innovations' were gimicks, but they were one of the few companies willing to try somethnig different.
I'll miss them
same for me.. never sure that I wanted one, but at least they were interesting to look at..
Ahhh...
Here's an opportunity for Bloor to get some real engineering
in his factory! Hire Erik Buell to run the business....
We'd have some wicked machines in 3 years....
Excessive vibration, weak charging systems, and poor dealer support?
I'll pass.
Quote from: "Stretch"Excessive vibration, weak charging systems, and poor dealer support?
I'll pass.
Two out of three things a lot of Triumphs already have in spades. :lol:
I was prepared to pull the trigger on a Ulysses, except for the fucking vibrations. I laugh at the people who try to argue that it's not a Sportster engine.
My brother has a 2004 Lightning and he just bought a 2009 1125CR. We swapped bikes for a few miles last weekend and he was amazed at how smooth the tiger was.....but not enough to give up his Buells.
The 1125 is a different animal entirely. It's a shame Buell was folded before that bike's true potential could be realized.
Quote from: "JetdocX"Quote from: "Stretch"Excessive vibration, weak charging systems, and poor dealer support?
I'll pass.
Two out of three things a lot of Triumphs already have in spades. :lol:
You beat me to it, I was just going to ask what bike we were talking about again :wink:
I've ridden the 1125r and the 2003-8 Lightnings and Firebolts. Yes, the latter two vibrate too much and have too narrow a power band, but other than that they will out-corner most other bikes including, dare I say it, most Triumphs, perhaps even the 675 Daytona, but I haven't ridden that one so I really can't say.
The 1125r was spectacular: incredible chassis rigidity, handles like a time-warped python and looks like what was originally meant by the portmanteau "batcycle". And doesn't vibrate except where it counts (in your soul).
Yes that machine had enormous potential but I just couldn't afford one.
On the vibration issue: I currently own an (awesome) KTM 640 Adventure. That thing will vibrate yesterday's dinner out of your bowels if you're not careful. Buell's don't come close, though they are certainly more vibey that the triples.
My brother has a Lightning, and they are kind of freaky to ride--the wheelbase is so short, there seems to be nothing in front of you, you can barely even see the wheel. It is extremely fun to ride though.
Geof
phoning around the cheapest Uly i could find was $9995 OTD
now if it was 7 grand then maybe I'd buy one
Quote from: "abruzzi"My brother has a Lightning, and they are kind of freaky to ride--the wheelbase is so short, there seems to be nothing in front of you, you can barely even see the wheel. It is extremely fun to ride though.
I rode the 1125CR and experienced the same feeling. I felt like my noggin was out in front of the headlight!
Harley seem to be in deep trouble, 84% drop in income, MV up for sale again. Does seem dumb though, I thought the best way to survive a recession was to diversify?
Quote from: "John Stenhouse"I thought the best way to survive a recession was to diversify?
Ah, that'll be why they are releasing a new GLHJF Iron Knight Steam Chicken Electra model then :lol:
Quote from: "Colonel Nikolai"The big problem with selling Buell is that they have no dealers that are not HD. And the people buying HDs are not going to buy a Buell. Seems obvious in retrospect, but Buell should have sold at the Ducati dealers. If they did they might not be where they are now.
Strongly Agree! Beer-bellies and Black Leather are not exactly the physique and attire for riding a Buell. They should have put Buells square up against their imported competition....perhaps the multi-brand superstores. I've tested ridden a couple Buells and always wanted to try out the 1125s and a Ulysses. Guess I'll need to move fast if I'm going to make that a reality.
True dat jakes10mm. Reminds me a couple years ago I asked one of the sales guys at my local Triumph/Ducati dealer about selling Buells. He said beyond selling the occasional trade-in, "I wish I could sell them new. If they'd let us I'd make it happen here, I love those bikes and people here would buy them and they wouldn't look out of place among the Triumphs and Ducs." So there's one data point that supports our argument, at least.
+1 HD never really got what Eric was about IMHO, you're right, they would have sold better against the EU background.
Still on the upside I guess anyone selling a Buell will be putting their price up.
Here's a link to a photo of the last Buell to roll off the line:
http://blog.motorcycle.com/2009/11/13/m ... -the-line/ (http://blog.motorcycle.com/2009/11/13/motorcycle-news/last-buell-motorcycle-rolls-off-the-line/)
*removes hat* *look down at the ground* *sob*
This is especially sad as we live about 35 miles from the Buell plant in East Troy, WI. We had a similar photo here when GM closed the local plant making Tahoes and Suburbans last December.
The local county government is trying to find a way to keep Buell going by buying Buell from Hardley. Maybe they should all go to Washington DC and get a bail out!!
Idunno, why doesn't Polaris buy buell? Say what you will about Victory Motorcycles, at least they're in the second half of the 20th century with technology: victory motors are DOHC, not pushrod like Hardley motors. Then buells at least wouldn't have to have big shields over the pushrod housings to hide them like they do now.
I love Tigers, but also own a 08 UlyX, and plan to keep it until parts are gone. (which maybe soon - ECMs currently backordered til Feb) Too bad HD can't see their pirate convention demographic slipping into senility. I'm 61, but the Uly is an all age machine. Who is going to be buying HDs 10 years from now? Buell had ideas and a future - I bet the Uly was scheduled for an 1125 Rotax by 2012. The pisser is they won't sell them like MV Agusta - apparently better to take an IRS write off than sell Buell and invite more competition. The pox on 'em. There are no more American made Motorcycles that I would even consider. Sad. Particularly for the 200 folks that lost their job in ETroy. j
I kinda think the whole line was headed for Rotaxification. And while Erik Buell was touting on and on about the 72 degree helicon engine in the 1125r as being "designed by buell, built by rotax", the engine was built by rotax and designed by rotax, originally for Aprillia.
The only reason I would ever set foot in a Hardley dealership was to look at a Buell. Now I have no purpose for ever doing that again. This is not a positive development for HD. Furthermore, to think that Buell ran on only 200 people, too! It actually makes me think that we're living in a world where we might not even have Harley soon: their situation might be a lot more dire than it seems.
FYI,Eric is scheduled to be on Side Stand Up tonight sometime between 7-9 Eastern.
What's that, a chat show?
I heard somewhere that Erik Buell has a non-compete with HD until 2011. So he just might be appearing so that he can get the public ready for Buell's comeback next year. Here's hopin'.