Buell All Done

[nixoid]

Oxx, us Buell owners have been dreaming of the day we were saved FROM HD.... its miserable at some of the dealerships. At one dealership we were actually asked NOT to park in front. I tell alot of people if they would just ride it... they would be surprised.

Seriously... you were told not to park a Buell in front of an HD dealership? Wow... That was one of the big issues with Buell - lunk head dealers afaraid of technology.

• I attended a dealer test ride day at VIR and the dealers that were willing to even show up to ride the new 1125R were almost to a man unable to ride the bike or care enough to pay attention during the sales talks.
  
  • One guy came back from the first follow along where we didn't break 40mph screaming at the instructor for trying to kill us. He stormed off and I think left the track.
• My brother went into a HD dealership in Southern Florida and stood by a 1125R for half an hour. Salesman were avoiding eye contact and taking the long way around the shop to avoid him. When he did finally ask for some help he was told that the salesman that knew "those things" was off today.

[eboos]

We did just get in some Buell clothing. Grab it before it's gone. Both of the gear bags were just snatched up today.

[ff36buell]

In my honest opinion, Buell was set up to fail by HD. I believe HD saw the writing on the wall with the dumb decision of allowing a NON-HD motor in a Buell. People are all saying the same thing, all this bike needed was a proper motor. The Rotax mill is incredibly under tuned at 146hp. Were there teething issues? yes, but those issues were complicated when many HD/Buell dealerships were unwilling to help out the customers. There are some dealers that go above and beyond, and I believe they will miss Buell being part of their family. I wish BRP/Rotax would just pick up the line and start producing more.

[eboos]

Seriously... you were told not to park a Buell in front of an HD dealership? Wow... That was one of the big issues with Buell - lunk head dealers afaraid of technology.

[LIST][*]I attended a dealer test ride day at VIR and the dealers that were willing to even show up to ride the new 1125R were almost to a man unable to ride the bike or care enough to pay attention during the sales talks.

• One guy came back from the first follow along where we didn't break 40mph screaming at the instructor for trying to kill us. He stormed off and I think left the track.

Fortunately, the one that my sales manager and I attended at Pocono went much better. The dealerships were a big part of the problem, there is no doubt, and that is why I came to my current one. Harley culture is also a big part of the problem. Anything sporty that Harley produces is doomed to failure. Harley does not know how to market sporty things, and the core customer base isn't interested. They now have a steep hill to climb. They still need to attract younger customers, and this "Dark Custom" crap just isn't cutting it.

[Mondo]

nick I'd love to ride your buell...i'll even let you ride my CB....oh wait

[DuncanMoto]

Sad.
I loved my ole S1

[SVRACER01]

i want that rotax motor for a chopper

[Woodsy]

My input is this:

I have loved Buell from the start. When I was in the military I was going to buy one (financing did not work out) I love the look, design, innovation, as well as the quirkiness that comes with riding one. These are all inconsequential to the real reason. My father is a small business owner that beat the odds and I admire no single person more. When I look at the story behind buell I see a similar story. Eric’s vision was unbelievable. He fought the odds and won. Who in their right mind could have conceived that you could take a sportster engine and make it in to something beautiful. Eric was insanely patriotic and devoutly loyal. He took this engine and though his engineering genius transformed the way people thought. Fuel in frame, ZTL brakes, super stiff platforms… this is what Harley should have adopted. However Harleys are not bikes they are “memberships”. they are an entrance into a culture where the cost of admission is 20 grand! The best thing about Harley was buell. But as I said to nick earlier today selling a bike 5 years ahead of it’s time for 10 grand less than it should be makes no sense to Harley. Selling a bike 10 years behind the times for 20 grand more does! The only fault I can find with Eric is that he sold the company. Other than that the man is to be praised, from mountains on high, as one of the most enduring figures in motorcycle history. He created a true underdog story that no doubt inspired a generation of young entrepreneurs who said “if he could do it, I can do it”. the only thing to disparage someone now is seeing a tear filled CEO tell the world that his dream is dead. In short FUCK HARLEY DAVIDSON! You have truly killed an American legend

RIP Buell Motorcycles 1983-2006

/rant

[M.J.B.]

[typeone]

+2, well said, Woodsy.

[ultraTwist]

This made me sad. I'm not a fan but now that they are gone I appreciate the choice and the difference even it it wasn't for me. The Sportbike world is a little poorer today.

[Doc]

Yamaha is gonna buy em.

[ff36buell]

Doc, thats the second time Ive heard that today.... but not yet on the Buell forums... just curious where you got that from. Pm me if necessary, unless you cant divulge... i would understand.

Nick

[Chippertheripper]

Yamabuell.

[Doc]

Doc, thats the second time Ive heard that today.... but not yet on the Buell forums... just curious where you got that from. Pm me if necessary, unless you cant divulge... i would understand.

Nick

Just something I saw on another forum I am on.

October 16, 2009
AP
Iwata, Japan

In a statement released by Yamaha Motor Corporation, Hirofumi Osawa, President of Yamaha Corporation of America, stated that the company is looking into acquiring recently defunct Buell Motorcycles. “We are interested in the spirit of innovation that Buell has used as a foundation in their business. We feel their values align well with Yamaha’s culture”, stated Mr. Osawa.

According to Yamaha, discussions of a purchase are in the exploratory stage. Harley-Davidson Corp, owner of Buell since 2003, could not be reached for comment.

[ff36buell]

Thank you Doc, made my night

[Doc]

I wouldn't hold your breath.

[CMG241]

nice if they dropped a R1 engine in the new chasis - hell I'd take a VMax engine.

[eboos]

Just something I saw on another forum I am on.

October 16, 2009
AP
Iwata, Japan

In a statement released by Yamaha Motor Corporation, Hirofumi Osawa, President of Yamaha Corporation of America, stated that the company is looking into acquiring recently defunct Buell Motorcycles. “We are interested in the spirit of innovation that Buell has used as a foundation in their business. We feel their values align well with Yamaha’s culture”, stated Mr. Osawa.

According to Yamaha, discussions of a purchase are in the exploratory stage. Harley-Davidson Corp, owner of Buell since 2003, could not be reached for comment.

I saw that posted elsewhere too. Even if they do not buy the company, the spirit of the company will live on if they hire Erik Buell and his staff.

[Sheppo]

oooh i might be a buell dealer that made my morning hahahaha

[Evil_Weasel]

hmmm. V-twin sport bikes are a very popular and growing segment of the market.

yamaha has never done a V-twin sportbike. no RC51 or even TL for them....i'd say they have little if any experiance in the area.

come on yamaha buy buell, jump on the v-twin band wagon..... everyone is doing it. you know you want to.

[typeone]

i'm still doubtful that Harley will let ANY of the Buell assets go, but wow would that be nuts if Yamaha was the one responsible for the rebirth.

swap that motor, refine the looks, BAM. i think you would have a super popular naked on your hands. just gotta make sure the big, thumpy, soulful twin is still present.

[CMG241]

i'm still doubtful that Harley will let ANY of the Buell assets go, but wow would that be nuts if Yamaha was the one responsible for the rebirth.

swap that motor, refine the looks, BAM. i think you would have a super popular naked on your hands. just gotta make sure the big, thumpy, soulful twin is still present.

and call it an AMERICAN bike..

[typeone]

and call it an AMERICAN bike..

even Buell stopped badging them as 'American'

[spicy]

it's pretty sad to see something like that (unfortunate, not in a bad way).