Author Topic: BUELL is BACK!! (Read 9198 times)

JJ · « **on:** March 04, 2016, 05:36:31 PM »

Good for Erik Buell and team!

http://auto.ndtv.com/news/erik-buell-racing-re-starts-operations-in-the-us-1284046

Muzz · « **Reply #1 on:** March 04, 2016, 06:24:01 PM »

Are they still using the Rotax engine from the previous incarnation?

fotoguzzi · « **Reply #2 on:** March 04, 2016, 06:31:34 PM »

Quote from: Muzz on March 04, 2016, 06:24:01 PM

Are they still using the Rotax engine from the previous incarnation?

It's based on that but now called the Helicon, EBR owns it and builds it in E Troy.

wish them luck.. they need it..

John Ulrich · « **Reply #3 on:** March 04, 2016, 06:34:14 PM »

The yoyo spins upwards again!

HardAspie · « **Reply #4 on:** March 04, 2016, 06:37:40 PM »

His designs are always pretty good, but I hope that this time he hires a good business manager.

Arizona Wayne · « **Reply #5 on:** March 04, 2016, 07:30:55 PM »

Quote from: HardAspie on March 04, 2016, 06:37:40 PM

His designs are always pretty good, but I hope that this time he hires a good business manager.

Eric is not in charge of the financial end of this startup this time. Time will tell if this attempt stays afloat.

groundhog105 · « **Reply #6 on:** March 04, 2016, 08:33:39 PM »

Glad to hear Eric is back.

HardAspie · « **Reply #7 on:** March 04, 2016, 08:34:58 PM »

Quote from: Arizona Wayne on March 04, 2016, 07:30:55 PM

Eric is not in charge of the financial end of this startup this time. Time will tell if this attempt stays afloat.

Thanks for the information. I have all of good wishes.

Lcarlson · « **Reply #8 on:** March 04, 2016, 10:03:19 PM »

As a former Buell owner (2000 M2 Cyclone) this is good news. I wish Eric the best, but hope he can succeed with real world street bikes rather than (or at least in addition to) race replica machines.

Lcarlson · « **Reply #9 on:** March 04, 2016, 10:19:00 PM »

Idle speculation of course, but it seems to me that Polaris could have picked up Buell for pocket change, and developed a for real line of American sporty/street motorcycles with a real, if relatively short, pedigree. There are indications that they have an interest in expanding beyond their current two-brand cruiser lineup; this seems like a missed opportunity.

JJ · « **Reply #10 on:** March 05, 2016, 05:48:37 AM »

According to that article, Erik will be the CTO (Chief Technical Officer).

...and yes, they do need to hire an experienced Business Manager (for global sales / marketing / business development)

Petrus Rocks · « **Reply #11 on:** March 05, 2016, 08:56:27 AM »

As a current Buell owner-'06 Uly- I am ecstatic! Erik has been to the school of hard knocks and back.
Good luck to a great motorcycle designer. The two bikes shown in the link look interesting.

smdl · « **Reply #12 on:** March 05, 2016, 09:27:50 AM »

Serious points for persistence!

Shaun

Tom · « **Reply #13 on:** March 05, 2016, 01:46:40 PM »

Good luck to them!

leafman60 · « **Reply #14 on:** March 06, 2016, 07:23:18 AM »

I hope they can finally come up with something that sells.

Rough Edge racing · « **Reply #15 on:** March 06, 2016, 11:37:10 AM »

Quote from: leafman60 on March 06, 2016, 07:23:18 AM

I hope they can finally come up with something that sells.

According to Harley "On October 15, 2009, Harley-Davidson announced the discontinuation of the Buell product line as part of its strategy to focus on the Harley-Davidson brand.[4][5] The last Buell motorcycle was produced on October 30, 2015, bringing the number manufactured to 136,923." .....How many Guzzi's were built from 1984 to now ? Maybe twice that ?

Lcarlson · « **Reply #16 on:** March 06, 2016, 11:46:45 AM »

I wish Buell would revive something like my old M2 Cyclone in principle: a light, strong, simple (we don't need no steekin' engine modes) minimal plastic, belt-drive street bike. Quality components but minimal electronics beyond ABS and simple traction control. The perceived weakness of those old bikes was the Sportster motor, and with the new Rotax-derived motors (but better tuned for the street ) it seems like they might sell a bunch of those. Alas, they seem to be wholly focused on chasing the Panigales of the world, so it's a pipe dream.

Tom · « **Reply #17 on:** March 06, 2016, 06:07:19 PM »

One of the best handling bikes that I have is my S3 Thunderbolt.

Rough Edge racing · « **Reply #18 on:** March 07, 2016, 06:41:46 AM »

Quote from: Lcarlson on March 06, 2016, 11:46:45 AM

I wish Buell would revive something like my old M2 Cyclone in principle: a light, strong, simple (we don't need no steekin' engine modes) minimal plastic, belt-drive street bike. Quality components but minimal electronics beyond ABS and simple traction control. The perceived weakness of those old bikes was the Sportster motor, and with the new Rotax-derived motors (but better tuned for the street ) it seems like they might sell a bunch of those. Alas, they seem to be wholly focused on chasing the Panigales of the world, so it's a pipe dream.

I own a 97 Cyclone , they are out there in decent shape with low miles for less than 3 grand... The precieved weakness of the Sportster engine can be dealt with. Building a reliable 110 HP Sporty engine is not difficult or that expensive..

kirb · « **Reply #19 on:** March 07, 2016, 06:51:35 AM »

I have owned a '99 cyclone and a '09 1125cr on closeout. The cyclone was the most reliable bike I have ever owned. The 1125 was an amazing handling bike that was just 'frantic', but it had an amazing motor.

I know Bill Melvin (Liquid Asset Partners). I highly doubt he wants to own a motorcycle company. He wants to make the company attractive enough to sell at a profit. He has been liquidating companies like this for some time (Excelsior, Gilroy Indian, etc). Buell is worth more as a whole than in parts.

Buell needs to make a main stream bike that will pay the bills for the race bikes. Think Ducati Monster sales helping keep them afloat...

steven c · « **Reply #20 on:** March 07, 2016, 07:46:05 AM »

Also As an 06 Buell Uly owner, I wish him the best of luck and hope they come out with an updated Uly, same HP, under 500lb abs and a bigger tank though Honda just came out with it in the African Twin. It's a flawed design but the Uly is a great bike,simple, low maintenance, good mpg (45to55) fantastic handling.

Solojoe · « **Reply #21 on:** March 07, 2016, 08:50:16 AM »

Had a 2007 Ulysses, was the most exciting bike I have ever ridden. I just didn't have the energy to keep it on the road after HD tossed them under the bus.

Lcarlson · « **Reply #22 on:** March 07, 2016, 08:56:23 AM »

<<Buell needs to make a main stream bike that will pay the bills for the race bikes. Think Ducati Monster sales helping keep them afloat...>>

Or, they need to forget the expensive pursuit of competitive racebikes and focus like a laser on making excellent rider-friendly street bikes ....

bad Chad · « **Reply #23 on:** March 07, 2016, 10:34:53 AM »

I'll buy you a beer if I'm wrong, but this endeavor dies on the vine within 24 month, more likely 18.

kirb · « **Reply #24 on:** March 07, 2016, 10:35:10 AM »

Quote from: Lcarlson on March 07, 2016, 08:56:23 AM

<<Buell needs to make a main stream bike that will pay the bills for the race bikes. Think Ducati Monster sales helping keep them afloat...>>

Or, they need to forget the expensive pursuit of competitive racebikes and focus like a laser on making excellent rider-friendly street bikes ....

...like the Ducati Monster

Race bikes are cool to those interested in racing. The trouble with race bikes is the tech advances in leaps every year. This is difficult for a small company to invest in. Having a good street bike (standard, ADV, or ?) that has the basics at an affordable price can bring in enough cash flow to be stable. Always building a Panigale beater is only going to drain your cash. Focus on building a dealer network and lowering the buy-in with bikes the average guy would buy.

Lcarlson · « **Reply #25 on:** March 07, 2016, 11:09:12 AM »

Kirb and I agree, but unfortunately, Chad is probably right.

prof_stack · « **Reply #26 on:** March 07, 2016, 01:14:39 PM »

Great! When will the Blast return?

Seriously, the best motorcycle I ever owned was an '03 Buell XB9S, until I t-boned a car and took an upward flight. I did own the Blast before trading it in for the XB, and really liked that thumper.

Kev m · « **Reply #27 on:** March 07, 2016, 01:26:00 PM »

My S3T was basically a Buell Griso.

There was a lot to like about it.

jbell · « **Reply #28 on:** March 07, 2016, 09:29:15 PM »

Well, we all know what EBR stands for, so don't go wishing too hard for a regular street bike. What Buell needed was a good accounts receivable manager.

Lcarlson · « **Reply #29 on:** March 07, 2016, 09:41:38 PM »

Quote from: jbell on March 07, 2016, 09:29:15 PM

Well, we all know what EBR stands for, so don't go wishing too hard for a regular street bike. What Buell needed was a good accounts receivable manager.

Said before, but they also needed products that more than a few racer wannabes would actually buy. Heresy perhaps, but Eric's vision was, maybe, fatally flawed when he tried to revive his operation with machines were in an impossibly competitive segment.

News:

Author Topic: BUELL is BACK!! (Read 9198 times)

HardAspie

HardAspie

Lcarlson

Lcarlson

Rough Edge racing

Lcarlson

Rough Edge racing

Lcarlson

Lcarlson

prof_stack

Lcarlson