NGC EBR resurection

[fotoguzzi]

this sounds promising for Erik Buells future.

http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/blog/2015/08/exclusive-buyer-of-erik-buell-racing-speaks-out.html

[lc4dakar]

Interesting.  It doesn't actually say Eric is joining the new company.
And if Hero is buying the consulting side without Eric they are getting nothing (except forgiveness of the $20,000,000 they owed EBR).

[steven c]

 Rising from the ashes once again. They need a bike called the Phoenix. And make that new Uly.

[biking sailor]

I hope they can make a go of the company and a new CEO/Owner, that is a motorcyclist foremost, could be the ticket.  From my perspective...

- When Buell was owner by HD, they made some cool bikes that gained a loyal following, even though they were the proverbial "red headed stepchild". (please those with red hair, take no offence as none was intended)
- When they were on their own, EBR, they seemed to focus too heavily on superbikes, which were expensive and had too few paying customers. 
- If they want to be a viable motorcycle company, they need to research what the riding public wants and make bikes that fit into that result.  Competitively priced standards, sports, sport-touring, and touring bikes that are reliable, low maintenance (regular gas, readily available oil/filter, tire size, and replacement parts), with a decent dealer network, is the ticket to success. Note, the American cruiser market is saturated with good bikes now, no need to go there.
- Don't take to long, as Victory might be ready to jump in that pool and make a big splash.

Just as an aside, I only got a Guzzi because a Buell didn't work out.  And I don't think I would be a good customer for Buell unless they really hit it out of the park with the above points.

[Mayor_of_BBQ]

I've don't really 'get' buell bikes but I am curious...

Will it still be a Harley motor? Or did he only use Harley engines because he was mixed up with them?

I guess I'm asking... Will a Buell still be a sporty bike with a Harley engine... Or did him getting shut down by Harley a couple years ago mean they will start making bikes from scratch?

I always assumed Buell is exclusively for Harley brand loyalists, who wanted one non-cruiser bike??

[bad Chad]

In interviews I read with EB, he indicated he only really wanted to make very high performance race/street bikes.  He only used the air-cooled  HD motors because that's all he had to work with for quite a while.  As soon as he was able to dump the 45 deg lump, he did and never looked back.

If the company gets back on its feet, I hope they can make a bike that people actually want to buy.  He wasn't selling many EBR super bikes, too expensive and not nearly as refined as the comp.   I think he would be wise to go for the adventure market with an updated Uly, and a couple smaller, accessible models to build a base with.

[Kev m]

Buell started the company with HD engines because he was an engineer for Harley. HD didn't buy a stake in Buell until he already had a number of bikes.

But yeah HD hamstrung him in some ways. The biggest problem I saw was their unwillingness to let him give franchises to non-HD dealers. That was short sited and arrogant on the part of HD.

I've really enjoyed every Buell I ever rode and I'm really glad I owned one for a while.

[leafman60]

If the company gets back on its feet, I hope they can make a bike that people actually want to buy.

True words and something that Buell has never done.

[Bonafide Bob]

I wish them well, I like seeing EBR's on the race track.

[fotoguzzi]

EBR did not use a HD motor, they built their own modeled on a Rotax or they bought the rotax tooling and modified it but the motor was built in E Troy Wi..
Buell's did have models w Harley motors, XB9, XB12 they also produced an 1125 series w/the Rotax.
from wiki;
 The Rotax Helicon powertrain uses four valves per cylinder, dual over-head cam, liquid-cooled 72 degree V-Twin displacing 1,125 cc and producing 146 hp (109 kW). It produces 83 ft·lbf (113 N·m) of peak torque but varies less than 6 ft·lbf (8.1 N·m) of torque from 3,000 to 10,500 rpm.

[Kev m]

I don't see where anyone suggested the EBR iteration of Eric's ventures used an HD mill.

Unless you're saying Mayor BbqS question which I guess implied he didn't realize about the Rotax motors.

[fotoguzzi]

I don't see where anyone suggested the EBR iteration of Eric's ventures used an HD mill.

Unless you're saying Mayor BbqS question which I guess implied he didn't realize about the Rotax motors.

I was just clearing it up.. Buell/EBR is a lot more than a hotted up Sportster.

I've don't really 'get' buell bikes but I am curious...
 

[Silver Goose]

Sounds like Indian motors all over again. 

I know of several dealers that have a very bad taste in their mouths about EBR. I can only hope that people who have bought motorcycles under the banner of EBR will be treated to factory support.

[ohiorider]

OK, you Buell dudes!  Help me out.  Was it an S3 or ST3 that was a tube frame that came from the factory with bags, ready to sport tour?  I was so taken with the appearance of that bike ..... unfortunately (maybe fortunately) I let a then-current owner talk me out of buying one.  Problem he had was regular fracturing of the exhaust headers, to the point (per him) Buell would not replace the final breakage, even though the bike was still under warranty.

Never owned one, never ridden one, always fascinated with the concept of a pumped up Sportster engine in a sportier chassis.

Bob

[GearheadGrrrl]

Coverage on my blog: www.gearheadgrrrl.c om

[Kev m]

OK, you Buell dudes!  Help me out.  Was it an S3 or ST3 that was a tube frame that came from the factory with bags, ready to sport tour?  I was so taken with the appearance of that bike ..... unfortunately (maybe fortunately) I let a then-current owner talk me out of buying one.  Problem he had was regular fracturing of the exhaust headers, to the point (per him) Buell would not replace the final breakage, even though the bike was still under warranty.

Never owned one, never ridden one, always fascinated with the concept of a pumped up Sportster engine in a sportier chassis.

Bob

S3T

That's the one I sold earlier this year.

With race ECM and Buell branded supertrap it was pushing 100 rwhp, and felt pretty similar to a Griso.

It was remarkably well balanced and really meant for curves, plus had a large fuel tank. There were also less than 200 made that year (2001). And it had the charm and feel of a low production, basically hand built bike.

[ohiorider]

S3T

That's the one I sold earlier this year.

With race ECM and Buell branded supertrap it was pushing 100 rwhp, and felt pretty similar to a Griso.

It was remarkably well balanced and really meant for curves, plus had a large fuel tank. There were also less than 200 made that year (2001). And it had the charm and feel of a low production, basically hand built bike.

I  think the S3T would have been a lovely machine to have had in my very small stable of bikes.  The one I saw at the BMW breakfast was in a British Racing Green.  I was smitten, to say the least.

[Kev m]

[drums4money]

test rode one of those around 1999 when AHRMA road race came to Park City, UT. 
that beast would really haul the mail.  had never ridden HD powered anything.  Was impressed.

[SteveRivet]

S3T

That's the one I sold earlier this year.

With race ECM and Buell branded supertrap it was pushing 100 rwhp, and felt pretty similar to a Griso.

It was remarkably well balanced and really meant for curves, plus had a large fuel tank. There were also less than 200 made that year (2001). And it had the charm and feel of a low production, basically hand built bike.

I test rode one of those down in Daytona in the mid 90's - handled great and liked the power delivery.

Steve

[drums4money]

Seems like we were all at the Park City AHRMA national . I also test rode a Buell .

  Dusty

  Small world.  The club I was in at the time Utah British Bike Club volunteered all over town and coordinated bikes on display in shops & galleries.  I remember the brewery at the top of Main St. made up a batch of Lucas Light for the week. . . it was a very dark beer. 

[blackbuell]

The original S3T (1997) actually had stock fairing lowers in addition to the hard bags and half-fairing present on Kev's bike. I owned one for 3 three years; great motor, wonderful handling, but sooooo many problems: shock recall, hard bags leaked and locks failed, tail light assembly rattled off the bike at speed, lower fairing vibrated apart after a few thousand miles, speedo failed early, many other little issues. However, I liked the bike enough to buy a 2000 S3 (same as S3T but no hard bags and fairing lowers): much improved over the 97, but still had some problems. They finally got the tubers right near the end of their production in 2002.

Jon

[Kev m]

The original S3T (1997) actually had stock fairing lowers in addition to the hard bags and half-fairing present on Kev's bike. I owned one for 3 three years; great motor, wonderful handling, but sooooo many problems: shock recall, hard bags leaked and locks failed, tail light assembly rattled off the bike at speed, lower fairing vibrated apart after a few thousand miles, speedo failed early, many other little issues. However, I liked the bike enough to buy a 2000 S3 (same as S3T but no hard bags and fairing lowers): much improved over the 97, but still had some problems. They finally got the tubers right near the end of their production in 2002.

Jon

They remind me a little of some Guzzis. They needed some sorting, but once sorted wow. I was lucky my 2001 was fully sorted.

[jas67]

- When they were on their own, EBR, they seemed to focus too heavily on superbikes, which were expensive and had too few paying customers. 

 :1:

The 1190's are on par, performance-wise with the Ducati Pannigale.    That is WAY too much bike for most people.    And certainly way more bike than I want or need.
Had the built something in the same performance realm and price as the Monster 696/796, I would've seriously considered one when I bought my Monster.   

- If they want to be a viable motorcycle company, they need to research what the riding public wants and make bikes that fit into that result.  Competitively priced standards, sports, sport-touring, and touring bikes that are reliable, low maintenance (regular gas, readily available oil/filter, tire size, and replacement parts), with a decent dealer network, is the ticket to success. Note, the American cruiser market is saturated with good bikes now, no need to go there.
- Don't take to long, as Victory might be ready to jump in that pool and make a big splash.

I'd love to see a street legal naked standard come out of Project 156!